hi everyone! so I'm back from my vacation: florida is the best when wanting to escape snow and cold weather and now I'm back with a new story! people are going to start getting annoyed with me but this is going tobe my baby for a while and I'm going to put off all other projects to work solely on this one. however, if I get a decent amount of reviews on this story I might consider posting what I have of chapter 12 for let the games begin
anyways, this story was inspired by a new comicy manga I read called Todd Alison and the Petunia Violet. it's AWESOME! my story takes place around the era of who framed roger rabbit or annie; i'm not exactly sure which one it fits into most right now...
One more thing; this is rated a high T because it mentions adult related themes but does not go into detail; minimal to none in these first few chaters but towards the end it will have hints...
Disclaimer: unless I get the rights for Christmas I do not own Ghost Hunt.
Crime. It was everywhere these days it seemed. People were getting shot in the streets, wealthy people were getting kidnapped, gangs were bombing government buildings, and as recently as last week a valuable Madonna painting had been stolen right out of the British museum of Fine Arts. Overall, it was a very bad time to be living in England, unless you were him of course.
Being a private eye was very tough these days. Not only were you always knocking heads with Scotland Yard, but you were also forced to compete with the numerous private detectives in London as well. And those people would take on the simplest and most easy cases to solve -the only thing keeping the clients from doing the job themselves was abject laziness- it gave the clients excitement in their days if nothing else he supposed. Why though? Why take on such easy cases if you were supposed to be a great man to solve nearly impossible problems; like Sherlock Holmes? Why indeed. The answer to that broad and broken up question was as simple as breathing air. It was to make themselves seem like better detectives than they actually were. The fools. At the moment, all those other "detectives" were closing their offices to the general public to focus on finding the Madonna; mostly to claim the reward and prestige for finding it rather than returning a precious treasure to the art world.
Except for him of course. Why bother? The so-called detective who'd find it in the first place would have a smoke before going out to get piss-roaring drunk celebrating his victory first rather than returning it; simply to make the news that whoever found it that much more dramatic with embellishments. Of course, he'd boast about it in the bar; a den of thieves if ever there was one, about where he'd found and hidden it. Being so drunk he wouldn't remember telling that shady character the story in exchange for more brews the next morning. But by then, it would be too late. The Madonna would be gone once more, and the vicious cycle would start all over again. Besides, what need did he have for glory or money? He already had money, courtesy of his extremely wealthy parents. And as for a high place in society? He was smarter than most people his age; always had been. He was the one who'd graduated from Oxford at the age of fifteen with a doctorate degree in criminal psychology. He was Oliver Davis for crying out loud!
Well, he mused, he used to be at any rate. On his eighteenth birthday; all he'd asked for was enough money to rent out -or buy, as the way his parents liked to spoil him- a flat in the center of town and start up his own business. They'd given it to him without protest; knowing he was old enough and that it was time he made a life for himself. It was from that day on he went under the alias Kazuya Shibuya, private eye. One might wonder why he'd given up the baronial splendor in which he spent his childhood in exchange for the humdrum and hardship of a mere middle class citizen. Truth be told, with his expertise in problem solving coupled with his knowledge of how the criminal mind worked; he didn't expect to stay a middle class citizen for long. However, this was a matter of pride; he wanted his fame as an adult to be his own. The prestige from before came from the fact that he was allowed to attend Oxford at such age was thanks to his parent's influence at the school. At any rate, it didn't matter what his name was; what mattered was that he was damn good at his job.
When it came to looking for a private detective who wasn't a babbling idiot; he was the real deal. Able to solve tougher cases in less than half the time it took the other members of his profession to solve cases of easy-medium difficulty; the ones they all used to press their prestige higher. He never did; and it wasn't because he didn't drink. A glass of fine wine on occasion for functions and family events, but his tolerance level for alcohol was barely above "this stuff is awful never serve it to me again!" and he always had a sneaking suspicion of tobacco being bad for one's body. All too often while he walked the streets did he see men coughing as though they'd come down with a severe case of tuberculosis, yet even as they doubled themselves over in the coughing fits they lit their pipes and took a long drag. But back to the point, he didn't boast about his accomplishments. He'd know from the get-go that he was better than them all and continually proving that fact to himself was enough for him. Unfortunately, it also boosted his ego to new heights; those same heights prompting him to only take on the most challenging or unusual of cases, more often than not they fit both criteria. It was the reason why business was slow, but doing work without a challenge was even worse in his eyes. At least with slow business he could spend his office hours in leisure the way he wanted to rather than spying on a woman whose husband was claiming adultery on.
