You guys hit the 10 reviews and as promised, I am updating! Wow I am honestly very happy with all the kind words you had to say, you guys really make my day! As always, I really hope you enjoy!
The duo of ghost hunters burst into the kitchen, followed closely by Yasu.
Mai stood motionless in the middle of the kitchen, facing the window. She held her breath, her face one of open terror.
"Mai what happened?!" Yasu panted, stepping closer to check her for injuries.
After a few long seconds, Mai turned to them very slowly, her shaky hand gesturing to her feet. That is when they all saw the hand protruding from the floor, still clutching Mai's ankle. She tried to remain perfectly still, her body quaking.
Lin whistled, and a blinding light pierced the room. It proceeded to fly above their heads, before diving down and crashing into the hand. Both then proceeded to disappear on impact.
"Are you OK?" Shibuya asked. Mai covered her mouth in an attempt to swallow her scream, tears streaming down her cheeks. Just as she was about to assure them that she would be fine, her world faded and tilted and she collapsed. The last thing she saw was legs as someone darted towards her...
~o0o~
Mai woke up feeling strange.
Her body felt light and almost numb... Everything felt too vivid to be a dream, but too slow to be reality. For a long moment it felt like the first moments of waking up, when you are still trying to get a gauge for your surroundings.
Mai stayed where she was for what felt like a long time. When the feeling of uneasiness faded, Mai went to stand.
"Easy there" A voice echoed. Mai whipped around, before actually noticing her surroundings. What was she standing on?
Looking down, Mai barely managed to swallow the scream before it passed her lips. A feeling of virago swept over her, at the realization that she was standing on the abyss. The feeling made her tilt, and a hand found her back before she could fall.
"Shibuya?!" Mai cries, shocked to see him. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question Mai" 'Shibuya' smiled, watching happily as Mai blushed.
"Where am I?" She asked, before becoming overwhelmingly sleepy.
'Shibuya' spoke, but Mai could not hear his words. The sound of water crashing against her ears before she fell through the arms holding her in place...
~o0o~
Mai woke on the sofa in the base. The first thing she saw was a red headed woman staring down at her. Mai drew in a quick breath in surprise.
"Not the greeting I was hoping for, I must admit" the woman muttered. Another man sitting at the desk, whom Mai was sure she vaguely recognized from TV, started laughing.
"No one wants to see your face when they first wake up Ayako, what do you expect" He laughed teasingly.
"Shut up old man" Ayako growled, refraining from hitting him only because of Mai's presents.
"Are you two just going to keep bickering like an old married couple, or introduce yourself to the client?" Shibuya scolded.
"Shut up" Both Ayako and the other man cried indignantly.
"Miss Taniyama, my name is John Brown, it is lovely to make your acquaintance" a third voice greeted in a thick Australian accent. Mai turned to see a very young looking blond man smiling at her. He passed her a cup of green tea before taking a seat in front of the table.
"And my name is Masako Hara" another voice introduced. A short, young woman came out of the kitchen, holding a tray of tea.
"Wait, aren't you the famous medium?" Mai gushed. "I'm a huge fan of your show Miss Hara"
"Well thank you" Masako bowed, hiding her face behind her sleeve.
"Forgive me" Mai sat up. "My name is Mai Taniyama"
"Your friend Yasuhara was just telling us a little about your case Taniyama-San" John spoke again, smiling kindly.
"OK well, I should probably introduce myself too" the man bickering with Ayako surmised. "My name is Takagawa Hosho"
"The rock star Takagawa Housho?!" Mai was now gushing again.
"I like this kid, can we keep her?" He joked.
"You're a Monk right?" Mai tilted her head cutely.
"Correctamundo" Monk grinned.
Mai then finally turned to Ayako, who had been staring at her strangely for a good five minutes.
"Are you one of my hospital patients Taniyama?" Ayako asked slowly. "I've heard that name before"
"Tokyo hospital?" Mai asked quietly.
"Yes," Ayako did not understand the sullen look Mai was wearing.
"You may have been treating my mother" Mai smiled sadly. "I came in almost every day to see her"
"Oh?" Ayako tried to think back, her mind reeling. She remembered telling a young girl, with big brown eyes, that her mother was not going to make it. Ayako was suddenly silent.
