DAY 1:
''...the victim named Aoyama Shino, 46, was found dead in her home by the police. The police have yet to-...''
With a single click on a remote control, Shizuo turned the TV off. He doesn't even remember turning it on anyway, and it wasn't like the news gave any useful information about the case he was working on this time.
With the main source of noise gone, Shizuo's hotel room was now dead quiet. Except for the dogs barking outside, but they did little to break his concetration. He was intently staring at the paper in his hand, trying to memorize every single detail written on it, trying to find any useful information regarding the incident, anything he had missed the first seven times he had read it, trying to-...
Groaning, Shizuo dropped the page from a local newspaper back on the tea table, where it had been laying before.
Not like glaring at the text is gonn' do me any good. After all, words don't get scared of me, like most of the people back in Ikebukuro do...
Deciding to take a break, Shizuo stood up and dragged himself to the fridge. It was full of several days old takeout, waiting for someone to throw it out. But since Shizuo's objective was neither eating nor cleaning, he reached further into the fridge and fished out a cold can of beer. He wasn't planning on getting drunk, no, he just figured he may need some alcohol in his veins.
'Cuz the fucking smokes are doing shit to calm me down, every time I fucking need them...
It was at times like this, that Shizuo was seriously pissed at himself for turning down Celty's offer to help him with paranormal investigations. But everytime he tried imagining Celty helping him with ghost hunting, all the could envision was Shinra running after demons and trying to dissect them.
His best friend and her fiance were better off without knowing the dangers of his work anyway. Seeing as Celty was a headless dullahan trying her best to fit among humans, it would only cause her troubles to be involved with the supernatural any more than she already is. Who knows what kinds of traitorous assholes they could run into. Shizuo has also heard of hunters that use contracted paranormal beings to find their prey. Well... Not that he has ever come across a way to kill a dullahan anyway. For all he knew, Celty was immortal and he was more than happy for it.
Shinra, on the other hand, would be an easy target. As a fiance of a dullahan, he could be marked as a traitor and executed as one. He was a human though, not even a spawn of an unlucky affair between a human and a demi-genie or something. No, Shinra was as human as one can be, yet Shizuo didn't dare take him on a hunt with him. He was guaranteed to annoy every single being around, to the point he might even get half of the mortal realm on his tail, before a single day would pass by. Shizuo would probably be included in the crowd.
But, Shizuo thought, if he was to find a person that had atleast the slightest clue about the paranormal, knew how to protect themselves and were (atleas kinda?) reliable, then he wouldn't really mind having a partner. In fact, he would love to have a companion, someone to cover his back..
Aah, he started daydreaming again. Shizuo ran his hand through his bleached golden locks and sighed. No use thinking about hopeless things. What he should be thinking about now was the supposedly haunted house.
...but the bed looks really comfy now, too...
DAY 2:
FUCK!
It turned out like all of his investigations so far, really.
It started when he noticed a suspicious looking story in the news. He checked all of his sources (the local newspapers and news on the internet... and that was all...). Then he gave up on investigating the location any further and just blindly headed onto the enemy premises. Now that he's here...
Well, he blames it all on the bed!
The clock showed 11:39 PM and he just closed the front door to the house he was going to investigate.
It was an adorable house, actually. It looked like it was built sometime in the 1800s, but restored later on. That was probably the case since, from what Shizuo heard, there were people living here quite recently. But, while the house was cute and everything, the area surrounding it was... slightly disturbing. It was the kind of place where you could find an unmarked grave or a whole cemetery, if only you bothered to look. Dead trees everywhere.
Shizuo turned on his nightvision camera, which was actually the only thing he brought along with him (Also his gun. He never forgets his gun). It is said that ghosts often show on those, even when they can't be seen with naked eye. After double checking that he locked the door (Wouldn't want some curious kids to scare the crap outta me now, would I?), he proceeded to the first door on his left.
Everything normal so far. The room appeared to be a dining room, with a table and six chairs around it. On the table, which was, along with every other piece of furniture, collecting dust, there was a small vase, with a bouquet of dead flowers inside, probably left there by the last owner of the place.
Deeming this to be nothing out the ordinary, Shizuo continued his examination of the room. He noticed some pretty looking pictures on the wall. Also some creepy ones, which he scanned twice with the camera. Just to be sure.
Deciding there were no spirits in this room, Shizuo advanced to the room ahead. There was only a doorway, without an actual door, leading to the other room, which was, as he discovered, a kitchen.
