Here's the next chapter! We've finally got past Minnie to the school! REVIEW! It's November, so Mai's going to be in the last stages of getting her winter coat in! And Naru's revealing her face to a certain teacher and student duo at school. Will Mai kick his ass? Probably. She'll at least claw his face off.
November
Sunday
She came to see us on a Sunday in November… which sucks because that's usually the day I get off, but of course some person has to go and make me stay… that and the fact I happen to by shedding for my winter coat wasn't making me feel any better, or less itchy.
I managed to get her some tea (I only broke two cups this time. A new record!) And set it in front of her, my sleeve covering the paw underneath, making it even harder to do so. "Here." I'd recently purchased some new sweatshirts, and I'd just gotten this brand new blue one I'm starting to really like. I just hope I don't have to tear it to shreds like my last one.
"Thanks a lot," she answered, looking more than a little jumpy. Hey, do you think she'd do that thing from Tom and Jerry where they cling to the ceiling by their claws if I bark? That'd be funny as hell.
"So you're saying," Naru started "your friend has been acting strangely ever since using an Ouija board at school." I never understood Ouija boarding. I mean, what's the fun in this? "Hey guys, let's summon the undead and talk to them. Oh, there's a small chance of possession as well as the fact we kinda broke into the school to do this, but it'll be fun!" no thanks. I jumped ship on that fad.
"Yeah. She'd jump up onto her desk in the middle of class, and in gym she was eating sand from the sandbox." I let out a disgusted noise. Dogs can eat literally almost everything and anything out there but you wouldn't see me eating sand. "I know it sounds crazy, but I really think she might be possessed by a fox. Can you help her?"
Naru sat there for a second before replying. "You should take your friend to the hospital," he stood up and started walking out "Your friend needs a doctor."
"yo! Sir Ass!" my favorite nickname for him "gets out here and help this chick!" I was ignored, as per usual.
Later
Naru and I's game of 'who can spit the most insults at each other' was interrupted by Monk in a… cowboy outfit? Oh god, he's making it way to easy to rip him a new one. I can't, won't critique this one. At least, I won't in my mind.
"Hey Naru, what's up!" he shouted on the way in.
"Why the hell do you look like you hitched a ride into the wild west and came back insane?" well, crazier than usual actually.
Ignoring me, Monk went right in and sat down on the couch as if he owned the place. "Man, let me tell you, coming to Shibuya on a Sunday is crazy!" he took off his hat. "Mai, be a sweetheart and get me an iced coffee."
"Get it yourself! Paws, moron. I can't tell you how much money is taken from my paycheck thanks to broken glass." I gesture at his ugly ass outfit "what is that?"
"What, the outfit?"
"What else would I be asking you about!?"
He took his ugly sunglasses off. "I had a live show today. I gotta admit, I love being in front of a crowd. Playing in basement studios isn't nearly as exciting."
"So not only are you a cheap Monk, you're also a rock band dude?"
He laughed. Lately, I've noticed that they're starting to take my insults in stride as part of my personality and instead focus on the main part of what I'm saying. And it's starting to really piss me off. "I play bass." He told me.
"I thought you lived on a mountain as a Monk. How does band nerd fit into this? Are you cheap as well as part-time?"
"Kinda. The temple belongs to my family and my dad really wanted me to be a monk, but when I couldn't bring CDs and stuff up there I had to make a choice. Ya know, I see a lot of curses in rock-and-roll. More than you'd imagine. So whenever something happens and an exorcism is needed, they call me since I'm already in the biz." Monk explained "see?"
"I get it. You left the temple- a place of peace and god- to work for people who like to do drugs and fall out of business around the age of 40. Excuse my minor disgust at the lack of thought in your choice."
Naru sighed, "How about you fill us in on what business you have here today."
"Oh. Yeah, right. There really was a point for my coming here, promise. I was hoping you'd let me pick your brain a little." Then Monk started explaining "There's a local high school girl who follows our band. After our last gig she struck up a conversation with me. She asked me, 'Is it true that you do exorcisms?' to break the ice." How does that break the ice? If it were me it'd cause a blizzard.
