Dollhouse
Summary: When the small town Mayor calls in the help of SPR, the team never expected what they ran into. The phantom image of a young woman haunts their every step, an invisible butler stalks his guests and the SPR team don't even know the half of their task at hand. Very slight AU in this fic. NaruxMai AyakoxMonk
A/N: This was inspired by Kerli's 'Walking on Air.' Based loosely off the lines - "There's a little creepy house, in a little creepy place, little creepy town, in a little creepy world. Little creepy girl, with her creepy little face. Saying funny things that you have never heard."
In this, Mai hasn't been a part of SPR, but she does play a big part in the story. As such, Oliver does not have the nickname of Naru yet but they have found Gene's body. So please let me know what you think of the story!
Also, I am looking for a Beta reading willing to look through my horrible work Please PM me if you're interested.
Chapter 1: Welcome to the Dollhouse
The wind howled as the van rolled to a stop. The lightning that flashed through the sickly clouds ominous, yet also fitting. The shadows were irregular for the morning, what was meant to be a sunny day tainted by the horrid storm that seemed to perpetually remain over the hill.
"This place is certainly like the Mayor described it as." The thick Australian accent broke through the silence amongst the team, urging them all to leave the vehicle. Amongst them all were a Monk, a Priestess, a Medium, Onmyouji, the company C.E.O and a Priest. The blonde pulled at his collar slightly, his blonde hair blowing in the wind.
"You're right John. I thought the old man was joking. But I guess not…" The blonde, the Monk of the team chided, whistling at the sheer size of the building. SPR, or Shibuya Psychic Research, was home to resident Monk, Houshou Takigawa, who was at present also engaged to the teams Priestess, Ayako Matsuzaki. He could feel his sweat bead down his neck at the thought of what his fiance would think of the place...
Broken glass, bricks and fencing littered the ground, bits of grass and tree holding them firmly to the ground. It was of Victorian design, with large archways, once extravagant windows and what was surely once an intricate porch. The central walkway was lined with snapped and chipped stones, having once kept the garden at bay. Two small fountains, eroded and covered with plant life, stood proudly beside the steps leading to the front door, defiant to time and all its challenges.
"This place must have been beautiful, back in the day." The redhead of the group, the Priestess, whispered, taking in the grandeur of it all. Traditional gargoyles stood watch from the corners of the roof, the spears and fencing standing firm despite the dilapidated stands they rested on, "Why can't we have as nice a place as this Monk?"
The blonde man sighed, rubbing the back of his head, "I knew this was coming." He mumbled under his breath, "Yasu? Need a hand?"
Monk made his way to the back of the van towards a dark haired male with glasses, who was struggling to pull some boxes out.
"If you can spare the time. Lin and Kazuya want to have to equipment moved before it rains." Yasu, also known as Osamu Yasuhara, was a college student, working with SPR part time to cover tuition fees.
The boss of the company, Kazuya Shibuya, also known as the famous Oliver Davis, was very picky when it came to their jobs. This had to be done to a T. His second in charge, Koujo Lin, was just the same, if not just a little quieter about it. Both men were mysterious but were always dedicated.
"Miss Hara?" A cold voice came from within the van and the team turn to look through the open door. Their young boss, Kazuya, was leaning over the back seat, shaking a dazed looking woman with cropped black hair. Her purple kimono was crumpled, her hands fisted in the sleeves as she came back to reality.
"Oliver?" She shuddered, looking out of the van. Oliver helped the medium out of the vehicle, watching her face as she took in the building, "This place. It has a horrible feeling. I can hear them. Screaming… crying. So many spirits. So many lost souls…"
The team stopped listening, used to her telling of a location. Yasu, with the newly free Lin, began moving boxes to the front porch, despite the horrible crack the wood let out whenever they dropped more weight onto it.
Ayako, Monk and John took the time to observe the entrance. Thick wood lined to doorway, the elaborately carved doors looking as if it had recently been cleaned, "Well that's not weird." Ayako hummed, placing her hand on the brass handle, "The handle is warm."
