A/N: I do apologize for the delay in updates. My brother in law wrapped his car around a tree and we don't know if he will be ok. Lots of brain trauma. Then my toddler has double ear infections and pink eye. This was a very long sad week…(correction, since it has taken me a week to slowly work on this my brother-in-law has passed away. May he rest in peace.)

There is going to be a lot of background and description in this chapter. I am trying to set the scene before I jump into action.

Chapter TWO:

I was helping John put up the tents that would be our homes for the next week or so on the ghost hunt. Or perhaps I should just admit that I was holding up poles while he did the actual work. I hadn't gone real camping since my parents had died, and then I had been too young to assist with the setting up of the camp site. John was very good and efficient. I can only assume that he had gone backpacking before in Australia where he is from.

The whole team had come together for this hunt. Masako had taken time off from her busy schedule to be here. Perhaps because she was worried about the closeness that Naru and I share now that I can ground him; which therefore allows him to access his powers. But I will admit that she has gotten her own back on me. I know for a fact that she and Naru have been out for a few dates since we came back from our last hunt at the hotel. It seems as though we are both at a stale mate in regards to getting and keeping Naru's affections or more appropriately his attention. I sighed is frustration and could feel John's questioning glance. Opps! Big grin! Don't notice me! Nothing's wrong here!

Lin was setting up equipment in the large tent that would serve as the base. Naru, Masako, Bou-san and Ayako have all gone down the trail that leads to the bangai to see if they can feel anything. Due to the remote location of this haunting it was decided that we would camp out in the woods not too far from the beginning of the trail. That way we could monitor the situation with out putting a strain on the resources of the rather poor town. Available for the traveling o-henro-san were two minshuko. But because lodging was hard to get during the spring for the henro it was requested that we leave the rooms open for them. But we were more then welcome to join them for breakfast and dinner. They would also provide access to the onsen, located on the property that was used for communal bathing.

(A/N: Think of a minshuko as a very cheap hotel, Japanese style. There would be a communal bath, and toilet. You laid out your own futon. Breakfast and Dinner would be provided however they are not large meals, however they are adequate and often the food is really good.)

John and I finished setting up the tents. It was late afternoon now. We eyed the passage of the sun and then agreed to go out into the forest together and get some firewood. We told Lin where we were going and he waved us off, looking at his computers and cables. I could tell that our trip out here by boat and then bus had made him worried about his precious equipment.

By the time John and I finished collecting a good amount of firewood the others had gotten back from their own explorations. Bou-san and Ayako looked fairly buzzing with good feelings. Naru was frowning (no surprise there) and Masako looked slightly troubled. (Again no surprise either…)

It was starting to get dark now. I don't know if anyone has gone camping recently. But when or if you do, take a moment to notice the change from day to night; contrary to popular belief when night falls it actually rises. Yes, it comes up from the ground not down from the sky, the night shadows gather in the trees, under the bushes, it sweeps over the fields until finally it reaches up and encompasses the sky. Naru gathered us around where the camp fire would be and said that after dinner we would discuss the plans for the ghost hunt. He had been keeping his thoughts to himself on this trip and I have no idea what he is thinking…

I shrugged. It didn't seem as though he was worried. Which would be nice, usually all I heard was about how we had to be careful that danger was all around… blah blah… We all trooped down the road until we reached the minshuko. We didn't worry that someone would invade our campsite while we were gone. Too far from the village and the henro that might come by wouldn't have made off with anything. They were here for the pilgrimage. From the quiet of the forest and road we reached the family run inn. The bustling burst of humanity made me smile. I have to admit that I think I am rather a city girl at heart!

We were greeted by the family and they gestured to the house shoes set out for us. Dinner was a parade of small servings of excellent food all obviously homegrown and very delicious. As I was eating I myself found myself staring at the six henro who were eating the food with great enthusiasm. They looked lean and strong. Obviously they have been walking this trip and seemed quite happy to be sitting down and eating. Bou-san was excited to see them and once the sake and green tea came out after the meal he quickly went over to them and struck up conversation.

"hello! How does your trip go?"

Most of them smiled gently. One answered for them all. "It goes well, the road is long but full."

Bou-san nodded. He asked more general questions about their trip and I listened feeling stuffed and drowsy. (I don't need the shear amount of food that someone who is walking 20 klm or more a day.) I perked up when I heard Bou-san carefully ask them if they were going to visit the bangai that was up the mountain. Four of them looked nervous and shook their heads no. Two however looked determined and said that yes they would be going up the mountain early the next morning.

