3. Partners
"So you're saying that this incident is not 'normal'?"
Rei and Kei were both listening to Miku's story of what happened that gloomy afternoon. They were sitting in Rei's living room with Miku sat on a couch facing the two. Darkness had engulfed outside, and although it wasn't raining, the atmosphere in the house was tense.
Actually, Miku had hesitated to tell what she felt about the incident. But after deciding that she couldn't hide the facts from her companion, she told Rei about it, which then leading the older woman to invite Kei to their house as well.
"What else did you feel when you were there?" Kei asked, obviously intrigued by Miku's story. He had always a grasp of enthusiasm in this kind of field which reminded Miku of her lost brother. Now she finally understood why those three, with Yuu included, were the best of friends. She could even still remember the way her brother had spoken about his friends, noting how enthusiastic he was to have people with same interest as his.
The youngest Hinasaki shifted uncomfortably, her hand rubbed the other anxiously. She never liked telling others what her sixth sense had let her feel and see. Or it was more like, she wasn't used to. "I couldn't completely grasp it, but I did feel that something was not right... It was just like when I first entered the Himuro Mansion—The Rope Mansion—years ago."
"So you're suggesting that this is some vengeful spirit's doing?" Once again, Kei was the one who bombarded her with questions.
Miku nodded. "Since the malicious aura I sensed wasn't the owner's, then yes."
"So it's possible that the owner's still alive, then," Rei stated after a pause.
"Interesting." Kei clapped his hands altogether. "If what you say is true, than there's nothing the police can do about this case. But since we haven't gone there in person, I can't be too sure of the owner's survival." He gave a bitter smile before adding, "Me going there probably wouldn't help much anyway, since my sixth sense is not as strong as you two... But I'll try to look into the matter."
"Please do," Rei said to Kei. She then turned to face Miku, her gaze intensified. "But that man you spoke of... I still don't see the reason why you should trust him."
"Shiki-san, you mean? He said that he was doing a job of his own."
"But still... He's a stranger," Rei insisted. "And I certainly don't like the way he invited you to come with him... It's just too strange, considering the fact you two just spoke to each other."
"How about him, then?" Kei asked. "Did that Shikigane you mentioned also noticed something strange going there?"
Miku pondered for a while while tilting her head to one side. "Come to think of it... He was calm and didn't show any expression nontheless. My guess is, he's used to investigating cases like this. The police officer even stated that he was assigned as a special member recently."
"He's actually part of the police?" Kei asked, once again, intrigued by the fact that there was a college student who also worked as a member of police.
"I'm not sure since I've never talked to him before," Miku admitted. "Well, to be exact, none of the students in college get to really know him. He never really talked to anyone, and he refused to be a member of any club despite the flooding invitations. All we know that he's a half English, half Japanese who just moved to Japan recently for some unknown reason. No students even know his family background."
"That's the more reason why we shouldn't trust him," Rei said, her tone flattened. "We never know what his true intention is."
"I see your point, Rei. But," Kei rubbed his chin while thinking, "for the time being, I think that he's the only lead in this case. Look, the media hasn't gone anywhere and there are no clues to be find. If, by any chance, Miku could find something by accepting his invitation, then why should we prevent her from going?"
"What if he doesn't mean what he said?" She retorted. After a minute passed by with Rei's rising composure, she sighed and finally calmed down. "My point is... he could be just trying to be polite and friendly. And we don't even know this guy so well to put our trust on him."
"I think it's fine, Rei-san," Miku spoke up, trying to settle the argument. If there was something in Rei's mind, she thought, it could only be her safety. Ever since Rei recovered from her trauma, she had grown more protective towards her housemate, which may be caused by the fear of losing someone precious for the second time. Rei had, after all, almost lost her too when she decided to pursue the dead further into the Manor. Miku had cursed herself for her stupidity and selfishness. She even went to the point where she apologized to Rei for trying to 'abandon' her. But the older woman was strong, she meant what she stated to go on living and accepted her apology.
Miku went on. "I don't see any reason why he'd lie to me, nor the reason why I should turn down the invitation. After all, we might find some clues by going to Seijiro-san's office."
Rei was about to object Miku's last remark when a cell's ringtone disturbed their discussion. It was Miku's cell phone.
"Excuse me," she said as she held out her cell from her pocket.
It was a text message from an unknown number. But when she scrolled down, a name turned out to be written on the very end of the message. Miku smiled darkly at the hint.
"From a friend?" Kei asked upon reading Miku's face.
She nodded, her face paled a bit. "From someone we've been talking about for a while. It's from him."
The text message was clear and quite to the point. It informed her of the time when the young half was planning to pay Seijiro a visit. Upon agreeing, he called her in the late evening so they could arrange to meet up on Saturday morning.
