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.

Night fell as Ayako and Mai returned with fresh supplies - food, batteries, pens, medicine. We all sat at Base, taking a small rest as we ate. Lin had finally given me my phone back, and to my surprise, I had three messages from Masako. I gave the Chinese man a sidelong glance that he returned with a shrug. I looked back at the device; he hadn't answered my phone at all by the looks of it.

I held it up to my ear, listening as her messages got more and more concerned.

It gnawed at my stomach, knowing I had been partially responsible for this reaction. Without a word, I got up and went to the far end of the room - where the stacks of shelves cut off what little light we had left on, and waited for her to pick up.

On the second ring, she picked up. "Hello? John?"

"Yeah, its me." I said sheepishly, rubbing the back of my neck with my hand. "Look, I'm sorry for not answering right away. Lin took my phone-"

"Why would he do that?!" Her voice rose sharply.

"Well, I got sick and-"

"Oh! Are you okay? Do you need me to pick you up?"

A small part - okay, a big part - of me suddenly wanted to say yes, come pick me up. But I shook my head, ridding the thought, "No, Masako. Thank you. I'm fine."

"Are you-Are you sure? I-I can pick you up, right now. I'll just call my agent and-"

"I'm sure, Masako," I couldn't help but smile as a warm feeling settled over my heart. I began pacing along the shelves, eyeing the titles and authors. I could hear the low hum of conversation between the others filter through the aisles of books. "I'm fine. Really. Besides, its getting dark and you know what that means."

"Right," I could feel her disappointment. It made me pause, made me feel guilty. Her voice turned no-nonsense, "But if you need me to, John, don't even hesitate to call me. Got it?"

"I got it," I tried not to chuckle; she sounded so serious it was cute. I turned and leaned against the shelves. It wasn't very comfortable, but my legs were trembling again and I didn't want to sit down - if I did, I wouldn't be getting back up any time soon.

After a quiet moment, she asked quietly, "How's it going over there?"

"Its going." I sighed, "You're not gonna like what you'll hear, if I tell you."

"Do it."

How could I say 'no' to that commanding voice?

-X-

Once I hung up, I felt lighter. It had been a lot easier to come forward and tell her everything than it had been for the others. I even found myself speculating as to why the spirit had thought we were similar. Though, for all the wrong reasons. We both were in a country we weren't born in - that kind of stuff. Not the actual reason. I don't think I'd ever be able to anyone - not even God himself - if I were asked, or needed to.

I found that the others had finished eating when I came back, my own food long forgotten and cold.

I took my seat as Naru finished off a phone call, Lin at his side. Monk asked, "Who were you speaking to? On the phone."

"Hmm? Oh. Masako - she called a few times and I just wanted to get back to her. Ya know, let her know we're still alive and uninjured."

He made a noise between being cross and sarcastic, "Yeah, we're all healthy and whole."

I felt color rise along my cheeks, "I just don't want her to worry, is all. There's no point in upsetting her and making her feel as if she should have stayed."

He seemed to consider it, before nodding his head. "Good point. We can't have her rushing back here. Its too dangerous." He turned his attention to Mai, "And I really think you should go home."

"What?!" Her eyes went wide and unbelieving. "No way! Family sticks together. I'm not leaving."

"But-"

"If anyone leaves, it should be you, John." She turned on me like a rabid squirrel. All pissed, but too small and cute to do much damage. "You're sick and hurt."

"I'm fine," I tried to keep the whine out of my voice. Why were they always bringing that up? So I got a little dizzy if I stood too quickly. So my wrists was still in a wrap. Naru had been possessed once, and they hadn't raised this big of a stink about it!

Naru cut off whatever she was about to say, "This spirit made a deal with a demon. We need to find this demon and exercise it as well."

"How do we find a demon?" Mai asked, blinking almost owlishly. Her attention had been snatched like a four-year-old's with a colorful toy. I shook my head in fond amusement, though she hadn't seen me.

"It depends on what kind." Naru decided, hands in his pockets. "Because this girl has a hell hound, my guess is that it has something to do with the faith the creature is attached to." He looked at me expectantly, "Well, Father John?"

It was my turn to blink. How was I suppose to know how to summon a demon? It's not like I made a practice of doing it. I hadn't ever dealt with a demon yet - mostly just spirits and sick people. I look at the ceiling in thought, trying to go back and remember anything about demons and their summons.

Just as I was about to give up, a thread of a memory flashed before my eyes:

"Mike, what are you doin'?" I slurred, the edges of my vision swirling as the vodka hummed contently in my veins. It was well past midnight, and we had only known each other for a few weeks - but were already thick as thieves. We had been dumped into one of the easier houses - and it was a blessed change of pace.

The lady we were staying with was a drunk and nothing more. She expected us to do our own shit, and keep up appearances - that was it. She only beat us if she found us sneaking from her liquor cabinet. It had only happened once, and I only got a mild concussion for it. Totally worth it.

But right here, right now, Mike was in the middle of a four-way gravel road. Flowers swayed on the grass surrounding the area. Yellow flowers. They smelled nice, and the air was warm. So warm, I shed my coat.

He had dug about three feet down and dropped in a tin can. He gave a twist of the lips - I think it was a grin. Maybe it was a sneer. Who knew? I took another swig from the bottle. I staggered a little closer, a giggle escaping my numb lips. When had it gotten so cold? Right. It was mid-winter. It was only like, thirty degrees out. The flowers were dead. "Well, Mikey?"

"I'm-I'm calling a demon. Johnny! Look it! A cat..."

Four way intersection. Yellow flowers. Tin box.

I sat up straighter, "Lin? Do you have a picture of the fountain from the summer?"

"Right here," he stood and handed it over.

"What are you thinking, John?" Monk leaned over my shoulder.

The picture had a glossy shine to it. It showed the fountain, in the middle of a four-way gravel road. It was there at the end of the gravel road, from beside the gate when we first arrived. I had hardly spared it a glance - but I remembered the dead vines hanging off it. Sure enough, the picture showed yellow flowers all around. I pointed to the top of the fountain, where there was a little box filled with flowers with a small angel-like child sitting, water spraying from its chubby hands.

Leaning back, I said, "I think she had made the deal when she was alive, and when she died, she added onto the deal. To be sure, we're going to have to dig up that little flower bed and have a look."

"What are we looking for, exactly?" Naru asked, plucking the picture from my fingers.

"A tin box."

"What's in the box?" Ayako asked, raising a delicate eyebrow.

I frowned, trying harder to remember. Something about a cat, and a picture, I knew. I shook my head, "I can't rightly remember right off the top of my head. But I'm sure its connected."

"That's all I needed to know."

-X-

When we made it to bed, Monk was grumbling about curious teachers and not minding their own damn business. The few teachers that had stayed had become more confident because of the sudden decrease in activity and had started asking nosey questions. I thought they had a right to know, and I told them what I could - leaving out the rape and murder, the hell hound and how it tied to Tamari's death.

I couldn't let the rapist, if he were here, know we were on to him. It might spook him, and we'd never see him again.

After we were changed, Monk settled down with his headphones and his laptop. I took my medicine and crawled into bed, suddenly dizzy with exhaustion. I had done a great job ignoring my sickness all day - but now that I had nothing to do, nothing to focus on, it hit me like a freight train.

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