Day Four

11:30am

The Miyuki Theater

Mai lead the way down the hall, her pace brisk, reflecting her irritation at being sentenced to a day with Masako. The medium followed a few steps behind, her lips pursed in silence. For a while all that could be heard was their footfalls and occasional huffs and grumbles.

"Here," Masako said, coming to a halt at a door Mai had already hurried past.

Mai looked back at her with an eyebrow raised,

"We don't need to take the temperature of every room Masako, let's move on to the foyer..." she answered, gesturing down the hall.

The medium gave her one look, then turned to the door, opened it- and walked in. Mai watched with gritted teeth.

That Masako.

Mai approached the door and peered in. In the middle of the dark room, Masako stood motionless, her eyes closed. With an irritated sigh Mai held out the thermometer and scratched the temperature down. Looking back up, Mai saw the medium was straightening herself up, she glanced back at Mai self- satisfied.

"Nothing..." she said as she passed Mai out into the hall.

Mai glared after her and opened her mouth to retort, but suddenly snapped her head around. A shadow- a figure standing at the edge of her vision. Mai stared hard around the room, but she could see nothing now. Curiously, Mai held out the thermometer: 58.7. Mai quickly consulted the chart, but she already knew the answer, the room had dropped five degrees.

With a slight frown, Mai's eyes swept the room once more, but it remained empty and dark.

Was that the old man...?

Mai shook her head and moved on. Masako, who hadn't bothered to look back once, was nearly to the foyer when Mai started after her.

That Masako. Someone was standing right there in that room and she didn't sense it at all. Figures.

When Mai finally caught up, Masako had already been there for few minutes, closing her eyes, trying to sense something Mai knew she could not. Mai watched the medium float from place to place in the large foyer critically. With a roll of her eyes she decided to collect some reliable information. Mai held out her thermometer as Masako moved near the doors.

"Mai."

Startled, Mai whirled around to see Bou-san stepping out of the room Mr. Sachi had been in earlier. Relieved that it was only the monk, she offered him a smile which he returned as he shut the door softly behind him.

"Hey," he greeted coming to stand beside her.

"Hey," she replied, jotting down the room's temperature, "what were you doing?"

The monk's smile turned into a smirk, he shrugged nonchalantly,

"Just following Naru's orders."

Mai glanced up at him, smirking as well.

"I see, and...?"

The monk rubbed his chin, considering the door,

"I think it's just a storage area, I could hear the generators outside."

"So your exorcisms were a success?" Mai teased.

"I'd say so, not a cursed rose petal left," Bou-san answered with a wink.

"What about those lilies though? Mr. Sachi seemed to think they were evil," Mai persisted, looking a bit more serious.

The monk nodded knowingly,

"I guess it's something else to think about."

At the sound of foot steps, Mai and Bou-san glanced over to see Masako joining them, her arms crossed stiffly.

"I'm done here," she announced pointedly.

Pursing her lips, the only thing holding her back from saying she probably shouldn't, Mai looked to Bou-san,

"I'll let you know when we're finished."

The monk nodded,

"Alright, you know where to find me."

Masako looked between them for a suspicious moment, but before she could ask anything, Mai breezed by her.

"Coming Masako?" she called over her shoulder as she trudged up the hall.

The medium eyed the monk for a moment longer, but then turned from him and followed in Mai's wake.

Mai plugged along, not bothering to look back at her rival. A moment later Bou-san's chant, in the form of deep muffled tones, found Mai's ears and she allowed herself a slight smile.

Deeper into the theater, turning down yet another corridor (hoping she remembered the way to the dressing rooms...), she heard the distinctive creek of an opening door. Mai halted and glanced back down the hall. Her gaze spotted a door swung open some feet back.

That Masako.

Mai blew out her cheeks and marched back down the hall to the room.

If she believes nothing is here, then why does she insist on checking every inchof this place?

As before, Mai found her standing in the middle of the room, her eyes closed in apparent meditation. The floor squeaked under Mai's foot and the medium became aware of her presence. Masako's head moved a fraction towards the door where Mai stood, a small smile pulled at her lips. Mai frowned as she whipped out the thermometer,

Of course. She does this to annoy me.

Mai took down the temperature and then, with great satisfaction, stuck out her tongue at the unaware medium, before turning to leave...but she was stopped dead in her tracks before she could so much as face the door.

There, standing in the hall just feet from her, plain as day, was the old man. As usual, a finger was drawn to his lips, but Mai couldn't help a small gasp of shock. The floor groaned under Masako's feet. Free of her trance she looked to Mai at her gasp,

"What?"

Mai swallowed, unable break her gaze from the ghostly man in front of her.

"Uh, um..."

The medium crossed her arms, came up beside her, and peered out into the hall.

"What is it, Taniyama? What are you looking at?"

Mai fought to keep her expression neutral as the ghost held his finger to his lips more desperately. With sudden inspiration, she squeezed her eyes closed and grabbed her foot,

"Looking at...? What do you mean? I just stubbed my toe on the way out," she answered, hoping her wince was convincing enough. For good measure she hobbled into the hall, complaining loudly of the pain.

Masako filed out behind her, watching this display with distaste.

"I have no idea what I'm so worried about..." she murmured, walking away from the scene Mai was making.

That Masako.

When she finished glaring after her rival's departing back, Mai risked a look at where the man stood- but the hall was empty. Mai's head snapped around to face the room, but it was still and silent. Blinking in wonder, Mai looked further down the hall, and then back up it towards Masako, but the man had gone. Mai let out a sigh and brushed a strand of hair from her face.

That was close.

Gathering herself, Mai started after Masako, but not without one last look behind her. One thing was for sure, she was being followed. Mai reached the end of the hall and turned the corner to find Masako paused outside yet another door. Mai narrowed her eyes and took purposeful steps towards the medium, intending to pass her without looking back.

Fine, waste your time, but you're not wasting mine...

But just as she was blazing past, a pale hand caught her sleeve.

"He- hey Masako, what's the deal-" Mai began to protest, but was silenced by a sharp look from the medium.

Masako went back to staring hard at the door and that's when Mai became aware of muffled voices. The medium's hand dropped from her arm as Mai struggled to make out what was being said. She looked confusedly at Masako a few times, but the medium wouldn't meet her gaze.

Why are we listening in...? Who's in there?

As if in answer to her question, the door suddenly flew open. Startled, Mai gasped for a second time and Masako's hand had her arm in a vice grip again. Mai couldn't look any guiltier. The man who opened the door was not looking at her though, but instead at the medium who incredibly had managed to keep her composure.

"Joji, I was just about to knock," Masako said before the surprised playwright could even open his mouth.

At the other end of the room, a curious Nari peered around Mr. Sachi at their visitors. The playwright's shock was quickly replaced by warmth,

"Well my dear, I'm so glad you caught me in time, I was just on my way out," he replied, stepping aside for Masako to enter, Mai following hesitantly after.

Masako released Mai's arm and drew herself up. Passing Mr. Sachi she offered him a cool smile, which he received as though she had beamed at him. When Mai passed he had more than enough smile to go around and offered her one which she couldn't help but return.

