Disclaimer: I don't own 'em, only write about 'em. Enough said.
Summary: This is a collection of short stories (some may be longer than others) and one shots I'm writing about Ghost Hunt. They're stories of all sorts; love, comedy, stupidity, horror... Whatever I feel like writing. OOC ?? YOU BET!! Each short will have its own rating, so PLEASE BE ADVISED!! Some will be 'M' and STRICTLY ADULTS ONLY!! I'm placing this collection in 'M' because I don't want any trouble, though some will be rated 'T'. If you have any suggestions for a short, drop me a line and I'll be glad to put my spin on it!! I DO give credit to those ideas I use, yes...I'm that nice! I live for reviews, so PLEASE REVIEW!! The more I get, the faster I write!! Thanks for reading, and ENJOY!!
Rating: 'T'
-Ghost in a Shell-
"Please, can't you help us?" the woman sitting across from Naru pleaded, a look of desperation contorting what would otherwise be considered a lovely face.
Mai glanced at her boss out of the corner of her eye as she poured their guest a cup of tea before placing it on the table in front of the woman. She wasn't shocked to see the look of dis concern playing across his overly stern face. Mai witnessed Naru's 'bored' expression at least three or four times a week, on average, as she observed would-be client after would-be client parade into the SPR office, trying to convince a skeptical Naru that they needed his expertise to rid them of the ghost that was in fact, ruining their very lives, only to result in the almost instantaneous dismissive expression which was then followed by a very definitive, 'I decline'. Yes, Mai knew this look all too well.
Naru crossed his arms in front of his chest and sighed. It was a gesture he did often when he felt something was not worthy of his time, which was obviously the case here.
"We've tried everything! I don't know how much longer I can take it!" The woman raised her tea cup to her lips and took a sip, only to have it slip from her shaking hand, sending the hot liquid cascading down her shirt.
"Oh, are you alright?" Mai jumped up from her perch on the couch to retrieve something to mop up the spilled tea.
"Oh dear, I'm such a mess!" The woman smiled gratefully when Mai returned, offering her a towel.
"Mrs. Nao, please feel free to use the restroom to wash up. Mai will see to the tea," Naru gestured to the small bathroom at the end of the hall.
"Oh, yes. Thank you," Mrs. Nao smiled and excused herself.
Mai quickly cleaned up the tea and poured another cup before resuming her place next to Naru.
"You're not going to take her case, are you?" Mai asked, eying her boss skeptically. She knew the case held no interest for him, but she couldn't help but feel sorry for the woman and her daughter.
Mrs. Nao had come to SPR seeking Naru's help after her thirteen-year-old daughter had started acting oddly following a class trip to the sea side. Apparently the girl began speaking in riddles?
"A girl who keeps repeating 'Sea shells by the sea shore' is hardly worth my time, Mai. Besides," Naru sighed, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm positive it must be some new game the kids are playing these days. I'm sure there's nothing actually wrong with the girl, other than her obvious lack of imagination."
Mai glared at the man sitting next to her. "How can you say that? I can't see how speaking in rhymes would be considered an amusing game to teens these days.." She trailed off, unable to grasp her boss's reasoning.
"Can't we at least meet the girl before you say no?" Mai asked hopefully.
Naru eyed his assistant suspiciously. He had no doubt she was only trying to get him meet with the girl in hopes that he would change his mind once seeing the girl's predicament. For all her faults, Mai was an overly caring human being who would do anything to help someone in need, and although he admired her ability to sympathize with total strangers, Naru was in no mood to indulge his assistant's empathetic nature.
"Mai.." Naru sighed.
"Please? Just meet with her and take Masako with you. That way we'll know for sure if she's possessed like her mother seems to believe," Mai begged.
Naru stared in shock at the dark haired girl at his side. If she was suggesting taking Hara-san along, she must feel strongly about this case.
"Fine. I'll talk to her daughter. If Hara-san feels anything, I'll consider taking on the case," Naru stood and started towards his office door. "And Mai?"
"Yes?"
"If after we meet with the client's daughter I still decide to decline the case," he turned at glare at her. "I expect you to drop the matter, understood?"
"Understood."
"Fine, then I'll leave the details to you," Naru said, closing his office door behind him.
At least he didn't say no...as of yet, anyways...
--
"I defiantly feel a spirit here," Masako glanced at the girl sitting in the seat next to her.
"Right, well then, I guess you need to exorcise it, right?" Mrs. Nao looked hopefully at Naru.
"You've done your homework," the dark haired man turned to his assistant. "Mai, tea."
"Y..yes!"
Good, now we're getting somewhere. Maybe this will be quick and easy. Bou-san should be able to take care of this.
Mai returned with the tea only to find the room empty.
"Where did everyone go?"
"Mai!" Naur's voice called from his office.
Mai continued into the office carrying the tray of tea.
"Naru, where did everyone go?" Mai asked, placing her boss's cup on the desk.
"I sent them home," he said, shuffling through a file in his hands. "There was no need for them to stay."
"But...why?" Mai made no attempt to hide the anger seeping into her voice. "Why won't you take the case? Just because it's not interesting enough for you?" Mai leaned on the desk, glaring at him. "This is someone's life we're talking about, Naru! How can you just turn them away?" The anger had turned into frustration.
Naru continued looking over the file, ignoring the emotional girl.
"Naru!" Mai slammed her fist onto the desk fiercely, causing the tea to slop over the rim of the cup.
