So, yeah, hope you guys have been enjoying the story so far. Been trying to finish this as fast as possible…although, it's taking a toll on my mental stability as well…Oi…so, here ya go. Next chapter! Ciao!

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Ghost Hunt. Sadly enough…

"What do you mean 'You saw the ghost'?" Monk exclaimed. I had to hold my ears due to how loud his voice had gotten.

"Just like I said, Monk!" I yelled back. "We saw the ghost. We were on our way back from setting up the equipment, when we saw it at the end of the hallway. We thought something bad would happen if we moved, so we started a little staring contest. After a period of exchanging looks, it disappeared. Nothing else happened." I argued.

"Oh?" Said Monk. "So, how do you explain that bruise that goes around your neck? Looks like a little more than 'nothing' had happened, Mai." He glared at me hard, which I in turn glared back. I hated it when he acted like this. I couldn't take it anymore.

"So, what if it attacked us?" I yelled. "If I would have told you that it did, you would have freaked out and made me sit this one out!" I backed away into the door, tears welling up in my eyes. "I hate being treated like the weakest one of this team! Even if I discovered my Qigong powers last case, you still wouldn't let me help any more than just setting up equipment!" I paused, tears now streaming down my face. "I guess I'm just a WORTHLESS PIECE OF SPACE ON THIS TEAM!" By this time, everyone was staring at me, sadness crossing their faces, except for Naru and Lin of course, who watched from the other side of the room. I ran out the door, tears running down my face. I didn't want to talk to anyone.

I ran outside faster than I had originally thought. By the time I had noticed where I had gone, I was already by the pond outside. I dropped to my knees by the pond and just sobbed to myself. I laid like that for the longest time, before I felt a small hand rest on my shoulder. I turned my head quickly, expecting to see Ayako or Jun. Instead, I saw little Tsukiki. Looking ahead, expressionless, she opened her mouth to speak.

"Crying will get you nowhere…" She quietly stated. "You must learn to be stronger." She finished. I then noticed a doll in her arms that slightly resembled a familiar doll I had just recently witnessed.

"Um…Can I ask…Where did you get that doll?" I asked quietly. She just looked down at me and gestured for me to follow her. I was hesitant at first, remembering what Jun had said about her "lifeless" sister, but followed her anyway.

We went back inside, sneaking by the room we called "base." We ventured up the staircase and went down the very hall that the spirit had attacked us only moments before now. As memories of the event flooded my mind, I was unconsciously led to Tsukiki's bedroom.

She opens her door to reveal her simple, yet fascinating room. Her walls were covered with paintings of scenery and exotic plants and flowers. There was a fireplace on the main wall, and everything was a dark lavender color. Her bed was draped with silky, white sheets, and canopied with the same. But, what stood out the most, was the vast collection of hand-made dolls lined up on shelves on all of the walls. There were multiple levels of shelves, each containing what looked to be different sizes, and shapes of dolls.

"Do you like them?" She said. I thought I had spotted a faint smile which faded as quickly as it came.

"They're all very nice!" I said. "Did you make all of these?"

"Mostly. I had a bit of help on each of them from a friend." She said. "I have something I want to show you." She walked over to what looked like a sewing table, with a rag doll laying on it. Half-completed. She held it up."I was inspired by you today when we first saw each other." Tsukiki stated. "I wanted to do something right away about it. That is why I didn't react to seeing you." She admitted.

"I see. Well, I feel honored, thank you!" I smiled warmly at her, as she returned a very small smile of her own.

"You're welcome. By the way, I don't believe I got you name?" Tsukiki said.

"Mai. Taniyama Mai." I said. She smiled a bit wider and went over to write something down on a piece of paper on her desk.

"So, what do you do most of the day-" I was cut off by the door flying open and a frantic Jun standing in the doorway.

"Tsukiki! I told you! No getting involved with any of my friends!" She scolded. "Mai…out. NOW!" She finished with a glare. I quickly complied, and ran out the door. Jun quickly followed, shooting a menacing glare in Tsukiki's direction. Tsukiki returned the glare and turned back to the doll she had showed me.

"I thought I told you not to get involved with Tsukiki!" Jun yelled. I was a little flustered at how she was acting. She never actually told us why we weren't allowed to be involved with her.

"With all respect, you never actually told me your reasoning behind warning us about her." I said calmly. "Does it have to do with the case?" I asked. Jun just looked away quickly.

"I don't think it has anything to do with the case…it's just that, whenever people meet her, something always ends up happening to them." Jun stated. "Our one maid wasn't even acquainted with Tsukiki when she went in to clean her room the one day, while she was still in there. She apologized for intruding, but had angered Tsukiki even more. Later in that day was when that maid was pushed down the staircase while carrying 2 baskets of laundry down." she said all this and decided to change the subject. "Let's go back downstairs. Everyone's sorry for what happened, including myself. They want to apologize. Let's go." She turned and started walking down the hall. I followed, keeping everything she had just said in mind.

Back in Tsukiki's room, she was just about done with her doll. The doll was a replica of none other than…Mai.

"Hehehe…You'll make a perfect addition to my collection. Just as soon as everything works out…you'll see, Jun. You'll understand my pain soon enough." She finished with a quiet, but evil laugh. She imprinted the name "Taniyama Mai" onto the back of the doll. "So it starts…" She said with a grin.

I know it's short. But I was extremely tired at the time, and just wanted to finish. Lol. Hope you guys enjoyed!

Mai: R&R and Comment!