So as promised, a short recap. Not a whole chapter of recap. That would be bad. But now! I think I did a fairly good job with working inteh recap, ne?

So i guess i finished this much sooner than I was thinking I would. but that is good, so yeah! Please enjoy. Thank you for reading the authors note. It makes me happy. And thankyou for openeing the first chapter. openeing... I don't think thats spelled right is it?

Thank you to everyone(X2) ! I already got a whole bunch of reviews. I have taken all advice to heart (at least tried to), so hopefully you will enjoy this story more. There will be more of a romance factor than usual, yeah? As per usual, I have only this to say about flames: They are your opinion. Thereby I accept them completely. Reviews are for posting your opinion. I appreciate it so much!

Also remember to destroy all of your hand sanitizer before it brings the death of this world.

Disclaimer: I do not own ghost hunt, nor any song titles, etc. which belong to those who made them. Those who don't have to say that are lucky to own part of such a wonderful thing. I do this for no material gain. Please enjoy.

Recap-

Ayako thought over what had happened. It had been over a month ago that Mai got out of the hospital. She needed to remember...

"From the sounds of what the other doctors say, the patents were not in fact okay afterwards. Both of them lost crucial memories, and their emotions were stunted. They became more reserved people, not saying much. And, both of them died within two years. The stories that ran in most papers were immediately after their recovery, before the symptoms were fully present. There are no medications we can use to help, but this will pass over eventually. Although I would suggest not telling her of the final fate of the others..."

That was what the doctor had said when he was explaining it to Ayako.

After Mai had been shoved off the roof by an angry spirit, named Serra, she was hospitalized. Even though it seemed that there would be little in the way of complications, Her pulse dropped, and her skin temperature began to decrease as well. The unusual thing would be that the machines logging and tracking both of those statistics didn't recognize the change.

Serra had cursed Mai somehow. And the final result, as explained by the doctor, would be death. There didn't seem to be a way to avoid it. But Maybe they would be able to. After all, they belonged to SPR a group dedicated to researching the supernatural. There must be some sort of technique that a Onmyouji, Monk, Priest, Medium, Miko, and of course, a high tech supernatural researcher could do to save her. Doctors and such didn't quite have the same ability concerning curses and such. After all, doctors' area of expertise is more falling off roofs than supernatural curses.

Ayako thought some more. After Mai healed, they had another case. This one was from the receptionist at the hospital Mai was treated at. They stayed at a 'lodge' in the middle of nowhere. Some stuff happened, and Mai spent most of the time outside, due to (yet another) curse. The poor girl stayed outside in the cold. But life goes on, and Mai figured it out, successfully helping the spirit on her own (with a bit of hep from Masako as well).

So now, they were here. And Ayako had nothing else to use as an excuse to not tell someone... Anyone about Mai's current condition. Ako, the receptionist had left it to Ayako to tell the rest of SPR.

She really needed to do so soon.

1-

Ayako walked into the SPR office. She had been visiting every day since they got back from the lodge. After all, she might find a chance to tell someone about Mai's condition. It was easier said (or rather, in this case, thought)than done, though. Ayako, being a doctor, had told people they were, or someone they love, was going to die before a few times. But this time it was like saying something out loud would be like accepting that Mai wouldn't be with them for much longer. And she didn't want Mai to know.

And what if whomever she told started treating Mai differently? That would be the worst. After all, Mai would know something was off immediately.

Also, Ayako wanted to know what Mai found most important. She had always been forgetful, and When Ako had asked her, before going to the lodge, about the house she used to live in, she couldn't remember that.

Although Ayako didn't think that that was her most important memory. They would have to see. Her attitude would probably change when she forgot it. Important things make up the most of your life, and change you. Therefore, they would notice right away when she forgot about it.

Mai looked into the main area from the kitchen. She smiled to Ayako. "Good afternoon! Would you like something to drink?"

Ayako shook her head, thinking to deeply to recognize that she was acting odd.

Mai frowned. "What's on your mind?"

Ayako, startled, looked up to the cheerful teen. If she said nothing, Mai would know anyway. She needed something petty, but still suitable for her expression.

"Do you suppose it hurts more to hit on the head or slap across the face? Because I've been experimenting with both, and I'm not sure I can tell which one is a more painful retribution for certain stupid monks." Ayako said, sighing, hoping that it would look like that was really what she was concerned about. It was off the top of her head, so who knew if Mai would pick up on it?

Mai smiled back, relieved it was nothing too serious. "Why not take a sample of every 'Stupid monk' that comes through that door?"

As if on cue, Takigawa walked in at that moment.

Mai was surprised. "Perfect! The first contestant!" Ayako was bit upset that he came in after she gave that excuse. She was thinking that if she were to tell anyone, it would be Takigawa. And if she did what Mai was suggesting...

Oh! But it would be fun!..Maybe? And there was a chance it would make her feel better.

Ayako looked over to him, walked over. "What's going on?" He asked. First, Ayako slapped him, then hit him on the head.

