okay i know i promised this would have been updated earlier but i was busy lol srry haha anyway this weekend was crazy with dance (i'm SO proud of my students!) and i just havent had the time and i know yr gonna want the next chapter but it won't be up for a little bit i'll explain at the end but first enjoy this chap of Dangerous Souls!

Chapter 6-Hair

August Day 4, 5:15 P.M.

"Itsuko, Nori, can you tell Naru, what you told John and I?" Mai asked the children politely, as they sat in folding chairs in SPR's current base.

"We know you're not really counselors," Itsuko repeated, looking back at the boy next to her.

"And we also know that Makoto isn't really sick, and that Wakana and the other kids didn't go home early," Nori added.

"And what makes you say that?" Naru responded, glancing at his black notebook.

"Because I was awake when Oscar went to the bathroom in the middle of the night. And Itsuko-chan was awake when Wakana went missing!" Nori explained, causing Naru to look away from his notebook.

"I see," Naru sighed, closing the book. "You two witnessed the disappearances, but stayed silent, because the other children didn't notice. But when Itsuko witnessed Wakana's disappearance, she came to you, because you are someone she can trust. You're her older brother."

"That's right, sir," Nori nodded, as his sister moved closer to him.

"Tell me, what happened when Oscar went missing?"

Nori took a deep breath as he remembered the night. "It was late, really late, probably like two in the morning, something woke me up. I turned to see Oscar putting on his sneakers. He told me to go back to sleep, he was just going to the bathroom. I believed him, but I couldn't go back to sleep, when I finally did, I saw Riku-san packing up Oscar's things. After that, I was told that he went home early, that he was homesick. Oscar wasn't homesick. I know he wasn't."

"The same thing happened to me with Wakana! She was never homesick, she loved camp! And I know that Mai saw her in the forest a couple days ago…" Itsuko added, sudden realization coming to her. She remained silent.

"How did you know we weren't counselors?" Naru asked calmly. Nori seeing his sister silenced, answered for her.

"I saw Mai-san setting up a camera outside my cabin, it didn't make sense if she were a real counselor even if Hara-san was here, too," he explained.

"I see," Naru turned back to his black notebook, taking a few notes. Without looking back up he continued, "you may go, not a word of what you have said here is to be mentioned in front of the other campers."

"We know, sir." John lead the two out, as Mai's last encounter flashed in her head.

"Something wrong, Mai?" Naru asked nonchalantly.

"Well, uh…" she nearly began to explain the vision she just had in the shower, but remembered Naru's warning and the fact that John was there.

"Did you see another spirit?" Naru pressed, catching John's attention, and gesture him to come over.

Obviously it was fine if John was the only one listening, so Mai took a deep breath. "Yes, before John and I bumped into Ituko and Nori, I was in the shower room and…"

She explained the visions with such clear description, tears began to form in her eyes. John offered a comforting hand on her shoulder as she finished with the sinister laugh she heard. "And after that, I ran into John and those two kids ran into us," Mai finished wiping her tears away.

Naru assumed his thinking pose. So much t think about. Wakana's body showing up the day before. Makoto's encounter with Dai. Mai's dream with Dai. Mai's visions. Itsuko and Nori both knowing the truth. Where was the link?

"Something is either trying to warn you or scare you away," he concluded after a moment.

"Like whatever is causing the disappearances?" John asked, offering a tissue to Mai.

"Or one of the children trying to warn her what will happen if she stays." Mai tooked the tissue gratefully.

"If you think I'm going to leave, you obviously have learned nothing of me in the last year I've worked for you," Mai said, defiantly.

"I was merely going to tell you to be more careful, f we're dealing with a powerful spirit, even sending you away will be of no use. You know far too much. And you're still of some use to me," Naru retorted with his narcissistic attitude. A smirk lightly appeared on his face and he saw his employee's reaction.

"Well, I'm glad there's at least a good reason you keep me around," Mai answered, her eyes narrowed into slits. Naru turned in his seat glancing at his notebook, smirking playfully.

"Get some rest, Mai, you haven't been feeling well," he said simply, going to the monitors.

The tiny brunette was shocked yet again, she stared at her boss as he reviewed some of the footage from earlier that day. "Father Brown, go with her."

"O-okay?" Mai could only mutter as she and the Australian priest walked straight out of the cabin.

