Chapter 2

Mai pressed her forehead against the window and sighed. This trip was taking longer than she had thought. They had already been on the road for an hour and thirty minutes. Even after they had gotten directions to arrive at the house, she never thought it would take longer than an hour to get there. Mai glanced at the others that were in the van with her. She couldn't have been more bored and depressed.

~*Flashback*~

Everyone was at the SPR building except for a certain someone. As usual Mai was running late. Everybody had taken a seat on the couches waiting for her. They had packed everything they were going to need and their luggage.

Mai's POV

I was running late. "Naru's gonna kill me!" I said to no one in particular while running to the SPR building. I stopped once I saw that I was almost there and began walking, trying to calm myself. Before I was able to go in, I spotted a man eating fish and in my condition I started to feel nauseous and knew I wouldn't be able to put it off, so I quickly put my luggage down and bent over some grass and threw up. I grimaced at the taste of my mouth and got a water bottle I had in my messenger bag. I got a small portion of the water in my mouth and swished it in my mouth to wash out the worst, then I drank some. I composed myself as best as I could and went inside. I saw everyone sitting down. Bou-san and Ayako were arguing as usual. John was trying to calm them down. Masako was sitting next to Naru (which I was mad at). And Naru and Lin weren't doing much, but reviewing some files. They looked up at and stared at me. I didn't understand why until Ayako came up to me with a frown.

"Mai, are you alright? You look out of breath and pale." she said putting a hand on my forehead. "Yeah, I just...I feel fine." I smiled trying to convince her. I didn't want her checking and finding out what was going on with me. Everyone stood up. "Seriously guys. I'm fine." I reassured them. They all headed out the door a few seconds after Naru announced we were leaving. When we were all out of the building I noticed that Bou-san had brought his car.

"John, Mai, Lin, and I will be in the van. The rest go with Bou-san." Naru said, then turned to Lin to tell him something. I was confused. 'Why didn't he assign Masako to ride with him instead of me?' I could feel Masako's glare on me, but I ignored her and gave Lin my luggage, who offered to put it in the back for me. I kept my messenger bag with me. It had my Ipod that the gang got me for Christmas, a bottle of water, some snacks, a mini-laptop I was able to buy, my cellphone, and my house keys. I asked Lin where we were going. He told me that Ryuuji's house was outside of city limits. I seated myself behind the passenger's seat and closed the door. I heard the door to the seat beside me close and got a whiff of jasmine. 'Masako' I thought. I glanced to my left and indeed it was her. She must've asked John to trade places with her. John being kind and innocent, agreed. I rolled my eyes and took out my Ipod. I listened to music while texting my friend. Both Naru and Lin had gotten on and Lin drove away.

An hour passed and I had long since stopped texting my friend. We were passing through a small town and then open road again. I hadn't charged my Ipod that night, so it signaled that it was half-way through with it's energy. Not wanting to waste it's battery, I put it up. My ears were now open for the sound of the steady engine, the rustling of papers and clothes, and the sound of thunder. Funny, it was hot and sunny in Tokyo but as soon as we left the city and headed towards Ryuuji's house, dark grey clouds had flooded the sky. 'Creepy' I thought.

~*End of Flashback*~

Normal POV

Now here was Mai thirty minutes later bored and tired. She took some pretzels out of her bag and began eating them quietly. She looked out the window and her gaze fell on the road. The white and yellow lines marking the lanes hypnotized her. She noticed that the grass was getting taller and turned her attention to the front. Trees were now on each side of the road and the grass was overgrown.

"Are we there yet, Lin?" she asked. He nodded and she smiled. 'Finally!' she thought. Somehow her gaze was drawn back to the road. Then, she saw a dead skunk on the road. It's entrails were showing, indicating that it had been run over. This provoked her nausea once again. She had to get out.

"Lin, stop the car!" she yelled. Lin, surprised by her shout, stepped on the brakes. They all went forward in there seats due to the momentum. Mai took her seat belt off, threw the car door open, and ran to the side of the road. She threw up for the second time that day. She held her stomach. The skunk flashed in her mind and she heaved again. Someone held her hair back and steadied her. She had been staggering.