Mai saw recognition in Ayako's eyes. Shibuya sighed. So he was right huh?
"Not the conversation for an audience" Yasu whispered in Mai's ear. He gave her a quick hug and ruffled her hair. "So what happened earlier before you passed out Mai?"
"Oh right," Mai remembered. She looked thoughtful for a moment. "I don't remember much. I just saw a face pass through the window. I screamed when it seemed to dash past me. And the next thing I knew, it's hand was on my ankle"
"Miss Hara, do you sense anything?" Shibuya asked, facing the monitors.
"I sense an abundance of spiritual energy here" Masako closed her eyes. "They don't seem to be trapped in the house"
"There are many sights nearby that could gather spirits" Yasu piped in. "Two shrines alone within walking distance"
"You think the spirits are coming into the house because of the shrines?" Mai asked. "One is rather decrepit, maybe whoever lived here before was meant to look after it?"
"That's is a possibility, but it is highly unlikely" Yasu commented. "That shrine has been in a state of disarray years before you moved into the house, and there are no signs of haunting till recently. There is no correlation"
"By that account, we are looking for something significant that happened recently" John summarized. "Anything come to mind Taniyama-san?"
A flash of light and a loud horn sounded in Mai's head. She froze but was not at all sure what she saw. Naru seemed to notice but did not comment. "Nothing significance comes to mind" Mai admitted.
"For now we should monitor the comings and goings of the house, to see if something is drawing them in here" Naru declared. "If we don't find anything within the home, we will start to slowly expand the area of investigation"
"Sounds good" Monk smiled.
"It should be noted that Taniyama has asked no one to venture into the room upstairs to the left" Shibuya cautioned. Monk waved an airy hand in understanding.
"I think I should get more ingredients for dinner" Mai muttered. She went to stand, but her throbbing head sent her back to the sofa.
"We could just order something" Shibuya suggested. "This is not your responsibility"
"It's been a long time since I had guests, I would like to cook" Mai was pouting.
"I still need to conduct my interviews" Shibuya countered.
"Well come with me then" Mai rolled her eyes. "Or you could wait till after dinner"
"Don't be ridiculous, I'm working" Shibuya frowned slightly. He never normally had trouble getting his way. Especially against a girl. Annoyingly, they tend to believe he wants a girl to do as he says.
"Maybe I should go to the shop, get take out on the way back, and you can cook all day tomorrow" Yasu suggested. "That way you can answer questions, and not faint in public"
"That was one time" Mai pouted. "But fine, I guess you're right, it is getting kind of late"
"Good Mai-Chan" Yasu teased, patting her head.
"Don't touch me" Mai scowled. Yasu just proceeded to ruin her hair.
Mai and Yasu proceeded to bicker over food for a while. Engaging everyone else into preferences discussions. Shibuya ignored them in favor of writing notes on the earlier attack.
"Shibuya" Mai called softly. Shibuya looked up at her, expression softening at her shy smile. "Do you have any food preferences?"
"I don't like onions" Shibuya shrugged.
"But you and onions have so much in common" Monk teased. "You're both sour and both make people cry"
"Shut up old man, your like a moldy tomato" Ayako scolded.
"Well you're like an old potato!" Monk argued back.
"Bickering like children again?" Masako voice was dripping with condescension. Her eyes looked bored, but with her kimono sleeve covering her lips, she could have very easily been laughing maniacally. Mai tried not to smile at the idea.
"Stop wasting time or I will dock your pay" Shibuya warned coldly. Mai visibly twitched. She knew this was going to cost a crazy amount. To have all these professionals in her home would probably cost her entire inheritance, and she would probably have to sell the house. But there was little point worrying about things out of her control.
"I think that's everything sorted" Yasuhara smiled. He took his list and went to leave when Shibuya handed him a company card. Yasu was about to protest.
"Use this" he ordered, sounding almost bored. "I will get everyone's"
"Are you sure Shibuya-San?" Mai asked shyly, her eyes wide at the offer. She looked rather cute, and it was not unnoticed.