"Answer me!" Hot tears spilled over her cheeks, her anger had reached it's boiling point. She didn't care if he saw her cry. He had seen it many times before, it didn't matter. What mattered was helping the girl, and she didn't care if she had to cry, scream or beat the crap out of the narcissistic ass sitting calmly behind the desk in front of her; if that's what she had to do to get the jerk to help others, then she'd do it.
"Are you quite through?" Naru asked without so much as a glance in his assistant's direction.
"What? I.."
"I'm asking if you're finished with your temper-tantrum? When did I say I had declined their case?" Naru asked, looking up from the papers in his hand for the first time since she had entered his office.
"But, you said you sent them home." Mai said, confusion replacing anger.
"I did. As I have already stated, there was no reason for them to stay. I have already taken care of the situation, Mai. Your lack of confidence in me is overwhelming," Naru said, reaching for an object Mai hadn't noticed setting on his desk.
"Mai, do you know what this is?" He asked, holding up the necklace for her to inspect.
"It's a shell."
"Yes. And do you know where I got it?" He was playing with her.
"No."
"The girl was wearing it around her neck. Seems she got it at the sea on her school trip. This is the source of the problem, as I suspected, Hara-san confirmed," He placed the shell back on the desk.
"A Shell was possessing her?" Now Mai was really confused.
"No, Mai. The spirit is possessing the shell, not the girl. The girl is sensitive to spirits, however, and thus, she was channeling some of the spirit's thoughts while wearing the necklace," Naru said as if this were the most natural thing in the world.
"So she's okay now?"
"Quite."
"Thank GOD!" Mai let out a breath and let herself flop into the chair opposite her boss.
"I still need to figure out what to do with this, however," Naru motioned to the shell.
"Can't Bou-san or Ayako take care of it?"
"I'll call them in the morning. For now, go home!" Naru barked.
--
Mai entered the SPR office the next morning to find Bou-san, Ayako, Masako, John and Lin standing around the front desk, staring at the shell from the previous day, Naru standing off to the side, looking sour as usual.
"Well...Masako?" Ayako looked at the medium with a smug smile.
"It's still there," Hara-san said, nervously playing with her kimono.
"What!" The Miko cried, exasperated.
"Ha! Another failed attempt by the failure of a Miko," Bou-san laughed, smacking Ayako on the back. "Better let me handle this."
"You already tried! You failed just as bad as I did, you idiot," Ayako smashed the monk over the head with her fist.
"No way!" Bou-san retreated behind John, trying to save himself from the bulk of the miko's fiery. "That was just a warm-up, only practice! Let me try it again."
"No way, pal!"
Mai watched in amusement as the other 'members' of SPR argued back and forth over the best way to extract the spirit seeking solace in the shell, each one thinking they were the best person for the task at hand.
"Actually," Mai smiled as she joined the group, "I believe John would be the best choice in this matter."
"What?" Ayako glared at her.
"You think so?" Bou-san looked at the blond Priest then back at Mai.
"Mai, are you certain?" Naru spoke for the first time since she had entered to room.
"Why John?" Ayako asked, sulking like a child.
"Trust me," Mai said with a knowing smile.
"Naru, if Mai-san says John can do it..." Lin looked to his long-time friend.
"Alright, Mai. If you say so, I'll trust you," Naru nodded. "Go ahead, John."
"Um, alright," John smiled and made the necessary preparations.
Soon, the entire team sat watching the Priest as he performed the exorcism in anticipation.
Mai watched enthralled, as John said the prayer and reached for the 'Holy Water' he so often used. When the liquid came into contact with the shell, it made a hissing sound much like water being thrown on a hot stove.
"Whaa!" Mai cried in amazement.
John finished the prayer, snapping his bible shut.
"It's gone. I can't feel it anymore," Masako sighed.
"Very good. Nice work, John," Naru retrieved the now vacant shell from the desk, inspecting it.
"Way to go, Mai. That's my girl!" Bou-san pulled her into a bear hug, patting her head affectionately.
"How did you know that John could do it when the rest of us were of no use?" Ayako asked, her voice mid with jealousy.
"It's Mai! She always knows these sorts of things," Bou-san hugged the young girl tighter. "She must have had one of her dreams, right Mai?"
"Um, actually," Mai smiled up at the monk. "I just thought, since we were talking about a sea shell, 'Holy Water' seemed like the most logical way to go."
"Wa...WATER!" Ayako gasp and stared at the Priest now laughing lightly.
"You can't be serious?" Lin looked from the young assistant, then back at Naru.
"So, then you didn't have a dream? You were just...guessing?" Bou-san stammered as he looked down at the girl smiling sheepishly up at him.
"Well, I mean...it is a shell, after all, right?"
"Mai.." Naru studied the shell laying in his hand, considering for a moment.
"Naru?" Mai glanced at her boss as he continued to study to shell.
"Humm.." Naru walked back to his office still engrossed in the necklace, saying nothing more.
"I can't believe he didn't say anything," Ayako glanced at Mai who was now breathing a sigh of relief.
"At least he didn't yell at you," Bou-san patted her head.
"Mai!" Naru's voice reverberated through the office, causing them all to jump. "Tea!"
"Y..yes!" Mai knew she was far from off the hook on this one.
-END-
A/N: Okay, so this one was kind of longer that I thought, but still a one shot!! I already have several other stories started that are much shorter. Hope you liked it! Let me know what you think, any ideas for a short or a paring you'd like to see...I think the next one I write will be smut...lol. All kinds are on the way!! The more popular they are, the faster I write, so please REVIEW so I know what you'd like to see next!! Love? Smut? Comedy? Stupidity? Horror? You name it!