Me: So I'm back with another chapter!
Mai: What took you so long?!
Naru: Told you she was lazy
Me: I never denied it!
Mai: Shellsan doesn't own ghost hunt!
The darkness closed in and Mai looked around, searching for what the cause of her current predicament was.
Seeing not even a sign of Gene, she sighed in annoyance. Knowing there wasn't much she could do, she resigned herself to her fate. It was in this moment that she also realised that she was currently in a body other than her own. The brunette mentally sighed at the scene became warped before changing to reveal what seemed to be the inside of the mansion.
Looking down she noticed she was treating some wounds. "Mother, you really shouldn't anger father like that" she felt herself say. The woman looked up at her tiredly. "Bianca honey, I have to stand up to him. I can't keep letting him do this to you."
'So her name is Bianca…'
She heard a cold laugh come from the doorway. Her head whipped up and her eyes widened in fear at the sight of a middle-aged man standing at the door way. Walking towards her he ripped her away from her mother and slapped her face hard causing Mai/Bianca to fall to the ground. "Foolish woman. Learn your place" the man sneered before slamming the door closed.
Mai felt her body wince in pain at the red mark.
Slowly the scene began to fade. At first she thought she was going to end up in another scene but instead she felt her instincts calling her to wake up. Knowing better than to deny herself, she slowly willed herself back into her body, relaxing before she slowly opened her eyes.
Mai groaned as she slowly began to come around. Blinking away her drowsiness, she forced herself out from under the comfortable covers carefully so that she wouldn't fall over from dizziness.
That was when she felt her face burning. Wincing lightly, she brought her hand to the side of her face and gently placed her fingers against it. Hissing, she sighed in annoyance. "Of all the times" she muttered, before sighing. It's not like there was anything she could do anyway.
Feeling her feel hit the cool ground, she brushed any crinkles out of her outfit before moving towards the door and opening it. Seeing no-one nearby Mai closed her eyes and concentrated, reaching her mind out to move around the house until she found everyone. Memorising the route she began to make her way to them.
It wasn't long before she reached the door that would lead her to the others. Carefully she placed one of her hands on the bronze handle and the other against the thick oak wood before pushing the door open just enough to enter the room.
Everyone looked up when they heard the sound of the door opening. Upon seeing Mai, Bou-san grinned. "Look who finally decided to join us."
Mai smiled slightly. "Sorry, I just woke up" she apologised.
Luella shook her head, "we know. We thought about waking you but Noll was against it."
Naru shot his mother an annoyed look causing her grin to widen.
"Come take a seat dear" she gestured towards an empty seat between Yasu and Naru. Nodding, Mai quickly took her place. It was then that Ayako noticed the red mark across the right side of her face.
She gasped, "What happened Mai? I don't remember that being there earlier!" Ayako exclaimed.
Blinking, the brunette realised she was talking about where she was slapped. "It's nothing" Mai tried to assure the woman but to no avail as the doctor got up and quickly made her way to Mai to check her over.
After a swift check of the mark Ayako narrowed her eyes. "This is a slap mark…"
"Yes it is" Mai agreed evasively.
The others watched in confusion.
"Where did you get a slap mark from exactly?" Naru inquired, glaring at her.
Gulping, Mai shifted her eyes nervously. "I may or may not have had another dream… a first person one… that caused me to acquire the girls wound…" she trailed nervously, using all her strength not to stutter.
Sighing the red-haired woman pulled out a tube and placed it in her hand. "Here's some cream. Don't forget to put it on" she emphasised.
Taking the tube, she nodded at the elder woman. "Yeah yeah I know."
"Good" Ayako stated, moving back to sit next Bou-san.
Tucking the tube into her pocket, the brunette looked up to see everyone watching her curiously.
"What's with all those looks" she demanded.
"Mai-Chan people don't simply get physical injuries from dreaming" Lin stated.
Mai faced placed before wincing at her mistake. "When I dream it's different from when the normal person dreams."
Martin looked up from his meal in curiosity. "How so?"
Shaking her head, she smiled at the man. "I would prefer not to discuss such things throughout a meal. I'm sure Luella-san would also prefer not talking about things like that too…"
Luella grinned at Mai. "Quite right. The dinner table is no place for work talk. But you are alright aren't you?" she inquired, her eyebrows creasing.
The petite girl looked up from her meal which had been served to her by the cooks and grinned. "I'm better than okay. I have more information on the case. I'm great."
Everyone looked at the smiling girl and couldn't help but smile along with her.
"So how about someone explains to me this whole "Naru" business to me" Martin suggested.
Yasu looked towards Mai. "Now that's something you can explain isn't it Mai?"
