"Hey Charles," Mai greeted the caretaker as he joined her at the back table in base. They had pushed it flush up against a window so that whoever sat at it could feel as if the setting was more private with their back turned to the rest of the room. Mai had made up a pot of tea for the two of them to share and she had even remembered to set herself up with her notebook and a pen this time around.

"How are you?" Charles asked kindly as he sat down in the chair next to her and clasped his hands together on the table.

"Mai resisted the welling sadness his question caused and instead offered a tight smile, "I'm well, and yourself?"

"Hanging in there," Charles answered with a chuckle. He accepted the cup of tea that Mai offered him and took an appreciative sip while Mai opened her notebook.

"I had a few questions to ask as some recent information was brought to light," she informed him quietly after taking a sip of her own tea. "But first," she added and lifted her eyes to his honorably, "I don't want you to feel pressured by these questions or as if there are any accusations against you."

Charles frowned slightly but nodded once and shifted to face her head on.

"Typically, when we investigate a property such as this, we will go out and interview locals to see if there are any stories that don't quite add up or any information that wasn't known by the client, and so on . . ." she explained professionally and lifted her pen to scratch at her cheek nervously.

"I understand, Mai, no need to beat around the bush," Charles assured her with a chuckle. He still seemed a little on edge but he was far more relaxed after her clarification.

"I spoke with a boy in town yesterday who told me that his friend had broken in here once and been caught by you," she began thoughtfully and leaned back in her chair to provide the man more space for his comfort, "He mentioned that his friend had stumbled across a room full of animals that looked as if they had starved to death. Does this sound familiar at all?"

Charles leaned back in his own seat with a sigh and seemed to be taking a moment to gather his thoughts. "I'll admit," he said clearly though his voice was low, "That I had noticed such an occurrence. At first, I didn't think much of it. I would come across one or two animals every once and awhile and assume that they had wandered in and gotten lost. . ."

Mai nodded understandingly as he spoke and broke eye contact to notate his statement before crossing one leg over the other and bringing her attention back to him.

"That's understandable. Dr. Davis had come to the same conclusion which is why he never pursued the topic," she admitted and struggled against the blush that threatened her cheeks. She had never before referred to Naru as Dr. Davis and she had stumbled over it for a moment. How embarrassing.

"Right," Charles agreed before continuing, "Well, things had started to escalate. Soon I would find three or four animals in one room in the cellar. Which I always found strange. As morbid as it would seem, if one animal was starving and there was a dead one near it, why wouldn't it just eat the other?"

Mai grimaced but could not fault the logic.

"The day I found that boy was the day I came across the whole room. I was horrified and gathered them all up and had them burned respectfully. But I never understood how they all came to be there. Still, I was very much in denial of paranormal activity and put it out of my mind. Maybe there used to be food stored in that room and they had all been drawn to it, who knows?" Charles shrugged helplessly and heaved a sigh through his nose.

"That must have been horrible," Mai murmured and reached out to refill his cup of tea. "I know you love nature, Charles, so I can only imagine how you felt in that moment."

"I wish I could have found them before they died or been there for them when they did. But I never come across them until after they've passed," he admitted with a frown. Mai could see his jaw twitching and knew that he was repressing his own emotions. It was obvious he was a very empathetic person.

Mai hummed as she added his last statement to her notes before she turned her eyes to the window in thought. "Is there any pattern to it that you can think of? Was it the same day, time, or room?" she questioned curiously.

"I always found them in the cellar but there was no pattern outside of that," he said quietly.

"I understand," Mai assured him in an effort to ease his distress, "I appreciate your help with this. I know it's a tough topic to talk about. You love this place so much but there seems to be some sort of negative influence hanging around . . . it can be very upsetting."

"I appreciate you being so kind about all this," Charles shot back with a strained chuckle. He took another sip of his tea before he patted her shoulder and stood. "If I remember anything else, I'll let you know."

"We'll get this sorted out, Charles, don't you worry about a thing," she assured him with a smile and watched as he strode through the base and back out into the foyer. No doubt he had a lot of work to do, she thought, and turned back to the window. She propped her chin in her hand and watched as the trees in the gardens swayed in the light breeze. She breathed deep, imaging the fresh air of Japan filling her lungs, and let the familiarity comfort her. The pen was warm in her hands as she took a sip of her tea and lost herself in thought.

She was basically just here to help Charles at this point. He was the real client they should be helping, in her opinion. Henry Davis was a rich boy who wanted to throw his money around just so he could confirm the property was haunted and exploit it for money as some sort of attraction, she was certain of it. Oliver was using this as a research opportunity. Meanwhile, Charles was the one suffering and having to deal with the negative impacts such a haunting had on the property.

Ridiculous.

"Hey guys!"

Speak of the devil, Mai grumbled mentally. The familiar voice shot through the room and several heads, excluding Mai's, popped up to watch as Henry strolled into the room with his hands in his pockets and a winning smile plastered across his face. He was wearing a deep maroon suit that day, she noted with a scoff. Mai sipped from her tea and looked back down at her notes in an effort to look busy. She didn't want the man to notice her. Or her tea, for that matter, as she had purposefully not offered to make tea for anyone else that day. She didn't want Naru to get any of her specially made tea by default and if he happened to work up the nerve to ask her, she had planned on telling him they were out and walking away before he could argue.

"Henry!" she heard Luella greet the man cheerily.

Mai rolled her eyes. She was sad that Luella had not spoken to her the night before though it was no surprise. She had been in contact with her dead son for years and she had never known. Mai was certain the woman felt betrayed. And she had left Oliver to deal with the cleanup of that particular mess. Served him right, she assured herself, and doodled a circle on the corner of the page beneath her. Really, she had always felt a bit like an intruder within their family.

She had wanted to return the dress that day but when she had asked Madoka, the woman had refused, and when she had turned to Lin, the man had gotten up and walked away from her! Was he so mad at her that he was refusing so much as to acknowledge her existence? Ayako had informed her that she planned on going shopping tomorrow, Friday, and she could go with her then to pick out a new dress in whatever color she wanted. Mai wasn't certain if she even wanted to pick out a new dress. She was debating on just hanging back with the camera crew and maybe playing some cards or making some homemade pizza with Avery. They could tell fake ghost stories together and freak themselves out while staying in a haunted palace. It would be fun. Sort of like what she used to do with her classmates back in the day. That Naru had interrupted and then pulled her into the world of paranormal research and investigation.

