Hello everyone, I'm so excited to be back on this site! About Ten years ago I posted some of my first ever writings on this site. I have since lost the ability to login onto that account, so I have started a new one!
I recently rewatched Ghost Hunt and once again became enamored with the show and its characters. This show lends itself to fanfiction very well considering the abrupt ending to not only the show but also the manga. I'm excited to dive in and give this fanfiction thing another try.
Of course, as is customary, I do not own Ghost Hunt and its affiliated characters.
I want to note that I do not know the layout of Tokyo or Japan very well, and because of this, there may be some errors on location and also made up places and names. Along with that, I have not done extensive study in Parapsychology, so if any of my explanations are not correct or stray from actual studies I apologize. I will try my best to get basic knowledge right, but as a working student, I don't plan to spend a lot of time looking into complex theories to check my work. If you feel that I have gone way off base in any way, please let me know. I don't mind learning new things, I'm just not seeking it out in this current moment.
Thank you in advance for checking out my story!
Normal Text - Japanese
Italic Text - English
Mai Taniyama found herself dragging her feet as she entered her apartment. It had been an exhausting night at the bar and all she wanted was to fall into her bed.
As she dressed into her nightclothes, forgoing a shower, she felt a pressure push on the back of consciousness hard. She knew there was only one person with enough gall to request her this late at night and as her eyes closed she felt a forceful tug.
As she reopened her eyes, she found herself on the spiritual plane. Mai's face pulled into a scowl. The last thing she wanted was to be here. She loved talking to Gene, but this was not a good time.
"Bad timing," Gene spoke from behind her. Mai had to slowly and deeply breathed in.
"Eugene," at this point the spirit knew he had done something wrong. "How many times have I warned you about forcing the call." Mai paused for a moment to give Gene a scathing look that rivaled even his brother's.
"I believe you have mentioned once or twice recently." He didn't dare move any closer than he was.
"I believe, I've mentioned it a few dozen times at this point. I understand you may feel this conversation to be necessary, but some of us need to sleep."
"I rest too, you know." Mai's scowl only deepened. "But I can see now that I may be inconveniencing you at this time. Though, I find what I'm about to tell you very important."
Mai paused for a moment to wonder what could be so important that he would force her to astral project. It reminded her of when she had first begun to experience her powers and Gene had coaxed her into the plane to view the memories of others. Though she had learned since, that entering the astral plane and experiencing those types of dreams were very different. The dreams came naturally to her, the astral projection was another beast altogether. She would feel this in the morning, her body would ache and she would lack the energy to be a functional human being for several hours after waking. Tomorrow, in other words, would be a nightmare, and she was fully ready to blame this all on Gene.
"No," Mai said with finality.
"No," Gene echoed.
"You heard me, no. I am pulling myself back into my body and sleeping."
"But Mai, you should-"
"No," Mai raised her hand as she cut him off. Pulling that hand to her head she saluted and concentrated on being back on solid ground. As she made her way back, she could feel Gene tugging again, though gentler. Except she was having none of it, with one final tug she was back in her body and sleeping soundly.
Gene looked at the spot where Mai just disappeared from. While he could still feel her, any chance of pulling her in was gone. She had completely shut him out.
Dragging a hand down his face, he wondered if he should warn Noll that Mai would have no idea he would be landing back in Japan by early afternoon, with his mother, father, Lin, and Madoka in tow.
And then he smirked, Mai would be completely blindsided and Noll was going in thinking Mai knew he would be contacting her. This was brilliant.
"If only I could be the fly on that wall."
Naru found himself thoroughly tired as the plane landed in Tokyo. He rubbed his eyes in hopes to rid what was left of the nap he took during the flight. To his right, his mother was still softly snoring against his father's shoulder.
For the first half of the flight, she had talked his ear off about all the places she hoped to visit while in Japan. His father had also interjected at times about certain haunted sites he wished to visit as well. They had asked him many questions, and while he had felt them unnecessary, he answered anyway.
Getting off the flight and to baggage claim began a new taxing journey for Naru and his company. In this moment he only wished for a hot cup of tea and maybe a bed. It would be another hour before they would reach his parents' hotel room and another thirty minutes after that before he, Lin, and Madoka would reach their temporary apartment.
