Hello! And MERRY CHRISTMAS! OR WHATEVER! So here is another chapter (as an early Christmas present XD) Oh, BTW, if anyone watches Legend of Korra, did you notice that Todd was voice acting in it?! I was watching and was all like OMG IT'S NARUUUU (yeah and death the kid but we're all here due to ghost hunt :P) So happy.

Anyway hope you like it and if I don't see you before, HAPPY NEW YEAR! You can tell by my lack of explanation points that I'm not as excited for that. Eugh. Anyway See You soon my lovelies, please review, you know how happy it makes me! (I always sound too bubbly in my intros :/ maybe it's the exclamation points?) BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Mai's Apartment, Friday, 07:05

Mai tossed and turned, tangling herself in her bed sheets. Her eyelids flickering as she dreamed . . .

The little boy ran down the hall. He panted slightly, exhausted from running for so long. He stopped as he came to the end of the corridor, left or right? A voice sounded behind him, the heavy irregular footsteps began to pick up speed.

"I'm gonna getcha little guy!"

A new lease of adrenaline burst through the little boy, RIGHT he decided, sprinting off down the hall. Tears began to brim around his eyes, he didn't like this game, he wanted it to stop. He saw the stairway door up ahead, a bubble of giggles released from his lips, maybe it would be alright! Hands suddenly swooped in from behind him, a scream tore itself from the little boy's throat.

Mai sat up. The dregs of the dream hung about her memory, replaying the little boy's scream in her mind. She rubbed her face and pushed her hair back. A headache started working its way through her brain. Damn it.

SPR Office, Friday, 17:00

Slamming the doors shut, Naru walked round to the front of the van and climbed in. He yanked a slim black notebook out of his weekend bag and tore it open. Lin raised an eyebrow at the young man but kept quiet. Naru had been in a bad mood since Mai's visit to the office. Lin had overheard the entire conversation but decided against saying anything as he didn't wish add to Naru's already foul mood. He turned the engine on and pulled out into the road.

The Hotel, Friday, 18:00

"Wow, this place is actually quite nice." Mused Ayako as she and Monk walked through the lobby of the hotel. It was a western style hotel used mostly for travelling business men from the west. The carpets were red with tiny gold patterns running through them, the chandelier glistened on the ceiling and the lobby boys looked smart in their uniforms as they ran their errands.

"We didn't come here to sight see Miss Matsuzaki so would you kindly go and help bring in the equipment," Naru said as he approached the front desk.

"What's the point if we don't even know which room we're staying in yet? Besides you strong men don't need my assistance so I think I'll go sight see a little more and see if I can sense anything, that would be far more useful."

"Ayako wait you don't know where we're staying either!" Monk called after her, she turned around and waved her phone at him. His own phone beeped in his pocket and he pulled it out, there was a message from Ayako.

Text Me xx

Monk smirked at the screen. At the front desk Naru was being informed that they would be staying in room 213 and 214 with Conference room B to use as their base. The entire floor currently had no guests as it was where the activity was located. Naru took in the rough looking appearance of the manager, his face was pale with bags under his eyes and his shirt was creased. Something was clearly disturbing him.

"Would you mind if we talked to you about the circumstances we're investigating, once we've set up?"

The manager felt a small sense of relief wash over him. A miniature smile broke the severe lines etched onto his face.

"Of course sir, there's a phone in the conference room that links to the front desk so just pick up the phone and press the button labelled 'front desk' and I'll come up when you're ready."

"Thank you."

"Not at all sir. Is there anything else I can do for you? I can have someone carry in your equipment?"

"That would be great, thanks." The manager bowed slightly and called a couple of lobby boys over, Lin, being rather protective of the equipment, decided to supervise and followed the boys out into the car park.

Naru walked over to Monk and relayed the information, giving him a key card to one of the rooms.

"As I our equipment is being carried in for us, I suggest we meet up in the conference room on our floor in twenty minutes, I'm going to look around."

"Okay then, I'll go find Ayako. See ya later."

Meanwhile . . .

As soon as Ayako was clear of the boy's, she located a private area where she couldn't be over heard and called Mai.

"Hello?"

"Hey Mai"

"Oh hey Ayako, what's up? Aren't you supposed to be on a case right now?"

"Yeah, about that . . . "

"Listen Ayako, I'm not going, I think it would be best-"

"No, wait Mai I'm not asking you to re-join, it's just, ahem, this is quite embarrassing but . . . could you go into my house and on my bed is my toiletries bag and some, erm, feminine hygiene products. Could you please bring them to the hotel?"

"Errrrrr . . . .

