A/N: Okay well here is Chapter 8 of Memories Of Old. Everyone has been telling me how happy they are that Mai and Naru have finally gotten their act together. I decided not to prolong it any more. Happy reading. Oh and thank you to everyone that has and is going to review.

Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Hunt. Do you think I would be writing fanfcis if I did?

Around ten o'clock Mai finally flopped down on her bed. She wasn't exhausted as much as she was bored. Naru had basically forbidden her from doing anything that could even remotely put her in danger. She was barred from going anywhere near Paolo, possessed or not, and poor Ayako had been forced to follow her, or rather be followed around all day.

Mai was just glad to have some peace and quiet all to herself. Ayako was currently in the shower and she could finally breathe a sigh of relief. John and Lin had reported back that no one seemed to know the woman they had found. Or any of the other maids for that matter.

That was the strange part. There were plenty of women in the town that could have worked for him, yet Paolo obviously brought them from somewhere else. Mai now understood that he wasn't just taking any old girl in the belief she was Isabella, he was searching them out. He possibly had done the same thing with her.

'Talk about devoted,' Mai thought as she slipped into sleep once more.

(Dream)

Mai woke up again in the study. Isabella was nowhere to be seen though. She wandered slowly around until someone entered. It was Paolo.

He looked happy as he picked up Isabella's letter. He pried it open and Mai watched as his face dropped as he read. She stood behind him and skilfully skimmed the hand written words.

Dear Paolo,

I must tell you that the last few months have been the best in my life. You have proven to me so many times that your love for me is as strong as you claim. However as to your proposal of marriage, I cannot accept. You may wonder how I know what has not yet come to pass. Kasumi has informed me of your intentions. But before you think of scolding her, please listen.

Too many obstacles stand in our way. Your family will never accept me, a simple peasant girl, who has barely enough money to feed herself, let alone be worth of you.

You may protest, saying they love me all the same, but I can see it in their eyes. And Kasumi has told me many times how their smiles conceal their true thoughts.

I know this may pain you to hear, but I cannot be your bride. Minari would be a better choice to carry on your line. So please do not try and force me into something I simply cannot do. I do, and will always love you, but I can never be your wife. I'm sorry.

Sincerely,

Isabella.

Mai felt her heart soften for the man before her. Even though she knew the truth, the words still had a sting to them. And the hurt look on his face was tearing at her gut. Mai hated seeing anyone sad.

Before she could protest the darkness around her began to spin and she found herself waking up.

(End of Dream)

Mai slowly opened her eyes and the first thing she noticed was that she was lying on silk sheets.

'My bed didn't have silk sheets,' she thought rubbing her eyes to clear them. When Mai looked around she noticed that the room she was in had no windows and only one steel door. That was just very conveniently barred shut.

Suddenly someone appeared right beside the bed. And this someone just happened to be her worst nightmare.

"Paolo," she breathed trying to scramble away from him. He smirked evilly.

"Did I do a good job of being alive?" he asked grabbing her hand.

"What?" Mai said.

"I must have done a good job. Not even that medium could see I wasn't real," he boasted.

Shockingly, the past few days flew through Mai's head. The possessions. The fact he didn't recall blacking out. Why he was so calm about being possessed. Even why that girls spirit still hung around. They weren't being loyal to the man of the house. They were being loyal to the ghost of the house.

Paolo Keranzi never even existed. He was a ghost the entire time.

"I must say though. It did take me quite a few years to master materialisation. But it was so worth it to be with you once again Isabella," he said, bringing Mai from her thoughts.

"But I'm not Isabella," Mai protested trying to retch her hand free of his grasp.

"You must be. You look exactly like her," Paolo said softly, running a finger over her cheek.

"My friends will come for me," she told him adamantly, slapping away his hand with her free one. Paolo's reply was a chuckle.

"Not before I get through with you," he taunted then released her and left the room. Straight through the wall.

"Please find me Naru," Mai whispered to the empty space.

Meanwhile, Masako was tossing and turning in her bed. No matter how tight she pulled the blanket around herself, the cold refused to disappear.

