Chapter Six: Strange Intentions...
Yakumo stared, eyes narrowing on Haruka and the tall, dark haired man standing in front of her, holding her hand. He stared back, sizing Yakumo up just waiting for an opportunity to stake his claim.
"Ren, this is Yakumo Saito. Yakumo this is Ren Fujioka." Haruka said ignoring the threatening atmosphere coming off both men.
"Nice to meet you, Saito." Ren said extending a hand.
Yakumo ignored him, turning on Haruka.
"What is he doing here?" He asked pulling her further away from him.
Ren took her arm softly and pulled her back to his side, placing a protective arm around her shoulders. "You remember I told you that I went on a group date? Well, Ren and I started dating after that." She explained smiling.
"Wasn't that yesterday?" Yakumo asked eyeing the two. "How could you start dating over just two days?" Yakumo asked folding his arms across his chest. His jaw tightening, teeth grinding as he watched Haruka just stand there too close to this random stranger.
"I told you before that I've known Ren for almost four years, it's not that shocking that we would at least try dating at some point." Haruka said not noticing how Ren flinched at her blunt words.
Yakumo smirked, "So it's only for a little while?"
Haruka glared. "No! Don't be so rude Yakumo! I already told you all of this before."
"I don't remember you saying anything about him before." he snapped back glaring at Ren who wasn't sure what to do, it didn't help that he was getting more confused by the minute.
"Ren." Jori said sighing tiredly.
"I know." Ren answered already knowing what he was going to say. Ren smiled, leaning down to kiss Haruka's forehead. "I'll see you later, we have to get to work." he explained releasing her from his protective arms.
Haruka smiled sadly, blushing at the sudden show of affection. "Yeah, we'll meet up later all right?"
"For sure."
Yakumo bristled; fist clenching taking a step forward unconsciously, an overwhelming need to remove this person from Haruka's side was turning his stomach into a knotted mess. Gotou placed a hand on his shoulder, shaking his head. "No." he mouthed watching Yakumo closely. Even if they were friends and co-workers Gotou couldn't just stand there while he tried to murder someone.
Haruka smiled after him as he and Jori headed off to the kitchens on the first floor, completely oblivious to the effort Yakumo was putting in just to keep from following the pair and 'helping' them along to the afterlife.
"Well that was different." Ishii said rubbing the back of his head awkwardly as everyone turned to stare at him.
The hall erupted in questions as the two girls where grilled on just who Jori and Ren were to them. Haruka let out a scream stumping her foot down on Ishii foot to stop his questions.
"That's enough! You don't even need to know who they are!"
"Haruka's right! I don't need to tell you anything! So Stop bothering us!" Mai added linking arms with Haruka, pulling her along as she made a break for the nearest staircase.
"Wait!" Ayako yelled running after the two closely followed by Hosho.
Yakumo was still shocked that Haruka hadn't told him how long she had known Ren before this; he'd heard her talking about him before but not like this. This was driving him insane!
Yakumo slammed his bedroom door, shoving his hands into his pockets as he made his way down the empty hallways. He weaved around hallways and through doors until he was completely lost. His mind preoccupied with thoughts of what had happened earlier that evening. He wasn't sure what had upset him more; that fact that Haruka had a boyfriend or that he was here, working just down stairs and bound to run into Haruka while they were there.
"What is she thinking anyway?" he asked kicking the (poor unsuspecting) wall. "I thought she didn't want a boyfriend? What is she doing-" Yakumo trailed off trying to deny the reason way he cared so much about what she did, it wasn't as if she was his girlfriend and she was cheating, she was simply tired of him and moving on, and it wasn't like he had any feelings for her...
Sighing loudly at his own stupidity he lent back against the wall, kicking it softly with his heel.
"Would you stop that!" a voice yelled, muffled by the wall.
"Stop what?" he called back annoyed.
