The Bloodstained Labyrinth
The splash page opens with a person being forcibly taken towards a tiled table that's splattered with blood. A bucket and a tub, also bloodstained, are nearby. Gloves, probably surgical gloves, are placed on a hand. A knife glitters in view. A voice cries for help and begs "I don't want to die."
Daytime, outside of a Western-style mansion. Mai is surprised that such a mansion exists in Japan. With Mai are Naru, Lin, Ayako, Monk-san, John, and Yasuhara. Ayako says that as breath taking as the mansion may be, it's still haunted. Monk-san replies that they wouldn't be there if it weren't, sparking another of their arguments. Yasuhara comments that they haven't changed since he saw them last. (It's now springtime.) Mai remembers how Yasuhara came to join this case.
Five days earlier. A woman walks into the SPR office and tells Mai that she has a meeting with someone in the office. Mai says that most everyone's out. The woman asks if Lin is there. [LKK: She does not use an honorific with Lin's name.] Mai says that Lin is in and hints for the woman's name. She introduces herself as Madoka Mori. Mai is about to fetch Lin when he steps out of his office. Madoka calls his name. Lin is stunned to see her. Madoka apologizes for the surprise visit and asks if she caught him off guard. Smiling, Lin confesses that she did, but that couldn't have been the reason she came. (Mai is flabbergasted that Lin smiled at her and wonders if Madoka is …) Madoka asks if Naru is in. No, he's on a trip. Madoka seems to understand what Lin is alluding to. Still, she asks Lin to call Naru because it's for business.
Lin contacts Naru by phone. Lin's half of the conversation does not seem to be going well. Mai guesses Naru is badgering him. Lin transfers the phone to Madoka. Madoka takes the phone. After a few exchanges, she convinces Naru to return. Mai is astounded that Naru listened to her. After Lin returns to his office, Madoka guesses that Mai must be the part-time worker, Taniyama. Mai is fixated on Madoka convincing Naru to return. He and Lin never seem to interact with people except for work. Mai asks Madoka how she knows the men. Madoka answers that she's their master. She's the one who taught Naru how to "ghost hunt". Again, Mai is shocked. She realizes there's no reason to think that Naru was born a ghost hunter. However, she wonders how someone as gentle as Madoka could have been Naru's sensei. (She obviously didn't teach Naru any manners.) Mai sadly concludes that she doesn't really know that much about Naru.
A "pouting" Naru returns to the SPR office the next day. In addition to Naru, Monk-san, John, Masako, and Ayako have arrived for business at Naru's request. A client has offered SPR a new case, and Naru would like to ask for everyone's help. The case is a big one. The client has asked SPR to use discretion. If the press finds out, there'll be a media circus. Naru confesses that he doesn't want to take the case, but circumstances make it unavoidable.
Masako asks if this case is the one Ohashi brought? If so, he approached her about it last week. Naru asks if she'd like to solve this one on her own. Masako declines, promising Naru her full cooperation. Naru wants to avoid all contact with the media, so he's asked Yasuhara to be his stand-in. Yasuhara walks through the office door at that time. Monk-san is surprised that Naru hates the media so much that he would need an impersonator. Naru counters that if it wasn't true, he wouldn't have asked Yasuhara to help. The client has called together several other mediums. Once the media learns this, they will become suspicious and flock to the scene. Naru doesn't want to get involved. Monk-san observes that if something is distasteful to Naru, he dumps it on someone else. Naru counters that if Monk-san isn't interested, does he think that Naru would care if he left right now?
Madoka explodes, chastising Naru because he can't ask a favor properly and calling him a selfish brat. She apologizes to the others for this child who hasn't learned his manners yet. Naru orders her to stop talking. She agrees but sweetly orders Naru to watch his mouth. To the others, Madoka explains that Naru hates to make a big show of things and has refused similar cases in the past. This time, he's taking the case as a favor to her. She formally requests the others' help with the case. They accept.
Mai asks what Naru's role in the investigation will be. He will be a mere investigator. (No one believes him, but no one says so aloud.) Ayako asks who the client is. The Prime Minister. And that's how the SPR gang found themselves in a huge elegant mansion five days later.
