A/N: For those of you who have read the chapter before I re-updated I apologize for the mess copy and paste is not a good method for me to upload. Second there may be things discussed in this chapter that could be triggering to some readers like bullying and suicide. Reader discretion is advised.
Mai's POV:
We made it back to base and Naru set his tray down on the table and made his way next to Lin. It made me irritated because the lease her could so was take his and Lin's cup, but no he is too high and mighty to do something so simple. I gave everyone their cup and when I got to Naru I slammed his down, but careful to where I didn't spill anything. Acting innocent I made my way to the sofa and sat myself next to Monk and John.
"Yasu have you found anything out yet," Naru asked after taking a couple sips of his precious tea. "Actually I have a few things shall I explain Big Boss," Yasu grinned towards Naru. Said boss glared at him as if saying 'did you have to ask such a stupid question', only to get and even bigger grin from Yasu.
"Alright then here we go. 70 years ago the Yuki family first occupied the house with two kids a 7 year old boy and their daughter Rei who was 12. She had hazel eyes, short brown hair, and a fair skin tone," I was expecting Naru to question why the physical description was important but he seemed to focus on every detail.
Yasu continued with the history taking a pause for the very same reason. "She was a middle school student in her second year and she was a victim of bullying. It got worse each day until two months after it started she ended up committing suicide. She hung herself in the forest behind the house, she was found 4 days later after doing so".
"There were three girls who were involved in the incident. The first girl Keiko Hina who was 11, with short black hair, fair skin tone, and blue eyes. She ended up in a car accident that killed her instantly. Their car was the only one involved and the cause was unknown".
"The second girl Mina Akai, was 12 with mid-back length brown hair, wore white ribbons, chocolate brown eyes, and a light skin tone. She suddenly went missing in the middle of the night, they found her 4 days later".
"She was found dead in the forest the same way Rei was found. Investigators found a note in her dress pocket saying 'This is what you get'. This case went on for a year till they stopped searching for the culprit. There was no sufficient evidence to help no DNA, no anything".
"The last girl Kyou Nishina was 11 with shoulder length blonde hair, she had a flower pin on the left side, had green eyes, and was tan. She also ended up in a single car accident. Her arm was broken and she had a few scrapes and bruises.
"The Yuki family moved out after 10 years, 60 years ago the Fujioka family moved in with their 11 year old twins a boy and a girl, and their newborn girl. The twin girl was named Senae, she had shoulder length brown hair, green eyes, and a fair skin tone".
"She went to go get water downstairs one night and was violently pushed down breaking her leg. The other twin found her when she screamed and went to wake up the parents. When her leg was healed she was almost drowned in the bathtub. The mom walked in and found her before it was too late. They left and the house was abandoned for 20 years".
"40 years ago the Otanashi family occupied the house with their 6 year old girl, 7 year old boy, and 12 year old girl named Yuri, she had black short hair with a flower clip, blue eyes, and a fair skin tone. She and a guy friend went in the forest to climb trees a month after the family moved in. The branch she climbed on to was claimed to be thick and sturdy. I suddenly broke and she fell breaking her arm, the friend was unharmed, he had ben on the branch above her".
"A month later she began to act strange and started disappearing in the middle of the night and even during school. She also became very aggressive and anti-social with her peers and friends. The house was left abandoned until the current owners came".
I sat there trying to soak in everything that Yasu said. As I did that a few questions were popping up in my head. If the ghost is potentially dangerous what will we do? Did I talk to Rei earlier in the forest? Also, who did I talk to back in the kitchen? There were several other questions as well but these seemed more important. I glanced over at Naru and he seemed deep in thought over this. He is doing what he does best, analyzing every single detail.
"So what do we do now Naru," I said breaking the unbearable silence. "Ms. Hara I want you to go with Ms. Matsuzaki and walk the whole house. I also want you to go walk out to the forest where Monk put the camera. Monk and John there are a few locations here I want you guys to place microphones I'll let you know where in a minute. Yasu see if you can find out anything more about the girl who committed suicide, the girls who bullied her, and the previous residents," everyone nodded their heads as they received their orders. "And what about me Naru," I asked pointing to myself. "Try not to fall asleep Mai," he said in a very monotoned voice.
I groaned to myself and everyone left to complete their respective assignments while I was left with nothing to do yet again. Lin and Naru were guiding Monk and John as they started setting up the microphones. I hated having to sit around and do nothing it always made me sleepy.
