Chapter 7: Information Sharing and Plans Solidify
Summary: After dinner Sebastian and Yasuhara share everything they have learned in their day of fact finding! The pieces fall into place and a plan comes together for later that night and early the next morning. Two bodies are found in such as state as to be unrecognizable.
Author's Notes: A thank you goes out to Shunakoo25. I really love getting your reviews! Thank you! Also Thanks go out to tashromona, darkstar2010, a Guest and darkgenius2003. Whose later reviews helped break my writer's block on this FanFiction! Thank you so much! Also thank you for all the favorites and follows!
Also I am very sorry for the extended hiatus. I've had more than a bit of writer's block the last few months. So I've worked on what I could during this time. So thank you for your patience! Case File 1 is drawing to a close. Another chapter after this one and maybe an epilogue chapter remain.
A question to think about: Should Marcus Donovan remain a recurring character in 'The Darkside of Paradise'?
Case File 1: The Blood Soaked Dorm - Part 6
Everyone met back at the Kalani Estate, just in time to sit down to dinner. The stress was beginning to takes it's toll on everyone, and desperation was nipping on everyone's nerves. Mai had only been missing for approximately three days. And everything they had uncovered left them with more questions than answers.
As they ate Naru systematic went through all the facts that he had, silently tallying all the clues. He desperately wanted to question Yasu and Sebastian, however he wanted everyone to get a good meal in them. So he restrained himself from questioning them at the dinner table.
The meal was a silent afair, everyone was buried in their own thoughts and worries. A maid came in clearing the table as everyone vacated the dinning room. Everyone went right to the library. Many in the group could tell that Yasu and Sebastian had found some important clues during their information gathering gaunt around O'ahu Island.
Yasu was practically chomping at the bit, the light flashed off his glasses almost constantly and his smile was the picture of mischievous. For Sebastian's part, he kept drumming his fingers against the arm of his chair, his eyes roamed the library, he knew Aria would be pissed when they finished sharing all that they had learned from the Elders around O'ahu.
As soon as everyone took their places Aria spoke, directing her question to Sebastian. "What did you find out, my friend?"
Sebastian frowned, "We actually found more than we bargained for. Remember you asked us to check out who might be helping Kahuna'ana'ana?"
Aria nodded. "I take it you got some clues in that regard?"
Yasu picked up then, "We did indeed. There is a ohana that claims decent from Kahuna'ana'ana Kekipi... And you won't believe who the head of that Ohana is." Yasuhara's face was grim as he finished speaking.
Naru's mask slipped as he blew air out of his nose. "Well? Who is the head of the Ohana?"
Sebastian looked to Aria, "You and Dr. Davis have both met him... The head of the Ohana is none other than the Dean of the University of Hawaii Manoa Campus." Sebastian seemed to duck into himself as he awaited the inevitable explosion of raw emotion.
Stunned silence met his unexpected announcement, and into that silence Aria whispered, "The Dean has knowingly let student be taken by a hungry spirit all the years he has served as a Dean? How could he willing sacrifice young lives like that?" Closing her eyes Aria worked to keep her emotions in check. Losing control now would not help Mai or the other missing students.
Yasuhara jumped in stating, "It hasn't just been the current Dean who has turned a blind eye to the missing students. It goes all the way back to the Dean in charge as the time Hale Aloha Lehu was renovated into a Dorm. Each Dean has had some connection to the Kaimi Ohana. That Ohana was also behind the donation of the Hale Aloha Lehu to the University of Hawaii."
Naru took on his thinking pose, chin in hand as he digested the information that had just been revealed along with the bits and pieces Mai had shared with Aria and himself over the last few days. His thoughts turned dark. What exactly is Dean Kaimi's ancestor trying to accomplish? And why two sets of couples each time. If I'm remembering correctly, they were all virgins when they were taken... Out loud he heard himself ask, "When the bodies were found each time, were they still virgins?"
(A/N: I may have failed to mention this detail in the previous chapters, but it is true all the victims of the hungry ghost started out virgins. By willingly giving their virginity to the one they are confined with, they mark themselves willing accomplices in Kahuna'ana'ana Kekipi's mind.)
Everyone looked at him in shock and Yasu looked into his notes, paging through the information quickly. "The autopsy reports on the most recent set of bodies noted that they were not virgins and it was believed that they had consensual intercourse with each other. They always found a girl and a boy together, never all four in the same place."
Aria's brows furrowed, "Does that mean Kekipi needs the two couples to willingly have sex in order to take their souls and increase his strength?" Aria paused, taking a deep cleansing breath she continued, "Somehow that is just... Wrong! I cannot imagine Mai giving in to any such a demand."
"It may not be that simple. What if the Kahuna'ana'ana pairs them up by their will power. Concentrating on the weaker pair first, then putting all the pressure on the stronger willed pair?" Lin haltingly asked the group, he paused in his typing on his laptop as he made eye contact with everyone, one at a time. This caused each to shudder and think of all the ramifications associated with that eventuality.