In the mansion foyer, the gang meets Ohashi who grants them full authority on this case. Yasuhara introduces himself as the president of SPR, "Shibuya Kazuya". Ohashi had heard that the president of SPR was young. Yasuhara introduces the mediums who assist him on cases — Monk-san, Ayako, and John. Yasuhara introduces his assistants. After Mai says her name, she wonders what Naru will say. Naru introduces himself as "Kazuo Narumi". Lin introduces himself as "Koujo Lin". Ohashi asks Lin if he is Chinese. Yes, Hong Kong originally. Mai, Ayako, and Monk-san are surprised. Mai thinks that while she knew that not all foreigners looked like John, she never guessed that Lin was also a foreigner. Monk-san says that he had wondered if "Lin" was a family name or a given name. Wouldn't it have been sad to been born with Lin as a given name? As in Rin Tin Tin-chan? The three giggle quietly.
Ohashi leads the group deeper into the mansion. However, as she leaves the hallway, a sudden chill and a strange odor strike Mai.
In a banquet room, Ohashi introduces everyone whom he has asked to come. Housen Temple's chief priest Kenshou Imura. From the National Defense Academy, Professor Chie Igarashi and her assistant, Naoko Suzuki. Masako Hara. Reimei Minami, president of the Minami Psychic Research Center and his employees Hideo Atsugi, Yukie Shirashi, and Miwa Fuduka. Plus the Minami group's observer Dr. Oliver Davis of the British Society for Psychic Research. Mai, Ayako, and especially Monk-san are shocked. Dr. Davis of SPR is a legend among those who possess PK and ESP powers. Mai can't believe that she gets to meet him and wonders if Davis will demonstrate PK for them. Monk-san is dazed and speechless. Even Ayako is awestruck that the original SPR is here. [LKK: FYI. Oliver Davis is first mentioned in episode 8 during the discussion of types of PK. He should also have been mentioned in episode 15, but the discussion was cut from the dialogue.]
Meanwhile Ohashi continues his instructions. During the investigation, everyone is welcome to stay at the mansion. They may retire to their quarters at any time. However, they cannot leave the premises. He asks that everyone respect this condition. Minami pipes up. Count on them. After all, they have Dr. Davis with them. Plus if the situation gets worse, they can always call on Alex Taunus or Uri Geller or someone else.
In the room that SPR has chosen as its base, the gang is setting up the equipment. Mai mentions to John that Minami is amazing. He knows so many famous people. The conversation turns to Dr. Davis. Mai asks if the doctor is from America. No, he's English. John thought he'd be younger until he heard him speak. Mai asks John if he speaks English. For a moment, John is silent. His country invented the English language. Mai had forgotten. John offers to do some translating for her in the future. They comment on Monk-san's reaction to seeing Davis. John says he thinks Monk-san "inclines" … (Mai suggests the word "idolizes") … yes, idolizes Davis. He's a big fan. (Monk-san is carrying boxes and still in his dazed state.)
Ohashi confirms with Yasuhara that the room will be sufficient for their needs. Yes. Yasuhara asks if Ohashi will answer some questions for him. He asks "Narumi" (i.e. Naru) to conduct the questioning. Naru and Ohashi discuss the case background while the others listen.
Naru states they know that Ohashi's wife's grandfather originally built the building. However not Ohashi's wife, not his wife's father, nor anyone else from the family lived there. A rumor started that a spirit had appeared. As time progressed, the rumor was forgotten. Then two months ago, a boy vanished from the building. Local juveniles had broken into the vacant building. By this time, the mansion's structure had become convoluted and unsafe, some areas to the point of collapse. The police and firemen looked for the missing boy, but he was never found. In addition one of the firemen searchers disappeared during the search. Then several people claimed to have seen human apparitions in the mansion.
Even before those disappearances, it was reported that workers disappeared during the mansion's renovations. Ohashi's father supposedly wrote in his will "They gave their all to this mansion, and it's here they shall remain until they rot." When two more people disappeared, terrible rumors began to spread. That was when Ohashi decided to call in the mediums to resolve the situation.
