Autor 's note :
And so, here we are, what is occupying the shelter came out ! I do hope to do a good job on this third chapter concerning this case.
Savage memories's case.
Part 3
Jokers
Her eyes flutered open with much difficulties. No, were they really open ? She tried closing them, it was dark. She opened them, it was pitch black. The seed of stress woke up in her stomach. Mai sitted down, feeling her body heavy. Under her hand were dust ? No, not dust really... And it was wet, clingy, felt like earth.
« What... »
The woman extanded her arm to the right and touched what felt like rock. Her left arm felt nothing on the other side. When she tried to listen carefully, she heared nothing.
« Where am I exactly... ? »
One hour before Mai woke up in the dark.
After hurting themself on the kitchen door for what felt like an eternity, Lin and Monk succeeded opening it.
« NARU ! MAI ! »
Shiki ran in the room too, sniffing everywhere. His nose never quiting the floor.
The thing was that the kitchen was empfy. It was a war zone with every possible kitchen material on the floor. The camera was off too.
Lin was stiff while Monk was searching the place. The Chinese man knew, they werent here anymore. There was no boddys, no blood... nothing. They disappeared in a closed room.
It took him a while to control his emotions. Panicking would do nothing. He should breath, he should think, he sould stay calm so as to not loose any time. But it was hard.
The spirit reacted pretty fast and pretty big. They were'nt there since long. They what, just had time to put the camera on. Practically, it didn't let them any time to even start to understand the case.
Suddenly he frozed, frozed when he remembered how people were disapearing too on the Urado case. How it didn't gave them much time to react. And they were two only to boot.
Around the time Mai woke up.
Naru had woken up some time ago. His shoulder was stinging a bit so he supposed that he was slightly injured, added to a bump on his head. Other than that he observed that he was probably in a sorte of cave. The floor was a mix of earth and rock, walls were rocks. The air was humid and the ground partly wet. When he woke up, there was no sound and slowly he had done a full tour, along the wall, of the place. Clearly, it was closed and Nadu didn't felt any opening, no did he felt any air flow to indicate that air was circulating. After that he decided to sit and think.
Until he heard her... « What... », « Where am I exactly... ? »
Honestly, he thinked he was alone in this supposed cave. At first when he woke up, Naru right away called for Mai. But with no answer, he came to the realisation that he probably was alone. Then he feared what must have happened to her in the kitchen and then, adbonished himself, deciding that fear wouldn't help him in any way and that he had no prouf of anything.
If they were in a cave, he knew which one. On the way to the shelter, he studied a map of the place. The shelter had no basement. So should they be still there, they would be in a room there. A cave, he saw it on the map, there was on near the place, on the shelter's ground even. He didn't know more, but surely they were there. Now, it was a good thing to know it, but the information would be more usefull to Lin and Monk actually.
In a swift movment he took his phone in his pocket and looked at it. It was really not a surprise to find it without any signal. Naru took the opportunity to use his phone to actually look at what was his prison. No surprise here either. A cave, closed. Then he heard Mai again and decided on the more important thing to do right now.
At the shelter at the same time.
Monk was loud. The situation was way too similar to Urado. If possible, it was the exact sort of case he didn't want to cross path with ever again. They did a tour of the kitchen, let Lin's Shiki feel the place. Checked what was behind every wall, looked at all the rooms, box and dependances. And nothing came out. Right now Lin was looking at what the camera, even if she was on the ground all the while, had reccorded. And it took time.
Shiki was hardly calm. He was walking around the room, calling lightly for the human he became friends with. By the way, the shelter was dead silent. They heard no barking, nothing. Mister Takamasa did told them a while ago that the shelter was all the time eerily silent after the stranges things had occured. And it wasn't exactly good to hear.
Lin was tense. He had to divid his thoughts to be able to work. One side was working fast on the video but the other side was menacing often to come back. This side was nearly panicking. It feared for their safety, was paralised by the uncertainty. Were they dead or alive ? Were they injured ? He was hoping Naru wouldn't make use of his powers, too.