Obviously.
The kitchen was, compared to the dining room, a little bigger, but packed with cabinets. Shizuo didn't think it was necessary to look through every single one of them, but he decided to rummage through the fridge.
Who knows where little shits hide these days..
He regretted his decision as soon as he opened it. When he thought about it later, it should've made sense. After all, the previous owner of the place didn't exactly get warned that they'd die, just so they could throw out the food and clothes. When he opened the fridge, instantly, the smell of weeks old remains of food hit him. It took a lot of willpower to stop himself from puking right then and there. So, unless spirits were immune to terrible odor, he shouldn't have to worry about one hiding in there.
Smacking the door closed, Shizuo was about to continue exploring the kitchen when he heard it.
Plink!
Shizuo instantly froze on the spot, with shivers running down his spine.
Trying hard not to make any sounds, he reached inside his jacket to get his gun and moved behind the door that connected the kitchen and the main hall. Of course, the floor just had to make a loud creaking sound. He could practically feel the other presence's attention on him and it was not a pleasant feeling at all. As if it couldn't get any worse, he could now clearly hear soft footsteps heading toward him. Past the door he entered to get to the dining room, past the stairway to the second floor... It stopped right in front of the kitchen door. Shizuo held his breath and he could swear his heart had stopped too.
Fuck! I can't fucking kill a spirit with a gun! And I don't even have any salt on me. Oh fuuuuck! It's right fucking there isn't it. Why the hell isn't it coming in?-
Just as Shizuo thought that, the doorknob moved and the door slowly.. inch by inch... opened.
Shizuo jumped out his hiding place, aiming the gun right at the middle of the thing's forehead-
''Whoa whoa whoa! Okay, that's a gun! Please don't shoot me?''
What he came face to face with wasn't some dead looking spirit, but a black haired and maroon eyed stranger. Human, probably. Who was holding his hands up.
Shizuo lowered his gun, but kept staring at the stranger.
''Okay, that was kinda scary. And rude. Don't you people here have any manners?'' The intruder actually had the nerve to complain and roll his eyes at him? Shizuo decided he didn't like this guy and the sooner he got him to leave, the better.
''Who the fuck are you?''
The stranger only blinked, before his lips stretched in a grin.
''Isn't it kinda rude asking for a name before telling yours? Geez, didn't your parents teach you anything?''
If Shizuo wasn't seething with anger before, then he certainly was now.
'' 'm not telling my name to a stranger that just broke into a house.''
''Ah, but aren't you tehnically doing the same? Last time I checked, there were no people living here at the moment.''
''I've got a key.'' Was all Shizuo replied. He reached into a pocket of his jacket and pulled out a small key, which he earlier used to get in.
The stranger merely looked at it and grinned again. He made direct eye contact with Shizuo and offered a handshake.
''My name's Orihara Izaya. Pleasure to make your acquaintance! Now, Stranger-san, care to offer your name, or shall I make up a random thing to call you? Ah, don't worry, I've got a marvelous imagination.''
This time, Shizuo had to physically restrain himself from punching the guy in the face. Izaya, huh? Shizuo doubted he would remember that, but it didn't matter. He would call the guy anything but that. He turned around and proceeded to walk away.
''Name's Shizuo. Now, you know where the door is, so get the fuck out!''
Of course, it couldn't be as easy as that. Not only did the pest follow him around, he also never shut up!
They were currently in the living room. If he tried hard enough, Shizuo thought he might be able to tune out the bastard. Then, maybe, the fucker might realise he was being ignored and leave. So Shizuo instead turned his concentration to the room they were in. It was pretty spacious and old-fashionably decorated. The only modern looking thing was the TV in front of a sofa, whcich were bots placed in the middle of the room. Just like in the dining room, the walls were filled with paintings and old photographs. In the corner of the room, there was also a huge bookcase, filled with old books. Shizuo, of course, wasn't interested in any of this and just powered on his camera and started looking for anything unusual. The bastard obviously noticed that.
''Eeh? Shizu-chan, is that a night vision camera? Haha, and a really old model too. Geez, if I didn't know better, I'd say you were a ghost hunter!'' The fuck? ''Haha, but that's impossible. Right?''
The bastard was looking at him, straight in the eyes, as if he was trying to read him or something. But Shizuo didn't have time for any of this, so he decided to be honest.
