Disintegration

A single candle was lit, burning in the dark. To the hesitance of Wakana, the team had turned off all the lights in the lounge and foyer. The sat silently around a table, their faces illuminated with the soft flickering light. It was brightest on Masako. She sat with her eyes closed, concentrated as she focused her energy, channeling herself. A name was all she ever needed to practice her gift. "Are you sure this is a good idea-..." "Relax. We do this sort of thing all the time. It's nothing to worry about."Masako could hear someone assuring their client, her senses fading as she called on the name Mai had heard.

Shiori.

Shiori.

Masako's head went down, forcing all of them to watch in anticipation. A part of Mai was still shaken up from the experience she had not even an hour earlier, but fear could not get to her. She had to be strong and face whatever was haunting this place. Whatever had tried to purposely frighten her. "Excuse me, are you Shiori?" Naru spoke up, his expression stoic but concentrated. Mai was getting pretty good at noticing the slight differences. "…how do you know my name?"Masako then looked up, her head slowly lifting to meet the gaze of the others. John inhaled sharply, recognizing that dead look in her eyes. It was unlike her, it didn't belong and it was the same gaze that had threatened him earlier. Interestingly, It seemed that Masako took on some traits or features of the deceased.

"We understand that you are lingering in this place. Are you the one scaring everyone here? We do not wish to harm you. Only to help." Naru calmly asked, his hands resting on the table. Masako's head turned towards him, a sly smirk curling on her lips. "You think you know a lot of things, don't you?"She kept her eyes on his. "I do." He only stared back with dispassion true to himself. "Hmph, Naïve of your friend here to channel me like this, to invite me in. To call me down here in your little safe nest. I don't see why you can't just leave me alone upstairs. Why you set up your cameras. To film me? I'm not pretty anymore. You can't film me." She gripped to the edge of the table as her voice became hoarse. "You can't help. If you won't leave me alone then I'm not going to let you out.""Are you the only one here?" "Not for long."She stood up, pushing her chair back so it knocked over loudly. Laughter started to escape her as her shoulders shook, masking her eyes beneath her dark hair.

"Masako!" Mai shouted. Something was wrong, she could sense it. Quickly, Mai leapt up from her chair and took a hold of her. "Masako, make her go away! This is getting too dangerous. Take control of your body! Hey, are you in there?" Mai's hands stayed tight to her shoulders. "You're an ignorant child. I'm stronger than your little tricks." The spirit snapped, eyes burning into Mai. Something about it reminded her of Wakana… the corpse. "Shiori!Was that you upstairs ? It wasn't Wakana was it? Is that what happened to you? Did you not leave because of your husband?" She asked frantically. The spirit faltered at this detail. "H-How…" She growled. "Please trust me, we're trying to help! You don't have to be angry or scared. We can make things better. You don't have to be angry and suffer! Just tell us what happened!" Masako's face contorted as her hands went to Mai's throat. She shoved her back against the wall and yelled furiously. "You can't help me. Nothing can undo what happened to me! You don't understand my pain!"Her hand squeezed."Mai!" Takigawa, John and Lin went for Masako, trying to pull her off before she choked her to death. Even with the strength of three people she was difficult to move. "Though you will soon." With one last wicked grin, the spirit let go of control.

Everyone agreed it was best to put up some different types of protection to discourage her from coming back. Lin offered the service of his shiki, since they would at least protect (if not) warn them if she decided to return. It was clear that Masako shouldn't try anything else because the strength the spirit exemplified was alarming. The spirit wanted to hurt them and could do so better in a physical form. "Hurry up. We're probably going to have put these up through the entire corridor." Ayako watched Takigawa as he carefully placed up a protective seal. She shifted her weight on a hip and acted unimpressed. They had been given the task of securing important areas. "We probably will, so make sure it's done right. I don't wanna be blamed for any screw ups." Takigawa poked her side and then went on ahead. "How can you continue to be so stupid at a time like this?" She asked as they walked through the hall, awkwardly bumping into each other at the turns since it was made so narrow. "Just trying to keep the mood light. It's easier to accomplish something when you're not all wound up and scared. I'm not sure about you but I'm a little on edge from all the stuff that's been happening since we got here." Hosho explained. He decided it was best if he put a seal up on every hotel room door, preventing any chance the spirit would have. "Did you see how fast that spirit moved in Masako's body? She was really strong too. I don't want anyone getting hurt or worse joining that Shiori woman. You know? Ayako?" He turned, realizing he was alone.

Ayako hesitantly looked around where she was, unsure of how she got here. She had just been drowning out the sound of Monk's chatter while opening a door. Or was she walking through a hallway? The area was completely black and a musty smell lingered in the air. Maybe she locked herself in one of the rooms by accident and Hosho was too distracted to notice? Or maybe that idiot was messing with her. "Takigawa? Hosho. I swear if you're trying to scare me or something it's not going to work." She called out, her voice echoing strangely. "Hosho?" Uneasiness started to set in her stomach. "Hosho I'm not kidding. This is very unprofessional." She tried to look around for objects, windows. Anything to get her bearings here in the dark. A part of Ayako wanted him to flick on the lights and laugh at her for being afraid but deep down she knew he would never do this under such serious circumstances. He was a fool but not at times like these. It was probably no coincidence that she had been locked in somewhere after what she'd seen tonight. "…Hello?"