I was back in my astral plane but there was no Gene here this time. Maybe I didn't need him right to guide me through this dream. I looked down and I was wearing a school uniform. This must be a memory of one of the girl's who died. Suddenly the scenery changed and I was in the hallways of a middle school.
I walked into my classroom and greeted everyone who had already arrived. I noticed a group of three girls in the back and made my way over to them. "Good morning Keiko, Mina, Kyou," I greeted them. "Good morning, hey we were just talking having a sleepover at Keiko's house after school today," Mina told me. "Yeah that would be great I can stop at my house to get my things and meet you guys there," I said sounding excited. These girls had been my friends since the beginning of the year and this was the first sleepover I had ever been to.
Another scene change and I was in a bedroom that I assumed to be Keiko's. "Okay now you Rei, truth or dare," Kyou said turning towards me. "Ummmm I'll pick truth," I said trying to avoid a dare. All three girls looked at each other and then back at me. "Okay so who is the guy you have the biggest crush right now in our grade and what you say if you were to confess your feelings to him," Mina asked me. I spoke the name of my crush and while I was 'confessing' to him I was oblivious to everything else around me. the thing I was completely unaware of was that the entire time that I had spoke I was also being recorded.
The recording got sent around to the entire school and soon everyone knew who I had a crush on. From then on everyone was whispering about me and giving me weird looks in the hallway. Eventually the video got back to me and I was completely humiliated. I went to the girls to ask them why they would do such a thing.
"Why, why would you guys do this, that was something private," I said tears coming from my eyes. "Why not I thought it was funny," Keiko answered. "But I thought I was your friend, that's not what friends do to each other," I said confused. "Please you friends with us, you were only a toy to us something we played with until we got bored. Now we are bored and have no use for you," she replied and they all turned and walked away from me.
Naru's POV:
I was directing John and Monk on where to place the microphones when I noticed I hadn't heard Mai in a little while. "Mai go make me some tea," I said still keeping my attention on the monitors. Instead of her usual complaining all I heard was silence. "Mai tea," I said once more. When she didn't answer me again I got irritated and decided to turn around. I walked over to the couch and noticed that she ended up falling asleep.
Of course leave it to her to fall asleep in the middle of her work. She better be having one of those dreams and not just slacking off. Just as I was about to walk away I noticed that tears were beginning to form in my eyes and she began to whimper. I leaned over and grabbed her by the shoulders in order to try and wake her up. "Mai you need to wake up now," I said to her. Suddenly her eyes flew open and she sat up quickly causing her to bump heads with me.
"Oww geez that really hurt," she said rubbing her forehead. "Well next time don't try and sit up so fast you dummy," I told her. "Oh Naru I'm sorry are you okay did it hurt," she said once she realized who she collided with. "It's fine, but what about you did you have a dream," I asked her. "I guess I did it's been so long since I last had one. But Rei the girl who was bullied I think she is the one behind everything. I felt everything she went through in that dream. I could feel the betrayal and hurt of what those girls did to. They were never really her friends they just used her," She told me and began crying even more. I grabbed a tissue from the table and handed it to her. She took it from me and wiped her eyes. "I see well Mai it seems that you may have been some use after all. For now go and make me some more tea," I said and made my way back over to the monitors.
"Yes of course you royal tea-loving jerk," she yelled and stomped out of the room to the kitchen. If Mai is already having dreams this early on in the case then we are going to have our work cut out for us. I had everyone return back to base so we could discuss our plan for proceeding with the investigation.
Mai's POV:
It was nighttime and the first day of the investigation was finally going to begin. "Before we begin there are a few things I want to mention. Based on the information Yasu was able to uncover Mai and Ms. Hara under no circumstances are you two to be alone for the duration of this case. You two will most likely become victims of the spirit or spirits here based on your age and appearance. Therefore, Ms. Hara you will either be accompanied by Monk or Ms. Matsuzaki and Mai you will be accompanied by myself or John, have I made myself clear," Naru told us. We all nodded our heads in agreement knowing we had no room to object.
"Naru if I may I would like to begin this investigation with the backyard. I felt a lot of spirits in that area especially moving in towards the forest," Masako commented. "You may both Monk and Ms. Matsuzaki will accompany you, under no circumstance are you to go beyond the fence. We don't understand the full capabilities of the spirits involved and I would rather not take the risk to find out," Naru said. The three people walked out of the room while the rest of us looked to the monitors to see if we could pick up any changes.
