Nothing happened the rest of the day. Come to think of it nothing has really happened in the two days we've been here. It was common knowledge that spirits tended to shy away from outsiders but this was getting ridicules. Even the equipment hadn't picked anything up.
Monk ended up ordering pizza for everyone from a local pizza place for dinner. I had asked for a piece of cheese but had only been able to take a few bites before I pushed it away. The flavor was weird and I felt like if I ate any more I would through up. That was at 7, two hours ago. Now, I was still stuck on the couch, not being allowed to get up by myself or for very long. I had went to the bathroom earlier without telling anyone and apparently I really freaked everyone out cause when I came back in Naru threatened to move me to a hospital if I wandered off on my own again. After that he preceded to insult my intelligence as per usual and then I was back on the dreaded couch I had been on for nearly the whole day. My body was really starting to hurt and my almost continuous coughing wasn't helping any.
A sudden urge to use the bathroom came over me. Looking around the room I realized that it was only the guys in base. That's right, Masako and Ayako were changing out the film in the cameras. Looking around at the guys in the room I decided I could wait a little bit till they came back to use the restroom. Ten minutes passed, then fifteen. My bladder couldn't take it anymore. I bit my lip considering my options. With a sigh I gave in.
"Hay Naru... I need to use the restroom."
"I don't see how that's any of my concern." My jaw dropped. He was the one who told me to tell him when I needed to leave base! Who does he think he is!
"But you said I had to tell you..." I trailed off confused.
Monk stood up from where he was looking at documents with Yasu. "It's alright. I'll take her."
I sat up and swung my legs over the side of the couch a little to fast.
"Wo there Mai, take it easy." Monk steadied me then helped me stand up.
I smiled at him in thanks.
We walked to the bathroom in silence, only my slight panting to be heard. It was a little hard to breath and I was getting tired from just walking a few doors down the halfway. I hated this. If a ghost attacked right now I'd be totally defenseless.
I quickly did my business and was washing my hands. Above the sink was a mirror and I took this moment to inspect myself. My skin was pale and clammy making the bags under my eyes stand out. My lips were slightly swollen and my hair wasn't as vibrant as it usually was. I brought a hand to my face and immediately felt the heat coming off of it.
Ba-bum
My hand shot to my chest as pain clenched there. What-what was this? The pain flowed from my chest and up to my throat. It hurt so bad I could barley breath much less make any noise. Then all of a sudden the pain was gone.
I was left coughing. I brought up a hand to my mouth coughing into that as doubled over it hold my now aching stomach.
Monk must have heard me hacking up a lung cause he knocked on the door.
"Hay, you alright?"
Slowly my fit stopped I pulled my hand away. It felt wet. "Yah, I'm-" blood. My hand was cover in blood. I sat back leaning against the wall in shock.
"Mai?"
I starred at my hand in horror. My coughing started up again. I watched at blood appeared on the floor with each cough.
"Mai I'm coming in." The handle on the door rattled a second before it opened. Monk walked in but I didn't pay him any notice. I was still starring at the blood all over the floor and myself. He started walking my way but stopped when he saw my expression. "What is it? What wrong?"
"B-blood." I whispered.
"What? Where?" He asked.
Could he not see it? It was all over the place. I held out my hands to show him.
"...Mai, there's nothing there..." The confusion on his voice was evident.
Huh? I looked at my hands. They were clean. Where did it go? The floor was clean as well. Had I just imagined it? "But..."
He came over to me and helped me up leaning my weight against him. I was so confused. What had just happened? "Common. Lets get you back to base." I nodded and let him lead the way back.
~*~.~*~
What is that? It sounds like yelling. Why is everything black? What are they saying?
"Cheat-... Truth... I can't" I don't know what their saying. I was only catching snippets.
"You don't understand."
I tried to open my eyes only to realize they were already open. An image started to appear before me. There was a woman in a kimono and a man in a suit. They looked to be arguing. The woman stepped forward.
"I didn't want this either!" I could only see her from behind but it was clear she was crying.
"But you do now! You fell in love with me but I can never love you-!
"How can you say that! We have a son together!" She cried. "Eita need a father who loves his mother or at least acts like it!" Hold on. Eita? Isn't that the first sick kid? The one who's parents were the original owners? These must be his parents. That means this woman is Minami, the one from my dream.
"Don't use our son as an excuse for me to stay with you. Either you except that I love Soshimi and deal with it or..."
