Chapter 12

Case 2: Shòujīng Souls

For the first few weeks of January, Nashi would occasionally stop by SPR and say hi to Mai and Yasu when he was there for research or to help Mai after she got out of class. She would bring Lucy to them or all.

"Mai? What do you think Naru and Lin would want from here?"

Mai thought for a moment while she was on the phone with Nashi. She was going to stop by today since she had a few test and papers out of the way and was done with classes for the next week.

"Just get them some sandwiches like us. I'm not sure what they would like but I never seen them refuse food."

"Mai…I'm at a sushi place…"

Mais face got red from embarrassment.

"Uh…. Right. Then just maybe get a platter of various one to eat and we can all pick and chose?"

"Alrighty then. See you guys in about 20 minutes."

"Ok. Oh Nashi! Don't forget Madoka should be here by the time you get here."

"Right. Thank you. See you soon."

Mai hung up the phone just as the door opened to the office. Mai jumped up thinking it would be Lin and Madoka or the client they had coming by today, only to see it was Yasu coming in. Naru had Yasu start looking into the house they could respectively be going in.

"Hey Mai!"

"Hey Yasu. Good timing. I just got off the phone with Nashi, she's picking up lunch and coming over here."

"She really doesn't have to do that, especially in this weather," Yasu commented as he sat his bag down and sitting on the couch in the waiting room. It had snowed pretty good last night and a lot of traffic because of it.

"Hey, you know how she is. And I think it sweet."

The door to SPR opened and revealed Nashi with a medium size platter.

"Anyone hungry?" she asked as she knocked snow off her boots at the door and handed the platter to Mai. Yasu help her take off her coat as she was having some trouble with it.

"I really hate this coat but it sure is warm in this kind of weather yet. Is Lin and Madoka in yet?"

Mai shook her head as they walked to the kitchen.

"No. not sure why but they aren't here yet. So what kind did you get?"

"I got some Maguro nigari, Ika nigari, Sake Nigiri, Kappa maki, and a few Unagi."

"What is all the commotion?"

Both girls looked to see Naru standing by the entrance of the door, arms crossed over his chest, clearly unhappy.

"Nashi brought lunch for all of us, including you, Lin and Madoka. Speaking of," Mai said as they walked back to Mai's desk, "where is Lin and Madoka?"

"Not sure, maybe the snow delayed Madoka's plane or they got stuck in traffic."

Not a moment later the door opened once again to reveal a man, in his mid 40's walk in.

"Hello sir. Welcome to Shibuya Psychic Research, are you the man we have the appointment with today?"

Nashi looked at the man and thought that something was off with him.

"Shì. Nǐ hǎo, wǒ de míngzì shì Ying-jeou Ma. Wǒ hé xiānshēng yuē hǎole. Kazuya Shibuya."

"Huh?"

Mai and Yasu had a confused look on his face and Naru didn't look surprised but upset.

"Our new client is Chinese, he doesn't understand Japanese. This is why it was imperative that Lin be here to help translate."

"Shì. Zuò xiàlái. Wǒmen zěnme néng bāng nǐ mǎ xiānshēng?"

All heads turned to Nashi as she spoke Chinese to the man.

"What? I'm fluent in Chinese. I can help translate until Lin arrives."

Naru sighed but proceeded over to the couches becoming Nashi over and he handed her the computer.

"Type all that he says. And translate for me."

Nashi nodded as she got situated.

"Now, Mr. Ma, what seems to be the problem you are having?"

"Mǎ xiānshēng, nǐ yù dào de wèntí sìhū shì shénme"

'Dang Nashi is completely fluent. You can't even tell that she is Japanese right now and not Chinese,' Mai thought as she brought tea for everyone.

"Wǒ de jiārén shòudàole xíjí. Báitiān, wǎnshàng, tā yǒngyuǎn bù huì tíngzhǐ! Wǒ de qīzi kǎi yuè yǐ bèi duō cì tuō xià lóutī, zuìjìn yīcì shì shàng zhōu. Tā bèi guā shāngle, tā de shǒubì shàng yǒu yīkuài pánzi, xūyào féng zhēn."