"Please Mai I'm begging you!"

Mai sighed.

"Okay but you so owe me."

"Thanks! Let me give you the address . . ."

Conference Room B, 18:32

A wall of display monitors greeted the manager as he walked through the door. Expensive looking electronic equipment leaned against it, waiting to be set up. On the far right side of the room sat a long desk. Seated at the head of it was Naru, he looked up as the manager walked through the door and indicated a seat next to him. Once the manager was settled Lin came over and occupied the vacant seat to Naru's left. He flipped his laptop lid open.

"Alright, could you tell me about any paranormal experiences you might have had whilst working in this hotel?" Naru asked.

The manager shifted his weight in his chair, perspiring slightly, suddenly unsure of whether or not he should say anything. But . . . these people were here to help so they would believe him, wouldn't they? He cleared his throat.

"Er, well, the second floor has been seeing more activity than normal lately-"

"Wait, more activity? I was under the impression this was a recent occurrence."

"Ah, no sir, you see, there has always been . . . something on the second floor. Usually cold spots or knocking sounds, sometimes giggling can be heard and footsteps will start following as soon as you pass a certain room."

"What room would that be?"

The manager's eyes darted nervously about the room. He cleared his throat again.

"Room 221." He said in a small voice. Naru narrowed his eyes slightly at the manager.

"I take it there's some significant about that room."

"Y-yes, yes sir. Um the room itself hasn't been used since about ten years ago when-"He stopped suddenly, "This is strictly confidential you understand . . ."

"Of course, all clients have strict confidentiality."

"Well ten years ago a women supposedly committed suicide in that room. She had hanged herself on the back of the door. It was said she did it because her little boy had died the day before, his body was found in the gardens, he'd been suffocated." A brief look of confusing passed over the manger's face before he continued, "Actually, I've never really thought about it before but the only place that the little boy seems to haunt is the second floor, not the gardens, which must mean he was probably killed on the second floor."

"Was anyone ever convicted for his murder?"

"The boy's stepfather had been in the hotel around the time of the incidents and he was arrested but there wasn't enough evidence and so they let him go."

"Before you said the boy's mother had 'supposedly' committed suicide, do you think otherwise?"

"It's really not my place to say but I thought it was odd timing that both the mother and child would die when the stepfather came to see them. I was only a lobby boy at the time but I'm fairly certain the father had come to try and convince them to go back home with him. They had a big fight in the lobby, something about drinking? I'm not entirely sure. It may just have been a coincidence."

Naru sat thoughtfully for a moment. He wasn't a great believer in coincidences however the overbearing rational part of his brain reminded him that he didn't have any evidence to believe the father was responsible. He pulled himself out of his thoughts and looked at the manager.

"Would you be able to gather up the staff who have had any experiences for questioning?"

"O-of course, but, if you don't mind me being so blunt sir, we would like to keep this whole situation quiet, for the sake of the hotel's business."

"We will be sure to handle the matter carefully."

"Would tomorrow morning be alright? It's just we are usually busy in the evenings."

"That's fine."

They shook hands before the manager exited the room.

Hotel Lobby, Friday, 19:00

Mai walked through the hotel lobby, marvelling slightly at how splendid it all was. She located Ayako by the elevators and walked over.

"Hey."

"Hey, thanks for

"No prob! This place is really fancy . . ."

"I know, listen, could you come to my room with me?"

"Why?"

"It's just . . . this guy on the first floor is reeeeally creepy and I don't like walking past him on my own."

Mai smiled and rolled her eyes. They proceeded up the stairs (as Ayako had a phobia about lifts) towards the second floor. Upon approaching the door to the second floor landing, Mai suddenly felt strange.

A cold feeling passed straight through her stomach causing her breath to catch in her throat. A feeling of pressure enveloped her torso and goose bumps erupted on her arms. Mai felt like she was being suffocated, sharp shooting pains filled her lungs. And then as soon as it came, the feeling left her. Mai felt her breath escape her lungs, she sank to her knees, her eyes closed.

"Oh my god Mai!"

The men rushed out of the conference room as they heard Ayako's shouts. Mai was on her knees looking very weak and pale. Monk rushed over and scooped her up into his arms and carried her through, laying her on the sofa. Mai felt the sensation of being lifted and carried and tried to say something but her body didn't seem to be listening to her, it shivered from the coldness and the shock of it all. A hand was pressed to her forehead.

"She's a bit colder than normal but it's nothing serious, Monk, go get a blanket so she can warm up."

