15
oooooooooO0Oooooooooo
She couldn't believe the nerve of that man! How could he tell her to kill herself?! Yuki paused at that thought. Who told her that? She couldn't recall, and it bothered her a bit. She brought a hand up and scratched at her neck, it felt like something was constricting there. It was getting harder to breathe. Her mind became hazy the longer she thought about his words. Maybe…maybe the world would be better off without her. Her footsteps echoed off the pavement. She couldn't stop thinking about the man that broke her heart. No, that wasn't right. Naru wasn't that type of person, even if he was a giant jerk. A cold breeze brushed against her face and she ducked into the pink scarf around her neck. It was so bitter compared to the spring breeze that was going to start up within the next few months.
Next few months? Yuki stopped cold. No, it was nearing the end of summer, not winter. She felt that constricting feeling grow and started to slowly walk in a completely different direction. Her foot went onto a ledge and she was forced to look down. It was too high up. The breeze had grown even worse. Her short hair went into her eyes before she lifted one foot and let it hit the air. She felt a falling sensation and her stomach dropped.
The surface broke under her weight and she panicked. Her mind replayed her experience in the pond. But this, she knew what this was. A hand came into her peripheral and the next thing she knew she was sitting in the theatre. Gene was by her side and looking around curiously. His arms were across his chest and she couldn't help but find it similar to Naru. Her expression softened the slightest at the familiarity. She looked down at the stage and rested her cheek in the palm of her hand.
"So," she started getting his attention. "How's the afterlife?"
"It's going," Gene said, laughing a bit at how awkward that had been. "This case that you're on, it seems as though it could get dangerous."
"To be fair that is most of our cases," she dryly commented. "I'm just trying to think if it's Ryo or Taku that's making people change."
"So…what's this I hear about you liking my brother?" Gene asked, a cheeky smile on his face as she glared at him.
"So what if I do?" Yuki asked, her defensive tone making him raise his hands in defense. "It can't be that strange."
"I think it's wonderful," Gene admitted. "You balance him out and he shows more emotion, I think he also likes that you see him and not me."
"You two have differences," Yuki stated and he blinked in surprise. "Your eyes are grey while his are blue, he's completely serious while you're more likely to crack a joke…he also has more muscle than you, you even sound different."
Gene was staring at her in disbelief. Not even their mother could tell them apart. She turned back to the stage and gained a thoughtful expression. His disbelief turned melancholy. He saw a larger range of expressions from her than his brother did, as though she felt more free to do so on the astral plane.
"If I said any of that to Naru he would be annoyed," she stated, a slight smirk appearing on her face.
"Sounds like him," Gene agreed, leaning back to gaze at the ceiling of the theatre.
He could hear the spirits of Ai and Ryo quietly arguing. They had been triggered by the music the teen next to him had played. He closed his eyes for a few seconds. He was more aware of what was going on around Yuki as she slept. If he listened carefully, he could hear the sound of a door opening. His eyes snapped open and he sat up straight. He didn't want anything to happen.
"Someone's in your house," Gene informed her and she swiftly turned to look at him. "Wake up."
oooooooooO0Oooooooooo
Yuki startled awake, blearily looking around. She pushed her hair back from her face and her gaze fell on her clock. An annoyed expression appeared on her face. It was only six in the morning. She hadn't gotten much sleep at all. She heard Emrys give a tiny whine in his sleep and she looked at him with a soft expression. She slipped out of the bed, her nightgown collecting static. She covered Emrys with a blanket and watched as his form wiggled just the slightest before he got comfortable again. She picked up her glasses and put them on. The world came into focus and she slowly moved towards her bedroom door. Her eyes widened slightly at the familiar figure.
"Hara-San?" Yuki asked, startling the other teen. "What are you doing here?"
"I…" Masako faltered and Yuki noted several things.
Her face was pale, the expression tired. Yuki knew there was more. Sadness filled her large eyes as she listened to something that the albino couldn't hear. She awkwardly stood there for a few seconds before her manners slowly kicked in. That, and the knowing of what she was going through.
"Take a seat," Yuki said and Masako blinked in confusion. "I'll make some tea."
Masako sat at the small table as the albino pulled on an apron and started to make some tea, pulling the long sleeves of her nightgown back. The dark haired teen couldn't help but study the other teen. Her expression was cold, but she knew her to be a sweet girl. Her actions spoke louder than her words. She closed her eyes as the scent of tea filled the air. She knew that smell. Earl Grey, Naru's favourite. Her eyes opened at the thought of Naru. Right, he was at odds with her.
"Would you like anything to eat?" Yuki's question stopped her from delving further into her depressing thoughts.
"No, thank you," Masako declined, blinking when the tea was put in front of her.