"My family is being attacked. During the day, at night, it never stops! My wife, Kaiyue, has been dragged down the stairs, multiple times and the most recent was last week. She has been scratched and had a plate thrown at her cutting her arm and needing stitches."

"What else has happened?"

"My son and daughter refuse to enter any room alone st night, even with the lights on. They feel eyes on them and multiple times when they have gone in a room alone and the light be on, it will explode and they will get attacked. Either be scratched or one time my daughter was almost strangled to death. If my son hasn't walked into the room she would have been killed. When they are alone it feel like something is also watching them, waiting for them to be vulnerable enough. So it's not every time that they get attacked. And I have felt someone watching me. But I haven't been attacked. Well I have been pushed some and my daughter has been pushed down the stairs. We had to call 911," Nashi told Naru as she translated for Mr. Ma.

"Wow that is scary huh Yasu?"

"Yeah…" Yasu replied but he was to busy thinking. Nashi looked natural. Not like she was nervous or never done this before. She looked like this was her 20th time conducting and interview and translating.

'How could she be this natural at it already? Even my first time I was off because I was nervous. How…? Could she…? She was so calm at her interview and during the whole case until Mai got hurt. But even then she was still calmer than anyone else. Minus Naru and Lin.'

"Nashi, please tell him that we will take his case. We will need a room for base and 2 rooms for us to sleep in."

"Wǒmen xūyào yīgè jīdì hé liǎng gè fángjiān gōng wǒmen rùzhù."

Nashi nodded to the man and turned back to Naru, "He said he will get them together. He might have to repair some lights in rooms but he has them. He asked when should he expecting us by."

"Tell him tomorrow afternoon."

And with the Naru shook hands with Mr. Ma and went back into his office to make a call.

"Kazuya xiānshēng shuō yào zài míngtiān xiàwǔ qídài wǒmen."

"Xièxiè nǐ bāngzhù wǒ de jiārén, wǒ hěn gǎnjī," the man said as he bowed to Nashi and she bowed back to him.

"Dāngrán. Míngtiān jiàn."

Mai showed the man out as Yasu walked up to Nashi.

"Well you impressed me today."

She finally turned and looked at him after the door closed and Mai walked over her desk to call everyone in that they had a case, "Why?"

"You looked so natural doing that, like you had done that before. Plus you were so composed when talking to him and translating."

"Well how else should I act? I had to be professional and polite."

Naru walked out of the office and walked up to Nashi.

"Lin is stuck at the airport waiting for Madoka. And Madoka's plane is delayed due to a snow storm in England. They will be in late tomorrow evening. Are you able to come accompany us to the client's house tomorrow since we still need a translator?"

Nashi was shocked. She thought Naru didn't care for her at all, maybe she was off some?

"Yes I can. I have a week off from school since I am done with my exams and papers."

"Excellent. Meet here at 10 A.M. tomorrow morning."

And gone he was again.

Yasu's face wasn't too happy, it was full of worry and as soon as Nashi saw it her smile fell and she asked him, "What?"

"I don't want you to do this."

"Why?"

Yasu gave her this look that said, 'are you kidding me?'

"Did you forget the last case? Which was your case? You almost died! Many times. You might be a danger magnet like Mai."

"Yasu," Nashi turned and grabbed his arms gently, "I am just going till Lin and Madoka get there. Nothing more. They need a Chinese translator and I am fluent. Don't worry, everything will be fine."

She put on her coat and picked up her bag.

"I have to go if I am to be ready for tomorrow and see if Michu or Kori can bring me out."

She gave Yasu a quick kiss then walked out the door after saying by to Mai.

'I have this feeling it won't be that simple. I'm worried she will get hurt and I don't know why it won't go away.'

A.N. ik it's a short chapter but its just to get it started. I got to remember how this case goes and I need to make up info and get real info for the research parts of t. plus this case does have foreign aspects so give me time to get a chance to update it. Enjoy!