That's why the knock at his office door surprised him. It was midway through the afternoon; others were preparing their afternoon tea and so no one with any decency for social decorum would be out and about. He looked up from his book and placed it spine up on the desk near where he'd propped his feet up as he reclined in his leather back chair. Uncrossing his lower limbs he transitioned into a proper sitting position from his lazy languid reclining moments before. Very lax and unprofessional for someone of his character in his line of work; but it was far better to be comfortable while physically doing nothing than not. Standing from the chair he let himself stretch lightly after staying in the same position for god knows how long. Finished with the little bout of exercise he left the room; entering the larger part of his office space. This was more of a living room compared to the one he'd just been in, but it was okay; he liked the smaller room. The living room felt almost too large and spacious for him alone so he used it to meet with clients and organize case information. That other little room was his inner sanctum; where he relaxed, ate and slept more often than not. He honestly couldn't remember the last time he'd slept on the silken sheets of his bed in his own high-rise flat.
The door leading into the hallway of the office building where his business was stationed swung open to reveal the last type of person he expected to see at this time of day. A woman, not much younger than himself, stood in front of his door glancing both ways down the hall of the third floor. Apparently not noticing the door before her opening thanks to the greased hinges which allowed it to glide open and shut silently with ease, he took this chance to study the creature before him.
She was of average height these days, though slightly taller than all the ones he knew. A petite, yet more curvaceous than not woman with hair a mix of cinnamon and chestnut that ran down her back liquidly. Two large portions near the front of her head were sanctioned off to help her bangs frame her face. Keeping them apart from the rest of her hair was a gold headband with a fake rose the color of ebony stuck to the far left side; standing out at an angle against the round shape of her head. Her clothes were plain, yet elegant in their own right; or was that just because of her? A dark blue high collar button down which seemed to be made of silk paired with a cotton knee-length skirt the color of a new moon; black as charcoal over laid with a plain brown coat; the most functional part of her outfit yet.
The woman looked directly at him now; he was slightly stunned by her large vision plates. The coloring of her irises reminding him of molten caramel; his favorite tea creamer. For a moment, caramel was locked to sapphire; neither could speak, neither could move.
"Um, excuse me for interrupting," the woman began; her voice slightly shyer than he expected. "is this the office of detective Shibuya? The guy renowned for solving difficult cases?"
Kazuya blinked. "Yes, did you have an appointment with me today?" he inquired.
The maiden blushed slightly, as if not expecting him to be the man she was looking for. "Uh, no. I'm afraid I'm not very good at keeping appointments, so I never make them. But may I come in for a moment? T-that is, if you're not busy with another client already…" she trailed off looking both ways down the hall once more before looking his way again. It was obvious she was uncomfortable just standing out there in the corridor, as though afraid someone was watching her.
"I believe you've been blessed with good fortune today." The detective told her. "Business has been rather slow lately and I was just about to close my office for the day. Come in, and we'll see if I'll be able to take your case."
"Thank you." The woman replied gratefully, her black suede flats clapping an echo on the hardwood and linoleum flooring as she crossed the threshold and into the office.
Closing the door behind him detective Shibuya turned to see the mystery woman already comfortably settled on the couch; her coat hanging neatly over the arm. Feeling a little over-dressed for some reason, he shrugged out of his indoor jacket and rolled up his shirtsleeves to just under his elbows; his black suspenders, pants, and tie a stark contrast to the pure white colored material. The one thing he never took off was his tan fedora with the black stripe near the brim. It sat proudly; perched at a slight angle on his head. It was the sole memory of a happier past which had long since been dead.
Ruefully shaking his head he settled into the armchair across from the woman. "Now, what seems to be the problem miss..?" he trailed off realizing the woman had not yet introduced herself.
"Mai Taniyama; nineteen years old, unmarried." The woman, Mai replied.
"Detective Kazuya Shibuya; twenty-one years old, also unmarried." He introduced himself, though he didn't know why he felt the need to tack on that he was also unmarried.
Mai gave him a speculative look. "Been twenty-one for long?" she asked conversationally.
"A few weeks give or take, why the interest?"
She smiled. "I could tell. You don't seem like you're very comfortable with your age right now; always happens when you get another year older. Takes you nearly an entire year to get used to it and by then, well you're back to square one essentially."
Who was this strange woman with silly, childish, yet strangely adult notions? She was odd, and interesting.
He looked at her for a moment or two, trying to decide his next words; he never did that before either. "Are you from around here Miss Taniyama? You look of foreign descent, yet you speak English as well as anyone born and raised here."
"Mai please detective Shibuya, and I suppose I could say the same about you." She replied, "In all actuality I'm English, but I was born in Japan. My grandparents on both sides immigrated to England. My parents met in japan when they went back to explore their roots. The fell in love, married, and had me. But because my mother was of fragile health they waited until after I was born to bring me back home. I was raised so I know both Japanese and English."
"Bilingual? Impressive, I wouldn't have thought you capable of it."
