I do Not own the Anime/Manga Ghost Hunt, or its characters.

A/N: Sorry for not updating as quickly as ususal. I'm now helping plan a wedding - can you believe it?! - and I won't be able to update 2 or 3 chapters a day anymore - but I will update once every two days at least.

...Kayla...

I stumbled at the foyer, but was able to catch myself before I went tumbling down the steps. I stumbled down them, senses reeling and my vision was blurring together. I burst out the front door, chest heaving and sweat pouring down my back. I jumped the railing on the porch, landing heavily on the snow covered gravel. I had seen Naru and Ayako standing in the driveway out of the corner of my eye.

...born in America, and...moved to Japan...

I forced myself to my feet, ignoring my friends' shouts for me to stop. I didn't even noticed Naru and Ayako now running after me until Naru pulled up right beside me, demanding to know what was wrong. But, I couldn't...it wasn't...I shook my head furiously. Even if I stopped now, I wouldn't be able to explain.

Last night came rushing back, right as she was pulling me above the water. The speck of white in a sea of green and darkness.

...My grave is water and going to be ripped down and built over and no one's gonna know...

I crashed into the wall, hardly able to draw breath. I hauled myself up and peered in, trying to make out anything beneath the murky surface. I leaned in closer, squinting. But hands were on me, dragging me away, "John! What are you doing?!"

...protecting my grave. Your friends are ...too close for my liking...

Monk's grip tightened painfully as I lashed out, "Let me go!"

"No! First we're making sure you're not possessed somehow and then you're going to the hospital. Your fever is too high."

"But-"

"No!" Mai cried from somewhere behind us, "You-You have to listen to him, John."

"I'm-"

"It's okay, John. You'll be fine." Ayako assured, "That spirit was just compelling you to the water."

"God damn it, guys! Listen to me!" I snarled, kicking him in the shin. His grip slackened just enough for me to rip away from him. I twisted around, hardly able to scratch a breath of air past my dry throat. They looked at me with a mixture of horror and fear - horror for my cursing, fear for my well being. "I'm not possessed! I know where her body is! I know her name!"

Monk put his hands up in a peaceful gesture, stepping closer, "John, man. Ya gotta listen to me, okay? You need to come with me."

I stepped back, looking for someone to listen to me. But they all seemed to agree with Monk. "I'm not going! Her name is Kayla. Her body is right here, in the water. Lin, you yourself said this pond was suppose to be built over this summer, didn't you?"

"I did, but that doesn't mean - "

I turned to Naru. If there was one person who'd put this case before our safety, it was him. "Naru, you have a camera that goes underwater. Use it. You'll see I'm right."

He cupped his chin in thought. Mai looked at him in anger, "You can't be serious! He's sick and needs a doctor!"

"We'll do it."

-X-

I didn't let any of them touch me as Naru and Lin set up the camera. I didn't take the coat or blankets they offered me. I was practically numb by the time they lowered it into the water. I didn't let them drag me into the school, because if I did, she'd show up and hurt them.

As long as I was there with them, she wouldn't touch them.

We all watched the screen Naru and Lin had set up, watching as the green water was illuminated by a small waterproof flashlight. It swung to the right, but I shook my head, "To the left, Lin. Left."

"There!" Naru pointed to something small and white, startling the others. "Zoom in on that."

It was a skull.

Weeds had wrapped around it, holding it in place by its eye sockets and jaw. Pieces of dark hair clung to its top, floating in the water and tangled with twigs. Some skin still clung to the forehead and jaw. It was then that I allowed myself to relax, the cold no longer bothering me. We had found her; that was what mattered. Monk dropped a blanket on my shoulders and I hugged it close.

Lin called the law enforcement again, but I knew this was far from over. I relayed to Lin everything I knew and the police began making a report.

My eyes traveled up to the fifth floor, where Ms. Nara's office was located. I now had a choice. Let Kayla have her revenge on the sick bastard or have him thrown in jail for her rape and murder. Revenge sounded right. It felt right. It should have been right.

But he'd get his due one day soon.

Kayla deserved to see her mother.

I turned, pulling free of Mai's thin arms. She called out, "Where are you going?"

"To Tamari's office," I said over my shoulder. I didn't even pause in my steps, "Kayla said something that got me thinking. This time, I plan on tearing apart that office."

"But..." Ayako and the others began following, "But, she just died. We should leave her stuff be. Be respectful."

I tried to remind myself that they didn't know what I did, but, "My respect for that woman's gone. Kayla told me that Tamari shielded her attacker, that she was kept here and wasn't allowed to contact anyone from the outside."

I could still help Kayla. I could still take care of her debt. I could guide her soul to where it belonged. And I vowed on everything I had, on the very soul I had within me, that I wouldn't let her be dragged to a place she wasn't meant to go for things beyond her control.

-X-

"You really should let us handle this." Monk said, "You need to see a doctor."

"I'll see one later." I told him, again. He scowled at the tone I used, at my stubbornness, but was forced into silence when I opened the office door. I shrugged the blanket off, flicked on the light and set to work. "If you're gonna help, start on that side of the room. Look for old records or files or a journal maybe. There has to be a student's attendance record, a-a...I don't know. A...transfer record...or records."

I could feel myself shaking from an imagined cold, could feel the heat radiating off my body. A permanent darkness had taken residence along the edges of my vision, my heart beating heavily against my ribs. My throat felt like a dessert and my legs trembled and my knees threatened to buckle when yet another wave of dizziness swept over me.

I went for her desk, ripping open the drawers and shifting through her papers. With each drawer coming up with nothing, I could feel my frustration rising higher with each passing failure. Lin had taken her computer and was looking through it. Monk and Naru were trying to break into the filing cabinet. I found a key ring and tossed it at Naru, who went through each key until a drawer was opened.

Mai opened the rest of the cabinets, and they all pitched in on trying to find her file.

"Guys!" Ayako said excitedly, "I think I found it."

I dropped a pile of papers - they scattered everywhere - and rushed over. I plucked it from her hands, and sure enough, Kayla stared back at me. Her picture was attached to the file - a file that was entirely English with Japanese notes. It looked like someone was trying to translate. "This is it!"

"Well?" Monk asked, looking over my shoulder.

"Kayla Shino." I said, Naru already ready to take notes. I skimmed, telling them the important details. "Age sixteen. Mother deceased and father living in Tokyo. Black hair, brown eyes..."

-X-

Hours later, when her father came to the school, he looked ragged. Dark bags hung under his red rimmed eyes, his skin the color white. He was thin - sickly thin. I watched from the window as he was escorted to a black bag that sat on a gurney. On it, in see through plastic bags, were the personal effects found with the body. When he saw the jacket, he crumpled to the ground. His cries of agony and despair brought tears to my eyes and I couldn't bare to keep watching.

The cops gave their thanks for my finding her, but I waved them off.

As soon as I found what I was looking for, as soon as I found what I needed, I was charging her attacker with rape and murder.

Monk came into the room. His voice was low and his eyes were averted. "John. You need to see a doctor."

"I know." I turned back to the window, watching the red and blue lights, the people.

"I can take you now." His offer was tempting, and his voice was pleading.

"No."

"What? Why?" He was now aggravated, but trying his hardest to understand, to not upset me. He knew if he got me mad, he wouldn't be able to talk reason with me. It also seemed that he couldn't forgive himself - though for what, I can't imagine.

"Her soul is on the line, Monk. If she takes her attacker's life, I won't be able to help her."

He gave a long suffering sigh, "I'm not going to be able to talk you out of this. Am I?"

"Nope."

"And then? When this is over, you'll go?"

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