Mai sighed.

She would keep her head down until they got back home to Japan and then she would start looking for cheap apartments. She doubted Oliver would fire her, he was far too professional for that, but she could not imagine continuing to live within his vicinity per his mother's kindness. It was intrusive and insensitive.

Mai ran a hand through her hair and turned to a new page to make a list of possible areas in Tokyo that would suit her needs. And Rocco's, she remembered with a grimace. He was currently sat under the table and her toes were buried under his stomach for an extra bit of warmth. Few apartments would accept him and the ones that did would have a lofty pet deposit, no doubt.

"Mai's going over notes right now, it's best to leave her be," she heard John's polite statement and froze.

Please don't come over here, she begged silently, and flipped back to her notes on the interview.

"Nonsense, you can't work her to death, the rest of you are laying about snacking on left overs," she could hear Henry laughing and teasing them and then . . . dreaded footsteps.

"Henry."

Mai's heart skipped a beat and she bit her lip as she heard him speak for the first time that day. Henry seemed to pause and turn back curiously.

"Leave her be," Oliver commanded coldly.

"Is she in time out?" Henry asked facetiously.

"More like voluntary excommunication," Monk grumbled.

"Ah," Henry nodded, "You've had a lover's spat then."

The sound of two chairs sliding across the hardwood floor reached Mai's ears and she stared down at her notebook with wide eyes. She had stood, fed up with Henry's constant prying, but someone else had stood up as well. Stiffly, she snapped her notebook shut and slid her pen into the metal spiral before she turned and hurried out of base and headed towards the kitchen. Rocco scrambled to his feet and trotted after her.

She had tried to keep her eyes glued to the floor, face heated as she felt all eyes on her, but she had glimpsed it from her peripheral. The figure in black that now stood over the monitors. She had seen his hand twitch, as if to reach out to her, but he remembered himself and it relaxed.

God, why did it hurt so much?

She wiped at her eyes and slammed the kitchen door shut behind Rocco and leaned her back against it tiredly. She hadn't eaten breakfast that morning, as she hadn't been hungry, and while her stomach was still twisted into knots she knew she needed to eat something. Begrudgingly, she pushed herself away from the door and wandered over towards the fridge. There were a few snacks stored there for the team so she grabbed a cup of yogurt and one of the mini fruit bowls to nibble on while she tried to clear her head.

Mai sat herself at a bar stool by the island and opened the yogurt with a sigh. She scooped a bit out with her finger and fed it to Rocco before she tucked in with a spoon. It settled uncomfortably in her stomach. The fruit was easier to nibble on but she knew it wouldn't be enough to keep her going for long. She mentally berated herself to try and eat at lunch.

"Mai?"

Mai turned about to catch sight of Luella as she entered the kitchen and what little she had eaten seemed to lodge itself in the back of her throat. She swallowed and attempted to offer the woman a smile.

"How are you?" Mai asked quietly before she turned back to face the kitchen island and Luella walked around to stand on the other side.

"I've been better," Luella admitted with a sigh.

Mai nodded wordlessly and bit her lip while so pushed the rest of the yogurt around in her cup.

"I'm not mad at you, Mai, please look at me," Luella spoke kindly.

Mai felt tears burn her eyes and she hurriedly wiped them away before she lifted her gaze to meet the older woman's hesitantly. She had not expected Luella to confront her.

"I just wish I had known what an important role you played in my family before I had even met you," Luella continued with a tired smile. "I'm glad that my boys have such a loyal and passionate woman looking out for them," she added and there was a bit of a quaver in her voice.

Mai looked away towards the windows as more tears pooled in her eyes and she rested her chin in her hand, hiding her mouth from view, after she had set her elbow on the marble counter top. She hunched over the counter and struggled against the whimpers building in her throat.

"Noll loves you darling, I know he can be cruel at times, but it is never his intention," she said, "You've done so much for us and I can't imagine not having you as a part of our family. If you truly want to, I can take you in to town and we can pick out a new dress together, but please don't disappear from our lives after this is all said and done."

Mai shook her head, unable to speak without breaking down, and squeezed her eyes shut in a vain attempt to fight back the tears. Luella was too kind. It broke her heart to think that her actions had led the woman to believe that she wanted no part in her life, forced her to beg her not to leave, and she did not know what to say. The love she felt was so pure and genuine in that moment that it stole her breath away.

Luella waited patiently, hands clasped, eyes set on Mai pleadingly.

Mai pulled her hand away and drew in a deep trembling breath. "I don't want a new dress," she stated thickly and glanced at Luella fleetingly, still unable to meet her eyes for any length of time.

Luella's face broke out into a relieved smile. She moved around the island and wrapped Mai up into a tight hug, dropping a kiss onto the top of her head, and squeezed her tightly before stepping back. Mai wiped at her eyes and offered the woman a watery smile.

"Why don't you and I go into town to get some lunch?" Luella offered gently, "I'd love to hear about what you and Gene have been up to before the séance tonight."

"Séance?" Mai questioned as she climbed to her feet and gathered her trash into her hands.

"Noll's planning to reach out to Gene tonight to see if his disappearance has anything to do with the haunting," Luella explained a bit nervously.

"Oh," Mai mumbled before she nodded distractedly and dropped her mess into the trashcan, "That sounds good."

"Perfect, I'll let Noll know I'm borrowing you then, you go find a sweater," Luella instructed before departing the kitchen in a flurry of floral skirts and cheer.

As soon as Mai stepped out of the front door with Luella pulling her along, she was overcome with a strange weakness, and she nearly stumbled. She glanced back at the front doors strangely but turned to follow Luella to her car with trembling hands. If she didn't know any better, she would say she was relieved.

