6:30pm

Yume was now sitting in a wooden chair in the middle of the basement. The windows were covered and the room was lighted by only a bunch of candles disposed in a huge circle round the chair. Everyone insisted to be here even though Naru would have preferred not to have anyone but the team. The condition was that everyone had to carry a protective charm. I could see Yume shaking in her chair. It made me shake as well. Naru stepped in the candle circle. And stopped two feet away from the trembling girl. "What are the candles for?" I asked Monk.

"There special candles. When lighted, they make a special scent that is suppose to make you relax. But if you are in a nervous state then the candles will bother you."

Naru begun. "Yume I want you to answer my questions."

"..."

"Why were there ouijaboards in your room?"

"I haven't used them in years. After mom died, I tried to talk with her through spiritualism. I tried for a whole year. It never worked."

"I talked to your school principal. He told me that the people who bullied you had been hospitalized for an entire month after a severe beating. You don't have the strength or the will to do it. Yet they all said the same thing, and said you were the assaulter."

"I don't know what you're talking about..."

"Was it your protector who gave you the strength?"

"What protector?" Yume's voice was shaking and she started rubbing her hands together. It was obvious she was hiding something.

"The one you called to curse your father."

"NO YOU'RE WRONG!" This time she lifted her head and starred at Naru straight in the eyes. "I'd never harm my dad! It's my fault he lost everything! I have no right to hurt him! You can't say that!"

"Then why do you protect the thing that's harming him?"

"It's not..."

"You really think you can make us believe that you mean no harm by hiding what you know?"

"You don't understand..."

"In the end, the result is the same..."

"No..."

"You're nothing more than a girl eaten away by revenge and grief, that gave in to her killer impulses and can't even see that she is trying to kill her own father."

"Stop it..." She had her head in between her hands and her eyes wide open with fear. A mixture of sweat and tears was falling from her face. I wanted to tell Naru to stop. Could he not see he was hurting her?

"Face reality Yume, you've become a murderer."

"STOP IT!" She screamed from the bottom of her lungs.

In the same moment, all the mirrors of the studio and the windows exploded and sent pieces of glass everywhere. "Mai look out!" Monk grabbed me in his arms and protected me from the flying shards. We all looked up and heard a loud roar. "It's here." Said a trembling Masako. A white form appeared through the ceiling and started flying really fast around the room, making the fallen shards fly once more. Then it went straight for Yume and right through her chest. She gasped loudly and fell to her knee. She stayed immobile for a couple seconds, head down and eyes closed. It didn't even look like she was breathing. I ran to her. "Yume?"

"Mai!" Naru grabbed my arms from behind and pulled me against him, away from Yume.

She raised her head and opened her eyes. They were bright yellow. "Wrong." Answered a masculine voice from the girl's throat. She...no, it stood up with her body. And stared at each one of us before glaring at Naru. The room was silent for a moment and we could feel the temperature dropping. "Who are you asked Naru?"

"That's doesn't matter!" It snapped. Naru let go off me and got closer to Yume. "You're protecting her. Why is that?"

"None of your business, ghost hunter! But I have a warning for you. If you even think about harming Yume again or exorcising me..." Its eyes turned to look at me. One second later I was smashed against the wall. Yume was holding me by the throat with one hand and strangling me with insane strength. "I will kill her!"

I wanted to speak but couldn't. Everyone froze and stared in panic. Even Naru was visibly on edge. That was not good. I needed air and quickly. Suddenly, it grunted and placed its other hand on its forehead as if it had a strong headache. "What are you doing?" It muttered. It closed its eyes really tight for a couple seconds while grunting. Had someone cast an exorcism? Then she opened her blue eyes. And when she spoke it was her voice that came out. "Shiro, get the hell out!" Yume screamed. A second after she'd screamed, the white form came out of her body and took the shape of a wolf. It was beautiful, like he was made of white flames. It just stood there staring at her. John opened his bottle of holy water and threw it at the spirit. He took a few steps back and growled. Yume placed herself between them. "Please stop!" John froze and lowered his bottle. Everyone was confused. Yume turned to the spirit. "Shiro you're scaring them. Change your form." The ghost growled. "They are not going to harm me. Do what I say." Without replying, the spirit shrunk and took the form of a young boy in a school uniform. I'd seen this boy before. He was the one that was crushed by the car in my dream. Miki was the first one who reacted. "Are you... Shirogane?"

