!A/N: SEEING AS I'VE NEVER READ THE MANGA, I MAY TAKE CREATIVE LICENSE. FORGIVE ANYTHING THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN OR DIDN'T HAPPEN IN THE ORDER I WRITE IT AS IT PERTAINS TO NARU AND MAI.

Chapter 2

Mai's POV:

My reminiscing was cut short when Naru stepped out of his office with a folder filled with papers. "Mai, do you remember Mr. Kiba from the reopening ceremony last month?"

"Yeah, why?" I asked, recalling that we had put that case on hold for all of July so that Mr. Kiba could throw all the parties he usually threw during the last part of Summer. With Autumn very quickly approaching, I imagine that Mr. Kiba will finally want us on that case.

"We've picked up his case. I'll need you to talk to your principal about missing a few days."

"He won't be happy. School just started." I told him.

"I'll contact him, then." He said, much to my surprise, before sitting the folder on my desk. "I wrote as thorough of a debriefing as I could about the case. Considering the way the possibly multiple spirits have chosen to attack, certain measures have to be taken. Meaning everyone will receive a partner that they must remain with at all times, when possible, and roommates will be assigned during the night."

"I'm surprised you'd want her even going to that island." Ayako said as she and Monk walked in, obviously hearing everything Naru had said. I had told them about Mr. Kiba's case the day after the reopening party. "What if one of those spirits catches her alone?"

"I wouldn't be having any women come on this case if I didn't need the extra hands. It's not just a simple house case, it's an island. I need people helping with the house, with the surrounding woods and with the village." He told her simply, though I could tell there was an edge in his voice, though I wasn't sure why.

Ayako put an arm around me. "Fine then, but I won't let her out of my sight."

"When are we leaving?" I asked.

Naru picked up the folder on my desk and began handing out pages stapled together. "The debriefing explains everything. When we're leaving, what to pack, the temperature on the island this time of year and maps of everything from the house to the village. Do not lose these packets. Bring them on the trip."

I looked through the pages before returning to the first. So we would be leaving in two days, huh? On the very front page of the packet Naru handed me, there was a small paper stapled that said I would be required to arrive at six, instead of seven like everyone else. I gave him a glare when I thought he wasn't paying attention. To my embarrassment, he turned right to me and smirked a little.

"Something wrong, Mai?"

I turned back towards my desk and started to pack my things. "Nothing, nothing. If you don't need me for anything else, I'm going to head home and start packing."

For once, he nodded. "Alright. Be here tomorrow at six. Make sure you're packed by tomorrow night. I'll call your school tomorrow morning."

Not giving him a chance to think up something that would keep me in the same room as him any longer today, I grabbed my purse and packet and left the building. I was halfway home when all of the frustration I had been keeping at bay over Naru and being around him broke through and slowed my pace. Pausing outside of a toy shop, I stared blankly at my reflection in the display window, a sour look on my face.

"That teddy bear must have done something really bad to get you that angry." I heard someone say. I turned towards the voice to see Mr. Kiba himself. Blinking a couple times, I saw the bear in the window I had been glaring in the direction of and cracked a smile at his joke. He put his hands in his pockets, a smile on his face.

In a way, Mr. Kiba was kind of handsome for a man that looked to be thirty or older. He wasn't fit but he wasn't fat either. He was a little taller than Naru and had a head full of wavy dark hair with very dark brown eyes. His face was a little scruffy from some slight facial hair but I thought that it made him look distinguished. While he didn't really fall into the category 'my type', I was a little grateful that I could finally look at another man and not see Naru. Maybe because he looked and acted nothing like him.

"What brings you here, Mr. Kiba?" I asked politely.

"I was taking a walk around here, trying to find a certain store. Maybe you could help?" He asked before pulling a map from his pocket. "I spend so much time on the island that I sometimes have trouble finding my way around a lot of cities that I've been to before."

I took the map and opened it. I pointed. "Well, we're right here. What's the name of the store you're looking for?"