Masako took a timid sip as Yuki sat across from her, nursing her own cup of tea. The medium studied the psychic and watched azs the tired expression finally showed itself on her face. Yoshida Yuki obviously didn't sleep well. Anyone with two eyes could see that she was starting to wear thin, even if she refused to see it herself. Masako knew that Bones death had hit her hard, but moving on and acting as though nothing was wrong was enough to cause worry amongst those that were noticing. Masako didn't know how to get the other girl to open up. She inwardly sighed and picked up her tea, breathing it in before taking a sip.
"This is wonderful," Masako complimented.
"Thank you," Yuki said, and the tired expression seemed to vanish as she turned her attention towards the medium. "What had you so upset?"
Masako faltered slightly. She looked behind Yuki and watched as the form of an older woman nodded. Yoshida Miyuki looked at her daughter with sadness and Masako watched as the woman raised a hand and tried to gently run a hand through the long hair. Her fingers went through, and she let her hand fall to her side. Her own red eyes slowly being hidden by her long bangs. Miyuki said something and Masako blinked.
"Your mother," Masako started and she got Yuki's full attention, and the medium felt so guilty. "She showed me the theatre you're investigating, she wanted you to know that you need to stay with the others. Yoshimori Taku was the one that assaulted her, and he never got over it."
Yuki sat back with a thoughtful expression, the finger on her chin tapping just the slightest. Masako felt her guilt increase. Yuki had been so rapt with attention, for any word from her mother. The most she could do was a warning from the older Yoshida woman. A gentle hand on the top of her head caused her to blink and look up. The white sleeve of the nightgown let her know exactly who it was. Yuki was…gently smiling at her. The unguarded expression did nothing to dispel the guilt.
"As much as I miss her, I'm glad she's looking after you," Yuki's admittance made Masako tense up just the slightest. "I hope she isn't doing anything that's making you uncomfortable."
Miyuki made a face at her daughter as Masako gave a gentle smile of her own. Yuki was her father's daughter, if the stories that Miyuki told were anything to go on. The medium shook her head and Yuki relaxed a bit, that unguarded expression slowly disappearing as she went back to her usual state.
"Your mother is a kind woman, when my aunt is being over controlling she yells at her," Masako informed Yuki with a soft chuckle. "I've never seen someone get so mad before."
"My father used to set her temper off all the time," Yuki admitted. "I think he did it just to mess with her…if you ever need somewhere to go to get away from it all then you can stay here for a while, everyone needs a break sometimes."
"That's kind of you, thank you," Masako said as she picked her tea up again and took a dainty sip.
"Isn't that what friends do?" Yuki's question made Masako pause.
It was like the albino wasn't too sure. Sure, Yuki had a friend in her previous life. She couldn't get away from Lilith if she tried, but they had been roommates before friends. She had gone through two life's with no friends, and unsure of how to act. The smile that Masako was sending her made her think she was doing the right thing. Masako looked up at the clock and blinked.
"Please, be careful during the investigation," Masako asked as she got up from her chair. "If Yoshimori get's a hold of you, I can only say it won't be good."
"I'll try my best," Yuki said, and Masako gave a nod of understanding. "You have a nice rest of your day."
Masako left the apartment in higher spirits than she had been. Miyuki walked behind the medium with her hands in the pockets of her jeans. Her baby was finally making connections with people, good. She spared a quick glance towards the apartment and couldn't help but sigh. Still, being alone like that was going to wear down on her. Masako entered the car that was waiting for her, she needed to be at the studio before noon, and Miyuki felt her eyes close. She had spent too much energy trying to get her daughter to see her. It was time for her to rest.
Yuki was cleaning the cups from tea as she tried to figure out how Masako was even able to get inside her apartment in the first place. Her head tilted up just the slightest as it dawned on her. Her mother had let her in. She sighed before a fond expression appeared on her face. Her mother hadn't changed at all, that was a relief. She turned off the water after she finished cleaning the cups. She needed to get ready for the day. An oversized red sweater, white dress shirt, and black jeans were her go to for the day. Emry's was up, and started to run around his owner with his tongue out. He jumped up and placed his paws on her knees. Yuki gave the puppy a soft smile before kneeling and scratching him behind the ears. He let out a small bark before taking off. She blinked when he ran head first into the couch.
"You all right?" She asked, and Emrys snuffed before resuming his energetic run around the apartment.
Yuki picked up an apple and bit into it. She had a few minutes to spare before she had to be at the theatre. She put it back on the counter before hurrying after Emrys, she needed that time to get her puppy ready. She made sure to grab her apple along with her keys before they headed out for the day. She was getting the feeling that something was going to happen. She didn't like it.
oooooooooO0Oooooooooo
"Did you two even leave the building last night?" Yuki asked Lin as she entered the base.
"No, we stayed to observe the cameras live," Lin answered and she nodded her understanding.
