After the pool incident Naru hurried to set up proper cameras in the pool room as well as in the main hallways. John did perform a cleansing, so it took a while before another sighting occurred.
"Naru," Lin summoned the boy. Mai hurried over with John, but frowned. All she saw onscreen was a man wandering around the halls. Was he suspicious? He looked too scrawny to be a real threat, and he wasn't really doing anything. Nonetheless Mai dismissed it. Naru knew better, she knew that much by now.
This happened twice more before Mai's confusion got the better of her.
"Why are you guys freaking out so much?" she asked when everyone crowded around the monitors again.
"Are you serious?" Naru couldn't help but say, making Mai's face turn an interesting shade of crimson. She knew she had just pulled a special kind of stupid on Naru if he wouldn't even try to keep his composure.
As for Naru, she really did seem incredibly stupid. To him, on screen the large black dog had just exited the frame, making it the third sighting of it in one night. He was waiting for it to attack but for now it just seemed to be wandering around.
"Yes I'm serious. It's just a guy out for a walk, not that suspicious," Mai defended herself. All three boys turned to stare at her weirdly, even John. "…What?"
"Mai, that's not a man. It's a dog," John said dubiously. Mai's brows furrowed.
"What? No it's not! Naru can you rewind the tapes?" Naru complied, a bit annoyed at being ordered around by Mai, but curious. Once again the dog appeared in the frame and Mai quickly leaned over him and paused it.
"See, it's a guy," she exclaimed triumphantly, pointing to the lanky brunette onscreen. Naru and Lin exchanged a look.
"Are you sure?" John asked.
Mai bristled. "It's definitely a guy. Can't you see him? Tall-ish? Shaggy brown hair? Right here." She motioned to him again, but it was evident no one saw.
Naru just made a low noise in his throat and re-winded all the way back to the first sighting. "And this? Is it a man?"
Mai began to doubt herself, but she could clearly see him on the screen. "Yeah. It is."
Naru nodded and went through all the recorded sightings twice. Each time she claimed it was a man, and described the same guy. Finally he set it back to the live feed and turned to her, a curious glint in his eye.
"You're positive it's a guy."
"Naru, now you're just being stupid. Why? What are you seeing?"
"It's a dog, Mai," Lin said gently. Mai frowned. "We've been seeing a dog running around the hotel this entire time."
"That's a weird looking dog then," she huffed before moving to flop down on the couch. By now it was almost five am, and she was getting tired. She didn't know how Naru and Lin could stay up so often.
"Monk just texted me. He and Ayako got your message, Naru, and are on the way here. They'll be here in an hour," John piped up.
Naru nodded and sat back in his chair, already thinking about the day's plans.
True to their word Monk and Ayako arrived at around six. Both of them bleary eyed and crabby but ready to work. The only problem was that as soon as Monk arrived he began complaining of a headache, but he insisted on casing the place and beginning exorcisms with Ayako and John.
They hadn't been having any real luck so Mai found herself at apartment 293, otherwise known as the Takahashi residence. Takahashi-san had welcomed her warmly but had to duck out, leaving her to watch Akio by herself. Mai was supposed to be investigating but Akio was adorable, so she didn't mind baby-sitting.
"Hey Mai-chan, do you like dogs?" Akio asked as he struggled to fit a piece in on the puzzle he was trying to solve. Mai reached over and rotated the piece so it fit in easily, earning a bright smile from the small boy.
"I sure do. Why do you ask?"
"I like dogs too. I'd like one when I'm older. Not a mean scary one, but a nice one." He suddenly stiffened, looking around curiously.
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah! I think I keep hearing dogs though." Mai's brows drew together at that. That definitely wasn't a good sign.
"Huh. There's probably dogs in the neighborhood! Don't worry too much, we're here to keep you safe after all," Mai reassured him.
"Like a guardian?"
"Yeah, I suppose so!" Akio relaxed visibly at her words.
"Hey Mai-chan, can I ask a question?"
Mai felt herself grow apprehensive. It was a child, what damage could he cause? "Sure thing buddy."
"The redhead and the tall guy with the funny hair, are they dating?" Mai laughed, surprised.
"I don't know. If you ask me though, it seems like they totally are!" She teased.
Akio grinned. "Do you have a boyfriend?" Mai flushed at his blunt question.
"No, I don't. Do you have a girlfriend?" To her relief, he accepted the subject change.
"No I don't either. I do like a girl though! She's really pretty and helps me with math." Akio's eyes sparkled as he talked.
"That's good!" Mai was about to continue when Akio stiffened again, instinctively reaching out and grabbing onto Mai's arm.
"Mai-chan, did you know something really bad has happened here."
"No, I didn't! What happened?" Mai replied, trying to keep her voice calm. She was sure that what Akio was about to say wasn't going to be good.
"Someone died. He was killed by three guys. I saw it all in my dreams," Akio whispered. Mai frowned slightly and reached out to stroke his head in an attempt to comfort him. "That's when all the whispers started, when the man died."
"The whispers? That doesn't sound nice," Mai said lightly. Akio shook his head solemnly.
"They say bad things. I can't always hear them, but they say Kabayashi-san's name a lot." Mai's eyes widened. Kabayashi-san? Surely that doesn't mean… is she involved with something here?
"Do they say anything else?" Akio looked thoughtful, his puzzle forgotten for the moment.
"No. Not really. They just seem very angry at Kabayashi-san."
"Who is they, Akio-kun?" Mai pressed.