Then Mai got her first look at the room she had entered. It was large, two rooms really, with more windows than Mai had seen in any one place in this theater, all closed with velvet green curtains. In the dim, several wall mounted oil lamps burned, making the air a bit smoky and warm. The room was sparsely furnished for its size, filled with only a few things necessary in a dressing room.

Nari welcomed them with a smile of her own, and rising from her seat at her dressing table, she moved to clear a tray of cups from the small coffee table they had come to sit in front of.

"Excuse the mess, I wasn't expecting any more visitors," she said in a soft and kindly voice.

Masako shook her head dismissively and Mai said,

"Oh no, don't worry about it."

Mr. Sachi paused momentarily near the couch Masako and Mai had seated themselves at, looking as though he would like to join them (or at least Masako...), but then turned on second thought and took a chair facing them instead.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Mr. Sachi wondered good-naturedly, but then noted Nari and added, "Or considering that this is no longer my dressing room for the time being, to what does Nari owe the pleasure?"

Mai looked to Masako, she would have to be the one doing the talking, she got them into this, she would have to get them out. Masako looked as though she had no problem taking up the responsibility, maintaining a sense of composure, she answered,

"We were curious to see Nari's dressing room..." she began and it was all Mai could do not to glare openly at her. Mr. Sachi's cocked his head slightly; he was confused at the answer. Mai moved her foot to step on the medium's, but found she had (wisely) tucked them to the side.

"...and wanted to extend our congratulations personally," Mai added quickly.

The playwright seemed to like the end of this sentence better than the beginning, and his smile widened again, what Masako had said now lost to him.

"How very kind, did you hear that Nari?" Mr. Sachi asked, looking over at her. Nari, currently boiling a new pot of water, smiled warmly over at them,

"Thank you, that really is nice of you..."

"Of course-" Mai started to answer, her smile more relaxed now.

"No not at all, you really were charming as May," Masako chimed in, glancing at Mai out of the corner of her eye, taking a stab at revenge after Mai had stole conversation.

Mai clenched her jaw and glared as unassumingly as she could at the medium.

That Masako. Some thanks I get!

At this further praise Nari turned her attention back to the pot, smiling to herself...or perhaps not. For obvious reasons the actress wasn't on the best terms with the medium, her compliments were sure to be received coolly. Masako, oblivious to the newly settled stiffness in the air, continued on,

"I see we are not the only ones to think so though, your roses are lovely."

Nari turned back around with a laden tray of tea,

"Mmm, yes they are lovely," she answered.

"Can you pick out the one from me?" Mr. Sachi asked, sitting back in his seat, choosing not to look at Nari directly.

To Mai the question seemed slightly forced, or reluctant, as though he found the duty of being considerate to Nari difficult with Masako in the room. Mai frowned slightly; she had no sympathy for him.

Masako, with only mild interest, cast a look around the room. Set on virtually every surface was bouquet after bouquet. They ranged from large to small, elaborate to simple, and filled the room with a heavy sweet perfume. Mai spotted Mr. Sachi's almost instantly. Sitting there in all it enormity and beauty, it was better called an arrangement than just a bouquet. Several dozen roses, all at their peak bloom were surrounded by an assortment of lush greenery.

The most prominent thing about the arrangement though, was where it was placed. Where the many other bouquets all found homes set and stacked on the few available surfaces, Mr. Sachi's was set on Nari's small dressing table. It was in fact so big, that half of it sat over the edge precariously, but Nari didn't seem worried, and at the mention of it, she gazed at it with a blush tinting her cheeks.

"It's the one on the dressing table," Mai answered, murmuring her thanks to Nari who handed her a teacup.

Mr. Sachi looked to it and then at Nari who was also handing him tea,

"To commemorate a job well done," he said simply.

The blush left Nari's cheeks, silently she handed Masako her cup. Mai took a sip of the amber tea, gazing at the bouquet absently, and then a thought struck her,

"Mr. Sachi," she said, looking to the playwright, "why not lilies?"

Mr. Sachi, who had just finished sipping his tea, set down his cup rather hard. Nari glanced over at him as she took a seat, but said nothing. The playwright cleared his throat and looked to Mai with renewed composure,

"That's very observant of you, I'm sure you're thinking of the festival?" he said to Mai knowingly.

Mai was actually remembering how the playwright had treated the bouquet of lilies, but took another sip and nodded,

"It is the festival of lilies, right? But all you have here is roses..." she answered.

Nari gazed at her bouquets over the rim of her cup.

"I have an allergy to them," she spoke up, turning her soft eyes on Mai.

Mai choked on the sip she was taking.

An allergy? I told Niko I was allergic to lilies!

"Oh, are you alright?" Nari wondered urgently.

"There now, cough it out," Mr. Sachi encouraged nervously as he sat forward in his seat.

Masako had virtually no reaction, but as it seemed inconsiderate for her not to do anything, she delivered a particularly unhelpful and hard smack to the back. Mai regained composure and glared resentfully at the medium sitting next to her.

"Better?" Mr. Sachi persisted as Mai straightened up.

"Yes, thank you," Mai answered, still eyeing Masako darkly.

"You had quite a spell there, are you sure you're okay?" Nari said offering Mai a napkin.

Mai smiled and nodded,

"I'm sure; I must have just swallowed wrong. So you were saying, you're allergic?" Mai encouraged, looking to hear more after having interrupted.

Nari looked uncertain of going on, still concerned for Mai's health, but Mai was gazing at her so intently that she relented and continued,

"Yes, I've been allergic all my life. It's nothing major though, my supporters just send roses instead and I love them just the same-"

Mr. Sachi made a disapproving noise,

"Nothing major? It is major. Nari, your allergy is something to be taken seriously," he argued, looking to Mai appealingly, "She can become very sick, her allergy can even be life threatening."

In her mind's eye, Mai saw Mr. Sachi once again standing in that room, staring solemnly at the bouquet oflilies and the angry way he threw them out.

That's what made him so upset; he knew how harmful they would be to Nari...

A fresh blush rose in Nari's cheeks, she waved a hand to dismiss his fervent words,

"Please Joji, its fine, really. I just have to be a bit more careful during festival time, but everyone knows I'm allergic so people always look out for me."

Mai bit her lip thoughtfully,

If everyone knows that Nari is so allergic, then who would send her such a deadly bouquet?

Mr. Sachi sat back in his seat and said no more, his eyes moving among the bouquets. Mai imagined he was recalling the person who wasn't looking after her.

If only we had seen who it was sent from...

For a moment all that filled the air was the clinking of china and the soft tick of a clock, located somewhere off in the back of the room. Nari set down her tea cup gently and then smoothed her skirt looking up at Mai and Masako with a bright smile,

"So, you must be excited for the festival tonight?"

The question was a simple, conversational one, but Mai couldn't help noticing the way the edges of her lips faltered. Mai glanced at Masako and found a new fire was being lit in her belly.

That Masako.

Mai sat up straighter and turned her attention on the actress.

