Disclaimer: Tziphora doesn't own Ghost Hunt! She only owns Sion and other ocs.
The Doll House Part 3
English language
[Day 2 SPR base ]
If there was one thing Mai was completely sure of, it was that neither Naru nor Lin could be human. No one could possibly be capable of remaining functional a whole day after they had already spent most of the previous night awake working.
Unless it was all a result of caffeine keeping them up. Knowing that tea addict, it was possible in Naru's case, but then how did Lin-san-san do it? He never touched any of the tea she had brought them and she'd never seen signs of an empty coffee mug or even a mug circle where one could have sat on the table.
"Mai."
The suddenness of Naru's call made it obvious that Mai hadn't been focusing on the job at hand and been letting her mind wander as her whole body jolted in surprise. A guilty flush came over the school girl's face as indigo eyes pierced her own.
"Y-yes, Naru? What do you need?"
"Recheck the temperatures in each room. And do try to be quick about it."
That condescending narcissist! He could at least be polite about it!
Keeping her mouth shut on her true thoughts, Mai grabbed a room thermometer and clipboard before exiting the base. As she recorded the various temperatures Mai couldn't help but let her mind wander on the possibility of something showing up whenever her back was to a shadowed corner.
Thankfully, nothing made itself known. Mai had no problem getting all the temperatures quickly and made her way back to base, mind going over earlier events.
Earlier that day, Ayako had regaled herself of her miko garb before entering a room near the ground floor that Mai had spent an hour after breakfast setting up the necessary (according to Naru) equipment to observe the miko's work and anything that may happen during the ceremony. That whole time, Mai could do nothing but stand inside the base and observe the kneeling woman chanting before one of Naru's cameras, Lin monitoring the thermal camera and microphone placed in the room for any disturbances. That and fetch tea for her caffeine obsessed boss. Even if it was just taking temperatures, at least she could be useful.
Sadly, the job didn't take that long and she was already back inside the room. Mai really hoped the air would stop smelling of tea when they left.
"Here you go, Naru. I also have the previous temperature chart for comparison."
Without even a thanks, not that Mai was truly expecting one if she was honest, Naru gripped the clipboard and started going over the data, eyes quickly taking in all the numbers. Instantly, he noticed a single discrepancy.
"Ayami-chan's is lower than the others it seems." Despite the shiver those words sent down Mai's spine, Naru seemed to be completely unaffected. How could that be though? He'd once said that when spirits are present, the location they reside will possess a lower temperature.
"The house isn't crooked and the floors aren't warped, and the foundation seems to be very stable."
He's just as calm as ever!
"…Then…that means this house is…haunted?"
"That sounds more likely."
Mai couldn't stop screaming inside her head. How was it possible that this jerk was still so calm?! If Naru admits it the possibility, then they were truly in trouble!
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
That voice! At the cry, everyone ran towards the kitchen, where Kana-san had been earlier. Mai made it first, only to flinch at the sight that awaited her. In the kitchen, Kana-san was shaking, staring at the roaring flames rising from the stove top in terror.
"Kana-san!" Mai ran to the distraught woman and slowly held her shoulders, looking her over quickly to verify she was unharmed. Thankfully, Kana-san appeared uninjured, merely terrified at what was happening before her. The female head of the house managed to regain her voice enough to say what had just happened, though her words seemed to quiver as well as her body.
"T-the flames…they just came out of nowhere…"
Mai could make out tears gathering in the corner of Kana-san's eyes. She had no idea how to comfort the woman at this time, but in the end, comfort wasn't what was truly required at this time. Naru's appearance reinforced that thought.
"Everyone back away from the flames! Noriko-san, get a fire extinguisher!"
"Right!"
Mai watched as Noriko-san opened a cupboard and pulled out the extinguisher, having Bou-san take it from her. Without any pause, the long-haired monk pulled the pin holding the locking mechanism shut, aimed the hose at the flames, and pressed the trigger, showering the stove top with the white foam.
Having passed on the extinguisher, Noriko than ran to Mai-chan and her sister-in-law, taking the position of comforting Kana from Mai-chan. Noticing that the flames were still fighting to survive, she turned to the teenager girl.
"Mai-chan, there is another extinguisher in the sitting room by the entrance!"
Nodding, Mai ran out of the room and down the hall, legs quickly taking her to her destination. Shoving the doors open, she quickly turned to look behind the door, where a smaller red extinguisher sat. Grabbing it, Mai ran with all her strength back towards the kitchen.
