Disclaimer: Only own Sion and Chris (and ocs that appear)
File 1: Evil Spirits All Over!? Part 3
Sion stared blankly at her empty prescription bottle. Honestly, hadn't she had a full bottle just a few days ago? Had she really taken that many without realizing it?
As Sion paled at the repercussions she would be facing because of the lack of contents in the bottle she held, Mai was watching Ayako perform her exorcism. The problem was, she had no idea what was being said.
"What's this? What is she saying?" She asked Naru, who was observing the Shinto ritual right beside her.
"Be quiet. You're Japanese and you don't even know about Norito?" Trying to observe the ritual wasn't the easiest when the curious school girl kept asking pointless questions. Maybe if he was quick and to the point, he would be able to observe the ritual in peace.
"Norito?"
"It's a ritual prayer offered to a Shinto god."
"Huh…" Sensing that Naru didn't want to speak anymore, Mai turned towards Sion. Maybe she would be able to answer without being irritated. Despite her behavior, Mai didn't think that the photographer was a bad person. A little rough in the personality department, but she was honest about what she thought.
However, when Mai saw Sion's expression, she couldn't bring herself to speak to the woman. Sion's face seemed even paler than normal, which couldn't have been that healthy with how pale she was naturally.
"Um…Sion-san? Are you okay? You don't look that good." She hesitantly reached out towards the woman, who hadn't stopped staring at a prescription bottle in her hand. The hand appeared to be shaking.
Hearing Mai's words, Naru glanced over towards the brunette woman, curious as to what his temporary assistant was talking about.
Leaning slightly forward to get a full view of what the school girl had seen, Naru was met with a peculiar sight. Sharp eyes narrowed at the bottle, catching the name of the prescription. He also noticed how shaky the woman appeared to be. However, her eyes appeared clear, despite the blank stare that seemed to hold some type of fear regarding the empty bottle.
Something more must be behind her reaction. Something that wasn't clear just yet. Still, what would a woman who seemed to be in perfect health be doing with that type of medicine?
He had thought the crass woman was merely a stand-in for some amateur who chased paranormal phenomenon. But if she was using that type of medicine without needed it for its original use, than she needed it for another reason. Something she most likely used for a means of appearing normal. Was it possible that he had miscalculated this woman's capabilities?
There was only one reason he could think of that would drive someone to willingly take such a drug. If he was right, than this was something that may warrant future study at some point. But that was not the priority at the moment. He had a job to do.
With that in mind, Naru returned to observing the Shinto-style exorcism, though he noticed the woman pocket the bottle, the shaking stopping instantly as she steeled her nerves.
-GH-
"Now you can feel relieved." Ayako assured the school president, having finished her exorcism.
"Wow! Very impressive." The vice-principal cheered, clapping.
The president expressed his awe, a large smile decorating his face. "How shall I put it…it felt heavenly."
Sion rolled her eyes. Felt more like a sedative to her. Apparently the monk and Mai agreed with her as both yawned, making no effort to hide the action. Naru simply pushed away from where he had been leaning against the wall and exited the room Ayako had chosen to perform her exorcism, having seen what he wanted and was now done. Sion stayed put, having to introduce herself to the Principle still.
What a pain.
"Shall we all go out for drinks to celebrate tonight?" The president inquired.
The miko shook her head, smiling apologetically. "To be on the safe side, I'll need to spend the night here so that we can be sure everything is ok."
"I'm impressed. You are indeed a professional. Why don't we go have lunch somewhere?" The principal wasn't giving up, after all, it was a great ego boost to dine with a lovely woman. The vice principal noticed Sion, who was still leaning against the wall, arms crossed as her eyes remained locked on the principal.
"Ah, Sir…" The vice-principal was hesitant to interrupt his boss, but if that was who he believed it was, than it would be rude to keep her waiting.
The principal noticed the brunette woman staring at him, blue eyes staring blankly at him.
"Ah, you must be Hunter-san."
Naru, Mai, and Bou-san all paused in their exit of the room, hearing the principal speak to the woman with excitement.
"Hyde-san called me personally and explained your presence. It is an honor to have a woman of your reputation take the time to visit our school, seeking to help. My sister has one of your pieces hanging in her living room. The way you captured that image was breathtaking. The mist rising from the waterfall's base almost has me thinking something was about to rise from the depths."
Sion removed herself from the wall, taking off the glove on her right hand to shake the principal's own outstretched hand, smiling. Chris had said not to cause trouble with the man that hired him (though she was the one attending).
"So it looks like that woman is actually someone famous. Guess you can't judge people by their personality." Bou-san whispered to Mai, who nodded in agreement. You wouldn't think she was famous the way she acted and dressed. Mai had thought she was just someone who took pictures for companies or something.
Naru was focused on something else entirely. The moment Sion had made contact with the principal's hand, her body had tensed. The action itself would be unnoticeable to a normal person, but he was smarter than normal people. Her smile never faltered, though her eyes almost appeared to be looking through the older gentleman before her, observing something only she could see.
