A/N: Hey! Thank you so much for sticking with this! Here's another chapter to enjoy!

CaitHawke4Ever - Mai has some pretty smart moments. And the shiki are BA, just saying. They definitely have some 'splainin to do. Thank you!

Damaged Forest Spirit - Oh no! Please don't fall out of your chair. I hope you're not hurt. But yes, they make me very happy! So, thank you! And please, please don't injure yourself! (:

Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt.

Language Key:

Regular = Japanese

Bold Italic = Chinese

Bold = English

Chapter 9:

Mai stood in the shower for a long time. Long after the water had run clear. Long after her skin had been rubbed raw. The scalding hot water still couldn't wash the images from her mind.

Reluctantly, she shut it off. The cold air greeted her instantly - the steam only doing so much to trap the heat. She dried herself off a little rougher than she should have considering. Scratches and bruises covered her body, but she didn't mind. The pain was a reminder that she was alive.

She avoided looking at the trash can overflowing with her ruined clothes as she slipped something clean on. She slid into some cozy leggings before pulling a nightshirt over her head. The soft, oversized shirt was not something she remembered owning. Lin must've mixed up their clothes when he picked them out. Too bad for him - it was hers now.

She brushed her teeth vigorously, hoping to scrub the metallic taste from her mouth. But no amount of minty fresh toothpaste, no amount of floral scented body-wash could cover up the smell of blood that lingered. Because it was all in her head. She knew that she probably smelt just fine. But the horrors of that place had seeped into her skin, tainting her mind.

With a sigh, she exited the bathroom. Lin needed a shower, too. She'd left him waiting for it long enough. He'd also come back tainted from that living nightmare. Thankfully, he'd only been slightly covered in the blood instead of drenched it.

When she entered the main area of the hotel room, she found him sitting on the edge of the desk chair. His stained elbows rested on his knees; his head was in his hands. He looked like he'd been in that position since she left.

"I'm out," her voice seemed to thunder in the silence. Her footsteps felt heavy as she walked over to him.

He looked up at her. A small smile was on his face, but a storm still raged in his eyes. The storm had been there since he found her. Since he saved her.

He stood up and brushed the hair away from her forehead. Her hairbrush was on top of her duffel bag, so her hair was still a mess. He didn't seem to mind, though. It didn't stop him from pressing his lips to her damp forehead.

He lingered there for a moment. His hand rested on her shoulder, his grip gentle yet firm. Then, all too soon, he pulled away. He took his warmth with him as he gathered his stuff.

"I'll be quick," he promised.

Mai didn't realize how bad she needed that promise until she watched him disappear into the bathroom. Then, she was all alone. She was truly alone for the first time in weeks. Not even Lin's shiki were there to keep her company. She hadn't seen them since they came to her rescue. Lin said they'd be back, that they were just resting. But she was really missing those comforting spirits.

Mai grabbed her hairbrush and worked on her half-dry hair. Tears sprung to her eyes as she tried to be gentle. Her scalp was still sore from being drug through the maze. She brushed it just enough to be manageable before throwing the brush back in the bag.

When she was done, she crawled into bed and wrapped herself up in the blankets. Curling up around a pillow, she sought any comfort available. She wanted anything that didn't remind her of where she'd been.

She wasn't looking for sleep, though. Which was a good thing since the consistent buzzing of Lin's pillow would've made sleep impossible. After it buzzed a few more times, she lifted her head to look at the culprit. Lin's phone sat on the pillow, the screen lit. Mai grabbed it, being the nosy person she was. She laid back down as she scrolled through the notifications.

There were over a dozen unread texts from Madoka. The last one, the only one she could read without opening, was a mad emoji. To go with the texts, there were eight missed calls. The whole thing was odd. Lin rarely had his phone on vibrate, not wanting to miss any news from home. And he never let Madoka call more than twice before he answered. Tonight, though, he seemed to be avoiding it on purpose.

Mai didn't have the energy to dwell on it too deeply. Though her curiosity was burning, the rest of her was burnt out. She was about to toss the phone over to Lin's side when it buzzed again. The screen changed for the incoming call. But it wasn't Madoka's name on the screen - it was Oliver's.

Mai hesitated, her finger hovering over the green phone icon. This was Lin's phone. She hadn't exactly been given permission to use it. But Oliver (Naru to her) was calling. Naru hardly ever called unless there was a good reason. She swiped to accept.

"Hey, Naru-chan!" She hadn't realized how hoarse her voice still was.

"Mai!" he breathed out in a mix of surprise and relief.

Mai wondered why that was. If the twenty missed calls from Madoka were anything to go by, Lin hadn't been in contact with anyone over there recently. There was no way he could've known what was happening here. While she pondered this, she heard a faint, steady beeping sound coming through the phone's speaker. The sound was all too familiar.

"Are you in the hospital?"

"Are you?" What kind of retort was that?

"No? Why would I be? Is this some weird deflection technique? Because it needs some work," Mai smoothed the surface of her pillow while she waited for a response.

