CHAPTER 6

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KURAIN

PHOENIX:

"But I don't get why they have to 'ask the spirits' and all that garbage anyway!" I had seethed in frustration, only held in check by the capture of Maya's eyes.

"Neither do I, Nick. And it's fine. Most people here know ghosts are just dead regular people. They're to be respected and looked after as ancestors, and know stuff about the past, but it's not like they have magic powers or wisdom or future foresight on our lives. And the ones who delude themselves that they do – well it's just because they're scared and can't face the fact that nobody knows the future, not even the ghosts of your great ancestors."

My finger wavered limply to my side. "Oh, I get it. There's been so much turmoil and tragedy in Kurain, what with all the years of abdications and murders and falling into disrepute, they need something to cling to for a sense of security and illusion of control!"

"Exactly! Like they can somehow prevent more bad stuff happening, when it's really outside their power to do so. I feel a little sorry for them, don't you?"

"Hmm? Nah, I wouldn't go that far, when their delusions of insecurity cause us so much trouble.."

I sigh in recollection. That conversation was some weeks ago. But Maya still thinks her powers aren't back to par, she seems really tired, and she hasn't been able to channel all this time. I feel responsible. Maya's so convinced she's always looking after me, I guess I forget to look after her also.

So I've gone heavy on the little things lately. More full-body massages. Making endless little extra appetising treats in case her special genes mean she's actually starving. Hoping she knows I like her whether or not she has silly powers without me having to think of some sappy way to say so. (I'm hoping 'show don't tell' works here…)

Still, the way Maya and Pearl are always having long and intense discussions when they think I'm not around makes me feel there's more to this that they're not telling me. 'Spirit medium business', Maya claimed. I admit I'm not much help in that stuff, but still, it's getting to me!

Worst possible timing, too, with me about to leave for an extended stay in the city with Trucy. It's been planned for ages. I was kinda hoping Maya could come with me, but of course no way does she want to stop her training regime lately with her powers apparently on the wane. I'm not game to push that issue – logic is on her side of the argument (for once) and nothing but silly emotion on mine.

"Maya, you'd tell me if you had some kind of problem or something, wouldn't you?" I venture. "I know there's something secret you and Pearls are so desperate to discuss…" And it doesn't look like a fun surprise.

Maya's face becomes a little guilty – she knows how much I hate secrets!

"Nick, really. We haven't figured anything out yet, so we wouldn't know what to tell you. When we do I will, I pr…"

"Mystic Maya! Mystic Maya, I fo… Oh!" Pearls stops short, hand over her mouth. "Hi, Mr Mystic Nick…"

Maya's eyes bug awkward.

"No, it's fine," I tell her, "you and Pearls get on with your 'secret business'. I was just leaving!" Maya's pose droops so miserable in response to the last that I try to look less nonplussed. "It's okay. Really." I leave the room and exit the Manor.

I haven't trudged far up the dusty road when I hear that dust churning in pursuit behind me.

"Nick, wait!"

"It's okay." I smile my genuine non-offense. " I don't know anything about that spiritual stuff…"

"But I'll tell you! We just figured something else out.." She tugs my hand, back into Fey Manor. She's smiling now. "It's fine. Pearly found out… well, you know that charm I put on your magatama before, like that one to stop Dahlia possessing you? Seems it's not just a one-time thing, but a constant connection! The charms in your magatama – it's kinda draining my powers, because I subconsciously charge them when they need it, and something stronger than when I first charged it is putting antagonistic power against the charm-shield!"

"Oh, that's great," I 'enthuse'. "The problem is ME! I'll go to the city, and your powers will come back…"

"NO! Nick, no way can I leave you! If something's attacking the shield – it's probably Dahlia, she'll possess you like before!"

"But Maya – you just said protecting me is making you sick! I can't do this to you, I.."

"Um, excuse me, Mystic Maya, but are you sure it is still Dahlia?"

"Good idea, Pearly! Nick, give us the Magatama, please."

They go collude in hushed whispers in the next room whilst I force myself not to interfere. I try to study a crack in the wall for seeming eternity, endevouring to stop my foot shuffling being so loud they'll overhear it, my sweating palms flailing with no Magatama to cling to.

Maya is fine. I try to burn the mantra into my subconcious brain. Maya is fi..

I let out a held breath as her eager collides back into my side.

"Great news, Nick! Pearly tried to ID it, and it's not Dahlia. We think it's a Hungry Ghost – maybe a gaki – haunting the mountains here. Here's the good part - those things are usually only strong close up, so if you go to the city, its power can't reach you! While you're away, Pearly or I should be able to track it down and perform the rites so it'll be happy to go on to the afterlife and stop languishing on the physical plane."

"It won't follow you to the city, Mr Mystic Nick," adds Pearls, "those things usually stay around one group of mountains."

"Um, t-this won't be dangerous for you or Pearls?"

"No, no, it's routine, don't worry. It's dangerous for YOU to stay here, though, Nick!" I sense there's something she's not saying.

I decide it's probably that she'll drop dead from me draining her power soon if I don't hurry up and leave, and she doesn't want to hurt my feelings by telling me.

I depart the very next day, eager to allow her to recuperate from this terrible exertion.

"W..wait, what about the Magatama? Should I leave it with you, so it stops vamping more power for my protection or something?"

Maya's eyes bug in horror. "NICK! No way would I ever leave you all alone without the Magatama to protect you! And it's fine, these spirit things only happen in a certain radiation radius. I doubt it'll be draining my power all the way from the city, you taking it is definitely the best way to 'give me a break', as you say!"

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Maya of course tells me to 'relax and enjoy my time with Trucy and maybe Apollo', but of course, I can't.

I ring every day, and would every hour if it didn't just irritate the other Kurain residents, since most of Maya's daily patterns fall outside Kurain's patchy and fragmented mobile reception. Maya assures me she's fine, and after a few days I only get Pearl , as Maya has gone off on some hardcore solitary training journey. I practically die daily until finally she rings.

"It's fine, Nick, my powers are coming back! I managed to channel Mia, and I'm feeling much better!"

I gasp into my air-deprived lungs. "Um, what about that, uh, 'Hungry Ghost'?"

"Don't you worry about a thing, Mr Mystic Nick," Pearls' voice interjects breathlessly, "it's all being taken care of."

"Don't do anything d-dangerous…"

"Oh no, Mr Nick, I would never allow Mystic Maya to do anything too exerting. Someone else will perform the rite…"

But next day I only get Pearls again, Maya has returned to her mountain training. I ring twice daily anyway. Pearl assures me things are fine, fine… but one day they are terrible.

"Um M…Mystic Maya hasn't come back. I waited a whole day in case she was delayed, and then this morning and I.."

MAYA. An ice dagger stabs my gut.

UPDATE: Ahahahaha, since the news of GS5, timelines permitting maybe I'll retcon this 'absence' to be 'when GS5 takes place', depending on how long the game is and if they ignore Maya the way I expect. That's where Maya is!

Otherwise this whole thing might be set after the Bad End of GS4 :P