Chapter 13: A Haunted Manor and a Date with Eisen!?
~Still Noll's POV
"Noll! What the fuck is going on out here for chris'sake?" Lin shouted
"Exasperated men..." I hear Mai say in a faint voice when the door opened
"Oops, did we come at a wrong time?" Dad just said from the doorway behind him is the rest of the gang including EPA with intriguing faces. Lin shot me a dirty look clearly saying: We-are-so-going-to-talk-about-this-later. I sighed
"No dad, now why don't we hear about this joint exorcism" I said dryly
After everyone is seated, father coughed and turned to us with a serious face like he's gone all CEO-mode.
"Let me start from the begging, Mr and Mrs Maxwell owns a big piece of land near the mountains and decided to build a vacation house there, they demolished some of the abandoned building that were previously there except for a manor-looking-building where they have decided to renovate it since they liked it." He began to pass picture of the manor, it's a three story building painted in cream and mahogany it has stairs that lead to the main entrance, a few rose bushes at the side and pillars decorated with vines.
"Well, let's just say that their first stay didn't go all too well..." he placed a stack of photographs in the table placed in the middle of the couches. And they were photographs of broken windows, scratches in some walls, broken nails or more like fingernails, murdered pillows, messed up rooms and a picture of a little girl dressed in all white with her long black hair covering her face and holding a beat-up teddy bear.
"These were all taken by the CCTV cameras located all over the mansion during their first three days of stay, until it got worse, they would hear screaming voices either male or female usually incoherent words that are spoken too fast, or sometimes 'help me' or 'let me out', 'I don't wanna do this' and 'please believe me'. Doors are opened even if there is no one there, scratching noises, drops of blood or sometimes wet, sticky, substance assumed to be saliva, panting noises, screeching, and a voice of a little girl singing in Latin. The couple were terrified and personally flew to England and proposed this case." He said with a sigh
"I had Madoka do some research about the land, but so far, she had dug nothing which is quite challenging to Madoka. Mr Maxwell said that the caretaker's father previously looked after that place which means it is already old." I nodded, this is very interesting. For father to have hired two teams must mean serious business. He also informed me there are other paranormal experts joining as well which means this is serious.
"Okay father, when shall we start the investigation?" I asked neatly filing all the photographs and putting them in the envelope.
" I was hoping you would start next week if it is alright?" he asked
"Good, it's settled. Everyone, we will meet at the site at 9 am next week, Yasuhara, start researching and Mai before you go...tea" I said dismissing everyone and retreating to my 'sanctuary'.
~Mai's POV
"Whoa, he sure is taking the word 'boss' to a whole new level" kyouya said with a grin. And I just shrugged.
"You haven't seen him In that mode yet...trust me" I said making my way to the kitchen preparing narcissus's tea and call it a day! I sure am looking forward to this rare early off. I was thinking of shopping a little since my pay check arrived yesterday. Knocking on the lion's den, I slipped my way into Naru's office and set him his tea and left the office without even looking back.
Might as well escape since I pulled out such a 'stunt' at him earlier...oh yeah!
I went back to the expensive store where I saw the shoes I've been dying for! It's a black liz lisa wedge that I have been saving for and finally...the time has come for me to own it! Nyahahahaha!
Grabbing the bag with precious item...I bumped with the person I never, ever, imagined to be in a boutique so girly like this one.
Eisen Klein.
And he's looking at some accessories!
Idiot! Maybe he's buying it for his girlfriend, not for himself dumbass...My evil subconscious snarls.
"Mai?" I heard someone squeak my name when I turned around I am face-to-face with amber eyes.
"Lia? "
"Eisen, we need to go, I have a lot of souvenirs to buy" Behind Lia is Anise Sinclair crossing her arms and...and...pouting at Eisen.
"Why, if it isn't little Mai-chan. You know, you have the perfect timing to encounter us at this time of the day...we were actually needing a little help" she said with an evil smirk.
¬A few hours later...¬
I swear, if ever you meet Anise Sinclair with a boutique in sight...you'd better run. I mean, we were shopping for like 3 HOURS and this girl looks like she's bringing Japan with her. Poor Cloi, he had to carry multitudes of bags with him, also dragging Kyouya along in his suffering. I never thought Anise would be the type to shop until someone drops...dead. it all goes back to the saying : "Do not judge a book by its cover..."