"It was an honest question," Naru practically huffed. "It wouldn't be that difficult to believe you were hospitalized after this evening's events."

"How di-?" Mai's exhausted brain wracked for answers.

Naru knew. He knew. Lin hadn't said anything, which meant he'd gotten his information from another source. Gene had mention that Naru had powers similar to hers, but he channeled them either through a person or an object belonging to that person. Someway, somehow, he had something belonging to her. But how? Why?

Masako had mentioned something when she came to hotel room. It seemed like a year ago, though it had only been a few hours. Before all hell broke loose. She mentioned that the Davis family wanted Mai and they'd sent Lin to find her. What did they want from her? What did she possibly have to give?

"How much did you see?" she whispered, afraid to voice her other questions.

"Not enough," he hissed angrily. "Why were you even there? You were supposed to stay in the room. You were supposed to be safe."

Mai heard the concern bleeding through his fury. Whatever reason they wanted her for, at least he seemed to care for her well-being. Though the thought should've comforted her, it mostly left her feeling guilty. "I'm sorry."

There was a pause before he spoke again, "Are you okay?"

"I'm alive," she shrugged. She wasn't lying on a table with a knife stuck in her chest. She wasn't at the mercy of a monster. She wasn't bleeding out on the floor, surrounded by lifeless bodies. "I suppose I'm doing pretty well."

Naru made a scoffing noise, clearly not buying it. A lull fell in the conversation, allowing the beep of his heart monitor to make itself known again. Reminding her of where he was. Mai slowly tried to piece things together.

Through some mystery object of hers, he'd experienced her nightmare. Her emotions must have affected him, spurring the release of his other psychic powers. Lin had once told her that Naru had psychokinesis, or the ability to move things with just his mind. But if he lost control of it, it could be deadly.

"Are you in the hospital because of me?" she asked quietly, the consequence of her actions weighing heavier than before.

"I'm in the hospital being treated for anemia and overexertion. I fail to see how you could've caused that," his stubborn rebuttal confirmed her fears. And had a laugh bubbling inside her. "I don't understand the humor."

"I'm sorry," she sobered rather quickly, "for everything."

Silence fell until he broke it. His voice barely registering through the speaker, "Just don't do something so reckless again."

"I promise," she smiled. "I have no desire to do anything like that ever again."

He was quiet again. The conversation stalled. He'd already achieved the goal for this phone call, which was to see if she was still alive. She was waiting for him to end it any minute now.

Instead he surprised her, "You have questions."

It wasn't a question, but a statement. Mai wondered how much he already knew about her - to be able to read her like a book. She didn't know how she felt about that.

She searched for the best way to start, but it was hard. Her curiosities grew every time she learned something new. She wanted to find the strand that would unravel the whole mystery. "How do you know me?"

"Would you believe me if I said I know you through our father?"

Mai sat up like a different position would help her digest his response. He'd said our father. As in her father and his father. As in they were the same father. The same man who had abandoned her at five years old, almost six years after the twins were born.

"How - ?"

Lin had returned by this point. If he was surprised she was using his phone, he didn't show it. Her eyes followed him, but her mind was still with Naru. Though a large part of her was certainly distracted when he slid into bed, pulling her to his chest, wrapping his arms around her. Mai felt all her tension lift as she snuggled into him.

"He came to us several months ago, hoping to reconnect," the disdain in his voice betrayed how he really felt. "When that didn't go as well as he hoped, he mentioned you. I think he wanted some leverage, something stronger to tie us to him."

Mai closed her eyes. The smell of Lin's body-wash made thought difficult. As was his hands running gently through her hair, massaging the pain away. But she did her best to focus on Naru, on the picture he was painting.

"Are you guys still talking to him?" it didn't sound like they were, but she wanted to be sure.

"No," the distaste in his tone made her smile. "We stopped communicating with him shortly after that. He did, however, give us some useful tools to find you on our own."

"Why?" This was the curiosity that burned the brightest. "Why would you go so far to find me?"

Lin pulled her closer, wrapping her tighter in his arms. His lips were on her head again. It was a habit he seemed to have started that night. It was habit she hoped he never broke.

"Because it's you, Mai!" Gene's chipper voice joined in. "You're the best little sister we could ask for."

She was their sister. She had brothers. She had family. And they actually wanted her, although she still couldn't understand why. She wasn't sure how she was the best little sister. She didn't really feel like the best of anything at the moment (except maybe the best screw up). Still, their words had her feeling warm and fuzzy.

"You're trying to butter me up," she muttered, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Is it working?" Gene asked. His excitement was a welcome change. The somber mood had grown weary.

"I don't know. Keep talking," a giggle escaped her. She felt Lin relax beneath her, though his hold never relinquished.

"I think it'd be a better idea to let you get some rest," Naru spoiled their fun.

"Aw," Mai and Gene pouted at the same time.