"It's called Gazuya Jewelers. I sent in my watch for fixing and I need to pick it up. It took them a couple weeks for it to be fixed and I somehow managed to forget where the store is."

"Right here." I pointed again. "Just walk around that block over there and keep going straight. It'll be on the left hand side."

"Mai, I see you've found Mr. Kiba." His voice made me jump. A little frustrated that Naru managed to show up just when I stopped thinking about him for a minute, I turned completely around and fought the desire to tell him to get lost.

"Actually, he found me." I told Naru. "He wanted directions to a store. I've handled it."

Naru held out his hand to Mr. Kiba to shake. "Sir, I'm actually glad I ran into you. I want to thank you again for letting us take on your case and assure you that you will not be disappointed."

Mr. Kiba shook hands with Naru. "No, it's I that should be thanking you. For that entire month I waited to give you the case, it seemed peaceful. But something happened again last night that made me call you. Miss, Tomo, the maid that was assaulted by a spirit. She's finally started speaking and she's actually begun to describe small pieces of the experience. She's even explained what he looked like."

Naru brought out a notepad and pen from his pocket and held it up, ready to write. "Please, continue."

Mr. Kiba seemed to become a little more upset. "She said that she had been reaching for the bottle of wine she was sent to get when something grabbed her from behind and pulled her onto the floor. A man then loomed over her that was only half there..."

"Transparent?" Naru asked, wanting him to clarify.

Mr. Kiba nodded. "Exactly. She said the spirit covered her mouth and then continued to go through with...assaulting her. Her description was of a man with dark hair and deep set eyes. She described him as being unusually tall. When he had finished and stood over her, she claimed he reached the top of one of the wine racks, which are all exactly seven feet tall."

"Anything else?" Naru asked. When Mr. Kiba shook his head, Naru put the notepad and pen away. "Thank you for the information. It will put us that much closer to figuring out who the spirits are and exactly what they want."

Mr. Kiba glanced in the direction I had told him the Jewelry store was. "Yes, thank you. I really must get going or the store will close on me."

After another few words, Mr. Kiba briskly walked down the street and Naru finally looked to me. "You should head home."

I rolled my eyes. "It's after work hours. I can spend that time as I please."

He didn't even bat an eye. "You aren't required to go home, if you don't want to. As long as you arrive at work on time tomorrow, it really doesn't matter."

That really irked me. "So you're saying you don't care what happens to me? It's going to be dark in under an hour. If I stand here, wasting my time any longer, I'll spend part of that walk at risk."

He returned the glare I was sure was on my face. "You're the most accident prone human being I've ever met. You're at risk more or less always. I'm not responsible for you or your stupid decisions."

Finally losing my cool, I turned on my heel and started to stomp away. "Fine, then! I'm going home!"

A few people stared at me as I yelled at Naru but I didn't care. I'm really not as naïve as I once was but part of me kind of hoped Naru would be following me. I didn't look back until I had unlocked my apartment door. When I did and there was no Naru to be seen, I walked inside dejectedly and locked myself in.

(The morning SPR leaves for Seishin island.)

"You're really wearing that?" I asked Monk as he stepped out of his car. Taking in the sight of him in a neon yellow tourist shirt and cargo shorts was just too funny. "We're taking on a case, not going on vacation."

"That's the smartest thing I've ever heard come out of your mouth, Mai." Naru said bluntly and it took Monk literally holding me back to keep that asshole narcissist from getting a black eye. "Everyone but Yasuhara is here. Does anyone know his whereabouts?"

"He told me to tell you that his college course grades were a little lower than expected and he intends on spending these next few days in his dorm, studying for the upcoming tests." Monk informed us. "If the case is still open by the time he completes his tests, he'll make an appearance."

I frowned. "That's a shame. I figured Yasu would drop everything to spend a few days fighting ghosts with us. He loves this sort of thing."

Monk nodded in agreement. "You're right. I guess his grades are a lot lower than he expected."