"There's...a water...bottle in my...my bag." she panted. The person responded by handing it to her. She took a huge drink, both washing the taste away and hidrating her. The person let her hair go, but tucked some of it behind her ears and slipped their hand around her waist leading her back to the van. It helped her walk better. Mai, curious as to who was helping her, looked up and her eyes widened.

"Na...Naru." her legs felt weak. He looked down at her. His mask had slipped off and worry was showing in his eyes. "Are you alright, Mai?" he asked. Before she could answer, Bou-san ran over to them.

"What's wrong with Mai?" he asked rapidly. Naru reluctantly took his gaze off of Mai and looked at Bou-san, his mask back on. "I was just asking her that." Mai looked at both of them. 'I can't tell them the truth...' she thought. "I'm fine guys. I just got...car sick?" she said. They both looked at her as if they weren't sure to believe her or not. "Really. I am fine." she insisted. Bou-san looked at Naru then back at her.

"You better be telling us the truth, Mai. Or...Ayako" his eyes shifted for a second, "will be angry." Naru glared at Bou-san, who could only smirk. 'Why would Ayako be mad?' Mai asked herself, obviously not understanding what the monk had implied. They started to go back to their cars. Bou-san was smiling at seeing Naru's arm around Mai's waist helping her get in the van. Of course Mai was blushing furiously. Ayako and John had started to bombard Bou-san with questions the second he opened the car door. He answered them quickly while following the van.

"I'm going to check her when we arrive. I just hope she isn't sick." Ayako said in a motherly tone. Bou-san could only smile at that. Ever since he met Mai, he felt protective over her. He felt like her father. And who could say no? He was, after all, thirty-four years old. But shh! No one knows that. But that wasn't the sole reason he smiled. What Ayako has said and how she worried about Mai, made him think just how motherly Ayako became around Mai. 'Like a mother to her' he thought. Bou-san glanced over at Ayako who had a worried face and looking at the van in front of her. He suddenly blushed. Him the father. Her the mother. And Mai the daughter. A family. Yet his mind neglected that thought. 'I don't like that old hag' he thought, still blushing.

"Oi, monk." Ayako said. "Why are you red?" She raised an eyebrow. All he could do was shake his head.

A few minutes later they had arrived. All they could do was gawk (except for Naru and Lin). When the client had said 'house' they thought it would have been small and simple, but what they saw wasn't that, if not a mansion. It was very wide and had two stories. Numerous wide and oak-paneled windows could be seen. The front door was huge as well as oak-paneled. Thunder woke them from their trance. They were now standing in front of the door. Bou-san was about to knock when the door swung open, Ryuuji was standing there.

"Welcome. Come on in." He said opening the door all the way. They went inside while greeting him. Mai gasped quietly as she saw the foyer. It was big. The stairs to the second floor were wide and to the right side of the foyer. Maids could be seen cleaning, going up, or carrying towels.

"Thank you for coming. Before anything, I would like to give you a tour to the house. So if you could just leave your luggage here, we'll get started." he announced. They all put it down on the floor, but Mai kept her messenger bag. "The room to your right is the kitchen, as for the left one, is the dining room. Now the hall." Ryuuji said while walking to it. There were many beautiful decorations. Portraits, knights of armor, and some vases with flowers that Mai had never seen before. It seemed as if they were in the medieval times. They had apparently reached the end of the Main Hall, but it branched off to another two smaller halls leading to who-knows-where. 'Woah' thought Mai. She spotted two double-wide doors and as if reading her mind Ryuuji told them about what was behind them.

"That room would be the ballroom." he said, "the other two halls lead to the servants quarters. Both halls unite at the end." he informed them. Ryuuji led them back to the foyer. Their luggage was gone. "Now, the second floor." he walked up the stairs and showed them all around. There were many rooms, meaning each one of them was going to get a room to themselves. All with their own bathroom. Their luggage were in the hands of seven different maids. "The one that has your luggage will lead you to your room, as well as she being assigned to you." informed the client. Mai looked at the maid that had her luggage and smiled at her. "I will show you to your base once you are done unpacking." He went back down the stairs leaving the SPR memebers alone with the maids. Mai, wanting to break the ice, walked over to the maid with her luggage. She had blond hair, blue eyes, and looked a little older than Mai.

