Dear readers,

I apologise for not having updated in a long time. This was my first long story, and I didn't know what I was getting into. I created the plot in less than a day and just rolled with it. Now it's time to bring the story to a closure. But why a revision? Well, I wasn't very happy with the storytelling for various reasons. There was also a need for better writing and characterization. In other words, I think I can do better now.

Thank you to all the reviewers who have encouraged and pushed me to finish the story.

I hope you enjoy the story!

First published: January 30, 2008

Last update of old version: March 24, 2009


Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Ghost Hunt or Mononoke characters.

Warnings: Twofold is a cocktail of violence, blood and lime. Want a taste? Read on.


Chapter 1

Mid-June, 2000.

On a particularly hot afternoon in mid-June Yasuhara Osamu took a sip of iced tea provided by the luxury of Shibuya Psychic Research. On the opposite side of the sitting area in the office and enjoying the same kind of luxury, were his boss Shibuya Kazuya and his co-worker Taniyama Mai. All three of them were quietly sitting like usual in the air cooled office, but only Yasuhara seemed rather pleased by something. Mai had been watching the college student. After seeing those signs on his face, she could only assume he was in the middle of plotting something, or at least close to fulfilling the conditions of a situation that would work out well for him - in other words, a very convenient situation for the brilliant student.

Neither Mai or her boss said anything, and they didn't have to either, because the student was the first to prompt a conversation by saying two simple words.

"Summer vacation."

They had raised their eyebrows simultaneously.

Again, Mai could only think that Yasuhara wanted to take a few days off for a trip or wanted to ask her about what kind of plans she had in store for the rest of the vacation. She wasn't going, because she was low on money and it wasn't as if she could go with her friends. Her friends went with their own families, and even though both Keiko and Michiru had invited to go with them, she politely declined. If it was out of pity, she wouldn't. If it was going to feel awkward with a family during the trip, she wasn't going to.

She did want to go on a vacation though. The last time had been a school trip to somewhere outside of Tokyo, which was during her junior high school days.

Mai was surprised that the question that followed wasn't directed at her.

"How about it, Shibuya-san?" Yasuhara said with a glint of curiosity on the rim of his glasses.

Her boss gave the other an unamused stare. He probably was thinking of a good way to escape the conversation without getting trapped into sticky web that was plotted by his part-time worker.

Mai almost snorted, and deciding to help her boss, she said, "Even if you try to convince Naru, such a thing is absolutely impossible."

Yasuhara regarded her for a moment.

"How pessimistic, Taniyama-san," he replied with a slight look of surprise. The tone of voice he used fitted his nickname 'Echigoya' that had an old and wise man kind of feel to it. "I was just wondering whether our boss has the date set for our wonderful vacation in the middle of nowhere."

She became slightly alarmed at the prospect of her boss's increasingly bad mood.

"Really?" Mai said sceptically.

Yasuhara propped his chin with his fingers and dreamily stared at the ceiling.

"Nowadays a company has a wonderful thing called, a team outing!" he said, using his marketeer voice, "Building the relationship between the employer and his beloved employees... that is an event of utmost importance!"

Mai leaned back into her chair.

"Even if you say that, I doubt Naru is interested in a thing like that..."

A look of surprise crossed his face

"Taniyama-san, why would you think so?"

Mai sighed.

"Well, in the first place... Naru has no interest in something other than the paranormal, right? On top of that he's a workaholic!"

Naru sighed.

"Don't speak for me, Mai."

She shook her head.

"But it's true, isn't it. We never had anything like that in the first place," Mai said, and added, "Although we've been on all kinds of trips for paranormal reasons, it would be nice to go somewhere without encountering any ghosts."

Yasuhara nodded in agreement and then looked at the boss.

"Well, Shibuya-san?"

With a twitch of an eyebrow, the boss replied coldly, "We've booked for the 2nd of July."

Mai almost dropped her cup of tea on the carpet.

"Say what?!"

(o)~(o)

Day 1: Sunday, 2nd of July, 2000.

17:31 (5:31 PM)

Waiting.

The sun had passed the midday a long time ago. The man found himself in the roadside, waiting in the weeds that danced furiously until they died down. Suddenly, a strong wind blew from the north, and fled to the south-west in a drawn out curl through the dandelions. The man's gaze had followed the path the wind had taken, and stopped near the crossover where a dark-skinned man swept the dirt off the mostly abandoned street. He swept up the clipped dandelions off the entranceway that was before the parking place of a bungalow park. The man worked with a pair of strained arms and had expected the street to be as abandoned just like the parking place he had just come from.

There was a familiar jingling sound heard from behind the back of the man who was waiting in the dandelions.

