Screw up

"I think Minnie's true identity was the spirit trapped in this house." John declared after they returned to base while Mai and Kurobara made a short detour to check on Masako. "… Could it have been one of the children who died here?"

"Most likely." Takagawa said thoughtfully. "Their spirits are so lonely that when a child comes into this house, they try to take it away with them to be their friend. And then, those children also become site bound spirits." Naru paused slightly "But why would they only want children?" Naru asked.

"Huh?" Takagawa enquired. "If they're so lonely, then someone like Noriko-san, Kurobara, or Mai, someone who could be a substitute mother, would be better. Why would Minnie want to get rid of the adults…?" Naru remarked in a matter-of-fact tone. "Ah, good point." Takagawa said, sweat-dropping.

He hadn't really thought of that.

At that moment, Mai and Kurobara returned. Kurobara was however looking at her burnt arm that kept throbbing. It was agitated and was really annoying her, at least it wasn't as annoying as before but still. "How is Hara-san doing?" Naru asked them.

Kurobara blinked. Now out of her thoughts she answered swiftly " She still doesn't feel well, The sheer amount of spirits have certainly made her feel ill. Masako is presently resting" there was a short pause before he spoke "I see." Naru said, taking a moment to flip through his notes.

"Try driving the spirits out, Takagawa-san" Naru says to the Monk who stood there in surprise, "Me?" Takagawa asked. "The first child to die in this house was Tachibana Yuki. Here are the years of her birth and death, and her Kaimyo." Naru said, handing him a sheet of paper that had the dates and the little girl's posthumous Buddhist name written on it.

Kurobara watched as they talked while taking a sip out of her Harry Potter travel mug, she was, well distressing herself. A lot had happened over the past days. I mean look at her arm that has yet to heal, she had to wait Two or three weeks to heal which kind of pissed her off.

"She belonged to the Jodo sect of Buddhism." Naru told them, he took a glance at Kurobara who had a relaxed expression for some reason. "This information dates back 70 years." Monk remarked upon reading it. "I'm impressed how well you researched it."

"It was easy." Naru said, brushing it off as if it were nothing, as he crossed the room to have a word with Lin.

Kurobara chuckled softly at that and mumbled "Narcissist" Mai was still surprised however, mainly because Naru was so certain of himself; Mai should not really be surprised at that fact but still she could not help but to sweat drop on how overconfident he was.

"oh yeah, I heard from a little birdie that you could sing" Takagawa teased to the Raven-haired women. Kuro rolled her eyes "and?" Kuro says not really being bothered to deny it. "I am just surprised that's all. Who would have thought someone who is as aggressive as you can sing," Takagawa told her with a modest smirk.

Kuro's eyes twitched at his statement "I have no idea what you are talking about? I am not aggressive" she said with a slight pout. "Sure you aren't" Mai says while sniggering, she looks at her friend and gave her a small glare.

"I am not aggressive!"

(Timeskip)

"Are you sure that just by going to a hotel, we'll really be safe?" Noriko-san asked nervously when they all gathered by the front door to see her and Ayami off, just to make sure. "It should be better than being in this house." Naru replied calmly, handing her some o-fuda talismans. "These charms should protect you. And just to be on the safe side, Matsuzaki-san and John will be staying with you."

"Thank you." Noriko said, accepting the paper charms. Kurobara gave her a small smile, hoping silently that they would be safe. "Mai-chan and Kuro-san aren't coming?" Ayami asked, looking disappointed. Kurobara shifted her feet and gave her a pat, she was going to miss the youngster but Ayami was going to be in a safer place than here.

"Sorry Ayami-chan. We won't be coming with you, but… we will see each other again I am sure," Kurobara said softly while stroking the young child's head "Now you behave for Noriko-san okay?" Ayami shook her head up and down.

"Hara-san, anything?" Naru asked after their taxi had gone. "The spirits haven't noticed yet." Masako said after taking a moment to glance around. "The charms seem to be working."

"So then, shall we get to work?" Takagawa suggested.

(Later that day)

"Takagawa -san, are you ready?" Naru asked once everyone was in place. Monk was going to be performing the exorcism in Ayami's room while Naru, Mai, Kurobara, and Lin monitored his progress from base.

"Anytime, okay." Monk said, giving the camera a thumbs up.

"Kurobara keep a watchful eye on him. We don't want anything bad to happen" Naru told her, Kuro sighed and gave him a playful salute "Aye Sir" she said softly. "The temperature is already starting to drop, particularly around the bed." Lin reported. "It's already down to 2°C."

"And the mike?" Naru asked. "Nothing unusual at the moment, though there is an odd absence of static." Lin replied. "A rapping sound has started." He reported a moment later. "There's also knocking." Kurobara watched the screen with a determined expression. "Naru, the living room!" Mai exclaimed suddenly.

Kurobara kept her eyes on the Monk while Naru quickly looked to see what had startled Mai. An odd sort of vapour was rising up from the living room floor, one of the signs of a rapid shift in temperature. "Lin, what's the temperature of the living room?" He asked.

"Currently, negative two degrees." Kurobara eyes narrowed meanwhile Mai shook at the readings, Kuro knew that something or someone was coming. "Below freezing!?" Naru asked, furrowing his brow, as he quickly picked up the mike to communicate with the monk.

"Takagawa-san, it's not that room! Apparently, the centre is in the living room!"

"The living room!?" Monk asked, in surprise. "Naru!" Mai shouted, Kurobara and everyone else felt their eyes glance at what alarmed the brunette. Kurobara felt her heart rate accelerate so much so that she could hear the throbbing of her heart beat in her ears, Kuro took a deep breath trying to calm her heart down.

