Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt.

By the time the gang regrouped, they headed down to the hospital. Sho was placed in John's care for the time being as Naru, Tsubaki, and Lin are the first to arrived through the emergency room doors. The nurse directs them to the floor that Mai would be on. When they round the corner, they find Sayuri slumped over into a chair in the waiting room.

Her half closed eyes perked up as the rest of them come around the corner.

"What's her status?" Naru asks, looking wearily and angry.

"The doctor just told me she's going to be fine," Sayuri felt her head begin to throb, "she came out of surgery with flying colors. It's a matter of her waking up from the-"

"Do you know what room she's going to be in?"

"Naru, sit down," Sayuri places her hands on the youth's shoulders, "I understand that right now you want to rip someone to pieces. Why don't you use that energy to go see her for yourself? Tell her nurse that her mother sent you to go check on her."

"Her mother?" Monk and Tsubaki question the brunette.

"I lied," Sayuri sighs, "I lied very well and odd enough, the nurse believe it. The doctor knows what's going on."

"So what did you say about the rest of us?" Monk questions.

"Well," Sayuri smirks, "Naru's engaged to her for one."

The look on the youth's face makes Sayuri laugh even more, "well it's the only way you're going back there. The head nurse is one mean bitch and she takes her job very seriously."

"Did you really have to-"

"Naru, just go see her. And try to look like a frantic young guy in love, would ya? Maybe even kiss her?" Sayuri laughs as Naru heads off, grumbling.

"Did you really do that on purpose or was that the only excuse you could come up with?" Lin stares at her.

"Both," Sayuri sighs, "how's Sho?"

"John has him," Ayako speaks up, "he and Masako are keeping an eye on him. Ritsuke is doing damage control."

"He's such a sweetheart," Tsubaki speaks up, "both of them. I offered to stay but Ritsuke wanted me to give him the news of Mai's condition."

"If anything," Sayuri smiles at the blonde woman, "you can always go and check on Sho for me if I get antsy."

"Sure thing."

"I hope Mai pulls through," Monk sits on the edge of his chair, hanging his head as Ayako places a hand on his shoulder.

"She's a trooper," She felt Monk take her hand from his shoulder, squeezing it. A look passes between the two young adults, with Tsubaki and Sayuri giggling silently at the look Monk was giving Ayako. A nurse walks up to Sayuri, "Miss Natsuma?"

"Yes?" Sayuri jumps out of her seat.

"You and your friends may go visit with Miss Taniyama now," the woman smiles as Sayuri and Monk are the first to head off towards Mai's room. The gang finds the teenaged girl sitting up with Naru sitting in chair beside her bed. Sayuri moves to the other side, leaning down to gently hug the girl.

"Hey Mai...how are you feeling?"

"Groggily," Mai manages a soft smile, "but I'm okay."

"We were so scared," Ayako whispers, "We thought we were going to lose you."

"You're damned lucky." Monk tacks on.

"The doctor said it just caught me in my side and didn't hurt any internal organs," Mai chews on her lip, "so I should be fine in a couple of weeks. Doctor says I'm going to make a full recovery."

"Mai," Sayuri speaks up, "I am so sorry..."

Mai waves off the apology, "Not the first time I've been hurt on a case. Besides, I'm fine! Really!"

"Mai, he had a gun and I was responsible to see that nobody got hurt," Sayuri closes her eyes, fighting back the tears.

"Sayuri, it's really okay..." Mai whispers, reaching out to touch her arm. "I'm fine. I promise. Now go wash your face before your makeup runs."

"Fine fine," Sayuri gets up and heads for the small bathroom. She hangs her face over the sink, trying to collect herself. Now that she had seen Mai, Sayuri was glad that the waiting was over. She thought for sure they had lost her. She hears the others getting shooed out by Naru a few minutes later. Clicking off the light, Sayuri turns to open the door and leave, only to freeze a moment later.

Naru had sat down on the bed, with his hand touching Mai's cheek, "Don't scare me like that, ever."

"Naru...I said I was fine. I just need to take it easy. I probably be useless in cases for a while. Don't be too mad at me since I can't-"

Mai was cut off, Naru gently tugging her forward and silencing her with a kiss. Mai's eyes widened in shock, her face turning bright red as Naru's lips continued to cover hers for a few moments.

