(Chapter 5) Who Let The Ghost Out?

All of them stopped running and gasped for some air after the long run. Momo frantically jumped with joy. Kaidoh started to gain consciousness but unfortunately, Ryoma was still out cold.

"Kaidoh, are you awake? Are you okay?" Oishi asked.

"Err, I think so… Who are you?" Kaidoh pointed at Inui.

"Why am I the only one he always forgets?" Inui was shocked and faded like dust blown by the wind.

"I'm just kidding, Inui senpai."

"Hoi hoi, Kaidoh is joking? That's rare!"

"Fwsh…" Kaidoh's face blushed.

"Now you caught the ghost, how are you going to deal with it?" Tezuka asked Atobe.

"I have no idea. Anyone got any idea?"

"Uh uh. How about… er.." Momo raised his left hand and jumped high so that he will be noticed by Atobe and Tezuka who were standing in front of the uh… flock?

"Yes, you.. er.. the one standing at the back." Atobe turned and looked at Momo.

"Name's Momoshiro, Momo-chan."

"Yeah, whatever. What's your idea?"

"Err.. We could.. err.. What was it again? Dang! I forgot!" Momo scratched his head as he tried to remember.

All kept arguing on what to do with the ghost. However, one mysteriously stepped forward to the cage and opened the cage while the rest is arguing. The ghost was freed without anyone noticing and made its way back into the maze.


Minutes later…

"The cage is opened! The cage is opened, nyah!" Eiji who was among of the few people standing behind and near to the cage screamed and jumped up and down frantically.

As they were busy arguing, they ignored the little voice.

"People! The ghost is gone!" Fuji exclaimed.

Fuji's loud voice broke the argument and was able to make heads turned to him and Eiji.

"Oh no! The ghost is gone! What should we do?" Momo screamed.

"Well, at least the ghost is chasing us and trying to kill us no more." Shishido muttered.

"But we can't leave it roaming around freely and furthermore, it's dangerous. Maybe we should go and catch it again?" Oishi suggested.

"No way! I'm not going into that maze again!" Shishido shook his head meaning he disagreed.

"But as Oishi-san said, it's not safe for us to leave it as it is. We did that last time when Jiroh-san was possessed and look where it got us into now. We must catch it in order not to let this incident repeat itself." Ohtori agreed to Oishi's plan that is to catch the ghost.

"Whatever the decision, I suggest we discuss it inside. At least until Echizen is awake." Tezuka instructed.

"Good idea, buchou. Standing here gives me the creeps." Momo rubbed his goose bumps away.


The Hyoutei's members and the Regulars entered the mansion. Ryoma was laid on one of the sofa at the living room. Some took their lead to comfort ness by taking a seat at the sofas.

"Can I have some hot towel?" Oishi asked one of Atobe's servants politely.

"Please wait while I get you one, sir." The servant went into the kitchen.

"Is there some way to make the ghost disappear peacefully? If possible, not to catch it. Well, through spiritual negotiation or something?" Eiji asked.

"You mean like calling the spirit? This method might work. Ancient people believed this method can call upon the spirit of the deceased to talk to. Some even asked for future readings and the upcoming lottery ticket's number." Inui pushed his glasses up.

"Inui-san sure is resourceful." Ohtori praised.

"Here's your hot towel, sir." The servant held a tray with a hot towel on it.

"Thank you." Oishi took the hot towel and placed it on Ryoma's forehead.

"Oishi, how's Echizen?" Tezuka asked.

"Not good. He's still out cold." Osihi shook his head.

"By the way, Mukahi, are you okay? You have been quiet since just now. That's very rare of you." Oshitari teased Mukahi.

"Ghost... I've seen a ghost." Mukahi terrified, sat down on a sofa, staring blankly at the floor.

"Kawamura is missing, nyah." Eiji browsed around the room.

"Taka-san is sleeping. I think he's let it all out from just now. Don't wake him." Fuji pointed at Kawamura who was sleeping at a sofa located at the corner of the living room.

"Everyone seemed to be quite exhausted. How about we leave the catching the ghost matter… well, lets say next year? Or calling ghost-buster?" Mukahi suggested.

"Well, for one, I don't mind catching the ghost. I'm not afraid of it. Ne, Kabaji?"

"Usu."

"There's one thing that I'm really curious about. Who the hell is the stupid one that freed the ghost?" Shisido exclaimed.

"I've wanted to ask the same thing just now. Did anyone see the one who freed the ghost?" Oshitari replied.

Everyone shook their head.

"There's 15 of us there just now. Nobody else, right? Echizen can't be the one who freed the ghost since he's out cold. So, that makes it left the 14 possible suspects. Ne, Kabaji?" Atobe explained.

"Usu."

"Alright. Who did it better show yourself up before you're caught." Atobe warned all of them.

Everyone just kept quiet.

"14 suspects. Atobe, Shishido, Ohtori, Mukahi, Oshitari, Kabaji from Hyoutei and Tezuka, Fuji, Oishi, Eiji, Momo, Kaidoh, Kawamura and me from Seigaku." Inui muttered as he jotted down the names of the possible suspects down in his notebook.

"This is how it going to be. Everyone here in this list get to step front and defend yourself that you didn't do it. Agreed?" Inui added.

"Oh, a detective game. Interesting…" Fuji smiled.

"We'll start with Atobe followed by Tezuka."

"Well, obviously it's not me. I was standing in the front when it happened. It's impossible that it was my doing." Atobe posed elegantly and flipped his front hair.

"I was in front of the group together with Atobe. Impossible to be both of us that did it." Tezuka added to Atobe's word, concluded them out of the list.

"Next is Oishi."

All of them turned their head to Oishi.

"No, no! Definitely not me! I didn't do it! I swear!" Oishi, nervously waved both his hands.

"Sou, sou! Oishi didn't do it! Oishi never lies." Eiji stood up for Oishi.

"Agreed. Believe him. He never lies." Tezuka added.

"Usou? Never lie? Not even once?" Shishido doesn't believe it.

"Unfortunately, yes." Fuji replied with a smile.

"Okay, Oishi is out of the list. How about you, Eiji?"

"Ekk… Not me!"

"Do you have any proof?" Inui pushed his glasses up.

"Err, I was of among few that stood at the back, but I didn't do it, nyah! Aaa! Eto.. Fuji is my witness! He's standing next to me and talking to me the whole time!"

"Is it true, Fuji?"

Fuji nodded.

Eiji sighed in relieve.

"That's five people out of the list. The one left is Shishido, Ohtori, Mukahi, Ohsitari, Kabaji from Hyoutei and Momo, Kaidoh, Kawamura and me from Seigaku."


to be continued...

A/N: Okie, okie.. How is the chapter? I intend to end it on chapter 5 but suddenly this idea just popped into my mind. Anyway, please review! Hmm, I wonder who is the one who freed the ghost? Hahaha..