"Mai! Come here..." Anise called, this girl just demands...seriously.
"This color would definitely suit you Mai, try it on. Also this, and this and this and-"
"Uhhh, Anise, I can't have all of those clothes you know..." I cut her off, hoping to escape another fashion walk.
"It's okay, I'll pay for them" she deadpanned, crossing her arms and telling me straight-faced. Damn rich little girls...
"Uhh that's really nice, and believe me, I appreciate it. But I don't think it will fit in my closet anymore." I smiled nervously, hoping she wouldn't dare to buy me a closet, if she would, it wouldn't fit in my apartment anymore and she'll probably buy me a condo next.
"Hmmm, just three okay, I really think these would look good on you" she grabbed me to the nearest dressing room and shoved me in with three pieces of expensive cloth that I would not dare look at its price tag. Surely I would regret letting her buy that, but then...I'll have to face her, and I don't like facing Anise Sinclair. I still couldn't believe she's a fashion freak, hah, first impression doesn't last huh? I scoffed at the statement. But she really is nice after all, maybe it's just the vibes she's giving to Naru, I have a feeling she really hates him, I mean if you met Naru's real personality, you can't blame her for hating him..Though he isn't that bad you know.
When Anise got her fill of me and went to hunt clothes for Lia, I took the liberty to stroll around a little bit. I passed by Tiffany's and actually saw Eisen again looking for jewerly and it looks like he's having trouble. He suddenly averted the piece of jewerly and saw me. I blushed and tried to escape but he caught me by the arm and looked at me in the eye and said...
"Help me"
Okay...i don't know what to say... here I am helping Eisen Klein pick out jewerly. Apparently, his mom's birthday is near and he wants to buy something for her but he doesn't know what to give since his mom already has he quote 'everything'. Right now, he's contemplating on buying the pearl necklace with diamonds embedded on the pearls. And I seriously don't want to look at its price tag. I strolled around the showroom and found an amazing collection of charms!
"Charms?"
"Uuhh, I though you could give her a charm bracelet symbolizing things you shared shared together" I looked down and blushed, Stupid, why would he do that!
"That's great!" his eyes lit up and start looking for charms to put on the chain.
"I'll take that boat, I remember the time we went cruising with dad, they rarely get a vacation so it's really memorable. And the Eiffel tower, dad and I surprised her there for their anniversary. Also the ice cream, she actually attempted to try chilli flavoured ice cream and her face when she ate it was hilarious. And-" I smiled as he continued to talk about his mom, he really loves his parents. He's usually so quiet and impassive just like Naru I thought they were related, but now, whenever he talks about his parents, his eyes light up like Christmas lights.
"Sorry, I'm blabbering" he covered his mouth with his hand in attempt to hide the small blush on his face.
"No! I actually find it cute, you really love your parents don't you?" I giggled
"Yeah, i...owe them a lot." He said with a sad smile. I frowned.
"So I'll take all of these, thank you, plus this one" he said to the sales lady. I watch him pay at the counter while I try and figure out the reason behind that sad smile...
"Hey, you look like your thinking for the whole world you know," he chuckled.
" Oh sorry" I blushed, damn that was embarrassing.
"This is for you..." he attached something to my bracelet and I saw an additional charm on the bracelet-slash-protective charm Madoka and Lin bought me for my birthday.
"You were staring at it..." he said
"You didn't have to buy it, oh my god!"
"Too late, I already did" he smirked and i blushed as i looked down and fiddled with my skirt, looking at the key charm that I have been looking at earlier.
¬A few hours later, again¬
"Anise! For chris'sake, are you literally going to bring Japan with you? And God, isn't your walk-in closet back at states enough!?" kyouya groaned, as he put down multitudes of designer bags he was forced to carry.
"At least feed the men..." kyouya sighed as his stomach protested.
"Ohhh, ok fine, we'll have dinner, but mark my word Mai, we are going shopping before we go back home to the States." She gave me an evil grin and I cringed. Another shopping spree date with the fearsome Anise Sinclair!