"I won't lose you, Mai. You're way too important to me." Naru whispers, before he pulls away.

"Naru?"

"Get some rest," Naru touches her cheek before leaving the hospital room. After the door clicks shut, Sayuri bolts from the bathroom, grinning.

Mai sits incredibly still, shell-shocked over the fact Naru had kissed her. Sayuri squeals, hugging the teen gently.

"So how was it?"

Mai finds her voice, "A... absolutely... amazing...

"Yay," Sayuri looks at her, "took him long enough to make a move. I'm so glad that you're alright. You worried me half to death, young lady."

Mai looks down, "I'm sorry."

"Hey look at me," Sayuri tilts her head, "it's not your fault. I'm just glad that you're alright. You're like a sister to me Mai. I wouldn't know what to do if I lost you. So that's why you're going to be moving out of that apartment you're living in."

"Eh? I am?"

"Yup. You're going to come live with Sho and me."

"R-really?" Mai tears up.

"I think Sho will be happy with that. You are like his older sister."

Mai curls herself up in the older girl's arms, happily crying. Sayuri sits with her for a while until Mai falls back to sleep. Sayuri quietly slides out of the bed. Home was definitely going to be different. She would have to get the guys to help move Mai's stuff out as well as put the lease up. It would be worth it for Mai. And the house was too big for just two people. There was always room for more.

Sho likes Mai and she absolutely dotes on him. It would be a shame to not have them together. They deserve to be each other siblings despite that I'm such a crazy mother...

Sayuri leans on the door knob, watching the younger girl sleep before closing the door quietly. It puzzled her how maternal she was becoming. It was still a process she just couldn't quite keep up with but she was learning as she went. Becoming a mother was not on her former list of things she wanted to do with her future.

There were absolutely no regrets to taking Sho in.

He was her baby now.

Sayuri walks back to the waiting room to see Ritsuke having a conversation with Lin off to the side. As she approaches them, both men stop talking to stare at her.

"What's going on? Is everything okay?"

"Everything is alright," Ritsuke looks at her, "we're getting the area around your house cleaned up. Don't worry about anything, okay Sayuri?"

"But," She frowns, "when will Sho and I be allowed back home?"

Both Ritsuke and Lin share a look together.

"What? What did you two do?"

"We thought it be wise if you and Sho stay away from the house for a while," Ritsuke flinches at Sayuri's look, "don't get mad. I'm only advising it since a man wielding a gun broke unto your property and hurt Mai. It would be wise until Noriko decides to back down."

"Until we know you and Sho are safe," Lin cross his arms in front of him.

"But how would you know until-"

"Until the investigation is over and that I say that you can come back," Ritsuke sighs, "I'm going to make sure the house is secure and thinking about getting a friend of mine to come down and put up a security system."

"Ritsuke, you just can't-"

"Sayuri, your uncle shot Mai. I won't want to see what else Noriko has up her sleeve."

"Listen to him," Lin places a hand on Sayuri's shoulder.

"I'm not trying to decide for you. I'm looking out for you, for you and Sho. All of could think about was that gun pointed at you and everyone else," Ritsuke frowns.

"I know," Sayuri sighs, "you know how I get when someone else makes a decision for me."

"It's only for your own safety and Sho's," Ritsuke offers his hand, "you know that would be the only reason for not asking for your approval."

"I know," Sayuri takes Ritsuke's hand before hugging the detective, "I love you, aniki."

Ritsuke squeezes Sayuri, "love you too, imooto."

Lin stayed back as the two shared a sibling moment. He knew Ritsuke only thought of Sayuri as a sibling but he couldn't help but feel territorial over the brunette. Sayuri pulls back, placing a kiss on Ritsuke's cheek.

"I'll have to tell Sho what's going on."

"I already did," Ritsuke sighs, "he took it well but he's still upset about Mai. Tsubaki called John and Masako to come bring him down so he can see Mai."

"Alright," Sayuri runs her hands through her hair, frustrated, "just where do you suppose we stay until then?"

