Well! Here we go! I apologize for some boring parts and internal rants that I put in, but they are necessary, I swear! Enjoy!

"Mai!" a voice hissed. Suddenly she didn't feel herself falling back anymore. No, something had grabbed her waist and she was falling forward.

She didn't open her eyes until she had stopped falling. The snow had soaked the shins of her jeans, but her upper half was pressed against a very muscular wall. It wasn't until she stopped moving that she opened her eyes and looked up. "Mai, what the hell were you thinking!"

"Naru?" she cocked her head and furrowed her brow. "Why don't I have shoes on?" was her first question. She looked around them, still perfectly content with lying on top of him. "How did I get on the roof?" was her second question. She then looked back at him. "How did you know where to find me?"

"You took them off in the attic. Obviously, you walked up the stairs and climbed out the window. And I noticed the window was open on the camera," he answered, earning a pout at his jab of her intelligence. "If you are fine, get off of me."

"Actually, I'm pretty comfortable right here," she responded smugly.

"I highly doubt Shouta would approve of this," he jabbed at her.

She closed her eyes and rolled them, before getting up. "He probably wouldn't, but whatever," she muttered.

Naru followed suit, brushing off the snow from his legs. "Rough patch?" he asked, as she walked to the window.

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Geez! No! It's not a 'rough patch!'" she exclaimed, climbing back into the attic. "We had a couple of small disagreements, it doesn't mean we're breaking up! Where does everyone get these ideas from!" She was panting now. She realized from the look on her employer's face that she was not quite herself. She took a deep breath. "Sorry, this isn't a topic for work. Let's drop it. Did Masako find anything at the gravesite?"

Naru followed her into the attic and locked the window behind him. "She sensed a spirit there, but it was attached to the cemetery, whether it was Oiwa or not we don't know, but we know it isn't what's causing the activity here," he answered as they headed down the stairs, "What's worse is while you were up here Hoshiko was attacked again. One of the cameras you set up on the bridge earlier fell over and nearly hit her."

"What did Masako say?" she asked, shoving her shoes back on.

"She says it couldn't have been a spirit, that the camera must not have been secure and fell over."

"Not likely, I saw you go up and check it last night," she returned, folding her arms. "The camera angle never changed the whole time and there were enough light fluctuations and movements the last couple of days to ensure that the feed wasn't being looped or frozen." She stopped just a few steps from the bottom and looked up at her boss. "Could we be dealing with a poltergeist?"

"You were just on the roof and you think we have a poltergeist?" Naru challenged, raising a brow.

"Well, by definition, we are dealing with a 'noisy spirit' and several stressed young adults either in adolescence or just past it," she countered, ignoring his remark. "And I haven't seen you pull that light experiment since the Kimura case over the summer."

"That doesn't explain why you were on the roof and have no memory of it," Naru answered, stepping down to the stair she was on. "You think we're dealing with a poltergeist caused by one of the actors?"

"Or crew," she added. "It's the most logical explanation for Masako to not sense anything yet we have activity." She leaned against the railing. "If you think I'm as idiotic for saying it as when we were on the Minnie Case then prove me wrong."

"It's a good thing you thought to put a camera up there," was his response as he continued down the stairs.

Perplexed, Mai just watched as he was about to round the corner. "Why?"

"Otherwise, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

January Day 3, 6:15 P.M.

"Maybe it was her!" it was none other than Ichika who made the accusing argument once Naru and Mai made their way back stage. "She's been gone the whole time."

"Wait, me?" Mai pointed to herself and cocked her head. "Wait, what?"

"C'mon, I can't be the only one thinking it!" the actress pressed, looking around the room. "She was the only one unaccounted for, and the one who set up that camera that nearly killed Hoshiko."

"Ichi's making sense! Maybe-" Yumiko, the girl with burgundy bobbed hair, added.

"That's by for the most idiotic thing I've heard from your mouth," Kuniharu countered, crossing his arms. "If she sabotaged the camera to fall exactly when Star was walking by, then why was Star attacked last week? Taniyama-san had never met any of us before."

"Well, there's one way to find out," the actress shrugged, waling toward the investigator. "Where exactly were you while everything went down?"

"Actually, I-"

"Before I left with Hara-san, I asked Mai to check the cameras. She was upstairs checking the connection of the camera in the attic," Naru intervened, noticing the actress was unconvinced. "If you don't believe me, would you like to see the camera footage?"

