Case 1 – Day 2 (Just after midnight)

Noll stood along the wall. His outward pensive expression was part of his traditional routine. He adapted this look for numerous occasions and feelings. The first being the obvious, when he was actually perusing over facts in a thoughtful manner. There were times he also utilized this expression when he was happy, he would tap his lip to keep a smile from forming. He used it when he was annoyed with another person. His higher level of intelligence than most made him less then patient at times. If he got angry it was simply better to appear stoic and somber. Otherwise if did give way to his anger his PK could go berserk. The two emotions claiming him right now that he was hiding were concern and fear. Mai had gotten hurt in her dreams again. If they didn't solve this case quickly she may end up in the hospital and that did not bode well with Noll's gut.

Noll looked over at Mai's prone form on the couch. She refused to sleep on the bed in the room that was set aside for her. She claimed that she would rather be near the computers that way if she had another dream she could document it. Honestly, Noll thought this was a sensible decision. Yet, he found himself despising her prophetic dreams. He definitely didn't want her to have another, not this time where her safety was threatened and he had no way to protect her. Even Gene could not protect her in her dreams anymore.

If there had been another couch Gene would have also slept at base. He had been annoyed that it wasn't an option but proceeded to go to bed himself. He had given Noll a knowing look. They both knew that Noll would not rest tonight. Not with all his worries currently taking up unwanted residency in his mind.

Mai shifted on the couch. She was normally quite still when she slept peacefully. But something was obviously disturbing her because although she was asleep she seemed restless.

Mai sighed and it echoed in the room. Noll wouldn't dwell on that sigh much. That sigh was one of those sounds that brought most any male to their knees. He wouldn't deny to hope to hear that sound again in different circumstances. But he wouldn't think about it right now. He cleared his throat to regain his composure.

Lin who had been quietly observing the monitors glanced at Noll. Lin was not prone to smirking but there was no other descriptors to call the look upon his face now.

"You do realize, Noll, that I will call you if she has a dream. You can go rest yourself."

"I am not sure I would get much rest." Lin knew exactly how Noll felt regarding Mai. His brother knew more of course, their connection left no secrets between them. Lin was the one whom Noll talked to when he felt his sensibilities and brains turn to mush because of the lovely creature she was.

"I would keep her safe. You do realize that?"

Noll nodded. Of course he knew that. Lin may not openly admit it but he loved Mai. He cared for her as if she were a younger sister just as he cared for Noll as if he were a younger brother.

"It's more then just worry that keeps you here though isn't it?"

Noll had no clue how Lin could be so short about something that seemed ginormous. "I don't know how to express what it is that is locking me in place. I don't know what it is exactly that keeps me gravitating to her proximity."

"I think you do, Noll. I think you do know you just don't want to verbalize it."

Noll sighed. Of course he knew. He knew exactly why he couldn't stand being apart from her. The four years apart had been excruciating. He had tried his damnedest to forget her proclamation of love. He forced himself to forget his reaction. The question that escaped his mouth before he took the time himself to analyze his own confusing feelings. He tried to forget the hurt that crossed her face when he questioned her feelings.

Then there was just thinking about her in general. He tried to keep from dreaming about her cinnamon eyes and her peachy scent. He did his best not to peruse over memories of her tea, their fights, and especially how she made him smile despite the mask he tried to keep in place.

"I will never say it aloud, Lin. I won't admit it. I can't afford to lose all connection." That was his biggest fear. That she would never welcome him back in if she knew how he felt.

Mai audibly sighed again. This one was somewhat different from the last in inflection. Noll stayed across the room from her. If he had walked over to her he would have seen that she heard his last statement. He would have seen she was awake at that moment. He also would have noticed the tears that sprung to her eyes.

Case 1 – Day 2 (7 am)

No dreams regarding the case occurred last night. It confused Mai because during other recent cases her dreams were constant. Every time she shut her eyes she would dream about something involving the case. But this time she felt let down by her abilities.

Actually the dreams she did have had nothing to do with work and everything to do with her tedious partner. She swallowed hard and shut down her thought process but it didn't keep her from glancing his way.

She looked over at where Naru was now resting on the couch she vacated. It was obvious he was a light sleeper. She wondered if he was always a light sleeper though. Perhaps when he wasn't on a case he took the opportunity to turn off the guard he erected around himself and to truly get some well deserved rest. She momentarily wondered if during those moments if the great Oliver Davis drooled. She put her hand over her mouth as she nearly laughed out loud.