They ate a quiet lunch at a diner and Mai told Luella absolutely everything she could remember. And it was such a relief. A weight had been lifted from her chest that she hadn't even known she had been carrying. She told her how Gene pretended to be Naru in her dreams, how he only revealed himself when everything was said and done, how Naru gave him back to her when he reopened SPR, and the mischief he'd caused ever since. It was Gene who guided Mai all the way up to the afterworld to find Prudence's mother. He had been with her every step of the way, guiding her, teaching her, and confiding in her and she had done her best to make sure he was happy.

Luella cried but they were tears of relief.

Afterwards, they walked about main street for a while, peering into little shops and casually chattering away.

The sun was setting by the time they made it back to the property and as they stepped out of the car and up to the doors, Mai paused. She gripped Luella's hand, eyes lifted to take in the very roof of the palace as it loomed over them, before she turned her eyes onto the woman next to her.

"You should go home, after tonight, Luella," Mai murmured quietly.

"What's wrong?" Luella questioned worriedly, a slight frown marring her face.

Mai shook her head and turned her eyes back to the palace, "It's this place. I don't trust it. I always feel fine once I'm inside but while I'm outside staring in . . . Gene said this place was like a spider in its web, waiting . . ."

Luella let out a steadying breath and nodded wordlessly, "I will then. But I'll call to check in."

The two women entered the property a bit more wary than when they had left.

"Though this is a personal affair, cameras will be recording in the event that we make contact with any of the other spirits, please behave accordingly," Naru ordered smoothly as he stood at the head of the table they had set up in the very center of the ballroom. The word 'why' was still visible under the legs of the wooden table but it had long since lost the emotion that was once attached to it. Moonlight spilled in through the french doors and softened the room around them. Even Naru spoke quietly.

At the table sat Masako, Mai, John, Lin, and Naru himself. The rest of the team stood gathered to one side should anything go wrong while the camera crew were posted about around the table to record the event.

Luella had chosen to stand back with Ayako and Monk while Yasuhara had offered her his arm in support. Madoka was glued to her other side wearing a slight frown. It was obvious she was worried but there was little she could do to assist.

Naru sat down at the table across from Mai and their eyes met. Those deep pools of blue were filled with so much emotion even though his face was a blank slate. She could see the worry, regret, and frustration swirling within in them and she smiled remorsefully in response. The swirling emotions stilled and something softer bubbled forth to push the others away.

He looked away.

"Let us begin," Masako advised and lifted her hands that were soon taken by Mai and Naru. The rest followed suite until a neat circle had been formed. Masako had hoped that by including Mai, Naru, and Lin within the circle, all powerful people who knew Gene, it would strengthen the pull on his spirit.

The room fell silent as the crystal chandelier that hung overhead dimmed until the room was lit by nothing but the single candle placed in the center of the table. Mai held her breath as Masako closed her eyes and reached out.

The darkness that surrounded them was terrifying but Mai worked to steady herself, tightening her hold on John's hand, and let out a small breath when he returned the gesture and sent a reassuring smile in her direction.

The silence was tense and lasted several minutes before Masako leaned forward, her bangs hiding her face, and her hands tightened on Mai and Naru's. Their eyes met again before Naru turned to Masako. He waited, silent but wary, and had taken a quiet breath to speak when Masako jerked.

"Don't . . ." she whimpered pathetically, shoulders quivering, "Don't leave me."

All those within the room fell still and silent.

Mai frowned and shook her head as Naru looked to her curiously. It wasn't Gene that was speaking through Masako. The presence was not familiar in the least and sent shivers down her spine, nothing like Gene's warmth and reassurance. The grip on her hand was iron strong and cut off the circulation to her fingers, she felt the telltale tingling as they threatened to fall asleep, and she absently hoped the séance would come to an end before she lost them.

"Who are you?" Naru asked lowly with eyes narrowed.

"Please, why won't you stay with me?" it pleaded through Masako.

Mai swallowed back a gasp as the words hit her in the chest. She dropped her eyes to the table while the desperate loneliness that had coated the Wicks Palace since they arrived welled up around them as if to drown them all. Mai's hand twitched as she yearned to offer comfort and tried to refrain so as not to misdirect the spirits attention.

It seemed to sense her intention, however, because the grip on her hand tightened and Masako raised her face to Mai with wild and desperate eyes. She pulled Mai closer and leaned forward.

"Please, will you stay with me?" she cried, actual tears forming in her eyes and trailing down porcelain cheeks.

Mai paled, lurching forward under her pull, as the familiar words wrung through her mind.

"Answer the question; who are you?" Naru muttered coldly. He sat ramrod straight in the chair and his arm was straining as he refused to give under the shift of weight. In truth, his grip was the only thing keeping Masako from latching onto Mai.

"You have to stay," Masako continued and Mai pulled against her hold even as Masako's eyes bored into hers with all the desperation of a deranged woman on the verge of death. Her fingers were like talons wrapped around her own, squeezing the life from them, even as she attempted to pull her other hand away from Naru.

"John," Naru snapped over the table, gritting his teeth against the strain of keeping Masako in place while Mai leaned out of her chair and into John's shoulder.

"In the beginning was the word," John began quietly, face serene even as Mai practically climbed into his lap, "And the word was with God. . ."

As if a switch had been flipped, Masako fell limp in her chair, and Mai hurried to catch her before she fell to the hard floor below. They slid to the floor and their chairs scraped against the marble, sending out pitiful wails of protest, while everyone else jumped to their feet to assist.

"Was it exorcised?" Ayako asked incredulously, blinking in confusion as John had only spouted a few lines.

"No," John stated with furrowed brows, "It seems to have run off."

"Whoever the spirit once belonged to, it seems their coherency is long gone" Lin commented quietly and helped Masako to sit up as she regained consciousness.

It was disappointing to say the least. They had intended to reach out to Gene but a raving spirit with no ability to assist in their investigations had taken control and cut the séance short. Everyone's frustrations were mounting and morale was running low as they shuffled off to bed that night. Monk had offered to watch the monitors first in case any activity occurred. Lin nodded his appreciation and followed the rest of the men back to the suite.

Mai helped Masako to bed before she climbed into her own, shared with Ayako so that Madoka could get uninterrupted rest, and Rocco was pushed to the foot of the bed to provide extra warmth.

"Do you think something happened to Gene?" Ayako whispered quietly as she lay facing Mai.