"Load as many of your bags as you can in Takigawa's car and the rest in the van." Naru ordered before approaching the passenger side door of the van and opening it. "Miss. Hara will be riding in the van with Lin and myself. Everyone else will go with Takigawa."

Masako looked absolutely smug as she passed by me. Giving me a very condescending look, she took Naru's offered hand and let him help her into the back seats of the van. A little ticked off, I couldn't even speak as I finished loading my suitcase and took my own seat in Monk's car. Ayako turned around in the passenger seat and gave John san and I big smiles. "Everybody ready? This is SPR's first case since reopening."

I returned the smile. "Ready and waiting."

As the trip began and Tokyo rushed by outside my window, I leaned down in my seat and tried to ignore the bickering going on between Monk and Ayako.

"I've got a copy of my band's latest CD we could listen to." Monk told Ayako and she shook her head.

"I have this classical tape that would really relax everyone."

"Lucky for the rest of us, I don't have a tape player in this car." Monk mumbled and Ayako started to yell at him about how uncultured he could be.

"You're such an idiot." She finished off her rant.

"And you're acting like you have a stick up your ass." He slung back and she became so angry that all she could do was cross her arms and stare out the window after that. Sensing that he'd won for now, Monk put his band's CD in.

"You seem tired." John san acknowledged, taking in my almost haggard appearance. He handed me a coffee thermos that he had with him. "It's white chocolate cappuccino."

Smiling, I took a long drink, grateful for it. It made me feel better but didn't quite make up for the fact that I only slept a few hours last night. In fact, I don't remember a night I slept longer than four or five hours since I started working for Naru again. Ayako, overhearing what John san had said, looked at me too. "He's right, Mai. Maybe you should take a nap. It'll take about an hour to get through this traffic."

I handed the coffee back to John san. "Thanks, guys. I think I will."

Accepting a small travel pillow from Ayako, I leaned against my door and closed my eyes. At first, the sounds of heavy traffic kept me awake. But as we seemed to make our way through the first wave of traffic, I finally fell asleep. For the first time since Naru left for England, Gene appeared in my dreams.

He looked just like Naru and that made me feel uneasy. I'm sure that if I had known Gene in real life, he wouldn't have been wearing exactly what Naru usually wears. It's just what my mind logically thinks he should wear. And what Gene's ghost figures will make me most comfortable around him. His smile made me sigh.

"I've missed you." I admitted. "I don't really understand why you chose to completely go away after Naru left but you must have had a reason for it."

"I'm still your spirit guide but I'm also Noll's brother. He needed me more." Gene explained, using the nickname he had been using for Naru a short time before Naru left for England.

I grimaced. I wonder if Gene realizes just how badly I needed Naru's face this past year. "Are you back to help us with this next case."

"Yes." He said in almost a hesitant manner. "I'm here to help you with the case, Mai. You need to stay away from that village on the island. You also need to stay away from Mr. Kiba. Don't ever let yourself be alone with him."

I blinked. "Why? Is he bad news?"

Gene looked uncertain. "I'm not sure yet. I get a strange vibe from him and I'd like you to keep your distance until I know more about him."

"Do you know if he's dangerous?" I asked but Gene was already fading. "Wait! Not yet!"

I unwillingly woke up then, a worried looking Monk an Ayako hovering over me, shaking me. "Mai? Mai!"

"Mai! Oh, thank goodness. She's waking up." Ayako murmured before stepping back. "You gave us all a fright. We've been trying to wake you up for over a minute."

I blushed as I realized that the entire SPR team was standing around Monk's car, looking at me. Seeing as nothing was apparently wrong with me, Naru looked away. "If you're done with your nap, everyone is waiting on you, Mai."

My face getting redder, I climbed out of the car and took in my surroundings. We were parked about fifty feet from a small plane with a very aerodynamic design. "Are we at the airport?"

"Inside a private terminal." Monk explained. "Mr. Kiba sent his private jet to pick us up so we could bypass security with all of our bulky research equipment."