We hired three cabs since obviously, all the of us wouldn't fit, especially with the extra load. So Anise, Alexis and Lia rode the first cab with 'baggage'. Kyouya and Cloi in the second cab with the rest of the baggage and...me and Eisen, with no baggage at all, except mine of course. When we hit downtown the traffic got worse and I could imagine kyouya practically grovelling for food by now. I saw Eisen take his phone out and speak to the source then he looked at me with impassive eyes and gave me a shrug.
"Looks like we all got separated, we'll have to eat by ourselves then, if it's okay with you. Kyouya, didn't have objections at all and we don't have a choice. Besides, it's already late, if we wait for the other's we might finish by midnight and I'm sure you still have things to take care of." He said giving me his small smile that I find very eye-catching...What is it with that smile? It just brings something out of me...
"It's okay, but I agree with you on arriving late at home, Naru will probably get worried." I winced thinking of arriving at the condo with Naru glaring at me and "where have you been" "what took you so long?" plastered in his face, though the thought of a worried narcissist made me blush.
"Naru? Oliver Davis? You live with him!" he asked arching an eyebrow at me and giving me an incredulous look.
"Uhh, yeah?" I said, unsure of his next reaction.
"Why? Is he your boyfriend?" he said suddenly giving off a frightening aura. Uh oh
"Uhh, no, it's a long story..." I fiddled with my skirt, blushing furiously. He sighed heavily, running a hand on his raven locks, and gazed out of the window. Awkward
I was shocked when we stopped at the hotel where Naru's condo is, maybe it's just coincidence.
"Is something wrong?" he asked me
"Oh, it's just that, Naru's condo is located here..." he immediately rolled his eyes and looked away from me. Oh man, he must think I'm such an indecent girl sleeping with his boss!
"It's not like that Mai, I don't think you're indecent at all..." HUH? What the hell?
"I can read you like an open book Mai, you're not a very secretive person aren't you?" he chuckled "It's just that..." he sighed again and ran his fingers through his hair again.
"Anyway, let's just eat and maybe I could take you back to...where you're staying" he said as he offered me his hand like a gentleman. I blushed and accepted it as he laced his fingers with mine, suddenly I get this very weird feeling the moment our hands touch. I looked up to him as he noticed my reaction but he just gave me a sad smile. On the way to the hotel, we saw a small boy looking through the glasses of the restaurant, I instantly felt sorry for the poor boy, maybe f I had brought extra money with me, I could treat him with something but to my surprise, Eisen kneeled down onn eye-level with the boy and smiled at him. He took his hand and entered the restaurant with him. The waiter noticed us and looked at Eisen, me and the frail little boy holding on to Eisen's hand.
"Table for..three sir?" he asked unsure and I grit my teeth. Bastard. Eisen handed him a black card and just nodded at the guy. As soon as the card reached his hand, the waiter's jaw dropped and became flustered.
"T-This way s-sir..." he showed us to a privet dining room and offered us each a menu.
"Order anything you like Mai" he said then he turned to the little boy who is looking in awe at the menu "You want chicken buddy?" the little boy nodded eagerly flashing him a hundred mega-watt grin.
"Ok what else? Ice cream? Spaghetti? French fries? Just point it out okay" I watched their exchange and smiled warmly at the two. Eisen is a really nice guy...
"Is there something wrong Taniyama-san?" he said giving me a smirk and does his the hobby that makes my heart beat faster, tracing his lip with his finger...
"You're very kind Klein-san" I smiled.
"Thank you, and call me Eisen, please." He said as he dismissed the waiter.
"Thank you for putting up with Anise today, I know she can be very...difficult...sometimes." he sent me a small smile with a matching shrug.
"Oh, it was nothing, though my legs were practically begging me already, I did have fun with her, and I want to thank her again for the clothes." I blushed.
"I was shocked she didn't buy you the whole clothing line. Seriously, that girl loved dressing you up, and I should warn you that if she found her potential Barbie, nothing can stop her from dressing you up, even a 100 mile difference between two countries. Lia was her first prey..." he chuckled at the memory that made me giggle along with him.
