School is kicking my butt. That is my excuse and I'm sticking to it! Read, enjoy, and review!
"Naru, she's not breathing!" was the first thing Mai heard as her consciousness returned to her slowly. She recognized the voice as Madoka's and wondered who the older woman was talking about. It didn't take long for Mai to realize she was the one who wasn't breathing causing her to start coughing loudly as she fought for breath. Her eyes snapped open as she realized she was coughing up water.
Mai felt someone patting her on the back as she coughed up water. She was so confused as to why she felt as though she had a gallon of water in her lungs. Once she was finally able to breath normally again she realized she was soaked to the bone. She also realized she smelled the same as the water in the hot springs. She cleared her throat before slowly pushing herself up so she was sitting with the help of the person beside her who she quickly identified as Madoka.
She slowly looked around only to realize the hot springs looked as though there had been a huge brawl. She could see the scratch marks in the wall that looked similar to an animal's claws. Mai also looked at her other friends in the room only for her eyes to widen when she saw the cuts and scrapes on their faces and arms as well as the tears in their clothes. She swallowed before looking at Madoka only to realize the other woman was in the same situation as the men.
"What happened? Gene told me the ghost was being unruly but…this was not what I expected." Mai whispered as she looked around. She glanced down at her clothes only to sigh to herself. This would be the second time she would have to shower and change clothes. She could only hope there were laundry facilities nearby because she was growing short on clothing quickly or at least what she packed.
"Unruly? If this is unruly I'd hate to see chaos." Takigawa said from where he was leaning against the wall. Mai blinked at him before taking another look around. She realized he was right. She wondered why Gene thought the ghost had only been giving them a little trouble when it was the opposite.
"Yeah, I can see that. Why am I soaked and why do I feel as though I just coughed up a gallon of that nasty water?" she asked. She glanced at Naru only to sigh when she saw he was in no better condition than the rest of the group. She met his eyes as he looked at her and she noticed with a swallow that he was also soaked.
"Right after you passed out the ghost decided she really didn't like you. We weren't even able to blink before she had dragged you into the water. Naru was the one who jumped after you and pulled you out. He said she had a rope around your throat so you might notice some bruising in the morning." Madoka told her. Mai blinked at the news and watched as Naru broke the stare they were sharing. She also lowered her gaze as a small smile played on her lips.
"Ah, I see. Thank you, Naru." the girl whispered. They all stood and sat in the silence for nearly ten minutes. Mai finally let out a breath as she decided that sitting around wasn't going to get them anywhere. Naru, she soon discovered, felt the same.
"We should set equipment up down here first. She's undoubtedly tired herself after that particular show. Madoka, help Lin set up while Mai and I go clean ourselves up. Then she and I will sit down and have a little chat about that brother of mine." Naru said. Mai let her head drop as despair rolled over her. Conversations with Naru about Gene always ended up with her yelling at Naru and storming off.
"I'd feel better if I was with her for a couple of hours Naru which includes the time during your conversation. She almost drowned, in case you've forgotten, and if she happens to faint I certainly don't trust you to know what to do. Besides, Lin has Takigawa and John to help him set up." Madoka replied with before Mai could even open her mouth to complain. She looked at the older woman with a relieved look on her face. She had never been more thankful for Madoka in her life.
"Fine." Naru had never truly argued with his mentor. Mai was sure he had tried before only to be shut down quickly. Mai could tell the older woman would make a formidable opponent. Mai shot her a grateful smile as the woman helped her up and walk through the hallways for the Ryokan. Mai felt extremely dizzy by the time they reached her room and had to sit down for a moment to gain her bearings. She jumped when Naru spoke as she had thought he would go to his own room to get his things so he could shower.
"What, exactly, has Gene been showing you?" he asked. She blinked up at him before sighing. She should have known the sooner he could have gotten the information he was looking for the better. She just didn't know how to tell him Gene didn't know much more than they did and that was a scary thought.
"Only what happened before Kasumi fell into the water as well as what might have caused it. Or at least what he thought was the most plausible cause. He knows only a little more than we do but that's because he's on the other side." she finally told him. She watched as his eyes widened with surprise. She would've normally reveled at the fact she had taken him by surprise. However, the fact he was surprised because his brother seemed to be of no help on this case deterred her from her reveling. She knew they had to find a way to get information on this case without Gene's help this time.
"Are you saying he's not going to be able to help us?" Madoka asked as she placed a gentle hand on her should. Mai glanced at her for a moment as she realized that was exactly what she was saying. Gene wasn't going to be able to help them unless something changed quickly.
