DISINTEGRATION
The day began with an abrupt start. As the Shibuya Psychic Research team made their way into headquarters, they could hear Mai and Naru bickering. The details weren't too clear yet, but Mai was definitely lecturing Kazuya. She tended to jump ahead with her thoughts and do that. "You don't comprehend anything, do you Mai? Must I always explain everything to you? You really are that stupid." Kazuya said, his tone sharp and condescending. "What on earth is going on with you two?" Hosho broke up their banter, taking a seat on one of the couches. "They're at it again." He murmured. "At what?!" Mai turned abruptly, her eyes burning as she stared at the monk. "Oh, you know." He closed his eyes with a knowing smirk. "You bicker as much as a married couple."
"…"Masako was making herself some tea. Since Mai was more than preoccupied she really didn't want to wait for her service. Nor did she want to rely on it. Her head tilted down, using her long bangs as a veil. As she listened, a familiar feeling rushing through her body and halted her actions. It was sickening, nothing like what strong sense she had for spirits. Worse, a feeling only Mai invoked in her. Married? The word echoed in her head. She clenched her teeth.
"G'day Miss Hara." Her thoughts were distracted by that accent, lifting her head. "Oh. Hello John." She nodded politely, her composure calm as she casually continued to make her tea. She wasn't in a charitable mood to make enough for all of them, nor did she imagine it would be appropriate. "Mind if I have some of that? It really looks delicious." He was cheery, his eyes full of light. Smiling politely, Masako moved over a little, allowing him room to prepare his own cup. "Of course not. Please, help yourself." "Excellent mornin', in'it?" He made idle small talk, something she would endure because he was just so good natured. "Mm."
"Anyway, we're getting off topic here." Mai cleared her throat. "It's just, Naru and I were just discussing a new case. He doesn't think we should do it but I say it's totally important!" Mai crossed her arms, looking to the side. She had that determined look on her face. "Oh, well what is it then?" Ayako prodded. It had to be good if they were arguing about it like this. She sat down next to Monk, the rest of them settling on the couches to listen. "…This morning we received a phone call from a hotel chain company. Their recent purchase of an old family hotel is causing them… difficulties. Construction workers are facing problems renovating the building. Random fires are appearing throughout the place. Sometimes they will find materials charred or destroyed. They're frightened but if you ask me it sounds like a bunch of kids pulling pranks." Kazuya stated it quite firmly.
"…See?! How can you have that kind of attitude running a business like this?! There's no way you can say paranormal stuff doesn't exist after what we've been through!" Mai waved her hands around. She refused to sit with the rest of them, her passion driving her. "I'm not saying paranormal 'stuff' doesn't exist Mai. I'm merely pointing out that abandoned hotels, construction areas and large empty buildings in general are ideal places for teenagers to do stupid things." He closed his eyes. "If not, it could also be electrical complications. There's an explanation for everything." He dismissed. "Random fires? That sounds dangerous." John added, a concerned look on his face. "Even if it isn't paranormal… that could end terribly." "True. But we're not the police, are we?" Kazuya retorted. "Well, what else did they say in the phone call?" Hosho prodded. "What do you mean?" "Well, random fires seem kind of vague. There had to be something that happened to spook them. You know, make them consider that it was spiritual." He shrugged. "Yes, like a vision or a presence. Something to prod them. It's unusual for people to just immediately suspect ghosts." Ayako added, rubbing her chin as she spoke. It was clear they were all curious.
"That is true, we live in a very skeptical society." Masako nodded, sipping lightly on her tea. She experienced this many times herself working with the station. There had been many instances that she had to avoid or defend herself from a skeptic. The world wasn't like how it used to be. "Exactly! People need to be convinced! They might really need our help! That's why we should at least check it out. I mean, what's the worst that can happen?" She held her fists tightly to her chest, eyes searching the stoic Naru. "We don't even have to bring Lin and the equipment. We've got nothing to do around here. I'm sure between all of us we could sense and figure out if anything is there." Her voice was so hopeful.
"…Fine. One day. That's all I'll spare." Kazuya huffed.
It was a dreary looking place. Clearly old, in fact unusually old for the area. The stone walls were stained from years of exposure to rain, dark streaks running down the granite in an uneven fashion. Wood that had been painted white decades ago was flaking off, exposing the tired looking beams which shaped the windows and accents. At the front of the building was a gaunt, tall set of doors. Run down, in desperate need of touch ups. The place was scarcely protected by an ancient looking wall, a gate opening up to a private parking lot that was filled with work trucks. "Well, it certainly looks haunted." Ayako snickered at the presentation. "Precisely. They may be imaging it." Kazuya said, walking ahead.
The inside was even more grandeur. It was sparse of furniture, and quite clearly missing its original décor, which made it more impressive. "Wow, this is a truly magnificent place." John said, commenting as they studied the foyer. It was a shame the floor had become all worn. The tiles were so beautifully arranged in a colorful mosaic, no doubt to impress visitors when it was still operational. "So… is someone supposed to meet us or are we just going to-" Before Hosho could finish, he turned to see a woman. "Gah-!" He was taken aback, knocking into Ayako. "Hey, watch it you idiot." She pushed him off. "Oh, my sincere apologies! I didn't mean to scare you!" "Oh the irony." Mai murmured to herself. "I'm so relieved you decided to come check it out after all. I was beginning to think you would ignore my call… I just don't know what to think or do." She confessed, glancing down.
