Okay this was another writing prompt that I did a while ago that turned out to be Ghost Hunt related. I have a lot of them, but most seem to have either spoilers for Dangerous Souls (by spoilers I mean mentioning of scenes that haven't been posted yet) or are scenes for Dangerous Souls that I haven't gotten to that part yet to include them in a chapter. Luckily this one fits neither of those scenarios! And it's lighter than the last chapter. Hope you enjoy!

4-Calm

"Ayami, I need you to stay calm," Mai urged, pushing the taller teenager behind her. "Don't make any sudden movements."

Before them, having gotten locked in the cellar of the hotel they were investigating, an ominous violet glow illuminated the room just after the lights were shut off. The temperature dropped in the room and the static in the air made the hair on the back of the trained investigator's neck stand on end. It had the same effect with the hair on the younger girl's arms. Mai had come to know that this didn't necessarily make the spirit a dangerous one. No, it was absolutely possible that they had a powerful spirit that wasn't sure how else to manifest to ask for help. Of course, those situations weren't exactly common, but not rare either.

"Mai, I'm scared," the girl whispered, but it was a mere squeak. Mai wrapped her arm behind herself to grab Ayami's hand, a gesture that had brought herself comfort when she was stuck in a manhole with a malevolent spirit, and her boss. Now her husband.

She briefly gave a mental remark about how far she had come in the last decade. She was running a company with her husband and helping those who dealt with issues of the paranormal variety. She made several trips around the world, visiting her in-laws in England as well as investigating haunted locations around the world. Having grown up an orphan supporting herself, the culture shock was a little difficult to get used to. She was grateful that her husband never let the money get to his head, in fact he seemed to act as though he'd rather go without it. She admired that about him.

She mentally shook her head and concentrated on the situation in hand. Ayami was their latest intern and happened to be one of Mai's first clients when she joined SPR. Ayami was nine at the time and now that she was of legal age, she had an interest in the paranormal thanks to what she faces as a child, she applied to become an investigator. And there, she had become Mai's first official pupil.

Now here they were, Ayami's second investigation with the team and their phones were dead, so were the camera and walkie-talkies. Until someone in Base noticed the camera out of commission they were on their own. Now, they had some spirit manifesting in front of them.

Mai drew a breath and held it for a second. She let it out slowly, trying to slow her quickening heart, something she had gotten accustomed to after years of investigating. She could feel Ayami trembling behind her, which didn't help in trying to keep herself calm. The glow had manifested into the shape of a young boy. He had dark hair and holes for eyes.

I can never catch a break, Mai thought with a mental eye roll. The spirit in front of them grinned sadistically and crimson liquid oozed down his chin. More liquid followed from his eyes. Ayami tensed and Mai knew she was holding her breath.

Mai kept her eyes on the being in front of her, she couldn't take her eyes off of it. At the moment it was benign, it hadn't moved an inch, but she knew that if she took her eyes off of him for even a second, the situation could change drastically. With another deep breath, she raised too fingers and swiped horizontally.

"Rin, pyou, tou, shah, kai, jin, retsu, zai, zen!" With a wicked grin the ghost boy disappeared, leaving the girls in the dark, but not quite alone.

"It's only a matter of time," the ominous voice said. But it wasn't just one voice, it was several jumbled up together, making it all the more creepy.

"Mai! Ayami!" Voices could be heard from the direction of the cellar door. Mai knew those voices all too well. She seemed to always get into these situations as a teen, not much had changed in her twenties.

"We're in here! The door's locked and the lights are out, otherwise we'd help!" Mai called, finally able to take her eyes off of where that boy stood. Ayami's trembling had turned to full blown shaking as she fell to the ground. Mai turned around and knelt to the girl, just barely able to make out her silhouette in the darkness. "Ayami, are you okay?"

She hadn't fainted, which was good, she was just so shocked her legs gave out. "I…I…" the girl let out a shaking breath and held back a choked sob. "How…how are you so calm? I-I-"

"Shhh," Mai soothed, pulling the girl to her in a hug. She smoothed the light brown hair of her trainee. "It's okay, trust me, I started out the same as you. Almost pissed myself a time or two."

The comment gained a giggle just as the door was pried open and light finally illuminated the cellar. Mai helped the girl up and together they walked to the stairs.

"It's about time, guys, what were you, enjoying teatime?" Mai quipped as she and Ayami walked up the stairs.

"We tried calling you," Monk tried to defend, but Naru shook his head. He knew it was futile.

"Let me guess, your phones are dead, just like the walkie-talkie and the camera down there?" Naru answered, earning a scowl from the monk. Mai nodded. "Are you all right?"

"Well, why don't we go to Base and we can discuss our adventures," Mai suggested, as Ayami still held on to her. "She's a bit shaken up, but I think after some tea, you'll be fine, right Ayami."

Ayami nodded and gave a weak smile. Mai passed her off to Monk who continued to guide her down the hallway. "Want to tell me what happened?"

"One of the spirits here approached us, not exactly Casper either," Mai answered, crossing her arms. She was beginning to learn that with her psychic abilities also brought an inner coldness that was almost impossible to warm up from.

"You're shivering," Naru said. Mai uncrossed her arms and started to walk toward Base.

"It's been happening more and more often when I see a spirit," she commented dryly.

"Or when you have a vision." He walked to catch up to her and put a hand on her arm. It was cold to the touch. "You're like ice."

She looked up at him and gave a suggestive grin. "Good thing I have you to warm me up later."

She continued to Base leaving her husband standing there with a smirk on his face.

I wanted to include Ayami in Dangerous Souls at one point and perhaps I will in the future, but for now I'll settle for her becoming a ghost hunter. Hope you enjoyed and review! I knew I needed to post something a little light hearted compared to the last chapter. Thanks for reading!