The ghost looked at her and smiled. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Monk finally spoke. "I get it now. It's a hollow spirit."

"A what now?" I said.

"It's a spirit that cannot find peace because he didn't complete what he had to do in this life time. It doesn't need a summoner." Explained Naru.

"I still don't get it."

Naru gave me the usual 'you're hopeless' sigh and continued. "The hollow spirit stays in the world of the living to complete his purpose. It will not leave until he's completed the task."

"So you mean Shiro stayed because before he died, he failed to protect Yume." So that what she had meant by 'good spirit'. I didn't know what to think. I thought it was great that Yume had a protector. But Shiro was dangerous. He'd caused so much trouble in the house that we would have no other choice but to exorcise him.

"You know, if you were actually material, I would slap the hell out of you, stupid fox!"We all looked at Yume scolding her ghost friend. "I thought we had an agreement! I let you stay with me on the condition that you don't harm anyone! What was all that threatening Mai thing about? I didn't think death could whack your brain!"

I stared in amazement. Shiro looked at the ground, like a grounded dog. He turned to me and bowed. I don't know if you've ever had a ghost apologize to you but I could tell you it feels a little strange.

"There is still some explanation needed." Said Masako. "How did you hide him from me?"

"That was easy. Mai told me you could sense spirits, so I put him in a sugar cup that I buried in the garden. You were only searching the house so..."

"Wait." I said. "It doesn't make sense! Naru, are you a hundred percent sure Shiro is a hollow spirit?"

"Well, more like 99%."

"Why would he attack Yukio if his purpose is to protect Yume? Besides, he can't materialize like the other one."

"Maybe he saw him as a danger to her..." Suggested Ayako.

"No, Mai is right. Our case is not finished yet." Everyone stared at Naru. "We have solved nothing."

"What do you mean nothing? Exclaimed monk. "We have the spirit don't we?"

"No we don't. He's not the right one. There are two ghosts in this house."

Everyone fell silent. "You already knew it, didn't you Yume?"

"I guessed after the ghost attacked Mai in the staircase. Shiro can't speak if he is not possessing someone. I have to guess."

"Rina are you okay? Asked Miki to her twin.

Everyone turned around. Rina was smiling. A creepy smirk that sent shivers down my spine. "Get away from her, shouted Masako. She is possessed!"

Rina laughed hysterically. "Now then, I was promised blood right? Where is my prey?" She took a kitchen knife out of her pocket. Pushing Miki away, she ran to Yukio holding the handle with both hands. Lucky for him, Lin was faster. He grabbed her hand and twisted it so that she'd let go off the knife. Then twisted both her arms in her back. She just laughed and swinged her head against his face. Blood spurted out of his nose. He grunted but didn't let go. Ayako moved in front of him and shouted the nine cuts with the star shaped signs that went with it : "Rin, Pyo, To, Sha, Kai, Gin, Ren, Zai, Zen!" This time, a mixture between a scream and a roar came out of Rina's mouth and she fell to the ground. "RINA!" Yelled everyone. The twin just got up and rubbed her head with her usual bored expression. "What happened?" Miki helped her to get up. Masako told us that the ghost was gone. We all went upstairs.

"Are you all right Lin?" I asked while washing the blood off his face.

"I'm fine Mai, don't worry. It didn't even brake my nose."

Rina's wounds were more severe. The nine cuts left visible scars on her belly. She was still confused about what happened but she only said that it'll make her look cooler.

"Yume, where's Shiro?"

"He's around. There's no way he'll leave my side with that monster around."

"Yume." The girl faced her father. "Did you mean what you said downstairs? Do you really think you're responsible for Sakura's death?" Yume stayed quiet and looked at the ground. Yukio wrapped his arms around her. She looked confused."I'm sorry. I thought you blamed me for not being here to protect you both. And I shunned you so you wouldn't have to see my face. I'm so sorry sweetheart. I'm so so sorry." Tears fell from Yukio's eyes. Yume held him and said. "It's okay dad, please don't cry." The man let her go and wiped the tears off his face. "I guess we can start again right?" "Yep!"

