(A/N): Hi everyone! Sorry this took a while, I've been quite busy recently, but it's almost my Christmas holidays :D so I can spend more time writing (unless I am forced to do work throughout the two weeks which may happen)

Ok, first of all: guess who was plagiarised? AGAIN? (No prizes)
Yeah. Me.
Someone told me about this website called , so I decided to look it up, and out of curiosity, I put 'Ghost Hunt anime' and clicked on stories. And as I was scrolling through, my eye fell on a picture that looked very, very similar to my front cover. Oh, wait. It was also called 'Amnesia'. So I clicked on it. And what did I find? Someone had copied and pasted the first eight chapters, and it had been uploaded 4 weeks ago. Unlike last time, nothing had been altered. Even the chapter titles were the same. I was very angry, as you might expect, so I reported it immediately. I tried to find who had written it, but - here's the strange part - I couldn't find a username. All the other stories had usernames next to them, the names of the people who had written the stories, like how next to my story when you scroll through the Ghost Hunt fanfic on here, you'll see PuffinsandPelicans. But there was nothing there. It was really weird. I kept trying to search for it, but I couldn't find it. Anyway, about five minutes later, after I had reported it, it just vanished. I had been on the comments, trying to search for the person who had uploaded it (I didn't write a comment myself), and I clicked back on the story, and it just took me to my home page. When I tried to click backwards, it wouldn't take me there. I tried to research it, and nothing came up. I went through the entirety of the Ghost Hunt stories on , and it wasn't there. So...I'm guessing that it was taken down, which is very good :) but even so, I'm going to be keeping an eye out. I haven't heard anything from CuteKyo, and there's been nothing suspicious on wattpad, and I still can't see anything on Amnesia from the Mysterious Phantom Plagiarist, but even so, I don't want it to happen again. Very strange, though...

Ok, enough of that. I don't want to bore you. So, it's 11 days until Christmas, and I'm not feeling particularly Chirstmassy, (we had an advent service at our school and it was a bit of a let down) But I heard someone complaining that people kept on wishing them a merry Christmas, but they were Jewish. So, I don't know what you celebrate during winter, or even if you do, but whatever you do, I hope you have a magnificent time and it's very fun and great for you. I love you all, and I hope you have a good time. :) I was thinking of adding some kind of winter element to the chapter, but considering it's Spring in this, I didn't think it would really work :L

Also, if any of you have read my sister's fanfic, you might find a few similarities between them - i.e., Shiroku. Well, when Wolfstadt asked me what she should call her village where Shion lives, I said 'Shiroku' as a joke. Then we thought, "Hmmm...that would be quite funny, actually, if our stories overlapped..." So yeah, keep an eye out for that, and tell me if you notice which parts we've overlapped with (it's not a crossover, though - nothing substantial will happen)
For this chapter, I recommend a nice folky or foresty song or something. It might not be your thing, but I found them to quite atmospheric. In particular, I would recommend: Heavy Storm by First Aid Kit, I Love You by Woodkid, Lion's Roar by First Aid Kit, Shut Eye by Stealing Sheep, Who Are You Really? by Mikky Ekko, Wolf by First Aid Kit, or Canvas by Imogen Heap. If I were you, I'd listen to them first, to see if you like them. You might not, it's just that when Wolfstadt was reading it, she had a really annoying Christmas song stuck in her head, and it kind of ruined the atmosphere a bit.

