Autor 's note :
And here is the beginning of another case, who, like the Cabin's case, will be done in 3 or 4 parts. I hope to create a good « serious case » and to not work with well know developments. I try to add things that I don't have the habit to read or didn't see in the manga.
I hope you will enjoy.
Don't hesitate to review, it give motivation.
Thanks to those who review and those who add this story to their favorites. And just thanks to read me until there.
Rosaji : aaah you know, there is no one blinder that the one who don't want to see :) Even the strongest peoples can fall in that.:D
Joys : Thanks you for correcting me ! :D It is well appreciated. Haha I do think that it will take more than that to actually go to the relationship, they are quit stubborn. And it is pretty clear in my head how it will go :P
Savage memories's case.
Part 1
First step alone
The birds were singing. No sound of cars. No neightboor walking in the appartment above. The day had already started as light was showing even behind her closed eyelids.
Mai really wanted to hid under the cover. Really. But she forced herself to sit down in bed, rubbing her eyes filed with sleepiness. In complete silence, the young woman looked over the room she was in. It was pretty much empty. A bed in a six tatamis room. A window from were she was seeing some farm houses. There was not much to say.
« Tell me why I am here again... »
***Flash back***
« Mai. »
Said young woman lifted her head. She was so concentrated on her work that she didn't see Naru coming. The office was silent, no one had come to visit in days, not even other SPR members. And so, just before her eyes was standing her boss with some documents in hand that he deposited on Mai desk.
« I have a work for you to do. »
Mai lifted her eyesbrows. She still had some difficulty to register the fact that, more and more, Naru was giving her investigator's tasks. She was proud of that. It was the proof that the genius Doctor Davis acknowledged her work.
« Yes ? »
« I received an interesting call this morning. The responsable can't come here. I don't know yet if SPR should go. »
« Yes... ? »
« Call Monk. See if he can accompany you on site. See the place, feel it, take informations and report to me. If it is interesting enought we will go, if not, I'll have you coming back. »
« Really ! »
She was enthousiastic. It was the first time that Naru was sending her directly check and implicitly rely on her finding to take or not a case.
« Mai, be serious. It is not so far. See with monk if you can go tomorrow morning for two day, one night. Sleeping arrangments are already seen with Mister Takamasa »
Not to say that Mai was overjoyed with the task. She took the files, grabed the phone and dialed Monk's number without any delay while Naru was taking his time going back to his office.
***End of the flashback***
Finally, thinked Mai, we wern't able to come yesterday's morning like expected. Monk not being available before mid-day, we arrived just before night and Mister Takamasa said he would show us the place today insteed, as well as doing all the interogation stuff.
The woman got up and ready for the day, reading one more time the files Naru gave her.
So, they were at Hachiôji at the foot of Mount Takao. The house of their potential client was near farm houses but he wasn't a farmer. The file said he was responsible of a private animals shelter. Shelter who was not beside the house. With that in mind, Mai got down on the first floor, meeting Monk there.
« You are strangely early today, Mai ! »
« I can't really afford to be late, right ? »
« Sure ! Naru is forgiving you a lot but I suppose that for giving bad image to the client, he would eat you alive ! »
Monk was grining. The little miss had evolved so much since the sixteen years old brat always late and lenient, but brave.
In the kitchen, Mister Takamasa was waiting for them with breakfast. It was seven in the morning. It was a man of a few words, of medium size and strongly built. His hair were cutted short, the line of his face were strong, sharp but his eyes were sweet and kind. The man was not married, no children either but by no mean was he alone. In the house were living two large dogs. Mai didn't knew of things about bread and all, only the basics. For her, it was just two big and sweet animals not really gifted by life. The older one lacked a leg, the younger one an eye. She saw at least a cat outdoor the day before too.
They took place at the table and Mai took out her necessary to take notes. The day before, the man espacialy told her that there was not much time in the morning and that, of any question, he would answer it while eating breakfast. So here they were, taking an early start.
« Are you ok with me asking you some questions to learn a bit more about the global situation of you and the shelter and then, about the problem itself ? »
He simply nodded his head.
« From the informations that were given to us, you are the responsable of the shelter. Are you the owner too ? »
Mister Takamasa answered without lifting his head from his plate but with as much acuracy that possible.
« I'm not the owner. It's a pivate shelter who can run thanks to the found of the Yamato family. I'm just the one employed to have it run correctly. »
« What can you tell us about the Yamato family ? »
He took some moment, then started.
« They're from here. But now it's only Madame and her son. Husband died long ago. It's her who run the family buisness. She loves animals. She don't like to see so many of them killed just because suddenly someone didn't want them anymore. It's said that a stray dog saved her life some years ago. »
Monk wanted to clarify something.
« So, If I understoof correctly, no euthanasia on this one ? »
« Right »
Mai took back.
« Are you alone to take car of it or are there other employees ? »
« Only me. A trainee sometimes »
« Any incident to relate before the actual problem to start to occure ? Be it before or after the shelter to be oppened ?»
