I'm so sorry for the really late update! I was trying to finish 'A Christmas Gift', please don't kill me! *bows to the almighty readers*

Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt

Chapter 11: Caged

"What?" Ayako cried, coming back to her senses.

"Can't you do anything to help them? You've had this disease before right? Isn't there anything to lessen their pain?" Masako asked, all her animosity towards Mai forgotten. She may dislike Mai, but she didn't wish her pain or death.

The princess shook her head sadly. "All you can do is not to leave them out of anything. Include them in everything. Make them feel loved," she told them, her fingers intertwining with the knight's.

At the expression on everyone's faces the knight said, "Princess, I think it's time to go. I think we've over-stayed our welcome."

The princess nodded. "We'll be back," she said with a kind smile, "I hope you guys can help this girl." With that the two slumped against each other in the chair they were sitting in. It just looked like they were sleeping.

The team watched them for a moment before turning away. They'd let them be for now. It was probably going to be the last time they could be like that for the next few days.

…..

Mai stared around at the inky blackness. This place never changed no matter how long she was absent from it. She didn't want to go through a terrifying memory right now, she was hurting enough already. All she wanted to do was lie down and be hugged.

Absently, she wondered where her guide had run off to. Wasn't he supposed to be here helping her?

As soon as that thought flickered in her head she saw a faint light farther into the blackness. It didn't move. She wondered why for a moment before deciding to go to him. She didn't like the fact that she had to run, but if it meant having company through a memory, she'd so anything.

The light slowly grew larger, but it was still pretty small for the person she was thinking of. The reason for its size became apparent as she approached it. The light was being emitted from a tiny body, the body of a child. The boy sat with his knees pulled to his chest, but the cage was large enough for him to stand.

"Are you alright? What's the matter?" I asked, stepping close enough to the cage to reach through and easily touch the boy, but her hand wouldn't go through the bars. It was like there was a force field keeping her out.

The boy looked over his shoulder with wide, tear filled eyes. His eyes were steel grey, but kind. He had tousled light brown hair. It was Mai's hair color. His eyes widened as he took Mai in. Suddenly, he shot to his feet and tried reaching through the bars. "Mom, mom, help me!" the boy cried, pressing his hands to the barrier.

Mai was stunned. "Me?" she asked, pointing at herself, "What do you mean?"

The boy had tears rolling down his face. His lip trembled as he tried to reach her. "Mom, help me. I'm scared," he whimpered.

Mai ignored the questions that came to mind and pressed her own hands to the barrier. "Why? Why are you scared? What's scaring you?" she asked, growing frantic with every passing second. She didn't know why, but she felt very close to this boy.

The boy opened his mouth to answer, but instead, a grating metal sound greeted Mai's ears. "No, not again," the boy whimpered, collapsing to his knees, slamming his hands over his ears, "Help me, Mommy. I don't want to disappear. Help me."

"No, you won't. I'll help you," Mai said, searching the cage for any type of door. She didn't find one, but what she did find were little bugs eating away at the bars of the cage. When she tried to swipe them away, knowing unconsciously that they were bad, they bit at her fingers.

"Help me! Help me, Mommy!" the boy screamed, shaking his head wildly. Mai raked at the bugs frantically, but the cage and the boy were already fading into the gloom. "Mommy! Mommy!" the boy screamed, reached for her just as he blinked out.

…..

Mai woke with a sob, reaching into the air for a cage that wasn't there. The fact that she wasn't in the dream anymore came to her slowly as she began to feel her pain again. The tears were hot on her face and she did nothing to stem the flow or quiet her sobs.

Someone groaned in the darkness on the other side of the room. Mai couldn't restrain her sob before the person heard her. "Mai? What's the matter?" that familiar voice said. It was so gentle that she wanted to cry even harder. He came up beside her bed, brushing her bangs out of her eyes.

Even through the darkness she could see the concern in his navy blue eyes. She clutched at his hand, squeezing her eyes shut. "He was crying for me to help him," she whispered into his hand, "He was calling me mother."

"Who was?" Naru asked, wiping the tears from her cheek with his other hand even though more took their place.

"The boy in my dream. I wasn't experiencing a memory. This was real, and I felt so close to him," Mai told him earnestly, wanting him to believe. If he didn't believe her she didn't know if anyone would. "He was trapped and scared."

Naru watched me carefully, searching her eyes. He took a breath and then asked his next question. "If it wasn't a memory then what was it?" he asked, letting me squeeze his hand into putty.

"I think it was a type of reality. It's the spiritual realm so he had to be alive or dead. Either way, I have to help him," Mai told him with determination.

He smirked. "Even on the edge of death you're still more concerned with others," he mused, "For now, just concentrate on getting better. We'll handle everything and then you can help whoever you want."

Mai pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes at him. "Fine. What's new on the case?" she asked.

Naru rolled his eyes and gave an exasperated sigh. "I just told you not to worry about anything," he said.

"So?" she asked with a grin, pressing on, "What's new?"

Naru shook his head, looking around with his hands on his hips. "I don't know, I just woke up," he answered. He headed for the monitors, flicking on a side lamp as he went. Even that small bit of light blinded her for a moment. Naru was already watching the tapes. "Doesn't look like much has happened though. A few broke door and china thanks to that nephew of our client's."

Mai growled under her breath, disliking even the mention of the boy. "He's going to be the one who ends up with something broken by the end of this case," she muttered, clutching her blanket in her fists tightly.

"I'm sure someone will make sure of that," he said, making no effort to disguise the note in his voice that said it would most likely be him.

I let my mind wander as we fell into a comfortable silence. I was brought back to reality when a knife of pain shoved itself deep into my lower abdomen. With a gasp, I clutched at my abdomen and curled in on myself.

"Mai!" Naru cried, rushing over to me.

I moaned.

Naru flipped out his phone, dialing a number. "Doctor, get to base now, I need your help!" Naru ordered into the phone before closing it at stuffing it back into his pocket, "Don't worry Mai, the doctor will help you." I only nodded.

Well, there you go. Hope you liked it. Review please :D