Disclaimer: All characters in Ghost Hunt are the creation of the Goddess Ono Fuyumi-sama.
Mai fidgeted nervously.
"Mai, what's wrong?" Naru asked.
"It's just...well, I'm a little embarrassed," Mai admitted.
"What for?" Naru asked again.
"When I go into a trance," Mai explained, "I basically pass out and my body goes limp. It's too embarrassing."
"Mai," Naru exhaled in irritation, "we've seen you do more embarrassing things than pass out."
"You narcissistic, unfeeling jerk!" Mai said angrily. "You're so inconsiderate!"
Naru shrugged, his face expressionless.
Just as Mai was about to rant about the injustice of being stuck with someone like Naru, she felt Lin grab her hand and intertwine their fingers. She turned to look at him. His expression was calm and it soothed her anger. Lin squeezed her hand slightly as if to say, "It's alright."
"Thank you, Lin-san," Mai said gratefully.
He nodded to her before tugging her hand to lead her over to the wall. Letting go of her hand, he removed his suit jacket, then sat cross-legged on the floor, his back to the wall. He bundled his jacket into a ball and placed it in his lap, then looked up at Mai expectantly.
Understanding that he wanted her to lie down, she complied, placing her head onto the makeshift pillow. She adjusted her body until she felt comfortable, then looked up to Lin. He brushed the hair from her face, giving her that lopsided smile again.
"Lin-san," Mai whispered, "I still don't know what that one means."
"You'll have to figure it out on your own, Taniyama-san," Lin whispered back.
Sighing, Mai resigned herself to not knowing for the moment. She needed to focus on helping the woman's spirit.
"Here's the hitogata of the woman's fiancé," Lin said as he pulled it from his pocket.
Mai nodded as she took the doll from him.
"Remember," Lin continued, "she's too bogged down in negative emotions for just the hitogata to work. You need to give her thoughts that imbue light."
Even though Mai nodded in understanding, she couldn't help but grow nervous. Her hands fidgeted in anxiety.
"Taniyama-san," Lin said as he placed his hands over hers, "just remember what Gene taught you."
"Turn into light," Mai stated.
"Right," Lin nodded, slowly tracing circles on the back of her hands with his thumbs. "And light is a warm, gentle feeling."
'Like this,' Mai thought, knowing what he had left unsaid.
Mai felt herself grow lighter in his embrace as her mind calmed.
"Now focus your energy and slowly release it," Lin instructed.
Mai nodded to Lin as she closed her eyes.