Title: Alter

Summary:

Mai found her mother's unpublished book while cleaning up. Later that night, she dreamed of a vision and concluded that her life was written in the novel she just read. Knowing that her ending in that vision and that book is tragic, she decided to do all what it takes to change her fate.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Ghost Hunt.

[Not Edited]

Chapter 16: We are Friends

The SPR Team began setting up their equipment when led to their base. Mai noticed the amazement on the client's faces as they watched them work. Mai could understand them though. SPR is very different from the paranormal investigators shown on TV.

Eugene and Mai groaned as they placed the last box on the floor. Eugene mumbled that manual labor was his least favorite activity during the investigation. Mai rolled her eyes and thought the same. Mai got some towels from her bag and gave one to Eugene. They both hate sweating. They were only resting for less than a minute when Naru came to them with a black notebook in hand.

"Can you let me rest for at least 10 minutes?" Eugene snarled knowing what he was going to ask.

"I don't have time. Now, what have you gathered while setting up?"

"Children. They were running about right now. I also felt something from the living room but I hadn't checked it out yet." Gene answered his brother while wiping his neck. Mai, who was confused for a second, nodded in understanding. She forgot that Gene is a medium so his brother wants to know what he felt first before investigating more. Naru opened his mouth to speak when the door suddenly burst open.

"Yo! How's work?" Takigawa's boisterous voice echoed throughout the whole base as he and the other two entered. Naru scowled and closed his notebook. He is a proud guy, so he dislikes it whenever someone else interrupts his work.

"You're so extra." Ayako snickered as she glanced at the boxes lying on the floor.

"I don't need a brain like yours to validate how I work." Naru countered and went to his table.

"What does that mean?!"

"Don't mind him." Madoka inserted herself between them with her signature smile. "So, what are you doing here?"

"Just thought that it would be easier to solve this case when we all share information," Takigawa answered while John nodded with a smile.

"That is great. I wanted to talk to you after setting up the base but I hadn't thought you would propose the same idea." Madoka said. "Naru, what do you think?"

Naru did not answer. They all knew that he could not ignore nor disagree whenever Madoka already made up her mind.

"So, what do you think is wrong with the house?" Takigawa asked as he flopped on the couch, just beside Eugene. John and Ayako also sat on the couch parallel to each other.

"I cannot be sure as of now," Naru answered coldly. "Taniyama-san, tea."

Mai, who heard the order, shivered when he used her name but still stood up with an eye roll. Eugene sighed with a small smile and offered to go with her.

"Can you at least act like you're happy to cooperate with us?" Takigawa tried to tease but was met with a snarky answer from Naru.

"I am a paranormal investigator, not an actor."

"Well, enough of the chitchat. When are we going to start the exorcism? I think this is just a work of an earth spirit (Chirei)." Matsuzaki started but also fell into Naru's ruthless criticism.

"Is that Matsuzaki-san's intuition?"

Matsuzaki Ayako was loss for words. She also said the same thing in the previous case but it was never right. The same is through with her opinions. Takigawa laughed and Ayako spun around to vent her anger on him. That is how their usual bickering started. Mai and Eugene entered the room with tea and placed it on the table. While having tea, Takigawa tried to start a conversation with Lin about the case but was ignored so he turned to John and Madoka.

"You're Shibuya-san's assistant, right? What do you think of this case?" John asked Mai with his angelic smile that caused Mai to reciprocate it. Mai had noticed it before in her vision but the blonde was comfortable to be with, even just sitting with him. Maybe because he is a priest?

"I am just a newcomer in this industry so I really cannot give professional opinions," Mai answered him and offered him a refill which the priest gladly accepted.

"All of you will set the cameras and other equipment throughout the house especially the areas where supernatural activities often occur. Father Brown and Taniyama-san will get the temperature in each room while Madoka is conducting her research." Naru said as soon as they finished having tea.

"I didn't agree to work for you," Ayako complained as Takigawa nodded, hoping to be exempted from the manual labor.

"You wanted to exchange information but you don't have much to offer to me so you better make it up by helping us set the base. Now, get working."

The two of them wanted to argue more but Naru just ignored them and went to his cold-looking assistant. They sighed and went to grab a few boxes. Eugene explained to John and Mai how the thermometer works and where to write it down before reluctantly joining the other group.

John and Mai hit it off instantly. The priest had taught her so much about his work while getting temperatures. On their way to report to the base, Mai stopped in front of the window, gazing at the beautiful scene of the lake and the woods. Somehow despite its serene appearance, it feels dark and ominous.

"Mai-san?"

