March

Mazurka Legacy- The Rooms

10:47 A.M.

I leaned back in the sofa with the papers in my hand. I couldn't stay focused to save my life. I was supposed to be looking for someone who was the father of Mazurka's illegitimate child. I ignored the urge to just throw the papers up in the air and scream. I didn't know what Naru was thinking when he gave me this sort of job.

"Any luck at all Mai?"

Ayako came from the bathroom with a towel on her head and a towel wrapped around her body. I shook my head angrily.

"Nothing! I can't figure out anything to tell you the truth."

She slipped into her bedroom and I could hear her change into her clothes.

"So what's the game plan for today?" I asked her.

"I don't know. Whatever that Naru decides to."

I sighed again and threw the paper down on the coffee table. There was no official identity to the man. I knew I would see him in a dream though.

"Should we go over to the base and see if we're needed yet?" I asked.

"Nah. Not yet anyways. I still want to look at the shops down stairs."

She walked out of the room dressed very casually. A evil gleam flashed in her eyes.

"And you're suggesting we skip out?" I ask.

"Oh, we're not skipping out, we're 'investigating'."

She grabbed me by the hand and drug me out the door.

"…and so we believe that the shops might be haunted."

Ayako finished her elaborate story with Monk. He raised an eyebrow at the both of us. We both held very serious faces as best as we could. If Naru or Lin was present right now, they would immediately shoot us down without a second thought. But Monk, he was a little bit more…would gullible be my word? Probably. But right now I don't think he was taking the bait.

"So you think if you investigate the shops, something might happen?"

"You never know Monk. I heard that something DID happen. Like the mugs that threw themselves across the room. THAT is something we should investigate. And it would make sense too, to send Mai and myself because it is you who has watch over the base."

Monk's firm gaze turned to me. I had to hold my ground or we would give it all away.

"And you're done with what Naru had asked you to do?"

I shrugged.

"More or less. There's no way in hell that I can tell who the baby's father is. I wouldn't know. Not unless I fell asleep, and you know how Naru gets when I fall asleep on the job."

He nodded his head and held his chin in his hand.

"Right. Okay I guess. Just don't be too long. I don't want a grumpy Naru coming back without his tea, got it?"

But we were already out the door and halfway down the hall when Monk finished. Ayako was dragging me behind her relentlessly.

"Oh! How cute!" I cried out and held up a small stuffed animal.

It was a little puppy and its fur was the softest thing I had ever touched in my entire life. Ayako glanced my way and nodded in agreement. She was too busy looking at make-up.

"You know what Mai?"

I looked away from the plush toys. She was already putting some of the make-up back. But her eyes held some kind of surprise. I looked out into the lobby of the hotel and found Naru looking around. She glanced at me and we both ducked down and hid in the isles. I couldn't help but giggle at the thought of us hiding from Naru. I clamped a hand over my own mouth and pretended to look at more plush dolls. Ayako crouched down next to me.

"I can't believe we're doing this." I said.

"Me either. I feel like I'm twelve again."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Twelve? You did this when you were twelve?"

She frowned slightly at the memory.

"It was only when I was hiding from my mother in the store when she wanted me to try on these ludicrous outfits!"

The bells to the door played a pretty melody as someone walked in. I knew it was Naru. I glanced over at Ayako frantically.

"What do we do?!" I asked in a hushed tone.

We crawled down the isle and looked for a way out. We peeked around the corned of the isle and didn't find him. I let out a sudden sight of relief.

"He's gone."

"Who's gone?"

Both of us stopped and looked at each other before we looked behind us. Naru stood there with a bemused look on his face. I frantically grabbed at the first thing I could see. Luckily it was tea.

"Oh! Whaddya know! It was here after all Ayako! Thanks for helping me!"

We both clambered up off the ground and dusted ourselves off.

"I was looking for this new brand of tea!" I said quickly. "And Ayako said she thought she saw it in one of the stores."

Naru shook his head slightly.

"I don't want that tea. The tea we have is fine." He said.

"Who said I was getting it for you?" I asked.