As he feared, the camera recorded only the beginning. When things got out of hand,il felt to the ground and recorded the floor near Mai's feet. Hearing was hard as there was a lot of noise in the room at that time. At the end of the footage, he saw Mai fall down. Her face was visible on camera. She was calling, or seemed to when suddenly she looked behind her, near her foot and Lin saw her disappear from the screen like she had got pulled by her legs. But where ?
At the same time, in the cave
« Does someone hear me ?! »
Mai was calling. After doing a tour of the « room » at the light of her phone, she had to accept the fact that there was no exit. And trully ? Even with some experience from previous cases, she felt panic arise.
« Seriously ! »
She was loosing her nerves when she heard it. That voice she knew well.
« Mai, calm down »
« Naru ?! »
« ... »
« So, you're here too. »
« Seems obvious »
« Jerk »
« Mai, stay calm »
« And why should I ? When we are locked... If I call maybe someone will hear me »
« While I agree it is a possibility, you have to remember that perhaps no one will hear, that there doesn't seem to be a lot a air flow and that the more you talk and move, the more you consume oxygen... »
« … Naru, are you telling me that we have limited oxygen and so, even more limited time for the team to find us ? »
« Yes, I do »
« Are we doing some kind of urado remake ? »
« It is hard to say as we did not had enought time to study this case... but for the big picture, maybe. That thing obviously had us pass walls. And we do have a time limit »
« ... »
« ... »
« Naru, what can we do ? »
« For now, we can try to use our head... »
« Because we know it, it is my specialty... »
« Maybe not yours... Try not to move and not to talk while I think »
« Ok... »
And it lasted so long from Mai's point of view. From what her phone told her, Naru stayed silent for one whole hour already. She had enought time to die from boredom three times before dying from lack of air.
To distract herself, she started to « use her head » like her boss was saying. But her head refused to think about useful thing like how to get out of this cave. And honestly, is finding a way out was taking Naru more than one hour, was it really usefull that she try her luck at it ? So she was thinking about Monk who certainly was loosing his mind on that. And then about Shiki who she got so much attached to already and who suddenly was alone with only men, which he don't like so much... And Lin ? He was certainly SO worried about Naru !
Her mind stayed on the Chinese man, imagining how restless he must be not to know where was Naru. When her boss answered her, she knew she had talked out loud.
« About you too »
« … sorry ? »
« Lin. He is definitly worried about you, too »
« Maybe »
« You doubt it ? »
« Well...I know he must be, at least a little. After all, even when he was trully hating me, he did his best to save me if needed... Like when he tried hard to catch me before I fell in the wheel. »
« So you think he would try to save you like if you were some kind of passerby in need ? »
« Something like that ? You will always be his top priority, Naru »
« … Things are moving in time, Mai. He will surely care for me like that for a long time, but that doen't mean that he can't have other people he care to protect »
« ... »
« Are you jealous, Mai ? Do you actually want to be a priority for him also ? »
« … Don't joke with me. And I recall you told me not to talk. »
« Nice jumping on a safer subject Mai... In fact, you would be far more usefull if you were sleeping, I think »
« … »
« Well ? »
« I can't promise... »
« Sleep, Mai, it's a strong point of yours »
Mai was mumbling something about her boss being a jerk who took one hour to finaly tell her to sleep when her mind sliped directly into some kind of dream. Because it was one, wasnt-it ?
She was walking in the quiet shelter. She saw no one but the camera they put themself. The woman was going to base. She saw Monk runnind out of it, he seemed terrified. The base room had no window and there was no light on. It was really strange, what she saw then. Shiki was sitting by the door. She even heard him move when she passed by. In there, Linwas sitting in the middle of a circle, eyes closed. What was he doing ? It was not so often that she was seeing the onmyouji Lin. Often he didn't have to do a lot of things. Distractly, Mai thinked that she liked to see that.
Base room, at the same moment.
Lin had sent Monk patroling the outdoor area. Very logically, if they weren't inside, they were outside. While the man was doing that, Lin decided that he would try concentrating more, to put himself in some kind of meditation state so he would work with his shiki to find Naru and Mai.
