Disclaimer: Do not own Ghost Hunt

Chapter 6: Bairn part 4

5:55 pm

Mai sat up and surveyed her surroundings; light was coming through the opened sliding windows and judging by the orange tinted light that was already nesting above an indigo colored horizon – it was already late in the afternoon or maybe sunset is the more proper word.

The brunette scrutinized the room which was just like its adjacent room that they were using as base and found out that they were almost identical except for the fact that the room that she was in was bare of furniture that the base has – except for the futon that she was using and the opened closet which housed their luggage and the remaining futons that were still impeccably folded inside the closet.

Mai perked her ears so that she'll be able to hear what was going on the other side of the sliding door. The voices of the members of SPR were muffled by the sliding door and if the brunette was correct she could also hear the faint tapping of keys on the keyboard which was undoubtedly Lin's doing.

She smiled; it was like they were back to what they were 2 years ago but Mai knows that those kind of thoughts were just wishful thinking. Mai cannot put a name to it but she was certain that something has changed. Things had changed for the brunette, in fact she was certain that even though her physical and emotional change were prominent she was sure that something had also changed in her surroundings. And she could feel it in her bones – her instincts told her to do something about it. Or just to turn tail and escape. But she disregarded that thought; she will take action when the time comes but for now, she has to focus on the case at hand. Whatever she wants to know will come out soon enough. When the it was time that it should be revealed. When the time comes…

"When the time comes." Mai whispered, why does that sound familiar?

'Ah, my dream.'

My dream.

My DREAM!

Mai hurriedly threw the covers off her body and immediately went to the sliding door. Just as she was about to slide the door open, the brunette looked at herself and found out that her clothes were crumpled and she was sure that her hair had already been released from its pony tail. So she decided that she should fix herself a bit to not look that haggard.

The brunette fixed her clothes as much as she could, she decided that she would not change her clothing since she didn't know how long it is going to take solving the case and she only packed a week's worth of clothes. But there's only much she could do about her current clothing so with one last flattening of her sweater and after wearing the indoor slippers that was provided by the inn she slid the door open.

Suddenly all eyes turned to her when she opened the door. Mai smiled and went where they were sitting. The brunette occupied the empty seat beside Masako - whom scooted to Ayako's side to give Mai space to sit on the couch. Mai smiled as a 'thank you' to the medium who only nodded in return but with a small smile also adorning her face.

The boys were sitting at the wooden chairs except for the two stoic men who're sitting in front of the monitors – Lin was typing something in his laptop while listening to the sounds, that was recorded by the microphones with his headphones, that they put around in the inn earlier that day. While Naru was holding his ever present black notebook and was reading but stopped when he heard the sliding of the door which he knew that came from the direction of the girl's room – where he and Lin put his only female assistant into bed earlier that day. So the narcissist looked up only to find his assistant, walking to the SPR members that were huddled around the coffee table, looking like she just came out of her bed but looked like she did her best to tame her hair and did her best to straighten her crumpled clothing. Naru smirked behind the black notebook he is reading.

Then Bou-san launched himself out of the chair that he was sitting on, that the poor brunette didn't even had time to blink before Mai knew it, Takigawa was already by her side and messing her hair into oblivion.

"Mai you worried us back there you just swayed and then 'poof' you're out for the count." Takigawa said, still messing her hair.

Annoyed, Mai swatted the monks hand as if it were an annoying fly, and huffed. "Grown men do not say I quote 'poof' and un-quote." The brunette said whilst making quotation marks with her fingers in the air.

But the bassist was undeterred by Mai's outburst; he even sat at the couch's arm chair beside the brunette and put his arm over the teen. Mai tried shrugging the arm off but the monk didn't take the hint, so she pinched the Takigawa's hand. The monk winced a little but didn't give in - not that it didn't hurt - it's just that he likes putting his arm around her, as if it would mean that she'll always be safe if she was encircled inside his arms.