Naru asks how old the building is. Ohashi says he heard construction started around the year Meiji 10. Naru is unsure about the dating and confirms that Meiji 10 is the year 1877. Since it was first built, so much renovation has been done that hardly anything remains of the original structure. Naru heard that Ohashi's wife's father had done some sort of renovation every year since his father built the structure. Why every year even though no one lives there? Ohashi doesn't have an answer.
Naru asks what the grandfather (the original owner) was like. His name was Kaneyuki Miyama. He owned a large plot of land in the Suwa region. He built a silk-spinning factory and eventually devoted himself to philanthropy. He built orphanages and charity hospitals. In the financial panic of Meiji 40 (1907), he lost much of his business and had to shut down some of that. He died 3 years later. Did Kaneyuki live here? Yes. Did Ohashi ever see anything himself? He stayed at the mansion for 1 week but never saw anything. He did hear stories though. Did he hear them from people who were with the missing persons? That's off the record. Does Ohashi have any idea as to what may be causing the ghosts? No. Does he have house blueprints? No. Ohashi leaves.
Ayako calls the place a proverbial haunted mansion. Monk-san agrees: a western-style mansion with lots of history. He notes Naru's expression and asks what's wrong. Naru says he thinks something's not right. A haunted mansion abandoned for year, a convoluted building with no blueprints. Naru decides they need to stay there overnight. Monk-san isn't keen on the idea, but Naru says they'll do so discretely. He orders Mai to set up the thermal sensors at various locations and tells Monk-san that they'll go before sunset. Is that safe? They'll go in pairs. No one patrols alone. Ayako shall make some charms. Monk-san asks if Naru isn't being over-cautious? Naru responds that those are the words of a careless man looking for an excuse to be lazy.
Monk-san is irked but thinks he's found a way around Naru this time. Such a cautious attitude is a sudden change of heart for "investigator Narumi-kun". Ayako picks up on Monk-san's plan. True, Naru doesn't sound like a lowly investigator. Only the president has the authority to give orders like that. And that would be Yasuhara who wouldn't cop such an attitude with them. Naru offers a solution. He will defer to his elders. So whoever wants to take charge of this operation, please step forward. Monk-san and Ayako freeze.
Mai notices Masako looks pale and asks about her. Masako has felt an anxiety ever since she entered the house. Plus she smells blood. Mai remembers her front door experience and tells the others. They chastise her for not mentioning it right away. But until Masako said something, she thought she was imagining it.
Mai, Yasuhara, and Monk-san are inside the main part of the mansion. The place is like a carnival fun house. Stairs descend from the ceiling without the benefit of a stairwell or reaching the floor. Doors are covered to the doorknob by the floor. Windowed shutters are built into the ceiling. Monk-san trips over a beam that juts up in the floor. Yasuhara finds the place invigorating. Mai and Monk-san decide Yasuhara is weirder than Naru. They enter another weird room. Yasuhara feels like he's in a role-playing game (RPG). Mai is instructed to take notes of the exact layout of the rooms. In addition to that, she's taking temperature readings with a digital thermal sensor. She's a little worried that they might encounter the corpses of the missing people. Monk-san reassures her that anything they might find, the police would have already found. He surprises even himself when he opens a window shutter that opens unto another room rather than the outside. The shutters had to have been added during renovations.
Mai notices that the temperature in the room suddenly sank four degrees. The group decides to move to the next room. But they don't remember which door they came in through. Monk-san says this house reminds him of the legend of the Winchester mystery house. According to the legend, the owner believed that misfortunate would befall her once she finished building the house, so she never stopped renovating it. Wandering around, they discover a room within the room that Yasuhara again equates to an RPG.
Minami and his team of assistants interrupt them. Minami spots the thermal sensor in Mai's hand and compliments Yasuhara for knowing so much about psychic investigations despite his youth. Yasuhara asks if Minami is doing the same. Yes, he's following the methods Dr. Davis taught him. He swishes around an alcohol thermometer as he speaks. Minami says that they shouldn't have trade secrets, so feel free to ask him about any of his techniques. Yet Mai can't help notice the lackadaisical way Minami is taking the temperature. She wonders if he is really a researcher. One of Minami's assistants says that he senses something beyond the room. They leave to investigate. Mai can't believe that they're done with the current room so soon. Did they even measure anything? As he leaves, Minami wishes the SPR gang good luck and cryptically adds that the spoils go to the exorcising team that wins.
