x ~ Chapter 1: It All Began ~ x
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Case 1: The Wo-man Eating Killer
Mai sighed and began to trudge into the SPR building, "Just Great," She thought, "I bet the first thing he'll say is-" Her thoughts were interrupted by the icy cold tone cutting through her. "Mai, Tea." It grumpily
demanded. "The normal routine." Mai thought. Quickly, she paced into the kitchenette, setting a small and silver kettle on the shining white stove. Gripping onto a tea bag, she dipped it into the boiling water.
Watching the clear liquid stain brown, the chime on the kettle buzzed and rang. Indicating the Oolong tea was done, she carefully turned the stove off and poured the brewed tea into a small porcelain cup.
Setting it gently down on a silver platter she smiled, and repeated this process once more. She smiled shortly after, "Looks perfect, like usual." Her smile quickly faded into a knowingly frown." But Naru probably
won't care, as long as it's their…the tea addict." Picking up the tray she waltzed out of the small room. Staring at the golden name-plate which read, CEO Shibuya Kazuya, I gulped. I knocked on the white wooden
door, "Naru? It's Mai." I said uneasily. I always seemed to get like this when approaching him. A quick, "Come in." was heard as I twisted the golden knob, pushing out to be met with a pair of Indigo-blue cold
eyes. Naru was sitting aimlessly at his windowsill, staring back at me, no emotion shown. Bringing the tray to him he grabbed hold of the small cup and brought it to his calm lips. I blushed slightly and averted my
gaze. I waited for some sort of 'Thank you', or even just a nod, but of course like every other time it never came. I sighed and made my way out of the room, dropping the second tea cup on Naru's desk for when
he finished the first. It seems like every day with him either puts me closer to me death sentence or makes me feel even more uneasy…or whatever that feeling was at least. Walking back to the kitchen I noticed
Lin talking with some man. I set the tray on my near-by desk and made my way over to Lin and the unknown man. "Hey Lin, should I get Naru?" I asked sheepishly. Lin nodded as he sat the man on the couches.
Before leaving I quickly observed the man. He had shiny blue hair and nervously dark brown eyes. He had an a business attire; a white button down, long-sleeved shirt tucked neatly into his black pants with a
belt wrapped around his waist and a red tie to accompany his look. The man was about mid 30's. Something about him made me feel very cautious for some reason. Like someone was calling out to me
something….I shrugged the thought away and continued forward to Naru's door. I skipped into Naru's office without warning and he shot me a stone hard glare. "Gomennasai Naru, but we have a case." I winked
, exiting the dark(and scary) room(A.K.A Naru's den). Shivers went down my spine as I closed the door shut behind me. I will NEVER do that EVER again. It was much too scary for me to handle…. I took my place
beside Lin on the couch. The man looked at me and his entire facial expression changed. His eyes hit me like worried rocks. "E-excuse me, b-but just out of curiosity, will this young lady, or any others, be
accompanying you if you are to take my case?" He shivered. I shot Lin a what-the-heck-is-he-talking-about-look and received a shrug in return. I faced the unknown man, "Why yes sir, I, and two other females,
shall be accompanying this case if taken. Why might you ask?" I said as sturdy as possible. The man's look worsened and his skin paled. "I-I shall wait for your boss to explain." I nodded slightly and brought my
hand out with a small smile. "I'm Taniyama Mai, one of Mr. Shibuya's assistants, much like Lin here."The man's hand trembled as he reached for mine, "Tadashi Gho." He spoke almost inaudibly. A moment after Mr.