"Well," Mai sniffed sardonically. "I suppose there is a cliché that explains the situation."
"And that would be?"
"Things are not always what they seem." Mai reiterated. "Now if we could get to the reason I'm here."
"Ah, yes; what seems to be the problem?" enough pleasantries, it was time to get down to business.
"Well, I'm afraid it's not something unheard of these days." Here Mai shifted in her seat.
"I can't even say if I could help if you don't tell me what it is."
"I'm afraid I'm being threatened." She finally said. "I was sent a letter. From Rose Noire; they've kidnapped a family member and want a hundred thousand pounds -around $162540.00 U.S. - for their safe return."
Rose Noire. He'd heard of them before. They were a gang mostly centralized in England, though they had members stationed in other parts of the world as well. They were known for many crimes; but kidnapping a common woman's family member had never been on that list. But it wasn't his jurisdiction.
"I'm sorry for this tragedy, but I think it's best you take this to Scotland Yard." He replied.
"You think you were the first person I came to?" she asked. "I already went there. But everyone is so preoccupied with finding that painting that they won't take my case. I've tried every other detective in the area but they're all closed for the same reason. Please, I need you help!" she beseeched him.
"Miss Taniyama, surely you've heard that I only take the most difficult of cases. A simple case of kidnapping for ransom is not challenging in the least. Take it elsewhere."
Mai closed her eyes, a hitched scoff slipping past her lips as tears started leaking out. "I should have known. You're just a coward, an arrogant coward. Perhaps your name shouldn't be Kazuya Shibuya. It should be Naru the narcissist!"
Ouch. She just had to say that, didn't she? And apparently she learned Japanese first because she was lisping into the accent that came with speaking it for so long; making Naru sound like a heavily accented version of Noll. That nickname… no! The past was dead and buried and he'd be damned if he let a stupid thing like emotions dig it up from said grave.
Pinching the patch of skin between his eyebrows Kazuya let out a sigh as he made his final decision. "Who was it that was kidnapped?"
Mai looked up from her lap; her view of choice when silently sobbing. "Uh… Um…" she seemed choked up, not able to speak. "m-mother." She finally spit out.
"How do you know she was kidnapped and simply did not go out for a holiday?" the detective pressed.
"Lives with me. Can't hear, can't speak." Obviously she was still regaining her speaking abilities.
"And why can she not speak or hear?"
"Her age limits everything but her looks I'm afraid." Mai shrugged. "I went out on an overnight errand yesterday and when I came back this morning she was gone. Can you please help me Naru?"
"Are you going to keep calling me that?" he asked in reply.
"Probably, once I nickname people; it just kinda sticks." She replied sheepishly.
"Try and refrain from calling me that. At any rate; how long do you have to get the money?" Naru shook his head; he couldn't believe he was letting this woman give him a pet name.
"Why do you need to know that?" Mai asked.
"So I know how long we have to find and rescue her you idiot." Naru replied.
"Hey!" Mai cried indignantly.
"What? Are you a horse now?" Naru cynically raised a brow at her.
Mai looked as though she wanted to retort but held her tongue. Instead she pulled out a piece of paper and looked at it. "It says I have until the tenth of October." She looked up as though just realizing something; knowing her she probably just had. "What do you mean 'we'?"
"We are going to gather information about where your mother is being held. When we find your mother I will go in and rescue her for you." Naru explained.
"Fat chance of that!" Mai protested. "I'm not a fragile little girl who needs to be protected. I can handle myself; I'm coming with you no matter where you go."
Naru sent her a smirk coupled with a raised brow and a swift perusal of her figure to make her realize she needed to watch what she said. If he'd been a lesser male he'd have found a way to apply that in a way following more towards his personal satisfaction rather than the safe return of this girl's mother. Mai seemed to understand because her cheeks pinked, before going flush with anger as she realized the detective was teasing her.
"Narcissistic jerk!" she practically squeaked. She was easy to fluster; nice to know.
"Well, as much as I'd like to continue this conversation; I think it's best that we start gathering more details about this kidnapping." He said standing up and grabbing his coats. Mai followed suit; and he locked the door to his office behind them.
"Where are we going Naru?" Mai asked as they walked along the street.
"A place to get information." He replied vaguely.
"Well duh; I know that. But where exactly?" she asked once more.
"Don't worry. It should be easy enough to get information easily since the whole investigative profession of London is so focused on finding that Madonna." Naru assured her.
"I guess…" Mai said dubiously.
They came upon an old brick building in the slums of town near dusk. Seemed as though no one lived there since the place looked to be either abandoned or condemned. Planks boarded up the windows, the sills beneath were slowly crumbling to dust. The railings that once lined the front steps were long since gone.
"This is where we came to get information? But it looks unfit to live in." Mai said shooting a wary glance as the brick, well edifice compared to all the other buildings.