Mai finally managed to prise her eyes open and they were immediately met with Naru's. She shifted her gaze and tried to sit herself up. Monk came back into the room with a blanket and wrapped it round Mai. She gave him a small smile to let him know she was okay.

"Would you mind telling me what happened Ms Matsuzaki?" Naru enquired.

"I-I'm not really sure, she was fine until we passed through the staircase doorway, and then, she just, fainted." Ayako proactively placed her hand back on Mai's head.

"Mai? Would you mind telling me what happened? And why are you here?"

Mai felt a stab of annoyance at the bluntness, she hated feeling so frail and she hated Naru seeing her like she was.

"I was walking down the corridor when I suddenly felt really cold, like ice was passing through me and then I felt like I couldn't breathe and there was a pressure around my ribs and then it just, stopped. I must have just collapsed from the shock, I, er, haven't been too well lately."

Lin typed out Ayako and Mai's account on his laptop, he wagered it would probably be important later on in the case. He glanced over at Mai and was glad to see colour returning to her cheeks. His gaze flicked over to Naru and saw him processing the information that had been presented. He had a plan.

Naru clenched his jaw and looked Mai directly in the eyes.

"I think you should stay."

"What?"

"You are now involved with the case, from your account it sounds like a ghost passed through you and you felt their last moments. So, since you have interacted with this ghost you will have one of your dreams tonight, I would prefer to have you here so I can hear about it and question you whilst it is still fresh in your mind. Otherwise you'll leave out some of the details."

Mai stared at him with her mouth open, but a feeling of fatigue swept over her, quelling her fire. She suddenly felt incredibly tired. She wasn't in the mood to argue, she wanted tea and a bath. She sighed quietly.

"Okay fine, I'll stay and help. But I'm not back under your employment, I'm just doing this as a favour."

Naru felt triumphant at his conquest, a smirk emerged on his face causing Mai to roll her eyes. He turned away and walked over to the monitors and rewound the tapes to show the exact moment where the ghost had emerged.

Meanwhile, Ayako accompanied Mai to her room and ran a bath for her. Mai yawned sleepily and turned on the TV, flicking lazily through the channels.

"Okay your baths ready, this should warm you up

"Thanks Ayako, I'm not really cold any more, just sleepy."

"Hmm, well leave the door unlocked just in case anything happens."

"Like what? What's going to happen to me in the bath?" Mai joked.

Ayako raised an eyebrow and gave Mai a look that said, 'it's-you-Mai-anything-could-happen'.

"Pfft, I'll be fine. See you in a bit."

Mai entered the bathroom and slipped off her robe before climbing into the bath. The tension eased out from her shoulders as the heat of the bath worked its way through her muscles.

"Hey Ayako!?"

"Yeah?"

"What am I going to do about all my stuff?"

"We can get it tomorrow morning."

"But what about my toothbrush?"

"Eugh. Fine I'll go ask the front desk. I'm going to leave my spare pair of pyjamas out, you can use those for tonight."

"Thank you!"

"Yeah, yeah." Ayako mumbled as she left the room.

Sometime later . . .

After her bath, Mai climbed out the tub and dried herself off. She walked over to the mirror and wiped off the condensation. A dark figure behind her stepped quickly out of view. Mai shrieked and spun around. Nothing was there. Ever so slowly, Mai turned her head back to the mirror. Nothing. She breathed a small sigh of relief but hurried out the bathroom anyway.

In the bedroom Mai changed into a spare pair of Ayako's pyjamas and pulled her hoodie on over the top. She'd collect her stuff tomorrow from her apartment. She switched the TV on.

KNOCK

KNOCK

Mai groaned. She shuffled over to open the door.

No one.

That's odd, Mai pondered, maybe it was the TV. She shut the door and went back to the bed.

KNOCK

KNOCK

Mai went back to the door and opened it.

No one.

A shiver ran through Mai. This is wrong. Mai closed the door andretreated to the safety of her bed. She was beginning to panic, she felt vulnerable being all by herself.

KNOCK

KNOCK

KNOCK

Mai shut her eyes and counted to ten.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

She got off the bed slowly and walked over to the door. She gripped the handle. She could do this, after all she took down a ghost only last week. Why should she be scared? This was only a sound.

Mai sucked in a breath and ripped the door open.

"Geez Mai, you don't half take your time." Ayako retorted as she stepped in to the room.

Mai grinned warily.

"Sorry."

Ayako tossed Mai a toothbrush.

"Here you go."

"Thanks."

"Oh, by the way, Naru said to get some sleep. It's going to be a long day tomorrow."

Mai growled under her breath and slammed the door shut.

Outside the door, the little boy giggled. What fun the new guests were going to be.