"I don't know," Mai admitted worriedly, "He's just not around. I still feel him in the back of my mind but it's muted. If he was in danger I think I would feel it but I'm not sure."

Ayako sighed and adjusted her pillow before settling once more. "Did Naru talk to you today?"

Mai shook her head demurely but smiled, "It'll be okay. I'll talk to him tomorrow."

"Good, because I have a pair of shoes you can wear with that dress," Ayako murmured, a teasing grin pulling at her lips, and chuckled when Mai slapped at her arm halfheartedly. Of course that's what Ayako was worried about.

Sleep came to everyone quickly that night. They were all worn out after the day's events. Tiptoeing on eggshells around Naru and Mai so as not to invoke either's wrath while performing a séance was more than a little mentally exhausting. Lin shuffled downstairs in the wee hours of the morning to relieve Monk at the monitors and the men shared barely more than a grunt in greeting before parting ways. When the sun rose, so too did SPR, and several people moved to start on a breakfast. Large pots of coffee were in the works by the time Mai had dragged herself into base with Rocco at her side. Today would be a coffee day, she decided, because she couldn't manage making tea for herself let alone all those present.

Mai pulled her hair up into a messy bun and had slipped into a pair of black leggings and her grey sweater once more. It didn't smell the freshest but she desperately yearned for the comfort and warmth it brought her. In her mind, it was casual Friday, regardless if every day was casual for them. She planted herself on one of the sofas with her notebook in hand and stared down at the written words blankly, mind far too muddled to process anything more than the color ink she had used. She had kicked her shoes off and pulled her sock covered feet onto the cushions and curled into herself, desperately clinging to the last wisps of sleepy warmth accumulated overnight.

Why was she so tired?

She had cried herself to sleep the night prior and then spent the day nibbling on small portions of food. She supposed she was emotionally drained as well. Maybe she would take a nap that day.

Coffee was wheeled in by Yasuhara and Avery and soon they had all gathered at the large dining table as food was dished out.

Everyone looked tired.

Mai felt better knowing she wasn't the only one.

"This place is too complicated," Monk started them off as was tradition on the Florence Case.

There was a resounding sigh from around the table as everyone's shoulders fell and they mulled over their coffee and half formed theories on what the actual root cause of the haunting was. Curious things had been happening and they had experienced the reported claims but none of the information they had gathered from Mai quite lined up with the lore. The previous information had insinuated that the guests had perished and then Florence had thrown herself from the balcony but Mai's dream contradicted this theory as the guests were alive before Florence's death. Mai was vehement that Florence was not a murderer and had not poisoned her guests.

Now they had a spirit taunting them regarding the absence of Mai's spirit guide and yet to receive any communication from Florence herself. They just didn't seem to be gaining any traction with the case. All the facts were looping back and contradicting each other.

"Rarely is the paranormal complicated, Monk, we simply do not understand yet," Naru drawled while flipping through the several pages of his notes.

Monk grunted and propped his head up with a hand while he swirled his coffee and lazily eyed his plate of scrambled eggs. He was hungry but debating whether the movement it would require to eat was worth it.

"Well, today we are going shopping for proper clothes, so let's tackle all that we need to get done first thing," Ayako cut in gruffly and downed the rest of her own coffee deftly.

Naru sighed through his nose but waved Ayako away with closed eyes.

Mai drew patterns on the wooden surface with her finger, not quite paying attention to the conversation, and also doing her best to avoid Naru's eyes. She hadn't yet had the opportunity to speak with him and she hardly felt like first thing in the morning was the time to try and have a serious conversation. It was going to be a busy day, she knew, as Ayako wanted to take her along to help her pick out a dress and corral the boys. John, Yasuhara, and Monk would all need to tag along while the rest remained at base. It was going to be exhausting and, as she lifted her eyes to take in the vacant look on John's face, she would be lacking in the helpful priest department.

Ayako stood and looped an arm through Monk's, raised to bring a forkful of eggs to his mouth, and pulled him to his feet.

"Woman, let me eat!" he grumbled as Ayako continued to tug on his arm.

"We don't have time, bring it with you and you can carry it on a clipboard to take down temperatures!" Ayako snapped.

Monk scowled but lifted the plate in his hand and followed at a snails pace.

"Yasu," Mai called tiredly from where she had rested her head on an arm, "Will you come with me to take temperatures?"

"Of course, my fair lady," Yasuhara sang back. As always, he was as chipper as ever, and not for the first time Mai wondered if he was even human.

"Mai, dear, can you help me organize the equipment a bit first? It's turned into a monster of wires," Madoka whined. She had taken a seat on the floor in the corner where much of the spare equipment had been set aside, picked up for use, and then dropped back with little care for organization.

Mai pushed herself to her feet with a sigh and a smile, ignoring the way her body protested pitifully, and shuffled across the room to sit down with her. She had poured herself a new cup of coffee as she went and cradled it like a new born babe before taking a seat and setting it to the side. She did not yet know how Madoka felt about the events of the other night, as they hadn't had the time to speak either, but she was grateful that the woman was still comfortable with working with her.

Yasuhara snapped his fingers under John's nose and the priest startled back into reality with an embarrassed laugh.

Mai worked on untangling a length of wire while Madoka hummed next to her. It was a soothing melody though not one she was familiar with. She wrapped the freed cord into a neat loop and set it aside before she pulled another cluster into her lap and set to work once more. Her eyes unfocused as her hands moved and the cords seem to writhe in her lap. Madoka was right when she said the equipment had turned into quite the monster! She half felt like she had a lap full of snakes rather than cords.

Madoka continued to hum while she pulled out handheld cameras and microphones to be set aside and paired with the appropriate cords once Mai was done.

Mai narrowed her eyes in confusion as the floor shifted and she shook her head to rid herself of the sensation. No one else seemed to have noticed the movement, she confirmed when she glanced about, and turned blurry eyes back to her task. She wrapped up another cord and set it aside.

"Maybe we can get a dessert for everyone tonight," Madoka was pondering aloud and Mai nodded absently in response. "You alright, Mai?" Madoka asked a moment later, eyes furrowed in concern.

"Just tired," she assured her and rubbed at her eyes with a sigh.