The door next to him was ripped opened to reveal a very annoyed looking young man, black hair falling into his eyes as he searched the hall for the culprit. Yakumo muffled a laugh when he spotted his black silk pyjamas and matching slippers. "Nice Pj's." he said a smirked forming on his lips.
Kazuya glared, folding his arms across his chest while leaning back against his door frame. "Do you even know what time it is?"
Yakumo glanced down at his bare wrist faking surprise. "Oh, look at that, no watch." he glanced up at Kazuya. "Silly me, i forgot to put it on before going to bed."
Kazuya's eye narrowed. "Who are you anyway? I don't remember you from this afternoon?" truth was even if Kazuya had seen him, he wouldn't remember, that stress of that afternoon had started to get to him about two hours ago and he had been unable to work, leaving Lin no choice but to send him off to his room, where he had then been disturbed by this person.
"I remember you, Kazuya Shibuya." Yakumo said matching his pose. "You seem familiar to me somehow, like I've seen you before." He hummed placing a finger to his temple. "I see a spirit following you, a young man with dark eyes." He glanced up watching the spirit, no doubt Kazuya's twin smile at his brother's discomfort.
"It's been a while since someone could see me," He said nodding his head to Yakumo. "The name's Eugene, nice to meet you."
Yakumo nodded smiling a greeting to him, "Nice to meet you Eugene." Kauzya stood froze as the two exchanged pleasantries over his head.
"You're a physic, I see." Kazuya said unfazed. "You're not that first one I've met."
"No, you're about the fiftieth or something like that." Eugene said leaning on his brother's shoulder.
"Oh I know, you work with Miss Hara don't you?" Yakumo asked not really sure who he was asking.
"What your point?" Kazuya asked glaring at him.
Yakumo sneered slightly, watching Kazuya's eyebrow twitch in annoyance. "I don't really have one…" He stated honestly shrugging his shoulders.
Eugene smirked. "Hara-san has dirt on my brother that keeps him working with her."
"Oh?"
"Stop talking to Gene." Kazuya growled, glaring coldly at him. Yakumo waited a few minutes watching him expectantly, while Eugene stood watching him from behind. "What nothing?" they said together. Yakumo sighed bored with him. He was about to turn back to his room when Eugene shouted at him to wait.
A shiver ran down his spine as the temperature began to down around them. He turned just in time to see Gene trying to stop a spirit as it moved through the wall into Kazuya's room.
"Wait!" Yakumo said rushing after him, he yanked Kazuya's door opened, Ignoring his protests as he entered the spotless room. "What do you think you're doing? You can't just force your way into other people room!" He hissed following Yakumo into the room.
"Quite. I'm trying to listen." Yakumo said scanning the room, watching for any sign of the young man. He spotted a glimmer in the corner next to Kazuya's bed. "Could you talk to me for a bit?" Yakumo asked waiting as the spirit turned to look at them. Gene stood to his left smiling at the young foreigner.
"How are you seeing me?" He asked, his broken Japanese barely understandable.
"I speak English." Gene said stepping closer, "I can translate." He said to Yakumo, who nodded liking this guy more by the minute.
"Thanks that would be a big help." Yakumo said gratefully accepting his help. "Tell him—"
"He can see most spirits." Gene said, copying his words exactly.
It was true Yakumo was just leaving out some important facts so that the only other living person in the room wouldn't know everything about him. "Can you tell me—"
"—who killed you? Do you remember anything?" Gene asked softly trying not to upset him, while he was still so confused and new to the whole 'being dead' thing.
"No." he shook his head, eyes clouding over. His face started to change growing pale, his form fading slightly as he began to lose control, his wounds opened, fresh blood leaking from the gaping hole in the side of his temple.
He stopped looking out the window, as a strange calm came over him. Gene smiled, "That feel better?" he asked as the spirit nodded.
"I didn't see his face—"
"He came at me from behind, he hit me in the back of the head, and I blacked out. And then I woke up in the hallway." Gene translated frowning. "He can't remember anything, but that could be because he was hit in the head, it damaged his memory."