''I actually am. A ghost hunter.''
The pest only blinked once, twice and started laughing. Honestly, Shizuo kind of expected this. After all, who normal would belive him. Most of the people who know about it think he's some kind of a crazy lunatic.
...
Okay, what the fuck. The bastard was still laughing. There were tears rolling from his eyes, but the asshole didn't stop.
''Okay, that's enough. Stop laughing!''
The bastard straightened up, used the back of his hand to wipe the tears from his eyes, while his other hand was on his stomach. He stopped the manic laughter, though some giggles still escaped his mouth from time to time.
''Ahhaha, sorry, sorry! Just didn't expect you to be so honest, you know? Most of the hunters try to use excuses, like that they're from the police or something , b-but.. But you-'' The asshole started giggling again, so Shizuo decided to stop it with a growl. Before it once again escalated in some creepy-ass villain laughter. ''Aaah, sworry, can't help it. You're some weird guy! Haha, what if I was some fat dude that decided to call the police? Wouldn't that be fun?! Hahaha, but on the serious note...-'' He moved a step closer to Shizuo. ''What a coincidence! I'm a hunter too! I mean, I prefer the term Paranormal investigator, but I mean, we kill these things, so the term 'hunter' is also perfectly fine to me!''
Shizuo now looked at Izaya with a perfectly blank face and said:
''A hunter? You must be a complete amateur then.''
Even years later, Shizuo would still regret not filming the look of pure surprise on the guy's face.
''Excuse me?''
Deciding to be nice, ( As annoying as the pest was, he was a hunter, so Shizuo respected him. A little.) he elaborated.
''Seeing as you're here, you must know about a supernatural entity in the house. With your constant talking I'm pretty sure it'll know where we are, before we even discover what it is. And, speaking from experience, that's never a good thing.''
Shizuo expected him to shut up, not start laughing again.
''Ahhahahaha Sh-Shizu-chan... You didn't do your research at all, did you?''
Shizuo decided not to honour him with a reply and only raised his eyebrow in question.
''Oh God, you're serious. Okay. Since you probably don't have the time, I won't go through the whole history of the place. What you need to know is that all the deaths happened in the master bedroom on the second floor. A few decades back, they supposedly had a priest perform some sort of exorcism which, in my opinion, tied the spirit to that particular room. So basically, the spirit probably can't leave the room, so it kills people that enter it. Get it?''
It made perfect sense. And it also meant he spent precious time searching for something that was nowhere near him. Now he regrets not researching yesterday even more.
Without speaking, he left the room and headed for the stairs to the second floor.
''Ah, wait! I forgot to mention something!''
With his left leg already on the second stair, Shizuo turned his head toward the asshole, making sure he made the angriest and most annoyed expresion he could.
''What?!''
''Uhhh... Well, the spirit was a vengeful one, right?''
Was?
Shizuo nodded.
''Well, you get rid of those by burning and salting their bones, right?''
Another nod.
''I already did it.''
Another n- WAIT WHAT?!
''Whoa whoa whoa! No need to get that angry! I didn't know you were on this case. Anyway, I burned the bones and came to check on the house, when I found you here!''
Shizuo had to pinche the bridge of his nose to calm down. So the job was done already, huh?
His hand twitched for a release of the pent up anger, but Shizuo didn't give in. Instead he lit up a cigarette and marched right out of the house. But even though the job was done, the bastard didn't seem to be leaving. Quite the opposite, actually. He kept following Shizuo toward his car.
''The fuck do you want now?''
''Hey, Shizu-chan, where are you from?''
''Huh? 'm from Ikebukuro, why?''
''Ehe, what a coincidence! I'm from Shinjuku, so I'm gonna be travelling with you from now on! Take care of me, Shizu-chan!~''
''H-huh? Oi-''
Before Shizuo could protest, Izaya was already running to his car, leaving a confused blond behind.
The dude's a total blood-sucking flea.
''Ah, almost forgot to mention! Shizu-chan! Next time you try to shoot a ghost, at least make sure the gun is loaded, okay?''
All the rage Shizuo had suppresed for an entire day suddenly burst out in a form of a single punch.
R.I.P. to the tree that happened to be in his reach.
A/N:
This is my first multi-chapter story. -3-
If you notice any mistakes, have any comments or criticism about the story, please review or PM me. Thanks!
Anyway, hope you enjoyed the first chapter!
Macchan OUT~