Madoka hummed in understanding but froze as a scream rang out and echoed down the halls to the base. Mai jumped, dropping the cords she had been working on, and stumbled to her feet with the others.

A camera was out the door after the group in record time and they hurried back towards the ever active room, the ballroom, from which the scream had originated. The doors were thrown open and everyone was greeted to the sight of Ayako slumped to the floor while Monk leaned over to comfort her with a hand to her shoulder.

"What's going on?" Naru commanded as he stepped into the room but paused soon after.

Several pairs of eyes landed on the balcony doors in front of which were piled a total of three dead cats. Flies buzzed above them and the smell that emanated from their small bodies confirmed that they had been dead for some time. Above them, across the once pristine white French doors, were words scrawled in blood.

"Let us out."

"I don't understand," Masako murmured with a sleeve over her nose, "It wants us to stay but it wants us to let it out?" Her delicate brows crinkled together as mounting frustration rose. Even Masako, ever reserved and poised, was beginning to wane under the confusion of the case.

"I believe we are dealing with multiple entities," Naru stated as he stood with his chin in hand. "We know that one wishes us to stay and the others want to leave. We can only assume then that the one wishing for us to stay is Florence and the ones wishing to leave are the guests who were murdered here."

All signs pointed to Florence being the murder once more. Now it seemed as if she were the one collecting souls and holding them against their will to remain in the palace with her. Naru narrowed his eyes while the others moved around him and stared hard at the marble floor beneath his shoes. It would make sense if Mai was not adamant about Florence's innocence. He was missing something very prominent and he knew it like he knew his own face. His jaw tightened.

Mai lifted a hand to her mouth, her stomach revolting against the stench, and stepped back out of the room while the rest of the group moved forward to assist. The words were photographed for later review and Lin stepped up to collect the bodies in a trash bag to be burned later. Avery had grabbed some cleaner from the kitchen to wash the rest of the evidence away. And the doors were thrown open to air out the smell.

It was all over and done with rather quickly but Ayako was still a bit distraught after coming across such a scene. She showered, despite having taken a shower a few hours prior, and stated she would be leaving for town shortly whether everyone liked it or not.

"That's fine," Naru murmured absently as he looked over the photos taken. They had already been uploaded to Lin's laptop to be added to the growing files revolving around the case. "We'll pick everything back up on Sunday," he added as he shut the laptop and turned to take in the others in base.

"A break sounds nice," Yasuhara crooned.

"Perhaps we will have a refreshed outlook on the situation once we step away for a bit," Lin stated quietly as half the group stood to get ready.

Mai sent the man an appreciative smile. If Lin agreed that some time away was needed then it must be true. Naru was a workaholic by nature and would continue to pound away at the problem until he was successful or passed out from trying while Lin stood as the voice of reason.

"I feel like a member of the Yakuza," Yasuhara commented with a snicker as he stepped out of the changing room to eye his figure in the mirror. He had opted to go for a black pinstripe suit and a white dress shirt beneath. The shop owner had located his size quickly enough and was looking over him with a pleased eye.

Ayako snorted while she handed Monk a hunter green silk tie. It would go well with his hazel eyes and dirty blond hair, she claimed, and rolled her eyes when he stared at the object helplessly. The last time he had tied a tie was his high school graduation. Between being a Monk, rock star, and ghost hunter the knowledge of how to properly knot a tie had been all but deleted from his mind to save space.

"You look like a stylish mob boss," Mai agreed with crossed arms and a teasing grin on her face.

"Or maybe a spy," Yasu gripped his chin with a devilish smile and winked at Mai in the mirror.

"A ghost hunting spy," Mai agreed with a knowledgeable nod.

"I don't think I've ever tried on such a nice suit," John admitted as he stepped out in a solid black three piece suit and black tie. The fabric shone in the overhead light and provided some maturity to John's usually young face.

"You look amazing, John!" Mai exclaimed.

John blushed and laughed nervously while he rubbed the back of his neck and glanced at his reflection in the mirror. "I do feel rather polished," he admitted and chuckled when Yasuhara stepped back to pose next to him playfully.

"Where do they sell the sticks for my ass because I feel like a prick," Monk muttered grimly before Ayako slapped him in the back of the head and pushed him over towards the mirrors.

"Didn't you know, Monk? Naru bought them all," Yasuhara murmured quietly, face straight.

Monk let out a bark of a laugh but let Ayako fuss over his suit amicably.

"Well you all look great," Mai assured them cheerily and lifted a finger to her chin as she looked them all over, "Hopefully you won't be outshone by us ladies."

"I wouldn't say that just yet, Boss, they have a sparkly suit up front that I was eyeing," Yasuhara drawled and half turned as if to make a move for the store front.

Mai shook her finger with a knowing smirk, "Just you wait, Yasu, I may not be the most beautiful lady out there but the dress I found will blow any of your suits out of the water."

"Mai," Yasu said astonishingly, "You automatically win over all the other women because you'll have the most beautiful accessory out there."

Mai cocked her head, confusion evident, and quirked a brow in question.

"Naru," Yasuhara answered simply with an impish grin.

Mai scowled and rolled her eyes before dropping her gaze to the carpeted floor under her toes. Did she though? They hadn't exactly spoken yet and she really wanted to apologize but she had no idea how to approach the man when they were so deep into the case. The image of his blue eyes, soft and glistening in the moonlight of the ballroom, flashed through her mind. He had looked away from her shortly after that but her heart warmed slightly recalling the moment.

The atmosphere in the hanging room seemed to darken a bit and Monk sent a glower in Yasuhara's direction. The younger man lifted his hands in apologetic surrender before he turned back to Mai and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Don't you worry, Boss, everything will be alright. Obviously, if Big Boss was really upset with you he would have removed you from the case. We all know he's kicking himself over the whole thing and is just trying to figure out how to approach you. He hasn't had any tea since! Soon he'll be suffering withdrawal and come crawling back to you."

Mai giggled as Yasu shook her gently and tightened his hold on her before he stepped back. It was true, after all, Naru hadn't had any tea since their fight. Madoka had offered to make him some twice since but he had refused and stuck to his coffee while he worked. If her tea was enough to lure him back to Japan than she was certain it was enough for him to accept her apology.