Everyone was just watching the two with interest, yes everyone. Even Lin turned to the group, stopped his typing and put his headphones at the table, and Naru stopped reading and scrutinized them with interest – or as much interest the black clothed man is capable of showing… or maybe the more proper word would be as much one could actually see the interest he displays in is stoic facade. Because everyone was watching they could see the slowly creeping of the fiery redhead's right hand who then tapped the brunette's hand that was trying to pry away the monk's arms. They all saw the priestess' hand that pinched the monk's arm and the red painted nails that dug through the monk's skin.

Bou-san yelped. "Oww, oww, oww." he fell from the armchair because of shock, and then he quickly composed himself and stood up and glared at the miko – though one could see the faint blush staining his cheeks because of embarrassment. "What the hell? What was that for?" he shouted while Mai was laughing with glee and Masako who were beside her is giggling out loud with her mouth still behind her kimono sleeves – although it seems to be futile since the sleeves were slipping off her mouth because of uncontained mirth. John was torn between wanting to laugh and wanting to stop the brewing fight that is inevitably going to start in a few minutes and Yasuhara – who was sitting beside John on one of the wooden chairs that surrounded the coffee table – was clutching his stomach because of uncontrolled laughter. Lin was shaking his head while turning his chair back to watch the monitors but if one would pay attention they would see the small smile that was placed in his lips, while our resident narcissus was sitting in his chair legs crossed, lips formed into a thin line, and if you know him enough you can see amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Old hag, what is your problem?"

Ayako stood up hand in her hips, eyes blazing and mouth forming into an angry line retorted "Who are you calling old hag?"

"Who else is old-" Takigawa was about to say but was cut off with loud shriek from the red head and her menacingly lifted right hand was already close to its destination – Bou-san's head… but was stopped with a loud thump that echoed in the otherwise silent room.

Everyone turned to see where the sound came from which turned out to be our resident narcissist watching them with his hands around his black notebook – now they know where the sound came from – and his mouth formed into a thin line, irritation coming off of him in waves.

Yasu and Mai simultaneously 'awwed' in disappointment that their entertainment was cut short without reaching the climax, while Masako stifled a laugh with a cough due to Yasu and Mai. John laughed sheepishly while Lin turned to them to find out what happened and seeing the monk's and priestess' stances Lin could very well surmise what happened. Takigawa breathed a sigh of relief while his girlfriend was still visibly annoyed at him judging from the frown that was etched in her beautiful face, he really needs to reign on his teasing for he knew now how insecure Ayako was on her age especially because of the girls and women who throw themselves at him are younger than her because of the age bracket that the band he was in were attracting, well he'll just have to coax her to forgive him later on.

Ayako narrowed her eyes when she saw something shine on Takigawa's eyes 'Oh this would not be good' she thought, and resisted a gulp that she wanted to do so she settled on giving him a glare before going back to where she was sitting before. She sat with a huff and waited for their boss to start.

Naru stood up and went to the unoccupied chair that was exactly in front of Mai with just the coffee table separating them, Takigawa took that as a sign and went back to his seat beside Yasuhara and was diagonally on John's left. Lin stayed to where he was but opened a blank document where he could type whatever information that they could get from the brunette.

Mai straightened her back and folded her hands on her lap before looking at her boss who just nodded at her with his black notebook opened and a pen in his hand. She bit back a tirade of lectures regarding manners, because that was not the time and that she matured was enough to not lash out at him (from time to time) with something small like this. Mai nodded and began to relay her dream to the team.

When she finished, the team was pondering with the new information that Mai provided.

Naru quietly 'hmned' which was only heard by Mai because she was the only one not absorbing the dream that she had, because she already analyzed it while she was retelling it to the team. The brunette stared at the narcissist who was still sitting but with now a crossed leg, his right hand beneath his chin and his left arm supporting his right arm deep in thought. Feeling someone's stare he looked up and saw his assistant looking at him almost as if trying to figure out what he was thinking – something that he wouldn't put past her. He arched an eyebrow at her which she just mimicked, his eyebrow twitched and he can feel an headache coming, annoyed he was going to say something sarcastic to her (just to annoy her since she was doing that to him) but was cut off when the brunette made a statement.