Naru was sitting alone at the corner of the room looking outside the window, obviously lost in thought. I went over to him. "Naru, what are you thinking about? Can't you at least pretend to be happy? We reunited a family for chocolate's sake!"

"It's still too early to celebrate. We still have a dangerous ghost to catch and a curser to unmask."

"Of course. What's your plan?"

"What makes you think I have one?"

"Easy! When you have an idea your eyebrows are just flat. You'll never be able to crush your massive ego will you?"

"Don't count on it."

Wednesday, October 27th 6:30am

It was still dark outside. I hadn't slept a wink. Even though all the girls were sleeping in the same room. I was still expecting that monster to show up any second. I got dressed and went to the kitchen to get some water.I glanced at the girls : the twins were sleeping on each side of Mary and Yume was buried in Shion's arms. I sighed. This family looked so well, how could someone put a death curse on Yukio. Ayako had taught me the nine cuts so I trusted myself. "Can't sleep?" I jumped. Daniel was sitting near the window.

"Don't do that! You scared the hell out of me!"

"Sorry. Are you scared of that ghost?"

"Of... course not! It's not the first violent ghost I meet."

"Yet your not 're a bad liar Mai." I pouted. "You know, you always act like a kid and get angry when you're trying to be brave. That's what I like about you. It makes you cute."

I blushed. Daniel walked up to me and grabbed my chin with his hand just like Naru did. He now looked sad. "But you don't see me, do you Mai? In your eyes, the only one is Naru."

What was he trying to say? He couldn't like me that way, could he? "It hurts you know. Seeing you looking at another one."

"Daniel...I..."

"But aren't you suffering too? Naru doesn't look a you either." Where was he getting at? "If I had you, I'd promise to look at you and only you all the time."

I smiled. "Naru's way too much into himself and his job to look at me. But, even so, I like my place. Just supporting him is enough for me. There's still a side of him that's a complete mystery but that's who he is."

Daniel let go me and gave me a sad smile. "You're cruel Mai. Come with me, I think I found something interesting that could help you."

He turned around and started walking. Could he give me a hint about the investigation? I followed him outside and he took me behind the house. He stopped without turning around. "So, what did you want to show me?"

He chuckled. "You know Mai, I had fun messing with you, but right now you're a nuisance."

"Huh?" Before I could do anything, he turned around and grabbed my wounded wrist and pulled my arm up so high that I had to stand on my tiptoe to keep myself in contact with the ground. I felt my scars opening again. Daniel just smirked and laughed at my pain, his face two centimeters away from mine.

"You know, I like your confused expression but I think I prefer this face much better."

He squeezed my wrist. My bones cracked. The pain was so sharp, that I let out a small scream. He grabbed my hair and pulled it backwards so that my throat was exposed to him. I tried to push him away, grabbing his sweatshirt with my free hand but it didn't do anything. "What are you doing Daniel?"

"You still don't get it, do you? I'm going to take your life, little Mai. You and your crew are starting to annoy me. I can't work properly with all these charms and exorcisms. If they don't give up after your death, then I'll just have to end them as well. What do you say?"

"No! Don't you dare hurt my friends, you jerk!"

"Your fiesty. Good. It'll make your death more painful for you and more enjoyable for me. Tell me, how should I proceed? Would you like me to break all your bones one by one and then eat your heart or would you rather I drain every drop of blood from your body?"

This guy was a sadist! I screamed in fear. "Naru! Lin! Anyone!"

"Scream all you want, little Mai! He got closer to my throat and opened his mouth. All his teeth had grown into fangs. This guy, wasn't Daniel. "No one can save you now."

"You sure about that, demon?" I opened my eyes. Naru was there. Monk, Lin, Masako and John were here also. The demon chuckled. "Looks like you found me, but not for long."