"Hoòh," he heard himself say, which was audible to the man next to him.

The man with the sweeping brush looked at the strange man from head to toe. He judged him to be a rarely seen oddity with the somewhat old-fashioned garments and the brown box on his back decorated with symbols. He wondered if the brown box was the man's suitcase, but dismissed the thought as the man in question did not behave like a normal tourist. If he had been he would have tried to go inside and wouldn't be standing in the way.

Yes, the man stood in the way, despite not occupying the entranceway. He's scare off potential clients.

"Ah, sir," he called out, trying to catch the oddly clothed man's attention. "Are you a guest?"

The man's eye pupils turned upward to his direction.

"Selling medicine," the man spoke slowly, and added to that, "Is what I do."

His eyebrows fell together at one point and his mouth distorted at one side of his face. This was going to be troublesome. His sister would scold him if he left him there.

"I see... Then I kindly ask you to leave this terrain. You'll only be disturbing our guests," he said with a slight tone of warning.

There was a pause before the other replied curtly.

"Ooh."

With a surprised face the medicine seller glanced at where he stood. Both of his feet were already standing on the parking place and neither of them seemed to have any idea how it happened.

"Is that so? Please excuse myself."

Two steps to the back, then turning his back and bowing to the other sir, he walked off the small hill slowly and took place just outside. Once again he went to sit down at the roadside next to the entranceway, but not in the weeds.

"What are you doing there?" The man sighed, shaking his head in exasperation.

The medicine seller regarded the other man curiously, before he said, "Well, perhaps I have... some luck. With the people who may pass by."

The man groaned softly.

"You won't make any business here."

"Such a pity that is," he said, "How is business going for you, sir?"

"Just the usual."

"Many visitors, I presume."

"Not many. Nobody has come in today."

"Is that so?" The medicine seller asked with a tone of surprise, "It looks as if you had much baggage to carry. Today."

Caught off guard the man blinked his eyes and the sweeping brush trembled in response to the shaking of his hands.

"I can see it from you face."

"...Oh," he merely replied.

"Would you perhaps like something... against exhaustion?"

An intense gaze fell on him and he saw how the medicine seller gestured at the box that was seated next to him on the grass. Of course, of course, the medicine seller was trying to sell him something, he confirmed to his relief. Maybe he was indeed not much of a trouble.

"No, thank you," he replied.

"Ah, well then," he said with some disappointment, "You will find me here... if you change your mind."

The man shrugged before he went back to the placed he worked at.

Motohashi Bungalow Resort.

"Or if I get a reason to stay for the night," the medicine seller said to himself as he opened the two smaller drawers to pass the unoccupied hours. This time it didn't rain and he was glad for it.

The man who had gone back to work was sitting in the reception area of the hall and waited for the customers to come. As usual it was boring as ever. An half hour had passed since his conversation with the medicine seller, whom he hoped to never see again. If he had to be honest just talking to that guy gave him goosebumps. While looking at the bookings for today, Motohashi Kenjirou yawned loudly. One group from Tokyo had reserved two bungalows, under the name of SPR. He had no idea what the abbreviation meant. In any case, the group could arrive any moment. His gaze wandered to yesterday's page. Two monks had arrived. An old, short man and a young guy. Kenjirou was of the opinion that the youth kissed the ground the old man was walking on. Again, goosebumps.

He suddenly heard the thin voice of his sister.

"You done cleaning?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said, and glanced at the entrance of the reception area, where the Misako stood. The old age already troubled her, because she was leaning a hand against the door for support and the half-pinned grey hair curled to the back. Misako was many years older than him and when he looked at her, his back started to ache. Perhaps it would have been a good idea to ask the medicine seller about painkillers, or at least something for his back.

"Good," Misako said, and went to sit down on a seat near the door and breathed out heavily.

They heard the sound of running footsteps from inside the main hall and a voice of a girl loudly exclaiming, "Aunty!"

"Shhh!" The two siblings held a finger in front of their mouths.

A girl of the age of twenty was standing in front of them and she was out of breath from the running.

"Ah, I'm sorry!"

She clasped her hands in front of her face as an apologizing gesture.

"What's it?" The old woman demanded.

"Where's dad? Have you seen him?"

"Why?"

The girl placed her hands on her hips.

"I haven't seen him since yesterday."

Kenjirou replied with little interest, "Gone. Got called and had to leave. Don't know why."

Disappointment was written all over her face and she huffed.

"Ahh, he had promised to go to Tokyo with me today."

"Tokyo? Why?" Misako asked, lifting an eyebrow in curiosity.

"To shop of course! Well, not him, 'cause he had some business to take care of or something, but we'd go out to dinner after that."