"Naru, I've got another extinguisher!"
Without another word, Naru grabbed the extinguisher, leaving Mai to assist Ayako in filling buckets with water, trying to combat the flames.
Despite their efforts though, the flames continued going strong, though they didn't appear to be growing bigger. Eventually, Bou-san got fed up with this never-ending battle, the heat of the flames not helping to cool down his irritation.
"Hey, will someone go shut off the gas already?!"
[Meanwhile…at Sion's work location]
"Just a little more. Just rise a little more."
Sion was almost afraid to breath too loud and jar her camera. She'd spent a week measuring different angles on the forest hill and compared it to the location of the approaching full moon to find the angle that would give her the best shot. Once she had it and secured the camera, it was merely a matter of waiting.
Now that the moment was almost upon her, Sion was paranoid that something would go wrong and she'd be stuck waiting a month. Even then though, she would still have done it. Even if Sion had little interest in many things, she could still take pride in her work. No matter what the idiots thought or said.
Only a few centimeters left before the heavenly body in the sky was perfectly centered in her viewfinder. Sion refused to blink, her eyes slowly starting to water, an odd sight on her impassive face when the water started to slide down her cheeks.
"Just a little more."
[Back at the Morishita home – kitchen]
Mai, Ayako, and Bou-san all slumped to the floor in exhaustion. The trio felt like their arms were about to fall off now that the adrenaline from earlier had worn off. The weight of the fire extinguishers and water buckets had really worn down their muscles. Mai wouldn't be surprised if her arms fell out of their sockets.
Sighing, Mai wearily raised her head, finally able to breathe easy as the danger had passed. A strange movement caught her attention out of the corner of her eyes. Turning her head towards the object, Mai couldn't believe what she saw.
Someone was staring at them…from outside…wait…
"Naru! There's someone by the window!"
Mai pointed, towards the window, even as the shadow quickly vanished from sight. Naru ran towards the glass and raised it, sticking his head outside and looking around. Seeing nothing apart from the surrounding darkness of night, he backed into the kitchen, closing the window again.
"There is no one out there."
Mai couldn't believe it. She truly had seen something! No…someone!"
"There truly was someone out there…" actually, if she truly thought it over, the shadow hadn't been big enough to be an adult. Rather, it had been similar to that of a…
"…A child."
All heads turned to Noriko, who'd let out a small gasp in shock. Hand clenched to her chest, Noriko frowned.
"But, Ayami-chan should already be in bed…in my room."
-GH-
Mai was right behind Noriko-san, who was staring at her door with a pained look. If Mai just concentrated, she could just hear Ayami-chan speaking.
"Don't worry, Minnie. I'll cover you with a futon and you'll be nice and comfy."
As Noriko-san slowly opened the door, Mai caught sight of Ayami-chan kneeling on the floor in the middle of the darkened room, covering her doll with a tiny blanket…or maybe it was a handerchief? Mai wasn't too sure.
Noriko didn't wait long after opening the door to turn on the light, calling out Ayami's name, slightly startling her niece.
Taking long strides to her niece, Noriko knelt before the now standing girl and gently gripped her arms.
"Ayami, were you peeking in the kitchen window?" Noriko kept her gaze calm, eyes locked with Ayami's taupe brown eyes.
Ayami slowly shook her head. "No."
She didn't look like she was lying. But Ayami was the only child nearby.
"But Mai-chan said she saw a small child. That was you outside wasn't it?"
Noriko wouldn't get upset. Ayami just had to be honest with her.
"No, it wasn't."
Ayami's voice slowly got louder, her hair rising when she shook her head.
"Ayami!"
"It wasn't me!" Ayami shouted, shocking Noriko.
"Ayami…"
*BANG!*
The roof of the bedroom shook, the hanging light shaking from the force as the bangs continued. Both Noriko and Mai stared up in shock and puzzlement at the noise.
"Wha…What!?"
Noriko's grip on Ayami's arms slacked, her fingers, barely holding the cloth of her pajamas. This allowed her beloved niece to back away from her. She barely registered the presence of Shibuya-san and Bou-san. Something else was occupying her mind at that moment.
"It wasn't me." Ayami was still denying being at the kitchen window.
~It wasn't easy to tell with the sunglasses, but when the woman turned towards her, Noriko could have sworn she was being glared at, a chill running down her spine.