"Would that really affect the spirit?"
"Yes, in some cases it can, I've seen it before." When Yakumo thought about it, he had to; there had been a few spirits who had had fragmented memories because of much the same thing.
"He wants to know why he was killed." Gene stated bring Yakumo back to the present. "We'll just have to find out for him, won't we?"
Gene smiled, "So you'll let me help with your investigation?" he asked.
"Of course if you want to." Yakumo noticed the spirit trying to leave, "Wait ask him if he can remember anything about him, how tall he was or a smell that might give him away, anything."
"Yes thank you that will help a lot." Gene said after translated his answer to Yakumo, who was smiling broadly. "Thank you." Yakumo said bowing to him before he faded through the wall.
Kazuya stood dumb founded, not sure if he should be impressed, jealous or angry, so he settle for annoyed. "You done yet?" he snapped tapping his foot impatiently. "I would like to sleep at some point this evening." He added rubbing his eyes tiredly.
Yakumo looked over glaring. "You scared him off." He barked, heading towards the room he winked slightly at Gene. "Nice talking to you."
"You too, Yakumo." Gene said back waving from his spot leaning on Kazuya's shoulder.
Kazuya bristled. "Talking to who?" he asked grinding his teeth together.
"The guy who was killed tonight." He stated roughly trying to push passed him. Kazuya blocked him, "Care to explain?" he asked tapping a single finger against his arm, trying to stay calm. It wasn't normal how this person could so easily get under Kazuya's skin; he said all the right things to set him off.
Irritated Yakumo shoved him out of the way and walk into the hall, heading for his own room. "Hey wait you—"
"Sorry." Yakumo yelled cutting him off. "I don't have time to play tonight."
Haruka poked her head out of her bedroom door checking the hall for anyone who might see her. She ducked down as a maid passed pushing a tray covered in clean sheets past her door. After making sure the hall was completely empty, she slipped out of her room and headed down, towards the stairs.
She wasn't sure why she felt the need to hide where she was going, it not like anyone would really care. But when she thought of Yakumo finding out…she shivered, rubbing her arms as she imagined his face, he'd be more than just mad he'd be hurt to.
That's why she couldn't let Yakumo know.
"I have time right?" she asked herself looking down at her cell phone. It was also because of her cell phone that she was out here, making her way to the back gardens where Ren was waiting for her on his half hour break. He'd texted her five minutes ago, and she had left almost as soon as she'd read it, but it was taking too long to get there. 'If I don't get there in the next fifteen minutes I won't get to see him.' She thought turning the corner and smacking right into…
"Yakumo!" Haruka yelped landing hard on her back Yakumo lost balance and fell on top of her slamming her into the ground. They lay unmoving for a minute both stunned. "Get off." Haruka said pushing him over, he rolled and watched as she got to her feet, read as a beat and stammering as she asked. "W-w-what are you even doing h-here?"
Yakumo smirked. "I guess you forgot." He said getting to his feet to stand in front of her blocking her exit.
"W-w-what?" she stuttered noticing his movement. 'He's blocking me in.' she thought franticly trying to think of an excuse that would let her escape and get to Ren.
"I sleep on this floor Haruka." He said rolling his eyes at her.
"Oh yeah, I know that…I was just—"
"Not thinking straight?" he laughed, twisting a strand of her hair around his finger. "Where are you sleeping tonight?" he asked ignoring her shocked expression.
Truth was she wasn't shocked, she was dying. Why was he being all sexy when she already had a boyfriend? And why was he still touching her hair! Haruka was about ready to faint when she answered him. "I-i-I'm sleeping in my own room." She said shakily trying to move back, out of his grasp, she needed to get away from him he really wasn't good for her heart. It was squeezing and twisting, bounding like a jack hammer and humming all at once making her feel even more lightheaded.
"Hmmm." He smiled softly advancing on her slowly, pushing her back towards his room.