"Huh?" Mai woke up from her stupor and saw another person beside John. She immediately smiled at the sight of Noriko-san, who was carrying a tea set and cookies.

"Are you all right, Mai-san?" The client asked, looking worried.

"Yes, I am very much fine. Thank you for your concern, Noriko-san!"

'That is good. If it is okay with you, would you like to have some tea with me and Ayami-chan?"

Forgetting that they had to report to the base, John and Mai nodded with a smile. They arrived at the second floor and opened a pink door. The girl lying on the floor raised her eyes towards the newcomers. She seems lost in thought which made her look like a cute rabbit.

Mai and John waved their hand and said their hellos. The girl smiled at them and pushed the picture book aside. She stood up and picked up a doll before running towards them. The doll is foreign-looking, with a pair of blue eyes and blond hair. Ayami-chan lifted the doll's left hand and waved.

"Hello." Her high-pitched voice sounded and it is so cute that John and Mai's hearts melted. They took turns shaking the doll's hands while introducing themselves with a smile.

"Ayami-chan, it's snack time," Noriko-san called out after setting up the table.

The girl happily nodded but shook her head after a second. Mai frowns at her reaction. Noriko-san asked what was wrong but the girl remained silent and lowered her head. The tea time did not end well. The girl ran towards her bed and told them she was tired. Noriko just shook her head and took the tea and snacks back.

"Is Ayami-chan always like that?" Mai asked as soon as they got out of the room. The client shook her head and began explaining how Ayami-chan is usually naughty and playful.

"Believe me, she would often get into trouble because of her silly little pranks. One time, she added food coloring to my cup disguising it as tea. You don't know how long I brushed my teeth to get rid of the yellowish-brown color in my mouth." Noriko said as laughed. John and Mai also laughed with her.

Mai remembered her vision which left a bitter taste in her mouth. If that child hadn't died, would he have grown healthy? Will he also be as playful as Ayami-chan? Mai wondered what would he look like. Will he inherit her appearance? Mai smiled in regret and stopped the tears that were threatening to fall.

"When did Ayami-chan start acting like that?" the priest asked.

"I am not sure," Noriko answered her, her lips no longer smiling. "Maybe a year after my brother remarried."

"Is Kanna-san not Ayami-chan's birth mother?" John carefully asked. Noriko-san shook her head and smiled wistfully.

"She died six years ago when Ayami-chan was just a toddler."

Mai offered a smile and patted Noriko-san's shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. The latter gave her a grateful smile and bowed. They talked about Ayami-chan on their way. John and Mai said goodbye when they arrived at the base. As soon as they opened the door, they were met with Naru's irritated gaze. He knew they slacked off while working.

John handed the folder to Naru with a pleasing smile while Mai pulled him after that, telling the boss that they'd help in setting up the cameras. Naru did not say anything and turned his back on them. Mai seized her trembling and dragged John out of the base.

-o0o-

After dinner, Naru proposed an experiment with the client. Of course, he did not say it was an autosuggestion. Three people are living in the house. Noriko-san, Ayami-chan, and the client's sister-in-law, Kanna-san. They have a helper, Shibata-san, but she does not live in the house and that does not exempt her from the experiment.

They proceeded to the living room after getting all of their consent. Lin and Madoka swiftly set the equipment up. The others watched from the side while Naru did his work.

"The vase will move tonight." Naru's voice echoes as light suddenly bursts, fully waking up the Morishita Family and their helper.

Noticing the focused looks the four of them are giving the vase on Naru's hand, they knew the autosuggestion worked. Autosuggestion is a type of hypnotism. More specifically, it is an RSPK (Recurrent Spontaneous Psychokinesis) experiment used to identify whether or not a poltergeist activity is being caused by a human or a supernatural. If a person unconsciously causes the poltergeist, the vase will move according to the experiment, and otherwise, if the activities are caused by something else.

Naru borrowed the vase and also the key to the living room. Once locked, Naru forbids anyone to enter the living room until the experiment is complete.

Their first night in that house is not peaceful. All furniture in Ayami-chan's room was moved diagonally and while they were inspecting the bedroom, the furniture in the lobby was moved upside down. It is chaotic since Kanna-san is starting to panic and Ayami-chan looks like she is about to cry. Noriko-san came and calmed them down together with John and Takigawa-san. They slept in Noriko-san's room after that.

"Don't you think it is strange that the spirits reacted too quickly?" Naru wondered, in his thinking post.

"I think so too. Spirits don't usually come out nor make big reactions like these when there are strangers." Takigawa-san seconded. "And based seriousness of the poltergeist activities just now, we can tell that they are powerful."