Tadashi's hand glazed mine and my eyes widened. Suddenly my whole bogy began to burn as I pulled away with force. The sensation still carelessly lingered throughout my body. I yelped in pain and started
scratching at myself as the man growled. "No! Than damned ghost…." He screeched. Abruptly, the fear in me grew as I saw the image of a wild fire before my eyes. It all felt so…so…real. I shut my eyes and soon
the feeling dispersed. "What just-" "Mai." Naru put a hand to my shoulder, concern written on his face. "Relax Mai." He whispered, his mask reforming. I nodded and started calming down, taking more easy
breaths. Naru faced Mr. Tadashi, taking a seat beside me. "Please explain in full details everything." He demanded, becoming troop leader Naru again. I gazed over at Naru's eyes and could feel the anger build up
in him. Tadashi-san nodded. I don't get it though? One moment he's insulting me and getting me angry, and the next he's full on pissed at the client. Bipolar much? But why? Maybe because of me? No…that
couldn't be it…I dropped the case and listened as Tadashi-san rambled on. "I just recently bought this spa resort for women which had been closed down due to numerous deaths a few years back and a fire over
the building." My body trembled at every word as I replayed what I had seen in my line of vision earlier. "My wife and I were going to turn the place into a small clinic after reconstruction of the building, but we
continuously hear noises and voices. At first it was nothing more than that, but soon after we realized it wasn't just mere noises anymore. Things are being moved around and whenever we have a female guest
or visitor they leave either by ambulance or severely injured, some even found dead. Plus my wife had had two encounters. The first she claimed she heard women screaming in pain and agony. The second she
was walking around to check the place out, and was pulled into the empty pool, being sent to the hospital and coming back with a sprained ankle and broken arm." He choked. I pitied this poor man… "I refuse
this case." Naru spoke, standing to leave. "Wait Naru! I think we should go, I don't want any more woman to be hurt…" I trailed off, tears starting to form on my gentle brown eyes. Naru sighed and stared back a
t me, "You do realize that if we go it puts you, Hara-san and Matsuzaki-san in grave danger?" he stated. I nodded my head. He sighed once more. "I just can't have you three being sent into the hospital." My
eyes softened at his words. "I have enough bills to pay already." He finished. This made me snap. Anger rose up inside of me as I clenched my fists and stood, gritting my teeth. Tears threatened to spill any
moment now. "You…You JERK!" I screamed in a rasped voice, running out of the room and into the kitchen. As my rage settled down, my tears began to spill over. Redness spread across my tear-strung face. "And
to think that I thought he cared. I'm so naïve, god Mai, why do you even bother?" I questioned myself, sinking down to the floor and leaning against the locked door. I brought my legs into my chest, wrapping my
arms around them I stuck my head in my knees. I could hear muffled and faint words from outside of the kitchen. I could make out Mr. Tadashi talking, "Oh thank you sir! You and your girlfriend shall not regret it!"
he exclaimed as the office door slammed closed. Naru sighed, "She's not my girlfriend." He muttered. Lin coughed and uttered a few words I couldn't hear. I slipped outside, unlocking the door, and stood at the
door frame. "Why did you take the case?" my tender brown eyes approaching him. "Because you got all worked up over it and I didn't feel like having you cry all day." I widened my eyes and put my arms around
Naru. "Oh thank you, thank you Naru!" I cried in delight. I smiled up at him, not realizing my actions. He seemed a bit taken back at my procedures but regained his composure. "Fine, but once we get their
Matsuzaki-san, Hara-san and yourself must be accompanied by a male at all times. You shall stay with Lin and myself seeing as how you cause the most trouble. Hara-san will be accompanied by Brown-san and
Yasuhara, and Matsuzaki-san will have Takigawa-san with her. Call the others and give them the information Mai, do I make myself clear?" I smiled back happily and wiped away the wet strokes on my cheeks.
"Hai!" I called, practically running in joy over to the telephone, dialing away on the number pad.
X-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Naru, Lin and I rode in the black SPR van with Lin driving and Naru in the passenger's seat, leaving me to the back. I huffed and groaned, crossing my arms. It seems like I'm always stuck in the back. Well it is
better than driving up with Masako, Yasu, Ayako and Bou-san. The though sent me shivers. Monk would be driving and having some sort of argument with Ayako while John tried to get them to calm down, witch of
course wouldn't work, and Masako would watch in amusement while Yasu would say how dead sexy he is and tease Monk and Ayako of sounding like an old couple. I chuckled to myself. I knew they would
arriving later than us, leaving the set up for Naru, Lin and I. We soon approached a medium sized, partially burned, building. It looked stable enough. The parts that hadn't been burned were magnificently
beautiful, it was like stone with a pattern engraving that looked so complicated. Something about it was pulling me in….As the car came to a halt I unconsciously slid out and began walking towards the decrepit
structure. Voices around me echoed, "Get out. The men will kill you. They don't care, they'll never care." This repeated over and over again by numerous voices, each and every one held anguish inside them, anguish
and pain. I reached my hand out to touch the building. It just barely tapped the side of it and it sent chills running down my spine. I was glued into my spot, rooted to the ground. "Mai what are you-" as Lin put a
hand on my shoulder I let out a painful scream and my surroundings faded, as it became black…."Mai!" was the last thing I heard.
