Masquerade - Ghost Hunt
Summary: The SPR crew is requested to investigate an old theatre, but the past is more haunted than they imagined. What will happen when they learn that one of their own is in grave danger because of this past? How will they handle the secrets that may divide them? Will they be able to save themselves from the consequences that may occur?
*occurs after the anime/manga so if you have not read the manga, be wary, this contains spoilers**normal couples*
Masquerade Chapter One
May Tuesday
Day 1 0530
As the morning sun progressed higher on the horizon, the streets of Tokyo could see a young girl racing past slower pedestrians, her short brown hair blowing in the wind. The plaid skirt that she was wearing was riding up her legs, as she moved through the crowd. But she did not notice it.
She was going to be late. Again. And her boss, Shibuya Kazuya, also know as Naru, hated it when she was late. He also hated it when he missed his tea every 10 minutes. He also hated when she fell asleep while at work, but she never could understand why he always wanted her so early when he knew that she would just fall asleep at her desk in a few hours. To be at work, Taniyama Mai had to be up earlier than the time she had to be at school.
"Unbelievable!" Mai cried as she ran down the streets. "Why in the world did that stupid Jerk have to schedule an appointment so freaking early?!"
Coming to the corner where her work stood, Mai slowed down to catch her breathe. Smoothing out her hair and clothes, she walked to the stairs of SPR. checking her watch, the teenage girl smiled, she was on time, if not early this morning. Even with waking up late, running all the way to the subway, then running from the subway, the chronically tardy girl was on time.
Grasping the door handle, Mai pushed the door into the building.
Smiling, she dropped off her books onto the desk that she proudly called hers, and then turned to the small kitchenette opposite side of the room. Retrieving the small teapot, four cups, the honey and lemon slices from the fridge, Mai started her day.
Nothing can stop me today. I'm on time. Naru hasn't come out to yell at me for anything and I'll be ready for this client when they come in at 6am. Why the hell it is so early still eludes me.. Mai thought.
Waiting until the water boiled, the girl finished prepping 2 of the teacups.
One for Lin, the other for Naru. And just the way they like them. Spoonful honey, squeeze of lemon, and plain old unsweetened tea..
The tea kettle whistled just as she was done. Pouring the water gently into the cups, Mai stirred the cups, and let them steep for a few.
Setting the cups onto the tray, she took it up and began to step Into the main office room. But before she got far, Mai was stopped by one of the men that she made tea for.
"Would you like some tea, Lin?" she asked, smiling as her heart settled out of the panic that had almost set in.
"Yes," The tall Chinese man replied, taking the darker of the two cups. Lin knew that Mai knew how he took his tea, and he was pleased about it. He always enjoyed the tea that the girl made for him, even when he didn't ask. "Thank you."
Nodding, he turned back into his office, the curiosity of why the bell chimed so early, satisfactorily answered.
Smiling at the retreating back, Mai approached the second door in the office room. Knocking, Mai called out, "Naru, I have tea."
"Come in." was the response she received.
Carefully so she wouldn't spill the tea, she opened the door and walked to the desk, hiding the lower half of her boss. Whom was sitting just like he would every other time that she would take him his tea. Half reclined, book in his hand, and his hand posed over a black note book on the desk top.
Setting the tea on the table next to his notebook, Mai looked a her boss. Even though it was really really early in the morning, he looked pristine and clean. As always. And this for some reason, peeved the teenage girl.
"What do you want, Mai?" Naru asked, without looking up from his book.
"OH, I don't know.." she replied, trying to take any early morning venom out of her voice, "maybe a reason why I have to be here at the ass crack of dawn, to serve you tea, and not have any clue about the client that we are supposedly expecting."
Without making a sound, Naru flipped the page of the book. Making note of something that he read, Naru ignored the girl.
Signing annoyingly, Mai spun on her heel, and made way to leave the room.
"Let me know when the client is here."
Practically growling now, Mai slammed the door behind her.
Going back to the kitchen, she started a fresh pot of water, and started her own tea. While the water was boiling, Mai leaned against the counter, her head against the cupboards behind her. It was too early.
Checking the time, the girl saw that the appointed meeting time was creeping closer. Gathering more cups for tea, she prepped the main body of the office for the guests.
And not even 5 minutes later, the bell chimed, announcing the entrance of the early morning guests.
Mai stood up from her desk, bowing she said, "Welcome to Shibuya Psychic Research. I am Taniyama Mai is there anything I can help you with?"
"Yes, we have an appointment with Shibuya Kazuya. We might be a bit late," The man said. The couple paused as they finally looked at the young girl in front of them. Their eyes widening just a bit.