"Actually, yes, I-"

"That's enough!" Fuyumi raised her voice, silencing the group. "Kazuya-san, what is your next step to stop this…whatever it is?"

"I need the entire cast and crew, including you and Inoue-san to gather in one of the empty costume rooms. Bring enough chairs for everyone," Naru ordered. "We are going to find out for sure if there is a spirit haunting this place."

"What do you mean if? Of course it's a spirit!" Ichika argued, her friend chiming in in agreement.

"We will be testing all possibilities," Naru replied and walked away.

"Okay, everyone, let's do as he says!" Fuyumi ordered, clapping her hands.

"And why should we listen to him?" Yuito challenged.

"Would you rather Oiwa's spirit decide to have you fall off the stage next?" the director countered, grabbing a few folding chairs. "No? Then get moving."

The rest of the cast and crew were getting everything set up for Naru's experiment, while the rest of SPR continued their thing. "I don't understand this," a familiar voice startled Mai from checking the camera in the foyer.

"What don't you understand?" Mai tilted her head, looking back at the medium who had spoken.

"Why Naru's wasting his time with the light experiment," Masako shook her head, bringing her sleeve to her mouth.

"Well, we have strange activity going on here, and you said so yourself that there are no spirits here-"

"There are no spirits here! There can't be!" the medium had turned around so Mai couldn't see her face.

"Whoa," the assistant held her hands up. "I'm not doubting you, Masako, none of SPR is, so the only logical explanation is for one of the cast or crew to have latent psychic powers and are causing a poltergeist."

"But there's nothing here…" Before Mai could respond, the medium had wandered away.

"What's gotten into her?" Mai commented to herself.

Naru had Lin set up the red light on the table, while Fuyumi made sure there were enough chairs for every member of their crew. Once everyone had gathered in the old costume room, and Naru had changed into a fresh set of black clothes, seeing as his former ones were soaked with snow, the lights were turned off.

"Concentrate your breathing to the light. Keep it slow," Naru's calm voice seemed to echo throughout the room as the light dimmed and brightened. "In and out. In and out."

One by one the actors and stagehands had their shoulders drop. Each falling into a state of calmness and susceptibility. Once they all had the same blank stare, including the two directors, Naru continued with the hypnosis.

"Good. Now, tonight, the costume chest will move in this room."

The light continued to glow and the blank faces of the crew seemed unfazed by the words the investigator spoke. So when the red light was shut off and the overhead light was turned on, after the group rubbed their eyes they were slightly shocked to see the old costume chest at the investigator's feet. "Thank you for your time, you may go about your business," Naru said, as Lin opened the door to let the group out.

"I could use a nap," a few of the actors commented and agreed as they picked up their chairs and walked out.

"You think we're dealing with a poltergeist?" Lin commented after the group left.

"We need to explore all possibilities."

"What about what happened on the roof?" Lin pressed, closing the door as Naru set up the camera. "I saw that Mai wasn't just checking the camera up in the attic. And by the snow stains on both of your clothes, I'd say something happened up there. Paranormal or otherwise."

"Mai has no recollection of how she ended up on the roof, but is adamant that we could be dealing with a poltergeist," Naru answered. "She could be right."

"But you think she might have been possessed by one of the people who jumped off the roof," Lin retorted. "You had her put a mic up there, remember?"

The tall Chinese man proceeded to draw a chalk circle around the chest, while his employer made sure the camera was functioning properly. "How much did you hear?"

"After I saw you come back in through the window on the video, I rewound it to when Mai had walked out," Lin explained. "She almost jumped didn't she?"

Naru was silent. He had his angle on the chest and nothing was in the way that could move it. He pressed record and walked out. Lin trailed after him. "She's not wrong, if it is a poltergeist it would make sense as to why Hara-san doesn't sense anything."

"But that doesn't explain why Mai was on the roof with no recollection of getting there," Lin challenged, only to see the slight change in the young manager's eyes. "Unless she does remember how she got there."

Naru shook his head. The how question might have been a scapegoat for the real question. "Unless she remembers why she was up there."

"Have you spoken to your brother since the argument a couple nights ago?" John asked the actress, as he helped her paint one of the backdrops.

"Nope," was her response.

"Will you before the investigation is over?"

