A/N: No, I have not died...though we got some nasty flooding here! But I am alive, yay! So here is the next chapter...uh...please don't kill me! I am already working on the next chapter!

Naru immediately turned his gaze from John to the monitors and there in a hallway was the image of the miko unconscious on the floor. "John," Naru stated coolly as he moved from the monitors towards the door, "have everyone return to the base. I will alert the inn and have a doctor brought here."

"Right!" John rushed from the room back to his fallen comrade. She was already being attended to by a very fearful and concerned Bou-san. John was sure that for now she was in the best hands she could possibly be in.

-x-

Bou-san didn't know what he should do. One minute he was working on a particularly active area with Ayako arguing at him from the side, when the very next she was lying limp on the floor. He was not sure how it happened…it had all gone so fast, so without warning.

He remembered clearly that they were talking, more like complaining, about something. They had barely even begun…she hadn't even done anything yet…a soft thud had caught his attention and his mind frantically replayed her collapsing body hitting the floor in slow motion as if surreal. "Ayako…Ayako…" Bou-san called while holding the miko in his arms. She looked alright, no obvious injuries or signs of distress. She didn't have a fever…but she was not waking up.

"Bou-san!" John called loudly as he approached followed by Lin and Masako. "How is she?"

"There has not been any change. She still won't wake up." Bou-san touched her face gently…affectionately, before he stood with her body cradled in him arms.

"Maybe she is just really tired?" Masako offered.

"She didn't seem tired earlier. In fact, she seemed overly hyper in my mind." Bou-san replied absently.

"Either way, let's hurry to the base. Naru said he wants us all there and he also called for a doctor." John hustled down the hall in a concerned fashion while the others followed quietly behind.

-x-

The doctor, Bou-san noted, was an old and seasoned man. He had probably been many places and was well versed in his profession and decided to retire in the area. For him to arrive in such a timely manner, he must have lived close by.

Bou-san paced the room compulsively as the old man tended to the unconscious miko. He knew Mai and Masako, if not the others as well…though not as obvious, were watching him intently. He probably should have just sat quietly and waited like the others, but he could not calm down nor could he keep his body still. What if something was really wrong? What if she had been possessed by a strong spirit that was beyond his power to sense or exorcise? What if he was never able to tell her...?

"No!" Bou-san said aloud despite himself, causing the occupants of the room to look at him in question.

"Why don't you sit down Bou-san?" Mai offered kindly while patting the couch cushion next to her. "I am sure Ayako will be alright. The doctor will know what's best so why don't you relax?"

Bou-san sighed loudly and plopped on the couch next to Mai. He was never like this before with anyone, so why was he so worried now? It was almost painful and his chest felt tight. Was this how Naru always felt when Mai was in trouble? How could he conceal it? Bou-san could not keep his mind from racing from one thought to the next.

He was about to bolt up and start pacing again so that he could at least stretch his legs rather than just bounce them as he sat, when the doctor presented himself. "Well?" He prompted eagerly as he rose, the others expectant as well.

"She is resting." He said simply before continuing. "There is nothing externally wrong with her. No injuries or signs of distress. Her heart rate and blood pressure are normal. I can not find anything abnormal with her in fact."

"So she is okay?" Bou-san asked more panicked than he had intended to sound.

"Yes, as far as I can tell young man…but she is still unconscious. I could not find a reason for this, since there are no signs of a trauma. I suspect that it is from fatigue and stress. Let her rest for a few days and call me if there is still no change."

"Thank you" Naru said professionally as he quickly saw the doctor out. Bou-san would have said those words himself if he wasn't so lost in his own world. Physically, Ayako was alright…but the doctor had no idea the special circumstances of their work or of the inn. She was alright…but she might be plagued by something much, much worse.

"Bou-san?" The monk spun around as he heard Mai call him tentatively. He was so lost in thought that he failed to notice that Naru was talking to them.

"Uh?" he voiced dumbly, noticing that every one was looking at him. "Oh, uh…sorry. What were you saying?"

Naru sighed. "As I was saying…" he grabbed some papers off the table in front of him. "I want you, John, and Lin to continue working the active areas as much as you can. I am going to see if I can assess how fast the turn over is."