"That would be my luggage." Mai smiled at the maid. The maid smiled back and Mai heard the others doing the same as her. "My name is Mai. Nice to meet you." she bowed. "I am Rosalie." the maid bowed back and begun leading Mai to her room. Mai went in and gaped. The room was huge and she loved it. "Would you like for me to help you unpack?" Rosalie asked. Mai turned around and smiled again. "No thank you, i'll do it." Rosalie nodded. "If you need me, all you have to do is press that button." she said signaling to the button next to the door. Mai nodded and Rosalie left.

Mai's POV

When Ryuuji was done showing us the house, I was thoroughly impressed. It was all beautifully furnished. I had heard Bou-san whistle somewhere in the tour. I also saw Ayako with a face as if she was planning to seduce the client. For the money and his looks of course. But I knew she wouldn't go through with it. Ryuuji left us with the maids after he had explained why they were there. There was an awkward moment. Neither side said anything. I was suffocating in the silence. I decided to break the ice and walked over to the maid that had my luggage.

"That would be my luggage." I smiled at her. She smiled back at me. I heard the others do the same thing, I could've laughed. "My name is Mai. Nice to meet you." I bowed. "I am Rosalie." she told me while bowing back. Rosalie began to lead me to my room. When I went in, I couldn't help but gape. The room was huge and I loved it. "Would you like me for me to help you unpack?" I heard Rosalie ask behind me. I turned around and smiled at her again. "No thank you, i'll do it." she nodded. "If you need me, all you have to do is press that button." she told me, signaling at the button next to the door. I nodded and she left.

I began unpacking my clothes as soon as Rosalie left. I hung my shirts in the closet and left my luggage there. Then, I put my pants, skirts, and underwear in the drawers. I put my messenger bag on the bed and just sat there for a minute, admiring how beautifully furnished the room was. I knew the others would love their rooms. Especially Ayako and Masako, who loved having high class things. All of this had made me forget the whole reason I was there. I looked around an saw an extra door in the room. I tried it and found it unlocked. Curiousity got the best of me, so I opened the door and looked around. It was another room. It was pretty much the same as mine. I saw a coat on the bed and went over to it. 'Who's is this?' I asked myself when I felt someone looking at me. I looked up and saw Naru standing by the door of the bathroom.

"Naru! What are you doing here?" I asked pointing at him. His arms were crossed and he just stood there looking at me. I dropped my hand.

"Are you really that unobservant, Mai? This is the room that was assigned to me." he said. My jaw dropped. 'My room is next to Naru's?!' I screamed in my head. Naru's mouth turned into a smirk. I closed my mouth and puffed my cheeks. 'Great. Just great.' Could I have been anymore miserable? A knock came from his door. "Come in." he said coldly.

"Sir, Master Ryuuji would like to inform you that your base is ready and would like to meet you down in the foyer." said an unknown maid. Naru just nodded and she excused herself. "Well? Are you coming?" He asked me heading towards the door. Defeated, I followed him out the door.

Naru's POV

As Ryuuji showed us his home I couldn't help but see Mai's expressions change from impression to surprise. She looked like a child in a museum, interested in everything. She looked adorable. Masako had tried to cling to my arm the whole way through but I had managed to avoid her. I needed to figure out a way to 'dump' her. I was getting tired of having her with me when the one I wanted beside me was Mai. I don't know what you would call what I feel for her, but when i'm with her I feel happy and comfortable. With Masako would be the opposite. I always feel irritable and uncomfortable.

I was still worried about Mai. She had been pale when she arrived at the SPR building and she became sick on the road here. She was the only person that could make me feel so helpless. So...human. Of course to the others I seemed heartless, but my mask always managed to slip off when it comes to Mai. I don't understand how she does it, but she just does. After Ryuuji had explained why the maids were there, there was a silence between us and the maids. I didn't really care about it, but Mai walked up to the maid that had her luggage.