"Probably not," the actress added. She continued to paint, the strokes long and slow. They became even slower as she felt the eyes of her priest friend on her. With a sigh she put the brush back down. "What's there to say? We would just get into another argument and ruin both of our reputations."

"When was the last time you saw your brother?" John put his brush down as well.

She looked down and thought for a minute. "It's been a while, I think the last time I saw him was before the summer," she answered.

Then John realized that was when SPR became so busy with cases. They used to only have cases every other month, or maybe a smaller one-day case here or there. Now, they were being called for cases every couple of weeks. "Did he call at all?"

"Yeah, every now and then, but not so much since I left home a few months ago," she replied. "Otherwise, I'm sure he would have found me and tried to drag me home sooner."

"Do you still think you'll give him a ticket to the play?"

Hoshiko sighed again, falling back from her knees into a sitting position. "After this, I think I have to. It might be the only way for him to approve of me going after acting. You know to see me in action."

"You don't think he's watched your rehearsals?" The girl scoffed.

"I'm sure he's seen snippets here and there, but I'm sure the only thing on his mind is how 'I should be in school and pursuing a career and make our parents proud,'" she mocked, looking down at her hands.

"You don't think your parents are proud?"

Hoshiko snapped her head up and waived her hands. "No, no, no, no! They are proud of me. I did very well in school and I'm starting to make it on my own." She crossed her arms and let out yet another sigh. "I know they are, they tell me every time I call home."

"Do they know about what's been going on here?" John asked, referring to the activity they had both witnessed.

"I haven't told them, and neither has Houshou to my knowledge. I would assume they would call me immediately to see how I was doing."

"You are probably right, you haven't heard from them even when your brother found you here?"

Shaking her head, she picked up her brush and continued painting. "Nope. I haven't called them either, it's better if they don't know."

"So we have strange occurrences happening at an old theater, specifically targeting the lead actress, a history of death, a medium who can't sense a spirit in said haunted building, no explanation for the occurrences, and two long lost siblings who finally found each other only to feel animosity for their reunion not being sooner. Some days our lives would make an academy award winning drama," none other than Yasuhara rambled as he walked throughout the foyer.

"No, it wouldn't," the priestess scoffed. "And the siblings weren't 'long lost' or lost at all. They were just living different lives."

"Fine, a really good anime," the college boy returned.

"Maybe with all the cases, they would make good arcs, but with all the detail we go through, maybe a series of novellas." Ayako opened the door to the basement.

"Seriously, you're going back down there? We got locked in just a couple hours ago!"

The priestess shrugged. "All the more reason to go back down there, you have the charm I gave you right?"

"Yeah."

"Then we'll be fine, besides I think I dropped my earring down there."

We're really going back down there for an earring…If this were an anime, Yasuhara was sure there would be a sweat drop appearing at the back of his head.

"Well? C'mon, they were a gift and I'm not leaving this building without my earring."

And down the stairs she went.

Meanwhile, our favorite monk found himself wandering around the seats of the theater. He had found Ichika making out with Yuito in the back corner. It made him slightly more assured that his baby sister wasn't going trying to build a relationship with her cast mate. However, that didn't mean the actor wasn't trying to two-time the actresses. It wasn't like that wasn't a possibility. Then there was Kuniharu, they were awfully close. What the hell was Hoshiko doing out here? She should be at home with their parents, going to school. Being a normal kid.

"Okay! Yuito! I need you and Star to perform your death! Enough sucking face!" Fuyumi shouted from the front row. Monk took it as his chance to get out of the theater.

He really did need to see the two actors and their chemistry, even if that chemistry was his sister going nuts and killing him. Honestly, the monk couldn't believe that his sister hadn't asked him to go to the premiere or any of the showings. Then again, perhaps she was planning to when they had a premiere date. But she ran away, why would she invite him if she didn't want him to know about that. So in the end he really could believe it.

That was when he noticed the door up to the attic was open. Shouldn't it have been closed? He went up, trying to remember what he had been thinking about. Right, Hoshiko. She should be home, safe and sound. Not here, acting with a love interest who was older than him. Not scting in a theater where apparently a spirit was upset with her and wanted her hurt or possibly killed.

At least he understood a possible reason for the door being open. Mai must have put a camera and microphone up there. But didn't she do that the night before? Then why was the door open?