Ok, review answer time! (This is getting a bit long - sorry)
To the (Good) Anonymous Wattpad User: I'd really like to say thank you. It's very relieving to know that CuteKyo's old fans realise what happened, and a weight off my mind. And thank you for that information - it was very useful to know she's deleted the account. Thank you again, it was great of you to write that review, and don't worry - I have no grudge against wattpad. In fact, I know a few people on there who are perfectly nice. Thank you so much for supporting and reading my story! I hope you enjoy it!
To myangelicladyofdarkness: Heh heh heh
To Raven's Shadow: Yeah, I know what you mean about the live action film thing. I don't really like it when they take something that was cartoon/anime and make it into a live action film. I mean, look at Avatar: The Last Airbender. But yeah, Sinead is great. And thank you about Saburou :) He's not very pleasant to write, so it's good to know it's paying off :D
To IWasThatPerson: Phew, it's good to know everything's sorted out now, and sorry again. And it's great to know you've gotten into No.6! :D
To NightOfTheWriters: Hee hee thank you :) Your compliments make me happy :) As to your question about an alternative ending...I never really thought about that. I'm not sure. I don't even know how I would post an alternative ending...hmm. We'll see. Maybe. I don't know. Also, Wolfstadt feels really happy that you are reading her fanfic!
To CatMaz: Eeeh thank you! :) Also, sorry this one took a little longer to upload. Now you can finally find out ;)
To Lizzy: Sorry about the wait! And you're the first person to have Amaya as a favourite OC, I think. She's a nice character, I like her. Also, excellent that you find colleague creepy - that was my plan!
To NaginiFey: Keep reading!
To Good Anonymous: Yeah, that's what I'm scared of. I really hope they don't mess up with the live action film. And also, John is my favourite character out of Ghost Hunt by far, too. I really love him as a character. Everyone else is great too, but for some reason, John really got my attention, and before I knew it, he was my favourite. I also liked him in the Blood-Stained Labyrinth file, he was very clever in that one. And, like you said, he was the only character in the first file that didn't annoy me (I don't think Masako was really involved enough to get a solid opinion of her yet, and I found Mai a tad annoying. And Lin didn't really say anything either, so it was hard to tell.) Heh the adventurous trio were really fun to write, I'm glad you liked them!

So, I'll stop now, before it gets too rambly. Thank you for reading, favouriting, following and reviewing. And, whatever you celebrate, I hope you have a nice time. Know that, even if times are tough for you, I love you all. Hang in there. You are all amazing, and you are all very precious to me.

With that, here is chapter 31!

"Tell us exactly what happened."

The rest of SPR had gathered in the office, waiting expectantly for Mai and Naru to recount their stories of what had happened just half an hour before. Sinead had gone to the river, with a number of other police officers. Just two officers had remained on Sinead's order, to look after Mai and Naru. It seemed she didn't trust Naru to be left by himself.

Immediately, Mai had rung Yasuhara, Ayako and Masako, almost screaming at them to hurry over. They did not keep her waiting; in no time at all, everyone had gathered in the office, and now waited for Mai and Naru to start speaking.

"Well, in short, we were attacked." Naru got straight to the point.

"Oh my God, are you all ok? Did they hurt you?" Ayako exclaimed, apprehensively.

"We're fine." Naru told her bluntly. "But that might not be the case for Brown-san and Takigawa-san."

Yasuhara paled. "Why?"

Naru looked at Mai, and she took up the explanation. "I had a dream. About colleague-san. John-kun and Bou-san are going back to Mattaku Psychiatric Ward, and colleague-san is planning to ambush them there!"

For a moment, the others stared in horrified silence.

It was Ayako who spoke up first. "But why?! Why does he want to kill John?! What has John done to him?!"

Naru averted his gaze, and looked out of the window.

"…I believe I may have a clue to this."

"What?!" Everyone stared at him.

Naru took a breath. "Let's run through this, everything we know so far.

"On the 5th March, Brown-san disappeared. He woke up in hospital on the 4th April, having been hospitalised for two weeks, with no idea as to what had happened the previous month, and was diagnosed with retrograde amnesia – or rather, supressed memoires. Furthermore, to cover up the disappearance, an unknown person contacted his three work places, claiming to be a colleague and that John was on a course."

"Yes, we know this." Ayako interrupted impatiently.

Naru ignored her. "Over the course of the past month, Brown-san has been having flashbacks. His amnesia is beginning to fade, that is clear. And from this, we know that a place called Mattaku Psychiatric Ward is involved, along with a man called Saburou Osaki and his boss, colleague-san. But why have they been so desperate to kill him? Why did they take him in the first place?"

"I assume that's what you're going to tell us." Masako guessed.

"Yes. I am now certain my theory is correct. Brown-san has not been the only one to disappear in such circumstances, as we know. A few months ago, John became aware of the disappearance of a young woman called Sayomi Watanabe, who witnessed an apparent abduction in her own ward but was transferred to another and never heard from again. When the woman's grandfather, Itsuke Watanabe, who was investigating her disappearance, died in a car accident, Brown-san was spurred into investigating as well. I believe he got too close to the truth about Sayomi's location, and consequently became victim to the same circumstances as Sayomi."

"What exactly is the truth about this ward?" Yasuhara asked.

"That, I am not certain, but I can gather some things. Firstly, those who entered never returned. The only exception to this is Brown-san. But even Brown-san has barely survived this."