Naru shifted on the couch slightly. She knew he had heard the small giggle that escaped.

Mai went over the hazy memory from last night. "I will never say it aloud, Lin. I won't admit it. I can't afford to lose all connection."

What could he have meant by that? At the time she took it to mean exactly what she wanted it to mean. That he had feelings for her but would not vocalize it. How naive it had been for her to consider that. A lot could change in four years. As far as she knew Naru had a girlfriend or heck even a fiancee in England. That thought felt like a knife turning in her gut.

Mai paced the room. Trying to keep from dwelling on her thoughts and focus on the case. She tried to focus on the fact that Yasu would be there any minute.

Mai's mind drifted to the one and only date she had with Yasu. The group had encouraged her to try it out. He was definitely interested in her. He made her laugh. But that one date proved disastrous. The biggest flaw in the date of course was the fact that he wasn't Naru.

Sure Yasu made her laugh throughout dinner. But when he would smile at her she wished it was the elusive few smiles she would get from her former employer. When he would hold her hand it wouldn't elicit the zings of electricity she sometimes felt just being in Naru's presence. When he had a thoughtful expression she was unsettled from her curiosity of wondering what he might be thinking.

Yasu didn't realize the dilemma she was having. He leaned in to try to kiss her goodnight at the end of the date, and that was when Mai fessed up. She told him she did care about him but that it wouldn't be fair to pursue a relationship that didn't have a future.

As if her thoughts had conjured him up she caught a shiny flash out the window. She looked outside to see his red Datsun Go climb around the curve of the driveway. Once he parked he stretched his long legs out of the car. The car had plenty of room for his height but for some reason she expected him to buy a sports car. He claimed that wasn't realistic and bought something he deemed more reliable. What would Mai know? She knew nothing about cars and could barely drive herself.

Mai frowned at the small manilla folder he carried in his hand. She could already decipher that Yasu didn't find much in his background check. The folder was thin and normally he would carry either a briefcase or an expandable folder with him.

Mai ran to foyer to let Yasu in. When she passed the couch on her way out Naru stirred, and she knew he would be fully awake by the time they came back with Yasu.

The look on Yasu's face confirmed what she already figured out. He looked defeated.

A half an hour later the whole group was gathered together. Yasu relayed that he didn't find much regarding the house. "I did discover that the original house was built sometime during the Edo period. In fact the most interesting fact I found is that over the years several owners have attempted to renovate the house but always go back to the original floor plan. That never has changed."

"I wonder if they had planned to change it and something kept them from doing so." Mai pondered aloud.

"What do you mean, Mai?" Gene asked.

"I'm wondering if the spirits here are not letting them change the frame of the structure."

"It's a curious thought. One owner tore down the whole house only to rebuild an exact replica." Yasu informed everyone.

Mai nodded at Yasu because she had already deciphered that as a possibility herself.

"Did you find anything on the original owner?"

"A bit but not much. His name isn't recorded at all for some reason which I found odd. But there was a journal from the following owner. He claimed that he bought the house after the previous owner passed. He knew that he was a wealthy merchant and that he was quite young. His body was discovered somewhere on the grounds but cause of death was unknown to him. The journal was rather short on entries. Maybe a couple weeks worth of entries at most."

"Did you perhaps bring the journal?" Naru asked.

"It was literally falling apart. I could see if I could get a digital copy and send it to you."

Naru arched an eyebrow. His way of communicating that it should have been done already. Mai rolled her eyes and turned to Yasu.

"Yasu, thank you for helping out." Mai was at her wit's end from the lack of information. There were a couple of things that he was able to find out that seemed prudent. But overall he mostly just reiterated what she already knew.

Ayako chimed in, "Think we can get Masako here to conduct a séance?"

Monk grunted, "I thought she said she had a huge gig this week."

Mai rolled her eyes. The fact that Monk still used the word gig to refer to a job was humorous. He would never lose sight of his first love, music. She took a deep breath and prepared to propose her solution.

"No!" Ayako screamed before she could open her mouth. "You will not! I forbid it!"

Mai sighed. "I am the boss you know?"

Gene was confused. "I don't understand."

"Mai is thinking of trying to do the séance herself."

"Ah, and the last time was obviously disastrous. No need to say more. You know you could just ask me?"

Mai chuckled aloud at her forgetfulness. Gene was a perfect medium of course he could conduct the séance.