"If you made me tea later, I would consider that a fair trade" Shibuya suggested. Mai nodded eagerly.
"All you have to do is ask" Mai smiled dutifully. Shibuya gave her a plain stare. Well actually, his eyes were not plain. They looked almost... content.
"You might be regretting that soon enough" Takagawa grinned. "He's a slave driver! He will ask for tea every hour"
"I really don't mind helping in anyway I can" Mai assured.
"Mai dear, don't encourage him" Ayako lectured softly. Mai beamed up at Ayako, thrilled to be called by her first name, and to be given motherly advice. Well, maybe not motherly advice, but her words were soft and warm. Most people who knew about her mother, spoke to her with pity in their voice. Ayako sounded empathetic and compassion. Mai was still a human to her, and not a kicked puppy. Guess that came with the job.
"I will bare that in mind" Mai promised, earning herself a smile from Ayako and Takagawa.
Yasuhara watched the scene from the doorway, a little less worried about his friend being here, and with strangers. They seemed far more capable of protecting her, and they definitely seemed like trustworthy individuals. He sighed in relief, said a quick goodbye and left.
"That's enough goofing off" Shibuya reprimanded. "Miss Hara, Father Brown" he addresses. "Do a temperature check, starting with the kitchen"
"Of course" Masako agreed, nodding once and standing up gracefully. She followed John dutifully, allowing him to open doors for her.
"Miss Matsuzaki, Mr Takagawa, start on a floor plan" Shibuya ordered.
"Fine" Ayako sighed loudly, a little displeased. The house wasn't too big and so it shouldn't take too long.
Mai waited till they were both out the door to comment. "Ne, Shibuya-San, I'm pretty sure Yasuhara found a floor plan"
"That was quite some time ago. If there have been renovations, it might not be accurate. Best to just double check" Shibuya didn't bat an eyelid as he gave his excuse. He just didn't want to ask these questions with an audience. Lin stayed at the computer, watching the live feed.
"OK I guess so" Mai did not seem convinced, and Shibuya liked that she was skeptical.
"Taniyama-San, may I see your ankle where the spirit grabbed you?" Shibuya requested, his aura of professionalism less intense then when they first met.
Mai complied, blushing a little as she pulled down her thigh high sock. She was used to wearing shorts or skirts without long socks, but there was something strange about removing her sock in front of someone. Essentially a man. Lin didn't once look up from the monitor.
Shibuya sighed at the sight. He ignored the fact that Mai's legs was soft looking, and instead focused on the hand shaped bruise on Mai's ankle.
"I've had worse" Mai muttered sheepishly, putting on a brave face.
"It might not be a bad idea to stay somewhere else while we are investing" Shibuya suggested. "We can give you charms that should break any communications you have with spirits whiles outside the area"
"I'm not retreating to safety, and leaving all of you in danger" Mai pouted.
"This is our job" Shibuya countered.
"But this is my house" Mai retorted. "I need to be here too" her voice harbored a lot of finality. She wouldn't budge on the subject.
"You should be with someone at all times" Shibuya ordered. "You stay here in base unless accompanied by someone who can defend you"
"What about sleeping or showering?" Mai asked plainly.
"I want you to share your room with Miss Hara and Miss Masuzaki" Shibuya sighed. He ignored the shower question.
Mai looked down a second. There was a reason Mai didn't want anyone else to go in her parents room, but she had never said why. Shibuya had ideas but he wasn't about to ask.
"I don't think that's a good idea" Mai spoke slowly, her voice broken and ashamed.
"I understand" Shibuya didn't ask for an explication. "You can sleep in the other room with the girls"
Shibuya neglected to explain that she would be on the bed and his team would be on the floor. He also couldn't wait to break the news that they can no longer stay off sight.
Mai wanted to question why he let it go without argument. If he knew something he didn't need to know. He didn't sound like he was pitying her, he just didn't push her.
"Sure" Mai nodded. "Sounds good"
Hey guys! I really hoped you enjoyed! Please leave a review because honestly I priorities updates depending on what you guys seem to like the most... If there is any other story that I also need to update, feel free to tell in a review! Love you guys, really I do! Also we are still open for people joining the discord! The code on chapter one!