"Oh, the people who have died here! All of them. They can't leave, you know." Mai felt herself growing nauseous. He was saying such sad stuff with a straight face!
"That's terrible! We need to focus on nicer things, ne?" Mai said cheerfully, trying to change topics hurriedly.
"Yeah! I saw Morine-san this morning when she came back. She's doing okay! But she says she's moving," Akio said with a pout. "The ghosts chased her off. At least they didn't kill her. They're trying to kill everyone, but mostly Kabayashi-san."
"O-Okay Akio-kun, that's enough chatting! Let's finish your puzzle," Mai said hurriedly. This sounds serious, why haven't we heard about this earlier?
Akio's face abruptly twisted. When Mai reached to comfort him he drew away, staring intently at the window of the apartment.
Mai shot him a panicky look before jumping up and heading for the window next to the balcony. For some reason she started having visions of a man plummeting to his death off an upper balcony.
She prayed that wasn't about to happen.
Unfortunately, she heard a whooshing noise before a flash of color flew past the window and hit the ground below with an ominous thud. Mai couldn't hold back her gasp of surprise before turning to Akio. Even more surprising was his reaction. He didn't seem shocked or concerned, instead he was looking at her curiously.
"You saw him too?"
"Akio, stay right there. I need to check something out," Mai said before turning and rushing onto the balcony. When she peered over the railing, there was nothing on the ground. No blood, no body, not even the dirt was messed up. There was no denying it, she had just seen the third apparition in 24 hours. She had to tell Naru and the crew!
"Hey, Akio-kun. Would you like to go on a bit of a field trip?"
When she got to the base everyone was there and up to their usual antics. While Naru wasn't too impressed with her inviting Akio in without permission, Ayako took to him immediately, even going so far as to snatch the child away from Mai and play with him. Mai didn't mind, she had something to do.
"Naru, something happened," she whispered once she was sure Akio was busy. He tilted his head, an indicator he was listening. "I'm positive I saw someone fall from one of the floors above us, but when I checked outside, no one was there."
"Hm. There was no blood or anything?"
"Ne. Akio didn't seem concerned, I think he's seen him before. I'm guessing I'm the first to see it besides him." Naru sat back, considering this. At the same time they became aware of an argument between Monk and Ayako.
"I'm just saying I don't trust the lady. Something about her rubs me the wrong way, that's all," Monk declared, gingerly rubbing his temples.
"Kabayashi-san seems perfectly fine to me, what are you talking about," Ayako shot back.
"Maybe so, but personally I'm not the biggest fan."
"What's with you? You've been so moody about her and she's done nothing to you! Are you PMS'ing?"
"That's something you would know all too well," Monk retorted. Ayako moved to smack him upside the head.
"Why you-"
"Akio-kun! I think it's time I got you back, your dad's probably home by now, eh?" Mai intervened. Akio shot her a grateful look and followed her eagerly out of the room.
"Would you stop being so stupid. She's a small office lady, what's she gonna do to you," Ayako chided. "Unless you're so weak you could get taken down by a small office lady."
"Hey! I take offense to that! You never know, they always have freakishly long nails," Monk pouted. Clearly his headache was forgotten. "Besides, you're a small office lady but you can be a real beast sometimes."
"I take offense to that! At least my hair is nicer than yours!" Ayako jabbed. Monk feigned being hurt before shaking out his hair dramatically.
"Mine is so nicer, just admit it."
"That's enough," Lin's tired voice cut through their argument. Ayako and Monk shot Lin a sheepish grin before shrugging and falling silent.
"Alright, let's get you back to your dad. You're probably getting hungry now," Mai said brightly before leading Akio out. On the way out she thought she saw Naru gazing after them, but she brushed it off.
That afternoon Masako and Yasu arrived together. It didn't take long for Masako to start feeling ill, as announced when she clapped a kimono sleeve against her mouth and ran to Naru.
"Naru, this place… it's not good," Masako whispered into the boy's shirt. Naru kept his face impassive, but to Mai's joy his arms remained by his side. That's right Masako, Naru isn't easily swayed by pretty girls crying! He's better than that!
"How so?" Naru asked. Masako sighed and stepped back, finally letting go of him.
"It's very dark. Cold too. And… musty. Like something has settled here and hasn't moved for a while," Masako admitted. Mai and John exchanged a look.
"Cold and musty, you say? Mai said practically the same thing earlier too!" John piped up. Masako couldn't keep the irritation off her face, clearly not amused that Mai was stealing her limelight. Mai ignored her.
"Huh. I was thinking the same thing too. I've got a wicked headache too, you don't Mai? You're sort of the go to for weird ghost phenomenon." Monk said thoughtfully.
"Nope. Nothing. I think it's just you," Mai admitted.
"Me too," Masako said softly. Everyone turned to look at her. "I mean, I have a headache too. It's very sharp, like something is pressing on my skull from the inside."
Monk's eyes widened. "Yeah, that's what I'm feeling too!"
"You two should probably rest then. Naru, what's our first move?" Ayako asked.
Naru just frowned and crossed his arms, deep in thought. Finally, he spoke. "Lin and I are still gathering information. There has definitely been a murder here, which could mean a residual haunting that's built up power over time. For right now, I'd suggest visiting places around the complex and exorcising apartments, try and make things safer for the residents. Lin and I will try to find the motive and the perpetrators so we can begin purifying this place and setting things right."
Monk jumped up, cracking his knuckles and grinning playfully. "Alright, sounds good to me. Who's ready to kick some ghost butt?"