Said gear was being loaded into the jet by a couple of men in simple uniforms of slacks with shirts tucked into them. When the equipment had been safely put away, the luggage was loaded next and then we were finally allowed to come on board. I smiled as I took in the sight of the inside of the jet. It looks even nicer than what I imagine first class looks like.

As we all buckled up, Naru sighed. He had no choice but to sit beside me when everyone ran ahead of him and took the seats they wanted. Masako had also lagged and was forced to sit by John san, who looked even more uncomfortable than I felt, mostly due to the grumpy look on Masako's face. Trying to ignore everyone around me, Naru made it that much more difficult by taking out his laptop and opening it as the plane started off down the runway. He opened up his email account and I couldn't help but carefully look over his shoulder.

Dear Mr. Kiba,

It would be beneficial for us both if you could convince Miss. Tomo to agree to an interview. I will be arriving with my team in half an hour and will require five rooms, instead of the agreed four. My apologies for the inconvenience.

Kazuya Shibuya

of

Shibuya Psychic Research

When the plane began to ascend into the sky, I gasped, causing Naru to look and catch me in my spying. He quickly shut the computer and I blushed. "I was just curious."

"Some things don't concern you." He said softly, the annoyance clear in his voice.

"It's an email to our newest client informing him of when we'll be arriving and that we need an extra room. What's so private about that?" I asked defensively.

"The fact that we have to ask for a fifth room is your fault, Mai."

"Mine?" I said a little too loudly, causing Monk and Ayako to look at us. "Why is it my fault?"

"I asked you to send an email yesterday to Mr. Kiba requesting five rooms and when I looked at the email you sent last night, you had said only four. Did you forget the base?"

"Sorry." I mumbled, embarrassed that I've managed to act just as incompetent as Naru thinks I am. If I'm going to show him that he's entirely wrong about me, I need to stop making stupid mistakes.

Lin san was out of his seat as soon as the seat belt sign turned off, walking in the direction of the bathroom. Other than a mono syllable response when I offer him tea (I may not make Naru tea but that doesn't mean I need to be rude to Lin san), Lin san hasn't actually spoken to me since I finally saw him face to face a few days after SPR opened and his illness went away. I wonder if he knows about Naru's rejection towards me or if the distance he's put between him and me is just like the distance that was between us last time we worked together.

"Don't get too comfortable." Naru told me as I brought out my MP3 and a pen and notepad to pass the time. "We'll be landing before you know it."

"I know." I sighed. "I'm only passing the time."

"There's not that much time to pass." He answered and I finally lost it. I looked him square in the eye.

"If you're so bored that you've decided that you're gonna spend this trip badgering me, maybe you should play on your computer or something."

His answering look was a little intimidating. Turning in his seat so that he faced the window, he opened his computer again and started going through his emails. After I had done a few drawings, a hobby I had picked up about the same time I first started working for Naru two years ago, I sat my notebook on the armrest between Naru and me and started listening to some music.

Somewhere between my favorite song and my second favorite, Naru had picked up my notebook and started looking through the pictures, his laptop back in its bag. Flushing as he stopped at one of my first sketches of him, I tried to snatch it from him. He quickly moved the sketch book to his other hand, keeping it out of my reach.

"Your artistic skills are lacking." He murmured with only a hint of humor. "I don't recall having three eyes."

"That's your eyebrow." I said softly, my face practically on fire. "I never shaded it in. I drew that two years ago. I can draw much better than that now."

Checking to see if I was correct, he flipped through several pages until he landed on a picture I had sketched the night I confessed my feelings to Naru. He had just broken my heart and I was feeling both devastated and theatrical so I drew a picture of a nymph with ripped up wings and tattered dress, laying in a puddle of water. There were even spots on the painting that looked weathered from where my tears had landed. I had colored and shaded it so well that it really popped off the page in my opinion. At the bottom of the page, I signed my name and the day I drew it.

He stared at the picture for several seconds, taking in the detail of it. His next words took me for a spin. "You've got a talent."

I blinked. "You're serious?"