"Probably didn't have any time for that. He went without you, Kiyo-chan," Kenjirou said, "If you wanna go to Tokyo, you may as well take the train."

"A girl? All alone? No way!" Misako protested.

Her niece sighed.

"I wasn't planning to go by myself. Naturally it's more fun with two people."

Misako sighed as well, and eyed the sliding doors of glass that led to the parking place.

"I don't know what your dad's thinking, but try not to go for the upcoming weeks. As you know it's going to be busier during the summer and we can't afford to have personnel on leave. Today we'll be getting a group. Prepare yourself."

She nodded and her uncle looked at his wrist watch.

"It's almost time," he said. "Kiyo-chan, come and help me, okay?"

"Sure~!"

(o)~(o)

18:00 (6:00 PM)

Someone was calling her name, but she didn't answer. She was called again, but there was only silence. The voice of a woman yelled loudly in her ear and shook her shoulders.

"Mai!"

Now she was awake. She blinked in confusion and stared at the red-haired woman's face.

"Wha-what is it, Ayako?"

"Finally! I've been trying to wake you up from your nap for a while," she said and folded her arms.

Mai gave no answer, because she realized she had drooling from her chin. She gazed reluctantly at the window she had been using as a pillow. Oops. With a handkerchief she tried to wipe it off the screen without letting anybody know.

"Taniyama-san."

She jolted in her seat at hearing Lin's voice.

"Within five minutes we'll arrive at the resort," he announced from the driver's seat.

"Really? Thanks for letting me know," she said, and stared at the person next to him.

Naru had been watching her all along and right now he was smirking a little. She grimaced. Of all people who knew she had been drooling against the window, it had to be him. Ugh.

"It sure is packed in here. I can't wait to get out of this stuffy car," the miko complained loudly.

On the other end of the second row, a young man with dirty blonde hair with ear-buds said, "Quit complaining. I can't listen to my music if you keep going on like that."

Ayako looked obviously irritated.

"Says who? At least buy some proper headphones. Your annoying music is coming through and it's irritating everyone!" she said, and added with a sly tone, "Except Mai."

The miko poked the girl with an elbow, and received glares from all around her.

"I'm trying to read a book," Naru said with an annoyed voice.

From the very back of the van, between the suitcases a merry voice said, "How very pleasant! Shall we throw out the ladies if they're that noisy, then I can sit in the front."

"Shut up!" The women said simultaneously and the monk laughed.

"Next to Takigawa-san," Yasuhara added with a creepy voice and the monk immediately stopped laughing.

The others burst out in laughter. Mai saw how Lin carefully hid a subtle smile behind a hand, before he took the steering wheel properly again. As she was sitting right behind Naru, she couldn't see his expression. The boss had already buried himself in the book. Mai couldn't believe it. She was going on vacation with Naru. Together with that workaholic? What a priceless joke! Not much longer and they would finally arrive at the Motohashi Bungalow Resort. Mai looked forward to the days to come and stared out the window eagerly for a sign of the resorts.

A few minutes later they passed a bridge and an old looking manor, and then they finally saw the building with the logo of the resort. Mai blinked when she saw someone sitting next to the entranceway of the parking place.

The car was parked and the miko was the first one to get out, but not before she shove the monk out of his seat.

"Hey, watch it, stupid hag!" Takigawa yelled and got smacked with a purse.

"Let's check in," Naru said to Lin, who nodded, and then he faced Mai and the others and coldly ordered, "Unload the van."

"Yes sir," Mai said sarcastically, "Everything crystal clear."

Yasuhara slipped out of the back of the van, and brushed himself with his hands.

"Are you all right?" she asked, deeply concerned.

"Of course, Taniyama-san," Yasuhara said, smiling with his eyes hidden under a pair of glass the glinted for a single moment.

It was he who had convinced the great 'Shibuya Kazuya', or the Narcissistic Naru' or whatever he was called, to take a vacation. Apparently Naru couldn't refuse the offer and nobody except for those two knew what the whole deal was about. She had heard Ayako and Takigawa whisper along the lines of 'Cold war! Blackmail! A pact!' during the long car trip. Obviously, neither Yasuhara or Naru offered an answer of sorts.

Yasuhara was stretching himself a few meters ahead. It certainly hadn't been pleasant to sit in the back of the van. There was no place in the two front rows. Takigawa and Lin wouldn't fit, and they were the ones who would drive, and of course nobody dared to ask or even to suggest that the big bad boss would switch with him. It was just not done. Or it had to be one of the women, or Yasuhara. He had insisted on taking the burden off the ladies by sitting in the back by himself, spending long hours between the suitcases as long as Lin would drive carefully. He did all of that while solidly keeping an eternal smile on his face. Now he watched everyone calmly through his legs, when no one noticed him. Ayako put on a lovely pink hat on her head, and Takigawa took out a pair of sunglasses from his backpack. He finished his stretching exercise, but did not know how to overcome the pain in his behind.