"No, not at all," Mai replied, "Please sit down, I'll go get my boss. Would either of you like some tea? We have Earl Gray, Black and Green."
"Tea sounds wonderful, my dear. Thank you. Whatever you have to brew is just fine, we are not picky." The woman responded, shaking out of the panic that passed through her.
Mai nodded, turning it go get Naru. Knocking on his door, she peeked in and notified him of the clients arrival. She did the same for Lin. Then she went to the kitchenette and retrieved the tea. Brewing a fresh pot of Earl Gray, she pulled out five cups. Mixing Naru's the way he liked it, she put the honey and lemon on the tray just in case the clients wanted some add ins.
Taking the tray into the conference area, Mai served the tea, waiting to hear what the couple had to say.
"Mr and Mrs. Dena, you called earlier this week to tell us about what is going on?" Naru asked, ready to write.
"Yes," Mr. Dena said, picking up the tea cup Mai had placed in front of him. Not drinking from it, he looked down, and started to talk.
"We have had many problems of late, most small that we just pushed aside to assume that it was just production bad luck. But when we continued to be affected, we knew that there was something more than we thought. You see, my wife and I own the Matsumoto Globe Theater* in Matsumoto. We have owned it for about 10 years now, and have nothing happen with the servitity as as it is now. We have all heard, mysterious organ music playing, and we do not own a organ in the theatre. We have also seen shadows, heard footsteps, doors open and closing, when they should have been locked. The
Props falling on actors during rehearsals, and actors getting hurt, although, most have not been severe enough to go to the hospital. We have received in the past years many notes, from an unknown source, all with some odd request, and allowances demanded. But what made us call you was an event that just happened this past month" Taking a breathe, Mr. Dena took a sip of the tea he had been holding.
Taking up the story, his wife spoke, "last month we were finishing up the production of Hannibal* , when one of our stage hands fell from the fly space, hanging himself with electrical cables and scared the actors and audience. We have been closed for the last two weeks due to police investigations, but we only received these letters last week. Thus calling you." Mrs. Dena pulled two letters out from her purse. They were made from visibly old paper, going tan-yellow with age. Both had large, red wax seals on them, with some sort of insignia in them. One was already cracked open, showing that was read. The other was still pristine.
"As you can see here, one is addressed to my wife and I," Mr. Dena said, handing them both over to Naru, "the other, well, you can see it for yourself."
Turning both letters to look at the addressee's, Naru stiffened and
It was addressed to a Madelyna. With SPR's address.
Confused, Naru cracked the wax and begun to read the letter, "My dearest beloved, Madelyna," Mai choked on the tea she just took a sip from, getting a stare from the clients "I cannot wait to hear your beautiful melody once again. Please come back to my theater and share in the lessons I have taught you. Your angel of music."
Very confused, Naru looked up, glancing between the four people in the room with a controlled expression.
Mr. Dena nodded. "Our letter reads, 'I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature. Detailing how my theater is to be run. You have yet to follow my instructions. So I shall give you one last chance*. You are to find the beauty to take the place of the dull and untalented Moyoki Akira and have her play the silent role of the page boy In the new production of Il Muto. I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in box five; Which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, A disaster beyond your imagination will occur.*"
The room was silent as the information was processed.
"We will take the case. Please if possible, we will need 3 rooms, one with as many safe outlets as possible and the other two for sleeping quarters; both for room of 4." Naru said, still looking at the two letters on the small coffee table in front of him. He had his hands crossed in front of him, his face unable to a read.
"We will. Thank you." Mrs. Deea said, bowing from her seat.
"We will be there tomorrow at 9am. If that will work for you all." Naru looked up finally.
"Yes, yes, it will." Mr. Deea said.
Everyone stood up, the appointment done.
The two guests turned to Mai, looks of sadness and fear on their faces. "Please, Miss, I know that this will be slightly confusing, and maybe a bit of a freight, but please, please promise us that you will be very careful with this. There is a dark past, and you, my dear, look exactly like the starlet that rose and fell in this opera house. Please, be careful. Where we can only start to understand the situation of our stagehands accident, we cannot live to have your life taken away on our consciouses. You are too young to be in this much danger." Mr. Deea said.
Mai nodded, shocked at this all.
Naru just observed this from his seat.
The room was quiet as the couple left, everyone in their own thoughts.
"Mai, please call everyone for this, do it soon. They need to hear all the details before we leave tomorrow morning. Ask them to arrive here at 7am, so we can can get there on time." Naru said, still in thought, headed into his office. The door shutting woke Mai up from from daydream.