What she saw was unpleasant.

The ghastly faces of countless children filled the living room, twisted in torment. They were all crying and wailing with misery. Kurobara felt awful, watching those children cry helplessly it reminded her of her younger siblings; it was almost causing her to wince at the small memories.

"Whoa! What the heck's going on!?" Monk exclaimed when he arrived on the scene, and the spirits started swarming around him. "Shoo! Shoo!" He said, trying to disperse them. "Naumari saba tataki ya tei biyari," he began reciting the mantra again, "Saraba mottei biyari, saraba ta… Taraku!"

Kurobara felt her head pound. The screams were almost too much to hear, their agonized cries caused her eyes to water. "Look!" Kurobara said with wide eyes, pointing to the space behind the Monk, where a shadowy silhouette was slowly taking form. "Tomiko…" A deep, feminine voice rattled. "Tomiko… my… child…"

"Takagawa-san, behind you!" Naru said urgently into the mike.

"What!?" Monk said, spinning around. "Hey, there's nothing there!" Kurobara eyes widened, he couldn't see her. The women. "Darn. He can't see it…" Naru said, clenching his jaw. This was bad…

"Mai!" Kurobara yelled when the younger girl suddenly bolted from the room. Kuro felt herself grow anxious, she couldn't let Mai go there by herself otherwise she would get hurt. She would not allow that but… she might have to show off her abilities.

This is seriously bad but what choice does she have…

Taking a deep breath, she ran to the door causing Kazuya and Lin to look at her in alarm. "What do you think you are doing Kurobara?!" Naru shouted to the girl by the door, swiftly she turned around softly.

Panic was written on her face and guilt… for what? Naru inquired in his mind. Why is she looking at them like that?

"I am sorry" Kuro remarks to them. Her eyes changed into a glowing pair of blue eyes with a sunset orange in her optics, that's when she ran out of the room leaving a shocked Lin and Naru. "Naru, look!" Lin said, drawing his attention back to the monitors.

"Monk-san!" Mai yelled as she burst into the living room. "Idiot! Don't come in here!" Monk snapped sternly, concerned for her safety. "Eh? She's not there! But she showed up on the camera!" Mai said, shocked when she realized she could no longer see the ominous silhouette they had seen behind Monk.

"Don't just stand there babbling, get out!" Monk shouted. Mai had no idea how dangerous it was for her to be in the Living room, "You too, Monk-san Hurry and get out!" Mai said anxiously, reaching out to him.

Mai's eyes widened in fear when she felt something cold pass straight through her. Pass straight through her. "I won't forgive… those who get in my way…" The woman's voice hissed in her ear. Kurobara slid into the room causing Mai and Takagawa to look at her. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Takagawa says getting frustrated at their novice decisions, Kuro quickly ran to where Mai was and place her arm up, showing the palm of the hand as a barrier surrounded them. It was a large neon blue barrier. The spirit grew even angrier as it tried to attack them only for the barrier to block the women's attack.

The spirit cried in pain, as the barrier change an angry red, scalding the spirit. "Don't you fucking dare hurt my best friend!" Kuro shrieked at the spirit with an angry expression on her face, what was most frightening was her eyes blinking in and out with the colour red. Kuro looked at Monk who was in a state of shock at what he had witnessed.

Kuro couldn't blame him, but she had a duty on protecting the people she loves. Taking a deep breath and adds another barrier, only this one was on the Monk. Now safe she gracefully moved her hands as she spun on her foot, this caused the surrounding barrier to spin swiftly with her pushing the sprit back tremendously.

The women hissed "I will come back" as she disappeared into a vapour.

Kurobara sighed out in relief as she dangled her arms down to her side, Mai stood there. "Let's get out of here. She weakened but she will come back to haunt us especially since I pissed her off" Kuro said softly as the barrier faded into the background.

"Yeah, right!" Monk-san agreed as he looked at Kuro with an awed expression, but he was also very confused at her display of power. Shaking his head, he started leading Mai back out of the room.

They all gasped, surprised, when part of the floor suddenly cracked and collapsed, creating a hole.

(Timeskip)

Kurobara was sitting down on the couch and looked down at her lap. She was going to be in trouble she knew that, but she felt sick. She felt sick to her stomach, using her Esper abilities caused bad memories to resurface; she had no choice Mai could have gotten seriously hurt and well she panicked.

But now she felt ashamed for using her 'powers' she hated using them it was painful. The memories, she never wanted to have these abilities. After all she despised them, they caused too much trouble; Kuro was not lucky at all but maybe she should feel a little better.

Because of her powers she managed to protect Two people from getting injured, nonetheless she felt the guilt crawl up inside her head as she anxiously looked at her hands that had helped her control of the barrier. Kuro jumped up slightly as soon as Mai sat next to her and softly grabbed her hand.

"So, care to explain what just happened?" Naru asked furiously.

Kazuya cold Blue eyes shifted on her face and watched every movement of Kurobara's body, she could not help but flinch at his frosty tone and eyes.

Yep, she was in trouble.

An overdue explanation was in order.

Well she was screwed…

Kiralawliet is back from the dead once again. Man it's good to be back, sorry for my break, I did not have any motivation to write anything so I apologise. There are probably a lot of mistakes, so I am sorry XD.

Anyways I have a question, do you think I have well gotton a little better at writing from Chapter 1 to chapter 38? I do hope so. Man thank you to everyone who has followed me and waited patiently for the next chapter.

Hope you enjoy it!