They grabbed lunch at the same diner Mai and Luella had visited the day before. The suits all needed minor alterations but the shopkeeper informed them it should only take a few hours at most and that they should return after Ayako found a dress.

"Are you going to look for a green dress?" Mai questioned as they all trailed into the same dress shop where Mai had found hers.

"Maybe," Ayako drawled as she eyed the store as a whole with a finger to her chin. She had cocked her weight to one leg and was critically eyeing the selection before she stepped further into the shop. The boys lined up behind her with uninterested expressions, well, John was politely present and looking about curiously. Monk and Yasuhara were muttering by the front window.

"Everyone else is matching," Mai sang teasingly.

Ayako shot her a playful scowl before she walked away and began her search.

The events of the morning seemed to have been forgotten as they shopped, and for that, Mai was grateful. Ayako may have been the most dramatic of the group but she had been truly distraught over her findings and Mai had been worried over her withdrawn and shaken attitude. Lin was right, some time away did wonders. It was important to remove themselves from the cases they handled from time to time to remind themselves that the living world still existed and they were still very much a part of it.

Ayako did end up finding a green dress. It was an elegant and classic piece made of silk and velvet and suited the woman perfectly. It was a mermaid dress, much like Mai's, but made from dark green silk that would match Monk's tie to the exact shade. It was an off the shoulder dress and the small sleeves were made of black velvet that ran along the top of the bodice, revealing her shoulder blades in the back and just the tops of her breasts in the front.

"Nice," Monk called and whistled as she stepped out to eye herself in the mirror.

Mai giggled.

There was no activity that night and everyone was more than a little bit grateful as it allowed them all to sleep soundly and rest before the busy day ahead of them. When they returned to base, they found that the camera crew had started up a card game around the coffee table and Lin and Naru sat at the monitors like the pillars of SPR they were. Masako and Madoka were bent over the back table working on some sort of project and as Mai wandered over to them curiously she discovered that they were piecing together accessories for all their outfits for the gala.

"That's so cool!" Mai exclaimed as she leaned over to look at the assortment of flowers and ribbons. Several corsages had been set aside and they were working on making boutonnieres for the men.

"What is this, prom?" Monk grumbled as he eyed the collection over Mai's shoulder.

Madoka wagged a finger at the charily Monk and said, "These are to represent your branch. While the Gala is hosted by BSPR there are several other companies and branches that attend and we thought it would be a great idea to make these to set you guys apart. Masako offered to do the flower arrangements and I'm great with ribbons and glue and so, our beautiful creations came to be."

Monk rolled his eyes with a groan and turned away, obviously overwhelmed and fed up with the whole thing, while Mai oohed and ahhed over their hard work. Pink cherry blossoms littered the table along with several green leaves and brown branches and had been arranged artfully then wrapped in black ribbon to be tied to a woman's wrist or nestled into the pocket of a man's suit.

"I love it," Mai murmured. It was a little piece of home.

Masako smiled kindly while Madoka stood to collect their creative children and place them in a box carefully. It was lined with thin paper to protect from moisture and accidental crushing during transport.

Everyone turned in early that night and Avery offered to watch the monitors while the rest of the camera crew took the chance to disappear into their own shared suite that was deeper in the palace. The camera crew would remain on property tomorrow and would be taking turns watching the monitors. Naru had instructed them not to take any action should activity arise but to notate and document what they could. If they felt their lives were in danger they were to vacate the premises immediately and contact him or Lin.

Mai and Ayako laid in bed and while the older woman fell asleep immediately, Mai lingered in the waking world, her heart racing. She had never had the opportunity to attend such an auspicious event and she would be lying if she said she wasn't absolutely excited. However, she was also incredibly nervous. She had yet to speak with Naru, as he had retreated to the men's room before she could pull him aside, and she had spent the evening mentally cursing herself. Luella had convinced her to keep her dress and wear their matching colors but would he even acknowledge her tomorrow? It wasn't that he had been ignoring her the past two days but he had definitely pulled back. They shared little more than glances during intense moments and she didn't know if she could stomach such treatment when they would be attending the gala together.

She fell asleep, restless and unsure, but had no dreams that night.

Mai felt the sunlight streaming in through the window as it warmed her face and she debated on snuggling deeper into the covers to avoid the struggles of the day. She felt so cozy and warm and Rocco was sprawled across her legs. There was no way she could possibly move.

But she was pulled from her hazy state by a pillow to her face.

"Get up you lazy bum! We have to be back in London by lunch time and I am not running late because of you!"

Mai groaned, "Ayako, why are you so mean?"

"Up!" was her only response before the blankets were pulled off Mai and she curled into herself to conserve what little warmth she had left. It was far too cruel. "Pack your stuff up, we'll be spending the night in London. Don't wrinkle your dress and make sure to shower before we leave," Ayako continued.

Mai did as instructed while on autopilot. She stumbled through the bedroom, barely avoiding Madoka and Ayako as they scurried about in a hurry to get everything packed up and organized while attempting to manage Mai. Masako sat on her bed with hands clasped in her lap, having already packed the night before, and chuckled when Mai squealed from the bathroom at the lack of hot water. If she hadn't been awake before she certainly was now.

Both vans were packed with bodies, clothes and luggage, and they were incredibly thankful they had been provided both vehicles that morning. While it was possible to shove everyone into one van the nature of their finer clothing prohibited them from stuffing everything into the back of one. The men climbed into the first van with Lin at the wheel while the women shuffled into the second with a cheery Madoka in the driver's seat.

The camera crew waved them off with goofy grins and teasing kisses blown. Mai felt a bit like a mother leaving her teenage children home. It was obvious there would be ample amounts of goofing off while they worked and Mai could only giggle as they threw their arms in the air while the vans trundled down the gravel driveway.

"I'm going back to sleep," Mai called before she climbed over the seat she had shared with Masako and flopped into the back row to lay down.

"Of course you are," Ayako drawled absently while scrolling through her phone.

Mai opened her eyes to watch as the tree tops zoomed by upside down. Madoka was not like Lin, who enjoyed stifling silence during car rides, and had turned the radio on low to add some background noise. Warm air circulated through the vehicle and lifted the scent of new car and carpeting to Mai's nose. It was pleasant and familiar and for a moment she recalled falling asleep in the back of her mother's car while they drove on the weekends to the town where her father had been laid to rest.