After a moment or two Yasu adjusted his glasses making them flash. "Kekipi, was diabolical in life. He was known for human sacrifices. Though when he was alive, he made those sacrifices to Kuka'ilimoku, who is or was a god of war. It is whispered amongst the lore keepers that Kekipi, in life, had delusions of godhood even back then. It could be he felt he was given revelations on how to attain such a status from Kuka'ilimoku himself."
Naru narrowed his eyes in thought, "Mai did say to me that he was close to his goal. We don't have a lot of time left. If Kekipi is attempting to become one of the Hawaiian God's, we need to stop him before it is too late. Lin?"
Lin looked at his charge, "Yes?"
"Did you find out much about the Kahuna'ana'ana?" Naru asked urgently.
"Enough that I am fairly certain I, with my Shiki, should be able to give this particular hungry spirit pause. Though I will need assistance keeping any living helpers he may have from interfering with what I will need to do."
Yasu fidgeted knowing he had discovered something else of importance. Naru glared at him as he commanded, "Out with it! I know you have something else."
Yasu grinned sheepishly, "Well one of the lore keepers confided in me that Kekipi has or had a definite dislike of the Christian Faiths, which includes the Catholics. I would suggest having Father Brown assist Lin-san. That might well unbalance our hungry spirit." He paused, his grin spreading wider. "Don't you think so?"
Lin and Father Brown glanced at each other, nodding their agreement with Yasuhara's plan. Naru sighed but agreed. "It is best to have people work in pairs anyway." Naru muttered.
Aria agreed, beginning to speak as she stood up, "I have some friends and acquaintances who might be a lot of help... Though I must warn you, some of them wear badges. Two of them are police officers attached to a special unit and the other is a tour guide who was a Marine. I think we should have enough capable fighters to deal with the living assistants who may serve Dean Kaimi."
Monk hummed in acknowledgement, "So we will have the muscle and the authority to deal with the human factor in this case?"
A grim faced Aria nodded. "My friends on the police force cannot officially lay the blame for the deaths on the paranormal, however if we can get proof the heads of the Kaimi Ohana have been even partially behind the disappearances then they will happily arrest the human factor."
With that in mind Naru and the others laid their plans for the following day, while Aria made several phone calls to gather her friends for the next days push. Everything had to be prepared if they hoped to save Mai and the other missing students. Little did anyone know that one couple had already become empty spirits in the service of Kahuna'ana'ana Kekipi...
The Cells beneath the Hale Aloha Lehu Dorm...
Mai shuddered with the cold that seemed to leech the warmth from her body, her summer dress was not enough to keep her warm in this dismal place deep underground. She and Marcus had lots of time to converse and she had learned he had lost his mother at an early age, though his father still lived, he worked on the mainland. He eagerly paid Marcus's tuition, as though he could not stand his son's presence. It is so sad when a parent turns his or her back on their child, simply because their spouse is gone. I was fortunate my mother did the best she could for me. Making sure I knew that what happened was not my fault. If only I had met Marcus before that idiot scientist. Naru the Narcissist! He can be such a jerk sometimes, though I doubt I'll ever stop loving him. A soft sigh escaped her lips.
"Everything alright, Mai-chan?" He asked in concern. She is so reserved. I want her to trust me, to care about me. I've never really felt this way about anyone. Somehow I doubt I'll be able to breach the wall she has placed around her heart. And I'm not sure I want to try right now, knowing as I do, from Mai, that a powerful spirit seems to want us to become willing pawns in his struggles to become something else entirely. He thought as he awaited her reply.
It seemed to take Mai a bit to realize he had spoken, "I'm sorry, Marcus. What did you say?" Her eyes finally met his.
"I asked if everything was okay?" He said trying to give her an encouraging smile, though it fell a little flat. Mai too tried to smile, but the worry in her eyes ruined the effect of her normally sunny smile. "What's wrong Mai-chan? What has you so worried?" Marcus knew he had to be strong for this gentle creature in front of him.
Mai dropped her eyes and muttered barely above a whisper, "I'm afraid the others won't get here in time..." With a slight shudder she added, "I'm so cold." At that moment she had to fight the tears this confinement was causing to build up inside her.
Marcus smiled a genuine smile as he said softly, "You can rest your head on my shoulder, I don't mind sharing my body heat." Mai gently shook her head, no.
"I do not wish to chance that even that contact will constituents willingness on my part, in that thing's mind." Mai confided uncertainly.
Elsewhere in the underground cells...
Lin's most powerful Shiki had found the cells and started exploring them, when he came upon a most unsettling sight. The dried and desiccated bodies of a male and a female. Both were frozen in position that indicated both great pleasure and great terror. Master showed me pictures of all the missing students, yet I am unsure who these two are! I must get back to Master! I must tell him!
With those thoughts flying through the Shiki's mind, it turned retracing it's path back to it's Master. Oh the poor Lady Bright, if that was Master's friend, Everyone will be so sad! The Shiki thought with great remorse in it's heart.
Little did he know that he had only been two cells away from where Kekipi was holding Mai and Marcus!
Author's Notes: Will the gang make it in time? Why did the Shiki not check further? Will the police arrest the Dean? Only time will answer all our questions! Until next time!
Also sorry for the slightly bit shorter chapter!