AmyNChan: Okay, guys, I have to stop here for a moment and address something.
Mai: What's that?
AmyNChan: I'm seriously not the first person to come up with a story like this. It's really flattering that you guys think so, but I'm seriously not. Different components of this story are influenced and inspired by other—frigging amazing you-should-probably-stop-reading-this-and-go-read-them—stories.
Naru: If it bothers you so much, why don't you give them an honorable mention here? It should not take up too much space.
AmyNChan: One step ahead of the game, as always.
Naru: *smirks victoriously*
AmyNChan: Jerk… Okay, here are the awesome amazing super fantastic fanfictions you should read:
Infinity by witchhuntress
Beneath the Lilac Tree by archangelBBQ
The Transfer by Malindorie
What Makes a Good Assistant by Ethia
Mai: Four…?
AmyNChan: And they're freaking great! WMAGA was also the inspiration for a collection of cases, aka my tale SPR: Is This Normal?
Naru: Now, to the reason you are pointing them out.
AmyNChan: Because these fics are so good, they deserve their spotlight. Infinity's got really adorable children in it and seems to have a deeper, darker plot underneath everything cute that's going on. Beneath the Lilac Tree is written really well and the entire 'flux of time' is addressed properly there, along with its many implications. The Transfer is excellent in the way of secrecy and the subtle blooming of relationships as well as *spoiler, spoiler, spoiler*. What Makes a Good Assistant is just an all-around great fic that you guys should really read. Great cases and everything seems to connect in on itself! It's great!
Mai: Obviously, none of these authors—witchhuntress, archangelBBQ, Malindorie, Ethia, or AmyNChan—own Ghost Hunt, but they enjoy writing for it.
AmyNChan: So when you're done here, go check them out. Because, honestly, each of them is worth the read. Seriously. Go do it.
"Send the file to my phone," Oliver instructed before hanging up. The young—though not quite as young as he used to be—boss sighed. Ghosts never took a break, and therefore, neither did he. Even when he wanted a very slight one for the first time in a long while.
Oliver punched the buttons on his phone and waited for the file to appear. Mai was watching with curious intent. He knew because she had a habit of clicking her tongue when she was curious but he decided to try ignoring her for now. He had to put his mind to the case file.
"What is it, Naru?"
He should have known she would not keep quiet.
"New case."
"Oh. What about?"
"Don't know yet."
"Oh."
Mercifully, that was the end of that conversation. And not a moment too soon as that was when the file loaded on his miniature screen. He did not groan as he realized the transcription took up the equivalent of fifteen pages worth of notes. He simply got right to reading, his blue eyes scanning over the information easily.
Masako took a deep breath and straightened herself out. Crying had actually relieved a lot of the pressure in her mind and she could think clearly again. The world came into clarity and she knew she had been rash.
But she would not take back her challenge. Not now.
Who knew? Perhaps the reaction their boss showed would tell her if her blind instincts had been correct or not. In any event, she would maintain a distance from him for now. She would watch for his reaction and keep an eye out for her friend if she needed it.
"Excuse me, Hara-san?"
The celebrity turned around to find a person standing before her. He was familiar and had a long face with greying hair. However, it was the priest robes he wore that identified him in her mind.
"Father Tojo, correct? It's been a while," she greeted with a slight bow. The taller man returned her gesture.
"It has been a while, Hara-san," he agreed. "I met up with Brown-kun this afternoon at the airport. He said he was going to meet up with his friends before greeting the children, but they wanted to know something and had me call his cell phone. He's not answering so I was wondering if perhaps you knew where he has gone off to?"
"I'm sorry, I haven't seen John-san today," Masako said. "If he were going to find everyone, he might start at Mai-san's apartment. We always go there if we want to meet up."
"I see, thank you. Could you show me the way or let Brown-kun know I'm looking for him?" Father Tojo asked. Masako nodded.
"Of course."
"Eh? Jou-jou-chan and doji-kun are hurt?" Bou-san asked. He had only meant to drop off lunch and then meet up with everyone else at the office, but to hear that they were in the hospital was a surprise. His girlfriend nodded with a frown.
"Yes, and what's with the nicknames?" she asked. "You've only seen them twice, maybe three times?"