I sat at the side of a pool, talking and laughing with a couple of girls. They appeared to be my friends, all around their early 20's. Then a couple of drunk guys stumbled in and the girls beside me
shrieked in fear. "Guys aren't allowed in here!" A girl with light blonde hair squealed, pointing at the three men. A BOOM was heard as several shouts of bloody murder enclosed me as blood itself
was out into sight in the pool. Terror and rage built up in me as the other girls fled in panic, leaving only me. I stood and clenched my soaking fists. The man on the left, wearing a leather jacket,
scoffed, "Look who's being brave boss." He said with a slightly slurred voice. I was plain out outraged, "How…How DARE YOU?" I fumed. Running at him in full force his buddy shot my leg and an
incoherent pain strung over me. I ignored the ache and continued towards the boss as the other person to his right swung at my with a knife he pulled out. He had ragged brown hair and a torn up t-
shirt with jeans. "Don't! You…monsters!" I screamed. The knife slashed open my left arm, leaving a big gash right there, blood oozing out much like my leg. As I trembled the man who swung at me
placed his hands around my neck, tightening his grip as he began to strangle me. "Just die girly." The boss spoke, pointing his gun at my head. "NOOOOO!" She screamed fearfully, but it was too
late,
she had been shot at. My body heavily collapsed to the floor as the men snickered. "Let's get the others, I'm sure their hiding somewhere around here." He sneered, his two gang members
chuckling. "No…I…I…couldn't save….them…"
My body began rattling and screaming as I thrashed against the bed I was placed on. My eyes were still closed but I was clearly awake. A hand whipped across my tear-strung face and all you could hear after
that was my uneven breathing and silence. I just lay there, my head exactly how it was after being slapped. I noticed everyone was around me, including the five who hadn't ridden up with us. Ayako pulled me
into her arms. "Mai! I'm so glad your alright!" Still silent I just let her huggle me as I winced. Everything I had just experienced replayed in my mind like a tape recorder. I could feel the emotion and pain as I stood
and limped to a mirror, red liquid falling from skin as the people around me gasped, shocked. Staring at myself in the full body mirror I shook. Hand marks were wringing on my neck in a purple-ish red color. There
was a deep cut placed against my left arm. My head and leg seemed fine but I was oozing quite a bit of blood. I gasped at my sight as I took a looser look at myself. "Oh Mai…" Bou-san whispered, putting a hand
over my shoulder. I winced slightly. Naru spun me around forcefully and I yelped. He earned a glare from Ayako. "Naru!" Bou-san growled. "Mai what happened in your dream." He pestered, still not letting go of
me. "Naru it h-hurts." I shuddered. Without a word he let go of me but is eyes stayed firm and put, locked on me. I shook a bit and retold everything that had happened as I put a hand on my forehead. John and
Yasuhara exchanged glances when I finished telling my story. "I'm sorry Mai, hat must have been horrible." John said sadly. Masako gave me a small nod and brought the sleeve of her kimono up to her mouth as
she looked down in grief. Ayako exited the room and quickly came back in, first-aid kit in hand. As soon as she entered she instituted to tend to my wounds. As she spread alcohol over a cotton swab and dabbed
my arm I cringed at the pain. Flinching each and every time the swab would meet my flesh. "Just a little bit and…done!" she smiled happily, as she finished my arm and neck. I nodded, "Thanks, Ayako." I
whispered. She shook her head. "No, its fine." Yasuhara ruffled my hair. "You gave us quite a shock their kiddo. Naru and Lin explained everything, even the incident at the office." Then Yasu smirked and leaned
down into my ear, "I think he was rather worried about you Mai." A small blush crept onto my face but I wiped it away and glared at the smirking boy. John gave me a reassuring glance, "Mai, you really should go
lay down for a bit. Your body needs time to cope." I frowned, "Ah….mmm." I sighed, scampering into the bed. Ayako tucked me in and kissed my forehead like my mother did for me when I was little. I beamed,
"Thank you, Ayako." I whispered, shutting my eyes. "Everyone out, I'll stay here in case something were to happen again." Naru ordered. I could faintly hear Yasuhara smirk, "I'm pretty sure you just want to stare
at Mai while she sleeps." You could practically feel Naru's death glare after that. The air was silent and soon the door had shut, leaving an over stressed Naru who, need I remind myself, had gone at least three
hours without tea, in the room with me. Everything felt so tense so it was hard to fall asleep. I furrowed my brow and opened my eyes.