"So after some initial fan-girl chatting, she started telling me about a certain desk at her school. It's apparently cursed. Every single person who's sat there in the last three months has been involved in an accident, and not just that, but the same type of accident. They've all gotten their arms caught in the door of a train, and then been dragged by it. A total of four people have sat in that seat since September, and all of them have fallen victim. One had only minor injuries, but the rest were seriously hurt."
"The teacher of that class was also affected. He went on and on about seeing ghosts, and then ended up in the hospital. He keeps coughing up blood but they can't figure out what's wrong." Ow, that would suck. "There's all sorts of stories about strange incidents happening at that school. I've even heard they think someone there is possessed."
I sighed, disgusted at my boss and the fact I was starting to understand what he was talking about. I really had been around these morons way to long. "Let me guess. Yausa high school?"
"That's right," Monk glanced at me. "How'd you know?"
I gestured with my paw at Naru "his majesty's already gotten three case reports from there."
The door opened, revealing a man in a suit. "Hello," he stepped in "I hope I'm not intruding."
I quickly hid my paws and face "you did and are. What'da want?"
"Well you see," he ignored my first sentence, reaching into his coat and pulling out a card "I'm hoping you can help me." I took the card from his hands and read it.
Noboru Mikami, Principal. Yuasa Private High School.
I sighed, whipped around, and grumbled "this school will never leave us alone!"
And to think I actually made plans for things to do today. The one day I act like I have a life, it totally fails. Karma hates me.
Monday
Monk and I watched as Lin and Naru drove up to the front of the school. For the first time in my life, I really hate my sweatshirt. With my shedding, it makes it impossible to scratch.
"We're grateful for your time," the principal told us as we sat in his office. "Mr. Yoshino is our guidance counselor. He'll give you a full tour of the school." The principal gestured to a man standing next to him, who was looking distastefully at me scratching my cloaked head with my covered arm. If you make a comment, I will not be held responsible for my actions.
Shedding has and always will be a very embarrassing thing for me. I mean, come'on. I'm losing hair like a balding old man but instead of staying bald even thicker hair (or, in spring, thinner) is coming back in. there's also the fact my winter coat is way fluffier than my spring coat, making it harder for me to hide it. That and it also reaffirms the fact I'm a dog to me. I know I'm a mutt, but I can usually put the fact in the back of my mind. But with this, it reminds me that the only difference between me and slobbering hound that sits in the mud all day is the fact I speak fluent English. And there's also the fact I itch like hell because of the clinging hair.
Basically, I'm a hell of a lot crankier during this time than I normally am, and that's saying something.
"Hi there. It's nice to meet you," Yoshino greeted.
"As you requested, a conference room has been cleared out for you to set up in," the principal told us. "We announced that anyone who wants to speak with you should go there." I almost fell over laughing. Can you imagine hearing that on the speakers? 'A ghost hunting group will be here on such and such a time and date. Please be courteous to them and talk to them about your problems if you have any.'
We left the principal's office and walked into the conference room. "This is home base?"
"We should get the equipment set up right away," Naru ordered. "Lin?"
"Right," Lin answered, unsurprisingly.
"Um, excuse me," Mr. Yoshino looked at Monk "are you the one who's in charge here?"
"No sir, you want him," Monk pointed to Naru. Mr. Yoshino looked over to Naru in surprise. Why would you think Monk is the leader? Sure he's taller and older, but he's obviously a lot less mature than Naru himself. Then again, he's in a room with a tall Chinese man who sounds and acts robotic, a person who's covered up completely so he probably doesn't even know my gender, a rock bander/monk, and Naru. I don't know who'd I suspect would be leader, but I doubt it'd be Naru.
Naru faced Mr. Yoshino. "What's wrong?" You sound as uncaring as usual. Damn, are you part robot like Lin? Blech, my insults are definitely off today. Cut me some slack, even I have my bad days.
"Well, I…" Mr. Yoshino seemed even more nervous, probably because he was surrounded by strangers and talking about something personal. "Before the students come in, I'd like to tell you about something." Oh great, our first report and I haven't even sat down yet.