"Or your leaving right?"
He nodded.
The image faded and with that I was cast into darkness.
~*~.~*~
The next morning I was woken up by a fit of coughs. I sat up slowly and leaned against the arm of the couch for support.
"Hay Mai, glad your finally awake." John said
"Yah you've been sleeping for a while. How are you feeling?" Yasu asked from his spot next to them. Everyone, minus Lin and Naru, were sitting in a circle on the ground going through a pile of letters.
I put a hand on my forehead groaning a bit. Why were they yelling?
"What time is it?" My voice came out even more hoarse than yesterday.
"12:30. We were debating waking you up at 10 but Naru told us to let you sleep." Masako said. Their was a hint of disdain in her voice.
Oh wow. I slept that long? I feel like I haven't slept at all though. "Hay uh...where is Naru?"
"Right here." Speak of the devil... Lin walked in after him and closed the door.
"Oh. Naru. Hay" I said smiling.
He placed a file he had in his hand on top of a small stack of papers by the monitors across the room. "How are you feeling?" He asked turning around and leaning against the table.
I felt myself blush and quickly slapped my hands over my cheeks to hide it. "Ow." I slapped my self too hard.
"Idiot." he scoffed.
"Hay do you want to know how I feel or not?" I wisper/yelled scowling at him. When he didn't answer I sighed and continued. "I feel pretty much the same as yesterday except my head hurts a bit and my throat hurts even worse. It kind of hard to talk." I rasped.
"Here take these." Ayako dug through her bag before pulling out a pill bottle. She gave me two as well as a bottle of water. "They should help the pain and it tastes better than cough medicine."
I gratefully took them and swallowed them with a bit of water. My throat lit up on fire again but I ignored it best I could.
"You were looking for me?"
"Oh right. I had another dream." Everyone turned to listen, even Lin who was sitting by the monitors again. I swear, with the amount of time he spends in front of a screen I'm surprised he doesn't need glasses.
"Are you going to keep staring at Lin or are you going to tell us what happened?" Naru asked. My face heated up. That jerk!
I turned my gaze from Lin to Naru. "Hidagi Shou and Minami were fighting. Apparently their marriage was arranged and Minami fell in love with Sho but Sho loved this woman named...uh..."
"Soshimi?" John provided.
I turned to him in surprise. "Uh yah. How did you know?" I rasped.
Yasu spoke next. "Earlier today I was getting Naru tea when I noticed a loose floor board. Turns out it was removable. Inside I found all of these." Yasu held up the letter he was in the process of reading.
"What are they?" I asked.
"Looks like love letters between Sho and Soshimi. We've been going through them for the last hour." He finished.
"It's a pretty dangerous job. I've already gotten a paper cut." Monk said holding up his finger to show me the bandaid rapped around it.
"Yah and I broke a nail." Ayako agreed inspecting her, apparently, broken nail.
"Common guys, it not that bad." Yasu said rubbing the back of his head.
"You only think that because you do stuff like this all the time." Ayako said.
"Mai." I looked away from the others and back at Naru. "Is there anything else?"
I shook my head. "Uh uh. I don't think so."
Everyone went back to reading the letters to see if we could find more clues. I got passed a few and started reading them but it was hard since my eyes were watery so when I started coughing again I decided to just put them down.
"Hay Naru?" I took his silence as a sign to continue. "Do you still think Eita is the one making everyone sick?"
"What made you think I thought Eita was the culprit?" He asked.
"Wait you mean you don't?" I asked stunned. And here I though for sure...
"That would be correct."
Ayako put the letters down and turned to him. "Common Naru you can't honestly think it's not him. I don't know why you haven't had us exercise him yet. The signs are clearly there."
"And what signs might those be?"
She was taken aback. "Well uh, he was the first kid sick."
"Yes, you mentioned. Then Takigawa said that he was lonely and that's why he's making other children sick."
"Well yah. It does make since." Monk said.
Naru sighed. "You guys aren't thinking. You're completely forgetting about his parents. The only person besides myself and Lin to even suspect them as a culprit is Mai and I'm just going out on a limb here and saying that has more to do with her animal instincts and less to do with her intelligence."
I sweat dropped. "I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment or insult." I muttered.