"You should be careful when the little girl shouts denials."~
Why would that woman's words come to mind now?
"I didn't do it!"
The shaking increased, the banging noise getting louder. Yet it seemed strangely silent to Noriko. The only sound she truly heard was Ayami's cries of denial…and a noise of something shaking right behind her.
Slowly, as if time around her had stopped, Noriko glanced behind her, even as a shadow slowly came to cover her.
~Crimson eyes stared back at her, the red gaze seeming to peer into Noriko's very soul.
"The collapsing shelf will cause serious injury should you not dodge fast enough."~
It was happening…just like she said…but how…is that possible?
"Noriko-san!" She could hear Mai-chan call out to her, but Noriko was still in shock.
It was a small voice that awoke Noriko to reality.
"Onee-chan!"
Ayami!
The shelf smashed to the floor, the sound of glass and wood shattering to pieces following.
[With Sion]
*Click!*
The sound of her camera taking the picture filled the empty air all around her, the usually quiet sound loud in the previous silence.
Knowing she got the perfect shot, Sion let go of the camera, and simply fell backwards to the ground, closing her eyes to her surroundings. Wet streaks still ran down her face from keeping her eyes open for so long.
Without opening her eyes, Sion reached over to her pack and pulled out a can of chuhai. Without knowing the flavor, Sion popped open the tap and took a long sip. The sweet yet sour taste of kiwi filled her mouth before slipping down her throat, leaving a tingle sensation.
Pulling the fruit flavored shochu away from her mouth, Sion finally opened her eyes, letting the starry night fill her vision.
"Another job complete." The woman paused in thought. "Or rather, the hard part is done."
She still had to develop the film and pick up the custom frame the client requested made. Still, that all can wait. She'd head to town tomorrow.
"For now, sleep."
Sion made sure to cover her equipment before collapsing for the rest of the night.
[Day 3 – market]
~Crimson eyes stared back at her-~
-the apple gleaming in the sunlight.
Noriko blinked at the fruit the fell from her hand, back to the pile of apples before her.
Ever since the events of last night, Noriko couldn't get that woman out of her thoughts. Just how had that woman known about the shelf? And about Ayami? There was no logical reason that woman could know what would happen in that room.
~Eyes hidden behind sunglasses, causing a chill to run down her spine-~
-the ice pops aligned to attract customers to the stall, a relief to the morning sun's heat.
Noriko shook her head. She had never believed it was possible, despite seeing them in the carnival's her brother took Ayami to, but was it possible that that woman was a-
Lost in thought, Noriko was unable to avoid colliding with a passing female, jarring both slightly. Slammed into reality, Noriko turned to apologize to her collision victim, only to see the woman walking away, her long strides taking her away too quickly.
Sighing, Noriko realized she had to get her head back on straight. She needed to finish grabbing groceries, now that their stove was unusable at the moment, Noriko had to change the scheduled meals to accommodate.
-GH-
Satisfied with the amount she'd purchased, Noriko had started heading home. Once she finished crossing this street, she would arrive at the trail leading home. However, luck just didn't seem to be with her family lately, as once again, the young woman was part of a body collision, a passing business man slightly jarring her shoulder and rushing off without an apology. The only real casualty was the canned juice Noriko had picked up as a treat for Ayami as an apology for accusing her last night. Two cans had fallen but thankfully only one of them had opened, the other still salvageable.
Kneeling down to pick up the cans (she couldn't just leave trash on the street) Noriko remained unaware of the speeding car heading directly towards her.
It was the sounds of screaming and a loud honk that brought the approaching accident to Noriko's attention. But this felt different than last night. Then, Noriko had been able to move out of the way in time to avoid injury, but now…
…her body felt like it was frozen in place. The only thing she could do was stay kneeling on the ground, staring at the approaching headlights.
"Fucking moron!"
Noriko had expected a collision, but the direction didn't add up. Something slammed into her from the side and out of the car's path. Everything spun for a moment before all her vision could register was black. Her body felt sore, yet she knew she was still alive…right?
"Honestly, what is wrong with that fucking driver? How hard is it to see that the damn light meaning stop is directed at him?! Asshole!"
That voice…
Noriko glanced up from what she now saw to have been a black jacket, to see familiar sunglasses skewed on the face of the very woman Noriko had been thinking about this morning. Blue eyes that could compete with glaciers were glaring in the direction of the speeding vehicle, completely ignoring the woman held in her arms.