"Yes, of course. Have a seat please." He walked over to the table with Lin trailing close behind, as per usual. He was practically Naru's shadow.
"You see, um," Mr. Yoshino began, "at night, I've been hearing this… knocking sound. It wouldn't stop, so finally I got up and went to open the curtain. All that was there was a thin, white, feminine hand, knocking on the window."
Well, I live in the bad side of town, so at least my barks and howls would be drowned out by the traffic noise. He wouldn't be so lucky.
"Since then, I've barely gotten a wink of sleep." Mr. Yoshino concluded. Can't really blame him on that one. Yes, you heard right, even I have a line.
"Has anyone else in your house heard the knocking?"
"Yes, but it doesn't seem to bother them as it does me." Well, that is either a good thing or a bad thing. I really don't know which.
"… I see." Man, you make him sound crazy, you might as well say 'you need to be put in a padded room' asshole.
Shortly after, Mr. Yoshino left. Can't really blame him. I'd follow his example and leave Naru behind to, if it wasn't for the fact he pays me.
Later
As three o'clock rolled around, people started coming in, leaving me very uncomfortable about my hood.
"Your name was Kiyomi, Kiyomi Ito?" Naru asked.
"Yes," it was the girl from earlier. Man, you've got guts girl. I'd have stayed far away from him if it was me.
"When you came to see us, I believe you said you thought your friend was possessed by a fox. Is she here?" why would she be here?
"No sir, she's at home." What's with the 'sir' thing? He's not much older than you.
"And you also said that she was jumping up on desks and eating sand?"
"There's other stuff, too. One time she dove into the pool with her uniform on. It was like, 40 degrees that day." Kiyomi told us. Well, I'd do it, but I'm getting a winter coat in, so I'd be toasty anyway.
"Has your friend ever hurt anybody?" if she'd hurt anyone the police would have taken her away, sir dumbass.
"Oh no sir."
"When she started acting strangely, why did you believe she might be possessed by a fox? Why didn't you think she just might be sick?"
"Because… she actually said 'I am the white fox of the harvest god'. It all happened after that darn Ouija board. When everyone was leaving, she told us she thought she was possessed. I told her there was no way, but she said she felt really weird and that her shoulders felt heavy. And then the next day she started acting differently." Well, I really hope I don't meet her then. Dogs and foxes don't get along very well after all.
"Where were you using the Ouija board?" he asked.
"Classroom one dash three."
"You used paper, and what else? A glass, or a goblet? Anything like that?" why would someone use those anyway?
"No, we wrote down the characters on the paper with a pencil. Nothing went wrong as far as we could tell. The spirit didn't stay and we didn't make fun of it or anything…" who in their right mind makes fun of a spirit anyway!? Oh, right, these idiots who like to play with charms and funny sayings...
I will never understand S.P.R's motives.
Kiyomi left and another girl came by who wore the school's track suit instead of her uniform.
"Look, the track team's locker room is really creepy. The lockers just fall over by themselves and our equipment will move around. At first we thought someone was just playing a joke so some of us hid to try and catch them in the act. No one knows how it happened exactly but suddenly the shot putt balls we put in a box were lined up in the middle of the floor."
The track team girl left and soon another girl in her uniform with shaggy hair came.
"Last month some friends and I did a test of courage in the storage room in the gym and I've been seeing a bunch of these weird shadows ever since. It's a rope on the wall, and it's shaped like a noose... One of the other girls even swears she's seen ghosts coming out of her desk, so…" we're never going to get a break at this rate.
"During class?" Naru asked.
"Yeah. Um, she said it was like she all of a sudden couldn't move, and it felt like someone was touching her stomach. And when she looked down to see, a hand would be stretched out, massaging her stomach." Oh great, a perverted ghost. "She said it happens all the time, and her stomach just wouldn't stop hurting. She ended up having to go to the hospital."
Later on someone knocked on the door. The first person to knock all flippin day instead of just barging in. "Is anybody in here?" a girl said, peeking her head inside. She spotted Monk. "Norio! Oh my gosh you really came!"