"Shiro, do it now!" Ordered Naru. Out of nowhere, Yume appeared, bearing claws and fangs behind Daniel and jumped on him. She smacked her hand on his back just before receiving an elbow in the ribs. She flew thirty meters back, rolling on the ground. Monk ran towards her. Naru looked at the possessed Daniel. "Now you can't escape! This talisman keeps you from escaping this body."

He growled. "Maybe so, but I still have her." He pulled my hair again, and placed a clawed hand on my throat. "I'll let her go if you give me Yukio Kimura. Decide quickly. I'm rather impatient."

"That won't be necessary." Replied Naru. "Because I'm going to end you here and now, monster." I saw some sort of white energy gathering around him. He was about to use his Shigon! If he did his body wouldn't keep up and he might die. "Naru don't!" I screamed. "You'll die!"

John put a friendly hand on Naru's shoulder. "No need for that, Kazuya." How was he able to touch him with all this electrifying energy? Lin stepped up, put two fingers in his mouth and whistled. His Shiki appeared and the first one hit Daniel straight in the face. He dropped me and I got away as soon as possible. The second one hit him in the stomach and the third one behind the neck. He fell unconscious. My heart wouldn't stop beating. This was the first time in my life I'd been so close to death. While I was catching my breath, Naru kept giving orders. "Lin, Monk take Daniel inside the house. Tie him up so the beast can't make a run for it when he wakes up. John, call an ambulance for Yume."

My head was spinning and I couldn't focus on anything. I couldn't even be happy that I'd escaped death. My heart wouldn't slow down and my breathing was heavier than ever. I didn't notice Naru approaching. I was then thrown back a little and felt my cheek heating up and get stingy. I looked up to Naru who still had his hand up from slapping me. "Naru...why did you..."

"What in the world were you thinking Mai? Did you even think for one second that it was suspicious of him to lead you outside the house all alone?"

I had nothing to reply. Of course he was right. I felt tears forming in my eyes. "I'm sorry." I started sobbing despite my efforts to hold the tears back. I felt arms wrapping around me. "You're safe now, you idiot. Stop crying."

Coming from him, it was probably the nicest things he'll ever do and say to me. "Yeah. Thank you Naru."

"I'm not ready to loose my air-headed, idiotic, assistant just yet. Do me a favor and use your brain a little more often."

"I'll try my oh-so-full-of-himself boss."

5:00pm

We soon got a call from the hospital that told us Yume was alright. She just had a cracked rib and could return home in a couple hours. Naru told me to come to the cellar were they had attached Daniel. Mary wanted to see him but Naru refused. This time only the team was allowed in the room. Daniel was attached hands in his back and was on his knees in the middle of the room. When I came in he starred and smirked at me. I hid behind Monk. John stepped forward and spoke. "You have to get Yukio's life. Why?"

"I take his life and then I get his blood. The usual contract. Although there some much more appealing blood here. Right, little Mai?"

I looked away and John turned to Naru. "Looks like you were right. This is indeed a blood contract."

"What is it?" I asked.

"In the world, the places where you find the most common forms of cursing are Asia and Africa. But there is one form of cursing from the Mideast that's called a Blood contract. You call upon a specific dead spirit and give him the task of killing someone. Once it's task is accomplished, he can make a new contract. But he can't move on until it's done or until he has a mutual agreement with the contractor to break it. However the spirits called are usually the ones of vicious known killers and breaking the contract is almost never an option."

"So that's why you couldn't find it. The contractor has no control over the spirit's actions right?"

"That's correct. See the difference when you use your brain?" I grunted. Why did he have to rub it in? I didn't even bother looking at Masako. John spoke again. "Exorcising him is going to take all I've got. Take a step back everyone."

John took a step closer to Daniel. He opened his bible and started reciting the bible. Daniel started to move around quite a bit and growling. He roared when John splashed him, but didnt give up. "I know forbid you in the name of our father, to ever enter this body again and to leave this world were you do not belong. In the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit. Amen."

Daniel screamed and from his mouth, escaped a black shape that scattered everywhere. Masako looked up for a minute and then her face lit up. "He's gone. I cannot sense him anywhere, nor can I feel his disturbing aura."

"Can someone please explain to me why I'm tied up?"

We all looked at Daniel and smiled. The nightmare was over, but now we had to expose the real culprit.