A/N: Sorry for the delay guys. I was sick and kept getting headaches while trying to edit any chapters.

Chapter One

It took a while for Mai, Ayako, and Masako to clean up the mess. The bedsheets, pillow, and blanket had all been stained along with their clothes. Ayako had cleaned Mai's wounds and bandaged her up with clean white bandages.

Ayako was trying to keep herself calm but the events from earlier had shaken her up. She knew that Mai was unable to control when the dreams would take hold of the girl. As evidenced by the fact that Lin had to carry her all the way into their room after she'd fallen asleep beside him.

Ayako didn't wanna think about if Mai had another one of these dreams with no one around to help her wake up. The crimson-haired woman stared blankly at Mai's wrists. Her neck wouldn't scare but Ayako was sure that the cuts on her wrist might. The older woman wanted to ask about the dream now too understand but that could be saved for later.

"Alright, let's get back to base," Ayako said while putting away the rest of her medical supplies.

It was lucky that the blood only looked worse than it actually was. Masako now in a new blue kimono with black butterfly prints on it covered her mouth with her sleeve. To hide the frown on her pale lips.

Shaken just as Ayako and the others had been. As they made their way towards the room they'd claimed a base. Masako's mind wondered.

A part of Masako felt jealous that Naru was always so kind to Mai, but the other part of her felt sick. Seeing as this wasn't something she should be jealous of. Masako just hoped Mai wouldn't have scars later. Afterall while the doll-like girl wasn't exactly fond of Mai it wasn't like she wanted the brunette to get hurt.

The silence between the three was defining. That was until they entered the room with the rest of SPR drinking tea or coffee as well as talking to one another.

Monk stood up quickly and took Mai into a big bear hug. Causing the girl to squirm in surprise at being bombarded with affection. Though Ayako quickly hit him in the back of the head with her purse to make him stop.

"Ow," Monk grumbled rubbing the now sore spot on his head.

"Mai, are you feeling better?" asked John after approaching her.

Mai looked around to see everyone staring at her like some wild animal who might go off any minute. If she was gonna be honest there was still a lingering feeling of something slicing her skin that kept her on edge.

"A little," Mai said smiling and trying to reassure them she was better than she actually felt.

What was she supposed to say? That she was completely fine or that no she'd very much did not feel better? Honestly, it wasn't like they could do much, either way, other than worry.

"Care to explain what happened?" Naru questioned which brought her attention to his face.

Mai bit her lip trying to stop the smile and the bubbling laughter from escaping. It seemed Naru hadn't been able to take off the marker ink in the slightest. Mai turned to double over trying to stifle her laughter.

Though Monk and Ayako soon joined her. John and Masako quickly adverted their gaze eyes from Naru's face and covering their mouths to hide the clear amusement.

The stoic boy's usual death glare having no effect with that stuff on his face. It was humiliating but he was just glad no open had snapped a photo. That was until Ayako whipped out her phone to take that photo.

Naru's eye twitched in annoyance back turned to Lin which allowed the man to get away with his own smirk. Lin felt the phone in his pocket buzz. He took out his phone to see Ayako had sent him a copy of the picture. A tiny 'pfft' escaped his lips and his shoulders shook trying to keep himself from laughing.

If only Gene had been here to see this. Lin thought which sobered him up in time for Naru to miss his guardian's clear betrayal.

It took them all a good thirty minutes or so to calm down. Though snickers still escaped them from time to time. Perhaps it was a good thing that his face had been vandalized he mused. It could provide a sense of relief while in this tense environment.

Cutting the tension had always been Gene's job. Naru was the one who handled business and Gene made sure business didn't handle them. Gene would have also known what to say or do for Mai's dreams.

Mai sat down on the couch and Naru pulled out his pen waiting to take notes. Hopefully, her nightmare could prove useful. That would really be the only good thing about it.

And so Mai retold her experience in the vision while leaving out the part about Gene. Though as she described being on the table she couldn't reframe from rubbing her neck.

"They killed so many people," Mai said her expression showing her lost in thought. "I don't think he's just a ghost anymore."

Naru exchanged eye contact with Lin. They were dealing with entities who had the power to faze living people through walls. It was like nothing they'd ever encountered before. Perhaps it would be best to pack up and leave sooner rather than later.

He'd only come to investigate the false Oliver Davis and not to fight a demon. It wasn't worth his co-worker's lives to be here any longer than needed. He stared to the side absent-mindedly playing with the pen in his hand.

Mai's intuition had always been spot on. And that had Naru on edge. The last thing any of them needed was to go missing in this mansion of horrors.

"We'll be packing up tomorrow," Naru said interrupting the friendly conversation between Monk and Mai. "No one here is equipped to take down a demon."

"What about the souls who are trapped here?" Mai said defensively. "So long at they are trapped here, he'll just keep getting stronger until eventually, he breaks free." She didn't know why she said that last part but it was just her gut telling her if they left now no one would be able to stop it later.

