Mai shot up, pulling in a long gasp of air into her lungs. It was just a dream Mai, its okay, you're fine Mai repeated to herself as Naru and Monk watched in fear trying to console her amidst her coughing and gasping for air. Monk rubbed her back and murmured comforts to her whilst Naru looked on, wanting to do something to help but knew his actions wouldn't be seen that way by Mai and so he bit his lip and watched. A couple minutes later after Mai was breathing normally again, Naru grabbed a chair and pulled it up beside the sofa.
"Do you want to tell me what your dream was about?" He asked, trying to sound gentle. He was looking at her from beneath his dark hair, it was longer than it had been and fell into his eyes, I kinda like it longer though, Mai thought absently, as she tried to ignore the pain buzzing in her skull. She gazed at him a little too long though because Naru pulled his face into a smirk as she realised she hadn't said anything yet.
"Geez Naru, she's just woken up why don't you give her a minute to calm down?" Monk exclaimed, his arm still protectively around Mai.
"Monk it's because she's just woken up that I'm asking, the fresher the dream is in her mind the more details she'll remember."
"But what if she can't remember all the details because someone is pressuring her and she can't focus properly yet because she's still shaken from the dream!"
"Well I assume she tell me if she's still feeling odd otherwise she's fine
"AHEM! She is fine now and also has the ability to speak for herself!" Mai said grumpily, rubbing her eyes.
Both men exchanged looks with raised eyebrows. Monk stood up a little reluctantly and walked over to observe the camera feeds with Lin, Naru returned his deep stare to Mai.
"So what happened?"
"Umm, well it started off in room 221 . . ."
. . . . . After Mai had finished retelling her dream, she remembered the line of thought she'd been following earlier.
"Hey Naru?"
"Yes?"
"You know those cases we had, the one at the church with Kenji? And the 'doll house' one with Tamako?"
"Yeah?"
"Well I was thinking, about the similarities between those cases and this one. Kenji didn't want to move on because he was waiting for his Dad, and that woman spirit was waiting for her daughter Tamako to come back to her right? So don't you think that both the ghosts here are waiting and trying to find one another? Haruki wanted his mother in his final moments and his mother wanted him in hers. Don't you think that's the reason they haven't moved on?"
Naru smiled.
"Well done Mai that's some excellent thinking there, looks like you've been using your brain more while I've been away."
"Er, thanks I guess?" Naru doesn't usually praise me? Feels nice though. She began to smile back
"Of course if it was more up to speed then you would have worked that out ages ago like me."
Mai sweat dropped. There it is.
Just then Monk and Ayako entered base and flopped down in the chairs.
"Well, I've cleansed the room, and the hallway just for good measure, you were right about the spirits not noticing, or not caring."
"Good." Naru stood up and flicked quickly through his black notebook. He moved to the long table tucked in the back of the room and sat down, writing notes every now and again in the margins. He sat there for a while whilst the others discussed the case and checked the monitors. Mai glanced over occasionally only to see his brow furrowed in concentration. Just over an hour had passed before he eventually he came out of his own little world and called the others over.
"Okay everyone listen up. It has become apparent that despite the manager's initial suspicions, the woman, and mother to the little boy, did indeed commit suicide as Mai's dream has confirmed. It seems that the mother was in an abusive relationship with the child's birth father, they were on the run from him. Unfortunately he managed to track down where they were and attempted to kidnap the boy, however, he accidently suffocated him whilst trying to keep him quiet and in his panic dumped the boy in the gardens to be found. The mother meanwhile, after finding out that her son was dead, took her life. The reason they haven't moved on is that their deaths were sudden and traumatic and they are waiting for each other to find them but lack the means to do so hence why they're just hanging around, wrapped up in their residual feelings."
There was a pause as the team took in the short tragedy of the case.
"It's so sad . . . ." Mai whispered, more to herself than others.