"Oh, right. I nearly forgot," she answered with a shrug and a sip of tea. Her answer was a lie, but a white one. She wanted to seem like it wasn't such a big deal, like the events of the coming night might not bring the exchanging of love tokens in the form of lilies the actress couldn't have, from men including Mr. Sachi to women including Masako. But for all her efforts, Mai could see that Nari hadn't bought it. Her eyes glittered with something Mai couldn't understand and then she laughed, the sound of it light and pretty.

"Don't be silly, of course you're excited. Women here wait all year for this one night," she persisted, pouring Mai more tea.

Unable to argue, even though the thought of it sent her stomach into a nervous flurry, Mai settled on staring at Masako. The medium was being strangely silent, given the many opportunities she was being presented with to wreak havoc. For some reason she seemed distant, as though not apart of the conversation.

"So, do we have many investigations under way today?" Mr. Sachi spoke up, looking to steer the conversation into more comfortable waters.

Masako blinked and looked to Mr. Sachi with hardly a smile, her most expressionless mask firmly in place,

"Of course, Naru has sent us all out. Mai and I have things to see to after we leave here," her answer all politeness and formality.

Instantly Mai's eyes darted to the playwright, expecting to see his curious smile fail against the harsh indifference directed at him, but he never faltered for a moment. Mai blinked in surprise, maybe he hadn't heard her? But he had and he nodded,

"Very good, I know the investigation is in good hands when you two are on the case," he replied, gazing affectionately at the unaffected medium, sparing a kind glance for Mai who could only smile bewildered back at him.

What is he made out of? Steel?

Mai slowly looked back to Masako, and if possible she looked even stiffer, but her mask was cracking, and Mai could see her breathing heavier in irritation.

Either Mr. Sachi is very determined or very blind.

Nari suddenly stood, her skirt swishing around her slender legs, she gathered the finished glasses, her fingers moving a bit clumsily, knocking tea cups over in her haste. Mai caught one she nearly dropped and in that instant caught a look of hurt in her dark eyes, but then it was gone and she smiled, murmuring her thanks.

The agitation in the room was now very thick, with both Masako and Nari unsettled. Mai glanced at the playwright across from her and took a wild guess that he was the cause of it all.

Masako wishes he would leave her alone, and Nari wishes he wouldn't leave her at all.

With Nari at the counter, loudly rising the cups and Masako staring determinedly at a point past Mr. Sachi, Mai stole this relatively safe moment to ask a question that was weighting on her mind.

"Speaking of investigations," Mai began, speaking as if nothing had passed, "we came across an interesting room yesterday."

Mr. Sachi, who had been currently involved picking lint off his black dress shirt, looked up at Mai attentively,

"Oh, really? What was it like? I'm afraid I can't recall just one. There are, after all, many interesting rooms here at the theater," the playwright answered readily, happy to have the conversation return to something he was familiar with.

Mindful that Masako was beside her, Mai answered, "It seemed to me like some sort of office, or study..."

Mr. Sachi raised his eyebrows in surprise,

"An office? Are you sure it wasn't a dressing room? Mine has been known to resemble one..."

Mai shook her head firmly,

"I'm sure. It was musty and filthy; I don't think anyone's been in there for a long time."

Mr. Sachi nodded, but held out his hands with a shrug,

"Well, I'm not sure what to think then. Either you're mistaken or there's a room in my theater I don't know about. The only proper office that was ever used here was Mr. Miyuki's and that's been locked up tight since his death."

Mai felt herself tense in surprise.

Mr. Miyuki's office?

Locked up?

Suddenly the room felt smaller. From every dark corner Mai felt as though she was being watched. At one point she thought she felt an unnatural breeze brush against her, but when she looked, she saw that it was just Nari passing by.

"So you see, you couldn't have found an office. Maybe it was my dressing room," Mr. Sachi persisted knowingly in Mai's silence.

"Well," said the playwright after another silence had settled upon them, "I have some other things to tend to, but I hope to see you all tonight."

The three of them nodded and Mr. Sachi stood and made for the door. Nari followed him to it, saying goodbye and thanking him again for the flowers.

"Of course Nari, it was my pleasure," he answered, waving her gratitude away.

The actress nodded with a smile and watched him walk down the hall before closing the door. Mai, who was already standing, felt that they should be leaving too.

"Thank you for the tea Nari," she began suggestively.

The actress smiled as she drifted over to her dressing table, organizing some of her makeup,

"Thank you for the nice afternoon," she answered, looking up to extend Mai a kind smile.

Mai smiled back and then turned to send Masako a meaningful look, but the medium did not seem to notice, staring hard at her hands. A moment later she spoke,

"You've worked here a long time, haven't you?" she asked, finally looking up to meet the actresses gaze.

Nari paused, blinked, and then glanced over at Masako,

"Yes, for years. I live and breathe my work; I'm here day in and day out. In fact the only time I've ever been away from my work was when they renovated the theater three months ago, and even then...they had to keep me away by force," Nari answered, a bit of pride creeping into her voice.

Masako nodded,

"You're very dedicated."

Nari raised an eyebrow; color rising in her cheeks,

"And you're not? Joji has mentioned you're something of a celebrity, he thinks you have acting potential..."

Masako stood at this, as though the statement bothered her, but her eyes were soft and relaxed.

"I have no interest in acting."

With a slight bow the medium left the room.

Mai watched this exchange in astonishment. When she finally recovered she remembered that she should probably be following Masako and turned to give Nari a small bow of her own.

The actress looked similarly struck by what just happened, but managed to bow in return and in a moment Mai was out in the hall, hurrying after the medium.

"Masako-" Mai called coming up behind her.

The medium held out a pale hand,

"Not a word Taniyama," she interrupted, sending a glare over her shoulder to further cement her point.

Mai could see now that her usual mask was firmly in place and all hopes of catching her off guard were dashed. A much needed silence settled over them as they walked through the hall, on the way to the dressing rooms.

Mai's head hummed with a thousand thoughts. It was as if this case was a puzzle and she had some of pieces before her, it was just a matter of making them fit together. After a few moments, Mai found her head was hurting.

If this is what it's like to be Naru, thinking all the time, it's no wonder he's so irritable...

They turned a corner and passed through yet another hall. It seemed the theater was a maze of them and all of them similar, with their low burning oil lamps and stretches of windowless wall. Mai blinked and rubbed her eyes after having found herself staring too long at one of the lamp's flames. Outside the pitter-patter of rain droned on, inside the pitter-patter of feet marched on.

It was a rough guess, but Mai sensed they would be nearing the dressing rooms soon.

And that room. The office.

Cautiously, with one eye always on Masako, Mai began to inspect each door they passed. It wasn't really the door she was focusing on though, but rather the crack beneath the door, her eye keen for the corner of a small tattered rug, which she knew from having walked over it, depicted a faded but stunning scene of Greek gods in the moonlight.

A few minutes later, Mai was growing increasingly aware that the long hall was becoming short, and still she hadn't spotted the door. Ahead of them, less than nine doors away was the single marked door to back stage and the dressing rooms. Determinedly, Mai gave her full attention to each room they passed.

Where is it? I should have seen it by now...wasn't it further back?