"Secondly, we know that there is some kind of bigger organisation behind this. Perhaps it is the group that Matthew Forcit and Sophia Shole, two FBI agents who fell victim to the Ward, which they were investigating. When Mai and I were attacked, we met with a woman called Olivia Scutellatus. She is not a very pleasant woman, and I have met her before, in Ireland a few years ago. She mentioned that she does not work under colleague-san – we must assume, therefore, that colleague-san is actually working under a larger organisation. Thirdly…" He took a breath. "From studying Brown-san's behaviour, I have come to a disturbing conclusion. At this so-called Ward, he was exposed to beatings and mental torture."

Everyone stared in disbelief.

"…What…" Mai felt speechless. She couldn't think of anything to say; her mind was covered in sheer disgust.

"It is unfortunate."

"Unfortunate?!" Mai exploded. "How can you say that?! This is John! Our friend! And that's your response?!" Unfortunate?!"

"Mai. Save your anger for those who hurt him." Mai regretted her outrage, when she looked closer at Naru and saw his repulsion – he was just as angry as she was.

"Anyway," Naru continued, "the supressed memories is a sort of blessing and a curse. While it is in place, Brown-san cannot remember what happened there. He doesn't know the pain and terror he went through. I can tell that he suspects that something happened to him, but he doesn't know what. However, while he is suffering from amnesia, it means that we don't know the full details about the ward. For colleague-san to have hunted him down this viciously means he knows that Brown-san will remember what happened, and he is scared of the knowledge that Brown-san possesses."

"But…" Yasuhara spoke up. "Didn't you say that John-kun is going to remember? So…he'll remember everything that they…did to him?"

No one answered that.

Finally, Mai spoke up, her voice quiet. "What can we do to help, then?"

"Us? Not much. But Lin is looking for them. I have faith in him. And now Sinead-san is here, we have a strong ally on our side. I know her – she will not rest until she finds Brown-san."

"Who is Sinead-san?" Masako asked.

"She is Brown-san's cousin. I met her a few years ago, in Ireland."

"What happened in Ireland?" Mai asked.

"Nothing important." Naru brushed over her question. "Anyway, she is a liaison officer, of sorts. She's worked with several police groups and agencies. When the police realises who she is, they will listen to us. And she's brought some of her co-workers with her, so we'll be more protected. Right now, she should be at the river, looking for Brown-san and Takigawa-san, with her co-workers. They're all armed, and not afraid to fight."

As if on cue, the phone began to ring. Immediately, Naru picked it up.

"Well?"

At the river, Sinead spoke with bitter disappointment. The gentle breeze seemed cold and hostile to her.

"They're not here. No one is." She crouched down and examined the ground. "There are a lot of tread marks on the ground, and tracks from a vehicle, but it looks like a car has been going up and down here a lot. It will be hard to tell which direction it decided to go in."

On the other end, Naru suggested, "I'll figure it out for you. Just give me a moment."

Sinead shook her head. "I don't think that's an option. It took several attempts just to ring you. Someone has interfered with the connection here. Conor has just managed to get me through to you, but he says we don't have long."

At the office, Naru closed his eyes and thought. He remembered when on 26th April, John had sat in the office and, barely making eye contact, staring at the floor mindlessly in anxiety, as he recounted his tale. He had been running through a forest, and fallen into a river from a high cliff.

"Sinead, what is your exact location?"

"Let me check. We're just about –"

The phone hung up. They had run out of time; the connection had been interfered with. Naru was going to have matters into his own hands – as much as he could.

"Hara-san."

Masako looked up.

"Are you up for a séance?"

"Of course." She nodded solemnly.

"Good. I want you and Yasuhara to go back to the abandoned house, and gather information from the spirits."

"Excuse me." One of the officers stepped forwards. "I was instructed to make sure you stayed here, and keep you out of danger."

"Well, I'm afraid you're not going to change my mind. And if you want to keep us out of danger, then I suggest you co-operate fully." Naru ignored his argument completely. The officer retreated, and Naru turned back to Masako.

"I can't guarantee it will work." She explained. "The spirits may choose not to communicate with me."

"I know, but we don't have many options. As soon as you are finished, report back to me, and leave as quickly as you can. Take an officer with you for protection. Got it?"

"Right." They both nodded. The officer who had spoken out against Naru scowled, but nodded.

"Fine. I'll take them there."

"Good. Matsuzaki-san and Mai-kun, stay here with me."