The wind rattled the window and Monk noticed wet footprints coming from it. Curious, he went to eh window and climbed out to the balcony. More footprints. There was another indentation that revealed the cement of the balcony. It could have been the sun melting away that spot of snow, with the tall buildings surrounding the theater there was no way for the snow to melt evenly.

He followed the prints to the platform by the railing. It looked as though snow had been wiped off of it, but did he see footprints? "Did someone try to jump?" he wondered aloud. He then looked to the melted away snow. "And who stopped them?"

Well, all he really needed to do was go back to Base and check the camera for when someone was up there. Unless the footprints were caused by a spirit. But that couldn't be, right? Urado was able to leave prints in blood, but he was no ordinary spirit. He was a monster.

"Unless…" And there his thoughts turned for the worse. Perhaps it was best that he didn't know what happened.

Besides, who really wanted to believe their baby sister wanted to take her own life? Yet it seemed like the most likely possibility.

January Day 3, 7:23 P.M.

"What is that medium girl doing back here?" one of the actors whispered in disgust.

"Who knows? Maybe she conned these guys too," another returned.

"Maybe all of this is a con."

"But what do these guys have to gain?"

"Money, it's all about money."

"I never believed in paranormal crap like this, but now that we're living it and one of the most famous mediums turns out to be a fraud! This is some bull!"

"Tell me about it, she thinks she can walk around in that kimono like some doll and 'sense' spirits. She said so herself she can't sense anything! She's been lying this whole time."

Masako did her best to ignore the comments as she walked around and did sweep after sweep of the building. Still, she sensed absolutely nothing. Well, nothing other than the animosity of the actors toward her presence there. She was regretting her decision to help Naru with this case.

It was too bad she had blackmail against the young narcissist. She really only took on the case to help him out and show she can be trusted with his secrets. But he was just so adamant that she had to be wrong! She cleansed the spirit that was residing here, a young man who had committed suicide in the building. She could never get his name, but he seemed so at peace when he moved on.

No, she completed the cleansing. She had to have. There was no way around it.

Thoughts swam in the young medium's mind as the young assistant noticed her from the other side of the backstage. Masako certainly wasn't herself on this case, but no one really saw such a drastic change in the girl as Mai did. She was more snippy than usual and had a lot on her mind. "Maybe she shouldn't be on this case…" Mai muttered to herself, watching as the medium paced trying desperately to find something.

"Well, it was her case from the start." A voice startled the brunette. She turned around and felt relieved to see the blonde priest behind her. He really needed to stop sneaking up on her.

"Yes, but do you hear what everyone has been saying about her? I don't think Inoue-san has noticed that she's here yet, but who knows what could happen?"

"It was her case, she closed it, but things still seem to be going on, she has a right to try to finish what she started."

"But she doesn't sense any spirits, she thinks there's nothing wrong with this place."

"Well, she could still be right. Naru did the light experiment right?" The girl nodded. "Then tomorrow we will know for sure if it's a poltergeist or not."

"And if it's not?"

"Well, let's give Masako the benefit of the doubt. She hasn't let us down yet, I'm sure we'll figure this out together."

Mai smiled at her optimistic friend. "John, please don't ever change."

John smiled back. "I try."

"Aha! I knew it was down here!" a triumphant cry came from behind a collection of fences from previous outdoor sets. "And you thought I was crazy."

"Oh you are, just not for thinking you dropped your earring down here earlier," Yasuhara replied, examining the hanging light bulbs and the wiring in the ceiling.

"You are certainly hilarious, Shounen," Ayako commented dryly, wandering up to the college student. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to see if there is a logical explanation for the lights going out yesterday on Naru and Mai." He pulled out a pocket flashlight as he followed the wires in the ceiling. Turning it on he continued to follow. "Well, this could be the reason."

"What did you find?" The priestess ran up to him.

"It looks like the wiring for this place hasn't been updated in the last twenty years, at least, not down here." He shined the light down the length of the wire that ran along the ceiling beam. "There are about four lights down here. They are all on the same circuit, now I'm no electrician, but I would assume that this fray in the wire right above us could possibly be the reason for the lights going out down here from time to time."

"Great, but we still have no idea how the camera moved from its spot or how the chair was flung across the foyer. And if that is paranormal, we have no explanation for why Masako doesn't sense anything."

"Well, if we go with Masako and say there is no spirit here we have one of two options, sabotage, but that wouldn't explain the chair moving and no one heard the camera being moved. So, the other option is like what Mai said, a poltergeist."