"Naru?"
"Yes Mai."
"Can you tell me a story."
Naru seemed a bit at shock from her request and trailed off in his own thoughts, "Gene used to ask me that when he couldn't fall asleep…" He squinted slightly.
"Please." Mai asked once more. Naru huffed, "Fine. But only one." This seemed to make her happy as she beamed with joy. I closed my eyes only for a moment to recall something she might like….. "There was this
time when I was around five or six and a group of girls approached me giggling and laughing. I was at my primary school, which was a private school, and this type of thing happened every day. The girls kept
staring at me because of my good looks and one finally approached me." This part is where Mai scoffed. I smirked at her. "She had short light brown hair and very gentle light brown eyes. Her hair up was up in
two pig tails that were string together by light pink bows. I remember how she looked me in the eyes and stopped giggling, she reminds me off you, now that I think about it. Well after she stopped giggling that
is. She put her finger up to my head and flicked it. I glared at her but she just stood there. I asked her what she wanted and she replied for me to stop being so full of myself. After that she bent down(Naru was
in his seat) so we were eye level and she just stared at my eyes, "Narcissistic pig." She said, and after that walked away. But really Mai, she was like your copy-cat." I turned to face the girl and noticed her eyes
were shut tight and she was sleeping. I put on a small grin and sat back in my chair, picking up the book beside me.
X-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
My eyes slowly opened to reveal darkness around me. I slowly sat up and felt no more pain. No one seemed to be in the room anymore so I clipped out of the bed and trudged down a hallway. As I was a ways
away from the bedroom a little realization came into play, I didn't know where base was. Because of my little incident earlier I didn't get to look around the resort…oh butter nuggets. I looked around in search of a
camera or something and quickly found one on the ceiling in the corner. I smiled into it. "Lin! Naru! Anyone at base, can someone tell me where I am!" I asked sheepishly. I'm sure someone would have seen me
or heard me if there were any mikes up, and they would come get me. I sat across from the camera and lowered myself to the floor, leaning against the wall, waiting. I sighed, It was always me who got into
these weird predicaments. I began to laugh to myself. "Yup, I'll get lost and can't find my way back, and then I'll slowly start hearing some noises or something." I thought as I could hear claw scratches on the wall.
"Yeah like that! And afterwards I'll start being more curious and begin to get up and look around." I stood up and started to walk a bit. "After that something would pull me or fly at me or something and then Naru would
scream my name and everyone would rush towards me." Just as soon as I narrated it out, a hand grabbed my ankle and pulled me down the hall. "GAHHHHH!" I screamed. "Why? WHY THE HELL DID I HAVE TO DO
THAT!" I screeched, bracing myself for any impact. The tile burned up my legs as I heard footsteps running my way. "Aha! See, I've got this story line down! Exactly how I played…this…out…" Hmm…if I recall usually
Naru gets hurt during the point in when he saves me. I gritted my teeth as the hand gripped my ankle harder. "Aw C'MON!" I yelled, clearly not reading my situation here. "Mai!" Various voices shouted. I could see
blurry images of the others feet running towards me. Erm….Naru's right….I am a trouble magnet. The burning sensation in my legs began to double up in form. I squirmed around, making the twinge even worse.