"Alright." John answered politely.

"Report if you observe anything worth noting." Naru turned and looked to Mai and Masako. "I want you both to stay here and watch the monitors and stay with Matsuzaki-san. Let us know if there is anything worth reporting."

"Of course," Mai said suspiciously sweet. She was not going to hide the fact that she was more than frustrated with the current situation. She was worried about Ayako but she was also concerned about the conversation that was cut short from before with Naru. There was more that she wanted to say, more that she wanted to hear…but it would have to wait. Now was not the time and there was work to be done.

-x-

The next few hours found everyone busy with their respective tasks. John and Bou-san had their hands full with just keeping the spirits at the status quo. Lin even started to help out with the more dangerous spirits that were threatening the safety of the guests and staff of the inn. When he was not occupied with that, Lin was rushing around outside helping Naru gather data on the phenomenon happening on the grounds.

They were still not sure if the events inside were related to the events that had occurred outside. They may be related but it was not safe to assume anything. Assumptions could be dangerous; especially in the kind of work they were employed.

Mai unexpectedly found herself quite busy as well. Ayako had since developed a fever over the hours and she and Masako found themselves taking turns running to her side to offer care. The monitors were a flurry of activity and it was hard to keep up with everything to alert the others.

Masako ran out every now and then to help locate the particularly vengeful and angry spirits, since they were a danger. She would return only to be swamped with more complaints from staff that needed to then be recorded and dealt with.

"This is getting ridiculous." Masako commented in a rather frustrated tone, though she hid it quite well. "It is nearly evening and there seems no end to it."

"It almost seems like things are getting worse rather than better since we got here…" Mai replied back. She was mauling a stack of papers that had mysteriously pilled up in the last few minutes…or so it seemed. Reports from staff and guests kept coming in even though the others were dealing with them as fast as they could, it sure doesn't seem like it was enough.

"Maybe that is true. There is no real way of knowing…" Masako sounded annoyed now.

"Yeah I suppose. But it does feel worse to me at least…" Mai trailed off as the sinking feeling took over again. She really didn't like that feeling at all.

"You sense something?" Masako looked up from the monitors, showing genuine curiosity on her face.

"Hrm…" Mai thought for a moment how she wanted to respond. It was not like she was feeling or sensing anything like what she was sure Masako was picking up on. She was a medium after all. She was probably inundated with emotions and things from the spirits themselves. But this was different. Mai didn't think what she was feeling was from the spirits…it was almost like it was the entire place in general that was leaving the bad impression behind.

"Well?" Masako was getting impatient. She could see Mai's inner struggle written all over her face. She was so transparent sometimes. Why couldn't she just voice out loud what was going on in that head of hers?

"I feel sick. This place makes me feel sick. Everything is telling me to leave; that it is not safe here in the least and that we should leave. Sometimes my chest gets tight and it is hard to breath, my stomach falls and I have this sinking feeling, my skin prickles and my head spins. I don't like it here one bit."

"Are you okay?" Mai looked up in obvious shock at Masako's words. "You should tell Naru. I am sure he would whisk you away in a moment if you are ill."

Mai let the shocked expression fade from her features into a soft, kind smile. "Ha, I am sure he would and that is why I am keeping my mouth shut. I have caused him, and everyone else, enough worry. Something like this I can handle." Mai smiled again. "Thank you, Masako."

"You really are such an idiot. I have no idea what he sees in you, really." Masako snapped back without missing a beat. "If you are fortunate enough to have people that will worry for you…why not let them worry?" She let a secret smile grace her lips.

"I guess…that makes sense." Mai admonished shyly, a slight blush forming on her cheeks.

"Oh course it does, idiot." Masako said lightly as she stood. "We should check on Ayako. Her wash cloth probably needs to be cooled and changed."