"Hey," Monk greeted. "Meet my friends. That handsome devil is Mr. Shibuya, the director of Shibuya Psychic Research, and his assistant, Miss Taniyama. Don't worry, she always looks like that." nice to know I have to be excused for wearing my hoodie.
"I'm the weird one." I commented. Well, weird compared the others I guess. Depends on your point of view.
"HI! My name is Yuuko Takahashi. Nice to meet you," the girl greeted. She's way too cheery for my tastes.
I ignored him and turned to Monk "what the hell is a 'Norio'?"
"That's what they decided to call me in the band. See, my real name is Houshou, right? So we thought-" oh great, I set him off into story mode.
"Getting back to the point," Naru interrupted, "I'm guessing that your one of victims. Were you involved in an accident after sitting at a certain desk?"
"Uh, yes," said the girl who followed Yuuko in. "I was the second one it happened to. The train arrived at my stop, and when the doors opened I stepped out and started to walk away like normal. And it was like someone grabbed my arm and pulled me back and I got caught. I wasn't dragged very far but my shoulder was dislocated and my legs looked pretty bad. I only got my cast off last week, actually."
"Was there anyone standing near the door?"
"Mm-mm, no one. In fact I remember the train was pretty much empty. Just a few people were there."
"Do you have any idea of what the connection is between that desk and these accidents?"
"I don't do you?" she looked at Yuuko in question.
"No," Yuuko replied.
"I'd really like to see this desk," Naru told them. I scratched my ear insistently with my sleeve, damn shedding.
"Oh sure, I can take you to it," Yuuko raised her hand, then led us away to room 2-5. I only went with them because I wanted to get away from all the people that kept coming and going through the base.
"It's back there."
We walked over and Naru put his hand on the desk. "Does anyone sit here now?"
"No one wants to, and the girl that was sitting here got hurt so badly she's still in the hospital," Yuuko informed him.
"And the desk has always been in this position?" why would someone move it in the first place?
"Uh huh. Just like that." see my point exactly. Oh god, I'm starting to agree with this girl.
"I heard that something strange happened to your teacher, correct?" Naru asked.
"Ah, yeah, he kept saying he was seeing ghosts in the classroom. Even with him in the hospital he claims they're in his room. It's like he has neurosis," Yuuko paused for a moment. "The really weird thing was that he really didn't believe in that stuff before."
Man, this place is nuts.
Tuesday
We ended up calling in John Brown, an American priest, Ayako Matsuzaki, an old bitchy shrine maiden, and Masako Hara, psychic medium as well as my resident pain in the ass, to help.
"With this many occurrences, I think we need to move quickly," Naru said as he gathered us all together, me in the way back. "I propose we exorcise anything we come across. If that doesn't work, we'll come back together and try something else."
"I'd like Miss Hara to take a look around the school," Naru continued "You should start with the desk, and then when you're done head over to the track team's locker room."
Masako giggled "Please, I'd be more comfortable if you'd just call me Masako."
I gagged from behind my hood. There's cameras everywhere, and I wasn't about to let them see my even shaggier-than-usual fur. "Would you mind not flirting with this ass in my presence? I like keeping my gag reflex down." I was ignored, as per usual. Man, these people are totally immune to me! Now what do I do to keep myself entertained!?
"Join her, Ms. Matsuzaki. Exorcise anything you see fit."
"Hold on," Ayako interrupted. "Are you sure there's nothing else you'd like to say to Masako? I ask because it seems to me that lately you've been extra courteous to our celebrity friend."
"We can stand around all day chit-chatting about things that don't matter, but I'd much prefer to see you in action," Naru replied. "Wouldn't you rather get to work and impress us than waste everyone else's time?"
I clapped my paws together under my sweatshirt "go boss!"
Ayako shut up after that.
"Due to the number of cases we don't have enough equipment to send with you, so you'll have to rely on your own instinct. Monk and John, same goes for you." he finished.
"Got it," Monk voiced.
"Sure thing, no worries," John replied happily.
"Lin and I will continue the investigation. Mai, wait here for everyone to report back," Naru ordered me.
I sighed "well, it's better than being ghost fodder."
"Alright, let's begin."
And with that, they were off, leaving me to pitifully scratch my body due to my damned shedding.