"Monk said you two insisted on investigating the stores. I should have known better. Put that up. Mai, I need you to change the video tapes and set up a new camera out by the lake. Take the camera down from the kitchen, Brown-san already exorcised the spirit there and the one by the elevator shaft. All of the activity has stopped so we assume that it has been successful."

I nodded my head and Ayako and I rushed out of the store to do what we were told to do before he got any crosser with us.

1:08 p.m.

"Okay, what about this," Yasu pressed on. I tried to ignore him as I attended to the camera in the kitchen. The chefs were ignoring us as long as we stayed out of their way. "What if you and I went on a date and you wore an extremely elegant and tight black dress! And THEN you can see what's in the Folder of Snorts and Giggles."

"Absolutely not." I grumbled as I handed him the stand and the camera to hold.

But it was as if he was completely ignoring me.

"And then we could run away to England together!"

Naru made a small coughing sound. Yasu stopped and turned to him with an eyebrow raised.

"Is something the matter Naru-chan?"

Only he would be brave enough to use chan when he talked to Naru.

"Yes, in you plan of running away to England, I'm afraid you have made a flaw."

Yasu's smile grew wider.

"And what would that be?"

Naru wrote something down on the clipboard he had and clicked his pen and looked up with those blue eyes flashing.

"My parents live in England and have happened to grow really fond of Mai. They wouldn't like it if they'd have to save her again."

Yasu's smile faltered.

"Who said she would need to be saved?"

"If I'm with you, I would be."

I hid my laugh behind my hand and turned away from them.

"Well, that's fine with me! Anyways, I've had my eyes set on someone else!"

"Oh?" I asked ready to jump back into the conversation. "And that would be?"

He gave me a coy smile.

"A girl in my class. Unfortunately, she's a little bit dumb and a klutz." He smiled fondly, and I could help but find the smile kinda cute for Yasu. "Kinda like you Mai-chan! Though she's a little bit dumber I must admit." And that killed the cuteness.

"Anyways, let's get going. I'll go set the camera up." I offered and let his remark slid this time.

Yasu handed the camera equipment over to me.

It was a lovely day outside. I had never seen such clear water in a lake before, but this was outstanding! I could see the bottom of the lake and the fish swimming around. If it warmed up any, it would be perfect weather for a swim. The camera was positioned perfectly and I checked the sound.

"Mai to base, do you read me?" I asked and stifled a giggle.

Just saying something like that made me feel like a cop. I was expecting a guy in a burglar mask to come around the corner so I could arrest him. But knowing my luck, he would come around the corner, and I'd end up in more trouble than what I had bargained for. The wind whistled through the trees eerily and I began to head back to the hotel, scared that something MIGHT just happen.

"Excuse me miss?"

I jumped in surprise and stifled a scream. I turned around and saw an old man with a rake in his hand. His bald head glinted off of the sunlight.

"Ah, I'm sorry, you frightened me." I apologized quickly. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes, I'm sorry to ask this of you, but you see, my cat got stuck in a tree and he refuses to come down, no matter what I try. Can you help me? I see that your arm is hurt, but younger people these days are more healthier tha they use to be."

"Sure! Where's he at?"

"By my cottage."

I followed him through the forest and down a small path.

"So, are you the gardener here Mr.…?"

"Ah, you can call me Shinuya-san, please. And you are?"

"Taniyama Mai, sir. I'm here with the Ghost Hunters."

"Yes, so I've heard. Mistress Akemi has told me a lot about you. You seem to be exactly as she had described you."

We made it through the forest and found the clearing with a little cottage sitting close to the water's edge. It was the same one I saw when we first entered through the gates. And of course the tree he wanted me to climb was a very huge tree. I held back a sigh and found a sturdy branch to leap up on. Darn, trying to do this with a cast on proved to be a little difficult...

"Please be careful Mai-san!" He called up after me.

I looked up through the branches and saw the orange and black calico cat. He peered down at me with wide yellow eyes and softly meowed at me.

"Come here kitty." I coaxed him but the damn cat jumped up higher.