Luella looked aver towards her just as curious to hear about this unusual title that everyone was referring to her son by.
Said girl blushed slightly before she began to tell the story of how Naru became Naru.
"Well when I first met Naru I was extremely annoyed with his narcissistic attitude so I randomly came up with Naru short for narcissist and i've been calling him it ever since. Almost everyone called him by it, even Lin" she explained smiling fondly.
Naru rolled his eyes. "It's a stupid nickname."
No-one payed him any mind as Martin chuckled. "Well it certainly suits him that's for sure" he agreed.
'Gene thought so too' Mai mentally added.
Finishing up their food, everyone slowly got up from their seats and began to walk towards the living room to relax before going to bed – as well as to do the final preparations for the case tomorrow.
Once everyone was settled Martin looked towards Mai.
"You mentioned having another dream?"
Getting the hint she took a deep breath. "From what I could gather in a short period my-no her name was Bianca and we were in some sort of in closed room. I couldn't see any windows, the ground was cold concrete and there were only a couple beds and a metal door. It was like being in a prison. I was treating my mother's wounds when the man I assume to be the father walked in and slapped me. That's where the wound came from."
Naru quickly took notes on the dream in his usual black notebook.
The thought briefly crossed Mai's mind that the book seemed to be never ending, I mean how many pages did it have?!
Shaking the thoughts from her head, she realised Martin had asked her a question.
"Sorry Dr Davis, what was that?" she inquired.
Martin sighed, "As I said, you told me that you'd explain how your dreams are different. I am very much interested as to how you got that bruise" he repeated.
Mai nodded in realisation. "Well how should I put this? The theory is that when I dream it's not just my mind that's being transported, it's also my spirit. Kind of like astral projecting into my dreams. Normally getting hurt isn't something that happens but on the rare occasion if the connection between the myself and the spirits memories is great enough it's almost like I'm her instead. On these occasions, anything that happens to her/him happens to me," she explained.
Naru's eyes widened in realisation. "So that means… that during this case if you're in a first person dream and the person you are dies, you too will die." He stated glaring at her from his seat opposite her. She shivered slightly nervous. His eyes, they were just daring her to try and lie.
Mai gulped sensing the fury behind his façade. "Uh… yes?" she stated nervously, avoiding any eye contact.
His glare sharpened causing Mai to feel slightly worried that he might actually kill her. "Mai" he warned.
She put her hands up in surrender. "Sorry Naru. I can't help how it works. You should know better than anyone. You wrote the theory after all."
Before he could reply Mai feigned a yawn and stretched slightly. "I'm still extremely tired, I think I'll take a shower and then go to bed. Is there anything else I need to know about the case, like when we're leaving?"
Naru pinched the bridge of his nose seeing through her with ease. Everyone watched her worriedly. "Are you sure you're alright?" John asked, always one to make sure of such things. It might be because Mai couldn't bring herself to lie to the innocent priest. She often pondered the thought that the guys put him up to it.
Sighing she gave him a small smile. "I will be. I promise." Nodding he smiled back. "Night" he stated, along with everyone else.
"Alright, we leave at 6. It's a 2 hours drive. You need to be up at 5" he said, directing his statement towards everyone before also getting up.
Moving towards the door of the room Mai turned to everyone and smiled. "Good night" she stated one last time before leaving them to themselves.
Naru wasn't far behind her, presumably so that she didn't get lost.
"Mai" he called as soon as they were out of ear-shot.
Mai stopped briefly before she continued walking. "Yes Naru?"
Sighing, he quickly caught up to her. "That theory…" he trailed.
"What about it" she quipped, attempting to move faster to get away from him. However, Naru simply increased his pace, keeping up with her easily.
Naru grabbed her shoulder making her movements stop. "I'm sure you are aware of the other term required to meet it. But do the others know?"
Mai whipped around, seemingly alarmed at the thought. "Of course they don't! Heck I don't even think you know what you're talking about. Now I'm tired, I just want to shower and sleep. It doesn't take a genius to know that when I'm dreaming I'm using more energy than when my body is awake and considering in that last 24 hours I've had 2 dreams and no real sleep, I am ready to drop dead. I just hope I don't dream again. Now if you'll excuse me" she ranted before turning and walking away leaving a rather surprised Naru behind before he also began to walk again.
Moving as fast as possible, Mai attempted to reach her room before Naru could catch up to her. Taking a left, she found herself at the door to the room that that would become her room for a while. Opening the door she exhaled carefully, closing the door after she entered. Luckily the room also had a bathroom in it so she wouldn't have to share with anyone. Grabbing her clothes and her towel, she made her way into the bathroom and placed them on the sink, hanging her towel up.