"Hello." She heard a woman's voice and the sound of a lamp clicking on. Her eyes adjusted as she realized she was in a hotel room with a figure standing in front of her. It was a dark haired woman with her hair neatly kept in a style Ayako had seen in a retro magazine once. Despite her beautiful appearance, the grey tone of her skin and sullen eyes told Ayako she was dead. Those eyes. "You…" "Shhh. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk to you. I feel that you will better understand me since you're closer to my age. You're very pretty just like I was once." The ghost explained, running a finger along the lamp shade. Ayako was surprised at her compliment, random kindness was a rarity. "What do you want from me?" "Just to talk." She repeated, patting the bed duvet. "Sit. I'm sorry for my violent outbursts but you must understand how invasive your friends are being in my resting place. Would you like to be disturbed constantly?" The spirit shook her head. "This is your resting place?" "It is all I know now. All I am left with and it's ironic considering all I wanted was to leave…."

"You're such an idiot." Hosho heard Ayako's voice. "Ayako?" "Do you actually think I like putting up with you Hosho?" He froze, unsure of where she was. "Where did you go? This isn't safe. When Mai went off alone she collapsed and had that strange encounter." He was frantically looking all over for her. "…The spirit seems to like women and guess what Ayako? As much as I'd hate to admit it, you are one." When his deliberate insult didn't affect her it proved he was facing some other entity. "I'm tired of your senseless insults. They're not even good. You think you're so talented and witty but the truth is you're not at all. I only talk to you because we work together." "Harsh…" "I can't believe you even call yourself a monk. What a pathetic excuse. Do you really think you can please your parents while going off and being a musician? How practical. You've already broken your sanctity so you shouldn't even be here offering your services. You're bastardizing everything and you know it. Is that why you say I'm useless so much? Are you trying to compensate for your failures?" Her voice was stern. "Ayako come on…" His shoulder blades pressed to the wall. He knew he shouldn't give in to these words. It wasn't like Ayako to deliberately hurt him with sensitive topics like his parents. Sure, they stabbed at it here and there but that was only for a cheap joke. "I know that isn't you talking. You'd never say that to me." "Oh? Or can you just not accept the truth that I'm fed up with your insensitivity towards me."

"You can't trust men. I've learned that lesson well." The spirit cringed as Ayako sat at the edge of the bed with her. She was hesitant to touch such dusty covers but she had no other choice, the room was pretty empty. "I'm sorry you suffered through that." Ayako did legitimately feel bad. The spirit had told her about her fateful experience with a lover who tricked her. "The worst part was that he was hired by my husband to test my fidelity and I fell right for it. They pushed me out a window on the third floor and told the police it was an accident. I'm bound to this hotel now and I don't want to leave it since my only happy memories were here. I know death is hard for the living to understand, but do you see why I'm upset?" "I… think I do. I haven't really been married or dated anyone long enough to feel so passionate but I can understand why you'd want the hotel to yourself. But what will you do when it deteriorates?" "IT WON'T… it won't." The spirit calmed herself, furious for a moment. It startled Ayako and made her suspicious. Suddenly, she didn't feel so at ease with this presence. "I'm going to stay in my hotel forever. I'm going to dance in the ball room and recreate my memories until time ends. I'm never going to wake up from this… it's actually quite fun."

"I liked you Takigawa. I admired you when we first met. But your incessant teasing has made it very clear. You're more into younger women. Like Mai." "Mai? She's like a little sister to me." He reacted too strongly, which was a mistake that he regretted the moment he said it. The spirit was fishing for weaknesses. Had she gotten to Ayako? She had to have insight on the miko's life in order to say these things. Was all this a real confession or made up stories to bother him? The monk clenched his teeth, eying the dark corners and windows of the corridor. She had to be somewhere in here. He cursed himself for not being able to see spirits anymore. If only one of the others was here to point her out. "Never mind the hag here." He kept his guard up, nervous that it would physically attack him. But if it did, he could attempt to cleanse the area. It was a long shot but the only choice he had. "Are you expecting me to feel bad or something? I'm not into you. Or Mai. What's the big deal? Did you think I'd like such a bitch? I hate relationships because then get you in shit. Why bother when you can get what you want without all the fuss." He lied, aiming to aggravate the spirit.

"You and even your naïve friends could have such wonderful experiences too if you just let me help…" The spirit started, smirking as she began to explain this to Ayako. She felt more and more nervous about what this spirit was saying. But before she could respond, it screamed. "Oh that treacherous man!" Her cry echoed and the door flew open. Ayako fell back on the bed, startled by the outburst. "You better give up on him because he's not going to last very long."The spirit shot a warning look then disappeared. "Treacherous man? Oh no…" She darted up, starting towards the door which slammed in her face. "Hosho! Hosho? Takigawa!" Ayako began banging on the door which had simultaneously locked. There was no mistake that the spirit had tried to lure her into a false sense of security and that she was now going after her friend. "Hey!" Meanwhile, down the hall Hosho heard Ayako's real voice. He noted where she was but remained still. Waiting to face the angered spirit who was definitely between them. "Ayako!" "Hosho! You're there? Get me out of here." "Not yet." He shouted aggressively. Then he was slammed back by an invisible force. "I'm a l-little busy." He grunted. She was close enough now and he had to act.