When someone brushed a hand over her face, she sprung up from the bed in a very un-Masako like way. Her sleeping kimono was rumpled and she was panting.

"I didn't mean to startle you," a young woman with red hair said. She was sitting gracefully in a chair but Masako could tell she was a spirit.

Masako quickly calmed herself down and asked her first question.

"Who are you?" she said uncertainly.

"Minari," the woman provided. So this was the one Mai had spoken about. The woman from the study who was trying to protect her.

"My name is Masako. I am Mai's colleague," she replied.

"Mai," Minari said quietly, "I tried so hard to protect her and yet failed just as quickly as the others." Masako's brow furrowed in confusion.

"What do you mean 'failed'?" Masako said shakily. Minari's gaze shifted from the young medium. Masako followed her gaze to look at the empty bed.

"He took her when she was at her most vulnerable. Unprotected, unprepared and lost in a world of dreams," Minari said regretfully looking back at Masako.

The medium gasped as she saw the bed in which Mai had been sleeping, completely empty.

"Paolo took Mai? But how? Ayako or I would have heard him come in!" Masako protested loudly, succeeding in waking up the still sleeping miko.

"Ugh, Masako? What are you yelling at?" she grumbled as she rose sleepily from the floor.

"You would have heard him if he was a real person," Minari commented. Ayako cried out and almost jumped 6 feet in the air when she saw Minari clearly sitting before her.

"What do you mean a real person?" Masako said ignoring Ayako's startled cry.

"He's a ghost. He's just figured out how to materialise," she explained. Masako wasted no time and almost leaping for the bedroom door.

"And tell that boy that if he doesn't save her, he'll regret it," Minari called out behind her. Ayako eventually followed Masako as she burst into the boy's room.

"Naru wake up!" Masako called as she threw open the door.

"Ugh, Masako, what do you want?" Takigawa groaned out rolling over to stare at the pair of women. Masako ignored him and walked over to Naru. She shook his shoulders until he opened his eyes.

"Masako?" he said rubbing his eyes. "What is it?"

"Mai is missing," that effectively got everyone attention. Naru almost leapt from his own bed.

"What do you mean? When did she disappear?" he asked quickly. Takigawa, John and Lin had also awoken and climbed from their makeshift beds.

"I don't know. I woke up to find Minari sitting in our room. She said that he took Mai when we were all asleep!" Masako cried almost hysterically. Naru tried to remain calm but the only thing running through his mind was one thought.

'He's got Mai'

Mai finally gave up as she realised she couldn't move the bar across the door. It had a large rusted chain holding it in place and a rather nasty looking lock adding to the effect.

Mai had tried breaking the lock, breaking the chain and slipping them off but nothing worked. They were rusted in place.

The young girl ran a hand through her short brown hair as she contemplated her next move. From what she could tell, it was still really early. That means the others wont notice her missing until they wake up.

'Mai are you okay?' she heard a voice in her head.

'Gene?' she called back mentally.

'Yes. Are you okay? He hasn't hurt you?'

'No, I'm fine. Do you know where I am?'

'No. I can't help you here Mai. I'm only a spirit. But I can try and let Naru know where you are. It might take a while though. Listen to me now. Don't take anything from him. Food, drink anything. Minari already told you he wants you dead so don't give him the opportunity. I'll be back soon,'

'Okay,'

Mai looked around again. There were no windows so she couldn't escape that way. The only door was locked and she was fairly certain she couldn't walk through walls.

Mai jumped back as Paolo re-entered the room with a woman in tow. A very familiar woman.

"Kasumi," Mai exclaimed. She smiled very sardonically at the teenager.

"Yes Isabella. Nice to see you again," she cooed.

"I told you. I'm not Isabella!" Mai yelled stepping back from the pair. Kasumi chuckled and Polo shook his head. It was then that Mai noticed the dress he held.

"Have her ready for the ceremony. I will take care of her friends," he said to the raven-haired woman. She nodded dutifully and he left.

"Come along now Isabella. Go put on your wedding dress," she said handing it to Mai. She took it and threw it away.

"I'm not Isabella! And Naru and the others will find me!" she yelled again. Once again Kasumi laughed.