"There could be another possibility," the priestess added. "A sabotaging poltergeist."

"Oh? Do elaborate."

"What if one or more of these actors are aware of any psychic abilities they have and are using them to sabotage Hoshiko?"

"And they moved the camera to throw us off of their trail! Ayako, you may be onto something!"

As if to challenge their theory, the lights began to flicker on and off. Ten second of rapid flickers and not one of the bulbs in synch with the others, the lights all went out. Including the flashlight the student had been using.

"There goes your circuit theory," Ayako commented, putting her hands on her hips even though the boy couldn't see her.

"And your deliberate sabotage theory, unless something major is going on upstairs."

"We need to get back up there."

"When the hell was anyone going to let me know that Hara Masako was back!"

Looks like Inoue found out about Masako. About time.

"She had been wandering around all day! How did you not see her!" one of the actors shouted, but Mai couldn't tell who it was.

"We already wasted money bringing her here and she did absolutely nothing! Why the hell would we allow her back here!"

"With all due respect, Inoue-san, I did do what I said I would," Masako could be heard coming through the crowd. "You asked me to cleanse the property of spirits and I cleansed the spirit that I sensed."

"Then why are we still having activity? Why is my Star in constant danger whenever she is in here? Why does everything seem to point that you didn't do your job?"

"Unfortunately, I cannot answer your questions," she retorted. "I can say however that there is no spirit here. Perhaps you are dealing with someone sabotaging the play."

"Impossible! You are just a fraud! To think I ever hired you in the first place!"

"Oh no," Mai mumbled. "I don't have a good feeling about this." Monk happened to walk up next to her and nod in agreement.

"Regardless of whether or not you believe in my abilities, I came and did what I said, it is not my intention to con anyone."

"Just admit it! Admit that you could never see a spirit here in the first place!" Ichika shouted over the crowd. "You've bull shitted us long enough!"

"Would you like my assistance or no-"

"No! We have been trying to tell you that this whole time!" One actor exclaimed.

"Talk about dense!" Ichika commented.

"Get out, con-artist!"

"Fraud!"

Mai wanted so badly to jump up and run to the medium. Engulf her in her arms and shout back at these animals. This was what Ayako had warned her to be wary of a few cases back. Most people would not believe her abilities. She never thought that people could be so nasty.

Yet, she was frozen to her spot. The rest of SPR seemed to be as well. Even Naru and Lin had come out to see the commotion, but none of them had the power to stop it.

"Liar!"

"I'm not a liar!" It was getting harder and harder for Masako to keep her cool. She never should have come back, but if she left now it would be admitting defeat.

"You're a sham! Just leave before you get anyone else hurt!" Everyone seemed to get louder and closer. The medium was starting to feel claustrophobic as her heart began to race.

"What the hell is going on!" Mai could hear Fuyumi walk up behind her, perhaps she could reign back this disaster. "Why aren't we rehearsing!"

But no one paid attention to her. Insults were shouted from all around the theater. It was strange to say, but Masako could swear the area was getting darker.

The voices grew louder and louder, SPR still could do nothing, no matter how much they wanted to. Mai felt a shiver go down her spine and knew this really wasn't going to end well.

Sure enough, the lights began to flicker on and off. The actors screamed in fright, just as banging could be heard throughout the stage. It didn't seem to come from any specific spot, yet everywhere at the same time.

The SPR gang still couldn't move. It was as though something was holding them back. A sinister laugh filled the air as everyone heard a scream. "Masako!" Mai shouted.

As soon as it started, the event stopped. The air was clear. The lights were off for a second but came on and the group was still as they processed what just occurred. Masako herself was on her knees and Mai was finally about to break through the grip that seemed to hold her and her team down. "Masako!"

"It can't be…" the medium repeated over and over. She did not look up. Her gaze remained at her hands. "There's just no way…"

"Masako, did you sense it too?" Mai asked her. "Masako, look at me."

"But, Mai, how can I see you if the lights are still out?"

That was most definitely concerning.

"Masako the lights are on."

At that, the girl snapped her head up and whipped it at the investigator. And Mai saw it. Her gray eyes were lighter than they normally were. As though there was a film over them.

"Mai, I can't see you!"

Well! There you go! I'm not going to leave much of a note today because I need to get ready for work! Hope you enjoyed and please review!