He was doing that for a few minutes when he distractly heard the dog. Strange. When he started to meditate, the dog went still. Knowing that animals were well tuned with the psychic environment, he openedhis eyes. What he saw chocked him. So much that when he talked, it was more like a murmur, trying not to break the moment.
« Taniyama... »
There seemed to be a surprised look on her face.
« Can you see me ? »
« Yes... »
« Wasn't it a vision like usual ? »
« Can you talk topeople in your vision ? »
« No... only to Gene when he is here. »
« Then this is astral projection, not a vision »
« … it feel more and more like an Urado remake... »
« How are you and Naru doing ? And where are you ? »
« We are fine, for now. Well, not like I saw it with my eyes for Naru but he seems fine. We are in a cave. »
« What are you saying with « he seems fine » ? »
« Yes, we're not together... separated by a wall. By the way, Lin, Naru said that there is little to nothing air flow... That time is limited. »
« In a cave you said. I think I know, now. »
« Good. See you soon Lin ! »
Mai's image faded soon. And after taking some second to take in the information, Lin got up to take the map of the place.
In the cave, Naru's side.
Mai had been silent for some times. At least, even without a dream, like that she was taking less oxygen. Was he hiding the fact that he had absolutly no idea what to do, even after telling her that using their heads was the solution ? In fact, there was a solution, but Mai's posibility being so instable, it was hard to tell her to actually do something specific. And astral projection more than the rest. She had done it one time only, and never since then. The better way was to just tell her to sleep.
From what his phone was telling him, three hours had passed since he woke up. They should be good with oxygen for some time, maybe at least ten more hours ? He didn't knew really, it was wild guess. In an exasperated gesture, Naru passed his hand on his face. Being in danger alone was one thing but if worst were to come that way, Mai was in it too. He never had romantic feelings for her but she wasn't any less important. So much like his brother, so much an exemple of what he, at some point in time, estimated to lack himself. She wasn't afraid, answered him, fighted with him without letting his personnality or intelligence getting in the way. Giving him a nickname from the start, he never said anything, but it pleased him. Except his family or Lin, no one even tried to call him anything familiar, who felt like having friends... For him, she was able to feel sad, happy, worried, angry... And he knew that Mai wasn't put off by his personality. Before, he was actually in the position to help her, to do something. Right now, he had to wait and he didn't like it one bit. He trusted Lin good enought, but the man didn't knew were to search.
Mai's side
When Mai opened her eyes, she didn't know at first if what she lived was a dream. But why Lin would be in her dream ? Even if some people would definitly have some kind of good answer to that, Mai herself was sceptic to say the least.
« Naru ? »
« Yes, Mai »
« … I think, maybe, that Lin is coming... »
Lin's & Monk's side.
It didn't took them long to find out the cave. They did had the « plan » of the propertie and the cave was pretty close to the shelter. Carefully they entered the place, flashlight in hands and soon came face to a wall.
« NARU ?! »
Lin listened, full of hope for a reply.
« Lin ! »
Hearing that voice, the Chinese man felt relieved.
« Are you alright, you two ? »
« I'm fine. Mai isn't with me but she seemed fine a while ago »
« I'm here ! I'm fine ! »
« Hear Lin, Mai and me a separated by a wall. How is it from your side ? »
« Hm, it looks like pilled up rocks. Like it felt at some point in time. We will need to move them carefully or call for specialists to do that »
« We better call for help. We don't know if it wouldn't fall on us if we move the wrong rock »
And they did just that. Help got there more than thirteen minutes later and they succeeded to have Naru and Mai out four hour after that. The spirit or whatever it was didn't came back and SPR boss was grumpy when he saw the outside world again. The help never really understood how the couple got stuck in the cave as they noted that the fall of the rocks wasn't fresh but surely happened some years back in time. Surely, in town, this would lately become a mysterious story.
Back in base. Night time of day 1
« Naru-bou, how about you go to rest for the night ? Mai also. I suppose Lin and myself can watch base while you and Mai go get some actual sleep. »
The idea was rejected without uttering a word. Just from the look Naru sent him back, Monk understood that his boss took badly the little joke that felt on them.
