JADE: HEY ALL!!! So I have some rather interesting news…And don't kill me, kay?
MAI: Uh-oh, this doesn't sound good…
JADE: Well, see, my hubby just got offered a temp job which means we may be moving…rather quickly…which also means I don't know how fast I will be able to update once we figure out what's up…hehe…
MAI: *slaps forhead* Jade! I thought you were all gung-ho about finishing this?!
JADE: *waves arms frantically while nodding* YES, YES, I AM! I will be able to work on this for the next few days at least, but basically, as soon as we know if we are moving, I might be temporarily restricted on updates…*starts crying*
MAI: OH! Don't cry Jade! It's okay! *rubbing back gently* I'm sure everyone understands!
JADE: *sniff* B-but I promised to update more and now I have to go b-back on it and I don't want to move and-
MAI: WHOA! Slow down girl! Breath, just breath and relax…
JADE: *slows down until merely sniffling* T-thanks Mai! I knew you were my first favorite for a reason! *hugs brunette and smiles* Oh Naru!
NARU: *pops up beside Jade, who oddly doesn't freak out this time* Again? Can't you get someone else to do this? I'm bored with it.
JADE: *glares* NO! You ARE my second favorite character, and everyone loves you-
NARU: Naturally. I am very good-looking and smart, after all. However, SECOND favorite? That's insulting! *glares*
JADE: O.O *tears start forming*
MAI: Y-You narcissistic idiot! Let her finish!
JADE: *whiny voice* It is not insulting to be second! And for your information, my first favorite happens to be yours too! *sticks out tongue*
NARU: Pft, I don't have any favorites.
JADE: *smirks evilly* Are you sure? It's not a certain brunette we both know who happened to win your favor rather quickly the first time you met her?
NARU: *blushes and ignores author* Jade wants to thank the following people for reviewing: BloddyXandra, yourcrazyordinary, darkwriter14, Emrald96, dutchangel1979, Liris, sushilover19, Flamegirl5500, and xCallie'sCharmedx! And also thanks to everyone who made this story and Jade part of your favorites!
JADE: You all keep me going and I really appreciate it! ^.^
"Wait, so this thing is after Mai? And it has Mai's parents' spirits? And according to your dreams, this thing has not only attacked you before, but it was the possible cause of your parents' deaths?" Ayako's voice rang out in shock and anger. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, and judging by everyone else's reactions, she wasn't the only one to be caught off guard.
"Wow Mai, I don't really know what to say." Monk's voice cut through the tension a little as he walked over to his pseudo younger sister and enveloped her in a hug. The brunette, who usually would struggle, found herself hugging him back lightly, burying her face in his shirt. She tried to control the overflowing emotions coursing through her as everyone else learned about the situation.
"Mai, I'm so sorry," John said as he laid a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Don't worry though. We will do everything we can to help, right guys?" Whispered agreement was heard by Mai as she let go of Monk and stepped back. A small smile graced her face as she looked around the room at everyone. She felt like crying and smiling all at once.
"Thank you, guys. I can't tell you how much this means to me," she said, looking at her hands. "I know that this is getting scary fast, and I know how much danger you all could be in. So I-I just want to let you know how happy I am to have such great friends like you." Her voice was quiet, but everyone heard.
"Come on, Mai! We'd never leave anyone hanging! You know that!" Monk said as he lightly slapped her on the back. She nodded and looked up, tears glistening in her eyes.
"I know, but I feel like I should still thank you," she replied. Monk was about to say more, but a certain narcissist's voice broke up the situation.
"We should try to figure out what this thing is and why it attacked your family. I have called Yasuhara and Madoka to look into the records of this house. Mai," Naru's voice was back to the usual all-business tone, and Mai was thankful for it. She didn't want to get all sentimental right now, not when she was busy worrying about the situation and everyone else.
"Yes, Naru?" she asked, wiping at the tears in her eyes. His face wavered momentarily at the sight, but before anyone could notice, he put his calm face back on.
"I want you to stay with me at all times. That means anywhere you go, I go, and vice versa. Do you understand what I am saying?" The last part he bit out, and with good reason. Mai has ignored orders like this before, and he wanted to make it clear that she was not to do it again. The brunette's eyes widened slightly and she nodded.
He must've remembered earlier, back when the demon thing attacked in the room, she thought, remembering herself how she had tried to get away from him and the determined look she had given him. She sighed, resigning herself to her fate, for now anyway.
"I understand," she complied.
"Good. Ms. Hara?"
"What is it, Naru?" The medium stepped forward toward him, covering her mouth with her sleeve. Mai glanced curiously at her, wondering if that was a look of jealousy she was trying to conceal.
"I'd like you and Monk to tour the house. Try to feel for anything, but especially that dark entity. And Monk, if you do come across it, I want you to try to exorcise it."
"But Naru, is that really okay? What if I end up accidentally exercising Mai's parents? You said they were with him, so how do we know I won't do that?" Monk's voice laced concern. Naru glanced at Mai and then Lin, and both nodded at him.
"We've already discussed the possibility and-"
"And I've already decided that I'd rather my parents be exorcised than trapped here with that thing," Mai finished. Everyone except for Lin and Naru, gasped, surprised at her resolve. Naru did, however, resist the urge to smirk at his young assistant, who suddenly seemed much older than she was.
"Mai, are you sure?" Monk asked. The young woman nodded.