I could see Naru studying the two intently. However before more questions could be asked the family in charge of the inn came in and asked if anyone would like to use the onsen? Everyone quickly agreed and all headed for the hot springs for a soak. Thankfully the hot spring was separated by gender and there would be no embarrassing moments. The minshuko provided simple cotton kimono that we could return in the morning.

By the time we left the inn a soft misty rain had started to fall. Naru changed his mind about discussing the ghost hunt tonight and we all went back to our respective tents with the assurance that we would discuss it in the morning. The road was dark and misty with rain. I found myself unconsciously walking a little faster and edging closer to Lin who was right in front of me. He slowed down and looked at me now that I was walking side by side instead of right behind in a line. Naru was right in front of me leading the way and looking back in a quick glance I saw that Masako was now side by side with John and Ayako and Bou-san had also teamed up.

I could tell that Lin was watching me in concern as I eyed the forests feeling more and more distressed. The rain had caused a fog to begin to form and I could almost feel as though eyes were watching me. Lin's voice startled me into a jump.

"Are you alright Mai-chan?"

I nodded nervously at him. "Not used to being in the forest at night, I guess! Still…" I eyed the wisps of fog, a distant nightmare tugging at me. "We must not be out in the fog."

I saw the camp we had set up, soft kerosene lamps lighting up the base tent. Happily everyone started to walk faster. I felt a hand tug me back and Naru and Lin both held me out of the circle of safety for a moment. "Why shouldn't we be out in the fog?" Naru asked, proving that he had been listening to my conversation with Lin.

I looked at their faces shadowed in the dark, and then turned away to look into the dark of the trees. I stared hard at the trees and the fog until at last almost dreamily I answered. "It is easy to loose your way when you can't see, and when you lose your way bad things can find you." I heard footstep behind me and turned quickly to see Bou-san coming to ask what we were doing. Happily I answered nothing! And skipped into camp. As I passed I could see Naru and Lin sharing a glance.

It was hard to go to sleep that night. The soft breeze caused the tent to move and rasp. The sounds of the forest at night were foreign to my city ears. Comfortingly I could hear the deep cadence of the men's voices in the next tent. The timbre of their voices eventually assured me that all was well and I fell asleep.

My sleep was not an easy sleep. I could feel the fog gathering and swelling, pushing against the boundaries set by Bou-san and Lin when the camp had been pulled together. However whenever it seemed to press too hard I could almost hear or feel the restless movement of one of the men. Then I would go back down into sleep reassured that I was safe. They (the menfolk) had all agreed that they would take a two hour watch in the night. So that someone was always up monitoring the computers and tending to a fire. We girls were allowed to sleep. Privileges of be females in a group of men who took being gentlemen (at least most of them, Naru just didn't his equipment monitored by us) quite seriously.

When I awoke in the morning it was quiet. A still hush in the dark. If we wanted to eat at the minshuko for breakfast we had to be there by 6 in the morning. I climbed out of my warm sleeping bag to fumble for my suitcase at the foot of my camping cot. I changed into my jeans, tee-shirt and hooded sweater, socks and shoes quickly followed. As quietly as possible I zipped down the tent and stepped out, quickly zipping it behind me. I saw Bou-san sitting at the camp fire, he was staring at the flames and had his hands wrapped around a cup of steaming tea. I quickly joined him, grabbing a cup from a table nearby and a tea bag. Bou-san saw me and gestured towards the camping tea kettle that was simmering near the fire.

Quietly, because of the soothing fire and the silence of the foggy forest around us we began to converse. Talking about how we slept and nonsense things that good friends do. Long pauses as we stared into the fire, sipped our tea and waited for our friends to wake up. Eventually I could tell it was time to wake up the girls and went to our tent while Bou-san went to the men's tent to wake them up as well.

Once everyone was ready we left camp. Immediately when we left the safety of camp I could feel something watching me, weighing me. I knew that I came up short. I edged closer to Bou-san this time. Naru was leading and Lin was bring up the back this time. Behind me I could tell that Masako was also feeling apprehensive. Naru stopped suddenly before we broke out of the trees and turned to the group.

"Who here feels that?"

Masako, Myself and Lin all nodded. However our main guns, Bou-san, Ayako and John all looked confused! Naru nodded and then kept going. Masako and I shared apprehensive glances and the others looked confused. Bou-san nudged me.

"Feel what?"

"Something is watching us through the fog." I replied, I hadn't wanted to answer. As soon as I did I could feel it narrow it's gaze at me. As though suddenly realizing that it hadn't been as discreet at it thought.

"Strange," Bou-san mused, "I don't feel a thing…"

I nodded. Although I am a little surprised, how does Bou-san not feel anything?

When we arrived at the minshuko I was relieved. The pressure left me. We stepped in to get breakfast only to walk into another situation.