March

S.P.R Office

5:49 A.M.

I sat my bags down on the couch in the meeting room before I dragged myself to the kitchen to make tea.

'Maybe it would be ready by the time Lin and Naru arrived.'

I pulled the tea cups out and started the kettle on the stove. It was quiet unlike the usual morning with the sound of Lin's fingers dancing around the keyboard. I could even tell when Naru was in or not. And I was usually filing papers. But the atmosphere was a completely different scenario this morning, especially when I'm by myself.

But I couldn't go back to sleep.

'Not after that dream…'

The kettle screeched and snapped me out of my daze. I quickly fixed the cups and set them on a tray. I slipped out of the kitchen and delivered them to their respective owners: Naru's desk, Lin's desk, and of course mine.

But I didn't get a chance to enjoy my tea. As soon as I stretched out on the couch to relax a little, I had crashed.

There was absolute darkness. Not a soul in sight. I made a complete turn but I found nothing. I felt a sense of claustrophobia and began to panic as a scream ripped through the silence. I spun around again, but this time, more frantic. Still nothing. Only darkness.

"Gene!" I called out and prayed someone would answer. "GENE!"

But there was no sign.

The scream intensified and I couldn't bare it anymore.

"Wake up Mai."

I slowly opened my eyes and tried to keep my vision from blurring.

"Sleeping on the clock already?"

I sat up quickly and saw Monk sitting by my feet. I rubbed my eyes and stifled a yawn.

"I'm gonna let that slide Monk." I warned. "What time is it?"

He pulled the sleeve back on his shirt and glanced at his watch.

"Ten after eight."

"Oh crap."

I got off the couch quickly, grabbed my cold, un-touched cup of tea and dashed into the kitchen. Naru was well over due on his tea. I stuck the tea cup into the microwave and punched in a few buttons. I can't believe I fell asleep.

'And I had the same dream again too.'

This wasn't looking good at all.

"That's not my usual cup of tea."

I jumped at the sound of his cold voice and instantly felt guilty.

"I-I'm sorry." I quickly apologized.

He entered the kitchen and leaned against the counter next to me. He retrieved the cup from the microwave and tasted the tea.

"Hmm… It's good. But it's best when it's fresh Mai."

"Sorry."

"Don't let this happen again."

"Okay."

He crossed his arms and took another sip of his tea.

"When did you get here? You don't usually beat Lin or I to the office."

"Pretty early. Five, five-thirty-ish maybe. And it's okay for me to early every now and then." I snapped.

I turned to clean the kettle to use again though I couldn't help but feel him watching.

"Have you been keeping up with your journal?"

I nodded my head and showed him the key on the chain around my neck.

"Yep, I am. Every day, just as you told me to."

"Good."

He stood in silence as he sipped his damn tea.

"You know, if you had waited a little bit, I would've made a fresh cup."

He finished the cup in his hand as if to encourage fresh tea, but instead he had set it down in the sink.

"Why did you get here so early?"

"You sure are full of questions."

I picked the cup up and began to clean it.

"I need to know if you'll be okay to go or if you have personal issues that'll distract you from your work."

"I won't be distracted if you keep freakin' Yasuhara away from me with that damned folder of his!"

"He'll be busy as well as the rest of us to bother you. Let's go."

I followed Naru out into a room full of familiar faces. They equipment was already loaded and all that was left was our personal items. I grabbed my blue journal off of my desk.

"Mai, the passes." I was reminded and grabbed those too and handed one to everybody.

That was when I remembered that Masako wasn't coming. She had to film today.

"Mai, quit day dreaming and let's go." Naru snapped.

I jumped out of my musings again and followed him out of the door. I carefully climbed down the cold metal steps and met Lin at the bottom.

"Get in the van. Takigawa-san's car is full."

The tall Chinese man held the door open for me. I climbed in under his arm and buckled in for the journey ahead.

Mazurka Legacy Suites

9:41 A.M.

I couldn't help but feel as if I was a small speck compared to the monstrous hotel standing before me. It stood at least ten stories high and stretched out like it was an old fashioned manner. I think it actually was once an old manor turned into a hotel. A large pond stood off to the side with a small brick cottage behind it. We parked under the over hand and waited for Yasu.

On this case, Naru decided it was best if he and Yasu had switched again, just to be safe. We had already alerted Mazurka-san of our changes of the 'staff'.

The ride up had been a silent one. Mainly because I slept most of the way to avoid Naru. He'd probably bring up the fact that I avoided his question earlier. I secretly hoped he did. But I knew I was wrong.

Yasu came out of the revolving doors and approached the van. Lin rolled a window down to converse with the beaming teen.

"The front desk people said we can unload the equipment onto a cart and take them to our rooms. You wanna do that?"

Lin and Naru shared a look before Naru answered.

"Yeah. But we'll send everyone in to watch the equipment. I don't want to leave it alone."

"Righty-o!"

Yasu turned and waved at the waiting bellhops. Three giant gold carts were rolled out by men dressed in gold and red matching uniforms. They wore ridiculous red hats with golden tassels dangling off and white gloves covered their hands.

"Let's help."

Naru opened the door and we both piled out as the bellhops disappeared behind the van.

At first they tried to refuse our help. But whenever they saw all the equipment in the back, they readily agreed.