So much for nothing to bring me down today. Like holy crap, what was that about.. Mai thought. Absentmindedly she went to her desk to call the irregulars.
May Wednesday
Day 2 0900
The black van pulled up to the theatre, a tan car following. Everyone was a bit removed, lost in their own thoughts. This was going to be an interested case.
No One really knew how to take the fact that the office received a letter from the ghost, even though it was addressed to no one working there.
The cars parked, and everyone got out, walking to the two owners who were waiting at the doors of the theatre house.
"Welcome, Shibuya, Taniyama." Mr. Dena said, "We do apologize for the occasion, but we do hope that any part of the performances that you may see during your investigations, you will enjoy."
"We hope that we will be able to solve this, and cease any more accidents. Let me introduce you to the remaining people behind me," Naru said, "We have Koujo Lin, my assistant, a Monk from Mt. Kyo, Takigawa Houshou, a self proclaimed priestess, Matsuzaki Ayako, a Catholic priest, John Brown, and a medium, Hara Masako. We also have our researcher, Omusa Yasuhara." Mai was oddly quiet during this all, when normally she would before than energetic to make the introductions. The group took note of the silent girl.
"Please, if you follow us," Mrs. Dena continued, "we will show you to the rooms you requested, and help bring in any equipment that you have brought."
Everyone nodded, and followed the couple.
"The history of this theater is very old," said the wife, "Built right after the Meiji era, it was first home to the Noh productions, silent theater if you don't know. It was more or less a production of puppets and puppeteers. The Western style of theater did not come here until almost the late 1920's. Opera, regular musicals, and normal plays could be seen on this stage. While operas are the most famous, we can very much do anything here."
"This is the main house, the seating exceeding well over 200 people, including all the box seats, balconies, and floor seats. The deck, or stage, is well over 20 feet wide, and half as deep, with the orchestra pit almost 20 feet deep. The deepness helps the acoustics reach high into the sound clouds, the rafters you see above you. We just recently added all of the electrical lightning, replacing the old fire domes around the stage."
"The backstage area is extremely large, and can be very overwhelming at first, but ask anyone here on directions, and you will be able to find your way through the halls no problem."
The small crowd walked through the house, and around the stain glass doors and rose filigree. Everything was just really elegant, and it seemed like if it was touched, it would just fall apart.
"We had decided to leave all the naturals, original glass, woods, and seatings, refurbishing only as needed. The one item we had to completely redo was the chandelier above your heads."
At that, everyone looked up, to see the largest chandelier that anyone had ever seen. Stacked with 5 tiers of crystals and lights, it glittered and chimed with indescribable beauty. Mai just stood, gazing at it, lost in the memories of what was.
As the group moved deeper into the theater, Yasu noticed at the girl was no longer with them.
"Mai?" he turned and asked the empty hall.
With that the group stopped, and was very confused.
"Where did she go?" Ayako asked worry marring her face.
"She shouldn't be alone here. Not with her luck with ghosts." Yasu said, "I'm going back to find her."
"John, please go with him. And head to the van to start bring in the equipment. We will meet you back at the main doors." Naru said.
The fact that they were here no more than a half hour, and Mai was missing caused him to wonder if there was something more than what was being told.
The remaining four Ghost investigators continued the walk through.
Back at the entryway, Mai was still standing beneath the chandelier. Her eyes were glazed over, seeing the past of the the theatre. She saw crowds of people, dressed in elegant clothing, gowns shining with jewels, laughter and music in the air. What she didn't see was the shadow that was watching her from the top corner of the room. But as the two men that went to look for her came into view, the shadow disappeared.
Author Note:
I am using the 24 hour clock system here, seems more fitting for me honestly, so to figure out the time, if i have anything past 1200 (noon) just subtract but 12 and you will get the time. :)
1) Matsumoto Globe Theatre* in Matsumoto (MADE THIS THEATRE UP FOR THIS STORY. THERE IS A GLOBE THEATRE REPLICA IN TOKYO BUT WHERE WOULD THE FUN BE IN THAT?!)
2) *Hannibal (I AM TRYING TO FOLLOW THE ACTUALLY MOVIE ADAPTION OF PHANTOM OF THE OPERA SO I'M TRYING TO GET AS MANY DETAILS AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE)
3) *(Read more: Phantom Of The Opera - Notes Lyrics | MetroLyrics)*
Word Count (without Author Note): 2.838
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GHOST HUNT NOR THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, I AM JUST THE PERSON WHO DECIDED TO COMBINE THE TWO FOR AN INTERESTING TWIST OF FATE
XOXO, L0V3SICKF00L