Closing and locking the door for extra measure, she turned the water on and stripped, adjusting the water to the perfect temperature. Stepping under the heat she sighed in relaxation, allowing the scolding heat to sooth her body.
After 5 minutes she deemed herself clean enough, too tired to bother washing her hair. It was likely it'd get dirty on the case anyway.
Quickly changing, Mai found herself brushing her teeth, remembering to apply the cream to her face and then packed her stuff back into her bag ready to go in the morning.
Sliding into the warm bed, the brunette slowly felt herself fall asleep.
~JuSt HeRe To TaKe YoU tO mOrNiNg XD~
"-ai. MAI!" someone shouted, jolting Mai from her sleep. Shooting up, Mai felt her head hit someone else's.
"Owww" she complained, forcing her eyes to open and then wincing at the sudden brightness of the room.
That's when she noticed Naru standing next to her bed with an impatient look on his face. "Hurry up and get changed. We have to leave soon and you still haven't eaten."
Mai groaned before nodding. "Okay, okay. I'll be out soon" she stated, shooing him out of the room.
Rolling his eyes he spoke before leaving the room, "You have 10 minutes to be downstairs or you don't get to eat."
As soon as the door closed, Mai felt her body kick into action, rushing around, she grabbed the clothes she had placed onto the end of the bed and stepped into the bathroom, taking a quick 2 minute shower before changing and rushing downstairs within 5 minutes.
Entering the dining room, she wasted no time in taking a seat and beginning to eat. The others looked at her in amusement. "Slow down Mai. The foods not going anywhere" Ayako scolded.
Ignoring her, Mai continued wolfing her food down.
"Mai!" This time the warning was more forceful causing Mai to try not spit her juice out as she washed some of her food down.
Grinning sheepishly Mai addressed Ayako. "Sorry, I'm really hungry."
Rolling her eyes the woman crossed her arms, "I don't care how hungry you are eat slower, you'll give yourself indigestion."
Mai grumbled but slowed down, if only slightly.
Across the table, Masako snickered causing Mai to gulp down more juice and then stick her tongue out at the girl. "I don't see what's so funny. I can't help it if I'm hungry! What's that saying that my mother used to say? The body craves what the body needs I believe and since I'm hungry it must mean my body craves food."
After her short speech, the brunette simply went back to eating causing John along with everyone else to shake their heads in disbelief.
After breakfast, everyone made their way out to the front to see 2 Vans. One for the equipment and 3 people and the other for everyone else.
"Mai, you're riding with Lin and I" Naru stated, making his way towards the van with the equipment.
Pouting Mai waved goodbye to everyone and jumped in the back, placing her stuff on the seat.
She watched as Naru and Lin both closed their doors and Lin began driving.
It had only been 5 minutes when Mai felt herself getting bored. Groaning in frustration, she looked up to see Yang floating around head. Grinning, she reached out and grabbed him. The smaller shiki glared towards her.
"Oh don't give me that look" she muttered quietly in Chinese hoping Lin wouldn't hear. "Let go" the sea serpent stated lowly.
The brunette pouted, loosening her grip. "You're no fun" she complained. Yang simply huffed and went over to sit on Lin's head causing Mai to giggle. Upon seeing Lin glare at her she sighed before turning around in her seat and pouting.
No more than a minute later she began to kick the seat in front of her in an attempt to get Naru's attention and sooth her boredom, if only for 5 minutes. Seeing no reaction she huffed.
"Naaaaaruuuuuu" she whined.
From his seat in the front, Naru's eyebrow twitched again. Lin simply sat there his eyes twinkling in slight amusement. He shot Naru a look as to say 'You know she isn't going to stop until you reply.'
Shooting the elder a glare, his eyebrow twitched.
"What Mai?" he asked.
Grinning, the girl perked up. "I'm bored" she complained.
Eye twitching again, the teen sighed in irritation. "And just what do you expect me to do about it."
Crossing her arms, Mai glared at the back of his seat.
Internally thanking god, he went back to his book, determined to finish it before they reached the clients home.
Not even ten minutes later Naru heard the quiet sound of Mai's head hitting the window as she fell asleep. He smiled slightly before his attention became focused on his book once more.
Me: And there you have it. The next chapter
Mai: We hope you enjoyed it!
Me: Yup! I wrote this in just over 24 hours so it might be a little off but oh well
Naru: Idiot
Mai: That's not nice!
Naru: I never said I was
Mai: *glares*
Me: *sweatdrop* I already have the first 300-400 words for the next chapter so if you're lucky they'll be up by the end of the weekend.
John & Masako: We haven't been in the story much but please read and review!