The moment the principal let her of her hand, her eyes instantly regained focus and her body relaxed oh so subtly, though she was quick to re-equip her glove. "I appreciate the compliment. I remember that piece. Found that scene on accident. I was so captivated by the view before me that I almost forgot to take the shot." She acted like nothing had happened during those seconds she shook hands with the principal, though she seemed to pay extra attention to the windows beside them, subtly moving her body to keep the windows and principal in view.
Interesting.
Mai was more amazed by the look on Sion-san's face. Gone was the glare and disinterest. The woman almost seemed to glow as she discussed her picture.
"I apologize that you had to come all this way only to have to leave so soon." The principal apologized, actually seeming sorry to see the woman have to leave.
"If you would like, we would love to have you join us for lunch." He motioned towards Ayako, joyed at the thought of getting to have lunch with two lovely women.
Sion merely smiled, her face appearing apologetic. "I'm sorry, Sir, but I still have yet to find a place to live so I will be having to return to my search as soon as this is officially closed."
"I understand."
The principal motioned for them to continue walking, turning back to Ayako as though to continue speaking.
Naru noticed how Sion kept close to the principal, almost behind him, her eyes moving from him to the windows and back. What was that woman looking for and why?
That was when they all heard it. A low creek echoed lowly through the hall, followed by cracks appearing in the windows. Before anyone had time to process what they were witnessing, the glass shattered, shards flying straight towards the principal and Ayako. Before either could duck down and protect their heads from the glass, a body shoved itself into both, pushing them out of the way of the larger pieces.
Sion wasn't so lucky, having lost momentum from shoving the two adults away. While the pieces hadn't stabbed her, Sion ended up landing on top of some shards. Thankfully, she had the foresight to cover her head and neck, allowing her arms to bare most of the damage.
Mai couldn't believe what she had just seen. Ayako-san, and the principal were fine, a little cut up and bruised from being shoved, but they weren't as injured as they could have been. The principal reached up, feeling blood run down his face from the wound of his forehead from a stray glass shard.
As Ayako, whose wounds were only artificial checked on the president, Mai and Bou-san ran towards Sion, who was slowly getting up.
"Sion-san, are you alright?" Mai crouched down, careful of the glass all over the wooden floor. Sion just stared at the principal, eyes taking in his wounds. Bou-san crouched down to her level, safe from the tiny shards thanks to his jeans.
"Hey, Jou-chan asked you a question. Did you hit your head?" His tone may have been a bit harsh, the he was careful to not disturb any wounds countered the harshness.
Blue eyes blinked, now that their view of obstructed by the bleached hair of the monk.
"I am just fine." Without even a winch, the woman stood and made to exit. She just brushed by Naru, only thinking that she needed a nap in her van and forget today. That plan was interrupted by one narcissistic boy who wasn't going to allow someone to do something stupid right in front of him.
"You need to get that glass removed." Naru didn't request as much as order it to be done.
Sion raised an eyebrow. "What the hell kind of nonsense are you spouting now?" She looked down at the hand holding her upper arm, halting her progress.
Did she really not know or was she just playing dumb to try and downplay what she had just done?
Instead of answering, he grabbed her wrist and lifted her forearms into view, where pieces of glass were shown to be jutting out from her skin. Her outer shirt was shredded at the sleeves where the glass got cut through.
Naru instantly noted that the smaller woman's eyes actually looked a little shocked, though her eyes were focused more on his hand holding her bare wrist.
"Mai, take Hunter-san back to base and help her get patched up." He let her wrist go and walked away. Ayako helped Mai guide the woman, who appeared almost frozen, to the base muttering something about getting a first-aid kit.
"There was nothing."
Mai looked up at the photographer. "Did you say something, Sion-san?"
Sion tore her gaze from her wrist and from the thoughts running through her mind.
"Nothing important.",
She silently glanced back towards the retreating back of the know-it-all boy.
Nothing important at all. Though it appeared she would have to be a bit more careful.
TBC…..
A.N. Just for the record, I am refraining from mentioning the drug name for a reason. It will be seen later, but it will be the rest of the gang who discover it and bust their heads over its meaning, cause Naru is just that smart to figure it out with a bit of research and not cause a fuss over it.
I'm curious if anyone can guess what Sion did though. I'll be giving hints but no definite answer for a while.
Also, I was going to wait to ask but since it was brought up before, I'm curious as to who people would like Sion to end up with (I've left is blank cause I still haven't decided). I will be taking suggestions into account, cause I'm open to ideas and placed Sion at an age range that she could be with any of the guys (which worked out with balancing her immaturity/maturity level, young enough to mock the older ones but old enough to be cocky towards those younger.) Please let me know what you would like either through review or PM.
Special thanks to casie200, sakuraLT, Pikalu, Renamonkey, and Kanata969 for Favorite/Following this story. And thank you to all who read this chapter.
Renamonkey: Thank you for the review, I hope you like this chapter despite it being short.
NightWriter: I really hope you continue to like Sion and I'll do my best to keep it from being cliché.
. : Thank you for the review.
Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Till next time (expect a longer chapter).