"Which one hurt more?" She asked. Mai was holding in a fit of giggles.

Takigawa just stared. But he did manage to scramble together an answer. "Not even going to ask." He walked over to the couch and sat down. Mai made him an iced coffee.

Ayako was disappointed. Mai was chatting nearly constantly with the stupid monk. Please, Naru, call for tea. Just get rid of her for a minute.

Sensing that she could tell Takigawa today, Ayako spoke up when Mai paused. "Why don't you get Naru some tea. He might be happy if you get him some without him asking."

Mai nodded. "I guess it has been about 2 hours..." She stood up and walked to the kitchen.

Ayako turned to Takigawa. "This is really serious. I need to talk to you."

"So thats why you got rid of Mai..." He looked disapprovingly.

"I don't want her to know." Ayako retorted.

"Thats not very nice. Really you should have just said that you had to tell me something."

"You're making it harder than it already is!"

Takigawa sighed. "Okay. No."

"Listen to me... wait, what do you mean no?"

"I'm replying without waiting for the question. No."

"This is..." Mai walked back through the room, and Ayako stayed quiet. She opened Naru's office's door, and went in.

"Its important." It must have been Ayako's eyes, but Takigawa stayed quiet. She was really serious, and maybe close to tears.

"Ayako..."

"Look, Mai... She..."

There was a knock on the door. Mai raced out of Naru's office and opened the door. "Is this Shibuya Psychic Research?" A young man was there.

"I'll tell you later." Ayako muttered.

"It says so on the door." Mai said cheerfully, as she let the potential client in.

Mai closed the door after the potential client stormed out in a bad mood. He hadn't impressed anyone with his story of his disappearing cash. Somehow his cash suddenly not being on his dresser wasn't really that mysterious.

Not that Ayako even thought that there was a chance that it was a ghost.

Ayako looked at a clock on the wall. "I have to leave..." Takigawa waved.

"Good bye then! It was good to see you for a little bit!" Mai said smiling, and retreating to the kitchen.

Even if she could have just waited for Mai to leave for a few minutes at some point, she didn't really fell like she could work up the guts to start talking about it again. Oh well. She would get around to it, the only question was when.

Haitate Shohei and Misuza Yuri opened the door to the building in front of them. It was an apartment building. Neither of them lived there.

"So you know that she's there tonight?" Yuri asked quietly. He had short brown hair, and matching eyes. He was short, even for someone his age, about 14

Shohei looked at his watch. He had messy black hair that never sat quite right. His eyes were a deep red. "Its been a bit of an odd schedule. But yes, I am sure." Shohei was Yuri's senior by three years, but both had about the same amount of experience with what they were planning to do. The only difference between their abilities was that Shohei had a bit more confidence with it.

They were doing what they were always doing. It tended to be profitable every time.

And the person they were following this time must have rich parents. After all, you would have to be in order to send their daughter to live on her own. That meant that if they could take advantage of that situation, it may work out for their benefit. And they hadn't been caught once in 4 years.

The target lived alone in apartment in the building thew were currently climbing the stairs in. Shohei had watched her walk in 3 hours ago. It was now 11 at night, so chances are she would be asleep. All they needed to do was get in, with the key they knew was hidden in the flower pot in the hallway on the floor above hers, and take the hostage. It wouldn't even be necessary to take her out of the apartment.

There was no way it wouldn't work.

Yuri pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. It was the room number of the girl's apartment, as well as the number etched into the key under the flower pot. Shohei turned the corner onto the 4th floor, and fished a key out from underneath the pot. It had 789 etched into the main part. Yuri nodded, and they slunk back down down to the 3rd floor.

Once at the correct door, Shohei put the key into the lock and turned it quietly.

The door opened to reveal a small apartment. There wasn't much in the way of furniture. But a person living on their own, especially a teenager, really wouldn't need much. There was a small kitchen as well, but it was fully and properly furnished.

Yuri closed the door and locked it quietly. He stood at the door while Shohei continued in to find the target. There was a rustling heard from one of the doors. Shohei softly toed closer to it.

He wasn't that far off, when the girl they had been waiting for stepped out. She was yawning, and holding a glass of water in her hand.

She immediately saw the intruders, and dropped the glass. The water spilled on the ground.

"---" She tried to say something, but was apparently too shocked. The brown haired, brown eyed girl just stared for a few moments, eyes widening.

Shohei could tell exactly what was coming next thanks to experience. She was probably going to scream. That was one of the only things that could go wrong. So he did what he always did to keep her quiet. That would be a right hook to the face.

It did the trick, as she fell to the ground with a dull thud. "Look for a wallet or a purse or whatever girls carry around. And a cell phone."

On the cell phone, they would just call the number she recieved calls from the most. If it wasn't her family it would be someone who cared for her at least, and they would get in contact with the family. The wallet was to get a name, and for some quick cash.

Yuri nodded and started looking around the apartment. Shohei noted an open door at the end of hallway with an unmade bed. He picked up the girl and set her down in the room on the bed.