At the abandoned house, Yasuhara sat completely still, barely daring to move as Masako sat opposite him, eyes closed and hands together. A candle was lit next to her, and the smoke drifted slowly up to the ceiling, swirling and dancing in an upwards spiral. The flame was just as still as the two participants, hardly flickering as its light pulsated gently.

Despite the urgency of the situation, the atmosphere was somewhat relaxed. Only the officer, rather bemused, stood apart, watching the entrance, troubled. The stillness settled on Yasuhara like a layer of snow, heavy and cool but not unpleasant.

Then something changed, and the stillness melted away in an instant. The spiral of smoke was dispersed and thrashed like a leaf, and the flame trembled from an unfelt wind.

Masako frowned. Her lip curved down a fraction, but otherwise, she remained still.

Yasuhara swallowed. "You…are you…?"

When she did not respond, he cleared his throat.

"You are no longer Masako Hara, are you?"

"No."

Yasuhara inhaled sharply. "What is your name?"

"My name is Ritsuka Amane."

"Amane-san, I need you to understand –"

"I am dead. I am aware of this."

Yasuhara nodded. "How did you die?"

"Mattaku Psychiatric Ward."

Yasuhara pursed his lips. "They killed you?"

"Yes. I was lucky, compared to most others. Malnutrition. They didn't break me, not like the others. Like I said, I was lucky."

Yasuhara nodded thoughtfully. "Amane-san. My friend has gone back to this site, and I believe he is in trouble. Could you tell us, where exactly is Mattaku Psychiatric Ward?

"Near a village called Shiroku. If you look at a map, you'll see that in the middle of the forest near Shiroku, there is a vacant gap, and river not too far away."

Near Shiroku… "I see. Thank you." Yasuhara began to stand up. He and Masako needed to get out of there as soon as possible.

"Wait."

Yasuhara froze. "Y-Yes?"

"There's more I want to tell you."

Yasuhara sat down slowly. "Yes?"

"In the Ward, there is a room. An office. There is important information in there. Well, was. I hear it was all burnt down."

"I believe that is correct."

"Only three people – living people and dead people – know the information that was in there. John Brown. Saburou Osaki. And the man who ran the Ward."

"Colleague-san…" Yasuhara breathed.

"…Yes. 'Colleague-san'." Ritsuka, through Masako, sighed regretfully. "I used to work there, as a nurse, before it became the terrible place it did. And when it turned, and everyone was in fear, I remember that no one was allowed in that office. It was always locked, and only Osaki-san had the key. I don't know how Brown-san got in – I wasn't there – but I heard, they were determined to make him forget what he saw."

Yasuhara shuddered, despite himself.

"And it is important that we find out what was in there?"

"Yes. I hear…" Eyes still shut, Ritsuka Amane leant forwards. "…You mentioned a man called Colleague-san. Well, I heard this: in that office…"

She whispered in Yasuhara's ear.

"…was his name."

Then Masako shivered, and opened her eyes.

"Ritsuka Amane…She has left me…" She comprehended quietly.

"How come," Yasuhara asked, still reeling in shock, "that you were able to do a séance, but we can't actually see them or hear them? The spirits?"

"She communicated through me. That's how it normally works."

Slowly, she stood up. "I think it is best we leave. For now, anyway. We have disturbed the spirits enough. And I assume you found out some important information?"

"Yeah. The Ward is near this village called Shiroku. She told me how to find it on a map. And…" His face darkened. "…She told me about an office at the ward, where important information was kept. And she told me that John-kun…found out colleague-san's real name."

Masako's eyes widened in surprise.

"He did? Why didn't he tell us?"

"She said…they made him forget."

Masako shuddered in disgust. "How terrible."

Yasuhara grimaced and nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Let's ring Naru-kun, and then get out of here."

"…I see. Thanks."

Naru hung up the phone, and without explaining anything, turned to Ayako.

"Matsuaki-san."

"Hm?"

"Have you ever visited Shiroku?"

"Where?"

So she had never gone there. He was taking a gamble here.

"We need to go there. According to the spirit that Yasuhara talked to, Mattaku Psychiatric Ward is near the village Shiroku. But from an autopsy report I read, there is also a forest.

Ayako caught on. "You want me to talk to any sacred trees?"

"If there are any. We're relying on the fact that, hopefully, there will be some in the vicinity. Will you be able to tell if there are?"

"Yes, definitely."

"Excellent. We'll go there now." He turned to the remaining officer. "Will you take us there?"

Reluctantly, the officer agreed.