Back at the base, Mai hands the information survey to Naru. While Naru examines it, Mai teases Monk-san about being a fanboy of Dr. Davis. Monk-san defends himself. It's so rare to meet such a meticulous researcher, an amazingly diligent man, who writes his thesis like they were regular scientific thesis. This confuses Mai. Monk-san explains about one of the books the doctor wrote. The preface to the book said, "It's a subject of controversy whether the study of the supernatural is legitimate science or a fraud. The author believes that is not a science — yet. Therefore, I think we must first conduct our research in such a way that supernatural research will acknowledged as a science." Yasuhara understands what he meant. Because the study of the supernatural is not yet considered a science, they must conduct their research in a scientific manner in order to be accepted. Monk-san points out that those who believe in the supernatural phenomena insist that it is a science. Those who oppose call their work believe it is fraudulent. Since the doctor is a psychic himself that's how he knows psychic phenomena exist. John adds that the doctor's book is a thoroughly accurate research tome. Mai asks, does that mean that the doctor conducts research properly like Minami? Yes. But unlike Minami, Dr. Davis has a decent personality. Ayako is dubious of Minami. She doesn't feel they can trust him.
Mai wonders why Dr. Davis didn't say anything back during their introductory meeting. John wondered that too. He thought it odd that Davis was quiet. Surely, Davis has worked with young people before. John has doubts about how old Davis looked. He looked too old. John says that the doctor earned his degree at the Londenberg Foundation. The Foundation is devoted to psychic research and noted for its aggressive research program. It created a special degree for its most accomplished researcher. The winning researcher was also awarded a university lecture position. Dr. Davis earned that doctorate which is a little different from an ordinary doctorate.
That's why there was such a fuss over his appearance earlier. In addition to his research, Davis is a famous psychic in his own right. Because he's a spirit researcher, he doesn't exercise his own supernatural powers much. Monk-san pitches in. However, one time some years ago, he did a PK public experiment. It was done in a lab, so a video probably exists. Monk-san hasn't seen the video himself. But in the video, Davis smashed an aluminum mass against a wall. Monk-san starts another story about Davis. He found an American millionaire's kidnapped son. The kidnap victim had been buried underground alive.
An irate Naru interrupts them. Monk-san asks him where he went. To set up the cameras, of course; Naru came to work. Mai hops to help, but he cuts her off cold. Naru has set up the cameras in the center of where everyone will be sleeping. From there, they'll maintain a safety zone and gradually increase the radius. It's far from here, but that can't be helped.
As Monk-san collects some equipment to move, he tells Mai to contact her family to let them know she'll be there for a while. Mai says there's no need. She's an orphan. Monk-san, Ayako, Masako, John, and Yasuhara freeze. You're an orphan? Yes. What about grandparents, etc? No single living relative. Father died when she was really small. Mother died when she was in junior high. Some of her teachers let her stay at their house. Now she supports herself. Because of her school's generosity to the needy, her school fees are waived. Her living expenses are covered by scholarships and her part-time job especially since the pay's so good. Monk-san hugs her and says he'll take care of her. She can be his wife. Wait, Mai said that she'd rather work? Well, she's not that cute after all. During this, Mai thinks that she doesn't like the needling sometimes, but she thinks that if she keeps working, she'll be fine. She likes these moments when they can be friendly and relaxed. It's the same feeling you get when you say, "I'm home." Ayako asks if Mai's status is why she can devote so much time to this job. Her school has always allowed her to take time off. But not only does this job pay her bills, it feels like she's on vacation. The others figure out that Mai is doing the job in part to skip school. Monk-san says she'll grow up stupid. Mai complains that he sounds too much like Naru.
Naru has had enough of the banter and brings the conversation back to business. He orders them to set up the night-vision cameras, thermographs, and condenser mikes in 5 places. Afterwards, Monk-san, John, and Yasuhara are to measure the dimensions of all rooms and corridors. They need to build their own blueprint, but they'll do that later since it's nearly nightfall. That night while in bed, Mai hears a dripping sound. It sounds like a dripping faucet. She goes to the bathroom to check. But the water is completely turned off. The sound continues. It's coming from behind the shower curtain. Mai reaches for the curtain and notices a metallic odor. Liquid overflows from the edge of the tub. Mai draws back the curtain. A naked body is floating in the tub filled with blood.
