Ghost Hunt Bonus Story: Soap Opera

Ghost Hunt Bonus Story: Soap Opera

Oh noes!! I've vanished again! :( But I'm back! I'm very sorry this isn't a Family Ties update! But my birthday was two weeks ago and I managed to get Volume 8 and 9 and I've had this little "mini-story" in my mind for awhile. I love singing and I love Ghost Hunt so this is a match made in Heaven. Sort of. Anyway, I hope you enjoy and I will update Family Ties ASAP! Btw, this takes place just a few months after my first story, Relic Nights. I'd like to say after volume 7, as my (2nd) favorite character will come in the story later. (My first fav is Mai, my 3rd fav is Monk-san. Can you guess who my second fav is? It's not Naru…)

-Katrina.Izumi09

Sweat…

The sweat trickles down the back of my neck as I belt out the last notes of the song.

Tears…

The audience applauses, the moonlight drenching the crying crowd from the sunroof high up above the stadium. I can see my mother's proud face; her blonde hair was white as the moon bathed her in beauty.

Blood…

My blood runs cold as a chill goes down my spine. Before I know what's happened, I can see the moon smiling down at me from above as I fall to on the ground.

Chaos…

The audience screams and rushes for the exit…why's no one helping me? I'm starting to get cold… Please…please…

Please, someone find me.

Ghost Hunt Bonus Story: Soap Opera

August 20, Day 1

"I just don't get why it's always so freaking here," the girl moaned as she clipped the top of her very crooked toenail. "And why are you stuck here working in the summer? You couldn't pay me enough money to work here in Shibuya in the summer."

"That's because you're family's so rich, they practically own the town you live in," Monk-san exclaimed, finally tired of the raven-haired girl's constant whining. "Now, can we try to enjoy the rest of the day or are we going to argue the rest of the day? I have other things to do."

Koaimi Shino clipped another toenail and stuck her tongue out at the Buddhist monk. The two exchanged killer stares and Mai suppressed a giggle.

Mai Taniyama knew the hot, humid day was the main culprit behind the bickering of the monk and the super-psychic girl. It was extremely hot that day, which was even unusual for a June day in Japan. Mai stopped fanning herself with the files of possible clients and instead proceeded to actually opening up the files and reading them.

"If we're going to be stuck inside together, let's at least try to get along," the part-time worker piped up, causing the two squabbling mediums to halt. "I need help looking through these."

"Sure, Mai-chan," Koaimi replied, putting down the clippers and nail polish. "What's with all these cases anyway? Shouldn't Shibuya-sama give you, you know, a summer vacation or something?"

"He offered me one and I refused, I really need the money this month," Mai said absently as she flipped through the files alphabetically.

"Well why don't you just drop all your work and come to my house for a few weeks? Rei-chan would like that."

Houshou Takigawa, known mostly as Monk-san, remained silent as he observed the two girls from the couch. It was obvious Koaimi didn't know about Mai's parents, or lack thereof. But the annoying girl was right, Mai needed a break for awhile, and it was no fair that Naru, the boss of SPR, was always away on "business" trips between cases.

"I agree with Shino-san," Monk spoke up. "We all could use a break; we've been through a lot. And Shino-san's town is a nice place to be when you're not on business."

"You mean besides all the psychics and ghosts?" Mai grinned as Koaimi said muttered, "Why are you calling me 'Shino-san?'"

"I think a vacation sounds splendid!"

The three researches jumped in their seats and looked around frantically, find the source of the disembodied voice. They all sighed in relief (Monk-san in frustration) as they found Ayako Matsuzaki, a self-proclaimed Miko, and Masako Hara, a celebrity medium, huddled in the door. Masako Hara was clad in her usual kimono, but Mai was surprised to find not one bead of sweat anywhere on the beautiful girl's neck or forehead. Mai and Masako always butted heads when it came to Mai's boss, the narcissist Katzuya Shibuya (better known by his nickname "Naru;" short for narcissist), but there was something a little deeper, like a friendship that wanted to grow but it was unsure of itself.

"Then it's unanimous," Koaimi jumped to her feet, excited. "I'll go call mommy right now!"

Ayako and Masako sidestepped to let the younger girl zoom out of the room.

Koaimi Shino was a former client of SPR. Just a couple of months ago, Mai and the others received a request from a desperate mother to help find her niece and cure her daughter of a strange condition. The Shibuya Psychic Research Center (SPR, of course) accepted the case and had more than they bargained for. Located in the center of a well-sized city of psychics, Mai and the others unexpectedly jumped into the middle of a festival called the "Relic Night." Rebecca Shino, Koaimi's young widowed mother, explained that Relic Night happened every year in the middle of summer when the spirits were able to leave their graves for one night to rendezvous in the cemetery among other things. But one particular vengeful ghost, named Nicolas, possessed Koaimi and he tried to control her powers (Koaimi possesses both PK and ESP powers!). But along with Koaimi's deceased half-sister, Mai was able to exorcise Nicolas, find Koaimi's lost younger cousin Reimi, and solve the case before things turned even sourer.

"I just don't get where the money's coming from," Ayako was saying, breaking Mai from her thoughts. "I mean, her parents were well known Psychic Researchers, but Koba Shino's been dead for over 10 years. I wonder why they still live in such a gorgeous house?"

"Well, Rebecca and Koba Shino's books are very popular; they've been translated to over a hundred different languages. They must be surviving on that money."

"But I'm not just talking about surviving, Takigawa," Ayako responded, but not as sharply as usual. "They're loaded! There's got to be a secret…"

"What's there to keep a secret? They live in a town full of psychics, mediums, exorcists, scientists, etcetera, and etcetera."

"A summer vacation does sound nice," Mai spoke up, ignoring the two bickering adults. "But, would Naru allow it? I mean, he's been going on business trips all summer long and coming back crabby. The last thing he needs is to be cooped up in a mansion with dusty old books."

"Why not? Naru-bou loves that kind of stuff," Monk-san replied, his argument with Ayako reaching a standstill. "What's better than being surrounded by spirits and foreign books? At least he won't be mean to us…"

Mai opened her mouth to add to Monk's statement when the door to the office crashed open again. The 16-year-old jumped to her feet, half-expecting it to have been Naru back from a trip, but Koaimi dashed in, panting from exhaustion.

"What's wrong, Ai-chan?" Mai asked, worried. Koaimi held up a hand to signal "one minute, let me catch my breath!" Everyone was on end, even Masako Hara (a celebrity medium), who was usually calm and professional in demeanor.

"There's been-an accident-in the opera house- by my home-" the girl finally managed. Before anyone could say anything, she continued. "Reimi's in the hospital!"