"Well that explains that feeling in the room and their behaviour. I assume we'll definitely be doing a cleansing then?" Ayako said.
"Exactly. As Mai and I both came to the same conclusion, we'll be performing a cleansing which she will handle."
"WHAT?" The room said in unison. Naru felt a flicker of irritation pass over his face.
"She is the only one who can do it."
"But what about me!?" Monk cried, "I'm plenty capable and more experienced-"
"Yet you still can't handle this."
"But it's not like Mai can do it! She doesn't even know how!"
"If you don't like the way I run my investigation feel free to leave."
"Hey now wait a minute-!"
"Why don't we just let Naru explain what he means?" Mai said coldly. The bickering immediately died down and they turned awkwardly to face Naru and Mai
"Mai is often the one who interacts with the spirits on our cases, she seems to attract them and form a bond with them, usually a pleasant one where they are able to guide her to understand their thoughts and wishes. This case is no exception and she has connected with these two spirits that reside here. My plan is for Mai to talk to the two spirits to help them find one another and when they do, they will undoubtedly move on."
"So? Anyone can do that, why does it still have to be only Mai?"
"She'll be going to the spirits directly, acting as a kind of bridge between them since she has interacted and communicated with both of them. She'll use astral projection, Monk's been telling me you can almost use it at will?"
Mai shot a look at Monk, who suddenly became very interested in the ceiling.
"Yeah, but I haven't full mastered it."
"It will be fine." Naru said reassuringly to Mai. She blushed faintly. "Once on the astral plan, you will try to make contact with both spirits and hopefully reunite them there together. Whist you do that Monk will perform a cleansing charm just as back up and hopefully as a gentle persuasion to help them move on. However this will all take place tomorrow morning as Mai needs to prepare herself." He turned to look at her, "As you are still an amateur at astral projection, it would be best for you to prepare yourself in the easiest way possible which means no sleep for you tonight."
"Aw man." Mai said hanging her head.
"You'll be fine Mai, it's just one night." Naru retorted. Mai glared at him.
"Anyway, for now let's take a break, you're all free to get dinner. Lin and I will watch the base."
Later that night, Mai lay awake on top of her bed, desperately trying to follow the plot of the book she was reading but failing drastically. She flung it down beside her and groaned. Stupid Naru, not letting me sleep. Her mind began to wander, her head suddenly filled with the interactions she had had with him since he got back and she groaned again at the embarrassment of them all. Deciding to clear her head, Mai left the room and walked out into the gardens. They were exceptionally beautiful by moonlight. Deliberately avoiding the bridge and the pond altogether, she strolled through the archways that had been created by the trees, humming contently to herself.
A rustle from the overhead branches made her startle, looking up she saw a bird fly off into the night. She smiled and turned back around when a dark figure caught her eye. She stopped, were her eyes playing tricks on her? She stained to see in the darkness. Slowly, it lifted a hand towards her, a faint whisper came from its mouth:
"Mai . . ."
She bolted. Tearing through the archways she arrived quickly at the hotel's back entrance. She panted, looking about frantically, she couldn't see any-
The figure stood amongst the trees watching her.
Adrenaline renewed itself in her veins and she ran inside, up the stairs and into base. Lin startled at her sudden appearance.
"Mai, what are you doing?"
He watched confused as she gasped for breath.
"N-Nothing. Just, went for a stroll. That turned into a run." She panted.
He gave her one of his special, 'I don't believe you' looks but turned around all the same. Mai sat with Lin for the rest of the night, watching the monitors, especially the hallways, trying to shake off her earlier encounter with the figure in the garden. When daylight broke she breathed a sigh of relief.