Mai's eyes snap open. Ayako leans over her trying to get her attention. Mai realizes that she had been dreaming. But she still feels spooked.
The next day, Mai and the guys are back in the main part of the house taking measurements again. But they're off somewhere. According to the hallway measurements, the room should be rectangular. But the interior of the room is square. Monk-san and John go outside the room to measure again. Yasuhara is puzzled. They've already measured the room several times, each time more carefully. Monk-san and John return. They got the same measurements as before. Mai can't understand how a room's width can be off by 3 meters. Yasuhara suggests another possibility — a secret room. Frustrated, Monk-san decides to break down a wall. John suggests a break to calm everyone down.
However, when they start up again, they still measure a gap. This time, Yasuhara notices an airflow even though they're in the center of the house. That makes no sense to him. There have been a lot of features that serve no purpose to someone living in the house. They decide to investigate another of the house's oddities. In doing so, they encounter Housen Temple's chief priest Kenshou Imura who asks if it was necessary to bring children into this investigation. Yasuhara assumes his persona as leader of the SPR team. Imura asks how old Yasuhara is. 243 years old. All of the people of his family have lived long lives. The priest is scornful and asks when Yasuhara was born. In a blink of an eye, Yasuhara spouts off a rapid display of Japanese dates and historical references to recount his family history. Overwhelmed, the priest runs away.
Back at the base, everyone is looking at a computer-generated sketch of the area they mapped earlier. Including the attic, there are 106 rooms in the mansion. The sketch reveals an oddity. The other perimeter of the building doesn't match the interior room layout. In addition, there's too much empty space between the rooms. The guys insist their measurements were double-checked several times. Yasuhara puts forward his secret rooms theory. Naru considers the idea and orders that the measurements be verified tomorrow.
The SPR gang minus Naru and Lin are at dinner. Monk-san is complaining about having to do another round of measurements. The National Defense Academy professor Chie Igarashi approaches "Shibuya" (i.e. Yasuhara) and asks if he will do a favor for her since he doesn't seem as shady as certain other mediums. She'd like to conduct a séance tonight. She hoped "Shibuya" would help. Fortunately for Yasuhara, Naru and Lin enter the room at that moment. He asks "Narumi" what he thinks about participating. Naru considers and says that he's interested. However, they can only arrange a small séance tonight. They set a time for 9 o'clock in the next room.
In the distant darkness, liquid drips. "I don't want to die" is heard.
The time for the séance arrives. In addition to Shibuya (i.e. Yasuhara), Minami and Dr. Davis will be participating in the séance. Minami has brought his video camera. But it's too dark in the room to film. He asks that the room's lighting be increased. Igarashi is surprised. During the séance, only a single candle will be lit. Spirits dislike brightness, don't they? Minami is surprised to hear that and disappointed. Igarashi asks if Minami has a night-vision camera. She invited him because he had promised to video tape the procedure. (Off to the side, Ayako feels justified in her suspicions of Minami. Mai agrees.) Igarashi asks Shibuya if she can use SPR's night vision camera. Yasuhara surreptitiously checks with Naru who agrees.
The séance begins. The room is dark save for a single candle on the round table. Around the table holding hands are Igarashi, her assistant, Yasuhara, Minami, and Davis. The other observers are standing away from the table against one wall. Igarashi urges the spirits to take her assistant's hand and to use her to reveal their souls. Mai is dubious that this will work, but Masako suddenly reacts to a presence. At nearly the same time, the assistant begins scribbling on the papers in front of her. She can barely control herself. The urge to write is overwhelming. Igarashi feeds her sheet after sheet. Rapping sounds resound through out the room. Someone slams against Mai's back even though she was standing against a wall. Monk-san yells one of his chants, and the room goes silent. Naru turns on the light. Minami has hidden himself underneath the table. Davis is pressed up against a wall as if he was running away. Yasuhara, Igarashi, and her assistant remain at the table. Naru begins collecting the papers. The others pitch in. All the papers say the same thing. "Help", written in black marker. All except one that was written in red with the words "I don't want to die".