Notes: So Mai in my story is going to be a little OOC. This is Mai x Gene. Just stick with it. It will tell the story of a truly desperate soul searching to save another.


Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt. Period. If I did, the romance would have been more fleshed out and Mai wouldn't have been so childish all the time.


Chapter 5

Mai looked up as she climbed out of the van, eyes taking in the sight of the very old house. She noticed the shrine that had been mentioned in the woods, and shivered as she looked it over. It didn't feel…right. She heard Lin get out behind her, as well as Naru.

"Are the others coming, Naru?" She wondered.

Naru looked at her. "Just Monk and John. Ayako was working and Masako had another job to do. But this should be simple enough."

Mai worried her lip. "I don't know, boss. This feels…this feels bad. Dark."

"We have handled worse in the past with less," Naru said simply. "Lets head in and see where we will set up base."

Lin nodded and stepped past Naru, heading for the door. Mai could feel and see his shiki take off, heading to the house ahead of them, as if checking the atmosphere. She knew what they were doing. Lin always sent them out to check the aura of the property in case there was a malicious spirit. Any heads up is welcomed.

Naru stopped just before the door, and Lin knocked on it. Mai looked around and blinked when she thought she saw a young woman in a flowing dress disappear around the corner of the house. She blinked as she tried to tell herself it must be the woman's daughter…or another family member. Maybe a friend?

The door opened and Aumi was there. She offered a small smile and bow, before she stepped aside to let them inside. Naru walked inside first, and was followed by Lin and Mai. Mai glanced around, wondering if she should ask if Aumi was alone here? But she felt that question would be answered soon enough.

"I am alone at this time…so forgive me if the rooms aren't all ready for you. I tried my best," she said.

Mai perked up. She was alone…so that means…she may have seen a spirit. She kept silent, wondering what the story was here.

"Thank you for having us, Aumi-San. We appreciate your cooperation," Naru said with a nod.

"Yes, thank you," Mai added with a warm smile. "We'll do our best to help you with your situation."

As they followed Aumi through the house, Mai couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over her. The atmosphere seemed heavy, and she couldn't help but notice the subtle shifts in the shadows as they moved through the rooms.

"This is the room where most of the activity has been happening," Aumi said, gesturing towards a door at the end of the hallway. "Please, feel free to set up your equipment."

"Thank you," Naru replied, already scanning the room with a critical eye. "We'll begin our investigation immediately."


John had arrived not too long after them, and was about to offer to do a walkthrough when Monk beat him to it. He chuckled and shrugged at Mai before he approached Lin and asked if the man would like some help. Mai watched as Lin and John began to set up their equipment while Naru started to question Mrs. Aumi about the occurrences in the house. She couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency, a nagging feeling that they were missing something important.

As they settled into their investigation, Mai's senses were on high alert. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, and she found herself constantly glancing over her shoulder.

"Mai, are you alright?" Lin asked, noticing her unease.

Mai forced a smile. "I'm fine, just a bit on edge. This place gives me the creeps."

Lin nodded in understanding, but Mai could tell he was also feeling the tension in the air. There was plenty Mai wished she could speak with Lin about, ironically, but she knew the dangers of voicing anything. Especially during a case. So she steeled her resolve, and decided to go make some tea for the group.

As Mai stepped into the kitchen to make tea, a chill ran down her spine. The air seemed to grow colder, and she could feel a presence lurking in the shadows. She glanced around nervously, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Is someone there?" she called out, her voice barely above a whisper.

There was no response, but Mai couldn't shake the feeling that she was not alone. She hurriedly began to prepare the tea, her hands shaking as she poured the hot water into the teapot.

Suddenly, a voice echoed through the room, sending shivers down Mai's spine. "You should not have come here, mortal."

Mai froze, her heart pounding in her chest as she turned to face the source of the voice. Standing before her was a figure cloaked in darkness, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.

"Who are you?" Mai asked, her voice trembling with fear.

The figure stepped closer, its form shifting and twisting as if it were made of shadows themselves. "I am the guardian of this place, the keeper of its secrets. And you have trespassed upon sacred ground."

Mai's eyes widened in horror as she realized the truth. The spirit before her was the vengeful goddess they had come to investigate. She had been awakened by the desecration of her shrine, and now she sought vengeance upon those who had dared to disturb her rest.

"I'm sorry," Mai stammered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart. "We didn't mean any harm. We only wanted to help."

The spirit's eyes narrowed, its gaze filled with malice. "You cannot undo what has been done. The damage has been done, and now you must pay the price."

Mai felt a surge of fear coursing through her veins as the spirit advanced towards her. She knew she was in grave danger, but she refused to back down. She had to find a way to appease the spirit, to make amends for their intrusion.

With a desperate plea in her heart, Mai reached out to the spirit, her voice trembling with emotion. "Please, listen to me. We didn't mean to cause you any harm. We only want to help you find peace."

For a moment, the spirit hesitated, its eyes flickering with uncertainty. Then, slowly, it began to fade away, its form dissipating into the darkness.

Mai let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding, relief flooding through her like a tidal wave. She had managed to calm the vengeful spirit, if only for now.

But as she turned to leave the kitchen, she couldn't shake the feeling that their troubles were far from over. They had awakened a powerful force, and now they would have to face the consequences of their actions.


A/N: I swear I'll finish this! lol Here's chapter 5 done! and I've started the next one.