Hello, and thanks for reading my first ever story on here! I hope you enjoy, just putting the average disclaimer up here about how I don't own Ghost Hunt and stuff. I'll be going back and editing it soon, so don't expect it to be perfect!
Happy Reading,
Chidori-san
Sixteen year old Mai Taniyama groaned and stretched, ruffling up her short brown hair. Large brown eyes blinked curiously as she tried to gauge her surroundings.
Two cream colored couches sat across each other, decorated with small throw pillows. A large window let in murky yellow light from the setting sun, and several large book cases sat around the room. A reception desk sat near a door with the words Shibuya Psychic Research carved into the small glass pane. Wait a second, Shibuya Psychic Research? That would mean…
Mai jumped with a start, nearly falling out of her desk chair where she sat taking care of paper work. Oh no, I hope Naru didn't notice, she thought worriedly, gathering some papers she scattered with her sudden awakening.
Kazuya Shibuya, a.k.a Naru, a.k.a Oliver Davis was her seventeen year old boss. He was intelligent, cold and narcissistic, which was how he got the nickname, Naru the narcissist. He was originally from the UK, and had a twin named Eugene Davis, who had died a while ago. Eugene was the reason Naru found himself in Japan, searching for his dead twin's body. They had located it, and after a two month break Naru was back, and as snarky as ever. Mai supposed Naru had a reason to be narcissistic; he really was pretty with thick black hair and icy blue eyes.
Naru also had an older assistant named Lin Koujo. Lin is twenty-seven and from Hong Kong, and is a quiet, formidable man with piercing brown eyes and shaggy black hair. Mai had learned not to let his tough exterior fool her though; Lin really was a good guy underneath. Lin was usually the one Mai talked to about problems with school, and the two looked out for each other and Naru.
Also at the office was Osamu Yasuhara, a part time office worker. He is the jokester of the bunch, and usually gets himself and Mai into trouble, mostly with Naru. He was known for his quick wit and sparkling grey eyes, hidden under his glasses. He was less experienced than Mai when it came to paranormal things, but he was a fantastic researcher.
Those four made up the main SPR team, but there were more people involved. Naru would often call on these people if he needed an extra hand, or someone to exorcise a spirit.
The first and the one who helped out the most often was definitely Hosho Takigawa, a not-so Buddhist monk. His parents raised him in the temple, but he left when he realized he couldn't play CD's up there. He has shaggy brown hair that reached his shoulders and kind brown eyes, and was known for his loud graphic tee-shirts and piercings. He liked to play the father figure in Mai's life, and was affectionately called Bou-chan by Mai and Monk by the others.
Next was Ayako Matsuzaki, a shrine maiden. She was known for her, er, useless tactics. She tried to cleanse spirits, but unless she had live trees nearby to borrow power from, her methods usually failed. She was known for her loud mouth and bright red hair, and often played a mother figure to Mai alongside Monk.
They also had John Brown on the team, an Australian priest. He had short blonde hair and big blue eyes, easily making him the cutest member on the team alongside Mai. He had an innocent look about him, and rarely, if ever got mad.
Lastly was Masako Hara, Mai's mortal enemy and best friend. She was a famous medium from TV, and most of the members joked that she only got famous because she was so pretty. With short black hair and big violet eyes, it was hard for any guy to not fall for her. Unfortunately, the target of her affection, Naru, was also Mai's crush. The two fought over him often, but in the end they really were close.
All of these people made up SPR, a functioning group of paranormal researchers. They had tons of crazy times together, and Mai had a feeling those times wouldn't end any time soon. With a happy sigh, she rested her chin in her hands.
"Mai," Naru's cold voice cut through the silence. Mai jumped and slammed her palms onto her desk, ready to get up and work. Well, actually she had been startled and was ready to fight to the death, but Naru didn't have to know that.
"Yes boss?" Mai asked innocently. Naru sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You know I saw that, right?" Mai's bright and cheerful smile faded. Oh crap, she was in trouble now.
"Saw what?" Naru frowned at her.
"I have a client coming in later, please prepare tea," he said shortly after a period of silence. Mai nodded.
"Hai, hai. Tea, coming right up," she exclaimed, jumping up to make some fresh, herbal tea. If there was anything she was good around here for, besides getting into trouble, it was making tea. Monk and Yasu often teased her about it.
With one last withering gaze, Naru disappeared into his office, slamming the door loudly. Mai winced before cracking open a can of tea leaves. He was certainly in a foul mood today. Mai quickly got to work making tea.
She was waiting for the water to boil when Lin emerged from his office, his pale face looking drawn and weary.
"Hey Lin, would you like some tea? Naru ordered me to make some, so I guess you should have some as well," Mai said cheerily. Lin snapped out of his somber mood once he saw her smiling face, but he kept his stoic face.
"Yes, thank you," he replied coolly. Mai nodded.
"Hai. You know, I don't get why you can say thanks and Naru can't," she murmured, half to herself. Lin had to resist the urge to chuckle.
"I'm not sure Mai-chan. Perhaps he doesn't appreciate your tea," he half-joked. Mai shot him a truly horrified expression, before it was replaced by a more good-natured one.
"Well, for someone who supposedly dislikes my tea he sure does ask for a lot," she joked. Lin nodded his agreement as Mai poured him a cup, passing him the steaming beverage.
"He's stressed, that's all. Don't take it personally," were his parting words.