Mai had pilfered one of the pillows from her bed for this specific nap and she pulled it under head now to bury her nose in its plush depths happily. It smelled of laundry detergent but now had a hint of her and Ayako's shampoos and a bit of Rocco. She had made the decision to leave Rocco with the camera crew. His abilities for sensing spirits would be incredibly useful to them should any trouble arise. He was the canary in the mines that were the Wick's Palace, so to speak.

She would miss his comforting presence.

She closed her eyes to murmured conversation and giggles and opened them when Madoka pull the van to a stop in the Davis driveway. As per last time, she slammed on the breaks and Mai rolled off the seat to be wedged between the two rows with a squawk of surprise. Madoka then proceeded to honk the horn at the other van, which had pulled in ahead of them, and caused the men to shoot her irritated and bemused looks.

"What? I'm excited!" she called out the window as Lin shook his head and lugged his own suitcase up the driveway, pretending not to know the woman.

Mai struggled back onto the seat while the other women opened their doors and slid out. Really, it was as if she had faded from existence, she thought irritably before climbing over the row of seats and scrambling out the door to help with unloading.

Luella threw the front door of the house open and called to them cheerily. Mai threw her dress over one shoulder, thankful that the plastic covering was opaque and hid it from view of any of the men, before she grabbed her own suitcase and shuffled up the gravel path with a yawn.

"How are you still tired?" Ayako muttered exasperatedly as she fell in behind her.

"I'm not, I just woke up though," Mai assured her with a laugh.

"This is Shelby," Luella introduced the small dark haired woman who stood with them in the drawing room, "She's here to help us get ready." Shelby waved to them cheerily and took charge of the situation like only a season veteran could. She shooed the men out of the room and shut the door behind them for good measure before she hefted three large bags onto a coffee table and pulled a small stool over to be set next to her collection.

"I have five hours to make you all look like the goddesses you are and I don't plan on wasting a single second so who wants to step up first?" Shelby began with hands on her hips. She was dressed in a black long sleeved shirt and leggings but had traded her shoes for a pair of slippers for comfort as she would be standing for several hours, no doubt.

"I'll go first," Ayako claimed a seat on the stool.

Mai let out a relieved sigh and leaned back in the couch she had taken a seat on. She glanced over at the wheeled rack Shelby had instructed them to hang their dresses from and she bit her lip nervously before she pulled her phone from her pocket and decided to give one of her ebooks some attention. Naru had recommended several paranormal volumes for her to read up on when she had the chance and she figured now was as good as any.

Luella served them all tea and snacks while Shelby spoke with Ayako about colors and hairstyles. The conversation was quite but serious and Mai marveled at the gravity such things carried. She supposed she couldn't judge though, as she had never been to such an event, and never had the need to worry about her appearance much. She pulled at a strand of hair to examine it absently and heard Masako chuckle quietly next to her.

"Did you speak to Noll?" Luella asked as she sat down in a chair next to the couch. Her own makeup and hair completed before they had even arrived. Mai had to admit that makeup was a powerful thing. Luella was a beautiful woman, plump and shinning, but she looked so much younger.

"No," she admitted and fiddled with her phone nervously. "Some things happened and I didn't really have the chance. Now I'm worried he's going to avoid me all night!" she bemoaned as her nerves skyrocketed once more.

Luella tittered and waved her hand at Mai, "He could never ignore you. Everything will be fine."

Mai wasn't so sure but she nodded wordlessly regardless, appreciative of the support Luella provided. It was nice to know that she had the woman on her side. Mai knocked her toes together and took a sip of her tea with distant eyes.

Shelby was in the process of pinning Ayako's hair into a coil at the top of her head and pulling strands free to frame her face elegantly. Her makeup was already finished, eyes smoky with a hint of pink to match their cherry blossoms, and Shelby was putting a few finishing touches on her hair before she would move on to nails.

"I like doing it in this order because no one will touch and ruin their makeup with wet nails," she informed them cheekily and eyed Ayako's nails with a respectful air.

"Smart lady," Madoka crowed with a giggle before she returned to perusing Shelby's collecting of lipsticks.

"That's why I hired her," Luella stated primly but her eyes sparkled with mirth.

Once Ayako was finished she looked herself over in a floor length mirror set up by a window critically. She hummed and nodded approvingly, "Your work is good." She turned back to the rest of the room with her hands on her hips, "You should do Mai next. She's probably going to need the most help."

"Rude," Mai snapped and scowled when she felt her face heat up. She wasn't that bad, was she? Sure, she never really did her nails or wore much makeup, but she had nice hair at least. Shelby only patted the stool with a winning smile and Mai could not help but feel as if she were stepping up to the chopping block. She fretted and fidgeted on the stool and only stilled when Shelby rested a hand atop her head and tilted her head about to get a good look at her face.

"You have good skin and bone structure, Mai, don't let her get to you," she teased and shot Ayako a wink. "I don't want to do too much makeup wise, but I do want to do something fun with your hair," she continued to murmur quietly, obviously the words more meant for herself, before she got to work.

"What are you guys doing in here?" Yasuhara called from the doorway and peeked in with a Cheshire grin.

"Yasu!" Mai admonished and glowered at him through one eye while Shelby worked to coat the other in liner.

"You must be bored," Luella observed bemusedly before she turned back to the coffee table to offer him tea.

"He's not bored, he's just trying to cause trouble," Ayako grumbled but scooted over as Yasuhara took a seat on the couch between her and Masako. He was dressed in the pinstripe pants and white dress shirt of his outfit but had left the jacket upstairs on the hook in a closet.

"I do enjoy causing trouble," Yasuhara admitted while taking a sip of his tea.

"He's walked in on me changing on purpose," Mai grumbled but obediently shut up when Shelby dabbed at her lips with a brick red lipstick.

Luella turned wide eyes onto Yasu who only grinned into his tea cup and tilted his head just so to hide his eyes.

"Your son stole Mai from me, Mrs. Davis, I can't help myself," he admitted in a tortured tone.

