Just Another Night
Summary: It's just another night for the SPR team. Lounging around as the night draws to a close on the evening of an investigation, paranormal researchers do the one thing they are best at... They tell Ghost stories.
A/N: Chapter 1 re-uploaded and fixed of most errors! The ones I could find anyway! I know I let this sit for two years, but I have chapters done up and ready to post! Hopefully weekly!
Anyway, please enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not in any way own Ghost Hunt or the Horror Stories I use within this fanfiction.
Chapter 1: Body in the Bed
The rain hammered down as the team rushed into the hotel, their clothes soaked from the minutes it had taken them to run inside. It was only once the front door slammed with a loud thud that everyone stopped at various points of the lobby, panting for breath as they tried to shake off the chilling water.
"My hair is ruined!" The redhead of the team moaned, tugging on a damp lock of hair. A blonde male stepped up beside her and flicked strands that had stuck to her forehead, making the red tresses fall further onto the young doctors face.
"You know, I'd say it's an improvement." With a chuckled, he avoided a solid swing from the angry lady before he got lobbed over the head with her handbag. The force of the blow sent him to the ground, his comical fall causing a number of those standing around to laugh at his misfortune.
"Now Monk, you should know by now that teasing Ayako will only lead to your early demise." A young brunette giggled, leaning down to assess the damage done to the older man, now identified as Monk. Or to the Buddhist community, Houshou Takigawa.
After a case that had originally brought everyone together, he had officially joined on with the SPR crew. Along with Ayako, the red headed doctor of the group who was also their resident Shinto Priestess. While her spiritual powers were not always present, they were a force to be reckoned with when used to harness the power of the spirits that dwell in trees.
"Oh come on Mai. You know Takigawa has a hard head." With a chuckled, a young man with glasses pulled Mai from the ground as Monk continued to groan.
"But Yasu..." Despite the humour of the situation, the brunette was still worried for her father figure. Even at the age of nineteen, the brunette still had a tendency to worry a little too much.
"I agree with Yasuhara on this Mai. I'll bring him to the lounge for you mate." The Australian accent drew Mai's attention. The team's resident Priest and Exorcist from the land down under stood beside the team's Medium, Masako Hara, who stood with her sleeve covering her mouth, her head nodding in agreement to John.
With a sigh, the brunette relented, allowing Yasu to drag her to the hotels lounge area.
"Come on boss. You'll catch a cold like Lin if you aren't careful!" With a joyous yip from Yasu, he picked a spot closest the fire pit in the centre of the lodge, the rest of the team, including the still dazed Monk, sat around it with him.
"Man. It's so hot I don't even think I'll need to change my clothes." Ayako thought aloud, warming her hands near the flame.
"While that may be the case, I already have to make do without Lin on this case Miss Matsuzaki, and I would prefer to leave the team with its current number." The young CEO of the company,
at the ripe age of twenty, received a blank stare from the red head.
"I think what Naru is trying to say is that he doesn't want you to get sick Ayako." Mai butted in, accidentally bumping her shoulder in said narcissist. With a quick look in his direction, Mai shuffled away from him, not noticing the look the dark haired man gave her. And if any of the others saw it, they didn't say a thing.
With a huff, the redhead turned her head to the side, her cheeks flushed.
"Well then, I suggest we all return to our rooms to change and then we can all meet back up here, how's that sound?" Masako said, her voice quiet as she tugged at her kimono sleeve. The fabric was very damp, hanging off her shoulders heavily despite her efforts to have it remain in place.
With a chorus of agreements, the men and women parted ways in the hallway to change their attire before gathering around the fire again. Many had changed into their nightwear, some like Mai and Yasu carrying with them blankets and pillows. The hotel they were investigating was theirs to roam considering all the paranormal occurrences had frightened all guests away.
Once seated and comfortably wrapped in blankets or complimentary dressing gowns like Ayako had on, the team sat in silence. Even Naru avoided breaking the silence despite his evening tea craving. Mai saved him from embarrassment however when she called for those who wanted tea and within minutes, he had a fresh cup of steaming tea in his hands and a large kettle on the table next to him.
With a fully stocked kitchen and no guests to cater to, the team had full access to whatever they desired. And a serving trolley full of kettles seemed to be included in that.
"So, what should we do? Go over the case?" Monk asked, rubbing his still sore head.
"That would be unnecessary considering the rain halted set up of any exterior cameras." Naru said, sipping his tea. He cast a quick glance at the person responsible for giving him his evening treat, only to see that the person was already looking at him. They both looked away, cheeks flaring red.
"You know, we could always tell Ghost stories." Yasu suggested, a cold glint in his eyes as his glasses caught the light of the fire.
"That's a good idea! I don't remember the last time I told a ghost story!" Mai yelled in joy, shrinking in her seat when she realised just how loud she had been, "Sorry..."
"Don't be silly Mai. It's not like you can really annoy anyone here anyway." Monk teased, rubbing the brunette's still damp hair, "Well, if no one objects, then who wants to go first?"
There were a few murmurs around the group before Yasu stood, his eyes hidden by the glint in his glasses. His lips were pulled into a smirk and everyone could feel a slight sliver go down their spine as they looked at him.
"I think considering it was my idea, I'll go first." Yasu cleared his throat, ready to tell a story that they would all remember as they were going to bed...
A young couple checked into a hotel, thinking they could finally enjoy their honeymoon after all their travels. But once they got to the room, they smelt something... a bad odour that seemed to hang in the air. The newly wedded groom called the front desk and asked for the manager, explaining that they wanted another room due to the bad smell. Unfortunately for the young couple, they hotel they were staying at was fully booked.
As an apology, the manager sent the couple on a complimentary lunch while he sent a cleaner to thoroughly clean the room. But once the couple came back from their lunch, they claimed they could still smell the terrible odour. Again, the manager apologised and suggested he would look at other hotels in the area. Again, the manager was unable to find another free room and offered to have the room cleaned again.
The couple then took the offer from the manager to have the room searched and cleaned once more while they were out sightseeing. So once they left, the manager and all the housekeeping staff searched the room, changing sheets and towels and cleaning the entire suite with the strongest chemical cleaners they had.
As the couple returned, the husband was angry to find that the suite still had the horrible odour from before. Frustrated with the lack of results, the husband started tearing the suite apart himself, determined to find the source of the smell.
He looked everywhere, leaving no spot untouched. And when he grabbed the mattress and pulled it from its base...
Yasu paused, eliciting a number of frustrated grumbled from the surrounding team.
"Come on Yasu! What did he find?" Mai whined, combing her fingers through her hair as if seeing better would help her hear the end of the story.
"Oh my god. It's going to be a dead animal. Oh I just know it!" Ayako groaned, half covering her ears.
What he found under the mattress... was the dead body... of a young woman...
~X-x-X~
Later that night, still disturbed by the story Yasu had told, Ayako made her way back to her room with Monk, the couple having been an item for some time now. But once they got back to their room...
They were faced with a bad odour...
~X-x-X~
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