But then- just was she was turning away with a frown, it sprung out of the darkness. Mai halted in her tracks. Like a failing neon sign only she would notice, there was the corner of the rug, just barely peaking out, layered with years of dust. Masako reached the back stage door and looked back down the hall. Realizing this, Mai quickly swallowed her triumphant smile and then for good measure grabbed her foot.

An exasperated expression washed over the medium's face and she turned around without a second look back. As soon as her back was turned, Mai stuck out her tongue and released her foot. With one last glance at the door, memorizing its place, she resentfully moved and followed the medium.

A moment later Mai stepped through the door marked with a star and on to a quiet stage. The rain fall was louder here and looking up Mai could see why. She had taken no notice of them before, but stretched out above her were skylights, and many of them. Mai watched the splatter of each rain drop thoughtfully. They reminded her of the case, so many little things adding up to such a big mystery...

"Are you coming?"

Mai blinked and brought her head forward again. A few feet away Masako stood expectantly in the shadow of the left stage curtain. Mai gathered herself and moved on.

"It's kinda quiet today..." Mai said after a minute, the silence getting to her.

Masako went to simply nod, but then added, "Yes...very," as an after thought.

Vainly, Mai looked up and down the stage for actors rehearsing, but there were not even the little groups she had seen before. The stage was silent, dark, and empty.

"Maybe they're in their dressing rooms?" Mai suggested, catching the medium glancing around the same as herself.

Again Masako went to nod, but caught herself and offered a small, "Perhaps..." into the silence.

A moment later a small cry filled the air. The medium whirled around in time to see Mai grabbing at her foot, glaring fiercely at wooden prop. Mai winced in pain, she really had stubbed her toe this time and it didn't help that Masako was already turning around unconcernedly.

That Masako.

Carefully dodging further props, Mai followed Masako to the dressing rooms, set just off the stage. Ten of them, looking ominous in the gloom, awaited their inspection. Mai slowly looked over shoulder, and then at the nearby shadows. Maybe it was because she was standing near the open stage, but she had the unnerving sensation she was being watched.

That Naru.

The medium moved forward with her usual grace and without an ounce of hesitation and opened the first door. Meanwhile, behind her, Mai was steadily becoming more and more uneasy, though she couldn't say why. The medium's pale hand reached for the nearest oil lamp and in the next moment the dark dressing room was awash with a warm amber glow.

This comforted Mai slightly and she eagerly entered the light. Masako only went a few paces more before she stopped and closed her eyes. While the medium was busy sensing nothing, Mai was hurrying to take down the temperature, strangely aware of the open door.

58.5, a little cooler than usual...

Masako opened her eyes and blinked for a moment, as if she was trying to recall something at the edge of her memory. Mai watched the medium uncertainly and sent a quick glance out of the dressing room and on to the stage.

Is he here? Could she be sensing him..?

The medium gathered herself and breezed by Mai, saying simply,

"nothing," as she stepped through the door. Mai followed in her wake confused and suspicious. The next room went similar to the first, with the oil lamp turned up, followed by meditation and temperature taking. Mai found that this next room was also quite cool,

They've been empty, maybe that's the reason... Mai thought as she jotted down a 57.4.

When finished Mai looked up, carefully watching the medium's expression, but there was no odd blinking or pause, Masako simply opened her eyes and left, again murmuring a "nothing". Mai trailed Masako to each and every dressing room, finding the cool temperatures to be consistent and the medium's psychic ability inconsistent.

Mai walked out of the last dressing room, comparing her latest reading with the other rooms. There was a soft click behind her as Masako closed the door and then the sound of her dainty feet padding across the hard wood floor.

"Well, I'd say we've finished. I'm sure Naru won't be surprised that my answer still stands," the medium announced, her dark eye's glittering triumphantly.

Mai raised an unaffected eyebrow at her rival,

"I'm sure he won't be, you couldn't sense a ghost if it was right in front of you."

A flash of red rushed to the medium's pale cheeks, but then she mastered herself and managed a smirk,

"And I'm sure you think yourself much more sensitive."

Mai, not bothering to master herself, shot Masako a glare,

"As a matter of fact, I do."

The medium scoffed,

"Please Taniyama; your delusions are alarming."

A fire was lit in Mai's eyes, she opened her mouth to retort, but then an odd creak expanded in the pause between their arguing voices. Mai dropped the fists her hands had formed, her eyes traveling across the floor and then climbing up to the medium's confused eyes.

Something strange was passing through the air around them and Mai wasn't sure whether it was fear, danger, or both. Their argument had lead them in the opposite direction of the exit to a dark, dusty corner with cables running by their feet like thick black snakes.

Mai took a breath and realized her mouth was open so she closed it and swallowed. Masako adjusted her kimono, already backtracking, attempting to remaster some composure.

"What?" she spoke, her voice sounding small in the growing silence.

Mai suddenly looked over her shoulder, but there was nothing. The medium crossed her arms,

"You really are delusional."

Mai snapped her head around and narrowed her eyes at her rival,

"You sense it, don't you? Even through your thick head I mean..."

Masako's dark eyes flashed,

"Excuse me?" she protested, taking a small step forward.

A long groan filled the air. Both Mai and Masako froze, a bizarre feeling breaking over them. It lasted only a few heartbeats, but felt like ages. Mai had just time to exchange a look with Masako, and then- she knew they were going down.

The groan progressed into an ear splitting crack and before Mai could even blink, let alone register what was going on, the wooden floor gave way beneath her. Two cries rang out over the sound of wood snapping and breaking away.

It was impossible for Mai to judge how far she had fallen, but she knew when she hit the ground it had been long enough to have knocked the wind out of her lungs, but short enough for her not have broken anything. On her side she laid half stunned, breathing shallow breaths. All around her the air was murky with dust, some larger pieces collected on her eyelashes. Though she was fairly certain she hadn't broken anything, she resisted moving.

Breathe, just keep breathing.

Mai blinked, attempting to clear the falling dust from her eyes. Was Masako near by? Mai's eyes searched for her form, but from her limited point of view, all she could make out were scattered pieces of wood. Unable to see anything, Mai decided to listen, hoping to hear the breathing of her rival, but the silence seemed to have fallen with them from above. Mai frowned.

Then I'll speak.

She licked her lips, but found them coated with the same dust that was swirling all around them. Mai made a worse face at the taste it left in her mouth, but wet her lips again and opened her mouth to call out,

"Masako? Masako, are you there..?"

There was a dreadful silence and then a moan. The air having mostly returned to Mai's lungs gave her strength, and hearing Masako's voice finally inspired her move. Mai made to sit up, but slowly. She knew from previous experience the rush of sickening dizziness that accompanied sitting up too fast after a fall.

A moment later she had righted herself and found she was staring up a ten foot drop with an irregular shaped hole. The sound of wood being scrapped across the floor caused Mai to look back down. Behind her, a few feet away, sat Masako coated in gray dust. She looked so much like a fallen angel that Mai was struck with a twinge of jealousy, for she knew she must look like coated in dust: dirty.

That Masako, leave it up her to look good after a ten foot drop into a dust hole...

But in the next instance, Mai took back her vanity, for there a grimace of pain settled on the medium's face.

"Masako, are you okay?"