We finally loaded everything on the carts and Yasu led us in the hotel behind the bellhops while Lin and Monk parked the cars.

The inside was unbelievable. Soft mist kissed my skin as the waterfall from the tenth story fell into the small pool on the first level. The ceiling was made of glass. There was old murals of children playing in a field that surrounded the glass and was illuminated by the sun peering down in. And everything practically glistened because it was made of marble galore.

"Good Gods." I muttered.

John looked down and raised an eyebrow.

"It is very big."

"Very big is an understatement." I muttered back.

"Welcome, SPR, to Mazurka Legacy."

We both looked up to find Ms. Mazurka standing by the bellhops. The elegant woman wore her hair down but her bangs were pulled up out of her face. The business suit she wore defiantly showed her baby bump. Today, her soft grey eyes weren't clouded and hopeless as they had been before.

We did make a difference.

"Come this way, and I'll take you to your rooms."

We followed her to the elevators which was hidden behind the waterfall. The clear glassed elevators made me a little nervous but I remembered that no one could really see me.

I glanced over at Yasu who returned a evil smirk.

"I don't think we'll ever be bored." He whispered to John and I.

"Quiet staring and let's go."

The three of us snapped to when we heard Naru's voice.

"There is no way in Hell that this is our room."

I peeked from behind Ayako and stopped.

"Good Gods almighty!"

It might as well have been an apartment. We walked into a large living room set up with a flat screen. A sofa was sat in front of it. There was a glass sliding door that led to the patio outside. On the right was a kitchen, equipped with all of our needs to bake. The bar had stools that spun around.

On the left side of the 'room' were two bed rooms and one bathroom down the hallway.

The bellhop slipped past us and set our bags down on the couch.

I had to step outside on the patio to check the amazing view out. I could see the lake and far off into the mountain range. The courtyard sat below me. We had it good for being eight stories high.

I closed my eyes as a gentle breeze blew through my hair. Too bad it wasn't a vacation.

10:21 A.M.

We were gathered in a large lounde room. A table was set up with all of our equipment up and ready to go. There was a kitchenette in the combined room. I already had tea made and was passing it out to everyone. Monk sat next to Yasu with a pen and paper- ready to take notes. Ms. Mazurka sat across from them. She was ready to answer the questions and go.

"Where have you experienced the most paranormal activity?" Naru asked.

"Right. The tenth floor hallway is where you hear the worst of the tapping noise before the lights flash. There's a scream where the old elevator shaft use to reside, as if someone is falling down it."

Monk nodded and quickly sketched out the locations.

"Food and utensils will fly in the kitchen. Papers and pens will suddenly get up and launch themselves at my staff members. The child's cry begins in my room, as if it was in a bed next to me."

"Oh geeze." Monk muttered as he tried to keep up. "There's a lot happening in this place."

"I know, and I apologize. But it has gone on way too long."

"What about the lake?" I asked her.

"I don't really know of it myself. Rumor has it that a woman will appear in the fog. But she leaves as fast as she comes."

"Ms. Mazurka-" Naru started.

"Call me Akira please."

"Ms. Akira, we need to interview your staff who has been involved with the paranormal activity here."

"How soon do you want them?"

"Whenever you can. You may return to your duty and we'll get started as soon as we can."

Akira stood and bowed.

"Thank you Shibuya-san. I owe you."

She straightened up and left us. The table shook with a loud band. I looked over at Monk who was banging his head on the table.

"This is going to be one hell of a case." He muttered.

"Cheer up! You get a fancy room this week!" I dodged the stenopad he threw at me and giggled as I went to make more tea.

Then I heard that cursed Yasuhara giggling again. I braved a glance and saw him with the stupid Folder of Giggles and Snorts. Oh Gods.

A/N: Sorry it took me a while to update guys. School is killing me. I've missed three days and I'm trying to recover, but it's not working. I won't make any updates this weekend. I have Saturday school and I'll be on an over-night babysitting job. And two certain someones will recognize something. Thanks for letting me steal your names! (One for the lady, and the folder's name)

I also wanted to point out that you guys made me cry. Yes, you did. Wanna know why?

Within one chapter, I had twenty-four reviews. The feed back made me want to cry. So, if you all were here now, I would probably hug and kiss you! I do believe it earned a shout-out. And on the first chapter already. So, thank you to: darkwriter14, leethefatwolf (I shouldn't include you but because you ARE my twin, I'll make an exception. :) ), Otaku-Addic, Cupid's Jinx, MakInAxAlice, Flamegirl5500 (you are one of my true fans and thanks for sticking with me through the beginning!), Moons-chan, foxyaoi123, tsuki-tenshi, southern-punk (I love you I hope you know.), Raika-chan, Angelic-Kistune, xSapphirexRosesxFanx, .., FallenRaindrops (hello again! I love you too! I thought of you when I started this story btw.), krisaku, Jade Starlight (I like that name… You might be in a story one day! :P ), of course craazylittlecheezer (I do really love you as well! Can't wait to see those pics on deviantart.), thearistocrat, Akemi-Akira (I used your name! Tehe. I love you bestest bud!) lilPinkBlackBunny531 (hello, I missed you!), sweetymai90 (hello again!), twilightangel61090, and finally a special thanks to my first reviewer who keeps coming back and supporting my work all the time, Ayjah!

THANK YOU ALL!

Love forever and always,

Jazzy!