Her observation drew the attention of the other men, Monk gently pushing her aside, "She's right." He jiggled the knob, pressing into the door when it wouldn't budge, "John. Give me a hand, would ya?" The Australian man nodded, jumped to the door. Together, they pressed forward, leaning into the heavy set doors with all their weight.
"I do not believe that will get us anywhere." Ayako looked down to see Masako step up beside her on the porch, a delicate hand covering her mouth.
"I think your right Masako," Ayako nodding agreement, scanning the area around them, "Let's check to see if the windows open."
The two women moved to the side of the door, ignoring the grunts from the men as they struggled against the immovable wood. The windows of the mansion were boarded up, some planks on the outside, covered in vines and dead leaves, and some inside that pinned old moth eaten curtains to the frame.
Ayako carefully placed her fingers under the sill, tugging on the window in an attempt to get it open. After a few tugs, the wood groaned, twitching in its place ever so slightly. But when it refused to budge any more, the redhead cursed, slamming a palm against the window pane, "Dammit. Opening a window shouldn't be this hard!"
Monk and John pulled away from the door, huffing and panting from the effort they had used, "Tell me about it." Monk frowned, his eyebrows meeting in confusion.
"The mayor certainly wasn't joking when he said this case would be harder than the usual lot." Kazuya spoke, inspecting the door they had failed to open.
-SPR Office - four days prior to case start-
"Welcome to SPR! How can we help you?" Yasuhara answered the door with his usual cheer, not disturbed by the panicked man before him.
"An appointment." The man spoke, his voice rushed, "I have an appointment to make a case. Please let me in."
Yasu started forward, his smile dropping from his lips as he looked around. He was standing out of the doorway, holding to door open for the man. With a wave of his hand, the elder walked in, his pace uneven.
"If you would just take a seat. I'll get my boss for you." Yasu called out, getting Kazuya and Lin from their offices. It wasn't long before tea was served and all four men had gathered on the couches.
"Thank you for seeing me. I know it was short notice but I really need your help." The old man whispered, as if he couldn't physically speak any louder.
"Many people request our assistance. Your case will be no different." Kazuya answered, leaning back in his seat, his pen tapping impatiently on his note pad.
"Oh well, yes. I suppose so," The man stuttered, his cheeks colouring, "But where are my manors. My name is Oz. Oswald Taniyama. I am mayor of a small town, about an hour's drive out of Tokyo. And I must assure you, this case will be anything but standard."
The man, Oz, took on a grave look, his eyes hooded as he rubbed his balding head, "You see. My case is somewhat personal. But also not. You see. My family has been part of the town I preside over for many years. I am actually named after one of my ancestors you see. But the original home is derelict, but also a burden on the town."
The team listened quietly, letting him ramble through his confusion and panic.
"Many generations ago, my family used to live on the highest hill in town. But horrible things have happened. My parents, or… my father anyway, moved us away from the home and further into town after… well. My mother committed suicide. Apparently she kept saying the she had to save us and tried to kill my sister. She lived… my sister you see. But now…"
The men in the room struggled to keep up. Unsure exactly what had happened to Oswald's family line, "And now what Mr Taniyama?"
Oz took an unsteady breath, his face sickly, "When my sister grew up, she married. But the man she married murdered her and stole their child away. Ever since, people have been going missing."
"And how does that apply to us?" Lin asked, his voice gentler than Kazuya's had been.
"What I'm trying to say is I've exhausted all outlets. I believe that the spirits within the old manor and taking people that venture inside. Whether it's him, alive or not…"
"So you want us to go into a home where there is a potential maniac?" Kazuya questioned, one refined eyebrow raised.
"I don't think he's alive. And my Mai, my Margarete, my beautiful niece is most likely also dead. The teenagers in town go to the mansion for dares, and they never return. We need to stop this. The spirits need to be stopped." Oswald looked at them with determination that belayed his voice.
"But your family seemed nice, for the most part. Why would they be taking people?" Yasuhara pondered, the light reflecting off his glasses.
