Chapter 18
Case 2: Shòujīng Souls
Day 5: 8:10 A.M.
"Let get this all back into the vans. And Mai don't break anything else."
"Hey, I haven't since the very first case at my school!"
Everyone was up and starting to break down the base and all the cameras in each room. Everyone had been back in base by 7:30 since they all wanted to leave after the events from the previous night, though Ayako and Nashi were not present. Ayako was up but she had come down to tell Naru that she would be letting her sleep in a bit because she needed it with her injuries and especially since she did have to take her back to the hospital last night because of the opened stitches on her forehead. She couldn't fix them herself. The SPR team was almost halfway done getting everything taken out and the Ma's had help some and made them breakfast again. It felt like hours trying to grab all the cameras, tripods and audio devices and put them away correctly so they wouldn't break. It also didn't help that Mai or Yasu wouldn't talk to Lin much since what he had done to Nashi.
Around 9:30 A.M. is when Ayako and Nashi finally came down to join everyone, and Nashi ate something so she could take her medicine. Everyone, including Nashi herself, noticed that Yasu was quieter than usual and being standoff-ish with Nashi. Once Monk and Yasu were alone in Yong-Min's room to break down the equipment there, he was questioned.
"Yasu, all of us are wondering what is going on? Since Rei attacked Nashi a second time, you've been quiet and staying away from her. And she is noticing that. Why? What's going on? Don't you love her?"
Yasu, hearing that last question set him off and he snapped at Monk. "Of course, I love her!" He took a breath because he realized how mean he sounded and he talked to Monk, a bit calmer now.
"It's just… I couldn't do anything. It was all her, Naru and Lin's shikis. I was pushed away from her and couldn't reach her as Rei tried to kill her again. After seeing her in that basement, I thought back to her case, Hoshikawa Manor. That helpless feeling, the feeling of. Or knowing what would become of her. Would she live or die? Then I found out she ha powers like all of you and I don't, I have nothing to protect her with. She's…she's stronger than I am…"
Before Monk could say anything, the door opened to reveal Nashi and Ayako there. "She wanted to talk to Yasu, so…"
Nashi walked over to Yasu, who was almost in tears, and hugged him tight. Nashi's throat hurt her some, but she could still talk.
"I'm sorry Yasu. I didn't mean to make you feel like that. You can always protect me and there is one big way you can, and you never realized. You love me, no matter how I am, and that gives me a stronger will to fight. Yes, Michu and Kori love me, but I've known them forever. Us, we connected since day one and I've never had that with anyone. I don't wanna lose you and as long as I am your girlfriend, I won't give up that easily even if a ghost is trying to kill me. Please know that you ARE protecting me. Maybe not physically but you are."
Yasu couldn't help it, he cried as he hugged her. He had been so worried that she would be mad or anything but understanding, it was a relief to hear her say those words. Monk and Ayako could only watch on as they had never seen Yasu cry before.
—
11:27 A.M.
"Naru that was the last of the equipment that needed to be loaded in the van, so we are all clear to go."
Naru just looked at Lin and nodded and he turned his attention first to his employees and then the the clients.
"Thank you for everything you have done for us. We are sorry that Nashi got injured while protecting Najin. If you hadn't…" Mr. Ma cleared his throat, "anyway we greatly appreciate what you did to help us. Thank you."
Lin translated for Naru and Naru just replied, "You are welcome and stay safe."
Nashi talked to Najin before leaving and they even exchanged numbers to keep in contact. Everyone packed all their bags, Mai and Naru when in a van, Ayako still had Yasu, but she also took Nashi with her. John went in the other van with Masako still and Monk, while Lin and Madoka went in Lin's car which they drove up from the airport in. By 2:30 everyone was back at the office, unloading except for Nashi which took another half hour to get everything in. Once all was done everyone one sat down in the main area of the office on a couch and chair as Naru debriefed everyone and laid everyone though he was about to do something shocking.
"Nashi," he started as she looked up toward him, "Thank you for substituting in for Lin while he was stuck at the airport due to the storm. And my apologies for you getting hurt and for the way you had to tell us your part Chinese and about tour powers you were experiencing, but I would like to offer you something. I want to offer you a job here at Shibuya Psychic Research. You are impressive and you can, like Mai, learn to control your powers."
Everyone in the room was shocked to say the least, especially Lin, Yasu and Mai. Lin still had very mixed feelings about her and Yasu and Mai were worried for her safety.
"Yes, I accept your offer."
Everyone was happy that she finally was part of the team, but everyone had concerns, including Nashi which she voiced to Naru and the group.
"Now what about school, will this effect it? And if you couldn't tell already, I don't drive so how would I get to the locations for our cases?"
Naru nodded before answering, "Of school
Is important to you or you have a lot of work to do feel free to miss cases or be a distance researcher or something of that nature like Yasuhara and Madoka. Neither flies of cases much because school and Madoka living in England. So accommodating is possible and most of the times we carpool. And I know you live pretty far but we should be able to work out a way to have you come here or be picked up."
~A Few Days Later~
Nashi had filled out some employment papers the day after they got back from the Ma's and now Naru has called everyone in, including Nashi to discuss something that he said was important to discuss with the team.
As everyone arrived, they saw Lin sitting on the desk facing the door with his computer and some files on his desk, Naru was sitting in the chair closest to Lin's desk. Madoka and Masako were sitting down on the 2 chairs to Naru's left, Yasu, Nashi and Mai sate in the couch that was to Naru's right and Ayako was in the last chair directly across from Naru while John and Monk stood between Masako and Ayako.
"Alright Naru, everyone is here now what is so important that you called us here?" Mai finally asked him as everyone else chimes in.
"Well I was doing my employee records and I think I came across some errors, so I just wanted to go over everything with everyone to make sure everything his correct. Can everyone please tell me their full name and birthday?"
Everyone was confused, except someone was nervous and not sure if this is how they wanted things to go, but they all said their full name and birthday.
"Thank you. Now I just have a question for someone specific if they don't mind answering. Nashi," Naru looked at her along with everyone else and that caused her nervousness to be amplified tenfold. "So, your name is Nashi Kishiharki correct?"
She numbly nodded, not fully trusting her voice for a second before she verbally said, "Yes."
"Ok. Then please Nashi explain to me something. When I looked you up for a background check like I have done with everyone else here I ran onto an issue. The only Nashi Kisiharaki I found is a 41-year-old deceased woman?"
A.N. Sorry I told you this one would be small but important. I'm working on chapter 19 now but it's going to be pretty long, I hope. And I hope you still like this chapter even if it is small. =)