"My name is Wakana Hayami. I'm the representative of the Hayami Hotel Services." "What! Woah, does that mean you own the entire thing?" Mai interjected, curiosity getting the better of her. "What? Oh, no. That would actually be my uncle. It's sort of a family business. I just help out with what I can. Which is why I think he sent me to take care of this." She sighed, her expression darkening. She was fairly young, fresh faced with beautiful hazel eyes and glasses. "What seems to be the problem?" Hosho asked, straightening his posture. The young woman hesitated. "Well… I didn't tell you everything on the phone."
"Ever since we began gutting out the original floor plan of this house, strange things have been happening. We started to tear down the walls to make way for our plans. I mean it has a charm to it but it doesn't meet the standards for modern services. Competition is hard and we need to meet the demands of customers." She held her hands together tightly, her gaze focused on her own feet, as if she were apologizing to something. "…The place was fine. We thought it was a good prospect… until." "…Until?" Masako urged. "…Until things started happening. Random fires… ashes, charred materials, burnt objects. Our workers keep getting injured. I thought it was all a joke until I-" Her voice cracked. She seemed distressed, trying to keep it all together. "…You may think I'm ill if I say it." "Please, go on Miss Hayami. We're professionals and we're not going to judge you for what you say. Omission is not necessary." Kazuya urged softly. This forced a judgmental glare from Mai, to which Masako grimaced. Must she always pay such close attention to him?
"A few nights ago I was closing up the place for the night when suddenly… I heard laughter. It was a woman's voice, coming from the upper floors. I thought that maybe it was the person responsible for all the trouble around here so I rushed up in a fit of anger. But when I reached the top of the stairs, I saw nothing. Then when I turned to leave…" she paused, eyes welling up with fear. "I was faced by a horrible thing. It was a-a demon. A charred, burnt up human and it was smiling at me. Like it was proud it shocked me." She hugged her shoulders now, clearly disturbed. "…I didn't know what to think of it. But screamed, horrified and fainted. The workers noticed I was gone and found me unconscious. It terrified me deeply and now I'm beginning to think we purchased the wrong building. I just want whatever that thing is to go away. I'm too scared to go up there again… and I'll have to soon. It had to be a spirit, I mean what else could it be? It must be angry." She quivered then, her composure lapsing as she recounted the situation. Naru's disposition switched, a glint in his eye that no doubt changed his mind on this prospective case. A trait Masako paid close attention to. One Mai was oblivious to. "There, there Miss. It's alright…" John couldn't help but tend to her, trying to calm Miss Hayami.
"This certainly changes everything." Kazuya calmly spoke once Wakana subsided. They all sat, a bit of uneasy tension filling the room. What would happen now? "Ayako, Hosho, John and Masako. I need you all to investigate the upper floors. Get a sense of the feelings, see if you can detect any presence. Mai, stay with Miss Hayami. I have to make a quick phone call. Once we scope out the area we'll all meet back here and set up a base in one of the rooms. Then we'll wire the entire building with cameras and microphones." He took charge, whipping out a cellphone. "So you'll help me?" Wakana looked up, suddenly hopeful. Kazuya nodded. "E-Excellent. I'd like to talk to your manager after so we can discuss business. Is he on his way?" "No Ma'am, I am the manager." "O-oh." She looked embarrassed. "Don't worry, he gets that so often." Mai assured, her heart fired up and ready for this case. Naru took it after all.
"There's no sense in walking around all together stuck in a big group. Let's split up and take a walk down the hallways. Ayako and I will take the second floor if you two take third." Hosho started to divide them all up. It made sense but was a little nerving after what Miss Hayama had described. "Uh… sure. But you're not doing that just to avoid that top floor, are you Hosho?" John laughed nervously. "What? No! Not at all. But, if you're too scared we could take it…" "No. John and I will go. If there is an angry spirit up there I will immediately know." Masako stated bluntly and went on, making her way up. "Hey, Masako wait!" John started after her.
"Interesting how Kazuya changed his mind just like that, hmm? Then again, she should have told him about that experience over the phone." "Yes, it was a lot of detail to leave out…" Masako nodded. "Yeah. I get how you may not want to repeat something like that but with a guy like Kazuya you need an extraordinary story to convince him. He's stubborn, in'it he?" John chuckled. "Unfortunately so…" Masako muttered, her tone bothered. "Masako...?" At the top of the stairs, Masako immediately stopped. She gasped, her eyes widening as she staggered forward. "What? What is it?" John asked, concerned with her strong reaction. "…There's definitely a spirit lurking here. It is a woman… she's… she's very angry..." Masako's body began to shake, her eyes wincing before she began to fall forward. "Masako!" John rushed to grab her, saving her from hitting the hardwood floors. "Masako? Masako…" He shook her slightly. In the past when she fainted like this, she was either overwhelmed by her senses… or possessed. His expression went serious, his body freezing, waiting. If necessary, he would act and exorcize. But this was unusually quick, too quick for his liking.
"John." A voice said. "Masa…" He started, then realized it hadn't come from her. His eyes shot up, determined and wary. "John… John…. John…" The voice continued, whispering from everywhere. He held his breath, keeping close to his unconscious friend. "…Don't leave me, please don't leave me here…." His heart rate increased. All was silent, and then, Masako shifted, her eyes vacant. "John."
Author's Note:
Hey, hope you liked this! I'll update when I can! I'm really focusing on building a story to justify the purpose of it as well as provide an exciting time for the reader. I love shipping but I won't sacrifice plot or characteristics for it, haha! Not too much at least. I hope you enjoyed it and will continue to read. This is actually my first Ghost Hunt fanfic. I'm in love with the series and enjoy it so much. I tried to convey the characters and will be adding more of them as time goes on. The only OCs will be stock characters, I'm not a fan of adding new ones besides clients. I love a good ghost story so hopefully this will function as one! I thought it up after listening to a song.
xx