As they entered baggage claim Naru pulled his father off to the side.
"Father, I want to remind you that we are going to do this my way. Mai has lived her own life for the past four years and if she does not wish to return to SPR I will not force or coerce her in any way to do so. On top of that, she will not become one of BSPR's test subjects and you will not treat her as such. If she chooses to rejoin SPR, only then I will inform her of your curiosity about her spiritual powers." Naru had little power over the last four years of his life and he would not pull Mai into this if his father did not agree to these terms.
It is not that he didn't trust his father, it was the board members of BSPR that he did not trust, and their propensity to forget that those they study are not just lab rats. If not for Luella, Naru was sure that Gene and himself would have fallen into this category. Naru hoped that the distance between BSPR and himself would give him more freedom to do things his way, in more aspects than one. Mai just happened to be the catalyst for this trip and reinstating SPR.
Martin looked over his son's serious face for a moment. It occurred to him, at that moment, how much more mature and older his son had become over the years. Especially since bringing home Gene's body. Something had changed in him since coming to Japan four years ago, and he'd be damned to see his son regress back into the lonely boy of before. His curiosity may get the best of him sometimes, but he would not ruin his relationship with Noll just to meet and research someone who could successfully astral project.
"Son, I apologize that I have led you to believe that I would go over your head in any way and that I would treat others in such a manner. I understand your hesitancy with the board and others of BSPR, but I can assure you that I will let things happen naturally." Naru didn't realize how much tension he had been carrying around this certain subject until his shoulders relaxed and he felt relief fill his body.
"Although," his father continued, "I may have set up a lecture for today at Tokyo University with the head of the Parapsychology department. Which from my understanding is the school and one of the programs Miss Taniyama is currently studying in." Martin placed a well-intentioned smile on his face in hopes of quelling what he assumed would be his son's rising temper. "I promise to be well behaved."
Naru grabbed the bridge of his nose before turning to this mother, who had been listening for most of the conversation. "Should be under the assumption you had prior knowledge of this?"
Luella gave her son a gentle smile and a light squeeze of the arm. "It will be fine dear, I'm sure your father will be on his best behavior. It should help to know that Madoka will be accompanying him."
This only added to the extra anxiety building within him. He realized, at this point, he had been the only one unaware of this father's antics and plans. Madoka was not to be trusted around Mai. She had insinuated a number of things since he had returned from Japan, one being his relationship with his old assistant.
A sharp pang ran through him as he recalled his last day spent in Japan, though he shook it off. Filing it away in his brain for something he would work over later. He already done this for a number of years since that day, but he decided that right now was not a good time.
"Oh Noll, stop being such a lump and get over it. I will keep Martin in check and what are the chances we bump into Mai at all, she might not even have classes today." Madoka spoke.
"The Parapsychology Department at Tokyo University is extremely small and is only included as a minor. So logically speaking the chances are high." Lin spoke as he joined the group.
"Kojou," Madoka admonished, "why can't you keep your mouth shut, you're only going to provoke him more." Madoka readjusted the sleeping toddler in her arms and turned to give her husband a narrowed eyed look.
"It is fine, there is not much that can be done now," Naru said. His father had always liked to get ahead of himself and Naru was more upset with himself for not seeing this as a possibility. Either way, Gene had promised to give Mai a heads up about his arrival and their reason for coming. "Madoka, I will accompany my father to the University."
"But Noll-" Naru held a hand up to stop her.
"You look tired anyways, go to the apartment, and rest. It will worry Reza to wake up in a new place and find her mother not there."
No one argued after that. It was one of those rare moments where Naru was being nice and none of them wanted to spoil that. Naru was right though, Madoka was tired, having to deal with a two-year-old the whole flight had left her haggard at best.
The group split into three cars, Luella to the hotel, Lin and Madoka to the apartment, and Naru and Martin to the University.
Naru had hoped that they could stop at a tea shop before arriving at the university, but this was not the case. Martin mentioned as they began their journey that they were already behind schedule and that they would be showing up late as it is.