"That idiot!" she jumped at the shout. She turned her attention to the male in the room. He was glaring out the window towards the room where she knew Lin and the others were setting up equipment. Mai could only hope this ghost, she was still refusing to accept it was Kasumi, didn't hurt them.
"It's not his fault. I don't have any proof but I feel as though there's something here that's keeping him from finding his normal answers." Mai said. She didn't see the other two people in the room look at her in surprise. She was staring at the wall almost dazed and seemed to tune out everything else. Madoka reached out to touch Mai's shoulder only to gasp as the younger woman fell over onto her side with her eyes closed.
"Mai! See, this is why I told you I had to come! She's fainted! MAI!" Madoka cried as she attempted to bring the other female back to consciousness. She felt for a pulse and was relieved when she realized her heartbeat was still very strong. She paused for a moment before looking at Naru to see he was staring. She let out an annoyed breath before turning back to Mai as she attempted to revive the girl. It was only as she realized the woman wasn't going to wake up. Madoka knew that Mai was in one of her unnatural sleeps.
There was something different about this vision. For one, it was completely dark, and two, Gene was nowhere to be found. Mai looked around as she tried to figure out what was going on. She had only had one other vision that Gene had not led her through and she could still remember the feeling of the knife cutting into her skin. She swallowed as the darkness started to press down onto her. She could feel her lungs constricting.
"Breathe!" she didn't recognize the voice but it seemed the moment it spoke her lungs started working. She collapsed to her knees as she took deep breaths until she stopped shaking from realizing she had almost suffocated. She looked at her surroundings once again as her eyes tried to pierce the darkness. She swallowed as light slowly began to flow into the area almost like water. It didn't take long for her to realize, rather quickly, that she was sitting in the gardens.
"How could you do that?!" her head turned at the voice. She blinked at the two women standing near the garden pond. They were dressed in old fashioned kimonos. Mai silently climbed to her feet and made her way to them. As she drew closer she realized she didn't recognize either of the women. Her brow furrowed as she thought one of them would be Kasumi.
"It was for her own good! He was not one of us!" the older looking woman stated calmly. Mai's attention turned to the younger woman and she realized with a start she realized the woman looked like Takae. She watched as this look alike shook her head.
"It did not matter! He was willing to learn! How could you do this to Azami?" she cried. The older woman did not respond but turned and walked away. Mai jumped as the scenery quickly changed and she was back in the hot springs.
She blinked as there was a woman standing on the edge looking down into the water. Mai turned as there were footsteps and the woman who looked like Takae appeared. Mai heard the other girl, who looked to be the same age as Mai herself, turn around. The three of them stood in silence before finally the look-alike spoke.
"Are you going to let this consume you? You have so much more to live for! He wasn't worth it if he left without saying goodbye! He's not worth your pain and sadness!" she said. Mai's gaze turned towards the other girl as she began to put the pieces together.
"I loved him. It was her fault! If she hadn't…lied he would still be here with me! I just know it!" she answered. Mai's eyes went wide as she noticed how close to the edge of the hot springs the girl was.
"She made a mistake! Our mother is senile! Please, you have to learn to live without him and find happiness!" the woman cried.
"What would you know about that?! You are happy! You aren't the eldest! I'm trapped here!" she cried. Mai blinked before looking at the look alike then back at the girl, she assumed Azami, and found the other looked older.
"Can't you find happiness here?" the look-alike whispered.
"I will never find happiness in this prison." Azami whispered. Mai watched with wide eyes as the girl threw herself into the waters behind her. Mai quickly went to the water only for her eyes to widen as she saw the red color spreading through the water. She could see the figure laying at the bottom of the spring. She swallowed as she saw Azami's eyes were closed. She jumped back as the woman's eyes snapped open and a sinister smirk spread across her face.
"I will never forgive this family!" Mai covered her ears as the sound echoed in her ears before everything went black and she fell into darkness.
"Masako, she's waking up!" Mai slowly opened her eyes and saw Miwako leaning over her. The girl moved out of her way as Mai sat up. She realized she was still in her room with only the two girls. She blinked in confusion as she was sure Naru and Madoka were the ones that had been with her when she went down.
"Madoka and Naru went to help set up equipment when it was established you would wake up. What did you see?" Masako asked as she turned from the vanity. Mai opened her mouth to explain before realizing that they were back from the hospital.
"How's your grandmother?" she asked Miwako. The girl blinked before shrugging her shoulders with a sigh.