"Thank you for your warning Eisen, looks like I'd better watch out for her." I ginned. The sliding door opened revealing the waiter with a cart of food. I loved seeing how the little boy ate to his heart's content. He finished 3 whole drumsticks of chicken, a bunch of fries, hamburger steak, soup, and a huge delicious ice cream that I enjoyed as well. He ordered the left overs to be packed for the boy and after that we got him into a cab and paid the driver (keep the change) to send him home to the address the little guy said. After that he walked me to the condo, and we talk about EPA, the school they were attending. I never thought there was a school for psychics and I find It cool! Eisen said that if I wanted to go to college there, he'd help me get into the Academy.
"Uhmm, thanks for walking me here, I had fun talking with you" I smiled "And about the offer, I'll think about it okay?"
"Sure, no problem" he smiled. But when I turned my back to grab the doorknob, I feel his hand on my arm.
"Mai, actually, there's something I want to give you, please accept this" he handed me a beautiful figurine that I don't know how to describe it properly. It's a glass carved in vintage figure enclosing a translucent yellowish-brown substance and there is a rose inside it. (A/N: I know, vampire knight :D)
"It's a rose that blooms once every ten years, I had it enclosed with rosin so that it will be preserved. I wasn't able to give it to its supposed to be owner years ago. So I want to give it to you, please don't decline." He looked at me with pleading eyes that I couldn't resist. This must be really precious to him since he was keeping it for years...why me?
"Thank you...i don't know what to say...I-I" suddenly I feel tears gushing out of my eyes. I sniffed, Why the hell am I being emotional?! Great, I look so stupid right now!
I feel his thumb wipe my tears, when I looked up to him he had this smile that took my breath away.
"You're welcome" he ruffled my hair and walked away.
When I opened the door, I am instantly greeted with a slam of the bathroom door.
Noll's POV
I can't believe it! I saw Mai enter the hotel with that Eisen fucking Klein. I slam the door seething with anger. What the fuck! Just why the hell am I so angry! Arghhh! This is stupid, irrational and completely and utterly illogical!.
You're just jealous, admit it! Gene snickered inside my head. I ran both of my hand on my hair attempting to calm my raging nerves.
I hate that they're together...
I had the chance six months ago! Why was I so stupid and scared! God! The things that this girl does to me!
Noll, going back to the past won't change anything, all you have to do now is win her heart, before you lose her, again. Come on Noll, you usually take up a good challenge..Well this one is a class A challenge for the love struck Oliver Davis! This is your second chance bro! Don't waste it, seriously. Gene warned me.
"I know..." I whispered. An hour later, my anger completely subsided and I grabbed my towel thinking of taking a hot bath to relax until I heard voices outside the door.
"It's a rose that blooms once every ten years, I had it enclosed with rosin so that it will be preserved. I wasn't able to give it to its supposed to be owner years ago. So I want to give it to you, please don't decline." What fucking rose!?
"Thank you...i don't know what to say...I-I" Again I was seething, I gritted my teeth and went straight for the bathroom and slammed the door hard.
"Maybe I also lost my second chance..."
A/N: okay, I know...2 months, please don't blame me, I was busy and I waited eagerly for march 7, the day where all projects, exams etc, are all over. But then I was chosen to play for our baccalaureate mass and now I'm busy practicing again, but not that busy anymore. I mean, last month was hell...god, I survived hell on earth ~wohooo. Oh and be proud, It wasn't a cliffie XD just a short snappy sentence hehehe.
Coming up next: Chapter 15: Side Story 1: Magnolia Grey
Okay here are some pictures of the things I mentioned earlier...it's kinda hard to describe them to its full potential;..
¬ Mai's Shoes =)
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I hope you won't be discouraged to read by the way things are turning out. BUT here's the only thing I can tell you: THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON.
Please review, I love all the reviews you gave me, thank you so much. I love you guys, I'm glad you are continuing to support my story. And don't worry, the first twist will nearly be revealed! And since I love you guys, the twist will be revealed on the next case. Oh and I think this case will be the most thrilling and dangerous so far (it has to be because of the twist) so brace yourselves! Oh and let me warn you again that the next chapter is a SIDE STORY. Don't worry, I only have career talks, baccalaureate and graduation practices left so the next chapter won't take a month to update =D.