Betaed version

"Ladies and gentlemen, we'd like to thank you for flying Air Britannica, and hope that you have had a pleasant flight with us today."

"Nice picture you got there." The elderly man next to him pointed to the picture that had been in the envelope. "That your girlfriend?" He pointed to Mai.

"No. Actually, I'm not even in this picture. That's my twin and his, well, his future girlfriend, I hope." Gene tucked the photo into the pocket of his blazer.

"Ah, not your type, huh?" The man asked, smiling softly at Gene.

"Something along those lines. Actually, it's more like I'm not her type. We have too much in common for us to be anything more than friends." Gene returned the smile with one of his own.

"Ah yes, well, that can happen. I wouldn't be too upset about it. One day, you'll meet just the right girl for you and I'm sure it will be someday soon." The man tapped the side of his nose, conspiratorially. "That's how it happened with my wife and I. She couldn't come with me to see our eldest so I've missed her terribly. I'm looking forward to seeing her when I get home."

"It must be nice to see your child, especially if you haven't seen them in a while." Gene said, before softly thanking the flight attendant for the drink she handed him.

"Yes, it was. Would you like to see a picture?" the man asked.

"Sure." Gene spent the next hour or so talking to the elderly man next to him. They talked about their families and Gene told him about his fear that he wouldn't always be there for his family.

"That is a common worry among all humans who love someone. You always want to be there for that person." Gene soaked in the elderly man's words of wisdom.

"By the way, my name is Eugene Davis." Gene said politely, shaking the man's hand.

"I'm Tanigawa Akira." He said, returning the handshake jovially.

"Pleased to meet you."

"And you, young man."

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please buckle your seat belts and place your trays in the upright position. The plane will be landing in Narita shortly. We hope that you have enjoyed your flight and hope your trip in Japan is safe and memorable." The sound of the captain's voice came over the loud speaker and Gene pushed his tray into the upright position.

"Tanigawa-san, the plane is landing." He tapped his elderly companion gently on the shoulder.

"Huh, wha? Oh, thank you very much, Davis-kun."

After a few minutes, the plane landed and after collecting his luggage, Gene said goodbye to Tanigawa-san as he headed over to a man in a black suit holding a sign that said 'Eugene Davis' in big black English letters. Gene sighed. Suits, dear heavens how he hated them.

"Eugene Davis?" The man asked.

"Ah, yes, I-" Gene was cut off as the man took his bag.

"Follow me." He said in a voice laced with authority. Gene shrugged and followed the man to a plain black car.

"I hope you understand. My employer does not like waiting and as this ghost problem has begun to scare away his customers and employees, well, he's even more impatient than usual." The man said as he steered the car though the town with ease.

"It's alright, I understand. Spirits can be very difficult to live with." Gene smiled. The man didn't return it.

'Dang! This man is even colder than Noll is!' Gene thought, looking out the window of the car. At least Noll would turn on classical music when they were in the car. The silence in the car was so heavy, Gene felt as though he was about to suffocate.

After what felt like several hours, though it was only fifteen minutes, the car pulled to a halt in front of an old Opera house built back when the town was popular with wealthy Europeans. The building had been in continual use since the day it was built but had undergone renovations on numerous occasions. The ghost had always been believed to be the figment of the over active imaginations of the ballet and chorus girls. However, when the new owner stayed there overnight, he came face to face with 'Le Fantom', as the French man who led the orchestra said.

When many of the Japanese psychics left having accomplished little, if anything at all, the owner thought he'd bring his problem to an old friend, Denise Zimmer, Luella Davis's younger sister. She, of course, told Luella, who told Martin, who mentioned it to the boys. When the new owner, one Michel Roberts, was asked if he'd like Gene to take a look, he said yes, and offered to pay for air and hotel fare.

"I just hope that I make it back to England alive." Gene muttered, as he stared up at the structure.

As it turned out, there was very little there. The spirit was that of an old operagoer who had died in the opera house. He believed it was his job to insure that the opera had the highest quality singers and musicians possible and that they played the proper roles for their vocal talents. When the manager was made aware that, through automatic writing (a talent that his granddaughter possessed) he could communicate with this spirit, he chose to simply leave it, which meant one thing.

Gene had two weeks of prepaid vacation time in Japan.

Two weeks.

All by himself in a foreign country.

Wouldn't Naru be jealous?