Mai came to her side. It was even gloomier down here, but Mai could tell she was hurting.

"I'm fine, I'll just need an ice pack," the medium answered, delicately adjusting herself against a wall.

Mai could see now that she was favoring her left arm over her right one and reached out for it. To her surprise Masako did not flinch or pull away as Mai felt it,

"It's my wrist, I think it's sprained. I must have landed on it wrong," Masako explained and Mai nodded, letting it down gently.

"I'm sure it hurts, we've got to look for a way out of here," Mai said, standing up to better take in her surroundings.

Though it was dark she was able to see that they were in some kind of empty space between the stage and ground level. The earth underneath Mai's feet was rocky and dry and other than the fallen wood little else littered the floor. Mai left Masako's side to try and see beyond the dark, but it was impossible without a flash light. Mai let out a sigh and blew her dusty bangs out of her eyes,

"I had no idea this area existed," she said returning to the faint light the hole above them was creating.

"Shh-" Masako cut in, "do you hear that?"

Mai paused and strained to listen. At first there was only silence, but then something else made its way to her ears, something soft and low.

"Humming?" Mai whispered.

Masako nodded,

"Like machines..."

Mai stood, thoughtful for a moment,

"The generators, maybe it's them?"

Masako frowned and closed her eyes,

"Where are they keeping them? I thought I saw them near the front of the theater."

Mai nodded,

"Yeah you're right, they are..."

A silence settled on them, only interrupted by their labored breathing and the faint humming.

"It's cold," Masako finally said after several minutes. Mai rubbed her arms absentmindedly as she stared up at the hole they fell through,

"It is," she answered with a shiver.

Just then a thought occurred to her.

The thermometer.

Mai's eyes darted to the floor near her, searching for any sign of the piece of equipment Naru had entrusted her with. With a sinking feeling, her gaze roamed over the large pieces of wood that had landed with Masako and herself. A moment later any hope of finding it fell through her, like she had fallen through the stage.

"Hm?" Masako spoke up, noticing Mai's troubled expression.

Catching sight of her rival's curious stare, Mai's frown vanished, replaced by a look of indifference.

"Nothing. Just as something to do I was looking for the thermometer..."

The beginnings of an amused smile pulled at the edges of the medium's lips,

"Oh? And do you see it?"

A bit of heat rose to Mai's cheeks,

"Well, that's the thing about looking..."

Attempting to keep her smile in check, Masako adopted a look of false sympathy,

"That's really too bad you lost it. I think I over heard Naru saying they were expensive..."

Mai's eyes flashed in the dark,

"I never said it was lost I said I was looking for it-"

"I suppose," the medium went on, speaking above Mai, "you shouldn't quit your search just yet, there is a small chance that it could have landed safely. Perhaps it's underneath of one of those pieces of wood? Though if you landed on it, I'm afraid there's no hope."

A fresh fire was lit in Mai's belly, she didn't put up with this above ground, she wasn't going to put up with it ten feet below.

"Oh and I suppose it would be perfectly fine if you and your endless yards of heavy kimono landed on it?"

The medium's eye shown brightly in the dark,

"Excuse me?"

Mai crossed her arms and glared at her rival smugly, "I said-"

But Mai was cut off here by the sound of foot steps. Mai exchanged a silent look with Masako and called out,

"Hello? Anyone there?"

A moment went by with no response, the foot steps carried on. Mai narrowed her eyes and gazed up the hole,

"Actors maybe?" she whispered to the medium, who had managed to pull herself up.

Masako did not answer, looking more alert than ever, she listened to the sound of the foot falls.

"Maybe it's Bou-san? We've been gone awhile, surely they've noticed...?" Mai persisted, but her suggestions sounded weak even to her own ears.

Somewhere inside of her she knew it was neither actors nor Bou-san.

Minutes went by, a long silence stretched out between them filled only with the sound of someone walking closer and closer. Mai found herself colder and colder as she waited and listened, desperately trying to drive down the anxiousness that was rising inside of her. A quick glance at Masako confirmed she wasn't the only one feeling uneasy. The medium's face was tight with concentration and maybe it was the dust, but she seemed distinctly paler.

The foot steps slowed to a stop, a heartbeat passed and then there was a slight creak over head. Mai swallowed the lump that had risen in her throat and with an uncertain look at Masako, called out,

"Hello...?"

There was another creak and groan of wood, as though whoever it was changed positions. At this a new anxiety rose in Mai.

"Wait!" she cried, "don't come any closer, the floor could give out!"

Behind her Masako gasped,

"We'll be crushed!"

Mai shot the medium a look over her shoulder, and then with more determination spoke again,

"Hello, did you hear me? Don't come any closer-"

The foot steps moved along the rim of the hole, but no matter how hard she tried, Mai could only make out shadows. Just then there was another groan of protesting wood and something sharper appeared at the edge of the hole, but Mai barely had time to recognize this though before something black was released from up above. With a cry of alarm, Mai staggered backward to avoid it hitting her. For a panicked moment Mai thought she had come face to face with a snake, long and black, swaying in the gloom, but then Masako said,

"A rope?"

With blood pounding in her ears Mai blinked stunned,

"A- a rope?"

Taking a steadying breath, Mai gazed up at the hole, but there was no shape peering over this time. Hesitantly Mai looked to the rope dangling there,

"Hey," she said squinting at it in the dark, "this isn't a rope, it's a cable."

Masako stood away from the wall she was using to support herself and joined Mai in the feeble light the hole was creating,

"You're right; there were many of them all over the stage."

Carefully Mai took a hold of the cable and with a look at the medium, gave it a firm tug. Instantly the cable went taunt in her hand,

"It feels secure," she murmured, giving it a few more yanks.

Masako pursed her lips uncertainly,

"This isn't safe; whoever it is up there won't even speak to us."

Mai frowned, still gripping the cable.

"What? Do you think someone is out to get us?"

Masako's lips became a thin line and she crossed her arms,

"I don't think it's safe."

Mai looked from Masako back up to the hole,

"We've been down here a long time Masako, and you're hurt-"

"Naru will come," the medium interjected confidently.

Mai shot Masako a look,

"Naru? He probably hasn't even noticed we're missing-"

"Well, maybe not you..." the medium murmured under her breath.

"-and by the time he realizes it, we'll have been stuck down here days," Mai persisted, pretending to not have heard Masako's last comment, although her eyes narrowed in the dark.

The medium frowned and then with a toss of her hair said,

"Fine. Do what you like Taniyama, but I'm staying here," and on that last word Masako sat where she had stood decidedly.

Mai blinked at the delusional medium for a moment, watching the newly stirred dust swirl through the air. Shaking her head she turned towards the cable and grasped it firmly in both hands.

That Masako, waiting for Naru...ha!

Mai took a steadying breath, trying to ignore the fact that her hands had become clammy and her heart felt as though it might burst through her chest. A pair of calculating eye's watched her from behind...there was only up from here.

Masako is wrong, there's nothing to worry about. I'm just going to climb out of this hole...

