The Story Continued (Ghost Hunt)

Chapter 11

She sat on the sofa across from Mai with one leg over the other. Mr.Suzuki followed and took a seat next to her. Naru started the interview with some basic questions.

"Were you attacked?" And "Can you describe the situation?"

In the beginning, Mai was listening to the woman's answers which, by the way, were vague and sounded like she didn't give a damn but sudden emotions overtook her. She couldn't hear the woman's voice anymore and Naru's only as if he was talking through a very thick glass. Also, her vision got worse. Not blurry. More like everything was almost transparent and then more and more of her vision became just darkness. With nothing to hear and see she focused on her emotions. But were they hers?

She couldn't see nor hear Veronica but just the thought of that woman sitting so close to her made Mai angry. She felt disgusted by her. To the point where the thought of taking that woman by the hair and dragging her out of the building crossed her mind.

'You dislike her, don't you?' Mai asked in her head. But 'dislike' was truly a weak word in this case. 'I'm sorry Mai. It looks like my emotions made their way to you.' A voice behind her said. 'But she is truly a wicked person.' The girl smiled. At least tried to but her face did not move an inch. She recognized that voice. 'It's ok. I believe you. You probably have no one else who would.' she said.

'Thank you, Mai. To be honest I'm a little scared of that medium friend of yours. I'm surprised that the blonde boy manages to be with her all the time. He looks a little weak.' The man said. Mai wanted to burst out laughing but her body did not move again. She remembered Masako's act from the day before and couldn't keep it. Seeing Masako as scary was not an option anymore. 'Don't underestimate, John.' Mai answered.

'I'm sorry. It was not my intention to insult your friend. Wait, they are going. I need to go. Goodbye, Mai.'

Then everything became normal again. She could see and hear the pair leaving the room and the feelings were gone. However, her body still felt heavy. The moment she heard the door close she collapsed to the sofa. This experience was new. She wasn't dreaming that's for sure.

She fell asleep in seconds so she didn't get to hear her worried boss asking if she was ok nor the scream coming from the hallway.

When Mai woke up again the base was quite lively. The whole group gathered there. She sat up and noticed Lin and Madoka sitting across her where Veronica was sitting before. The woman noticed her. "Are you awake, Mai? You've been sleeping for 30 minutes." She was about to answer Madoka when she got a weird feeling. She didn't know what it was but it felt as if something was missing.

Mai suddenly gasped. "Come to think of it. I did not make tea even once since we came here." So that's what was missing. "Should I make some?" She asked already getting up. Luckily everything she needed was in the base. "That would be nice." Madoka answered startled at the girl's sudden burst of energy. "Lin, how did it go with Nakamura?" She decided to ask.

"Pretty easy, I showed him the business card with Naru's real name on it and said we have video proof." Lin answered. Mai would bet that having proof would be enough but to be honest everyone who starts a fight with Naru deserves a little scare. And realizing who Naru was must have given that man a heart attack.

Gene who was up until now watching the monitors with the rest of the group turned around and approached the girl. "I see you are awake, Mai." He said smiling brightly. "Ey, Mai. I know you love~ helping with your dreams and such but could you please refrain from chit-chatting with the women-attacking ghost we are supposed to get rid of without anyone knowing?" He asked. Still smiling.

Mai's hands stopped in the middle of making the tea but quickly resumed what she was doing. "I wonder what you mean." That was her way. Playing dumb. "Oh come on. I might not be the best now but I can still sense these things. Beside, Masako!" He called and the girl showed up. "That's my witness."

Mai finally gave up. "Ok, ok but don't tell Naru." She almost begged. Then she heard a voice behind her. "Don't tell me what?" Yup, the man in question. Mai turned around shocked. Luckily, she was learning how to lie from her boss. "That I made tea." She said. "I wanted to surprise you. Didn't work out." She then handed him a cup of tea.

Nice lie Mai. Totally believable.

"By the way, What are they watching?" The girl asked pointing at Ayako, Takigawa, Yasu and John who were still watching the monitors. "Well, you should go and see it yourself." Gene said moving out of the way.

The next video was in the girl's changing room where luckily the team also had a camera. This time it was Veronica on the phone. "Daddy, I'm gonna die here. I don't want his money anymore. This ghost pushed me down the stairs again. Let me go home. We can find another man with a lot of money." She sounded like a 5-year-old. Her personality was however not the slightest surprise. "Ey, Naru." She called her boss. "Can we show this to the client?"

Naru looked at her confused. "We should not get involved in their private life." He said. "We ar-" Mai cut him off. "It has to do with the ghost." She stated. Then Takigawa joined their conversation. "Yeah, right. And you know that because?" The monk asked. "I just have a feeling?" She said putting on the most innocent look she could.

"Mai, what else did you not tell me?" Naru asked letting out a big sigh. "That you are the best boss one could have? Now, can we do that?" The boy glared at her for a moment. "Well, I suppose we can."

Half an hour later. After some shouting, yelling, screaming and Veronica basically admitting to everything, she was left the hotel alone. I need not say that Mr. Suzuki was devastated. "First the ghost and now that." He said before disappearing into his office.

"Ey, Naru? Can we go to room 001?"