"Nau Maku San Manda Bazara Dankan!"Takigawa concentrated and tried to ignore the pain. He heard a horrific screech and then a door flew open. Ayako fell out from behind it, bracing herself just in time for the fall. She shouldn't have been leaning against the door. "Are you okay?" She lifted her head. "Yeah… yeah. You're asking me that after you fell on your face?" He leaned back against the wall, laughing quietly to himself. "I doubt that exorcised a spirit like her but definitely made her leave." The monk smirked and closed his eyes. "You know what would be a great idea? Helping me up. Assuming you're strong enough." Ayako sassed but it was a defense mechanism to hide her worry. She needed to know he was alright. Things like this usually happened to the others like Mai. The spirit taking interest in her made her deeply uneasy. Takigawa looked over at his auburn-headed counterpart and went to offer a hand. "Still have to be a gentleman when I'm hurt, huh?" "Always." They decided it was best to return to the group and started making their way back. The seals they had put up would help enough for now. Both seemed relieved to have each other's company again. "I got more information out of the spirit." Ayako started. "And I got attacked." "It was so strange… she wanted to talk to me. To convince me about something. Sort of like trying to lure me in." "Lure you into what?" Monk asked. "I… don't know." Ayako paused. "She said this hotel was precious to her and that she didn't want to leave her happy memories and then she told me we could have happy memories too…" Her eyes locked on Takigawa. He stared back. For a moment he was going to share how the spirit had taken on Ayako's voice but in retrospect the entire conversation had to have been lies and he would rather not instigate personal issues on the job. The spirit had tried to do that. Maybe he'd tell her when this case was all over. "I think this is getting worse and worse."

"We didn't finish the floor because we had a little experience. A fight with Shiori." "Another one?" Mai said, her eyes shocked. She had been tending to her sore throat from earlier. "Did you see her? All burnt up…?" Hope was laced in her voice. The way Mai had reacted made her feel insecure about her ability to remain professional. It was a little embarrassing to seem so young in front of everyone but they didn't see how startling it was. "No. She was normal this time. I got a good look at her… I even talked to her. She explained to me why she was so angry. Actually, she apologized for her attacks but I think it was all a set up to earn my trust. She tried to convince me to do… something." Ayako paused. "What?" Mai was beyond curious. "I don't know. She never finished her sentence." "Yeah, and that's when she did a number on me. I think I'm going to have bruises on my back." Takigawa rubbed his shoulders. "She said she was murdered by her husband and lover, pushed out of a third floor window." Ayako crossed her arms, looking over to Takigawa. "So that's what happened? That's why she's angry?" Mai's eyes glistened. "But… her lover seemed so kind." Clasping her hands to her chest, Mai felt this terrible sense of guilt. The spirit was just angry because she had been taken before her time and now her home was being destroyed. "Things aren't always what they seem, kid." Takigawa ruffled her hair. "I think we should investigate a little more deeply. Look around and try to find some old records, books or anything that would give us a better idea about the spirit. If she died here she must have left something behind." Takigawa rubbed his chin. "When did this hotel close down? It's not like they'd just keep stuff like that here if it happened a long time ago. Come to think of it we don't know much about the building." Ayako pondered as well. "Um… then maybe we should ask Wakana or look around?" Mai added. "Yeah, she would have some sort of record wouldn't she?"

"I'm not sure about records but I know this hotel closed down in the early seventies just before everything went digital. I'm sure you can tell by its design." Wakana looked around at the dated wallpaper. "How long had it been around?" Mai asked. "For a good while. I think since the forties or fifties. I guess you can also tell that from the way it's designed." Hayami wished she could be of greater help but she didn't know very much. "I would call the office but it's closed now and everyone has gone home. But I do know this place was called the Akiyama before we bought the land." The group looked at one another, nodding that it was a start. "Okay. I think if we're going to look for things that we should all stay together. No wandering off or splitting up. A group, so the spirit can't overpower us. Got it?"

Author's note: Wow! That took a lot of reviewing. I hope I didn't screw anything up. It's hard to write about this many characters interacting with each other but the challenge is fun. I also plot out all the haunting events carefully and am so excited for some scenes coming up in the next few chapters. Scary things, scary things! I wanted to focus a bit on Monk and Ayako cause they're awesome and I'd like to see from more of them. *perfect victims*. Ahem. I've started work but that gives me more time to type this. I'm a little nervous about my use of Monk's ability but I think I did this justice. Shiori's spirit is very strong. I had no references where I was typing this so if anything is a little off or weird, I'm sorry. I'll fix it. Anyway, hope you liked it! I'll have the next chapter done by next week.

xx