Mai listened to them and narrowed her eyes. That means that the people living in this house are in danger. Something more serious than this might happen to them.

"Relax. It is just an earth spirit. I'll get rid of it tomorrow. Just wait, you'll see." Ayako laughed in a laid-back manner. Mai watched her and wondered where she got that much confidence when she failed during their last case.

'Not going to tell me your findings?' Naru asked his brother through the link. He is getting impatient will his brother's silence since this afternoon.

'Wait until we conclude the experiment.'

'You already know the result of the experiment.'

'I need some sleep, Naru. I am so tired.' Eugene whined through the link which made Naru sigh in helplessness.

"You're dismissed. We will continue tomorrow."

"Mai, let's go to our room. I am so sleepy." Eugene stood up from the couch and went to Mai's side.

"Just a sec. I'll get my bag." Mai answered and picked up the bag that was discarded beside the couch. A few seconds later, their colleagues' screams echoed throughout the base.

"What do you mean 'our room'?! You're going to sleep together?!"

"Yeah," Mai answered them, not understanding their exaggerated reactions. When they were in her old one-bedroom apartment, she and Eugene slept in the same room.

Except for Naru and Lin who raised their eyebrow, all of them blushed at her response. Seeing all of their reactions, a confused expression crossed Eugene and Mai's faces.

"Gosh, kids these days," Takigawa-san muttered as he hung his head low.

"M-Mai-san, Kazuki-san," John started but couldn't find any words to say after.

"Please have some modesty. Are you really going to sleep with HIM?!" Ayako asked the girl while glaring at the boy and fanning her face with one hand.

"Shibuya Kazuki-kun, what is the meaning of this?" Madoka asked with a cracked smile. Even she was bewildered by this situation.

"What? Why are you reacting like –" Eugene paused and looked at Mao who also had the same appalled expression on her face.

"What are you thinking?! You think we'd do… IT?!" Both teens screamed at the adults. They are blushing like crazy but disgust is apparent on their faces and that makes the others confused.

"NO! No way! He and I are NOT like that!" Mai said paired as she and Eugene made an X with their arms.

"Huh? We thought Kazuki-san and Mai-san were in a relationship." John asked hesitantly while Madoka, Takigawa, and Ayako nodded.

"NO!" Their reply stunned all of them as they thought they were lovers. If not, what's with the lovey-doveyness?!

"B-But you act like some –"

"Anyway, we are not in a romantic relationship, okay? I'm –" Eugene was about to say he's gay but stopped.

"We are just FRIENDS." Mai continued.

But their denial seemed to ignite something more when the blush on their faces became even more red.

"D-don't tell me y-you're …." Madoka said but was too astonished to speak.

"F-friends…"

"Yeah, just friends." Mai and Eugene answered, thinking it was all resolved.

"… with BENEFITS?!" Ayako screamed in disbelief as she continued her sentence. The term made John weak and kneeled on the floor while Takigawa tried to hold him up. Madoka is also very stunned and looks like a statue on her feet while Ayako is on the verge of fainting.

Mai and Eugene watched them, more appalled by them than a few seconds ago. Their mouths were hanging in disbelief and were too speechless by their conclusions.

'Wake up, idiot.' Naru woke Eugene up through the link and Eugene could tell that his brother was displeased by this.

'I swear it is not true! Mai and I are not like that! We would never!'

It took Naru a full minute before speaking.

"Kazuki will sleep in my and Lin's quarters. Mai, Madoka, and Matsuzaki-san will sleep in one room while John and Takigawa-san will use the last room. You may rest."

"And perish those nonsense thoughts in your heads. Mai and I are not lovers nor are we in… THAT kind of relationship. For Pete's sake, think normal!" Eugene glared at them and pulled Mai out of the base.

The people left behind stared at the door. We are normal! You are the one who makes people easily misunderstand you!

"Wait, they are not in a relationship?" Madoka muttered as soon as she regained clarity. 'Does that mean Gene is still bent?! If that's what it is then, that would explain why they do not mind if they are sleeping in one room. Does that mean we misunderstood them from day one?'

Madoka raised her head and looked at Lin and Naru but she only received a shrug from them.

-o0o-

"No doubt, this house is haunted," Eugene announced right after they arrived at the base after breakfast.

"What did you see?" Naru asked him while the others looked so confused as to why Kazuki was so sure about it.

"The spirits residing in this house are that of children. All of them are. I can see them running from room to room, making noises all night. They are all crying out for their mothers. The children are also the ones at fault for the missing and misplaced things around the house. I cannot explain the earthquakes but I am sure it is connected to the one residing in the living room."

"The living room?"