Ritsuke opens his mouth but pauses. The detective closes his mouth, nodding his head over to Lin. Sayuri turns to see Lin clear his throat, "I told the detective that you and Sho can stay at my place. It's big enough for two other people so you won't be over crowding."

"Thank you," Sayuri's face warms.

Sho arrived with John and Masako in tow. The little boy immediately is escorted to Mai's room where he throws himself at her, crying. Mai comforts Sho, stating that it wasn't his fault. Sayuri felt relieved that Sho was more upset over Mai getting hurt rather then what happened with his father.

He's not a real father to him. Sho deserves to a have a great guy for a daddy...

Sayuri blushes, wondering if she would have a guy in her life to be good enough for her and for Sho.

After all, he was part of her life.

Sayuri looks at Lin from the corner of her eyes as Lin explains the situation to Sho about where he was going to be staying for a few days. The little boy didn't seemed to mind as he smiles, nods. Lin would take them back to the house so they could grabbed what they needed. Sayuri felt chills down her spine as she walks back into her house. Ritsuke had the back sliding door boarded up until it could be fixed.

Sho immediately goes up to his room to start packing as Sayuri takes a few moments to look around her home.

Lin watches her as the young woman just stares, hugging herself.

"It just for a while, Sayuri," Lin approaches her.

"I know that," she lets out a ragged breath, "just so much in so many days..."

"It has exhausted you and Sho," Lin touches her cheek, "none of this should have happen to either of you."

"At least it be a nice break," Grey eyes met black, "are you sure you're absolutely certain you want me and a eight year old boy running around your apartment?"

"If I did mind, I wouldn't have asked," Lin narrows his eyes.

"Sorry," she steps back, "do you even like kids? I mean Sho is a good boy but he's still a kid and I wouldn't want you to-"

"Stop worrying so damn much," Lin breathes, tugging her back close to him.

"Sayuri?" Sho's voice trails from upstairs.

She pulls away from Lin to the staircase, heading up so she could help Sho pack. She packs too, quickly as she could. She needed a break from the house. Though what was she going to do while with Lin besides do cases and be with Sho? Her laptop was destroy. Sayuri sighs, grabbing a couple of her notebooks and pens to put into her suitcase.

If she was going to write, damn it, she do it the old fashion way.

The trip to the apartment wasn't far. In fact, the trip there looked very familiar...

"Why are we heading back to the office?" Sayuri asks.

"My apartment is upstairs just above the office."

Sayuri is surprised. She always wondered what was just above the office. She never realized that it would be where Lin was living at. It did explained why he was always there with Naru. She would thought that the man had to make a commute to the SPR office.

The moment they were escorted upstairs and through the door, Sayuri is even more surprised. Just how much was Naru paying Lin? It was a very spacious apartment, which was an luxury in Japan. Sayuri felt envy, recalling how tiny and cramp her old apartment used to be.

Sho had already taken off his shoes as Lin shows him around.

Sayuri lets out a sigh.

This was going to be one interesting living arrangement.

Sayuri found herself running from her home, towards the woods as her uncle's angry voice grows louder. Her chest heaves, as Sayuri stumbles into the brush, tripping.

"Come back here! I want my son!"

If only she could get away from him, have him follow her, then Sho would be safe.

Wait, where was Sho?

He was back at the house?

No, he was with Mai.

He was...

But why was she running away? Scared? Sayuri trips and stumbles until she gets to the old path. The old path that lead up to the main house. The wind whispers around, with voices from the past asking for her to turn back. But she had to get him away from the house.

Sayuri keeps running, running until the path starts to show more. Tall weeds grow around what appeared to be a old fence. It had falling apart in a few places but it still had withheld time. Tall weeds grown around the old gate. It was large with an old rotten board across it.

A low growl now replaces Ren's angry voice.

Her hands reach out, pulling the board away from the gate. An angry hot wind is chasing her as Sayuri slips through the gate, slamming the door. She leans on it, grabbing an old wooden board from the other side and sliding it in.

Sayuri turns around to see a large compound straight from Feudal Japan though it was creepy, rotten, and very empty. This was her old family home, abandon for over a hundred years but why? It was beautiful despite it's rotten appearance.

