EIDOLON CONCOURSE

Summary: Something mysterious is plaguing Masako. Terrible things are happening to her body and neither Naru or anyone else of the SPR can guess what is happening to her. Despite this, Mai can't seem to get her mind off her handsome boss.

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ONE

A howling wind threw the windows open, allowing a set of delicate lace curtains to flutter wildly in the gust. The draft that seized the room at that moment caused its sleeping occupant to stir. She reached for a fine silken dressing gown that lay not too far away before leaving her husband's side to attend to the window. On a night as cold as this, every breeze that gusts past has the ability to give chills, however the gentlest of zephyrs were the worst, just touching the skin enough to make its presence known. After gently closing the offending window, the woman stood there for a moment, bathed in the moonlight as the room settled once again. The glass panes rattled slightly, but otherwise the room was still as she gazed at the night's scenery, not looking at the scenery itself. A moment later she turned, an automatic reaction to return to the warm bed, however before she could slide herself beneath the covers, something in her consciousness was compelling her to exit the room. It was nagging at the back of her mind and she was sure that if she didn't follow through now, she never would. After a moment's hesitation she eventually decided to give in. Having thought about it that much she wasn't sure she could sleep any more, being as curious as she was.

She ascended up the main timber staircase, lightly placing a hand over the varnished rail. The master bedroom was on the second storey, away from the cold, stone marble of the first floor. On the flight above this was only the attic. Quietly creaking open the door, dust that had accumulated over the years was disturbed. The woman pulled a handkerchief from her pocket, suppressing the urge to sneeze. Flicking on a light, her eyes gazed over the room, trying to find what she had come up here for, even though she wasn't quite sure what it was exactly. On her left was a large bookcase filled with volumes of accounting textbooks. A number of years ago she had become an accountant's secretary and studied in hopes of becoming one herself. Unfortunately, that had fallen through. Next to this were the things she collected from her job after accounting. She had become a child carer. Many of the children made her various gifts, all of them made with the children's love. Fondly recalling this memory she looked to her right, at the reason she had quit that job. A box she knew that contained her old wedding dress was placed on a wooden trestle table. Her husband was an interstate hotel manager and marrying him had required for her to move locations, leaving the children behind. Yes, she missed having the youngsters around, but she didn't regret marrying at all. Her husband respected her and he was always so polite.

But those weren't the things she was looking for. Deeper into the attic she explored, past boxes of papers and old clothes until she reached something that grasped her attention. It was an old chest that, no matter how hard she tried to recall, she couldn't remember where it was from, or what was inside it. Slowly and cautiously, she walked towards the mysterious box.

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"Naru, I need your help!"

Mai's brow twitched. Famous television psychic, Hara Masako had phoned the office earlier and that was the first line she had said. The kimono clad medium had requested Mai's boss's help, but wouldn't come to the psychic research office in down town Shibuya. Instead, she asked Naru to come to where she was. Into her home. What irritated Mai was that Naru, as prudent as he was, had obliged.

The first thing that Mai had noticed, upon crossing the threshold into Masako's home with Naru and Lin, was how clean and orderly it was. The wooden floors were immaculately spotless and even the décor was tastefully plain. Traditional artwork was scattered throughout the European-built house, each adding their own unique touch of colour. Lin looked around at the wash of Japanese culture and went back to watching over Naru. The three of them were lead to Masako's room, which upon entering they found Masako sitting on her bed. A tidy desk was located in the far corner with a solid timber chair tucked in neatly. The only other furniture in the room was a low bedside table, complete with an olive shaded lamp and a unique, teal-coloured, decorative hair clip that sat beside it. Masako's eyes brightened slightly as she saw the company enter her room, but to Mai, it had seemed she was still visibly distressed.

"Hara-san," Naru addressed her.

"Naru, Lin-san, Mai, thank you for coming," she politely acknowledged, Naru's name lingering on her lips for a little longer than Mai would have preferred..

Naru got straight to the point. "Can you tell us what happened?"