"Yeah, but they keep calling me Uncle Bou-san. Well, jou-jou-chan does at least."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Ayako asked. She took the lid off of her bento. Bou-san knew she liked stir-fry.
"Nothing really," he said as the red headed woman began to eat. "I just wanted a nickname for them. Jou-jou-chan got hers because Mai-chan's already jou-chan."
"And 'doji-kun'?" Ayako asked. Her eyebrow raised itself while she scrutinized him. Bou-san waved off her condescending air.
"Well, I'm not going to call him small shounen or sho-sho-kun, am I?"
"That's ridiculous, even for you."
"And that's just mean," Bou-san returned. He tapped his foot on the ground, knowing she was off for a while. Long enough to explain, at least. "So what happened to jou-jou-chan and doji-kun? Are they goinna be all right?"
"Looks like they both fell and hit their heads. Naru was able to get Kazi before he was seriously injured, but Yui-chan was already on the ground by the time he made it into the room."
"Where was jou-chan?"
"Looks like Yasu paid the office a visit. They were talking in the other room."
"How's she holding up? You know how she gets about those kids."
"She seemed fine by the time she and Naru got here."
"Naru came?"
"The EMT thought they were using drugs."
Bou-san was fairly certain that his face showed the disbelief he felt by the way Ayako was nodding. He closed his mouth and thought about it for the grand total of three whole seconds.
"Naru's not stupid enough to take those kinds of drugs. He runs a business and he's well-respected," he finally said. There was literally no point in him taking the kind of drugs he would have to be tested for. Bou-san would not begrudge him an Advil or two, though.
"That's what I said, but they're getting their blood tested anyway. It won't hurt anything."
"No," Bou-san said as Ayako tossed the remainder of her lunch into the trash bin. "Probably not."
"That took a while," Mai said as Naru punched some buttons on his phone. The man did not speak, but she was sort of used to it. Did not mean she had to like the silence though. She kept talking to prod him into conversation. "What's the case about?"
"Young men are disappearing around your apartment complex," Naru said. Mai's eyes widened and she stopped rubbing circles into Kazi's back. She may know their real names now, but she was still going to call them by their nicknames just in case she slipped up.
"Shouldn't the police be looking into it?" Mai asked. "And if young men are disappearing, why didn't they get you last night? I'm glad whatever it is didn't, but…"
"This is the fifth case of missing persons in the month, and each of the boys described had a kind, gentle personality. They range from thirteen to their late forties in age and it seems to not matter how they look."
"So the only thing they have in common are their personalities?" Mai asked. Naru nodded.
"Again, why aren't the police investigating?" Naru sighed at this girl.
"They are investigating, but their searches have turned up fruitless. All they know is the victim is alone when they are taken and that they are kind. That's it. I would imagine they would have a profile of the person responsible if they had found any bodies. None of the men have been found."
"So that's why they called us in, because the disappearances are strange," Mai said. She began to rub circles on Kazi's back again as she knew the five-year-old was safe.
"They called SPR in. You and I are stuck here until further notice," Naru clarified. Mai frowned.
"That's unfair!"
"The hospital's not going to release either of us until they are certain we are not a menace to the children."
"But…"
"I'm putting Lin and Bou-san in charge of this case. We will join them when we can."
"Mou…" Mai groaned, looking over at the entryway. There was a doctor standing there, just as there had been once since she and Naru had come in.
She wished they would hurry up and finish those stupid blood tests.
Lin received an email from Noll and opened it without hesitation.
Interesting case, take it. You and Bou-san lead. Report to me when you can. Mai and I will join you as soon as possible.
A lesser man would have rolled his eyes at the shortness of the email, but not Lin. He knew very well how his young friend worked and he knew that once the boy had left the hospital with Taniyama-san and the children in tow, he would come straight to the investigation. This meant he had to gather everyone and begin the case as swiftly as possible. He gathered the contacts and began with the most obvious.
Bou-san, who Lin was sure had been put at the head with him in order to handle the rest of the team. Something which the Chinese man was grateful for.
"That's an interesting ringtone…" Ayako commented. Her dry tone was lost on her boyfriend as he gathered the device from his pocket. The haunting music always made it clear that SPR was on the other side of the line.
"Hello?" he asked.
"Bou-san," said the voice from the other end of the line.