She probably wouldn't be awake for quite a while. Maybe he was getting more conscious of the possibility that something could go wrong, with what had happened last time... he had hit harder than he would have usually for someone of her physique. She was very small, compared to other they had dealt with around her age.

Yuri Walked into the bed room, and held up a cell phone. "Theres one number that comes up way more than any other. Of every 10 calls she has received, 8 of them are from this number, but theres no name attached."

Shohei nodded, and spotted a small wallet lying on the floor by the door. He picked it up, and looked inside to find a student ID card with a picture of the teenager that was currently asleep in the bed.

"Taniyama Mai..." Shohei said quietly. There was 3000 yen in the wallet, barely worth the effort it took to take it out of the change pouch, but Shohei pocketed it regardless.

"Right." Said Yuri. "I'll leave a message on the machine."

Yuri hit the 'call back' button on the phone and the number wanted came back up on the screen.

It rang and a message announced it was 'Shibuya Psychic Research', where some people by the names of Shibuya Kazuya, Lin Koujo, and Taniyama Mai worked.

"Should I still leave a message on the phone if its where she works?" Yuri said, while the voice rattled off the times they were open.

"Yeah. That'll do the trick." Shohei said without really thinking.

Yuri left a message explaining what he was doing with Taniyama-san's cell phone, and suggesting they do something if they cared at all about her.

Yuri hung up, when Shohei realized the idiocy of allowing a message to be left at the place where she worked. "No!" He looked at the phone which was no longer on. "They might report it to the police before trying to help her themselves!"

Yuri shrugged. "Its not like its a big corporation, so they probably don't have a set procedure for the situation. They only named three people. And unless she one of the most important people at the company, I bet thats all there is. Those other two people will probably call her parents and decide together what they are going to do.

Shohei nodded a bit and then walked out of the room. He wondered absentmindedly if any company had set procedure in regards to a member of it being held for ransom.

He and Yuri were going to have to stay awake constantly. Maybe this girl had coffee lying around somewhere. Hopefully she did, because it might be a week until they were going to hear anything back from any relatives/co-workers.

Yuri walked around the apartment looking for something valuable that would fit in his pocket. He found an MP3 player, but the part that one would plug into a computer was bent so badly that it would be impossible to add different music to it. He didn't even see a computer in the apartment. He turned it on and looked over a list of songs.

Sekka no Shinwa- KOTOKO
Yuki, Muon, Madobe nite.-Chihara Minori
Triangle- Kawada Mami
Aka no Seijaku- Youko Ishida
Chansu wo Tsukame- Youko Ishida

It continued, all songs he had neither heard of. But he had heard of a few of the singers. They didn't seem to be anyone he would listen to. And if he were to try and sell it, he wouldn't be able to get anything for it. He put it down and sighed, looking over to where Shohei had dug out at least 10 varieties of tea, yet absolutely no coffee.

Shohei passed him 3000 Yen. "Y'think you can get some coffee tomorrow with that? May not even be enough. Sorry."

Yuri whined. "There is no way someone her age drinks so much tea. That stuff is nasty."

Shohei laughed as he put them away. "She is older than you..."

"yeah so?"

Ayako walked back into the SPR office the next day, hoping that Takigawa would be back. It was about 10, and she had just bought herself a nice brunch to think things over.

When she opened the door, she was surprised to see everyone except Mai present. They all had serious looks on their face. Maybe one of them had figured it out... That would be best so long as they didn't know that she knew the entire time.

They all turned to look as Ayako stepped inside the building. "Your phone was off." Takigawa said, looking over to her.

"I was having a relaxing brunch, and guess I forgot to turn it back on." She flipped her cell open and turned it on to find 12 missed calls, all from the SPR office, each within 10 minutes of the last. "What happened?"

Naru answered her question after a few moments of uncomfortable silence. "At 11:17 last night somebody called SPR, using Mai's cell phone."

Ayako didn't really understand why this was bad. "And..."

John continued. "It was not Mai-san, rather it was somebody that knew they were calling using her cell phone."

Thats when Ayako was both concerned and relieved about it. Somebody had gotten a hold of Mai's cell phone but there was no way that Ayako would be getting in trouble for not telling them about what was going to happen to Mai.

Naru turned the phone on the coffee table to speaker phone, and played the message.

"Hello. You were probably expecting this to be from Taniyama-san. Rather than that it is from me. I can't give you my name right now, but that doesn't matter. The current problem would be that Taniyama-san is currently being held by me and an associate. If you care at all about her safety or well being you'll probably want to do something about this right away. I guess what I'm saying is we're holding her for ransom. If you don't call back on this number from your current number in a week with some sort of decision made nothing is guaranteed. No calls from other numbers will be picked up at all. We look forward to hearing from you before then." The phone clicked and a voice prompted them to press a button in order to save the message, or delete it.

Naru pressed the button to save it.

"So?" Takigawa said. "What do we do now?" Masako, John, Ayako, Yasuhara, Lin, and Naru. None had any response to Takigawa's question. As if it would help, they stared at the phone.