"We are no match for being who can faze living people through walls Mai," Naru said his tone rather cold he knew.

But he couldn't let her get herself killed for the dead. Though if these monsters got out every man, woman, and child under the age of 30 in the surrounding towns would be prey for him. That wasn't exactly a good option either.

The room was somber for a long moment. Not even the marks on Naru's face could crack the tense air around them.

"I could call one of my friends from the temple I used to be apart of," Monk said after a long moment. "If Urado is really this powerful I'm sure he'd be able to send someone capable to handle it."

"The quickest way would be to burn the remains of the people trapped here," John said thoughtfully as he poured tea into cups. "Spirits who've been murdered tend to dwell close to their body as they're unable to move on while it's unburied or cremated."

"It would be better to leave for now at least and come back with a better plan of action," Masako said lowing her sleeve from her face. "I feel the same way as you Mai, but our safety should come first."

Mai nodded in understanding as John set a cup of green tea on the table in front of her and hugging the try under his arm. John's blue eyes stayed on her for a bit longer than necessary. Till he sat beside her on the couch.

A part of him admired how she was thinking of others after such a traumatic ordeal. John might be kind but he suspected that if he'd gone through something like that he'd at least need time to recover mentally.

The bandage on her neck made him wonder if there was even a way to stop these psychic dreams of hers. A way to wake her immediately if something went wrong again. Something other than slapping her.

Mai's cheeks were still a bit red. Ayako must have had to slap her hard to snap her out of it. Though his mind wondered its way back to Urado. Japan had always been a hotspot of spiritual activity.

Meanwhile, John was lost in his thoughts Naru was discussing with Lin about summoning the spirit of Naoko Suzaki. The unfortunate girl who went missing a few days ago.

While John's attention was on them the feeling of a weight being pressed against him made the young priest freeze. Turning his head down too see Mai drooping her head but trying not to fall asleep. John didn't blame her he wouldn't wanna sleep after a dream-like hers either.

But he highly doubted those dreams gave her much rest. And on the other hand, it could end up being another loop of death or vison pulling at her consciousness. Whatever the possibility Naru sharply called her name.

"Mai," his voice harsh seaming to be trying to make her snap out of it. "Don't fall asleep."

But her eyes shut and this time stayed shut. John braced her and Ayako tried shaking her awake to no avail. The girl was deep in sleep once more.

"John, keep an eye on her at all times," Naru said relenting though his grip on the pen tightened.

John was sure that the stoic boy was worried and nodded. Placing a pillow in his lap so she could rest her head upon it. Monk brought the blanket and draped it over the girl he saw as a little sister.

The dirty blond man ran his hands down his face trying to release tension built up in it. Idly he wished he'd have continued his training as a monk if for no other reason than so he could help better protect the people around him.

It was becoming increasingly clear that his power was lacking. Through the summoning of Naoko, they, however, did manage to get the direction of which Urado was hiding. Though it was through a wall.

Surprisingly when they used sledgehammers on the wall Mai did not even flinch. Which made Naru uneasy. If nothing else she needed to get out of the mansion soon or he feared she'd be drained of too much spiritual power.

Spiritual power is needed to keep the soul anchored to the body. Everyone possessed some level of it. Spiritual power stays intact unless you somehow use it to an excessive degree.

If someone had an excessive amount of spiritual power it could go out of control when used and kill the physical body. Likewise, if you astral project and stay out of your body for extended amounts of time studies have shown that souls could start losing their bodies. Eventually being unable to find it again if the body is moved too far away from the place it once was.

Naru's gaze stayed on Mai and subsequently John. John who wasn't really paying attention to them at the moment while seeming to be lost in his thoughts. Chest clutching in a fit of jealousy.

Though Naru knew it was ridiculous. Afterall John was a priest sworn to celibacy. Naru was brought out of his thoughts when Monk handed him the hammer switching shifts before going to grab a water and sit down on a chair.

And as Naru swung at the wall. He couldn't help but have a lingering uneasiness about the entire situation. The sooner they found the bodies the sooner they could all rest easier.

Gene paced back and forth his mind filled with all kinds of questions. Why hadn't he been able to pull her out of the loop as he could in other dreams when it got too dangerous?

In reality, Gene had no idea what he was doing as her guide. He felt helpless and hated it. But his movement halted when he felt a familiar presence nearby. She was back so soon?

A large pit was forming in his stomach as this time she was the one approaching in his direction. A determined look on her face and her hair flowing behind her. And Mai's presence felt more solid than before.

He'd noticed that at the beginning it hadn't been as strong. But gradually as she became more intertwined with this strange realm her presence got stronger. Mai looked to be completely aware unlike in other cases where she moved and acted on pure instinct.

"Gene," said Mai with a warm smile.

"Back so soon," he said a smirk forming on his lips. "Missed me that much did you?"

"What can I say, I'm just drawn to you." She said with a dramatic sigh and while fluttering her eyes.