Rei was still against the idea, but she gave finally up after Miku and Kei tried to assure her that nothing would happen. Miku, on the other hand, had no idea whatsoever about how the case would turn out. But if this case was truly related with some spiritual beings, then she knew she'd felt bad if she were to let it happen for the second time, which may lead to the fall of many more victims. Two years ago, she definitely wouldn't let herself to sniff on a case like this. But she had changed. And so had her life. She knew the pain of losing someone precious. She knew the loss. She knew the grief. And she knew she didn't want anyone to fall victims to such tragedy anymore.
And that feeling was supported by one thing she was quite aware of: that there was something she could probabbly do to solve this case. She and her power, that is.
Clad in her white jacket, Miku was sitting on a bench in a small park, with her handbook opened on her lap. Fallen leaves and autumn breeze were only some of the season's unique ways of coloring the world. She had always loved how the trees turned reddish orange, leaving some shade of golden threads behind. "Look at the leaves parting their ways from their branches, Miku," her mother had said once. She was still a little, bashful girl back then. "Should you come to understand the way nature works, you shall see many things which were invisible at first. Learn how the autumn leaves dance amongst the trees, and surely you shall grasp the way life is leading you."
Studying any possibilties on how this case could be linked to previous cases on these last few months, Miku was taken aback when a familiar, masculine voice, rang from her back.
"It's still fifteen minutes before nine."
"Shiki-san," she quikcly stood and turned round to greet him, placing her handbook in her bag as she did so.
He was in his usual black leather jacket with a bottle neck gray shirt underneath. Despite being stood out from people of his gender because of his height and body features, his stance remained stern, as if expecting someone—or 'something', in this case—to jump at him.
"My car's parked outside," he gestured the way out of the park with a slight movement of his head. Miku nodded and followed him wordlessly.
A black sedan was parked on the side of the road. Miku couldn't tell its brand since it seemed to be from outside of Japan. But one thing for sure, it wasn't a car you usually see driven by a college student. Especially in a country like Japan.
After Rolve started the car's engine, the two were completely mute at first. Instrumental music was the only sound that filled the car as the silver haired man drove to the police office. Miku knew that the man wasn't the type to strike a conversation without a bait, so she tried.
"Did you," she started out, "notice anything strange about the case, Shiki-san?"
Rolve was silent for some seconds before a small smile—if it wasn't supposed to be a smirk instead—tugged at his lips, the first expression she saw on his pale, unreadable face. "It depends on what you mean by 'strange'," he said, his tone was as flat as ever. "It seems that you are bothered by something."
Miku looked away from him, her usual bright, calm face darkened. The man was sharp, and she knew that he was either trying to return the gesture or trying to dig some infromation out of her. "I am. And that's why I come with you today. I thought that this case is simply too odd—a place wrecked that bad in a single night isn't something you can find in newspaper everyday. More so in Japan, where people other than police officers are forbidden to carry guns."
"Is that your sense as a journalist telling you? Or simply your mind ringing a bell of alert?"
Miku let a small chuckle escape her lips. "Maybe both. What about you, then? I'm sure you've done your own data-gathering in these past few days."
"I have," Rolve admitted, his eyes didn't leave the road for a bare second. "And our visit today would confirm whether my analysis is true or not."
"May I know what have you come up with?"
"I've only found out that this case," he said as he eyed her from the corner of his eyes, "is linked to similar cases that has happened throughout your country for these past few months. Such is my thought. But since I have no proof to support the theory, why don't we keep our thoughts to ourselves for the moment?"
"Sure thing," she replied, much to Rolve's surprise.
"I thought you were more presistent than that."
Miku smiled. "People do say I'm stubborn, though. But I know not to press matters further when I'm not wanted to. Besides, unproven theories are nothing but hte roots of rumors."
"Quite a journalist you are," commented Rolve who was smiling slightly in return.
Upon realizing the melting tension, she playfully asked, "May I take that as a compliment?"
"Go ahead. Just be careful not to let yourself slip on such comment in the future."
"Don't worry, cockiness is what I detest the most anyway."
After that, the two quickly caught up in a warm conversation, talking mostly about journalism and Rolve's progress in cultural adapting. Miku let out a relieved sigh inwardly, thanking the gods for the fact that the man wasn't as cold and anti-social as she had tought.
A/N : Finally, moving to the real plot! (How much have I say this in A/N anyway...) Since I'm a noob at writing short stories, my fics are guaranteed to have more than 20 chapters... I hope you guys can bear with me :'(
I'd like to hear your opinion about a good length of a chapter should be since I'm kinda clueless about it. R&R if you're interested. As usual, reviews ARE greatly appreciated! XD