"Lin-san, it shouldn't surprise me that you're the one calling instead of Naru-chan or jou-chan. What's up?" the monk asked. Ayako was curious enough to shift closer to the phone, listening in on what was going on. If Lin-san called, it was probably important.
"We've taken a case and Noll wants both of us to lead it."
Bou-san blinked.
Ayako blinked.
Lin-san waited on the other end of the line.
Bou-san cleaned his ear.
"Sorry, I thought you said Naru-chan wanted me to lead the case with you. Wouldn't he choose someone like Mori—ah, sorry, Lin—wait, that won't work either… Wouldn't he choose Madoka-san to help you with this?"
"Madoka's strength lies in research and gathering of information. Her and Yasuhara-san have their strengths in that department. Matsuzaki-san is more apt with charms, but not with a few of the people on our team on occasion. Hara-san has angered Noll while himself and Mai are in the hospital and unable to lead themselves."
"And John's still out of the country…" Bou-san mused aloud. He sighed. "If he really thinks I can help, then sure. When's the case?"
"As soon as possible. Noll and Mai will join us when they are able," Lin-san responded.
"Where is it?"
"It's relatively nearby. I'll send the information to your phone."
"When do we start?"
"I will be calling the clientele back in order to ask when they would like us over. It won't surprise me if they insist on our arrival before the day is out. I would appreciate some help getting the equipment in the back of the van."
The thought to politely refuse crossed Bou-san's mind for no more than a second. He remembered just how powerful the Omoyoji was and did not want to test the man's patience today. Most of the others thought Lin-san was the one who kept Naru at bay, but Bou-san personally believed that it had been Naru to keep Lin-san from seriously killing them at some point or another.
"O-okay. I'll head over, then."
"Thank you."
The click of the phone allowed Hoshou to breathe. His girlfriend backed off and threw her long-empty bento in the trash.
"Looks like we both have to get back to work. I was due back an hour ago…"
"What!?"
"Do old men have to yell so loudly?"
"I have to yell so your old, batty ears can hear it!"
"What was that?!"
Masako walked up to the door of Mai's apartment. She already knew the girl was at work, but was equally aware of the fact that John-san did not know about Shibuya-san's return. She expected him to be waiting in the front of the apartment, but he was not. She frowned and turned to the apartment next door and knocked politely.
"Hara-san?"
"It's quite all right, Father Tojo," Masako assured him. "The neighbors are friendly people who will not mind if we ask them if he's been around. The people in this apartment in particular are generally as kind as to let us wait inside their apartments for Mai in the event she works late."
"Masako-chan, how are you doing this afternoon?" a woman asked as she opened the door. She was quite old and rather small, just how the girl remembered her.
"Doing well, thank you. By any chance, has a young man been outside Mai's apartment today? We can't seem to find him," Masako asked. The elderly woman's face appeared to drain of color and the young medium obviously became concerned.
"Is—"
"What is the young man like?" she asked.
"He's blonde, about so tall last I saw him," the girl answered, indicating his height with her hand. "He's got blue eyes and— I'm fairly certain you've met John-san before, right?"
The elderly woman took a breath, her grip on the door tightening and faltering unevenly. Masako noticed the woman's reaction and frowned. "Is everything all right? Do you need to sit down?"
"Perhaps… Would you care for some lemonade?"
Masako and Father Tojo looked at each other. The latter had to return to the children soon, the former had to continue the search for John. But what if there was something going on? Something that could be helpful in finding him?
"Lemonade would be lovely," Masako said, ushering the elderly woman back inside the warmth of her own apartment. Father Tojo kindly closed the door behind them so as to keep the cold outside where it rightfully belonged. Masako took note of the pictures that lined the wall. This apartment was identical to the one Mai owned, yet exactly the opposite. The walls were filled with pictures of many family members, the apartment of a woman who had lived her life quite happily. Although she was very insistent on calling her living space a 'house'.
Masako was not sure why.
"It's such a happy home," Father Tojo commented, looking at the many pictures that lined the house. He pointed at one of the many pictures that lined the walls. "That's Todashi. He and his siblings were in the Church's care fifteen years ago. He was so lively, so rambunctious. He would be…"
"Thirty-five now," the elderly woman replied, coming back into the room with three glasses of lemonade. Father Tojo smiled at her as she placed the shaking tray on the table.