He didn't respond. Instead, he flipped through several more of people like Ayako, Monk and even one of the entire gang until he stopped at one of him, sitting at his desk in his office, reading a book. I had just drawn it last month after agreeing to work for him again. The detail was even better than the one of the nymph. The look he had on his face told the viewer he was lost in thought, maybe over something he had read or maybe over a memory. In the very corner of his office, I had drawn Gene. He was shadowed and vaguely drawn so that he looked transparent. His gaze was on Naru and a smile just like the one in my dreams was on his face.

This picture caused a troubled look to fight its way into Naru's eyes. Reaching for my notebook carefully, I took it away and closed it. He didn't try to take it back. Instead, he stared out the window until the plane had hit the runway. Looking out the window, I watched as the forest flew by outside the window. At the end of the runway, the plane finally stopped and the door was opened by one of the uniformed men who took the trip with us.

Waiting for us on a platform near the runway was Mr. Kiba. He waved us over as we descended the jet and we went to join him. Naru shook his hand.

"Mr. Kiba, let me introduce you to the rest of my team. You've met my assistants, Lin Koujo and Mai Taniyama. I've also brought with me television medium, Masako Hara, Buddhist monk, Hosho Takigawa, shrine maiden, Ayako Matsuzaki and exorcist, John Brown. He's from Australia but his Japanese is excellent."

Mr. Kiba shook each of our hands. "It's a pleasure to meet you all. Come. Through those trees are the steps leading up to my home. The gentleman that traveled with you will bring the luggage and your equipment."

Following Mr. Kiba down the platform steps, we walked through the trees and I had to gape. The steps he mentioned were about four flights of stairs leading to a large house on top of a big hill. It was made of wood, like a log cabin, but had large glass windows, making it more of a glass house.

While the steps were tiring, stepping into the air conditioned island home was worth the effort. It was beautiful. Mr. Kiba had it done up in a mix between western and something like Bollywood, giving it a very nice atmosphere. Mr. Kiba seemed bashful over the fact that everyone, except for Naru and Lin san, gaped at his house.

"I hope you all like it. I just had my decorator redo it after the Summer parties ended. I wanted to simplify it while still making it comfortable. It will be changed again when the weather cools to create a warmer atmosphere."

"If this is simple, my apartment is a cardboard box." Monk mumbled and Ayako elbowed him in the ribs. While he bent over in obvious pain, Naru stepped in the way and kept everything professional.

"As soon as we can be given room assignments and shown to our base, I can begin to clear your home of any unwanted entities. I hope you received my email."

"About needing five rooms, yes. Follow me." Mr. Kiba said and we all headed up the stairs to the balconied second floor that one could look into the living room from the upstairs landing. He opened the first single door to show a nice bedroom with two single beds. "This room is for the gentlemen you said would share."

"Takigawa and Mr. Brown will take this room." Naru told him and the two gentleman looked at eachother in surprise, as if Naru had never told them room assignments.

Nodding, Mr. Kiba walked to the next door and opened it showing a larger room room with three beds. "You informed me that the ladies would all share."

I smiled at Ayako but Masako looked a little upset. Walking until she was standing beside me, she covered her mouth with her kimono sleeve. "Just make sure to keep your things on your side of the room."

Saving me from embarrassing myself by saying something back at Masako that wouldn't have been very clever, Mr. Kiba led us out of the hallway and across the landing to another. Opening the first door, he showed a room with a double bed and slightly nicer furnishings. "This room will be for you, Mr. Shibuya. Your base is next door and Mr. Koujo's room is on the other side."

Naru nodded. "Thank you. The men moving the equipment should carefully bring it to the base. Once it's in the room, my assistants can organize it."

Mr. Kiba checked the golden watch on his wrist. "I'm supposed to be making a call soon. I may not be making another appearance before bed. I hope you won't find me rude."

"Not at all." Monk assured him, a smile on his face. "Leave it to us, Mr. Kiba."