A small sigh escaped his lips as the day and plane ride wore on his brain.
Mai woke to an alarm she had set earlier this morning when she had first woken up. That had been around seven in the morning, and her body had ached so bad that she forced herself to her bath to soak. After that, she forced down some food and rolled back into her bed for a few more hours of sleep before she had to be in class.
Looking at her phone again, she wondered if it was possible to skip today altogether. Gene's forced astral projection had left her weak and sore, and the thought of sitting through a lecture right now sounded incredibly unpleasant. But she only had three weeks left until her finals and skipping was honestly not an option. She pulled on her comfiest clothes, took several painkillers, and filled a to-go mug with coffee. While coffee was not her preferred choice of drink, it had fueled most of her college career.
The trip to school was a quick one by bus, and she was grateful for that. Her first class of the afternoon was a religions course on Western religions with a focus on Christianity and Catholicism. The course had interested her considering she could ask John any questions that she felt were not appropriate to ask in class. While he was a Catholic priest, he had helped her understand several themes from Christianity as well, along with helping her understand the difference between the two more clearly.
They were focusing on the last unit of material, which was to be tested in an online exam due Friday.
About an hour later Mai found herself walking towards her second and last class of the day. Reaching the door she found that all of her classmates were waiting outside. This was unusual as the classroom they used was not occupied beforehand.
Mai searched the crowd and found Momo, one of the few people she had formed a working college relationship with while in school.
"Momo, what's going on?" Mai questioned.
Momo looked up from her phone and shrugged. Her voice was quiet as it slipped out from between her lips, "I don't know."
The reason why Mai had been able to find solace in the girl sitting in front of her was because of her quiet demeanor. She found it calming and reassuring in a way most others weren't.
"I think Professor Tatchi has put together some sort of special lecture for us and he doesn't want to spoil it." Mai turned to her left and found Daichi leaning against the wall.
"Really, so close to finals? That's unlike him," said Mai.
"I don't think it was planned, I spoke to Trina the other day, his TA. She had this giddy look on her face and when I asked her about it she said she had been sworn to secrecy. So someone big must have requested to speak in his classes." Daichi finished just as Trina herself opened up the door to the classroom.
Daichi was right, Trine looked way too excited for this to be a normal lecture. Mai waited for Momo to stand and join her, Daichi falling in line behind them.
As they entered the classroom they were assaulted with the hushed voices of those who had first entered. Just over that, she could hear Professor Tatchi's voice and another speaking casually. Unfortunately, since she was still near the back of the class she couldn't see over the crowding heads of her other classmates, but Daichi could.
"No way is that Dr. Martin Davis, if that's the case then-" Before Daichi could finish his statement, the students in front of Mai finally parted and she could finally see the front of the classroom.
In all his sophisticated glory, Naru stood next to her Professor and his father. It seemed that he was trying his best to distance himself from the conversation happening before him, but was being sucked in anyways.
Mai didn't realize she was sitting in a seat until she practically fell into it. The world came rushing back in around her and she was assaulted with the sound of Daichi's voice from right next to her.
"Are you freaking kidding me, how the hell did he pull this off. Both Dr. Davises right before our eyes. Mai can you believe this, it's like all my dreams are coming true. This must be luck, I should totally try asking Aimi out today, this luck can only last so long." Mai rolled her eyes and shot a look over to Momo on her other side.
To be fair even she looked interested in the trio in front of the class.
It was not as if Mai was uninterested in what was about to happen, but she was also shocked. She hadn't seen Naru in four years, and now he was just standing in front of the class about to give a lecture. Did he know she was here? Was he even aware she was studying Parapsychology?
She lingered on one more thought though - why hadn't he contacted her? Let her know he was going to be in Japan.
She groaned.
"Mai are you okay," Momo whispered from next to her.
"I'm fine, thank you Momo."
Mai realized why Gene had pulled her into the astral plane so suddenly last night. Why he pulled her in forcefully instead of waiting for her to do it herself. This was the important information he had. She could almost feel Gene in the back of her consciousness saying 'I told you so.'