"That would be my luggage." she said while smiling at her. I became jealous of the maid for receiving one of Mai's smiles. I mentally slapped myself for such childish feelings. All the other began doing the same as her. I smirked, 'Only she could cause this' I thought to myself. I turned my gaze to the maid that had my luggage. Luckily, she had understood my look and began leading me to my room. She had offered to unpack my luggage, but I refused. Before she left, she had told me how to summon her. I didn't even nod and stood next to the bed. I had to admit I was impressed with the mansion. They had good taste in furniture. I took my coat off and went to the bathroom. I looked at myself through the mirror. I couldn't help but confuse myself with my brother Eugene. I hadn't told anyone of my real identity. Oliver Davis was my real name. Lin knew this, for he was the one that was taking care of me on behalf of my adoptive parents. Another one person knew only half of my secret but thought it was all of it. That person would be Masako. I sighed.

I suddenly heard a door open into my room. I heard footsteps. I walked out of the bathroom slowly. My heart made a leap as I saw the person that was standing there. It was my bubbly assistant, Mai. A door was open to the opposite side of the bathroom. It looked as if it was another room. 'Probably hers' I thought. I stared at her. She had a look of confusion on her face. She suddenly looked up and saw me.

"Naru! What are you doing here?" she asked pointing at me. I had my arms crossed and I just continued looking at her. She dropped her hand.

"Are you really that unobservant, Mai? This is the room that was assigned to me." I said. I had made it sound as if I had known we were next to each other, but of course I had only just found out. Her jaw dropped. I couldn't help but smirk at her. She closed her mouth and puffed her cheeks, making her look absolutely adorable. A knock came from my door interrupting us. I grew irritated. Just when I was able to talk to her without Masako present, someone else had to disturb us. "Come in." I said coldly.

"Sir, Master Ryuuji would like to inform you that your base is ready and would like to meet you down in the foyer." said the maid that was assigned to me. I simply nodded and she excused herself. "Well? Are you coming?" I asked Mai while heading towards the door. I saw her trail after me a little reluctantly.

Normal POV

Naru let Mai go through the door first, making Mai blush. She saw that everyone else was getting out of their rooms, too. By the time they had reached the staris, Mai had been bear hugged by Bou-san and Masako was clinging to Naru like a lifeline. She wanted to seperate Naru from Masako, but she stopped herself. 'He only used me as a pass time...' she thought, tears forming in her eyes. She quickly dabbed at them as she reached the bottom of the stairs. Mai saw Ryuuji waiting for them with his hands behind his back.

"Would you like to eat before I show you to your base?" he asked them. As a response, Bou-san's stomach growled. Mai giggled at that.

"I'll take that as a 'yes'." he said smiling while leading them to the dining room. They took their seats and somehow Mai ended up between Naru and Ryuuji. He smiled at her, earning another glare from Naru, not for the first time. A few minutes later two maids came in with a cart full with platters of food. One served the food while the other went around asking which drink they would prefer. "Tea or wine?" the maid asked Mai. She chose the tea. She knew she couldn't drink alcohol, so she happily accepted it. Half-way through the meal, Ryuuji had begun to talk to Mai. She laughed at some of his jokes, while all Naru could do was glare at his plate. 'What the hell does that guy think he is doing talking to my Mai?' he asked himself. His plate began to slightly shake and Mai had noticed this. Mai knew perfectly well that it could harm his body if he kept that up. So she grabbed his hand, which was lying limply in his lap, and gave it a tight squeeze. Naru, surprised by her action, lost his focus on his plate, causing it to stop shaking. Not wanting to let go of her hand, he held on to it. Mai tried and tried again to seperate her hand from his, but failed. In defeat she left it there, though enjoying it somewhat. 'Why is he doing this to me? Does he love to hurt me...?' she asked herself almost sadly. She had suddenly lost her appetite and pretended to listen to what Ryuuji was saying.