Man, why am I always the one stuck dealing with this shit!?
I was ripped from my thoughts by the base door opening. Yuuko the cloud of opposing sunshine waltzed in, making me thankful that I kept my hood up when I was in a strange area. I did not want to explain why I look like a mutated ball of falling apart hair to someone I just met.
"Yo." I greeted.
"I just thought Norio might be in here." Yuuko explained to me as she sat down in the chair in front of me. "So, what're you doing? Are you busy?"
I raised an eyebrow from under my hood "do I look busy to you?"
"Ah, so, Taniyama, right?"
I groaned "do I look like a hobbling old lady to you? Actually, don't answer that. Call me Mai."
Then call me Taka!" she replied cheerfully.
"Cool. Everyone's off doing their thing, leaving the mu- I mean leaving me behind to sit around and nap."
"Oh, I see," Taka nodded. "So, how's the exorcism going?"
"With the rate we're going, I except we'll be done by Christmas. There's way to much shit for us to get done."
"Yeah, I know! It really makes you wonder what's going on at this school. Curses and ghosts and supernatural powers? I'm like, where's the UFO, ya know?"
"What, supernatural powers? When did we invite vampires to this shindig?" I stood up. We'd spent the entire damned day listening to people complain, but nothing about supernatural powers came up. The news would have been even more usual earlier.
Taka blinked up at me in surprise. Well, I doubt she would have understood the logic anyway.
"Did you say, 'Kasai Panic'?" Naru questioned when he and Lin got back.
"Yeah, there's this third-year girl named Chiaki Kasai who could bend a spoon with just the power of her mind," Taka confirmed. "It was just after summer vacation. Suddenly everyone at school knew her name, and bending spoons and other supernatural stuff became a really big deal. The school was divided over the whole thing. Some people believe in it while others didn't.
"Then one day, Kasai was called up in front of everyone during morning assembly. 'If you really have powers, prove it by bending this right here and now. You can't, can you?' or something like that was said. Kasai snatched the key right up and…. Well…."
"She taught those bastards a lesson?" I finished with a smirk. I love it when snobs are put in their place.
Taka nodded. "After that, things got really bad. A group of teachers started to attack her creditability. They said something along the lines of, 'This is obviously a trick! You're just making fools of us!' I guess that sent Kasai over the edge, because then she yelled back at them, "I'll curse you to death!'. And after that, all of these crazy things started happening around the school, like with the desk and the track locker room.
"People started getting frightened. They were saying it had to be because of Kasai's curse. I'm pretty sure that's why she hasn't been coming to class lately. When she's in school she usually hiding out in the biology prep room. I don't blame her…" me neither.
Soon enough, Naru and I were off the biology prep room to see Chiaki Kasai. Why I took me along I have no clue. Maybe because I can be used as a defense? I'm the attack hound I guess.
Naru knocked on the door. "Yes?" someone called back.
Naru took that as a cue to open the door. "Excuse me. we're looking for a Miss Chiaki Kasai."
As we entered, a girl with long hair turned away from us in her seat. "May I ask what this is regarding?"
"I'm here investigating with Shibuya Psychic Research, and I would very much like to speak with Miss Kasai," wow, so you can be polite! This day is going in the record books.
The teacher stood up to greet Naru. "Oh, right, um. What was your name?"
"My name is Kazuya Shibuya," Naru answered her.
"Ah, yes, the principal said there was going to be some people coming to investigate all the strange things happening around the school. It's so good to meet you both. Please, come in, my name is Kei Ubusuna and I teach biology here," the teacher smiled.
"Ubusuna? That's quite an unusual name you have," Naru commented. Really, don't piss her off now, you we're achieving a new record for politeness!
"So you're looking for Kasai? I'm guessing you'd like to ask her about the incident this past September?"
"Leave me alone! I have nothing to say," the girl in the chair yelled.
"Kasai, I think you should clear up any confusion and tell these people exactly what happened," Ms. Ubusuna said as she walked up to the girl.
"Why should I? So they can call me a liar too?" Kasai retorted.
"But they investigate psychic phenomenon all the time. So they're not going to immediately reject or laugh at the things you say," the teacher reassured Kasai.