"Mai? Are you okay, you look like you've seen a ghost?" John asked innocently, suddenly realizing the irony of his words. "Sorry, wrong choice of words." he apologized sheepishly.

Mai laughed. "It's fine, it's just, nothing is making sense with this camp, what do you think?"

"I don't get it either, this isn't something innocent like back in December with Kenji. There's something dark going on," John commented.

"Do you think it's a spirit? Or more like that monster, Urado?"

"I'm not sure, Masako doesn't seem to sense anything more than children, but it could be like the Urado case."

A bell rang and children scurried past the two investigators, racing to be first in line for dinner. "Let's get some dinner, maybe we can think of something."

"Oi, Masako, can I speak with you for a sec?" Mai asked politely, as the two excused themselves from the table.

"What is it, Mai?" the porcelain doll-like girl asked, after Mai had lead the two out of the Mess Hall and closer to Base.

"Have you sensed anything here?" Mai asked, hoping for any leads.

"Just the spirits of the children, why?" she answered through her kimono sleeve.

"Is it possible for there to be something like Urado around here, and you to not notice it?"

She shook her head. "Impossible. I couldn't sense Urado too well, because of the other spirits he trapped in that mansion. Out here in the open, surely I would be able to sense something."

"Are you sure? It couldn't just be hiding and you missed it?"

"Are you doubting my abilities?" Masako retorted with a huff.

"No, I'm just trying to-"

"I've had enough, you've wasted enough of my time," he retorted coldly behind her kimono sleeve.

"I'm just trying to make sense of everything!" Mai nearly shouted. Realizing how loud she unwillingly had gotten, looked around before continuing. "Things aren't the way it should be. There are too many questions without answers. I was hoping you could give me some."

"I just did."

"Excuse me?"

"Try using your brain without hurting yourself and you might figure it out." She walked back to the Mass Hall to finish her dinner.

"She sounded just like Naru," Mai commented shaking her head and returning to dinner.

I need to find it! If I don't, Dad will kill me! Mai thought to herself as she was walking along the edge of the hill, leading down to the river.

Wait. What was she looking for and why? She looked down to see she had a yellow T-shirt, army green Bermuda shorts, and converse sneakers. Her hands were slightly larger and less feminine. She was certainly not herself in this dream, not with the black bangs in front of her eyes and hair shorter than she was used to. She continued searching the hillside for something.

She turned around to see someone run up and push her. She tumbled down into the river, her neck snapping in the process. She was only able to catch a glimpse of her assaultant. One things stood out. Long brown hair.

Everything changed into a glowing black background she had become accustomed to since she began working for her tea-aholic boss. Sure enough he appeared before her, wiping away her tears she had no idea she shed. "Naru?" she barely muttered.

"I'm sorry you had to see that, Mai," he replied sympathetically.

"That was how Dai died, right? It was no accident." More tears pricked at the girl's eyes.

"That's correct."

"He was trying to tell me that nothing was an accident…"

The scene morphed into a new scenario, Mai was standing by the river, she looked over and noticed she was much younger, though looked very much like herself. Wearing a pink T-shirt. "Wakana…"

Fear filled the pit of her stomach as she began to run up the hill. I need to get out of here! she thought, running. She'll catch me!

She felt herself being body slammed to the ground, several stick having been turned upward shoved themselves into her chest. Immense pain screaming through her body.

"Is this the end?" she found herself asking again.

"Don't worry, it won't be much longer. The pain will end soon," Dai's voice rang through her ears as the pain dulled.

Her body went completely numb as she felt herself being rolled over and down the hill. Once again she only had a flash of her attacker, but there was something peculiar.

She could see hair. She only knew it was hair because it was at the right part of the body and it was something she couldn't forget. It had an odd glow to it. What color was it? Purple?

"Mai, wake up." A soft voice cut in.

August Day 5, 6:30 A.M.

Mai opened her eyes, to see Ayako with a very sympathetic look on her face. "Ayako…"

"You were having some dream," she said softly, it was only then did the girl realize the tears in her eyes.

"Yeah…" she mumbled wiping the tears away.

"Was it one of those dreams?" she asked. Mai looked around the room. "You're the last one up, Masako and the others went around checking cabins and helping Naru and the other counselors. Do you want to talk about it?"