Mai looked with suspicion at Naru who merely twitched an eyebrow as she sat down on the threshold between 221 and the second floor corridor. She faced the doorframe and held out both her hands to each spirit on either side of her. Naru watched her, interested from a scientific point of view. Ignoring his watchful gaze, Mai closed her eyes and listened to Monk's chanting, fatigue was taking hold of her, astral projecting was basically her falling asleep but trying to keep her mind in control, like lucid dreaming. She would also be faintly aware of what was happening around her body in the physical world. Keeping her mind open, she slowly found herself falling . . . . . . Opening her eyes she found she'd achieved her aim. Light orbs brushed past her as they rose steadily. Right, time to find them. She ran into the darkness.
Haruki sat miserably on the floor, something was happening and the new people had something to do with it. He didn't like it, it made him scared. He hugged his knees, he wished his mummy was here. He just wanted to go home.
"Hey there."
He started and looked up. Standing there was that girl from earlier, the one who he'd played with but, how was she here?
"I'm Mai, what's your name?" She smiled warmly at him.
"H-Haruki."
"Hello Haruki, I've come to reunite you with your mother."
"Really?!"
"Really really. I know you must be lonely being here by yourself and your mother's been looking for you. She's very worried. Let's go see her okay?" Mai held out her hand and Haruki went to take it when he remembered what had happened the last time he had trusted someone.
"How do I know I can trust you? You're just some stranger, I trusted my father and look what he did to me!" Mai watched sadly as tiny tears began to drip down Haruki's cheeks. She smiled kindly at him again.
"Hmmm. Well," Mai began sitting down, "I have a special ability to see thing others can't, for instance I was able to see what happened to you and how your father accidently suffocated you . . . and I can also see your mum and how she was so upset that she lost you. That's why I'm here, I'm here to help you. I know you're probably scared but it will be alright, I promise. My job is to help those who've lost their way, I will definitely reunite you with your mother."
Haruki looked at the kind girl who was giving him a determined look, he felt that he could trust her, that she would help him. A soft glow seemed to radiate about her and he suddenly felt tired, he didn't really want to stay in the physical world any longer, he wanted to move on, to be at peace.
"Okay." He took her hand and together they drifted into the spirit plane.
Line and Naru watched Mai with interest as her skin dulled and paled. They had a camera pointed at her as well as a thermal imaging one, both set up to record any notable changes that may occur when one astral projects.
Wandering round the spirit plane, Mai and Haruki were searching for his mother.
"Where's your mum Haruki? I can't seem to locate her." She closed her eyes and tried to focus her vision. C'mon, c'mon, where are you?
She felt a sudden pull in her gut and she was falling again. She and Haruki now found themselves standing in room 221. Looking around, feeling dazed, she finally located Haruki's mother. She was curled up in the corner, a dark aura of self-pity creeping about her.
"Mummy!"
"Go away spirit, my son is dead. He was taken from me because I failed to protect him, my precious boy."
"But mum!"
"NO! Leave me to rot, I deserve it after what I've done!"
"But your son is here! He wants to move on with you, to be happy together once again."
"GO AWAY!"
Mai felt desperate, here was this woman's son and she wouldn't even look at him, they were so close they couldn't give up now! As she thought frantically about how to resolve the situation, Haruki bent down and gently guided his mother's hand to his face and pressed it against his cheek.
"Please Mummy, let's go, we can move on and be happy again, just please, please look at me." Haruki sobbed quietly.
After a few long moments, he ever so slightly felt his mother's hand squeeze his. He looked up hopeful, slowly she turned her head a fraction to look at him. Immediately her eyes widened with recognition, the slight impression of happiness imprinted on her face.
"Haruki?! It's you isn't it!? It's really you!"
A soft golden glow enveloped the two as they wrapped each other in their arms, light filtered down and gently the two dissolved, finding peace at last. Mai smiled to herself and basked in the warmth before she felt them move on, the neutral feeling of the plane surrounding her once again.
The first thing Mai noticed as she came round, was that her cheeks were wet. The second thing was that she now had a massive pain in her neck from being slumped over at an awkward angle for who knows how long.
