Chapter 1: Following to Paris
Karasuma slept a peaceful sleep, until she got a call. She reached for the phone and picked it up.
" Hello," she said
" Come to Paris Miho, there I will be waiting," the voice said
" Paris?" Karasuma questioned
" Come," the voice said
The phone went dead and Karasuma looked at it. She hung up the phone and laid back down, but only tossed and turn. She sat up and turned on her lamp by her bedside and looked around.
" Come to Paris, but why?" she asked
She got up and slipped her silk robe, then walked out into her living room. Karasuma put on some hot tea and she sat down
" Paris," she thought, " it could be a nice little day off."
Later, Karasuma finally fell asleep and was awaken 4 hours later by her cellphone. She sat up and got up and picked it up.
" Karasuma," she answered
" Ms. Karasuma, Amon wants us in the office in 15 minuets some things come up," Sakaki said
" Alright, I'll be there," she said
She hung up and looked at the clock, it was a quarter to 6. She got up and showered then dressed, she was out and on her way to the STN-J. She pulled up into the garage and parked, seeing Sakaki remove his helmet.
" Morning," she said
" Morning," he said, " Great time to have a meeting."
Karasuma smiled and both walked upstairs and entered the office.
" No one's here yet," Sakaki said, " Michael's not even here."
" Maybe you misunderstood Amon's message," Karasuma said
Sakaki turned on the lights and said, " No, I swear…it was Amon's voice."
Karasuma saw the computers were on and she woke them up and saw a note on each computer.
" What is this?" Karasuma questioned
" It's in a different language," Sakaki said
" It's French," Karasuma said
Sakaki sat down at the computer and tried to get rid of it. Karasuma sat down at hers and did the same.
" What does it say, I kind of skipped French in high school?" Sakaki said
" Come to where you will find love," Karasuma said, " Let music touch your ears and let us dance to the beat of your heart."
Sakaki looked at Karasuma and Karasuma leaned back.
" Karasuma, it sounds like an invitation," Sakaki said, " But why would Amon call to say we have a meeting."
" Because this is what we are hunting," Amon's voice came from the shadows
Karasuma looked and jumped when Amon walked out. Sakaki couldn't help himself. Amon tossed the paper on the desk, and Sakaki picked it up.
" Is He Real or Just a Story?" Sakaki read, " The Phantom of the Opera Appears."
" What's this have to do with us?" Sakaki asked
" The STN-F has asked for our help and believes that we might be able to solve this one," Amon said
" Since when do we solve mysterious?" Sakaki asked
" Since 4 people were missing and found dead three days later," Amon said
" A witch you mean?" Karasuma said
Amon looked at her and said, " Paranormal activity in Paris."
Karasuma looked at Amon and stood up. She felt her heart beat and looked at the monitor of the computer.
" We leave tomorrow," Amon said, " I hope your passports are up to date."
" Amon, your saying go to Paris for a ghost?" Karasuma asked
" Not a ghost Karasuma, a witch who wants only a certain victim," Amon said
" It's a joke, some guy got the idea to play the part as a phantom. There is not phantom," Sakaki said
Karasuma took a deep breath and looked at Amon and Sakaki.
" Where's Robin and Doujima?" Karasuma asked
" Already on their way to Paris, you two will do a little research on the past," Amon said
Karasuma yawned and sat down again and they began to get to work. Amon made plan to leave on a private jet to get to Paris. Sakaki looked at Karasuma as she went ahead and dug up what she could.
" You don't believe in this do you Ms. Karasuma?" Sakaki asked
" I don't know, I never really believed in a lot of things until I became a witch hunter," Karasuma said
" It's a joke," Sakaki said
Karasuma looked at the paper and placed her hand on the paper. She felt feelings from it and she pulled away. She breathed deep and Sakaki looked at her.
" What happened?" Sakaki asked
" I don't know," Karasuma whispered
By the late morning Karasuma had typed up and saved some things and then the computers shut down.
" Shit!" Sakaki growled
" Damn it, not again!" Michael said
Karasuma looked at the computer and then the lights went out. Sakaki rolled his eyes and got up. He headed to the back and grabbed the flashlights.
" I'm going to the check the circuit breakers," Sakaki said
" Be careful, if the lights come on they'll give you a shock," Michael warned
" I'll use gloves," Sakaki said
Sakaki headed down and Michael tried to pull up the emergency lights on his back up computer. Karasuma got up and looked around feeling a presences that shouldn't be there.
" Michael," Karasuma said
" Huh?" Michael said
" Do you feel a little cold?" she asked
" No, I feel fine, are you ok?" he replied
Karasuma shook her head and said, " Where's Amon?"
" I don't know?" Michael said
Sakaki walked down to the basement and walked to the circuit breaker. He looked at them and switched them. He heard the AC come on and he nodded and then heard something behind him. He stopped and turned around and saw no one, but then went back to fixing the lights. Sakaki continued and got power in the building.
" Alright we have power," Sakaki said
" Good going Sakaki," Karasuma said
" I'm on my way up," Sakaki said
Sakaki started up and stopped, when the air got cold suddenly. He felt something touch his face, but he didn't see it. He touched his face and slightly gave an odd look.
" She'll go to Paris without you," a voice whispered
Sakaki looked around and then took off towards the elevator and headed upstairs.
" Karasuma!" Sakaki shouted in his ear piece
He didn't get an answer and suddenly the elevator stopped and Sakaki was thrown back. He pressed the button to open the doors, but they didn't. He once more called for Karasuma and the others.