Returning the smile, Mr. Kiba shook Naru's hand once more before walking back down the stairs and shutting himself in a room out of sight. The men with the equipment made their appearance after that and it was time for us to get to work. Half an hour later, the monitors were set up and Naru was writing on a dry erase board, giving everyone an idea of what we would do today. When he had finished, he turned around.

"Due to the violent nature of the spirits toward females, it's necessary that you select a partner and do all you can to not leave their side." Naru said to the women in the room in general, though he was looking right at me when he said it.

"Mai and I will stick together." Ayako volunteered. I smiled, grateful my partner was someone I actually enjoyed talking to.

"I'd be happy to escort Miss. Hara, if it's alright with her." John said politely. Masako herself seemed a little upset, probably because Naru didn't volunteer himself, but otherwise consented.

"We'll be exercising the 'safety in numbers' tactic while here. At midnight, everyone must retire to their rooms. Do not leave them for anything. There are bathrooms in all the bedrooms."

"What will we be doing first?" Monk asked.

"I'd like you to be on standby for now. Miss. Hara will walk about the house in an attempt to sense something with her escort and Miss. Matsuzaki will make at least fifty charms to be placed in various locations." Naru ordered before heading for the door.

"And what will you be doing?" I couldn't help but ask. I'm all too accustomed to Naru standing idly by while everyone else does the work for him.

He glanced at me over his shoulder. "Lin and I will be interviewing the maid who was assaulted."

"That's a bad idea." I told him, causing him to look back at me. "She's just been sexually assaulted. Do you really think she'll feel comfortable talking with you? You're both men who happen to be tall with dark hair."

He seemed slightly surprised, as if that hadn't occurred to him. Looking at Lin, he merely nodded his head and the older man turned and went to sit at the monitors and start typing something on a laptop. Naru turned back to me. "Mai, you'll be helping me interview Miss. Tomo."

Now it was my turn to be surprised. "Really?"

He glared a little, obviously frustrated that he needed my help for once. "Yes."

Still shocked, I followed Naru out of the base and down the stairs. Waiting on one of the sofas was two young women dressed in maid uniforms. One had bronzed skin with her dark hair up in a bun and the other had pale skin with her fawn blonde hair hanging over her shoulders. I could tell by her hunched shoulders and the way she looked warily at Naru that the fawn haired girl was the victim. I pointed to a chair ten feet from the girl.

"Naru, sit here. Give her some space." Listening to me without complaint for once, he sat and brought out a pen and notepad, intending on being the note keeper for a change. "Miss. Tomo, my name is Mai Taniyama. I work for Shibuya Psychic Research and was hoping to have a moment of your time."

She looked down and nodded. "Yes, I know. Mr. Kiba told me you'd have some questions about what happened."

I took a moment to give the girl a sympathetic look. She had to be twenty at the oldest. It was terrible just imagining what she went through. I shivered. "Mr. Kiba tells me that you were sent to get a bottle of wine from the cellar when the attack occurred. Would you mind repeating to me what you told Mr. Kiba?"

She merely looked to the dark haired maid beside her. She gave the girl a compassionate look before turning to me. "My name is Hana. Tomo has difficulty recounting it. She's told me everything. Would it be alright if I told it for her?"

I nodded. "Of course. Whatever would make her more comfortable."

Hana began to tell Tomo's tale. "It was at the beginning of last month. It was stormy that night. I remember because Tomo and I were in the sun room when the storm began. We went into the kitchen and were beginning to make dinner when the other maid, Kitsune, came in to let us know that Mr. Kiba wanted a bottle of his favorite rainy evening drink from the cellar. I was going to go and fetch it but Tomo insisted that she could."

"When the attack occurred, where were you? Could nobody hear her?" I asked, figuring it would be best to cover all bases. After all, there's really no proof that it was a ghost. Though apparently Tomo thinks it was.

"When someone must go into the cellar, they have to shut the door behind them because of how cold the cellar is. If it's open for even five minutes, it can freeze the entire kitchen." Hana explained. "Once the door is shut, it's practically soundproof. I also was using the overhead vent above the stove, which can be noisy."