"Ah, yeah you are right…" Mai got up and followed Masako. She left her thoughts shift. It was unfortunate what had happened, but it made Mai rather happy to see the way Bou-san was loosing his cool because of Ayako. He was having a hard time concentrating and checked in on them every 15 minutes at least to make sure everything was still okay. If only she could see how worried he was over her. It was quite endearing…

-x-

Masako sat delicately at Ayako's side, her komono folding perfectly into shape. Mai marveled at how perfect she looked; just like a doll. It really was true that someone like Masako fit Naru so much better than her. When Masako and Naru were together, they looked like they fit…like they went together. When she and Naru were together it probably looked mismatched and awkward. Mai sighed, 'what a depressing line of thought…comparing myself to her…'

Masako reached for the wet cloth that adorned the miko's forehead and suddenly went stiff. As her hand touched the warm skin of the miko, her movement stopped. Her eyes became wide for an instant before she slumped to the side, unconscious.

"Masako!" Mai jumped to her side in an instant. She didn't look hurt or anything, but no matter what she did or said…she got no response from her fallen friend. Mai continued to panic over her for a moment longer before she rushed to alert the others of what had happened.

-x-

It was just starting to get dark and the others were thankfully close at hand. In no time at all every one was assembled at the base once again. "What happened!?" Bou-san was the first through the door already asking questions. Mai had not specified what was wrong…just that she needed everyone back as soon as possible.

"It is Masako!" Mai exclaimed as they moved further into the room. "She and I went to attend to Ayako and she fell over unconscious!"

"Did something strange occur?" Naru asked calmly as he joined John who had already placed Masako next to Ayako and was tending to her.

"She merely went to grab the cloth off Ayako's head. I saw her get stiff and then she fell over!" Mai exclaimed shortly. "She just touched her…that was all…"

"Hrm…" Naru said aloud in contemplation. Was it just a coincidence? Not likely…in this environment every action must be thought of as part of the puzzle.

"Should I call the doctor?" John asked his voice full of concern.

"That is probably for the best don't you think so Naru?" Bou-san looked at Naru who was currently deep in thought. It was best not to bother him when he was thinking but…

"Yes, do that." He replied simply. "Lin, the readings for this room?"

Lin had already occupied him self with the data of the day before Naru had even asked him. Mai had compiled a large amount of data throughout the day but nothing seemed to stand out as particularly abnormal. The readings for the base room were almost too…normal.

The rest of the inn was being flooded with activity, invaded from every corner. The grounds lacked life, the water was uncharacteristic, and quests and staff alike were inundated with sightings, sounds, and mischievous ghosts. But the base room had no activity what so ever; not even a degree of temperature fluctuation. The monk and miko had placed protective charms on the room upon arrival. The barrier seemed to be effective. So why was it that the exact same barriers in other locations of the inn seemed to have no effect yet the base room stayed safe?

"Normal." Lin replied stoically. "The readings show that nothing abnormal occurred in the room at the time of Hara-san's collapse."

"Do you think that they are related; Hara-san's and Matsuzaki-san's condition?" John asked solemnly. "Does this have something to do with the case?"

"We can not assume anything." Naru spoke coldly. "Assumptions can be deadly…especially for us at this location."

"That is very true." Lin turned from the monitors to address the people in the room. "Once the doctor gets here we will learn more. It may simply be a case of over exertion for Hara-san…being bombarded and surrounded by so many spirits."

"That makes sense…" Bou-san agreed apprehensively. "Maybe Ayako is just exhausted as well."

"That is quite possible, Bou-san. I am sure they are going to be alright." John reassured softly. He wanted to believe as much as everyone else that it was just coincidence…that the girls had just been tired and over worked; that they were not witnessing the first two victims of some unknown enemy…

"I hope you're right" Bou-san agreed heartily. When it was just Ayako, it was just that…a single case. But now with Masako as well…it could be seen as the start of a trend. Something could be targeting the girls or affecting them that was not presenting itself to the guys. And as a trend…the next obvious one affected would be…

"Mai, you should be careful as well just in case this is the result of something paranormal." The monk warned as he turned to scan the room.

"I agree." Naru said sternly immediately following the monk's warning, "Mai, you stay in the-" he cut of abruptly as he failed to locate the brunette girl. "Mai?" he called fearfully looking from one perplexed face to the other.

"Mai!?"

A/N: Well, there you have it. Please let me know what you think! Look forward to the next chapter!! Cliche-ness will abound, but I promise it will be GOOD!! I am writing it now...so I know! LOL!