"The truth of the matter is that the facts aren't adding up. In the report it says that Eita died approximately seven days before Sho killed himself and his wife but he was found in his bed as if he were sleeping. If he died when the report says why would his parents keep him in his bed? Why not hold a funeral? Even more so if his parents knew he was sick enough for it to possibly endanger his life why didn't they take him to a hospital." Naru concluded. "The facts just aren't adding up. Next time consider all the facts before you come to a conclusion with only some of them."
"Well then boy genius tell us who you think is making these kids sick." Ayako snapped.
"I'm not sure... Ms. Hara, how would you feel about performing a seance tonight?"
"We can try. I'm not sure how well it will work. The spirits here aren't very forth coming."
Naru nodded. "Very well. Tonight we will have a seance."
~*~.~*~
"Is everyone ready?"
We all nodded in conformation to Naru's question.
We were currently sitting around a table in the family room. Naru had called Aiko and told her what we were doing. He thought that if a resident of the house were present the spirits would be more forthcoming. Upon hearing this news and that the seance might lead to information to help her daughter and niece she decided to come home and participate. It was 7 and the sun had just finished setting over the horizon. All the lights in the house were off.
I was sitting between Monk and Aiko. Next to her was Ayako, Yasu, Naru then Masako. Even though Lin and John were not part of the circle they were still in the room. Naru had thought it a good idea to have them absent from it in case anything happened and they needed to dispel or exercise a spirit quickly.
Lin stepped forward and lit the candle before retreating to his place next to John. I looked over at Masako and saw that she was completely relaxed and her eyes were closed. I admit sometimes Masako can be a pain in my backside but sometimes she can be really amazing too.
"I speak to any spirits in this house," Naru began. "I invite you to use the person on my right, Masako Hara, as a way to communicate. Do not be afraid. No harm will come to you."
The flam on the table flared before returning to normal. Masako looked up.
"To whom am I speeding with?" Naru asked the her.
Masako thought for a moment putting her pointer finger on her unoccupied hand on her chin. "Um... My mommy told me not to talk to strangers." No way! A kid!
"My name is Shibuya Kazuya. See, now I am no longer a stranger." He smiled lightly at her.
Again Masako thought for a moment. "Okay, I guess so. My names Eita."
"Alright Eita, are you aware that you have died?"
Masako's face dropped in sadness and tears pooled at her eyes. No way! I can't believe Naru just said that to a little kid!
Masako nodded. "Y-yah."
"Do you know how you died?"
"I was sick."
"Do you know what you were sick with?"
Masako shook her head.
"Eita, are there other children here?"
Masako nodded.
"And why are they here?"
Masako looked around at everyone before answering. "Because Mommy's sad."
"Why is your mother sad?"
Masako shook her head.
"It's alright Eita. You can tell me."
He considered it for a moment. "She misses Daddy." And suddenly Masako slumped and fell onto the table.
"Thank you Eita. You've been very helpful."
Wow I had no idea Naru was so good with kids. He was so gentile and kind. He reminded me of Gene when he was like that.
"Wow Naru, I never new you could smile, and especially for so long." Ayako stated. "I mean your a looker even with that constant scowl on your face but when you smile it's just not fair."
Naru nodded. "Yes I know."
God he is such a narcissist!
~*~.~*~
Back at base everyone was pretty much just laying about. There was nothing left to do and nothing was happening. Monk sat next to me on the couch talking to Yasu about something. I'm not really sure what they were talking about now. I tuned out when they got onto the topic of football. Naru was reading a book, I was too far away to be able to read the tittle but it was in English so even if I was within reading distance I doubt I'd be able to make out much of it.
Oh. That reminds me. I have an english exam coming up soon. I sighed. Well I might as well study now while nothing is happening. I looked around for it. I knew it was in the room somewhere. I was reading a bit of it yesterday but quickly gave up as my coughing made it difficult to concentrate. My coughing has seamed to settle down a little bit so I might as well try getting through a bit. I spotted it on the window ledge next to Masako.
"Hay Masako, can you hand me my textbook? It's right next to you." I rasped. She looked up scoffed then went back looking out the window. I was about to tell her off when she picked it up and swiftly brought it over to me.
"Thanks." I said taking it from her. She walked back over to the window and continued looking out it.
"Hay what's that?" Ayako asked.
"My English text book. I have an exam on the next chapter in a week."
"Your learning English, Mai?" John asked.
"Mm-hm. Yah it's mandatory in our school. Though I'm not very good." My teacher always told me I needed to practice more. I think the highest grade I have ever gotten on an English grade is an A-. Contrary to Naru always calling me stupid, and dumb, and an idiot, my grades rarely fell below A's. The only subject I really struggled with was English. The words all sounded the same and the charac-letters were all the same as well.