"Even the kindest soul will be tainted the more it is in this world. Trapped and confused. If it is residual, then it will just replay the moment of death again and again. Other spirits are confused and wonder without the energy to manifest. But once they focus, they can become intelligent spirits. Or are intelligent from the beginning. In any case, most become angry, becoming those we know as poltergeists, phantoms. Those are the ones you need to keep an eye out for." Lin explained, looking up from his notes.
"We will consider your case Mr Taniyama. I must take into consideration all the risks involved. You understand of course." Kazuya ushered the old man up. Oz just nodded frantically, gripping his golf cap tightly in his hands.
"Thank you. Thank you so much!" Oz whispered as he left, closing the door gently behind him.
Lin raised an incredulous eyebrow at his charge, "Are you actually going to consider his case?" The onmyouji queried, "You don't tend to take high risk cases such as this."
"But there are some risks that have to be taken." Yasu chipped in, smiling at the disapproving look the men shot him.
"In any case, we will take the time to look into this. Get the rest of the team together."
-Present ~ Taniyama Manor-
"Considering we're never technically had to break in, yeah." Monk laughed, his eyes straying from the door to the other windows.
"I wonder wants inside anyway. Maybe somethings fallen behind it?" John asked, walked to the opposite window the one Ayako tried to open.
"Maybe a clock?" Ayako added, trying to see through the dust and dirt that had caked on the window and the interior of the room beyond, "I mean, it is an old place. Things would start- Hey!"
Her yell drew the attention of the rest of the team and they rushed over, watching as she wiped at the pane before pointing, "There was a girl in there. She was watching me!"
Masako peered through the murky glass straining to see what the redhead did. After a bit of struggle, Masako gasped, flinching from the window, "She's right. There is a girl in there. In the back corner."
Monk, Lin and Kazuya all rushed to the window, trying to see inside.
The room was dark, dust coating everything in a depressing layer that stole the colour from everything it lay on. The once white curtains seemed to blow in an invisible wind, stirring up the dust from the moth eaten carpet and paintings. Furniture, some covered in cloth, others not, lay in odd positions. Some upside down, others on their sides. And beyond it all, in the far corner by the open door that was barely lit by the light from the haphazardly boarded windows, was the faintest silhouette of a girl in white. She seemed to watch them before turned and running out of the room.
"Wait! Hey!" Monk yelled, slamming a fist into the window frame, "Open the door kid!"
The rest of the team let out an agitated sigh, "Well great. Now what?" Yasu hissed, leaning on the front door. He was about to close his eyes when the wood creaked, opening with a lurch and sending him tumbling to the ground, "Oh crap!"
A dull thud and a large cloud of dust were the team's only indication that Yasu had hit the floor and not fallen through it. The faint light that the storm allowed through the clouds barely lit the hallway, the thick hallway runner grey from age.
"Are you alright Yasuhara?" Lin called, allowing Monk and Ayako to enter to building to help their assistant up.
"Yeah. I guess." The glass wearing man coughed, swiping his hand before his nose to remove the dust that still floated about. It was then that they heard it.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
"Is anyone there?" Ayako called, squinting into the darkness.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
"Okay! That's enough!" Monk yelled out, lowering a hand for Yasu to grab. With a heave, Monk managed to pull Yasu up, but a panicked gasp from Ayako had them turning back to look down the hallway.
"Oh god." She whispered.
Ever so faintly, footprints appeared in the dust on the carpet, approaching them with heavy steps. Closer they came still, until they suddenly stopped.
Cold air rushed over their faces, and a ragged huff, like someone exhaling after a run, washed over them.
And just like that, the cold and the footsteps disappeared.
Author Note:
So there you have the first chapter of Dollhouse! I hope you enjoyed. I was a little worried about doing something like this and removing Mai from the SPR aspect. But the plot does play out well enough (in my head).
So please, please leave a review. Tell me what you liked. Didn't like. If you like the idea of the story (so far).
Stay tuned!