Disclaimer: I do NOT own Ghost Hunt. Wonderful and fantastic genius, Fuyumi Ono-sensei does.

Comments: I wanted to update at least one episode every day but as you see, I've been a lazy bum! But still, I hope you enjoy it! =]

[[HOUSE OF EVERGREEN]]

Episode 5: The One Who Sees the Dead

John was the last to arrive.

By the time John came, my cheeks are fully huffed up from annoyance and anger. Bou-san asks worriedly.

"Why are you so irritated, Mai? Is anything wrong?"

"Noooooooothing!"

I answer sarcastically. Irritated? Hmph, why wouldn't I be? Masako has been clinging to Naru ever since she came this afternoon. Plus, she asked him to keep her in company while she takes a stroll in the house to search for the spirits. Well, I can brush that off aside, for it always happens. But that's not all. It's mainly because of Naru, that egoistic jerk, being so mad at me this morning, didn't say a single word of apology regarding that matter. To be precise, he hasn't spoken to me at all.

Sigh… I wonder what Ayako told me was even true. I doubt it. She probably said that to cheer me up. I peek at her. She asks nervously.

"Well, it's already 8.00pm. The sun's setting. Are we going to that graveyard?"

Naru glances at her and calls Masako as a reply.

"Hara-san,"

Naru calls Masako. She turns around, looking up at Naru with a cute smile on her face.

"Yes? I'm right here."

"Did you see any spirits in this house?"

Naru asks. With those words, Masako becomes solemn and silent. She replies.

"Yes."

"How many?"

"Just one. A woman… very young. Probably in late teens or early twenties. She is wearing a black kimono with black haori wrapped around her head. Her face is stunningly beautiful…"

That's the woman in my dream!

"Is she dangerous?"

"No, no… Not at all, I'd say. She seems pretty calm."

Masako answers with a questioning expression on her face. She gently closes her eyes, as if she's picturing the woman in her mind.

"Is it possible to communicate with her?"

"Yes, I shall speak to her as soon as I see her again, but…"

Masako tilts her head slightly, opening her black eyes.

"I think someone's already with her."

###

Masako guides us to where she senses the spirit. We walk down the stairs, following her in silence. First floor – so it's not the attic? Surprisingly, it is to Saiko-chan's room she leads us. Does it mean that Saiko-chan is with the spirit? Why her…?

Naru knocks on Saiko-chan's door exactly three times. It makes short, but firm raps. He asks for the permission to enter out of courtesy.

"Saiko-san, can we please talk to you?"

Then she slams the door open, popping out like how jack-in-the-box will if you open the lid of the box or the cuckoo of the cuckoo clock exactly at noon, with no moment of waiting or hesitation. She is still wearing the familiar red dress from this morning; however, her behaviour is completely different.

"What do you want?"

She glares icily at all of us. Whoa, she is totally different from this morning when I met her!

"We presume you were with a spirit, isn't it correct?"

She stares at us, angry and annoyed, her eyes blazing with fury. It's very threatening – her stare. I want to hunch or take a step back, turn my body away from her. But Naru doesn't seem to be moved by it at all.

"Yes. But it's none of your business. What do you want?"

"I'd like to know a bit about the spirit – and whether exorcism should be performed on her."

Her eyebrows twitch.

"…Please feel free to come in."

She replies reluctantly, opening the door for us.

###

Saiko-chan's room is clean and spacious. It's a little chilly here. Maybe because it's so empty.

Naru and the members of SPR all sit down on the chair Saiko-chan allocated us. Naru begins questioning straightaway.

"So what is her name?"

"It's Chinami… Amamiya-san."

Naru writes that down in his little book. He then looks up and asks.

"What is she like? Is she angered, enraged at all?"

"No!"

Saiko-chan replies with certainty in her voice.

"She… does not hold any grudge against anyone. She is not the one attacking anyone. She is calm and kind! I doubt that she is causing any of this."

"Should exorcism be performed?"

I can see Naru cornering her, his eyes darker and deeper than the midnight sky. Poor Saiko-chan is slightly trembling. (Jeez, Naru, you really don't know how to deal with kids, do you?) She shakes her head once, strong and firm. Hmm… she seems really against the exorcism. But why?

"No. She has something to finish before leaving."

"What is it?"

Naru asks straightforwardly. Now she glares at Naru.

"I cannot tell, because I promised not to."

She continues glaring and Naru gazes back without a shake. She seems a little taken aback by Naru's tenacity. (In what? Really, he should learn how to deal with kids!) She sighs then tells us: "Please do not force to exorcise her, because she will go as soon as she accomplishes what she must."

Naru asks for confirmation.

"She won't be harmful to anyone?"

"No. On the contrary, I'd say it will be more beneficial, especially in what you're doing."

Getting the reply he likes, Naru stands up.

"Okay, thank you for your help, Saiko-san."

"No worries."

Her voice is as cold as ice. I can't tell whether she is good or bad. But she certainly wasn't like this at morning.

###

"Wow – what a wonderful view!"

I exclaim, excited. Walking up a small hill made me all puffing, but the scenery is beautiful. It was definitely worth it. The sun is setting, colouring everything in bright orange. The dark-green leaves on evergreen trees (I heard from Kayako-san that all trees in this garden is evergreen) are sparkling brightly. It's beautiful. Just beautiful.

"Hey Mai-chan, do you realise that we're going to the graveyard right now?"

Bou-san nudges. I make a face to him, and ignores. Why say such things in front of such a beautiful view? But Ayako yells out teasingly as well.

"Mai, come on! You're the last!"

"Yeah – I'm going!"

"We're there!"

John calls out.

"Ouch!"

I fall, tripping over some tree root. Ah, stupid clumsiness again!

Then I realise this situation is definitely not the best. Because: number one, I just climbed up a hill – the ground is way lower behind me and I'm falling backwards; number two, I'm the last one in the group, which means there is no one behind me to catch me. I scream inside my head, because I can't even open my mouth out of shock. I hope I don't land on my head.

I close my eyes tightly.

To be continued =]