"We'll have plenty of time for talking later. Right now, we all need to recover," Naru's words reminded her that he was currently hospitalized.

"Alright," she sighed. "Get feeling better, Naru."

"Of course. I'm not someone to be taken down so easily," Mai giggled again. "We'll talk again soon. There's a lot we have to discuss."

"Mm," Mai agreed. "Bye, guys."

"Bye, Mai!" Gene called out right before the phone beeped. Naru had ended the call without a word.

Mai dropped Lin's phone down on the blankets. She nuzzled her face in his chest, suddenly very aware of how much muscle hid beneath his soft shirt. His heart thumped in her ear like the steady beat of a drum.

They sat in the silence, neither of them willingly to break it. Although, there were several things they needed to say. They also needed this. To lay there in the quiet, thankful to be alive. To be together.

When Mai was being strapped down, her death almost certain, she thought about all the things she'd miss. All the convenience store meet ups with Yasu she'd never get to do. All of Bou-san's songs she'd never hear. All of Ayako's rants she'd never witness. But the thought that surprisingly hurt the most was how much time she'd lose out on with Lin. She'd never get to share his secrets or find out how he felt.

But despite all this and despite her impending doom, she couldn't regret her decision. She hated it with ever fiber of her being, but she wouldn't regret it. She'd prevented another girl from sharing that fate. She saved Masako from dying.

She took some comfort in knowing that Lin would find the note she'd left. She knew he'd catch the monster. Her life would be the last one he'd take. It seemed a small price to pay in comparison.

For once, she'd been glad to not have any family (that she knew of) that cared for her. Her friends would miss her, she knew. But she doubted her disappearance would be earth shattering.

At least, that's what she thought until Lin burst through the door. She saw the panic when her eyes met his. His fear of losing her was stronger than she'd expected. She'd never really felt like her existence had that much impact on someone else. Not until that moment.

It was still hard for her to believe, even as she lay in his arms. As he held onto her like she could disappear at any second. She'd really given him a scare - she was pretty sure she broke him. Guilt flooded through her the more she tried to understand it.

"I'm sorry," her voice shook.

His kissed her head again. He cupped the side of her face with his hand. His thumb caressed her cheek. He breathed deeply, like he was breathing her in. "I'm just glad your okay."

"Are you okay?"

She pushed herself off of him so she could see his face. His eyes were still stormy. His mouth turned down in disappointment. The grip he had on her tightened, preventing her from getting too far. Not that she wanted to.

He stared at her. His eyes ran over her bruised cheek. His gaze lingered on her cut lip. His expression softened when he met her eyes again.

"I will be," he promised.

They sat there, staring at each other for a moment. Then, she reached up, touching his face. Shock colored his features as she traced them with her thumb. It quickly morphed into amusement, the first she'd seen of that emotion all day.

He was smiling by the time her fingers reached his lips. Mai gasped as he grabbed her wrist, gently holding it there. He closed his eyes, pressing a kiss to her fingertips. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Her heart hammered in her chest. But this time, it was in a good way.

Lin shot up, his eyes frantically searching in the darkness. In his semi-conscious state, it took him a moment to register his surroundings. The sights of his hotel room were a slight comfort. But it was the beautiful creature curled up at his side that let him relax.

He lowered himself back down, facing her. He watched the rise and fall of her chest. He listened to her soft snores. He reached out for her face, feeling the warm skin beneath his touch.

She was alive. She was here. The nightmare was over.

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. He was tired of being distant from her. He'd had enough of her being out of reach. This time, she wasn't getting away. He wasn't letting her go again.

She didn't seem to mind it, though. She responded to him by throwing an arm around his side and burying her face in his chest. She showed no signs of wanting to leave any time soon.

He half expected her to lash out at him for not telling her the truth. He still waited for her to push him away. He was afraid she'd misunderstand his actions. That she'd think his concern for her was only because of his job. That she wouldn't see that his feelings ran so much deeper than that.

His regard for her had begun long before he'd so much as suspected her true identity. He'd started to like her when she was only the girl from the hotel who tried so hard to make him smile. He loved the girl that was so concerned for others. The one who would sacrifice herself to protect the ones she loved.

Though, that part concerned him. She seemed to have little concern for her own life. She didn't understand that people would be hurt if she left. He supposed that wasn't her fault. She'd been the only one really looking out for herself for so long. But all that was about to change.

He was going to show her just how much she meant to him - how much her existence meant to the world. And he wouldn't be alone. Oliver and Gene were already working on it, preparing a place she could call home. He just knew Luella would want to spoil her the moment she met her. And she deserved all of it - and more.

Tomorrow, they'd discuss plans of going home. Tomorrow, they'd have all those conversations that they'd been putting off. Tomorrow, he'd tell her he loved her in words, not giving her a chance to second guess his feelings. But for tonight, he was just going to enjoy holding her in his arms. He was going to drink in her scent and drown in her presence.

Because she was here. She was safe. She was alive.