Mai was shaking, it had been a while since a dream had done that to her. "It…it was Dai. His death…brown hair…" she mumbled, the priestess cocking a brow. "Sorry, Ayako, but I think I better tell Naru."

"Alright," the priestess answered, turning to the door. "I'm going to see if Hisako needs any help with breakfast."

Mai was left alone to get dressed. Fearing that maybe she should have just said nothing. Was she in more danger now that Ayako knew part of her dream?

Breakfast was completed in silence, well, silence for the counselors' table. Too much was on everyone's mind Afterwards, Mai headed for Base, perhaps Naru could make sense of everything. This case was confusing, but Naru has always been a step ahead before, maybe he'll share his secret now.

"It's just as I thought, Dai was murdered," Naru sighed, his hand under his chin in thought.

"Did you figure the case out already?" Mai wondered aloud.

"Not quite, there is still the chance he was murdered by a spirit."

"Naru, I'm not an idiot! And I know the laughing in my vision was a woman. So either there is some woman out there hiding these children in some cabin and then-"

"No, there's no cabin that's used recently. The other counselors and I checked them, no sign of Makoto, either."

"Then care to explain your thoughts on this case?" Mai asked smugly, crossing her arms.

"You don't think a spirit is causing the disappearances?" Naru asked instead. Mai huffed.

"I thought one was, but Masako hasn't sensed any and I don't know what to think!" she griped, shaking her head. There was that headache again.

"Another headache?"

Mai nodded slowly, gripping her head. Before her boss could retort, she stood up. "I know the drill…"

"Be careful, Mai…"

"Mai! I never get to see you around here!" Yasuhara exclaimed when Mai walked over to him and the group of campers he was watching.

"Yeah, I've been thrown in every other direction," Mai laughed, helping him set things up for some kickball.

Yasuhara looked around, none of the children would hear his next words. "How's Riku?" he whispered.

Mai thought for a moment, the question catching her off guard. "I don't know, I haven't talked to him since he walked me back to my cabin a couple nights ago. Is he with the search party?"

He nodded. "I think so. Wow, and just when things were going so well…"

"Huh?"

"Never mind," the boy laughed, turning to the kids. "Okay! Choose who you want on your team, Mai-san or me!"

The headache receding, Mai headed for base with a steaming cup. Sure they were at a haunted camp, that didn't change the fact that Naru was a tea-aholic and was probably having withdrawal symptoms that moment. She knock on the door and entered.

"Naru, I brought you some tea," she said, relieved yet disappointed that this time her boss wasn't simply in an undershirt behind the door.

He turned around from the monitors and took the cup with an acknowledging nod. Mai turned to leave but was interrupted yet again. "Mai, camera four's battery seems to have died. I need you to change it."

With a huff, Mai obeyed, grabbing what she needed from the table storming off grumbling obscenities. She never noticed the playful smirk that dances across her charge's lips, nor the one that danced on that of her co assistant.

Camera four was on a path toward the back of the females' cabins. Our favorite petite little brunette found it within minutes of her order, of course of all times her migraine returned. What the heck? She wondered to herself, walking over to the dreaded piece of equipment.

She made her way behind the camera only to break out in a cold sweat on this humid summer day. Her head pounding almost as loud as her heart. She held her breath.

There was something missing on the camera, the detachable battery. What? That's impossible! It's not like the battery just falls off all the time! She thought worriedly.

Mai knew that the battery was not something that just fell off on its own. She knew from experience how much effort it takes to pry it off. She's seen Monk and Yasuhara struggle several times.

She scanned her surroundings, her headache pulsing in her temples. No one was around. She didn't even hear the children playing not too far from where she stood. Something wasn't right. Hairs on the back of her neck stood up as a shiver ran up her spine.

Her headache growing stronger by the second, she was offered somewhat bittersweet relief.

As a hard surface collided with her head and she fell to the ground.

The world around her submerging in darkness…

yes yes i kno a big cliffy and i hope i didn't make things too obvious here (or did i do it on purpose?) lol anyway unfortunately i will not be able to update for about a week i will be away with my grandparents and i dont own a laptop lol and they won't let me save anything on theirs but i will be working on it when i have time it will be written in a little booklet like i did with the last case lol i will work on the next chapter and the chapter after that and i think you guys might be surprised with the ending of this (it is really what made me want to do this case lol i thought of the ending first

please review and i'll update in about a week jaa nee! :D