After a moment, Kasai turned back over and faced us. "Okay. So, what do you wanna know?"
"I've heard some very interesting stories about you. Stories that connect you to these events, that you have powers. The kind of powers that bend spoons and keys at will," Naru began.
"Those aren't just stories, they're the truth. I can bend them, but I don't expect you to believe me," Kasai said nonchalantly.
"Why wouldn't I? You're not the only one who can bend a spoon, you know," Naru replied.
You could hear me mutter under my breath "here we go again. Is there any way to figure out what this guy is thinking!?"
"Can you?" Kasai asked, curiosity shining in her eyes.
"I can," Naru confirmed, "but even if I couldn't, any psychic researcher would believe in PK."
Scoffing, she stood and said, "Then show me." And handed him a spoon.
".. I guess I have no choice," Naru said, taking the spoon and twiddling it so the head faced up. He brought it up to his face and stared at it a few seconds. He rested the handle between the parts of his palm that folded against itself from how he held his fingers. After a moment, he brought his other hand up, put his finger against the head, and bent it.
The head of the spoon hit the ground with a click.
She took the two spoon pieces and held them enclosed in her hands then, when she put her hands away, the spoon was back together.
Holy hell.
Later
"Over summer vacation I was watching one of those late-night shows, ya know? This one was about spoon bending," Kasai explained to us. "So I got a spoon and started trying it myself, and eventually I learned to do it. I can't break them like you, though."
"That was it the summer? But you can still do it, right?" Naru asked.
Kasai become upset "Of course!" she violently grabbing another spoon out of the cup.
Kasai held her spoon very differently than how Naru did. She pinched two fingers at the neck and lightly held it at the bottom with her other hand. She stared at it, her fingers pinching harder at the neck, her eyes squinting. Then, she started to bend over.
What is she doing!?
She completely bended over in her seat, her head at her knees. What is wrong with her?
"Stop! Right now!" Naru commanded, grabbing her shoulder. Kasai sat straight up. "You were about to bend the spoon using the edge of the chair, weren't you? You do realize that if anyone caught you doing that trick they'd never believe you again."
"You're lying. I really can bend a spoon!" Kasai yelled.
Naru was quick to respond "Any researcher knows that psychic abilities can be affected by outside sources and are therefore unstable. When you can't do something, it's okay to admit defeat. The people who will call you a fake never believed in you anyway, so don't worry about what they think."
"That's easy for you to say, but you don't have to deal with how mean people can be if you can't do it. Ms. Kei was treated horribly by the other teachers just because she had the nerve to defend me," Kasai said.
Ms. Ubusuna went over and held her shoulders. "Oh, don't worry about me. Please. It's been incredibly difficult to watch. I felt so bad for how they were acting towards her."
"Then everyone in the biology club quit, saying we must be doing something crazy or evil. I don't understand why this is happening to me," Kasai sobbed into her hands"Is that why you 'cursed' them?" Naru asked.
Kasai brought her face out of her hands in surprise, staring straight at Naru. "Well, yeah, I said that but come on! It's not like I could really do it, could I?" She looked over her shoulder at Ms. Ubusuna. "Right?" no answer.
Naru then decided to put me on the spot. "There are worse things out there."
"Yeah!?" Kasai shouted, standing up "like what!?" oh great, you don't need to be a genius to see where this is going. Now I can see why I was brought along.
Naru doesn't even look at me, doesn't even bother to change his tone of voice. "Mai, show them your face."
"Hell no! You're not paying me to be some freak show! You're paying me to sit around and make your ego bigger."
"Show them."
"Take a long walk off a short pier!"
"Show us what?" Kasai had long calmed down, and was now watching our argument in interest.
Before I could even move, Naru did something I was sure as hell going to make him regret later. He grabbed my hood and with one nimble move yanked it off, showing my dog face to everyone in the room and effectively pissing my off, so I did what anyone pissed off cursed person who happens to be shedding would do.
I punched him in the eye, claws first.
His head snapped back, and his hand quickly covered the wound as I spat at him "you ass!" I whipped around and glared at the two who were now staring at me, just asking them to say something.