"Maybe I could help you with it." John walked over.
"You would do that?" I asked. My voice was still hoarse and I was still having trouble talking but as long as I didn't yell it wasn't to bad.
"Yah of corse. Here lets just try having a simple conversation. Pretend I'm a stranger and we are meeting for the first time."
That's easy. That's the first thing we learnd. "Herro, my namu isu Mai Taniyama. Whato isu yoru namu?" I asked in English.
"Not bad Mai. Your accent is a little thick but I could make it out fine. Here I'm going to respond okay?" John said in Japanese much to my delight. I nodded. "My name is John Brown. How are you today?"
I thought about my response. "I amu gooda. I amu litteru sicko."
"Good. Just remember it's "I am A little sick." Don't forget to use the a."
John and I practiced for a little bit more. He said some words I wasn't quite sure of but explained to me what they meant. Also he helped me on my accent.
We were working on past tense now.
"I runedu to schoolo becase I wasu la-" a harsh cough broke out of my mouth sending my text book to the ground and my head spinning. I coughed into my elbow trying to avoid coughing on anyone.
"Alright why don't we stop there for the night." John said. "You made a lot of progress. If you ever need help with English homework you can just call. I'd be happy to help whenever."
I was still coughing but nodded showing my thanks. A book snapping shut caused me to look up. Naru held the book in his hands.
"Father Brown." He said.
"Yes?" John asked.
"How soon can you preform an exorcism?"
"I can be ready in 15 minutes." He answered.
No way. Really? But we haven't even figured out what's going on here.
"But Naru, we don't even know what going on here. Isn't that our job?" I asked.
"I find it quite astounding that even after working for me for almost 2 years you still don't know what our job is. I didn't think it was possible for someone to be so oblivious. No, our job is to get rid of ghosts. Whether that be through purifying the spirit or exercising it doesn't matter. I think we all agree that Hidagi Minami is the one making the children sick. As long as the exorcism works and the children are no longer sick it doesn't matter how she is making them sick or why, just that she is. The sooner we can get out of here the soon my time can stop being waisted." And with that he left the room slamming the door on the way out.
We all stared in shock after him. The room was so quiet that a pin dropping would sound as loud as a trumpet. Naru had just completely blew a gasket, I mean sure he wasn't yelling but still.
"So that's what the big boss is like when he's angry?" Yasu asked.
"Yah but who's he angry at?" Ayako said... They all looked at me.
"What! Guys-" I coughed as my voice cracked and my throat flared up again at my yell. I brought my hand to my throat. I continued, this time whisper yelling. "I know he gets angry at me a lot but that doesn't mean that every time he's angry, he's angry with me! I mean I don't even know what I did wrong this time."
Lin cut in. "He's not angry at you."
"Huh? He's not?" I asked shocked, disregarding what I just said. Monk, Ayako, Yasu, and John sweat dropped.
"No he's angry with his parents."
"Really? Why?" I asked.
"He hasn't told me exactly why but my best guess would be because they made him take this case. Aiko is a childhood friend of Mrs. Davis."
"Wow, Naru's mother? No way. Who would have thought." Ayako said.
Lin nodded.
"But why is he mad about that? Shouldn't he be grateful for a case?" Monk interjected.
"He's doing it free of charge. Not to mention the equipment hasn't gathered any evidence of the paranormal." Lin finished.
Wait! Naru's not getting paid! Am I still getting paid!?
"Hay John, shouldn't you be getting ready for the exorcism?" Monk asked.
John scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "I almost forgot." And with that John got up and left. I wasn't sure if it was just part of me being sick but when I thought about the exorcism to come my stomach churned.
Hey everyone. Sorry I didnt get this up yesterday or the day before. One of my readers (you know who you are) that some of my characters (Yasu) was a bit out out of character. And I realized he/she was right. So I went back and rewatched the anime to try and keep everyone as in character as possible. thell me how I did. Also when I started this I was on a bit of a break from school so I could post everyday. Now it"ll probably take me two or three days to get a new chapter up but I"ll do my best to keep the story flowing. So this storyline is almost done. I only have a chapter or two to go till I finish this case. After that I will start planning the next one. Hope you all like it. Once again I don't own Ghost Hunt. R&R. Thanks a bunch for supporting me guys.