"Yakumo, wha—"
He shushed her, placing two fingers on her lips. "Don't say anything, just come." He said laughing on the inside at how fun this was, he'd seen Haruka blush but never like this she truly could put the tomatoes to shame.
"Yakumo!" Haruka gasped ripping his hand away from her innocent lips. "I'm going to the gardens!"
He paused, leaning over her. "Why?" he asked his hand twisting into her hair, as he calmly waited for her answer, at least he seemed calm when really his insides where in turmoil, she was going to see him wasn't she, she'd been sneaking around so that he wouldn't know.
"Why?" she squeaked her face burning at the unexpected contact, it was definitely not normal Yakumo behavior.
"Why do you need to go to the gardens?" he asked his face only an inch away from hers. "You meeting someone?" she stuttered trying to deny what she had already confirmed by trying to hide it from him.
He grabbed a hold of her face as she tried to turn away from him, keeping her there as he waited…he wasn't sure what he was waiting for, but he knew he had to.
Haruka froze her mind racing to find a reasonable explanation for all of this…it couldn't be that Yakumo was j-jealous? Could it? That didn't make any sense he didn't care when she went out on dates, but now that she had a boyfriend he cared? "Make up your mind!" she shouted, gasping as she realized she'd just spoken out loud.
Yakumo stared at her confused. "What?"
Haruka stood ramrod straight, her eyes widening as her thoughts stop spinning. She had a Boyfriend now, a good, nice, sweet guy who had liked her for a really long time! And she was hoping that Yakumo like her? That he might kiss her? She had only been dating Ren a few days and she was already unfaithful.
"Yakumo get off me!" She gasped shoving him back as hard as she could, he stumbled, steading himself before she could even recover from what she had almost let happen. How could she be thinking of kissing Yakumo when Ren was just outside waiting for her right now?
"Haruka." Yakumo said darkly glaring at her from his position against the wall; she'd conveniently knocked him into corner. "You didn't answer my question."
"You expect me to be able to answer you? When you're pressed up against me like that!" she hissed trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Hmm." He said looking her over. "So you are meeting someone?" her expression changed to one of extreme guilt at his question. His stomach turned, as he asked. "You were sneaking out to meet him? Weren't you?" he didn't even want to hear her say it, why had he asked? Now she would answer and it would hurt him even more. A sour taste filled his mouth as he waited, pain ripping through his chest as she nodded.
"I have to go." She whispered trying to slip passed him again.
Yakumo stood rooted to the floor as she walked passed him, his heart squeezing inside it his chest, pain shot through him burning the air from his lungs making him sway on his feet. "Haruka…" he mumbled as he swayed and fell to the hard wood floor, cracking his head against the corner of the wall.
Haruka stopped, hearing the loud wet thud as his head hit the wall. "Yakumo, did you hear that?" she asked hugging her arms around herself; this place was really starting to creep her out with all its unexplained noise. "Yakumo?" she asked looking over her shoulder, spinning on her heel when she didn't see him right away. "Yakumo?" she asked walking around the corner. "Where'd…Yakumo!"
She found him sprawled out on the cold floor, his eyes blurred over as he tried to pull himself into a sitting position. "Yakumo are you alright? What happened?" Haruka asked helping to pull him up.
"I think." He said groggily, putting a hand to his forehead. "I hit my head."
Haruka sighed, pushing back his hair to look at the small cut that had opened up on the side of his head, just about his left ear, it wasn't big, but it would need to be clean and bandaged soon. "Can you stand?" she asked softly.
Any thoughts she might have had about leaving him there vanished as he stumbled to his feet grabbing her shoulders for support. "Sorry." He grunted pushing away from her.
"Stop that." she snapped grabbing at his hands, "Let me help you to your room." She insisted draping his arm across her shoulders.
"Don't you have somewhere else to go?" he'd meant it to be angry, but his voice only came out sounding hurt and pathetic. He didn't like being pitied and now Haruka would blame him for not being able to see her kitchen boy.