"Of course it does. We're in the slums of town. Remember?" Naru replied. "Now follow me and don't make a sound." And with that last remark; went up the front steps and pushed in the wooden door barely hanging on its hinges.
Though the outside was dingy and unkempt; the interior was worse by comparison. Holes dotted the floorboards like spots on a ladybug's back. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling and over dust covered furniture. The staircase on the far left had split steps like a fighter with a split lip. Doorframes sagged under the weight of the walls. It reminded Mai of a house of horrors.
"I really don't like being here." Mai whispered to Naru as they crept along.
"And you think I do?" he asked in reply.
Not knowing how to respond to that; Mai simply kept her mouth shut and tiptoed precariously behind him. Together, he maneuvered them through ancient looking rooms and creepy hallways to the back. At least, she presumed it was the back of the structure. The way the walls twisted and turned made it hard to tell for sure.
The finally reached the room Naru had been looking for. The door was shut; but one could see light pouring forth from every crack it had. Knocking three times he stood back and waited for the occupant behind the door to open it. They waited, and waited, and waited for what seemed like an eternity. Well it felt like it because Mai was completely creeped out and just wanted to do what they came here to do and leave. At last; the door opened to reveal a young bespectacled man with silver hair; as if he'd aged before his time.
He looked at who was interrupting whatever it was he was doing. Upon seeing Naru his face broadened into a grin.
"Shibuya! Good to see you again! You got another case? Or did you just drop by to visit little old me?"
"Enough jokes Yasuhara. I require your services." Naru replied.
"Very well. Come in." Yasuhara stepped to the side to usher the young man forth when he noticed the companion who had joined him. "And who might this lovely young lady be huh?" he stepped forward to take Mai's hand and place a sloppily over-exaggerated kiss on it.
"My client. Back off." Naru said curtly stepping out and physically removing Mai's hand from the other man's grasp. "You have a job of your own. I suggest you go and do it."
"Ah, so cruel!" Yasu put a hand to his heart before chuckling and heading back inside.
"Who is that guy?" Mai whispered as she and Naru crossed into the other room.
"Yasuhara Omarasu. Don't get too close to him unless you have the desire to be molested." Naru advised.
Mai shuddered at the idea. As they got a good look around Mai couldn't believe her eyes. The three walls of this room were floor to ceiling bookcases. This was amazing!
"Now, before we begin; do you have my substantial? Yasu asked.
Naru pulled out three books from a bag he'd gotten after a quick stop on the way here. "You think I'm some sort of fool?"
Yasu greedily collected the books and returned to his dingy desk where an assortment of tools were laid out lit by an even dingier table lamp. Flipping through the pages of each book quickly he sighed.
"Is this really the best they can do? Honestly Shibuya you could write better horror stories than this and you're the most emotionless person I know."
"What is he?" Mai whispered.
"A bookkeeper." Naru replied. "Now; had any visitors lately?" he asked the man at the desk.
"Depends; what visitors you lookin' for?" Yasu said not lifting his eyes from the page of the book he had to have been working on before Naru interrupted him.
"Rose noire visitors." Was Naru's reply.
"Huh, now that you mention it; a bunch of them have been using some of the rooms to lay low in lately."
"You've seen them?" Mai asked.
"Nah, I don't leave this room much 'specially not when bands a thieves're hangin' 'round."
"But then how do you know they were there?"
"I got ears don't I plus a handy little tube system in the usable rooms. I can listen in to any conversation I want. It's more fun than the radio."
"Quaint. Hear what any of them said?" Naru cut in.
"Most; 'cept for one. Him; not really. He was talking to himself; speaking too low for me to hear properly. All I could really make out was that he was nervous 'bout something. First murder, watched a comrade get killed; don't know, don't ask. Cleared out this morning. Didn't catch where he was going but out the window I did see he was carrying some sort of bundle. Saw him get in his car and head west back the way you came. Might want to follow that route."
"Well; it's too dark now. I think we should just head back to our houses." Naru told Mai.
Mai nodded vigorously; eager not to spend another moment in the creepy building, let alone a whole night.
"Y'all come back now; ya hear?" Yasu called chuckling to himself as Naru shut the door to the other man's little cave.
"May I escort you home Mai?" he asked.
"I'd rather just spend the night with you; in the same place I mean." She quickly clarified hoping to avoid another teasing. "I just don't know if I'll be the next on their list if I go back to my flat."
"My office has a few blankets and pillows to spare. Why not?" he said. And with that, they stepped out into the dark night; Mai clinging to the detective's arm the whole way back.
so first chapter. remember decent reviews = sneek peat at chapter 12. oh and someone please correct me if I'm wrong in how to spell Yasu's last name. REVIEW!