"Oh lord," Luella bemoaned with a roll of her eyes, clearly used to Yasuhara's tactics.

"Anyways," Ayako called and directed the conversation elsewhere.

Yasuhara stayed with them for an hour before he grew too bored of talk of hair and nails and departed to cause mischief elsewhere. They had no doubt his next target would be John or Naru himself. The men were supposedly getting ready upstairs and using the extra time while the woman primped to discuss the case with Martin.

Mai stared down at her dress and ran a hand across the silken material nervously. Her nails had been painted a matte black and filed into rounded points that denoted a sort of deadly elegance that she rather enjoyed. Shelby had stated she needed a few thorns to go with the flowers on her dress. Her hair was pulled up into a half bun. It was a mess of curls and falling strands punctuated with a few black thread flowers that Madoka had glued to bobby pins as promised and handed off to Shelby to place. Ayako had loaned her simple black stone earrings and a pair of elegant heels to give her a bit of height and swagger in such a form fitting gown.

She had never felt so beautiful in her whole life.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror, eyes wide, and struggled to recognize the plucky young girl within. Gone was the clumsy tomboy and in her place stood a woman of dark grace and class. She swallowed and stepped back so Madoka could look her dress over.

"You look like a goddess," Ayako assured her as she pulled her aside to give her a once over.

"So do you," Mai observed with a soft smile. Ayako looked like mother nature personified in her green and black dress and red curls.

"Madoka looks like an angel next to us," Ayako muttered and they both turned to look at the woman in white with her own pink hair curled into ringlets and pinned back elegantly.

Mai giggled and could only shrug.

"Mai, you look like the Queen of Ghosts!" Yasuhara exclaimed as he once again strolled into the room. His hair was styled in a suave manor and he had put his glasses away. He was buttoning up his suit jacket but paused to look all the women over.

Mai lifted her chin hotly and said, "Bow before me."

Yasuhara complied, sweeping into a low and humble bow, and earned several laughs from the other ladies in the room.

"Will you stop tormenting them," Monk's voice could be heard as he stepped in and scowled at Yasuhara. His own jacket was yet to be buttoned but he had chosen to do his hair up into a bun per Shelby's suggestion. She had stated it would be edgier and Monk had jumped onto the idea excitedly. Anything to revolt.

"You idiot, bow before you queen," Yasu cried and pulled Monk down into a low bow.

Monk scowled and pushed Yasuhara off of him and straightened with a flick of his jacket. "They're all queens, Yasu, maybe you'll get a girlfriend when you realize this," he muttered but smiled as he took Ayako in and then grinned when he spotted Mai.

"Heresy," Yasu cried.

"What's going on?" John asked as he peeked into the room and smiled upon sighting all the women. "You all look lovely," he said.

"John, you must bow before our queen," Yasuhara continued to mutter.

"Oh, I see several queens in this room," John schmoozed, causing Masako to giggle from behind the sleeve of her most elegant kimono.

"Alright, I will concede this point, but given that we are paranormal investigators, I suggest you bow to the Queen of Wandering Spirits over there," he gestured to Mai flippantly, causing the girl to snort.

"You are quite right," John teased and fell into a low bow as well.

"Alright, alright, you lot, let us ladies out," Luella chided as she shooed the men out the doorway and followed in their wake. They all stepped out into the foyer where the rest of the men had remained to wait patiently.

Mai glanced down at the small black clutch Ayako had passed to her and slid her phone into it with furrowed brows. It wasn't quite large enough to hold everything she needed it to. She had a few spare bills left over from her funds and a tube of the red lipstick that Shelby left for her and instructed her to touch up her make up every hour or so. What was the point of such a small bag? She wondered with a sigh.

She paused and lifted the tube from the bag, debating on just stuffing it down the front of her dress, but a hand reached out to coax it from her fingers. She blinked and turned to watch as Naru slid the lipstick into his pocket and offered his arm to her.

If Mai was a Queen then the man standing before her was a god and she was not ashamed to admit it. A three piece black suit fitted to perfection with a coal grey shirt that matched the exact shade of her own dress met her eyes. He had chosen to go with a black tie, as opposed to his father who wore a bowtie, and it was tucked away neatly. His hair was slicked back, though a few rebellious locks fell into his face, but Mai could not deny it made him look devilishly handsome. Dark blue eyes stared into her own as she took the offered arm slowly.

"You're learning," he purred.

Mai cocked her head in confusion, brows knit.

"You managed to keep your mouth shut," he continued to explain lightly.

Mai gaped at him, shocked that he had so blatantly ruined the moment, and scowled when he sighed.

"Don't regress now," he admonished her and reached to close her mouth with a finger to her chin.

"So bold of you, Big Boss, not to bow before your queen," Yasu stage whispered, scandalized, from where he stood next to John. "I assumed you were the most devout of all followers given your profession. Take heart, my Ghostly Queen, for I will be more than happy to spirit you away from this brute of a man."

"Yasu," Mai groaned in mortification. A blush erupted across her cheeks and she moved to step away from Naru just as Madoka reentered the room with the box of flowers in hand. Madoka passed the flowers around for everyone to pin to themselves.

Naru took the corsage in Mai's hand and fingered it thoughtfully, unhurried by those around him, before he lifted his eyes to her with a smirk. He bowed low, one arm at his waist, and straightened with all the calm and grace of a king. He ignored the pleased squealing from Madoka and Luella and lifted Mai's hand in his own to tie the black ribbon around her wrist gently. His cool touch on her pulse sent shivers down her spine but she dutifully accepted the boutonniere from him to pin it on his lapel. Her fingers trembled while she worked and she frowned, unhappy with how it laid against the fabric, and gave it one last nudge to put it in place. Naru gripped her hand against his chest and gave it a gentle squeeze before wrapping it back around his arm once more. She smiled, small and hesitant, but gripped his arm happily.

"I think not," Naru threw back over his shoulder to Yasuhara as they passed through the doorway and out into the night.

"I don't think I can top that," Lin murmured down to Madoka at his side and smiled when the woman swatted at him playfully.

"Smooth bastard," Yasuhara muttered jokingly and followed the rest of the group outside where a limo waited to ferry them to the gala.