"Do you want me to go?" Haruka asked glancing over at him.
Yakumo shut him mouth not willing to answer her. She stopped at the door and waited as he tried to open the door, he stuck the key in the lock but it wouldn't budge. "I can't open it." He mumbled softly.
"What?"
"I c-can't open i-i-it." He said louder, his voice shaking as black spots clouded his vision; he grabbed his forehead as he began to lose his balance. Haruka grabbed his shoulders, steadying him, as she opened the door and helped him inside.
Mai sighed leaning back against her chair while she stared at the camera screens. She was watching Jori run around the kitchens helping to fix food for tomorrow, a smile always on his face as he dealt with each request. She sighed again wishing that she could talk with him, or at least see him in person and not on a video camera like some stalker person.
Mai was about to sigh again when Lin leaned in front of her cutting off her view of the screens as he placed a hand over her mouth, rubbing his forehead with the other. "Mai would you please stop sighing," he growled annoyed. "I'm almost done and then I'll take you to your room, alright?"
Mai was so shocked that he would cover her mouth that she fell out of her chair and landing hard on her backside.
Lin stood and helping her to her feet as he asked. "Are you alright Mai?" as unconcerned by her reaction as ever.
Mai's eyes narrowed. "Yeah sorry." She said sitting back down a scooting her chair a little further away from his.
Lin sighed when he saw what she was doing making her stop. "How come you're allowed to sigh?" he asked pointing a finger in his face.
"Because I only did it once, whereas you did it ten times in the last five minutes. It's distracting. " Lin explained smiling weakly.
"But—"
"I'm fine by myself Mai," he said suddenly, cutting her off. "You can just go to bed."
Mai pouted, faking tears. "You don't like me anymore do you?" she cried making Lin pause in his typing. "You want me to leave! Because you hate me don't you?"
"Mai…"
"You do!" she cried laughing at the look on Lin's face as he tried to calm her down.
"Mai, I just meant you must be tired and you should get some sleep. I don't hate you." Lin said patting her back awkwardly.
"Really?" she asked all her fake tears gone, Lin froze.
Before Lin could react of Mai could move away from him the door burst opened to show and very disgruntled looking Naru, who also looked strangely happy about something. "Lin!" he shouted grabbing Mai's arm and pulling her chair closer to his own. "Check the monitor for my room for the last hour!" he said excitedly.
Lin brought it up on the screen without question and wait for Naru to explain what they were looking for. Naru told him to bring up the infrared camera, pointing at the screen as the temperature dropped in the room. A moment later he and Yakumo Saito walked in to the room.
"Freeze it." Naru commanded watching a simmering image in the corner of the room, it had the faint outline of a man, too tall to be Japanese.
"Is that…?"Mai asked gapping at the screen, as a shiver ran down her spine. 'So there are ghosts here.' She thought as Naru started to explain. "If what Saito said is true then I think that is the spirit of the young man who was killed tonight."
Mai stared watching as Yakumo seemed to talk to the spirit, his form flickering in and out as the seconds ticked by. "Is there audio?" Mai asked turning up the sound on the TV.
"Yes." Lin said pressing a button on his computer.
Yakumo's voice crackled to life on the tape. "Can you remember?" he was saying as the shadow wavered in the light.
Mai jumped grabbing the nearest person to her, as a blood chilling voice answered over the tape. "No." it rasped in a whisper. The audio stopped working after that, only bits and pieces of fuzzy conversation could be heard. Mai shivered her hand digging into soft flesh.
"Mai calm down." Naru said softly, resting a hand on top of hers.
"Sorry." Mai blushed turning back to the screens.
The ghost flickered on the screen, as Yakumo asked. "Is there anything you can remember? How tall he was, a smell, anything." The video flickered again, as Yakumo smiled. "Yes, that will help a lot. Thank you." The ghost shadow flickered one last time before he disappeared into the far wall and out of the house.