" Michael, Amon, Karasuma answer!" Sakaki shouted
The lights were out again and Michael hit the computer. Karasuma held the flashlight tightly to her and looked at Michael.
" Ms. Karasuma could you go see what Sakaki has blown out down there, the elevators won't work so go take the stairs," Michael said
" Alright," Karasuma said
She headed downstairs with just one small beam of light guiding her. She walked down 5 flights of stairs, to get to the basement. Karasuma looked around, but didn't see Sakaki.
" Michael, Sakaki's not down here," Karasuma said
" Then why is the power going out?" Michael said, " I have a reading on where Sakaki is, but he's not answering."
" Something's going," Karasuma said
" Well, see what you can do with the lights down there. I'll work from my computer," Michael said
Karasuma nodded and began to work on the lights. She hated the basement though once or twice she came down to think. She turned on the lights and then they went off.
" Damn it," she thought
Once she had got them she heard someone walk past her. She turned around and flashed her light about.
" Hello," she said, " Amon? Sakaki?"
Karasuma shut the box and looked around. She saw a figure run across the light and stopped.
" Hey you!" she called
She ran after the mysterious figure and then stopped when she lost him. Karasuma sighed and turned around. Her flashlight flickered and suddenly it was dark around her.
" Come on, work damn it," she thought
Karasuma walked towards the light that came from the only window in the basement. Karasuma heard the sounds of foot steps come from behind her and she turned around to hit them. Her hand was grabbed and Karasuma struggled and swatted with her other hand.
" Stop," the voice said
" Who are you?" she asked
Her breaths became heavy as to show she was scared.
" Come with me to Paris Miho," the figure said, " You will see than who I am."
" I don't want to go," Karasuma said
She pulled her hands away from the figure's and ran towards the light. She was grabbed and struggled from the hands
" Amon! Michael! Sakaki!" she shouted
Her cries were muffled, by the stranger's hands.
" Don't worry," the voice said
Karasuma felt her eyes become heavy and she fell faint in the stranger's arms.
" Sleep, until we get to Paris, they will all be there," the figure said
The elevator started and Sakaki got out and ran to the office.
" Michael, where's Karasuma?" he cried
" I don't know, where have you been?" Michael asked
" In an elevator, someone's here after Karasuma," Sakaki said
" I lost contact with her, Amon's vanished too," Michael said
Sakaki sighed and said, " Do you think It's Amon?"
Michael shrugged and the lights flickered then just stayed on. A note was slipped under the door and Sakaki picked it up. He looked at it and began to read the letter.
She is in Paris and will remain there. She is to precious to be locked up in a career that does not suit her. Do not come to look for her or great misfortunes will happen if you do.
" Who is it from?" Michael asked
" I don't know, but now we have to find Karasuma," Sakaki said
" What about Amon?" Michael asked
" I think it is Amon, playing a sick game," Sakaki said
Sakaki left the office and found a ticket tapped to his apartment door. He began to pack and saw a message on his answer machine.
" Sakaki, It's Robin, we're in Paris," Robin's voice came over Sakaki's answer machine
He wrote down the number of the hotel and called to make reservations. He then called Karasuma's phone, but found she was not answering. Sakaki took a cab to the airport and held his passport and ticket at hand. He walked to the concourse and waited for his plane.
" What is going on?" he thought
He looked at his ticket and held it tight to him.
" Karasuma, why do they want you?" he thought
Sakaki's plane was called, he and other passengers were escorted to the platform onto a private jet. Sakaki buckled up and leaned back and closed his eyes. He looked out the window and then shut it. He wasn't a fan of flying and had never flown before, he was always happy in Japan and never wanted to explore outside. The plane began to take off and Sakaki breathed deep. Sakaki listened to music as the plane took a 9 hour flight to Paris, France, one flight he didn't want to take, but it was for Karasuma.
When the plane landed Sakaki grabbed his bag and headed down to luggage collection and picked up the 4 bags of equipment he needed. He haled a cab that took him to the hotel and there he called Robin and Doujima.
" I'm on my way meet me in the lobby," Sakaki said
" Alright," Robin said
Once in front of the hotel he was helped with his bags and into the lobby. He stared at the beautiful hotel and then saw Robin and Doujima. Robin, wore jeans and a long sleeve shirt and her hair was put up into a bun. Doujima had her usual clothing and her hair was braided.
" Sakaki, you look like you've been through hell," Doujima said
" You have no idea," Sakaki said
" Where's Amon and Karasuma?" Robin asked
" Karasuma's been kidnapped and Amon's vanished, my guess is he's the one who did so," Sakaki said
" Why?" Robin asked
" Why not? Amon's finally showing his true colors after almost ten years at the STN-J," Sakaki said
" You mean you think Amon kidnapped Miho because he's in love with her?" Doujima asked
" That's right," Sakaki replied
" That's the stupidest thing, why would Amon do such a thing. He and Miho go way back?" Doujima asked
" I don't know," Sakaki said
Robin shook her head and said, " We have to meet the boss of the STN-F tomorrow. I suggest we get some rest."
" She's right let's get some sleep," Sakaki said
They headed up to their rooms, once Sakaki had checked in. He came to a large room where he would stay, and set up his equipment.
" We'll see if there's a Phantom," Sakaki said
He loaded orbo into his gun and looked out the large window, that over looked Paris. He would not rest until Karasuma was safely returned to the STN-J and Amon had admitted to his heinous crime.
" How could he think this was a joke?" Sakaki questioned