A few minutes later, everyone had finished eating and to Mai's relief Naru had let her hand go. Although her brain thought it was for the best, her heart couldn't stand not being able to touch him. Ryuuji had started leading them to their base, which to her surprise was a library. He hadn't shown them that room before. They all had failed to see that the tapestry hanging in the Main Hall was actually a room. Before Mai could go in, a hand caught her arm. She turned around to see the owner of the hand. It was Ryuuji.

"I wanted to apologize for how I acted the first time we met. It's just that...well, it's something I have to show you. Do you have time?" he asked looking down at her. Mai tilted her head.

"Well, my boss might want me to start setting our equipment up the minute we get in there so, if it's alright with you, you can show me whatever it is that you were gonna show me, here in the base." she said with a hopeful tone. Ryuuji nodded.

"It's not that personal anyways. I think it would be better if I showed all of you." he said. Mai smiled and they both went it. Naru's cold aura went through the roof and some of the SPR memebers actually shivered at the sight of him, including Masako. Ryuuji seemed oblivous to it. He clapped his hands together.

"As you can see, your equipment is all here. Well, I hope you like the room I have set up for you to be your base." he said with a handsome smile. "I'll be back once you are done with what you were going to do." he finished backing out of the room. Naru composed himself and started to give out orders. As usual, Mai had been ordered to set up the cameras. There a total of twenty cameras, and with all the rooms, she didn't think there would be enough. She pointed that out to Naru and he simply told Mai to do her job, which made Mai's blood boil. She went to put a camera in the foyer, the Main Hall, the ballroom, in the hallways towards the servants quarters, one in the bedroom that Ryuuji had mentioned, and many other places. At one point she felt someone looking at her, but she shook it off. Mai had gone back to the base exhausted and plopped herself down on a chair. Everyone else had started to come back one by one. Naru looked up at them.

"This is strange. I don't feel just one spirit here...there's many. There's only one that's different. It's menacing almost evil. It's the one causing spirits to be trapped..." said Masako with a sad edge to her voice. "But what's even more puzzling is that it doesn't stay here frecuently. One second it's there, then the other I can't feel it anymore." she continued, putting a sleeve over her mouth. The others agreed, claiming they too felt something. Naru almost frowned at this.

'Why would one spirit trap others here?' Mai asked herself frowning. At that moment the tapestry opened, showing Ryuuji holding a portrait in his hands. It was faced to him, so the others didn't know what it was. He cleared his throat. "I was wondering if I could show you something for a few minutes." he said, now completely in the room. Naru just nodded. Ryuuji smiled. "Great! Now here is something I wanted to show everyone, especially Mai," he said casting a quick glance at her way, "this, what i'm about to show you, is going to blow you minds. This is a portrait of my ancestor's wife." he said turning it around. A squeek came out of Mai's mouth. Her eyes were as wide as saucers. The portrait that Ryuuji had in his hands showed a woman who looked exactly like Mai, with one difference. Her hair was a tad bit longer. She was wearing an old but beautiful dress, her hair was let down, and she was smiling, but with a certain sadness in her eyes. Bou-san who, at that time, was drinking some water, spit it out. "What the...!" he said standing up. Mai's mouth was wide open. Naru was also standing up.

"Mai-chan...she looks just like you." said John with a surprised expression. Mai begun to shake slightly. Something about that portrait was drawing her in.

"I knew it would shock you. Imagine my surprise when I saw a duplicate of the wife of my ancestor attending me in the SPR building." Ryuuji said. Naru was thinking hard. Ayako, who was also shocked, looked from Mai to the portrait. If you had put both of them in the room, you wouldn't have been able to tell the difference. Mai was inching closer to the portrait, unaware of her own actions.

"Where do keep this portrait? We didn't see it in the hall." said Bou-san. Ryuuji turned and smiled at him. "It was in the basement. For some reason it was never hung. I haven't thought of it until now." he gave a small frown. Everyone's attention was drawn to it.

"What was her name?" asked Ayako. Before Ryuuji could answer her, Mai, who was now in front of the portrait, caressed the woman's face. The next thing Mai saw was pure darkness.

Thanks for the reviews guys!!!!!!! -Bows-

I hope you stay tuned for the next chapter! ^-^