"Why don't you tell me what Tomo told you about her time in the cellar." I said after a moment.

"Tomo said that the cellar felt even colder than usual. So cold that she could see her breath quite clearly. She had just picked up the bottle when she felt something very warm on her back. When she turned around, she found that the spirit was pressed against her back. Even though he was transparent, she could clearly feel him against her."

When there was a pause, I shivered. That would be terrifying... "Mr. Kiba mentioned that the ghost had dark hair and was as tall as a wine rack, which are all seven feet tall."

Hana nodded. "Yes, that's correct. Tomo recalls seeing long hair that was in many braids and pulled back into a ponytail. His skin was also bronzed. He pinned her to the ground and had his way...then disappeared. She laid on the floor until I came down to find her. I was worried since she had been in the cellar for a while."

"Mr. Kiba also told us that there was a near attack for Miss. Tomo while she was laying in bed a few days earlier. Was it the same spirit?"

"I was in hearing range for that. I heard her scream and came in just in time to see a cloud of smoke move from off of her and disappear. She later told me that the spirit looked the same for both attacks."

"Ask her about the attacks in the village." Naru told me, making Miss. Tomo sink further into Hana's side.

"I live in the village." Hana explained. I wasn't surprised. She looked like an islander. "I've grown up always believing in spirits and never thought of them as violent beings. The attacks have been so recent, it must be something that one of us has done. We've angered the spirits somehow and this is how they punish us."

"Did the spirits first begin attacking here or in the village?" I asked when I was sure Naru had enough time to write down everything that was said.

"The first victim was a girl in my village named Nali. She had just turned fifteen. When one of the village elders saw her walking out of the forest, her thighs covered in blood, he accused her of inviting a man to take her maidenhood and had her beaten. She had been known to openly flirt. The second victim was the daughter of that same elder and he realized then that it was not the fault of these girls. He did not know that it was the spirits at first and began questioning the men in the village. When none confessed, he threatened to involve the law of the outsiders."

"The police you mean?" I asked, wanting clarification. She sighed and nodded her head. Her eyes looked troubled.

"Yes. That very night, he witnessed one of the attacks. The spirits tried to go after my older sister but my father banished them away with a chant he had taught my sister and I when we were young. After that, he encouraged my sister to push her wedding to her fiance forward. He thought that the spirits would not touch her if she were no longer a virgin and it's proven to be correct so far. I have no man who has made me an offer of marriage so my father sent me here, to work as a maid. Shortly after I arrived, the attacks began here. I somehow feel responsible..."

Miss. Tomo looked at Hana. "No, don't feel responsible. This isn't yours or anyone's fault. All we can hope is that these people can rid us of this particular spirit, or perhaps all of the ones who haunt this island. At least I'll be safe now that it has had me..."

I heard Naru shift in his seat behind me. Thinking of nothing else that I could possibly ask, I finished up the talk by making sure we would be able to question the villagers. "Hana, how does your village feel about us coming to ask questions? Will there be a problem?"

"None that I know of. They want the attacks to stop badly and if this will do that, they'll cooperate." Hana assured us before glancing at the grandfather clock against the wall by the arch that led into the kitchen. "It's almost lunch time. I should help Kitsune finish making the food. Tomo, why don't you go lay down until the food is ready. You haven't rested properly in days."

Miss. Tomo sighed and stood up as the rest of us did. "Alright. Wake me when it's time. I'll clean the kitchen once we've finished eating."

When the two maids had gone their separate ways, I turned to Naru, who was looking over the notepad. "It sounds like whatever caused the spirits to become violent originated in the village."

"The cellar could be somehow linked as well. They claim it's freezing all the time." I pointed out and he was quick to shake his head.

"Cellars are usually cold. I don't think it has as much meaning as you think. We'll put a camera down there anyway. Let's go upstairs."

A little annoyed that Naru was so quick to shoot down my opinion on the case, I followed him back upstairs. "Let's hope we solve this case soon. It's creeping me out."