« But, didn't it surprised you that actually none of us got injured ? I mean, the dogs were killed and theyoung men injured... and us, nothing but a scare ? »
Mai was sceptique. She didn't understood and actually, nobody truly had. Without proof, it had been classed in the « take care were you've put your nose » category. Andit had be decided that for now, they were staying. Charms made by Lin had been put to protect base and Monk was making round with Mai every hour. No one was to be alone.
And since Mai's return, Shiki had been glued to her leg.
At some point in the night, Monk made his tour with Naru. A tour was taking around one hour or more as it was including outdoor checking. Lin was silently checking collected data while Mai was looking at the camera.
« Lin-san... »
« ...Yes... »
« I'm bored... »
The tall man actually smiled at that. She grew up alright but some things were remaining the same. What was up to him was to answer or not. Humor her or not. But seeing as the data were boring and non-interesting... He decided to take a break.
« And what would entertaining you, might I ask ? »
He saw her face illuminating suddenly. Surely, the simple thougt of him actually responding to her, seeming ready to alleviate her boredom was a surprise to her .
« How about a game ?! »
« Which would it be ? »
A game. Alrigth. When was exactly the last time Lin actually played a game... ?
« There's one I played with my friends before, back in school. No need for tools ! Honesty is the key ! »
« … I'll let you develop that »
« Ok ! The rules are simple ! One after another, we ask questions. Whatever question, serious or stupid ! The game come from the principe that we have the obligation to answer the truth. We each pocess two jokers in case the other step on a landmine. But we loose the game if the two are used. »
« … I suppose I am ok with that... should I let you begin ? »
He saw her think carefully but not too long.
« I'll start soft ! I don't even imagine you play games at all ! When was the last time you played one ? »
« Hm... Some years back, Naru and Gene were about thirteen I think... It was a game who helped teach them control. »
« Oh I see ! Still mixed to work ! Your turn ! »
« … What do you like to do, outside of SPR I mean ? »
She grinned.
« I could say that I'm lazy at home. Naru would trust that ! Hehe but no. Once a month I see my school friend Keiko and Michiru. I go shopping sometimes but old habits die hard, I don't like to waste money. On day off sometimes I help my granny neigtboor to take care of her three grandchildrens ! She is old but theres nobody else to keep them when their mom, her daughter, is at work ! They are a handfull you know ! »
Mai was happy to actually share something with Lin, and himself didn't seemed bored to her.
« My turn ! All SPR workers are thinking that you are glued to work, to your computer. Tell me one things that you do at home that is not actual work ! »
« Meditation. It's important to keep ourself in good contidion »
« Haha trust it or not, I had imagined something like that ! Would you had told me that you were watching TV and reading some detective novel, I would have been shocked. »
Lin smiled. It wasn't bad to chat, once in a while. But this game was still a bit soft... Surely there was a way de spice it a little bit...
« … Taniyama-san, are you still in love with Gene ? »
« … Wha... ! »
Just to see her face, even without the answer was priceless.
« You got what that game was for pretty fast... After all the goal is indeed ambarassing questions... It took me time. But I got over him. »
« Do you miss your family ? »
« No... Were did you learn to make tea ? »
« Hm... I was pretty poor Lin-san, as you must remember. I wasn't able to buy good tea. I just had to learn to make this bad tea as better as it was possible... So I borrowed books »
« ... »
After that, Lin saw Mai grin... and knew that the next question would be hard. Either that or too blunt for their actual relashionship.
« Lin-san... when was the last time you had sex ? »
« … You're blunt huh... »
« I target your joker. It's all about one of us using two... »
« … It was some time after Gene funeral, before coming back to Japan »
« I'm impressed. You answered ! »
Mai was talking like that and was direct but she still was beat red.
« Taniyama-san... you never got really precise about what happened that time... in the train »
« Oh... well, it happened fast and I don't really want to remember either... but well, there was that man who started touching me... from behind... in a really not appropriate way... »
Mai was looking elsewhere. Bad memory.
And they had to stop there as they heard the duo come back. Lin just had the time to hear Mai one last time.
« The game still run Lin-san. I will make you use your Jokers... »