"They said she's old and should take better care of herself. Yumi is going to stay with her tonight. They might send her home in the next couple of days if she continues to improve." Miwako said with a small smile. Mai returned it before looking at Masako as the girl cleared her throat. She watched as she raised an eyebrow and realized she had never answered her question. She quickly explained before pausing then turning to Miwako.
"I do have a question…do you know anyone by the name of Azami?" she asked. She watched as Miwako's eyes went wide as she slowly nodded. Mai waited for her to speak as she wondered how the woman fit into the case.
"She was my grandmother's great-aunt. Grandmother doesn't know much about her because she said she always saw a shadow pass across her grandmother's eyes whenever Azami-san was mention. My mother said she thought she had committed suicide because of how young she was when her death was listed." Miwako said. Mai forced her face to remain blank as she didn't want to give anything away.
"Listed? What do you mean listed?" Masako asked. Miwako glanced at her before shrugging her shoulders.
"We have a family registrar where we record every birthday, engagement, marriage, and death. It's kept by the innkeepers but since I've been running the inn and grandmother's health was declining I've been keeping it. I can show it to you if that would help any." she offered. Mai quickly nodded at the offer and the girl told them to wait as she went to retrieve it. Mai and Masako waited until she was out of the room before looking at each other.
"Kasumi-san was right wasn't she was?" Masako asked. Mai nodded in confirmation.
"Her heart was broken. I think she was the oldest and her mother was forcing her to be the innkeeper. I wasn't able to learn the whole story and I was surprised by Miwako saying she thought Azami had committed suicide since I didn't say anything. I think her mother had something to do with her heart break. I have a feeling the registrar might be able to reveal something." Mai revealed. Masako continued to stare at her before her eyes widened.
"This could mean that Kasumi isn't the ghost causing all this trouble, Mai! It means we were right!" she exclaimed. Mai gave a small nod before moving her gaze to the wall behind Masako. She knew what she had seen of Kasumi's death. She didn't want to think of what it could mean if Azami was the presence causing all the problems. She knew if all she had seen was true that Azami had taken Kasumi's soul to increase her powers. It meant Kasumi's soul was gone.
"Here we go!" Mai's attention turned to Miwako as the girl entered the room with a very old book in her grasp. Mai moved over so she could sit by her. She watched as Miwako flipped through the book before stopping and handing the book.
"Shimizu Azami born 1870, died 1886. She was really young. Wait…it says here she was engaged in 1885. What do you know about this, Miwako?" Mai asked as she stared at the line that only gave a glimpse into Azami.
"Huh…I never noticed that she was engaged. How odd. I have heard rumors about a German gentleman who stayed here that summer. It was odd at the time because while there were a lot of foreign visitors they didn't stay the entire season but he did. I've never really caught his name but could it be possible that the reason he stayed the entire season was the fact he was in love with her? You did say the two women out in the garden in your vision were talking about something like that, right?" Miwako asked. Mai blinked as she realized how into the vision the girl seemed to be. It didn't take long for her to realize, after looking in her eyes, that it was because it meant the ghost might not be her mother.
"Yeah…from the way the younger one was talking it sounded like the older woman had run him off or something. At any rate he wasn't around anymore. I bet Yasuhara could find more information on Azami and possibly track down a lead on this mysterious man. Could you take Miwako to him, Masako? I'll be down in a minute." she said. Masako nodded before leading the other girl out of the room. Mai didn't see the worried look the medium shot her before the door closed.
Mai let out a sigh as she fell back onto the futon and stared up at the ceiling. She didn't understand this case or where it was taking her. However, she was used to be confused until the end but what she wasn't used to was that Gene was just as baffled. He brow furrowed as she realized he hadn't even shown up after her vision to explain what she had seen. She rolled on her side to stare at Masako's belongings.
'Why weren't you there, Gene?' she thought before sitting up as there was a knocking on the door. She called for the person to enter only to blink as she saw it was Naru. She supposed he wanted to continue their earlier conversation. Mai decided Masako probably ratted her out. She would have to talk to the medium about when she wanted Naru to know when she was conscious.
"Did you see Gene?" he asked. She blinked before tilting her head. She could tell there was something different about Naru at the moment. She just couldn't put her finger on it.
"No, he didn't show up this time…it was odd. He usually makes at least a short appearance. Why? What's wrong?" she asked. She watched as he pulled out the mirror she knew he carried on him. She met his eyes as he held it up. She saw it then. It was well hidden but there was worry and fear in his eyes.
"I can't sense him."
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