The Story Continued (Ghost Hunt)

Chapter 44

After the school on Friday ended the SPR team got to work immediately, well after they made sure everybody else left that is. "So, the cameras are in place, the temperatures checked, we all have EVP recorders and EMF meters. We have literally everything but our ghost is barely doing anything provable." Mai noted as she went down a long list she was holding. "Forget about England, if all goes 'well' we will graduate from this school if this ghost will keep appearing only in front of Mai and Masako." Ayako commented as she crossed her arms. "We? I'm pretty sure the teachers do not graduate. And I thought you liked playing the teacher." Mai laughed at the clearly annoyed miko. At the same time, Madoka sneaked up behind the girl. "Don't mind her. One of the female teachers is showing interest in Takigawa." She whispered.

The priestess however heard every word said. "I ignored her for the past two days but today she was clinging onto him the whole time!" She almost yelled. Mai turned to look at the man in question. He raised his hand up in defense. "She did not touch me once! And every time she approached me I moved away." He explained. "Still! She's so irritating." Ayako stomped her feet on the ground. This sight made Mai laugh as she thought how much she loved her family. And she knew they loved her. That's why she couldn't help but think about Ichika all the time. Left alone and forgotten. Mai wondered if the girl knew no one was going to save her. And this thought petrified her. "Back to work." Naru's voice almost echoed throughout the room as the conversation died out. 'Ah, the break is over.' Mai thought as she happily made her way to her boss. "What do we do now, Naru?" She asked. "How about we put Masako and Mai in a room with cameras to see what happens?" Gene suggested jokingly which resulted in Naru giving him a long cold stare. Mai joined him but after giving the idea a second thought she changed her mind. "Well, if it's ok with Masako." She looked over at the medium. She sighed. "We've had it worse. Why not."

"No, Mai just got out of the hospital. We can wait." Naru tried to reason. In the past he wouldn't admit it but now he knew he didn't want to see Mai get hurt. "You know they are going to do it anyway behind your back. Just let them try. I'm running out of things to 'teach' those kids." Takigawa joined their conversation. Mai nodded in agreement as if she already planned the whole thing the moment Naru said no. Naru let out a long sigh. He's given up. "Take one of the cameras and go. Takigawa you were encouraging them you are going to stand in front of that room. Take Gene with you it was his idea."

"I can't even protect them. There is no point in me going!" The older twins protested. (I'm pretty sure Gene is the older twin.)

"I don't care. At least you're not just sitting around." Naru answered not looking up from a paper he was reading. "It looks like Gene's special treatment ended." Ayako teased causing Gene to stick his tongue out at her. "So, which room will you be in?" Naru asked as the girls were getting ready to go. "Obviously the storage room." Masako stated like she just heard the stupidest question ever. "John, go with them too, just in case." John followed the order. "I want to go too!" Yasu yelled out. "Are you done with your research?"

"No.." Yasu looked away.

"Then keep reading." His boss answered bluntly.

"But there is nothing in the papers that we didn't hear. No names. Nothing."

"But you haven't read everything yet. I'm sure Madoka will help you." With this, the conversation was over. The two researchers got to work. Lin and Naru began to watch the cameras and the rest headed out.

The group was almost in the gym when Mai suddenly noticed she doesn't have the camera Naru told her to take. "Geez, guys I have to go back. I forgot the camera." Mai said as she stopped walking. "I'll go with you." Takigawa offered but before he was done taking Mai was already on her way back. "I'll be fine. Naru has cameras everywhere!" She yelled as she disappeared behind the corner. She then quietly ran up the stairs. "She definitely won't be fine." Masako commented as the steps of her friend faded.

Mai quickly got in and out of the base grabbing a scolding from Naru in between and well, the camera obviously. She barely got to the stairs as she heard a fainted laugh. "Oh, come on." She whispered as she kept walking. She then heard more voices. Not one, not two, not three. The voices became loud and clear the closer to the bottom of the stairs she got. Evidently a conversation. In addition, she started hearing footsteps in front of her...as well as behind her. She started walking faster, almost running when she got to the corner she left the tam at. She turned the corner with her eyes closed hoping it was the team talking and also hoping once she opened her eyes she would see them and only them.

However, before she could, she felt herself bumping into someone.... or something head-on. She fell backward and the camera hit the ground. Mai herself did not feel any more impact. "Damn it." She heard behind her. She looked up to see Naru slowly pulling her up onto her feet. He caught her right before she hit the ground. "What are you guys doing here?" The girl heard another voice in front of her. "I'm sorry I scared you." Kaoru apologized as he saw the girl's expression. Behind him, most of their classmates. "I thought I would get to you before them but then you started running." Naru said as he went to grab the camera ignoring the boy. "How many more are you going to break?" He asked ironically.

"You scared me! Of course, I ran." Mai answered, ignoring the rest. "Where are Masoko, Takigawa, and John?" She asked as she clearly left them in that hallway. "Here." John stated as he came into view. Masako and Takigawa followed him. "We heard them so we hid in one of the classrooms." He explained.

"I saw them entering the school on our camera." Naru said. "Through a window."

"Wait. What's going on?" Maiko asked, confused. "Why were you hiding from us. And what's with the cameras?" She inquired.

"The play is over." Masako commented.

"Let's go back to the base." Naru stated. He really didn't want to deal with this. "How many of you are here?" Mai asked as she signed to her classmates to follow Naru. "All except for Emi, I guess." Kaoru answered. "Are you going to tell us what's going on?"

"Seems so." She answered.

"Are we in trouble?" Nao asked.

"This...I can't say."

Soon they arrived at the base and the team decided there was no point in lying. Because Naru was not willing to, Takigawa explained the situation in detail.

"Cool, we came here to find the ghost too." Kaoru said. Nao who was sitting next to him nodded. "Actually, Kaoru told us he might be related to this ghost so we decided to do some ghost hunting."

"Really?" Mai muttered.

"Yeah, if this is the ghost of Ichika Ito then she would be my great-aunt." The boy explained.

"Then you transferring here wasn't a coincidence after all." Masako assumed.

"I might or might not have purposely gotten into a few fights in hope of getting transferred to this class after hearing about the ghost." Kaoru tried to laugh it off.

"We even brought this with us!" Miho added as she opened Nao's backpack and pulled an item out.

"An ouija board?" Gene mumbled as he looked over to Lin in horror.

Not good...