"You done?" Naru snapped glaring at Yakumo, who turned glaring at the obnoxious narcissist. "I would like to get some sleep before morning." Naru said before Yakumo could say anything.
"You scared him away." Yakumo growled shoving passed him.
"Okay stop there." Naru said staring at himself on the monitor. 'Admiring himself in his stupid black silk pajamas, no doubt.' Mai thought rolling her eyes. "He knows something that we don't." Naru stated pointing at Yakumo as he was about to exit the camera frame. "We need to know what it is that the spirit told him."
Mai sighed, she paused as she realized she was clinging to whoever it…"Naru!" Mai gasped letting go of her boss's arm as fast as she could.
"What?" Naru asked completely oblivious to their previous situation they had just been in.
"Not-nothing." Mai stuttered flashing red as Lin turned smiling. "I'm going to bed."
"Not by yourself." Naru said grabbing the back of her shirt. "Lin pack it up, let's head to bed. We'll go over it again in the morning."
Lin nodded locking up the computer as Naru pulled Mai along behind him.
Haruka glanced down at Yakumo worriedly, it wasn't normal for him to act like this; he'd been staring off into space for the last hour. "Yakumo? Did you fall asleep with your eyes opened?" she asked poking him in the cheek.
"No." he growled, "I'm fine Haruka."
Haruka cocked an eyebrow. "Uh huh."
"I am!" he snapped trying to sit up.
"Stop! You're going to hurt yourself again!" Haruka shouted, pinning his shoulders to the bed. He stared up at her, annoyed at her sudden attention. It wasn't fair that it was only when he was sick or hurt that she cared about him. "You're such a baby." Haruka mumbled softly, rubbing his hair back from his face. "Just get some sleep okay?"
Yakumo sighed, deciding to enjoy it while it lasted, letting his body relax as he concentrated on her hand running across his forehead.
Jori slammed the lid unto the garbage can, sealing the foul odor inside it. He had just finished the last of the scrubbing for the night and was finally able to head up to bed.
Ren popped into the room smiling at his friend's hard work. "It looks great." He said walking over to Jori and the large garbage cans he had filled. "Need a hand?"
"Yeah that would be great." Jori said tiredly lifting one can, while Ren got the other. They walked down the dark halls and headed towards the kitchen, where the large garbage compressor was waiting for them.
"So did Haruka make it to the Garden?" Jori asked nudging his friend playfully.
"No." Ren answered sighing as he dropped the can next to the control panel; he pressed the button to open the compressor, waiting as the machine slowly opened.
"What happened?" Jori asked confused. "I thought you had it set up."
"I thought so too, but she couldn't come out to see me." Ren asked shrugging. "I guess something came up."
"You didn't call her?" Jori asked shocked, en sometimes seemed like a needy little girl, because he called his girlfriends about every little thing. "Really?"
"Yes, really." Ren said annoyed. "I don't want her to dump me like the rest of them did Jori." He blushed. "I really like her."
"Oh, how cute." Jori teased slapping his shoulder. "then tell her. She's not going to know from you just being nice; you have to tell her how you feel."
Ren opened his mouth about to respond when the compressor made a strange sucking sound and came popping opened, releasing the most horrible smell of rotting flesh, they had ever smelt in their lives.
They back way gagging, trying to cover their mouths with hands and sleeves, anything to stop the smell. "We have to get that Detective guy!" Ren yelled shoving Jori out of the room, "Come on!"
The compressor was filled with wiggling maggots and flies, but under these disgusting insects was the source of the smell, pilled in a horrible heap where five bodies, each with similar wounds as the victim that had been found earlier that day.
"A/N. So this took way too long, I'm very sorry everyone! But I do have a good reason why this is so late, I got a job, two actually, so I hope you'll all bear with me and keep reading when I'm able to update! I hope you love this chapter and that it's worth the wait. Sorry again. GiggleMaster13 \=o=/ )