I yanked my hood up, and damned be the consequences, walked out the door.
Later
Naru and I walked back to base after that, leaving Kasai and Ms. Ubusuna in the biology prep room. Naru was almost running to keep up with me, his eye not only swollen but also had a claw mark across it. He was lucky makeup could cover the damned thing. As far as I was concerned, he should lose that eye after the stunt he'd pulled.
"Be glad you weren't on my better side" I growled at him "you would have lost that eye, and as far as I'm concerned, you deserve it."
Naru gave no response, unsurprisingly. I'd just injured his face and his pride, it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't even tell anyone what'd happened.
Naru reached out to the grab the handle. "Mai. I need to ask a favor of you."
"After the stunt you just pulled!? Are you that desperate?"
"I'd appreciate it if you'd keep the spoon-bending thing a secret from the others. Especially Lin," Naru explained.
I sighed "not my thing to tell anyway. It's your thing, not mine."
"… Thank you," Naru muttered. Wow… I didn't think he even knew those two words could be used in the same sentence!
I raised an eyebrow "are you getting sick or something? Because I am so not taking care of your ass if you are." Suddenly, I heard Monk shout.
"But that can't be true!" we walked into the base, me still steaming and Naru with a swollen eye, but no one noticed. They were too busy fighting.
"Well, it is. I'm telling you there are no spirits here. I've looked all over and if there were, I would know by now," Masako responded.
"Come on, there at least has to be something in that desk. And don't forget about the four accidents in a row!" Monk got in Masako's face.
"There is some kind of deception going on at this school," Masako retorted.
"Oh, and I guess all of the students and teachers are in on it! You gotta be kidding me!" Monk answered, obviously pissed.
"Relax mate," John tried to defuse the situation.
"If you're going to kill each other, can you at least do it outside so the blood won't stain?" unsurprisingly, I was ignored.
"You know, Masako's theory may not be accurate," Ayako silently challenged the medium.
"Well, I'm certain it's more accurate than yours, Ms. Matsuzaki," Masako answered, obviously accepting the challenge.
"In fact, Ms. Matsuzaki, I wonder if anything you've said has ever been accurate," Masako finished.
"Why don't I just go get a shotgun to finish this up? It'd be a hell of a lot less messy."
"Well you may be able to see 'em but can you exorcise them?" Ayako hissed back.
Naru walked over to Lin. "Lin, let's get back to work."
"Of course."
"Hey, whaddya say we go take another look around?" Monk asked John.
"I'm right behind ya."
"You may want to look closely this time," Ayako snuffed at Masako, knowing they'd be stuck toether.
"It won't matter. I'll still be right," Masako retorted.
I ended up alone in the base, where I let a loud yawn out. Hell, I'd had my secret spilled to two strangers, witnessed a verbal massacre, and delt with Miss Sunshine twice today. I deserved a nap, and Naru needs to suck up to me after what he did if he ever wanted his damn tea again.
I crossed my paws under me and sat my head on them, curling my feet under me in an upwards version of a sleeping dog. Well, it was the best I could do without curling up on the floor, and I really didn't feel like getting stepped on, something I was sure Lin might do just to spite my ass.
I let my ears fall back and fell asleep almost immediately.
Dream
I was walking through a place filled with blobs. Kind of like the ones I was fighting off with the last case, but they didn't really seem interested in me. I was walking around basically naked (thank god for fur, even if it was shedding) something I concluded was a definite change from the usual. I walked on all fours, more or less because that if someone somehow managed to see me (how, I have no clue) I would look like a stray instead of a werewolf.
Suddenly, I was at the school, but it looked really weird. Naru-look-alike was standing next to me, his eye was not busted up like Naru's, so it was obvious it wasn't him.
He looked at me and said "foxfires."
Oh great. I'm screwed.
Why can't karma leave the mutt alone?
Ariana Taniyama= it was my favorite line to write!
SS= I'm thinking that in the couples episode Ayako might have a charm that will make Mai look like her human self for a day, and how the others will react when they see human Mai.
Sorry I didn't start answering people's reviews before now! I will start doing it after this chapter!