"Owwwww." She groaned as she rubbed the sore spot.
"Hey welcome back!" Mai lifted her head to look at Monk who was beaming down at her.
"How ya feeling?"
"Ridiculously sore."
"Ah well, suck it up, you actually did it and moved those little spirits on." Said Ayako casually as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. Mai shot her a look.
"Thanks." She snapped although she felt a little pleased with herself. Monk offered his hand and helped her to her feet. She winced as the blood pounded through her head after she'd been sitting down too long.
"You okay?"
"Just head rush, oww." Mai looked around and noticed the absence of two men and the camera that had been recording her. "Hey, where's Naru and Lin?"
"Well since the case is over Naru went to tell the manager and of course, Lin went with him."
"Oh."
"Well," Monk said stretching, "I guess we better go take down the equipment, case closed."
Naru and Mai stood next to each other outside, they were watching the others pack away the equipment.
"I get why Mai can't help but why aren't you doing anything Naru?" Monk grunted as he heaved a monitor into the van.
"Because Mai needs supervising, and I'm paying you. I can do what I like."
Mai stifled a giggle, she could practically hear the rolling of Monk eyes.
"This case was shorter than I expected it to be." Mai sighed.
"Why, do you feel we're not finished here?" Naru enquired.
"No, the spirits have definitely moved on it's just . . . . I dunno. It's nothing I guess, just feeling melancholic."
"Ah."
"Yeah."
Mai fidgeted with the bandage on her arm, she wasn't really sure what to do. Technically she wasn't part of the team anymore and wouldn't be joining them on the next case, giving her no justifiable reason to see Naru again. She bit her lip, maybe she should reluctantly re-join but she wasn't sure she'd feel comfortable with letting this back into her life again. Suddenly Ayako was calling her over. Time to go. She turned awkwardly to Naru and, after debating internally for a bit, stuck out her hand.
"It was nice to work with you again. I guess I'll . . . see you around?"
"Maybe. I'll send your pay check later today. Goodbye Mai, was nice to see you." He shook her hand before turning sharply and walked over to the van.
Mai watched him go, disappointment nudged at her but she batted it away, what had she expected? Of course this was going to happen. She turned away and got into Monk's car, as they drove off she thought she saw a shadow in the window of the second floor but when she blinked it had gone. She shook her head and put it down to tiredness. She slept the rest of the car ride home.
1 ½ week later
Mai sat on the sofa in front of her laptop, her head kept nodding but her pride wouldn't allow her to go to bed, after all it was only half eight. The phone rang in her apartment causing her to jump a little.
"Hello?"
"Mai, it's me."
Her heart flinched a little as Naru's muffled voice came down the line.
"Oh, hey. How's it going?"
"Fine. I need you to come and work for me on another case, th-
"I don't know Naru . . . it's just, uh, its-
"They really need your abilities for this one, it's a very malicious spirit and I wouldn't ask you to put yourself in danger like this but," Naru hesitated before continuing, which caused Mai to properly pay attention, "People have been seriously hurt here, already Lin, John and Masako have had trips to the hospital
"Oh my god are they alright?!"
"Lin's fine, just some flesh wounds, Johns alright as well but Masako's being kept overnight as a precaution. Slight head trauma."
"Oh my gosh . . ." Mai breathed to herself.
"Mai? I am very much against putting you in this much danger but the others really do need your abilities here
"Okay. Sure, where are you guys?"
"Get a pen and paper, you'll need to write this down . . ."
OOOOHHHHHH a new case! It will be a big, dark, violent, twisty-turny, mad, murderous case! With lots of injuries and epic fighting and gruesome murders and all that good stuff. I've been holding back on this but now it is time to unleash it! Ugh, I am really looking forward to writing it, hopefully you guys will enjoy it and if you have any location ideas, like where should this grand, brutal case take place, leave a comment because I'm torn between several ideas and I'm horribly indecisive. Thanks for reading!