And with that Mai put one hand over the other and pulled her weight up. Mai had moved up an inch, but it was a satisfying one and she moved to place her left hand over her right, when the cable started moving on its own. Mai let out a little cry of surprise, and then, realizing that the cable was slipping through her hands, gripped it tighter. Masako's terse cry followed shortly after her own,

"Mai! Let go!" but by that point she was being pulled up so fast that she had no choice but to hold on, or fall again. Being yanked up through the gloom with her heart in her throat, Mai watched below as Masako's distressed form faded into hardly a shadow, above her the light coming through the hole's opening dazzled her eyes.

All too suddenly Mai found herself being deposited on the stage. Blinking awkwardly in the new light, Mai's unadjusted eyes searched out her rescuer and came eye to eye with a ghost. Mai gasped, her rapidly beating heart stalling in her shock as she recoiled, nearly falling through the hole again. It was only the ancient finger that he brought to his lips that stopped her from crying out a second time.

The old man!

Relief encircled her like a warm blanket. Mai found herself shaking slightly, but managed a meek smile and quickly drew a finger to her lips in understanding.

"But how..?" Mai whispered, her heart rate returning to a more comfortable pace.

With a smile that told her she would understand later, he shook his head and pointed back down the hole. Mai cocked her head and peered down as well,

"What? Masako?" she asked, looking over at him, a few strands of hair falling in front of her face.

The old man nodded eagerly as he straightened up. Mai made a face and tucked the stray hairs behind her ear,

"That's nice of you to think of her, but last time we talked she seemed pretty bent on being saved by-"

But the old man cut her off there with another shake of his head. Mai crossed her arms a bit defensively,

"Well, I can hardly change her mind. Besides she doesn't believe any ghosts exist here, the shock of seeing you might be too much for her-" but Mai's argument was cut short again by the old man standing up and pointing dramatically at one of the dressing room doors.

Mai looked from him to the door and back. Feeling as though she was missing something she replied,

"The dressing room? Does this have something to do with the case?"

The old man dropped his arm, staring tiredly at her. For a moment there was an odd silence, and then the old man began doing something that looked to Mai like drawing in a deep breath.

"Go," he said in a long, drawn out voice.

His tone was more impatient than unkind. For a moment Mai, startled to hear him speak, couldn't think of what he meant. But with the way he looked now, the act of saying even one word seeming to have exhausted him, she wouldn't ask him to elaborate. Helplessly, she looked back to the dressing room door,

"Go?" Mai repeated.

With the little energy he had left, the old man nodded. With her mind whirling with questions, Mai began walking towards the dressing room.

What does he want me to do...?

Reaching the door that readYuta Hiroto, Mai paused and looked back over her shoulder at the old man, hoping for some sign of what she was suppose to do there, but the spot where he had stood was vacant and dim.

Mai frowned feeling anything but reassured, but just the same she knocked. There was an uncertain moment, and then the sound of foot steps, followed by the door swinging open. Clearly the actor was surprised to see a young woman covered in dust standing outside his dressing room, but he recovered enough to politely close his mouth. He blinked, apparently waiting for Mai to say something, when she didn't- he asked,

"Can...I help you?"

Mai blinked dumbly back at him (wondering when he had come...all the dressing rooms had been empty), but then it hit her. Suddenly she knew what to say. The vacant look was replaced by a bright urgency,

"Yes, I mean- I hope so," she answered, her words coming out in a breathless tumble.

The man's expression changed into one of concern,

"What is it? Is there something wrong?"

Mai couldn't help but notice how his gaze traveled over her filthy, tattered appearance as he said these words. She blushed slightly, realizing she must look like the walking dead.

Not exactly Yoshi material.

Clearing her throat, Mai pressed on, "There's been an accident, the stage fell through-"

But that was all Mai could get out before the man, with wide worried eyes, pushed past her, calling over his shoulder,

"Where?"

Mai had to hurry after him just to keep up,

"Over there, by those cables-"

The two of them were upon the hole in moments. The actor knelt down near the edge,

"Hello, down there...are you okay?"

There was a moment of silence, but then the sounds of shuffling, and finally a small voice called up through the darkness,

"Where is Mai? What have you done with her?"

Mai, struck by the concern in the medium's voice, dropped down beside Yuta-san and answered,

"I'm fine Masako, I've brought help!"

The man frowned over at Mai,

"Are you Mai? What does she mean, what have I done with you?"

Mai blinked blankly, and then, thinking fast she shrugged,

"I don't know, maybe she's hit her head...?"

The actor's frown deepened,

"How long has she been down there? When did this happen?"

"Just a few minutes ago," Mai answered, becoming comfortable with the story she was building.

The man nodded and began inspecting the cables around him,

"These cables are thick, but I'm not sure they'll hold. Maybe I can find some rope laying around-"

"No," Mai answered quickly, and then at the odd look she was being given she added, "I mean- time is passing and we need to get her out, surely these cables are strong enough? She's small."

That Masako.

The man studied the cable in his hand and then looked back to Mai uncertainly, "What happened to you in all this? Are you hurt? This is a restricted area, what were you even doing back here...?"

Mai glanced at the large hole urgently,

"We're apart of the paranormal team investigating here. I'm fine, though. It was my friend who was standing on the spot-"

The man held up a hand to silence her and nodded,

"You're right, we're losing time. We'll use a cable."

The next moment he was examining the many cables snaking around his feet. Mai looked down at her own feet where the cable that had rescued her laid,

"How's this?"

The man looked up and saw the thick cable Mai was pointing at,

"It'll work."

With the hiss of rubber against wood, Yuta-san sent the cable down to Masako.

"Grab it Masako, we'll pull you up," Mai called, leaning over the hole.

"Alright," came her muffled reply and then the cable went taunt.

Mai gripped the black cable tight in both hands, and on the actor's command, she pulled. It was unexpectedly more work than Mai thought it would be to pull the seemingly feather weight Masako up out of that hole, and it was with relief that Mai dropped the cable as Yuta-san finished helping Masako onto the stage.

Rubbing her sore arms, Mai looked over to her rival, and in the better light she could see she looked no worse for wear, covered in dust and all. Mai suddenly felt a stab of something sorer than her arms.

That Masako.

In the next instant Mai realized Masako was staring back at her, the medium blinked and then began to laugh behind a well placed sleeve,

"Taniyama, look at you-"

Mai sat up straighter and crossed her arms,

"You're one to talk, powder puff."

Yuta-san, apparently oblivious of the exchange, knelt down beside Masako concernedly,

"Miss, are you alright?"

The medium's amused laughter dried up immediately, with large innocent eyes she stared back at the actor,

"Yes, I think so," she answered, feigning a cough behind her crafty sleeve, "Thank you for everything."

The man waved a dismissive hand,

"It was nothing, but I do want to make sure you're really okay, let me escort you to a doctor-"

A pale had emerged from its sleeve to silence the actor, Masako smiled kindly,

"That's really not necessary, if you would just help me to my feet..."

Reluctantly the man found himself doing just that,

"But you could be hurt, you should let a doctor have a look at you," he persisted with a glance at Mai.

Having watched this display with disgust, Mai wanted to separate the two actors as soon as possible. Joining Masako, she offered a supportive arm,

"Thank you, but I think we'll be fine. Our team can help..."