"I see. I take it that a few of his children would be in the pictures on your wall?"
"Yes. He ended up marrying Chelsea, another child who was in the Church during his stay there, and they've given me many grandchildren."
"Really? That's surprising," the priest said, though there was a twinkle in his eye. Masako had no idea who Todashi and Chelsea were, but she hoped they were happy people from the conversation she was witnessing. Happiness often begets more happiness.
Which is why Masako found it frightening that the elderly woman had tears streaming down her face. The bittersweet smile also caused her heart to falter. What had happened to this woman in the three months she had seen her last?
"It is," she said. "They're all such good children. So kind and sweet. Emily helps me with the dishes, but I won't let her near the glass until she's older. Tori tries to help me reach things when she stays over, but she's so little, bless her. Walton… Walton…"
Masako moved to sit beside the woman, who now had her head in her hands. She was sobbing and the medium could say nothing to comfort her. All she could do was gently place a hand on the woman's back.
"My little Walton…He's my oldest grandbaby…"
"What about Walton-kun?" Masako asked.
"He's been taken, like the others…" the woman cried. "He's so kind, he wouldn't do anything to hurt anybody… Why did someone have to take my Walton? He asked me to go to the market to buy something and I let him go… Why did I let him go?"
"Have you reported this to the police?" Father Tojo asked. Masako was glad he would because she was attempted to get the normally cheerful woman to calm down.
"Yes… they haven't found him… they haven't found any of them."
"How many people have gone missing around in this area?" Father Tojo asked. The woman shook her head. "You don't know?"
She shook her head again.
"How old is Walton-san?"
"He'll be fourteen this upcoming year. I already have a gift for his birthday…"
The elderly woman looked across the room and Masako followed her gaze. On the shelf, just hidden from view was a small box. It was not wrapped yet, but the contents were well-hidden from the world. If Masako had not known that it was a gift, she would have thought nothing of it.
"Would it be all right if I prayed for you and for Walton-san?" Father Tojo asked. The elderly woman nodded her head as she reached for the handkerchief within her picket. "What is your name?"
She blew her nose and dabbed at her eyes. "Haru Chiyo, though call me Chi-obaa. Everyone does."
Father Tojo nodded his head as he leaned his head forward in an offered prayer.
"Father in heaven, we come before thee…"
As Masako lowered her head in respect for the prayer, she could not help but feel unease in her heart. She knew Walton-kun. She had met him a few times before and he always seemed so eager and helpful. She hoped and prayed in her heart for the safety of both that little boy and for John-san.
"Thank you for listening to me, and I hope that Walton and John-kun will be found soon," Chi-obaa said as Masako and Father Tojo prepared to leave. "My friend, Saki, went to find help. Hopefully they can find the reason behind the disappearances."
"We will do all we can to help," the raven-haired medium said, comfort in her grey eyes. "In the meantime, please stay inside, Chi-obaa. When Walton-kun returns, I'm sure he won't want his obaa-san to be in tears of sadness."
"I suppose you're right, Masako-chan."
"Until we see each other again, then," the medium said. The elderly woman nodded as she shut her door, holding onto the cross that Father Tojo had offered her.
"She's such a kind and strong woman. She used to do missionary work with her husband," Father Tojo said.
"I was unaware that the two of you knew the other. John-san never mentioned anything about it while I was in their company," Masako said. The priest smiled.
"Brown-kun never asked. I'm sure he would have told you had he known. After all, this group is filled with his treasured friends."
"That's kind of you to say."
"It is the truth."
Masako smiled hesitantly before the corners of her mouth fell in concern. Whatever was going on was dangerous and she felt uneasy. Was this because of her personal friendly connection to John, who appeared to be in danger? Was this somewhat familiar feeling something else? She looked around, hoping to find something.
"Yo, Masako!"
She had not been expecting to find Takigawa-san right in front of her.
AmyNChan: Okay, so I'm gonna say my point again from the start.
Infinity by witchhuntress
Beneath the Lilac Tree by archangelBBQ
The Transfer by Malindorie
What Makes a Good Assistant by Ethia
Read them.
Mai: Oh, but please do review here first!
Naru: *glowers*
AmyNChan: ehe… ^^; *flees from Naru*