"Can't be helped, my looks are just too mesmerizing."

Laughter soon burst through the both of them. It was nice being able to joke with someone again. He hadn't realized how much he missed such simple interactions. Heart feeling lighter at this moment.

"I wanna try something," she said her expression turning serious again. "Do you think I could find something stronger than Urado?"

Gene's face seemed surprised. In theory, it was possible, but this was on the level of risk if not higher than using an ouija board was. She could draw the attention of something much worse.

"That something could be even worse," said Gene gesturing with his hand.

"What about tracking down one of the ghosts here to experiment," asked Mai stepping forward the slightest hands held to her chest while searching his face carefully.

For a brief moment, their eyes locked. Cobalt blues meeting honey brown. Until Gene finally shrugged. It could work out and it wasn't like Gene could actually stop her. If Gene learned anything from Madoka and his mother. It was that when someone is determined there is nothing short of knocking them out that can stop them.

"Worth a shot."

Mai nodded before closing her eyes and focusing on trying to sense the friendly spirits around them. It took a while before she could feel the souls around her. All of them radiating despair and fear. Except for Gene stood beside her who simply radiated warmth and some nervousness.

Mai opened her eyes to see that she was in the SPR base alongside Gene who was as transparent as the walls around them. It was like what happened during the After School Hexer or Yasu's highschool.

Looking around she spotted her own body laying on the couch head resting in John's lap. Meanwhile, the rest of the group was watching Lin who was conversing with Naoko. She was desperately pointing towards the bare wall as she was unable to vocally answer the questions.

Masako's gaze turned her eyes squinting in Mai's direction. Curiously Mai waved her hand in front of the doll-like girls' face.

"Can you see me," asked Mai too which the medium cupped a hand over her ear seems to have trouble hearing and seeing Mai.

Gene and Mai exchanged perplexed expressions. But by now Naoko had disappeared from the rest of SPR's eyes. But she was still there floating around Lin in particular.

Though next to Lin were a few white balls of light that seemed to move around and follow him. They must be his shiki she assumed as one floated closer toward her. Unable to reframe from poking it the bubble vanished and in its place stood a man.

Most of his facial features were indistinguishable other than his glowing red eyes. Wearing a kimono with red koi patterns on it. And the katana on his belt had a silver dragon embedded in its sheath.

He stood tall about 6'2 if she had to guess. And he gave her the feeling of safety and warmth. He was strong and that made her wonder about the rest of Lin's shiki.

"You can see me," said the shiki man his voice was deep and had a strange echo.

"Yes," said Mai. "Do you have a name?"

"Kai," said the man that was now known as Kai with a smile on his lips. "Mai, please be careful."

"Urado's lackeys are lurking close by," this came from another of the shiki this time the voice was female.

"I'll keep that in mind," said Mai turning to glance a Gene for a moment. "When we're not in such a situation I'd like to learn all of your names."

"That's kind, but what are you looking at," asked Kai staring through Gene causing the two teens to make eye contact for a split second.

"You can't see Gene," asked Mai shocked too which she was returned in equal measure by Kai.

Kai seemed to look at the other orbs and then back at Mai. Kaoko floating over seeming to be in some sort of daze with her eyes dull and lifeless.

"I guess not," said Mai thoughtfully pursing her lips. "Kaoko, hey Kaoko." Mai waved her hand in front of the spirit snapping her fingers but Kaoko merely lifted her head a moment before going back to staring as nothing.

"It's no use spirits with traumatic experiences are nearly impossible to directly converse with." Said Kai stepping to stand near Mai. "They're trapped in their last moments. Until someone in the living world calls upon them."

Naoko stayed still a sickly aura surrounding her glowing white spirit. Mai reached out her hand to clasp hold of Naoko's hand taking it in hers and raising the woman's hand up. Mai staring into Naoko's dull onyx eyes determined to reach her somehow.

"Naoko, wake up," said Mai firmly. "You're not gonna let him get away are you?"

Naoko's head lulled up much to Gene and Kai's surprise. This seemed to be working. The aura around the spirit shifted a bit.

"He killed you and left your body like trash and you're okay with that," Mai persisted and this got a rise from the woman who jerked uncomfortably.

"He won't be stopped if you stay this way," continued Mai as Naoko began to come out of her trance.

"Who's there," asked Naoko.

"It's Mai."

"It's so painful," said Naoko tears welling in her eyes and sliding down her face.

"I know, but only as long as you let him trap you."

"He's too strong..." Naoko whispered. "I can't."

"You can help me wake everyone," said Mai. "Wake them and he can't draw on their energy."

"How," Naoko's eyes were starting to become clear again.

"Just like I'm doing now," said Mai smiling into her eyes. "All you need is a little patience and to speak."

"My throat was-" Naoko was cut off.

"You're talking to me now," said Mai and that was what finally snapped Naoko from her trance.

"You can do this."