"Your friends will find you alright. But it will be too late," she said advancing on Mai.

Naru, Ayako, Takigawa, John, Masako and Lin were all in the base checking every camera screen. None were even working any more. Neither were the microphones.

"Damn. He must have shut down the cameras while we slept," Takigawa said. Everyone was now dressed as they searched for any trace of Mai. Minari had disappeared so now they were left alone.

'Naru…' Naru thought he heard a voice calling in his head but quickly shook it off. His sanity could take a backseat until they found Mai.

'Naru…' it called again. Finally Naru actually recognised the voice.

'Gene?' he asked tentatively.

'It's about time you idiot! I've been trying to reach you for ages now. Mai is in trouble,'

'I know that Gene! She's missing! Do you know where she is?'

'Not for certain. But I do know it's in a room with no windows and one door,'

'That isn't a lot of help Gene!'

Before Gene could reply, Naru lost the connection with his twin. Just then, the door to the base slammed shut.

Lin jumped and tried opening the door but it refused to budge.

"It's stuck Naru," Lin called behind him. Next thing they knew, all of the members of SPR were pinned against the wall by a hand at each of their throats. All of the maids and servants were pinning them. Now the group saw them for what they were. Ghosts.

"I told you I won't do it!" Mai yelled as she dodged Kasumi yet again. Kasumi chuckled again.

'What is it with this woman and laughing?' she thought briefly.

"Oh I think you will," she said waving a hand. A mirror appeared before Mai and when she looked at it her blood ran cold.

All her friends were pinned against the walls. Masako was already unconscious.

Mai could only watch as something slapped John, Takigawa and Lin around. They were bleeding profusely. Despite Takigawa performing his exorcism, nothing seemed to stop whatever it was that was attacking them.

"Stop let them go!" Mai called desperately. The scene shifted to Naru being strangled by Paolo.

"He'll only let them go if you do what you're told," Kasumi said. Mai watched Naru for a moment longer before hanging her head.

"Fine, just let them go," she muttered in defeat. Kasumi made the mirror disappear and handed Mai the dress once again.

John, Lin and Takigawa breathed a sigh of relief as the ghosts that had been attacking them stopped. They however jumped into action when they realised Paolo had no intention of letting Naru go.

John pulled out his holy water and splashed it upon Paolo. He yelled loudly before disappearing.

Naru sat up as he breathed in heavy gulps of air.

"You okay Naru?" Takigawa said helping him to his feet. Ayako was cradling a still out Masako as he walked over.

"I'm fine," Naru said rubbing his neck.

"The door is still locked," Lin informed him.

"It doesn't matter. Paolo may have been strangling me but I now know where Mai is," he said confidently.

"What do you mean?" Ayako asked. Masako stirred in her arms and she shifted to make the medium more comfortable.

"I don't have time to explain. Just stand back," he said. Masako, John, Takigawa, Ayako and Lin all stood far behind him as Naru approached the door.

Lin didn't attempt to stop Naru as he summoned his powers. He knew that Naru would die if he lost Mai. Especially after just getting her. If he had to use his powers to save the part timer, then so be it.

All of them sat in shock as Naru summoned a great ball of power and launched it at the door. The wood splintered and the pane was blown from its frame.

Naru felt a little weary but he brushed it off as he ran through the open doorway. The others followed, Masako included. Naru ran as fast as he could into the basement. He ran a hand over all the walls until his fingers found the barely visible outline of a door.

"Mai are you in there?" he called loudly. When he received no reply, Naru began summoning his powers once again.

"No Naru," Lin stopped him this time. His body was already weak enough.

Everyone was startled as a ball of energy flew from beside Naru and busted the door open.

"Naru!" Lin scolded.

"It wasn't me!" Naru defended.

'Was that you Gene?'

'I couldn't just let your power go to waste now could I?'

Naru silently thanked his twin as he ran into the room. The only thing he found was an empty bed. Mai was gone again!

A/N: Sorry for not updating in a while. It was my last week of school so yeah, party, party, and party! Remember to read and review. The next chapter will most likely be the last, but I might do an epilogue afterwards. Bye