"Dammit!" I bit my bottom lip, trying to grab hold of anything I could. The feet running towards me got even closer as one was able to dive down and grabbed my hand, yanking me in the process. I let out a
throbbing yelp. The hand was Naru's, it was warm and cold all at the same time. A short moment after some tugging, my ankle was released and I crawled into Naru's arms. The pain escalated on both my wrist
and ankle. Naru pulled me off and glared icicles at me. He was clearly mad. "What were you thinking? You're a female and this ghost hunts females and you just got hurt, and there you go again! Doing something
reckless and stupid! You shouldn't have left the room!" I seemed a bit taken back at his words. They stung into me like deep wounds. "I shouldn't have left the room? Excuse but you were the one you suggested
you stay with me while I slept! And then when I woke up you weren't there! What else was I to do?" I cried. Naru's hand collided onto my cheek(Yes, again^^)and the room went silent. Lin yanked at Naru and
took him away while I just sat there, hand to my red cheek, contemplating everything that had just happened. "Why me? Every single time…." A few sobs escaped my mouth as tears wept my face. "I told you they
never care. No men care at all. They just want us dead."A voice told me. My eyes widened and my head whipped around. Masako jumped back a bit. "This presence…" She trailed off. suddenly she collapsed to her
knees and John caught her. "Masako!" He screamed. She had fallen unconscious and I could hear that raspy voice tempting me again. "He just slapped you. He doesn't care. Die Mai, join us….Make him wish he didn't
do it…" I put my hands against my ears and Bou-san and Ayako put their arms around me. "Make it stop…make it stop…" I whimpered. "Shhhh, Mai it'll be alright." Ayako assured me. "Die child, the same way I did."
I made a blood hurdling scream. Ayako then turned around and fear rose in her. "Mai! Ayako!" Bou-san yelled. John carried Masako over to us and held her in his arms. "NO!" Ayako screeched, falling unconscious
also. My breaths turned uneven as Bou-san now held both me and Ayako. He was panicking hard now. John took a small pocket bible out of his pocket and opened it. Out of his other pocket he took out a small
vile of water and opened it up. He began his chant as the voices grew louder, angrier. "The word was with God, and the Word was God." John chanted. He finished it off with. "In principio." After uttering those
two words I screamed, loud. I looked at John as the corruptions stopped. "Mai-" but I cut him off. "-there still here." I whispered. He nodded his head and carried Masako back to base, as did Monk with Ayako. I
had to hold on to Bou-san though, since I couldn't really walk. I opened the door to base and found Lin and Naru sitting down at the computers. Lin was typing away and Naru just…yeah. I averted my gaze and
set it on the two boys putting my friends on the couches. They didn't seem injured and looks like they were sleeping now. I looked at the first-aid kit beside me and opened it up. I began wrapping up my wrist
and ankle until it was done. I glanced at Naru and he still seemed pretty angry about earlier…maybe I should apologize? No, I wasn't going to let him win this….although it kills me to see him so mad at me….A
single tear strolled down my cheek. I took a place on a rolling chair beside Yasuhara. He seemed to notice my silence and flinched. "Mai, don't worry. He'll come around." He whispered, but I just sat there. I just
sat there and did what Naru had always wanted me to do, shut up. In a sense I guess he did win this, but he won over emotions. I yawned slightly. So much has happened today…so much…..today…my eyes
slowly snapped shut as I dozed off.
Naru? I ran up and hugged the black clad figure. He patted my head. No this wasn't Naru- it was Dream Naru. "I'm so sorry that I hurt you Mai, and I'm sorry you got hurt so bad…and that dream…"
He seemed to frown down at me as if disapproving what he had done. I shook my head. "No, it's alright. So, what have you come to show me today?" I asked. Naru smiled. "You mean guide not
show, Mai." He corrected. I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah, just bring on the dream." I sighed. He took my hand and we made our way past the blackness and into a locker room of some sort. "Naru
where-" he put a finger to his lip and closed my mouth. Naru pointed a finger and told me to watch, holding me close as to keep me away from it. There were the three gang members from before
and they had about a dozen girls cornered in the room. Suddenly endless cries and please, bangs and pops, echoed the room. I clung onto Naru's black t-shirt and buried my face into it until all the
noise dispersed. I tore away from his grasp and my pulse quickened. There lied abundant bodies surrounded in a pool of blood. I clenched my shirt and put a hand over my mouth. "It's very sad and
tragic that this had to have happen." Naru whispered. "Naru? Are the spirits that are haunting this place those girls?"I asked. Naru bit his lip and suddenly the room switched into the room where the
base was. My heart stopped. I watched in horror as the three men began pushing and shoving at one another, getting more violent each and every time. I lowered my eyes. "I see…its them too."
Dream Naru nodded. "You must be careful Mai, these three haven't struck yet…you must be careful." My surrounding began to fade until I saw nothing at all .What does he mean?
Wahoo! First chapter down and its already very dramatic! Please R&R and I'll update sooner my dears! Enjoi!