"Ah, I'm finished!" Mai said and closed the door. The baggage around her was waiting to be picked up by the others. "Yasuhara-san?"

"Hm? Yes, Taniyama-san?"

"You didn't see it of course, but when we drove in I saw some weird looking guy sitting in the roadside next to a box? Do you want to come and see?"

He frowned.

"...really? Why not then, let's take a look. Checking in should take a while, I suppose."

They walked until they were at the entranceway. There he was indeed, a few meters ahead of them. The man looked as if he was asleep. Yasuhara observed his attire carefully. He looked rather out of the place in this time, but he'd seen this outfit in some historical textbooks.

"Ah," he whispered to the girl. "Wouldn't this be a medicine seller? I can't believe they are still around though..."

"A medicine seller?" Mai said as she raised an eyebrow.

He adjusted his glasses and let his Echigoya persona slip in.

"Indeed, the last time I saw a mobile medicine seller was about 130 years ago, at the beginning of the Meiji period."

"Mai! Young man!"

Takigawa called them from the main building.

"That's quick."

"Tell Naru we're coming!" Mai shouted back.

Whatever they had expected of the building, in reality it was nothing too extravagant. The interior was neat and clean. Mai noticed it wasn't constructed in the Japanese style at all. The staff had been very friendly so far. The client service went smoothly and orderly. A young and kind lady of her own age handed the members of Shibuya Psychic Research some brochures about the useful things on the site and the sightseeing guides.

Ayako tapped her shoulder.

"Mai. The monk said that we're going to eat dinner in the restaurant, before we head over to the bungalows."

Mai nodded.

"Okay, sounds good."

(o)~(o)

18:20 (6:20 PM)

Awake. It was so dark and foggy before his eyes.

A young man whose hair was just as black as the clothes he was wearing, slowly climbed out of his sleep. He was floating somewhere in a surrounding full of trees. It felt so lonely, so he leapt over the forest and discovered a certain amount of bungalows in the neighbourhood. Not far from a long street he saw a bigger building. The young man travelled in the direction of that building as he watched the people who walked around.

It was so unclear and strange, and he felt as if some things were blocked from his vision.

He found himself on a parking lot with several cars. One was a van. He knew that one. The boy looked at the vehicle for a moment, until he noted the strange figure near the entranceway. A muscled man. Long silver hair. Golden garments. He hesitated in approaching the waiting individual, but it was too late to turn back when the man turned his head to where the boy was standing. He was captured with shock as he observed the strange appearance of the man. His dark skin was covered with golden signs, he had pointy ears and inhuman eyes of which black had replaced the eye whites.

Who is this, and what's the meaning of this?

The strange man already was in one blink of an eye before his feet. He was not much taller than him, so he was eyes in eye with one he had never seen before in his afterlife.

"How unusual..."

The voice sounded mysteriously dignified.

The boy couldn't bring out a word. If he could, he would have fled, but the man had already grabbed his arm before he could do so. There was no chance of escaping. This person was...

"It seems you are not bound to this place. Unlike..."

He didn't finish the sentence and merely looked at the boy curiously.

"...how?" he finally asked with eyes snapped wide open.

"That is of no matter."

He felt himself slip away from conscience.

"Who?"

"You won't get an answer."

He let go of the boy after having observed him intensely.

Before the boy knew it, he fell into a deep and somehow electrifying sleep again.

"Not yet," the strange man said as he closed his own eyes, only to wake up in reality again.


Author's notes

Echigoya: The name of a very old fabric store. Yasuhara Osamu was nicknamed after this by his fellow students due to his personality being seemingly old, wise, innocent and sly.

Crossover: While this fanfic is a crossover, you can read it without having seen the Bake Neko arc of Ayakashi ~Japanese classic horror~ (last three episodes) or the Mononoke series. Though I do highly recommend watching it, because it's one of the greatest mystery and horror anime series around.

Medicine seller: The main character of the above-mentioned anime. His real name is unknown. He will be referred to as Kusuriuri-san (Mr. Medicine seller) within the dialogue.

Reincarnated Mononoke characters in this chapter.

Motohashi Kenjirou: Tokuji (Zashiki Warashi)

Motohashi Misako: Hisayo (Zashiki Warashi)

Motohashi Rekiyo: Kayo/Chiyo (Bake Neko)