"U…uhm…"
Whether it was from almost being hit by a car or shock of the person she had been thinking about having saved her, Noriko couldn't quite seem to find her voice.
Still, the slight attempt caused those cold eyes to lock on her instead.
"…"
Neither spoke for a moment before the woman sighed, letting Noriko go as she stood up.
"Honestly, just how many times does one person have a dangerous incident occur on one week?"
It was only a mumble, but Noriko easily heard it thanks to their close proximity. Seeing that she wasn't making a move to stand up, the woman grabbed Noriko's arm and effortlessly tugged her up, quickly letting go once she saw the shorter woman had her bearings.
Sunglasses fixed back to her face, the woman made to walk off, only to be stopped.
"W-wait please!"
Noriko grabbed the woman's left wrist, only to let go when she felt a sticky substance.
A red sticky substance. The woman's left sleeve was shredded, probably from the force of skidding across the street and protecting Noriko, revealing torn skin that was different shades of crimson, blood dripping down her arm.
"I can't just let you walk away with that injury. You need to get it looked at."
Despite the sunglasses hiding them, Noriko felt the weight of the woman's icy gaze, yet remained firm.
Once again, the woman sighed before picking up the fallen groceries, which seemed to have survived having been secured between Noriko and her rescuer, with her uninjured hand and started walking passed Noriko.
"Hunter Sion."
"Huh?"
Noriko quickly followed the woman off the street, ignoring the stares of the people still shocked from the almost fatal accident.
"My name. Only a damn idiot should invite complete strangers over. I ain't going to any shitty hospital, so if you aren't going to leave me the hell alone, this is the only alternative. Unless you just let me walk away without being an annoyance."
Ah. Thank goodness. Now Noriko could repay Hunter-san for her kindness. Still…
"My name is Morishita Noriko. Please watch your language in my home. My niece is there and-"
"I don't curse around children, you needn't worry."
"And please let me carry those. Your injured!"
"No. I have no time to run after groceries that seem to escape you every time we meet."
Well, she didn't have to point that out.
-GH-
Sion glanced back towards the klutz…Noriko..woman. Honestly, Sion was ticked. If she hadn't chosen this option, then someone might have called an ambulance and then she would be dragged to a fucking hospital. Her only saving grace was her equipment was still up ahead. She'd just pick them up, let the klutz wrap her arm, and hightail it out of there.
Preferably before she gets involved any further with this walking danger magnet behind her.
*{Earlier in the market}*
How the hell could the stalls be this busy so early in the morning? All she wanted was to grab something before taking the train back home. Not be stuck walking in a damn mobile sardine can. Not to mention all this surrounding body heat was killing her.
Frustrated, Sion pulled off her jacket and tossed it over her shoulder, quickening her stride to get the hell out of here. Screw breakfast. She wouldn't die missing another meal.
It was when she was swiping her bangs out of her face that it happened. Some careless idiot bumped into her, slightly interrupting Sion's stride.
A business man shoulder shoved a passing woman, knocking two cans to the ground. She kneels to pick them up.
A black car ignores the light. She looks up, face confused.
Screams.
Blood trickles down the car's front plate, even as it soon coats the ground beneath the broken body the car left behind.
Ignoring the person she bumped, Sion lengthens her pace to escape what she had seen. But her strides come to a slow halt, blue eyes staring at the ground, ignoring the stares of the people who walk around her.
"Just walk away."
It had nothing to do with her.
Nothing…
…That crossing was on her way back to her gear. She had to head that way.
That was all it was.
*{Present}*
Sion paused in their walk, stepping off the path to the tree she had secured her gear. She didn't get far before her precious camera and travel bag were taken hostage by the smiling woman.
"Injured people shouldn't carry heavy equipment." And walked back to the path.
Interesting. The woman actually had some backbone.
Still, hard to believe the woman she'd bumped into had been this one. Meaning the previous event had to have already occurred.
Despite being an atheist, Sion offered a quick prayer to whatever deity wanted to listen that the shitty brat was gone then. Not that she believed any would listen to her, what with how they had to have messed up her life if they did end up existing.
Eventually, the two female adults finally arrived to the Morishita home.
"Welcome to my home." Noriko gave a smile towards the frowning woman.
"Let's just get this over with. I just want to get home and crash for several days."
Showing no sign of faltering over Sion's rough personality, Noriko opened the front door.
"I'm home." She called out, the words a spell of some type as they were immediately followed by the sight of a small child running towards the smiling woman.