"I don't plan to," Mai called after his retreating form as the door to Lin's office slammed shut. Mai sighed and took the kettle off the stove before sitting back down at her desk to do some studying. She had a major science exam coming up soon, and if she wanted to avoid Naru's snarky comments on her evident stupidity she'd better prove him wrong.
She was halfway through the chapter when the door burst open. Mai, who was glad for a break in her personal torture, jumped up to help. She had to quickly duck when a loud, boisterous woman in her forties entered the office, talking loudly and swinging her large pink purse around.
"Hello dear, where is your BOSS?" she screeched, clapping her hands together loudly. If she noticed Mai's disgruntled expression, she didn't say so.
"Did you HEAR me?! Where is your BOSS," the lady demanded again, gripping Mai's arm.
"I heard you," Mai snapped. The lady giggled like a girl and let go of Mai, who took a couple hesitant steps back.
"WONDERFUL, could you go fetch HIM?" she shouted, doing a 180 so she faced the door. Her purse flew out and directly connected with Mai's stomach. Mai let out a grunt as she was sent flying backwards several feet, crashing into the wall. Luckily, she was right next to Naru's door.
Presently Naru cracked his door open, and Mai was quick to move. She pushed him back in and slammed the door behind her, resting heavily on the door to prevent it opening. As she tried to catch her breath she realized she was gripping Naru's shirt and holding him in front of her. She blushed as she released her grip, much to Naru's amusement.
"Why, Mai, I had no idea," Naru said with a smirk, leaning even closer. Mai flushed scarlet before regaining her composure.
"Naru, now is not the time for games," she announced. Naru took in her dishevelled appearance before taking a hesitant step back.
"What's wrong?" he asked, trying to get to the door so he could see what was happening.
"I was attacked," Mai said dramatically. Naru narrowed his eyes at her, unsure if she was joking or not.
"Your clumsiness doesn't count," he said sarcastically.
"It was a crazy lady, with a giant purse," Mai continued. Naru fought the urge to laugh.
"Ladies aren't that dangerous." Mai grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him closer, so their faces were almost touching.
"She has a purse, Naru. She has a purse," she hissed. Naru's eyes widened.
"You don't say," he retorted after getting himself under control. She didn't even realize what she was doing, did she?
"When used correctly, it can be a lethal weapon. And believe me, she used it correctly," Mai informed him. As if suddenly aware of their current position, Mai flushed a deep red. She once again let go of his now crinkled shirt and took another step back, so she was leaning against the door.
"Did she get you?" "Right in the stomach."
Naru frowned and pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking quickly.
"Okay, whatever happens, stay behind me, and get ready to run for Lin," he finally decided. Mai moved to stand behind him, so she was peering over his arm as he opened the door. They both peeked out of the crack before stepping the rest of the way into the office.
Naru sat on the couch, a thick folder on his lap, listening to the woman ramble on. Right now he wished he could be anywhere but here, and judging by the away his assistant stood nervously next to him, she felt the same.
"Now miss, are you ready to tell us about your case," Naru interrupted her stream of words. The woman stopped her long description of how adorable her dog was to eye him suspiciously. How she got on the subject of her dog was a mystery, but somehow she did it.
"Yes. My name is Mitzuki Yashito, but you can call me Mitzi," she said brightly, and Mai realized she had been in a hurry to get out she didn't even catch her name.
"Yashito-san," Naru said deliberately, much to Mitzuki's displeasure. "Can you tell me about the incidents occurring in your house?" Mai finally took a seat next to Naru, just glad that she had put her purse away.
"Well, we hear knocking noises often, especially when nobody is nearby, or is in another room. Objects move around, or go missing, and we hear people yelling in the storage room in the basement," she explained thoughtfully. Mai inhaled sharply, that seemed like a lot of activity.
She had a faint feeling that she was leaving something out, and she quickly leaned forwards before Naru could talk, much to his displeasure.
"Is there anything you haven't told us?" Mai asked her gently. Mitzuki frowned for a second before sighing and leaning forwards as well to address the two.
"We recently took down a wall in the storage room, and found the remnants of an old tunnel. We think it might have belonged to a coal mine, and that's where most of the activity occurs," she said somberly. Mai exchanged a look with Naru. That was exactly what she was looking for.
"Would you say the occurrences are malicious?" Naru asked with as soft a tone he could muster. Even so, it came out cold.
"They weren't before, but once we found the tunnel, it got worse. The other day my husband was dragged out of his bed while he slept, and I was pushed down the stairs," she said sadly.
"How did you find the tunnels? I mean, why did you do it? How did you know?" Mai asked suddenly. Yashito-san gave her an odd look.
"Well, now that I think about it, it sounds kind of odd. We actually heard scratching on the walls, and I would have dreams about being stuck in a long winding tunnel. We decided to renovate the house, in hopes it would go away. So, we chopped a hole in the one wall, and found some old tunnels. We haven't really been down them yet, we're too scared," Mitzuki admitted.
Mai felt a flush of excitement. She'd never gotten to explore real underground tunnels before, maybe Naru would let them.
"Have you heard of any deaths related to the house or tunnels?" Naru cut in.
"Actually, fifty years ago several young men went missing and were never found. Also.. er, uh. I think they're the ones haunting the place." Naru nodded briskly. Mai gave the woman an odd look, before shooting Naru a hopeful one.
"Very well, it sounds interesting. We'll take the case, but we'll need a room to set up base," he said softly. Normally they'd ask for three rooms, one for base, and two for lodgings, but since her house was nearby, an hours' drive, they'd just stay at home.
The woman's answering smile was a bright as the sun.