The man frowned,

"Well, at least let me walk you to where you need to go-"

"Hiroto?"

The three of them, standing in the gloom, turned their heads at the mention of the actor's name.

"Hiroto, what in the world- Masako, is that you?"

"Mr. Sachi," Yuta-san answered as the playwright hurried over to them.

"What is going on here?" Mr. Sachi persisted, looking Mai's filthy appearance up and down.

"There was an accident, the stage fell through," Mai answered, but she barely got her words out before the playwright was clutching horrified at Masako's arm,

"My dear, my dear tell me you're not hurt-"

"I'm not hurt."

Masako gripped Mai's arm tightly with her good hand.

"Hey- ouch," Mai protested, attempting to yank her arm away, but Masako wouldn't let go.

"I don't believe it, look at you. You need to see a doctor right away."

"That's what I've been trying to tell her," Yuta-san agreed, crossing his arms.

"The only person I'm going to see-" Masako interjected firmly, "is Naru."

Mr. Sachi opened his mouth instantly to protest, but then closed it upon realizing she was serious about this. Yuta-san just stood there, bewhildered. Mai simply smiled at them both. She couldn't blame Masako for finally loosing her composure, after all, she had been trying to go see Naru after the investigation, when she fell through the hole... she was hoping to see Naru when he saved her (ha!), and now she wanted to go see Naru so he could fawn over her delicate state (ha! ha!), but a playwright and an actor were telling her no.

Mr. Sachi frowned, looking reluctant,

"Well, if you're sure my dear-"

"I'm sure."

"Then at least let me walk you back to base as you call it."

Masako nodded, still gripping Mai's arm, and gave Yuta-san a small thankful bow before turning to leave, dragging her rival with her. Behind them, Mai could hear Mr. Sachi exchanging hurried words with Yuta-san, and then hurried foots steps as he tried to catch up,

"Easy now Masako, you'll do yourself harm!" the playwright exclaimed, protesting the rate at which she was walking.

The medium made no answer, but only continued at her brisk pace.

"Really, you don't look too steady there. Here, let me support you," the playwright urged, taking up Masako's injured arm.

The medium gasped in pain, startling Mr. Sachi,

"My goodness, you are hurt," he cried, holding her arm more delicately now.

Masako frowned, but whether it was from pain or annoyance it was hard to tell.

"It's nothing," she answered pulling her arm closer to her side.

Mr. Sachi was the one frowning now, and in the next moment he stopped, halting Masako as well.

"It is something, now please, let me help you," he pleaded, looking as serious as Mai had ever seen him.

Taking advantage of the medium's surprise, Mai quickly removed her arm from the vice grip it was trapped in and stepped a safe distance away. There was a heavy moment of silence, and then, with resignation in her eyes, Masako nodded and offered her arm. Looking pleased with himself, the playwright took it. The rest of the time was spent in silence as they passed through hall after hall, Mr. Sachi stealing concerned looks at the medium every other second, Mai stealing amused ones.

"Nearly there," the playwright announced as they approached the foyer.

Then they saw him. One minute there was empty space, the next- a figure of a man. Stunned, a cry escaped Mai's lips and Masako gasped.

"It's- it's him..." Mr. Sachi breathed in a quavering voice.

Beside the playwright, Masako blinked furiously, as though she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Mai stared and stared at the man, unable to look anywhere else but at his face, and the wall she could see through it.

He isn't solid, why isn't he solid..?

Suddenly he was moving towards them with large determined steps. Mai and Masako did not waver an inch, determined to interact with spirit, but in the next instant, with much more speed and strength than would be guessed of him, Mr. Sachi engulfed them both, pinning them against the wall as the ghostly figure rushed by them, dissolving into nothing.

There was a moment of just breathing and blinking, Mr. Sachi holding them both in an awkward kind of half embrace against the wall. For a disturbing moment Mai was reminded of the last time she was this close to Mr. Sachi, which was when she had plowed into him returning to base, and felt once had been more than enough. Mr. Sachi glanced at length down the hall before slowly releasing them,

"He's gone, are you both alright?"

Mai stepped away, putting some much desired distance between herself and the playwright.

"Yes, just fine," she answered, breathing out through her nose in an attempt to get rid of the sharp scent of Mr. Sachi's cologne.

Masako crossed her arms and replied with little more than a nod. Mai knew what was bothering her, it was bothering her too.

That Mr. Sachi.

"I'm not so sure, you look unsettled," the playwright persisted, handling them as he would Nari, thinking them traumatized by the incident.

"I'm fine," Masako insisted, straightening her dusty kimono in agitation.

"There now, you don't have to put on brave faces; you were nearly attacked by a ghost, if I hadn't stepped in-"

Masako, whose composure seemed to be faltering quite a bit that day, glanced at Mr. Sachi in disbelief,

"If you hadn't stepped in? If you hadn't stepped in I would have been able-"

Mr. Sachi blinked at the medium as though he couldn't understand her,

"Masako please; I know what a shock this was. Let me get you to base, I'll make you some tea."

Masako's pale cheeks burned red in anger, but the playwright seemed oblivious to this as he gently coaxed them along to a less distressing place.

"Hello," Mr. Sachi greeted as he stepped into base, Mai and Masako following broodingly.

For a moment there was dead silence, and then numerous things happened at once. An exclamation came from almost everyone in the room. Bou-san, who had been drinking some tea, began choking, John was up from his chair and upon them before Mai could blink, Ayako dropped the magazine she was reading, Lin turned all the way around in his seat to stare at them, and Naru, who had been reading some important paper, tossed it down.

"Please, there is no cause for alarm, I've saved them from the attack-" Mr. Sachi began, but no one was listening.

"Mai," Bou-san gasped between coughs, "what are you covered in?"

"Is that...flour?" Ayako persisted, staring at them with wide eyes.

John, hovering over them, peered into their faces anxiously,

"Are you hurt?"

Mr. Sachi nodded hurriedly,

"Masako is, her arm-"

"Her arm?" John repeated, looking to her worriedly.

"Where have you been?" Naru demanded over the chaos.

Mai narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms, the reason any of this happened was all because of him, and this was how he greeted her: where have you been?

"Oh I don't know, just killing time by spending two hours in a hole."

"A hole?" Bou-san said looking Mai over with confusion.

Naru narrowed his eyes to match Mai,

"You mean there was an accident?"

"You could call it that, though I think falling through a stage-"

"You fellthrough the stage?" Bou-san exclaimed.

"Yes, how did that happen? You didn't get a chance to explain," Mr. Sachi interrupted, looking to Mai intently.

Mai blinked rapidly, feeling a bit overwhelmed,

"I don't know- it happened so fast," she mumbled, unable to concentrate.

John, with an attentive hand on Masako's shoulder, looked to Mai with the same concern,

"Perhaps you should both sit down?" he suggested.

Mai nodded, thankful that someone was thinking of her. In the next moment Mai found herself being helped to her seat by Bou-san, behind her Masako was lead by John and Mr. Sachi as though she had just survived an earthquake instead of a minor fall. Despite this flattering attention though, the medium still seemed to only have eyes for Naru.