The village of Shiroku seemed mild and welcoming, Mai thought as she stared out of the window. The streets were narrow, and the square was quaint, surrounded by a butcher's, a bakery and a number of other local businesses. An old man fed pigeons on the bench, school girls gathered outside a sweet shop, and a busker sat in the middle of the square, strumming on a guitar. Yet this place was near such a monstrous facility…she could hardly believe it.

Having parked the car in the village, the four of them found a seclude spot on the outskirts, where the houses were far away, and the road was barely noticeable. Ahead of them, the beginning of a vast wood loomed ahead of them.

Ayako paused, and breathed in deeply. Her eyes darted from tree to tree like a hummingbird, taking in each leaf, every gnarled bark and hanging branch, listening to each tremor in the canopy when the wind brushed by that the others had to strain to hear. For a few minutes, she assessed the clearing.

"…Yes." Finally, she spoke up. "This will do."

After carefully pouring the water at the bases of the trees, where the roots were reaching up from the ground, Ayako placed her hands together. Everything was ready. Looking back over her shoulder, she told the others, "I'm not sure what they will look like this time, or how they will react to me. This place feels different to others I have visited. So be ready."

Exhaling, she began her ritual.

Somehow, the Norito incantation that rolled from her tongue and echoed in the clearing, as gentle and yet as prominent as the whispering of the foliage, was more beautiful than normal; more powerful and more striking. Once more, everyone could only marvel at the priestess.

A movement from the trees caught Ayako's attention. Swirling, almost snake-like in figure, two beings drifted form the trees, uttering strange, haunting cries as they twisted and danced curiously around the priestess.

Who was this person, a person who they had not encountered for centuries? For no one communicated with the trees any longer, and the relationship had been eroded away with each year that passed by the waters of time, like rain against a rock.

"Honourable elders, I bow at your feet, and humbly beg for your assistance." Ayako told them, unsure how they would react.

Yes, yes. Of course, they whispered, circling her playfully. What did the priestess want of them; those who had not been contacted for so very long?

"I am looking for a place. It is near here, and it is a place of suffering and pain."

Yes, yes. The elders drifted sadly. They knew the place of suffering and pain.

"And I am looking for someone there. A man of strange blood, not from this land, and a man of familiarity who resides with him."

Ah. Yes, yes. The elders hovered by her, contemplating this. The child of the ocean, and the child of the mountain.

Hm? Frowning, Ayako guessed that they were referring to John and Takigawa. "Have you seen them?"

Yes, yes. We have.

"Are they safe?"

…No, no. The hollow man is coming to claim them.

Ayako stifled a gasp, and pursed her lips.

"The hollow man…he is a bad man."

Yes, yes, the hollow man who hides his name. He knows not of sympathy or kindness. His interior is decayed with anger and greed and fear, and it has left him as empty as the rotten wood of our brothers and sisters who have fallen. He only finds happiness in the fear of others.

"Yes." That was definitely the colleague. "He wants to hurt my friends – the child of the ocean and of the mountain," she hastily added, "and we need to help them. By the river, there is a woman. She is a relative of the man of strange blood."

Ah, yes, yes. The woman from the land of eternal rain and winter.

Um…ok… "Yes. Please, I ask you to guide her to my friends. She can help them."

Yes, yes. We will do that for you, priestess, who has talked to us after years of silence. If you need our assistance ever again, you must talk to our fellow elders, for we will be resting. Goodbye, priestess, child of the trees, the one who spoke and listened.

Swirling around her one last time, crying a farewell, they snaked back to the undergrowth, and vanished from sight.

Ayako turned to the others with a heavy heart.

"It's bad news." She announced grimly. "John and Houshou are in trouble."

Mai paled. "They are?"

"You were right. Colleague-san has come for them. I've sent two elders, who know the way, to John's cousin, to guide her. But apart from that, I don't think there's much we can do."

"Agreed. If we went there ourselves, we wouldn't be much help." Naru decided. As Mai began to protest, Naru quickly added, "We would most probably be captured, which would not help Brown-san or Takigawa-san in any way. I'm afraid we'll just have to rely on Sinead and her crew, or Lin."

Mai frowned, but nodded in defeat. Ayako felt her concern, and placed a hand on Mai's shoulder.

"Don't worry. They'll be fine." She spoke with confidence she didn't have.

"…You sure?" Mai didn't look convinced.

"I'm sure." Ayako looked to the trees, wondering where the elders would be.

"Help is on its way."