"Aww damnit." I muttered.

I pulled myself up on another branch and looked for a good foothold. I managed to wrap my legs around a branch and steadied myself. I held my hand out to the cat again which took some interest in it. And then the damn cat jumped down the branch I was on, and launched itself into his owner's arms. I sighed and leaned on the branch. And then I heard the sickening snap.

"Oh shi-"

The branch gave out under me and I began to fall for the ground. I reached out and caught myself on one of the other branches with my goo arm. I hung there for a second before I dropped to the ground.

"Ouch."

I rubbed my bottom and stood up to dust myself off.

"Are you okay Mai-san?"

The old man rushed forward as quickly as he could to check on me. I smiled warmly.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Is there anything I can do to thank you?" He asked.

I shook my head.

"No not really. Good day Mr. Shinuya-san."

"At least let me make you some tea." He offered.

I smiled warmly again.

"Tea will be fine. Thank you."

I sat down at the wooden table and the man joined me there. He poured me a cup of tea in a small china tea cup. I took a sip of the warm beverage and smiled into it.

"So, what kind of spirits are you finding out here, Mai-san?"

I set the tea cup down and looked into the cup.

"Well, ones that have been murdered around the time the early Mrs. Mazurka had her child."

The elderly man stopped and looked down at his hands.

"I remember her. I was young as ever when she came to the hotel for the first time."

"Really?" I perked up. "Will you tell me about it?"

He smiled warmly.

"Oh, where to begin? The first time I had met her was when she and her husband had their first fight. I was there for comfort. She needed a shoulder to lean on, and so I let her come down here every night. Like the good friend I was. We always shared the starry nights together. But one day, she simply left. We both knew she had to get back to her husband eventually."

I propped my elbows on the table and rested my head in my hands.

"How long was she gone?"

He sighed.

"Three, long, agonizing months. When she came back, she was pregnant. And in despair. I couldn't turn her down again. Not especially when she needed me the most. But people began to figure out the father of the child. I had to keep her safe."

His voice cracked as he continued to stare down at his tea. I began to catch what he was saying.

"It was your child, wasn't it?" I asked softly.

He nodded his head.

"I killed men to protect her. And the child. But I had to choose one or another in the end."

"Which one did you choose?"

He looked up and gave me a faint smile.

"The child. I had to let her go. And I don't regret it one bit. Look at Ms. Akemi, a strong and independent woman."

I pieced together everything.

"Akemi is the illegitimate baby?"

"Akemi's mother is the child. I'm Akemi's grandfather."

I started to open my mouth to say something but the man faded away from sight. I held my breath in and waited for him to come back. But he didn't. I just had tea with a ghost. And I did the only thing I could do. Run back to base.

A/N: Soooo…whaddya think? Cool right? I decided to try to do updates once a week, and I'd dedicate Sundays to the update days. I know today isn't Sunday, but I've been sick again. Blech. Oh, by the way, I actually might try to get this done sooner. My twin, Fawoo, and I have been delineating a new concoction of Ghost Hunt! It'll be a short story and really funny! So I'm gonna try to finish this up, but in the mean time, just chillax, and enjoy this chapter. I'm going to draw the story out longer than the other ones, but I can't guarantee anything right now! So, I wanted to bring Fatwolf back in. Say hello Lee,

Lee: HELLO!!!!!

Me: Yes, now one of my reviewers had a question for you that I'd think you'd love to answer.

Lee: Oh really? A question?! I LOVE questions!

Me: Yes, but the question is: what does the Fat Wolf like to eat? Answer por favor.

Lee: Anything edible and tasty!

Me: And feel free to ask LeeLee any questions. She'd be happy to answer. AS LONG AS IT'S NOT ABOUT OUR-

Lee: SHHHH!!! Don't reveal anything about our story!

Me: Hehe, okay. So in other words-

Lee: Love the Fatwolf! And don't forget to feed your Jazzy!

Love forever and always, not matter what,

Jazzy!

(Another quick A/N: I did a little modification, but you can hardly tell, I'm sure)