A large pagoda stands in the center of the compound.

Sayuri approaches it as a fainting, haunting voice calls to her.

"Sayuri! No!" Sayuri turns to the sound of Kyo's voice. She lets out a gasp, taking in the state that her ghost was in. Kyo struggles, as if he was coming from the gate. Blood was seeping through his shirt as he could barely walk.

"K-kyo?" Sayuri rushes to him, grabbing a hold of him, "Grandfather...hang on Kyo...hang on..."

"Run..." Kyo whispers, "run away...they...they will get you too..."

"Wh...what will get me?"

"It shouldn't have happen," Kyo wheezes as blood continues to seep through the gaping wound in his side, "I...I should have protected them all..."

"Kyo...what...what happened?" Sayuri watches as Kyo's body goes limp. She lays him down before standing up. A large pounding is heard from the gates as storm clouds approached the compound at rapid speed. The gate doors were now being forced by something large and dark.

"Sa...Sayuri...Sa...yuri..." A whispering voice is heard as the gate's swing open with nothing but a black smoky mass pouring in. She trips, trying to reach the pagoda as the mass takes to morph into shape. But it was the same red eyes she recalled from before. Before she had believed in spirits.

"Kill...kill...kill her!" An scratchy sounding voice screams as the shadow mass takes the form of her uncle pointing the gun at her.

A gunshot is heard.

Sayuri struggles to get out of her sleep. The young woman sits up, gasping for air, clutching her chest. Sweat formed all over her body. Obviously shaken, Sayuri takes a few deep breathes to calm her nerves.

Was it a vision or a nightmare?

Her eyes adjust to her surroundings. She wasn't at home. Why wasn't she at-That's when she remember that she was at Lin's apartment.

"Just...just a nightmare," Sayuri shivers, "Sho and I are staying at Lin's apartment...because...of our safety...damn it, my own house isn't safe anymore..."

Sayuri paws through the dark before turning on the bedside lamp. Just whose bed was she sleeping in and just how many rooms did Lin have? And where the hell was Naru and Tsubaki staying in? The large queen size bed made Sayuri nervous. She wasn't used to this much space. The room she was in was twice the size as her bedroom back at the Nadeshiko Manor.

Sayuri swings her legs over the side of the bed, taking a moment before standing up slowly. Her legs were shaken, with her trying to reach the sweater jacket she left by the bed. The air felt cold in her room. Wrapping the jacket around her shivering frame, Sayuri slowly makes her way to the door before opening it.

She was met with darkness as she walks toward the living room. Her fingers tremble over the black material in the dark before sinking down to sit for a moment.

Sayuri curls up with her knees to her chest, trying to think of anything but her nightmare.

"Why are you up at this hour?"

"AH!" Sayuri jumps, falling off the couch from the sound of Lin's voice. It turned out the man was working from his corner of the living room and she didn't notice he was there. Sayuri struggles to get up in the dark, bumping her knee on the coffee table, groaning before finding the couch again.

"Don't scare me like that," Sayuri glares at him as Lin turns on a light.

Dark eyes look at the woman now getting up off the floor, with her hair a mess and eyes glaring at him.

"Why are you up?" Sayuri asks.

"Insomnia," Lin answers her simply, "it's the price I pay for working so hard."

"Oh," Sayuri rubs her arm, "uh I didn't know you were out here. If I did, I would have just stayed in my room."

"Why are you up?" Lin walks around the couch, staring at her.

"I had...a nightmare," Sayuri waves her hair, "it was just...result of stress."

The Chinese man finally comes around the couch, sitting in front of her. He pulls her close, touching his forehead to hers. Sayuri closes her eyes for a few seconds before he pulls away. "Nothing?"

"Nothing," Lin sighs, "it was just a nightmare."

"Oh good," Sayuri laughs awkwardly.

Lin then turns, heading back to the his spot and sipping his cup of tea as he went back to typing away on his laptop. Sayuri sweatdrops, chewing on her cheek with a hand on her hip.

Some comfort.

Sayuri looks at him again, making Lin stop typing.

"Now what?" He sighs.

"I don't get it."

His dark eyebrow rises, "Get what?"