We soon saw them appear on the camera that was placed in the backyard. I could see Masako focusing trying to see if there was any spirit she could specifically pick up on. "You will pay you will all pay," I quickly turned around as I heard the voice from right behind me. "Mai are you alright," John asked noticing my behavior. "Yeah I think I'm just hearing things," I said and returned my attention to my previous task. "Mai tea," Naru spoke.
"Yeah yeah whatever, John do you mind tagging along," I said as I was making my way to the door. "Sure," he said and followed me. I placed the kettle to boil on the stove when I felt a chill go down my spine. "Hey John is it me or did it suddenly get colder in here," I said as I hugged myself for warmth. "Now that you mention it it does seem cooler," he said looking around for the source of the temperature decrease. "I'm almost done and then we can get out of here," I replied as I got the cups ready. "You will pay you will all pay," I heard the voice again. I looked over at John and he looked me signaling that he heard the voice too. "What do you mean who will pay," I asked.
"Everyone here will pay. Everyone who thinks they are above others, those who seek to torture others for their pure enjoyment. I will not allow them to play their sick games any longer," the voice spoke angrily and I could hear the hatred. "Rei if that's you please listen, everything is okay now you can be at ease no one can hurt you ever again," I spoke. "No I must get revenge and punish all those horrible people," the voice said even louder.
All of a sudden the room started shaking and knocking sound could be heard through the entire kitchen. I saw John reach into his pocket and grabbed a vial filled with his holy water. He splashed some right in front of us and began his prayer. Meanwhile I still tried to reason with the voice who I believed was Rei. "You can't go out getting revenge on people that's wrong," I yelled. As I spoke I could hear glass shattering and I looked behind me to see the cups hard broken. Did I do that or did the spirit respond to me raising my voice. "You of all people should understand how I feel. You have suffered just like I did," the voice said.
I couldn't understand what she meant, what did she mean I have suffered just like her. "I'm not sure what you mean but I would never go around getting revenge on people who have wronged me. You don't do that you find it in your heart to forgive them somehow and move on," I explained."If you do not agree with me then you will be punished just like they are," next thing I knew I felt a sharp pain on the back of my leg dropping me to the floor. "Mai are you alright," John asked kneeling down next to me. "Its my leg," I said and when I lifted up my hand I saw blood and a huge gash going down my calf.
Next thing I know Monk runs into the room chanting his mantra and all the activity in the kitchen ceased. "Mai you're bleeding here let me see," Monk said running over towards me. "Let's get you back to base and have Ayako take a look at it," he said and picked me up bridal style. When we arrived to bade everyone grew wide eyed once they noticed all the blood. "Mai next time you decide to communicate with a spirit could you please try not to get hurt," Ayako said as she went to grab the first aid kit. Monk placed me on the couch with me laying on my stomach so Ayako can tend to my wound.
"It's not like I was trying to get hurt, but the voice it was definitely Rei it was the same voice I heard in the forest earlier," I said as Ayako started to clean up the blood. "What do you mean it was the same voice," Naru asked me. Oh man I completely forgot to mention to him that I heard a voice in the forest he is so mad at me.
"It was when I woke up from my nap. I was looking at the front of the house and felt something pulling me towards the backyard. Once I got there the feeling got even stronger and was pulling me towards the forest. As I walked over there I was getting the feeling of betrayal. When I got to the middle of the forest the wind started to pick up and then I heard a voice that seemed like it was coming out of the air. That's when it spoke to me and not long after that Monk found me when he was setting up a camera," I explained my story to everyone.
"It seems that the spirits are having a strong attachment to you Mai," Naru spoke after listening to me. "But why me," I groaned. "Whatever the reason is we definitely cannot allow you to be by yourself at all. These spirits are drawn to you for some reason and who knows what they can do to you next," Naru said. "The wound isn't too deep where you need to go to the hospital but I am going to have to stitch this up," Ayako told me once she cleaned all the blood. Great and the injury streak lives on, no wonder Naru thinks I am a danger magnet.
As Ayako gathered the supplies I began to wonder why the spirits were drawn to me. If anything they should be more drawn to Masako she is the medium, she can communicate with the spirits more than I can. What about the cups, they broke right after I yelled. I know my abilities have gotten stronger but was it really my doing. My eyes began to feel heavy, I must be tired from the incident just now. I'm sure they won't be too angry with me if I fell asleep for just a little while.