She saw the man search in his memory.
« It was a naked land before with no history. What do you mean by incident ? »
« Mh, let's see... murder, suicide, disparition... on the land before or aroundthe shelter...»
« No such things and I know, I worked there since day one and lived in the village since birth.»
« Nothing strange beforehand ? Strange behavior from the animals... or people ?»
Again he took some times.
« There is always strange behavior with animals miss. They are ones that society forgot about for the most lucky of them. There is one there, a little female shiba, who're crying everyday at midnight. Another one who can't help to cuddle his roommate... »
« ... »
« Surely the strangest one was this black dog. The only dog in this shelter's history that we do had to put an end to. Way too dangerous. »
« Can you tell more about him ? »
« Nothing more accurate that he was a killer. Dressed to kill more exactly. It was a yakuza's dog. The master got arrested, he was a true psycho, and so his dogs followed suit. Wouldnt accept other dogs, not even females or puppy. Didn't know what was gentleness. I don't know more. We wern't able to correct that. But he never was given the possibility to kill anyone here »
« Ok... Then,when did the occurence started ? »
« One year ago. »
«What felt strange at that times ? »
« The whole feeling in the shelter. The animals were nervous. Paco and Pico, the two at your feets, didn't want to put a feet in there anymore. Later, two cases of dogs running away. They were smart dogs but here since some times and never did that... Then around six month ago, I've found Glove dead. »
« Glove ? »
« A big Tosa dog, black, strong, pretty young. Were a fighting dog and a winner at that. Difficult to handle. »
« And the cause of the death was... ? »
« Completly beaten up, with blood everywhere. The room was closed, everything was as I lefted it, except Glove was dead.»
« Did it happened again after that ? »
« Yes, four times. Glove, Runner, Ritsu, Waka and Demon »
« Same type of dogs as Glove ? »
« Waka was a female. But a strong one. Pretty messed up by life. All were big dogs, respected by all the other dogs. I've put a camera for Waka and Demon. Placed it facing the door, on battery, one were you must collect the SD card afterward. Never saw anything on screen. We just see the dog stressing out, then no more image on screen ».
« Was there anything else since Demon ? »
« A trainee had been injured badly. And the Yamato son »
At eight, it was hight time to go for the said shelter.
The shelter was not far. When they parked just near, the dogs were barking, ready to start the day. The place was divided in three area. A part for paperworks and veterinary control, another reserved for dogs and the last, more little, for cats. But in the paperworks area were leisurely waiting an old grey cat and an old white dog.
« The seniors, as long as they don't put a fight for everything, I put them there. It's warmer and they can finish their life a better way. »
Honestly, Mai was feeling strange. Like if there was something lurking around. Not an immediate danger but, not something safe either.
« Feel free to visit. I have to work »
And so they did. The cats section was calm and in order. And, as no incident had been seen there, they didn't stay.
They were walking toward the dogs section when Monk started to talk again.
« So, Mai, are you a dog person or a cat person ? »
« Basic question,huh, Monk... Dog ! I like them ! But can't have would take care of it while I'm on case ? I would bet you are the same ! »
« Sure ! I'm more fitted to go with dogs ! But same problem... »
« I'm sure Ayako is a cat person ! No way she would accept a dog at home ! »
« Even a cat would have to be really patient with this old hag... »
« In the cat team there should be Masako too... »
« … and Naru... »
« John would be more dog huh ?... »
« Yasu's on the dog team too ! »
« No... Yasu would have some kind of strange pet, you know.. like a weasel...Why is it that I just imagine Lin with some sort of pet dragon ? »
Monk started to laught.
« Mai, your image of Lin is strange ! Why is that that everytime you cast him differently than other?Even Naru you gived him a normal pet... »
« I begto differ, I've given Yasu a weasel. Buuut... does Lin's shiki can be considered as pet ? »
« A weasel is still more « normal » than a dragon. Not really ? »
« Then a dragon it will be ! One strong, calm and who give you the impression it can't die ! And how is that dragon is so abnormal when we are ourself ghost hunter ?»
« You want Lin to be immortal ? And I still believe more easily in ghost than dragon... »
« Doesn't he gave the feeling that nothing can get to him ? »
« I wonder about that... »
Monk eyed Mai quietly while entering the dogs territory.
And there, they were, all the box with the animals in it. One was empty, another had a little white dog with big black eyes. Mister Takamasa was currently doing a tour of the outdoor park to let them run so he would be able to clean up the box.
Mai felt uneasy. Air was heavy. Even Monk was feeling tense.
« I will have to go call Naru, to make a report. You comes ? »
« Yeah... If I let you alone, I better prepare to die. Naru and Lin would make sure I don't even come back as a ghost »
« Huh ? Naru I understand, he is always like that when it comes to security, let it be me or anyone else, but why Lin ? »
« Mai... I just have the strange impression that you and Lin's relashionship are way better than before... »
« Well, yes, but not to the point were he would lost control of himself and kill you just for that... »
« I don't want to try. »