"You. Me...the kiss...still don't get it," the brunette makes herself comfortable on the couch.

Lin was quiet for a moment before releasing a deep sigh. He saved his documents and closes his laptop, turning to face her. Sayuri squeaks when he places his hands on her face, forcing her fair eyes to stare into his midnight ones.

"I...I'm just voicing what I've been trying to avoid...it's just...you..." Sayuri chews on her lip to stop talking.

He leans in, tugging her forward until their lips meet in a sweet kiss. Immediately her lips mold against his, but right before she was about to kiss him firmer, Lin withdraws.

"I think it's rather obvious... despite the fact my heritage means a lot to me and I cannot forgive what the Japanese did to my people, I do care for my friends. And you." Lin sighs, "I'm not sure how or even when it happened, but... I grew fairly attached to you, Sayuri. I'd like to keep seeing you."

Her face felt warmed under his hands.

"Me? But I thought I got on your nerves?"

"Sometimes... but you went from annoying to annoyingly adorable."

"Adorable?" Sayuri pulls out of his hands, staring at him. It wasn't like her to deny that she wanted to keep seeing him but it bothered her that he actually wanted to. She shakes her head, trying to make sense of it.

Lin frowns, turning away. "I'm sorry... seems I'm mistaken."

"No...no!" Sayuri holds up her hands, "I want to keep seeing you too...you...just threw me for a loop, Lin. I'm just...trying to make sense of it all."

"I am attracted to you and care for you. You care for me as well, it seems. What's not to comprehend?"

"I'm Japanese?" Sayuri looks at him.

"I'm willing to put my feelings aside..."

"For me?" Sayuri points to herself, feeling shy now. It wasn't like her to be shy in front of man. Only Lin managed to make her feel that way right now. Her heart skips a couple of beats excitedly at this.

Lin nods silently, before turning away.

"I've never cared for any other person of Japanese decent like I have Naru."

Sayuri smiles at this. All thoughts about the recent nightmare vanished as she leans back into the couch. She had a guy. Not just any guy but a guy who thought she was something special. It made her giggle, with a wide grin on her face.

"You need to go back to sleep." Lin says, patting her hand gently. "Go sleep with Sho. Kyo's watching over him. He should keep the nightmares at bay."

"Okay," Sayuri gets up, ready to head towards Sho's room. She pauses, stops before turning around and heading back to Lin. She taps him on the shoulder, causing him to look up as Sayuri leans down to plant a kiss on his lips.

Lin feels heat trickle across his cheeks, kissing back briefly before Sayuri turns and leaves the room, an extra spring in her step.

The moment she closes the door to Sho's bedroom, she giggles silently. Sho was currently curled up in his sheets, tossing and turning. Sayuri walks over, getting into the bed and touching her cousin's shoulder, "wake up sweetie..."

"Sayuri," Sho's lower lip trembles the moment his eyes open and he sees Sayuri looking down at him. The eight year old boy couldn't sleep. No matter what, all he kept worrying about was how he let her down.

"It's okay baby," Sayuri wraps her arms around the boy.

"I'm...I'm sorry."

"Sorry about what?"

"I can't do it," Sho sniffles as he cries, "I tried to be the man of the house but...I was scared."

"Shh..." Sayuri props herself up with Sho in her lap, wrapping the blanket around him, "it's okay to be scared. I was scared too."

"But..." Sho cuddles against her, "I was supposed to protect you and Mai."

"No, I'm supposed to protect you," Sayuri taps her finger against his nose, "Mai knows it wasn't your fault your...Ren was..."

"Is he gone?" Sho whimpers, "is he going to try and hurt us again?"

Sayuri felt her mouth go dry, "no, Sho. He won't be coming back, ever."

"Good," Sho yawns, "I'm feeling sleepy now. Will you stay with me?"

"I was planning on it baby," Sayuri plants a kiss on his forehead before laying him down on the bed, wrapping up with an extra blanket for warmth before snuggling down to get comfortable herself. Sayuri opens her eyes once, jolting but realizing it was just Kyo standing there.

The samurai gives a faint smile before fading into the shadows.

Sayuri's eyes close, settling into comforting dreams.