"Onee-chan!"
Followed by a body slam to the stomach. Noriko merely smiled down at the tiny thing.
"Were you good for our guests, Ayami?"
"Yup!" Taupe eyes soon saw the taller figure behind her aunt, the smile quickly vanishing under the blank face, the sunglasses making the woman seem even scarier. Quickly hiding behind her aunt, Ayami hid her face in Noriko's skirt.
"Ayami, this is Noriko's friend, Hun-"
"Sion."
"Sion-san. She's a guest as well, so remember to be polite, alright."
Ayami slowly removed her head from Noriko's skirt, nodding. "Alright." Ayami backed away before bowing.
"Welcome to our home, Scary lady-san."
"Ayami!"
Before either could blink, a hand ruffled Ayami's hair, messing it up. "Smart girl. One should only address friends by names. Strangers deserve no such compassion. If you didn't find me intimidating, then I wouldn't be doing my job right."
Puzzled, Ayami looked up. "Your job?"
Noriko watched, wondering where this was going. Didn't she have something to do with the camera? Or was that simply a hobby? What kind of job involved being intimidating?
"Yep. Keeping nosy boys from butting into the business of innocent girls."
Noriko wasn't sure but she swore Ayami's eyes were sparkling. "So you're a super hero?!"
The very first smile Noriko had seen on Sion-san came in full view. "You truly are a smart girl. Yep. My job is to keep boys from bullying girls. I protect them till they are big enough to protect themselves. Though because of my superior ability, I don't come cheap."
Ayami tilted her head. "How much does it cost?"
"A dark chocolate bar."
Noriko couldn't believe this was the same woman from earlier. Still, why hadn't Sion-san taken off her sunglasses or gloves?
Puzzled by her guest, Noriko almost missed Mai-chan coming down the stairs, holding a clipboard.
"Welcome back, Noriko-san. Ayami was impatient waiting…for you…Sion-san, is that you?"
There was no hiding the sudden stiffness in the black clothed woman's posture. If anything, only Ayami appeared to be unaffected by the sudden coldness that seemed to fill the entryway, instead seeing the woman's coldness as part of her super hero abilities.
"I suppose it would be too much to assume that annoying pretty boy isn't here as well."
"I thank you for the compliment, Sion-san."
A gloved hand removed the sunglasses, letting blue meet indigo once again after months.
"What a pain." Sion sighed.
A.N. I'm still alive. My life actually gets busier in summer since school is out and the children I watch are therefore home the whole day and at the ages where you can't leave them alone for too long. And Sion is (to her great annoyance and rage) reunited with the SPR gang. I also respect all religious beliefs, including those who chose not to believe, so Sion being atheist has nothing to do with my personal beliefs and is in no way a means to offend others.
As always, a big thanks to the following for Favoriting/Following this story: lilnightmare17, gugusmith42, Yoran'sArts, Light Maroon, Angel-Lilly16, Panda-Chan13, Leopardfang of Moonclan, sunlightxiii, Takahashi Amaya, volley-14-nerd, TsugumiSora, Shiro-Sumi, suffocxte, isaneoneX, Lunawolf22, WhiteWolf008, DoubtReality, 97NerdyRoses, SolitaryNyght, Marfo Faura, AzmarieLeeLee, NikkiReedfan, flaimingdarkfox, Aqarelka, Kuroka13, MsWolfGirl, julia9264, RoyalBlueDressXx, ParkerERoy13, ruler of the ice dragons, tartanarmygirl, Chaos'sBride, scarlet rose white, and linzi.
Not-Gonna-Update: Yes, Sion enjoyed the alone time while it lasted, though I wish I could switch my beer for hers. Though, since I don't have to personally deal with a narcissistic male younger than me, I won't be too envious :3
lilnightmare17: Yeah, I will strive to keep updates close together. Again, sorry for the long wait last time.
bored411: Hope you enjoyed Sion's suffering here. Just goes to show, helping others doesn't always mean it will work out for everyone (in this case, Sion is paying the price for the moment of kindness).
Cassie (guest): Thank you for your vote.
Guest: Thank you for reviewing.
97NerdyRoses: I'm glad you like Sion. I think it's just my paranoia of turning her into a MarySue that keeps me so on edge so hearing she doesn't give off that feeling helps. Also, thank you for your vote. Hope you continue to enjoy it.
scarlet rose white: Glad you like it! Thanks for reviewing.