"Besides, just because the entity has trapped them doesn't mean that they are with it all the time. For all we know, this thing has trapped them somewhere else, and simply allows them to appear when it sees fit," Lin finished.
"Well if that's the case, then how can we save them? Is exorcising it really going to be enough?" Ayako chimed in. Once again Naru was the one to answer.
"It most likely will be, although we are taking the risk that we will not be able to release them by simply exorcising it. And there's also the possibility that we won't be able to find where their spirits are trapped without the entity's help," he finished.
"I don't think I like this, Naru. Shouldn't we be trying to trap this entity first then? So we can gain the location of her parents' spirits first and try to rescue them?" Now John was speaking up.
"It's okay, everyone." Mai looked them all in the eye, resolve and determination on her face. "Either way, my parents are dead already, and though I don't like the idea of leaving them in some kind of limbo, I like the idea of endangering any living people, including all of you, even less. So Monk," she turned to her older brother figure, "promise me that you will do what is necessary, despite what you may think about all this."
Monk stared in awe at the suddenly confident woman in front of him. She is so much more mature than she lets on. I guess I have no choice, he thought.
"I promise, Mai." The brunette smiled at him warmly.
"Thank you," she said. Monk smiled back and turned to Masako.
"Shall we?" he asked, motioning towards the door. The raven haired girl nodded and headed out, the tall, sandy haired man trailing after.
"Right. Ms. Matsuzaki, I need you to draw up some protective charms. Then you and John will place them around the base. Until that is done, John, I'd like for you to begin preparing yourself for an exorcism, as a precaution." The red head and blonde nodded and got up to leave. Mai turned to her boss.
"What about me?" she asked. Naru looked up from his black notebook and smirked, making Mai cringe. She had a feeling she wasn't going to like this.
"You will recount everything that has happened on this," he gestured towards a second laptop located next to him. "As well as your dreams, and the conversations we had with Gene. Then I want you to lie down on the couch and try to get some sleep. You look beyond exhausted," he finished, turning back to his notes. Mai frowned at his last remark.
"Well excuse me for having nightmares every time I close my eyes!" she huffed to herself as she sat at the computer. She missed Naru's smirk.
Houshou Takigawa lead the young medium through the first floor slowly, peering at anything and everything he thought he saw out of the corner of his eyes. He felt rather on edge, which wasn't like him.
Why do I feel so jumpy? It's just another vengeful ghost, right? Or whatever, so why am I so worried? He thought, attempting to calm himself. In the end he knew the answer though, and the image of his pseudo sister came to mind.
"Takigawa, do you sense anything?" Masako's voice broke through his chaotic thoughts. He shook his head and sighed, almost as if in defeat.
"No. In fact, things seem normal to me. It's as if nothing is really here, Masako," he answered, uneasy about the situation.
"It's the same for me, I'm afraid. I can sense something, but it's so faint that I can't tell if it's good or bad. It's almost as if a film has been put over me and I can't reach whatever is here." Her voice, though calm, held a hint of panic, enough so that Monk caught on. He slowed until they were in step.
"Don't worry, Masako. We'll figure it out," he smiled brightly in reassurance, but the raven haired medium frowned.
"I'm not sure we will," she responded, brows furrowing. Masako felt a wave of uneasiness engulf her, followed by panic and yearning. She fell to her knees and began breathing deeply. Monk dropped down next to her to stead her shaking form.
"What's wrong?" he asked. She stared wildly at him.
"I-it's here, Takigawa! I feel it, upstairs, second floor. It's the first room on the right!" She answered in fear, making Monk frown. He nodded and helped her stand.
"Can you walk? We need to go there, and I need you to try to stand," he said. She nodded shakily and climbed to her feet, a feeling of dizziness taking over. Monk caught her as she slumped down again, and picking her up bridal style, decided to take her to base first.
He sprinted back through the dining room and kitchen, to the living area and up the stairs, then down the hall and toward the base. When he passed the room she mentioned earlier, he felt a wave of anger and maliciousness hit him. Ignoring his instinct to fight, he proceeded down the hall and threw the door open to base. He rushed to the couch, placing Masako down gently.
"What is it, Monk? Is she okay? Did she get attacked?" Ayako asked, immediately at her side, checking her vitals.
"N-no, it's not that," the medium's voice came out a whisper. She opened her eyes. "I-it's a spirit, trying to get through, but it's being blocked with that barrier I felt earlier," she finished. She closed her eyes, and as she did so, Masako felt her body relax and her mind go blank, and she was unconscious.
Ayako looked her over again, and sighed. "I don't know what's wrong, but it appears she's passed out."
"What? That's usually what happens to me…" Mai's voice held puzzlement as she whispered the sentence to herself. Unbeknownst to her Naru had heard her and he too was worried. However, before anything else could be said, John rushed in, clothed in his priest outfit, a look of panic on his face.
"Everyone, come quickly! The hallway!" he yelled before exiting again. Without a word Mai sprinted from the computer after him, causing everyone else to follow, except for Masako, who was still knocked out on the couch, and Lin, whose job it always was to hold down the fort.
The Chinese man glanced to the monitors and he gasped. The lights were flickering on and off, and he heard rapping sounds through the speakers, along with some quiet moaning. He silently hoped, while looked at the monitors, that no one would get hurt, though he had a feeling things were about to get worse for the team…