"You figured something out." Mai's voice rang throughout the room; one could hear the certainty on her voice.

"Yes I did. But it's just a theory." Naru said, and with that statement the other occupants of the room turned their attention towards them.

"So... Are you willing to share it?" Mai's voice were now laced with challenge.

Blue eyes narrowed at the challenge before flashing with something our brunette could not discern then she saw him sit into a more proper position before he placed his elbows above his legs, chin resting above his clasped hands.

"I will if you tell me what happened at the office."

Mai gaped and almost spluttered but she held strong with what she said before 'Now is not the time' she thought but there was a nagging feeling in her gut that told her that her situation should be said now - the earlier the better.

Not one to be intimidated, she graduated from that phase of her life, she now knew how to handle situations like this - especially if it involves Naru.

So instead she put her hands down onto the coffee table and leaned in neared her face into Naru's... she saw a slight widening of his eyes and resisted the urge to smirk before whispering on his right ear...

"That topic is totally unrelated to the case, are you really that curious? I'll tell you... but not now - we have more pressing matters at hand that we should focus on." then she retreated back to her seat just to see Naru with his mask on, unclasped fingers and fists tightened to the point that it was almost white because of the pressure.

Mai then noticed that it was quiet, too quiet that you could hear a pin drop... So she turned her attention to the other occupants of the room, only to see that they were shocked frozen because of the scene that had unfolded in front of them. The brunette then saw something that will always spell trouble when it happens - when the light reflects on Yasu's glasses. The said man was going to open his mouth before he was cut off...

"Mai what are your thoughts regarding your dream?" Naru inquired, successfully diffusing the frozen states of the SPR members.

Mai almost breathed a relieved sigh but decided against it, it was too early to be relieved. There are things that needs to be done - for one to calm her still erratic heartbeat because of what she did earlier.

'Damn, and I was saving that move for emergency use, but knowing Naru I can no longer use that move. He won't be fooled the second time - he's too smart for that.' she thought.

"I honestly can't still fathom how a peaceful family like that may be the cause of the abduction and mutilation of the children but... something tells me that it has something to do with the baby that was in Aiko's womb."

And with that statement, a shiver went down Mai's spine. she now knew now more than ever that what she said was true. She swore that she had seen a shadow move in the corner of her eye, but it was gone when she turned to the direction of the door.

Naru saw Mai turn to the direction of the door, curious as to why he also turned to it only to hear a light tap on the door before opening.

"Dinner is ready." was the short and prompt words that the Lady of the House said before closing the door again.

Mai's heart was beating fast and her hands were getting clammy with the sight that she saw. There was a shadow that was following Sakuno Inukami, and Mai could feel it in her bones that it was the culprit of all the activities that were happening in the inn.

If not for the shock that Naru had because of Mai's 'seemingly' sensing the person before it even made their presence known, he wouldn't have seen Mai's slightly heavier breathing and the scared look in her eyes while looking at the door. As soon as he saw it, it was gone... with one deep inhale and exhale - Mai composed herself.

It was enough, he can't wait anymore. He had to find out what was happening with her, if not what happened throughout the span of 2 years...

'Damn, I can even settle with what she was experiencing in this case.' There was definitely wrong with that statement, he was not the type to settle for the lesser choice and not the type to hold back on acquiring the full truth whether on academics or to just quench his curiosity but there was just something about Mai, his lovely assist- 'What?! I did not just thought about that. This girl will be the death of me.' He softly sighed before turning to the occupants of the room.

"After dinner we will retire for the night. Yasuhara, I want you to research about the family that was in Mai's dream tomorrow."

With that the SPR employees one by one went out the room to go to the dining room of the inn, until the only ones left in the room were Naru and Mai. They left the two teenagers whether it was intentional or not, Naru was a bit thankful for that - not that they would ever know that.

"Mai, I will talk to you after dinner." the raven haired lad said with finality.

She didn't even blink or gulp with that statement, she knows even from the start that she wouldn't be able to keep secrets from Naru for that long...