"She needs an ice pack," Mr. Sachi announced as he guided the medium to her seat next to Mai.

John left Masako's side to retrieve one from Lin, who handed another to Bou-san.

"Here, I'm sure you can't fall through a stage without getting bumped somewhere," the monk said, offering the pack to her.

Mai took it gratefully, but didn't immediately apply it anywhere. Ayako left her seat to kneel in front of Mai,

"So you fellthrough the stage," she repeated, taking Mai's face in her hands, moving it this way and that.

Mai attempted to nod, but found she couldn't in Ayako's grasp, so answered instead,

"Yes, it gave way under us-"

"But I don't see how that could be!" Mr. Sachi objected, running a hand through his hair, "The stage was restored just three months ago!"

Mai frowned, moving her eyes towards the playwright as the priestess still held her head captive.

"Well, that didn't stop it from happening."

"All the same it still baffles me. What was going on at the time?" Mr. Sachi persisted, offering Masako a cup of tea which she refused.

"We were just standing there," the medium interjected, her right hand carefully holding the ice pack to her left wrist.

Mr. Sachi stared down into the tea,

"Well, that hardly makes sense...unless-" the playwright looked up suddenly, "it was something paranormal."

"Was it paranormal?" Naru's voice cut in.

At this Mai made a clumsy grab at the cup of tea Bou-san was trying to hand her, sloshing some of it on his shirt.

"Oy- Mai!" the monk protested.

Gathering herself, Mai blinked and quickly took the cup,

"Sorry, Bou-san."

Naru was now staring hard in Mai's direction, and beside her Masako was also.

"Well?" Naru persisted, no longer bothering to include the medium in this question.

Mai pursed her lips defiantly,

What is this, an interrogation?

If Naru thinks targeting me will get answers, he has another thing coming...

"There was nothing paranormal about it," Masako spoke up, looking from Mai to Naru, "It was an accident."

Mai broke her fierce staring contest with Naru and glanced at Masako.

Is she serious? Does she really still believe there's nothing paranormal here?

"An accident?" Naru repeated, reluctantly looking to the medium as well.

"Yes," Masako answered firmly as she gazed back at Naru, pleased to have his attention again.

"Are- are you sure my dear? Just think of our last encounter!" Mr. Sachi protested, looking to the medium and then Mai appealingly.

"What encounter?" Bou-san asked, glancing at Mai curiously.

Masako held up a hand and opened her mouth to argue, but the playwright wouldn't have any interruptions to his story,

"The encounter," he persisted, sitting forward in his seat, "with Mr. Miyuki himself!"

Bou-san's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and Naru's fell in suspicion.

"You saw the ghost of Mr. Miyuki?" Bou-san asked, looking to Mai and Masako.

"We didn't just see him, we were attacked!" Mr. Sachi announced, nearly sliding off his seat in eagerness, "The girls were terrified, naturally. Why if it wasn't for my quick thinking-"

"You were attacked?"

"Mr. Miyuki's ghost?"

"Terrified?"

"Enough."

Suddenly there was silence. Naru left the desk he was standing near to pace the room,

"Where did this happen Mr. Sachi?" he asked, his dark eyes searching the playwright.

Mai swallowed and stared pointedly into her tea as his gaze passed over her.

"Well, in the hall near the foyer," Mr. Sachi answered, looking bothered that his story was being reduced to simple facts.

"And he just appeared, there were no signs? Mai-" Naru said returning his attention to her once more, "what did the thermometer read?"

Mai, who was gulping her tea in case some question was shot her way, promptly began choking.

"Oy, Mai," Bou-san cried, giving her several claps on the back.

Masako sent Mai a sidelong glance,

"Mai doesn't know what the temperature was," the medium began, "because Mai doesn't know where the thermometer is."

Mai, having recovered somewhat from her coughing fit, glared fiercely at her rival, but Masako merely stared ahead.

"What happened to the thermometer?"

Mai could feel Naru's eyes on her, but she refused to meet them and instead brought her ice pack over her face,

"Oh right, it's my fault it's missing. I just love falling into black holes and losing expensive equipment," Mai answered, her voice muffled by the ice pack, which a moment later was snatched away.

"Give me that, you're doing it all wrong," Ayako protested, wrapping the ice pack in cloth before plastering it across Mai's forehead.

"That's alright Mai, we know it was an accident," Bou-san replied, patting her on the shoulder while shooting Naru a significant look.

"So this whole thing is going down as an accident?" Mr. Sachi spoke up, looking to each face imploringly.

"Well, obviously Mai didn't just chuck Naru's thermometer down a hole-" Bou-san began, turning to the playwright.

"It's not that, I mean the stage giving out..." Mr. Sachi persisted, seeming a bit flustered.

"I do not believe it was paranormal," Masako answered, ignoring the playwright's dramatic expression.

"But it was just renovated!"

"Hey, weren't you sent there this morning Ayako?" Bou-san said suddenly.

There was a pause as all eyes turned on the priestess. Ayako leered over at the monk,

"Yeah, so..?"

"Well clearly you didn't do a complete job..."

"Excuse me?"

"Matsuzaki-san," Naru interrupted, taking control of the conversation again, "did you notice anything when you were there earlier?"

Ayako, red in the face and still glowering over at Bou-san, answered Naru with a curt,

"No, I completed my work and left."

"I sensed nothing while completing my work either," Masako added, handing John her deluded ice pack.

There was a moment of silence while Naru worked things over in his mind. Beside the medium, Mr. Sachi sat frowning; firmly believing something paranormal had happened.

"Mai," Naru finally said, turning his penetrating gaze upon her, "what did you feel?"

Mai lowered the ice pack from her head, buying herself some precious seconds before she would have to lie and convincingly. Mr. Sachi leaned forward in his seat to get a good look at her; perhaps she would take his side?

Mai set her face much the same way she had seen Masako do it, and while the fresh memory of her rescuer re-played it's self in her mind, Mai looked Naru straight in the eye.

"I felt nothing."

"See," Masako spoke, "she even admits it herself, there's nothing here."

Mai glanced darkly at her rival,

That Masako.

With a sigh Mr. Sachi sat back in his seat,

"So what would you call our encounter earlier, a figment of imagination?"

The medium looked thoughtful and then opened her mouth to answer, but the playwright held up his hand,

"Pardon me my dear; I forgot what state of mind you were in at the time. Perhaps it is best for you to think of it as a figment of imagination," he persisted, giving both Naru and Bou-san meaningful looks.

Masako's dark eyes narrowed, but surprisingly it was John who spoke first,

"Are you implying that Masako- a professional medium, couldn't handle the situation?" His tone, while still soft, was enough to cause Mai to glance over at the priest.

Mr. Sachi blinked, clearly taken back, but recovered quickly, and with a smile answered,

"Nobody is pointing fingers of course, her celebrity is still intact."

Celebrity?

Mai looked to Naru to see his expression and was startled to see him staring at her. It was obvious then that he hadn't been paying attention to Mr. Sachi, Masako, or John at all; he hadn't stopped staring at her since she had answered, since she had lied. The look spoke three words clearly: this isn't over.