"It is a woman in her early thirties. Her clothing is traditional so either she's an actor or died a long time ago. I think she is the one gathering the children here and trapping them. It just doesn't make sense if all of them died in here. They are more than 50!" Eugene exclaimed as he raised right his hand, showing all his fingers.

"50? Wait, Kazuki-san, are you a medium? You can see the spirits?" Takigawa asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, you can say that. I can see them since we were children." Eugene answered with a smile. The monk, the priest, and the priestess stared at him for a second before looking at the other identical twin.

"Don't tell me you can see spirits too?!" Ayako asked, pointing a finger at the aloof twin.

"Am I obligated to answer you?" Naru replied and turned his back on them to check the footage last night. And true to Eugene's words, the mics had picked up some sounds all around the house, mostly footsteps and static noises.

"Madoka, is your research finished?" Naru asked as Madoka hopped towards him with a victorious grin. That means she had found something useful.

"Tachibana, Miura, Oribono, Yamaguchi… Are these the family that lived in this house?"

"Yes! But what is more interesting is the people who died in this house were all at the age of 6-12. The deaths in this house don't add up with the number Kazuki mentioned but I'll check up on the number of children's deaths around this area. As for the woman, I think I need to dig deeper into the history before giving information about her."

"But these records are from 40 years up until the present. Maybe Kazuki-san is just mistaken?" Takigawa asked, still a bit skeptical about Eugene's ability.

"Eu-Shibuya Kazuki is never wrong about the things he sees," Madoka answered him and acted normal after almost exposing the teen's true name. Naru and Lin gave her a secretive glare while Eugene and Mai just shrugged at it.

"Really? We will see about that." Ayako said, not truly believing in the medium. Her eyes shifted to Mai and asked, "Are you a medium too?"

"I don't think I have any abilities like that. I am just a normal high school girl." Mai answered, making Naru look at her. The girl flinched, she knew he was questioning if she truly could be described by the word, 'normal'.

"I will make some tea." Mai made an excuse and exited the base. Naru watched her as she disappeared and went back to his table.

"We'll check the living room now." Taking the key and his laptop, they headed to the living room to learn the result of the experiment.

It didn't move.

They are not that surprised by the results. Naru and Lin checked the footage of the living room and it shows that no one tampered with it nor even opened the living room. Additionally, the temperature in the entire room last night was below 0, which is absurd given that it is not winter.

"What should we do? Should we start the exorcism in the living room?"

"Whoever is up to the challenge is welcome to start in here. Meanwhile, I want Madoka to continue gathering more information. Kazuki, I want you to try speaking with the children's spirits. Also, see if those spirits have attached themselves to any of the clients -especially the child. Matsuzaki-san, make some charms for us and the clients."

"Okay." Eugene and Madoka nodded while Ayako flipped her hair with a smug grin on her face.

"I will try exorcising the spirits here. Wait for me to prepare. I'm sure this case will be solved after this." Takigawa-san took up the challenge, looking confident.

"I doubt your old bones can carry such big responsibility and what could an apostate monk like you do?" Ayako jabbed as she snickered mockingly.

"I am more capable than you, old hag."

"What did you say?!"

The two continued bickering until they arrived at the base. However, Mai who they expected there with the tea, is not around. Naru and Eugene frowned. She doesn't normally take a long time to brew tea.

"I will check on Mai first," Eugene said and sprinted towards the kitchen, worry etched on his face. Seeing the expression on the cheery twin's face, the others noticed something wrong. They were in the living room for more than thirty minutes but Mai was still not on the base when they arrived.

A few minutes later, running footsteps were heard coming close. Eugene opened the door with a panicked face.

"She is not in the kitchen. Please help me find her."

Naru dropped her things at the table and ran after his twin. He ran up the stairs and opened the door of her room and found no one there. The bathrooms and the closets were opened by him but found no traces of the girl. The others also joined and searched the whole house. Naru went out and searched the backyard.

"Mai!" Seeing the silhouette of the girl, he called out her name. She is squatting right beside the lake and playing with the water. Eugene was frantically looking all over for her but she was just playing outside?

Naru prepared to reprimand the teenager but Mai suddenly leaned forward. Seeing the danger, Naru stretched out his hand and pulled her collar. The girl fell backward, landing on his chest.

"Are you alright, Mai?" Naru asked, holding her shoulders. He knew that the girls hated or feared his touch but he had no choice but to hold her. She might have fallen down the lake if not for him. But the slap that Naru expected from the girl did not happen. Instead, he felt her body go limp in his hold. Looking at her face, Naru saw a sleeping person.

'What is happening?'