She nodded, settling into the covers, then began. "I had woken up inside a forest. At first I thought it was a dream, but the colours were much too vivid. It was foggy and I can't remember much but I recall crossing a bridge. I don't know if I completely crossed it, but there was something nagging at my foot. It was tugging it slightly, but when I looked around, all the ground had vanished from beneath my feet. I felt as though I was falling. To which I woke up here, in my room."

Naru took this all in and nodded, prompting her to keep going.

"This is the reason I called you here."

Masako positioned herself so that her legs were dangling off the side of the bed and she leaned forward. Carefully, her slender fingers pulled at the fine cloth of her kimono, revealing what lay underneath the hem of the woven material. At first, Mai was surprised. Then she became shocked. Masako's left foot wasn't there. It wasn't tucked beneath her, or out of view. Where her leg ended, there was no foot. Mai gasped. An incredibly sad look came over Masako's features.

Naru looked at the strange absence before asking in entire seriousness, "Can you feel it there?"

Masako slowly shook her head, also looking at the reduced limb. Mai was unable to take her eyes from the foreign sight.

"May I?"

Naru moved closer to the limb, supporting her ankle with his left hand and passed his right hand through the area where her left foot should have been.

"Did you notice anything about this place? Was there anyone else there apart from yourself?"

Masako looked off to the side. A melancholic undertone laced her voice. "No, it was cold and I was alone."

As much as Mai originally disliked the disdainful girl, she couldn't help but sympathize with her. As easy as being a celebrity medium looked, her circumstances could have only made this situation more difficult to come to terms with.

Naru straightened before nodding at Masako.

"Then, I'll find out as much as I can. Until then, have Matsuzaki-san write some enchantments, in case this happens again."

Lin led the way out of her room with Naru following, but Mai hesitated as she turned to leave. Looking back, Mai saw the tears that were brimming on the edge of Masako's fair eyelids, threatening to spill. Mai couldn't ignore it. She turned around and started walking back to where Masako sat. Masako looked up at Mai wondering why she had stopped but before she realised, she was engulfed in a hug. Masako felt warmth around her and it was comforting. Her slight trembling subsided but the tears flowed fresh torrents, like clear water from a stream. She took long, deep breaths into Mai's shoulder until she calmed down enough to pull away.

"Please don't keep Naru waiting," Masako said shortly before looking away, hiding her tear stained face behind a silken kimono sleeve.

Mai just smiled at the back of Masako's head before running to catch up with Naru.

--

"Not an illusion," Naru muttered under his breath.

They had since returned to Shibuya and Naru sat in the consultation room with Lin, coffee table between them.

"What could have caused it?" Mai asked.

Her question was answered with silence, at which Mai silently fumed. She didn't appreciate being ignored.

"Lin, contact Yasuhara. We could probably use his help in investigating this one," Naru ordered.

Lin nodded and promptly walked over to retrieve a telephone. Mai took this moment as a chance to bring Naru a cup of tea.

"You're welcome," she sarcastically replied to his silence.

Naru flashed her a glare, to which she simply smiled sweetly. This made Naru roll his eyes. At this point Lin came back out.

"Yasuhara has agreed to help."

Naru nodded.

"Have you called Matsuzaki-san for those enchantments?"

"No, not yet. I'll do that now," Lin replied, retreating to his office once more.

Mai sighed, closing her eyes. She relaxed her grip on the tea tray, perhaps a bit too much as the pot ended up sliding off, falling onto the floor with a loud crash as the china shattered. Startled, Mai jumped backwards.

"Oh dear."

Behind her, Naru's lips twinged slightly. Mai bent down to pick up the broken china but Naru had already put his arm around her shoulders to refrain her.

"You'll cut your fingers."

Mai looked up to see Naru behind her. But by the time she had realised it, Naru had moved back to the coffee table. Mai was thankful though because at that moment a concerned monk wandered in through the door. If he had come a few seconds earlier, Mai would have been subject to several embarrassing questions.

"Poor Masako-chan's been targeted again?" the monk asked.

Mai looked at Naru, who seemed to be occupied with something, before replying.

"Somewhat."

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To be continued

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Thank you very much for reading to the end, and any feedback would be absolutely terrific.