Naru entered the base and she noted the frown on his face. He was annoyed by something, and she didn't know what. She gathered it was due to the activity, or lack of activity. She hadn't been fully briefed. She narrowed her eyes slightly, she refused to let Naru send her home during a case again. She didn't care for not being up to speed with everything going on. Lin had gone back to typing on his computer and frowned at something before erasing a few words and typing something else. Yuki took a seat nearby and watched the cameras for a few seconds, noting that nothing was really happening. It would be more likely that the temperatures would tell them if something was there. The spirits in the theatre reacted to a trigger more than anything else. No wonder the activity was insane when there were people around. The music and acting would act as a trigger. Was there anything she could do?
Naru glanced at her as he moved through some of the information he had been able to find on Yoshimori Taku. She was watching the cameras in thought. Her eyes were sharp, studying a single camera. She didn't look at any of the others. What was so interesting about that one in particular? He looked at it and noted that the image flickered. Once, then twice. He needed to check the wires to that camera in particular.
"Yuki, take temps," His order was met with a slight nod as she got up from her chair.
She grabbed her supplies and Emrys's tail wagged as he looked up at her. She motioned for the puppy to follow and it did, understanding the hand signs. His respect almost showed on his face. She was good at training her dogs, and seemed to treat them well. He stopped her with a raised hand and handed over a small headset and walkie-talkie. She raised a brow, but simply hooked everything up correctly.
Yuki looked at the temperature sheet. No wonder he had her taking more temperatures. The rooms were either normal, or running a little hot due to the heaters. If she didn't know any better she would think that Misa was messing with them, and wasting their time. She ran a hand through her hair and frowned. Seriously, she couldn't believe the woman. It felt like the second she caught wind that she liked someone, how was the one thing she never wanted answered, the second she came back into her life.
"Yuki," Naru's voice was loud in her ear and she quickly turned the volume down on her walkie-talkie. "We've lost visual on a camera in a room near you."
"Want me to check the wires?" Yuki asked, turning on her heel and making her way towards the room by following the wires.
"Yes," Naru answered, and she was amused by the annoyed tone in his voice.
She reached for the door knob to the room and she stopped in her tracks. Her eyes widened just the slightest as her hand hovered above the stainless steel knob. She couldn't pinpoint the feeling that hit her. Her hand shook just the slightest as she slowly pulled it back. There…was someone behind the door. She almost asked Naru if someone had gone into the room before her, but stopped herself. She simply reached to the side and picked up a piece of wood. She reached forward and opened the door. There was no one there, but at the same time there was. It felt like eyes were on her person the further into the room she went. Emrys growled at the room as she cautiously made her way to the camera. Emrys wasn't the bravest dog, but he was loyal. He wasn't going to leave her side, even if afraid.
Yuki knelt by the camera and checked the cables. One of them had been pulled out. She sighed quietly and picked it up before replacing it. She waited until the red light on the top turned back on and slowly got back up. Sometimes the cold made her old injuries hurt, it was so odd. Emrys growling was louder and she felt that presence grow stronger.
"Did that fix it?" Yuki asked, not letting her discomfort show as she discreetly looked around the room.
"Yes," Naru confirmed. "Come back."
"All right," Yuki said.
Her head quickly moved to the side when the door slammed shut. She stared at it for a few seconds before making a face. Oshima had been scarier, and more threatening. She made her way towards the door as static came from her walkie-talkie. Great, that wasn't going to do her any good. Emrys kept barking, and growling. Growling that grew louder, and louder. She felt her shoulders tense as something brushed against them. She grasped onto the door and tried to get out as though she hadn't felt anything. Her shoulders hadn't fully given her away. A growl, the volume so loud she couldn't help but flinch, sounded right next to her ear. The sensation of hands slowly traveling down her legs caused her breath to catch in her throat, and the burning sensation caused her to finally act out. She brought one of her legs up and slammed it into the wood. She let out a loud hiss. Reinforced doors? A part of her respected the person who had designed the building, and another resented them. A reinforced door to a room like this?
She tried to break it down with her shoulder. A part of her just wanted it to open, to get her away from Taku. Her panic rose when he growled once again. The door let out a creek and the next hit from her shoulder caused it to finally open. The resounding growl when she exited, and then promptly slammed the door closed again was oddly satisfying. She picked up Emrys, closing an eye when the puppy licked at her chin. Her leg and shoulders began to throb in pain as her adrenaline began to fade. She listened intently for any sign of Naru or Lin, but the static still remained. She kept walking through the hallways, her eyes growing heavy. That was odd, she hadn't used that much energy to get free from the room. A pair of hands stopped her from walking and she flinched back, taking a few steps from the person.
"Oh, Lin," Yuki said, calming a bit when she noticed who it was. "Sorry about that, I'm a little on edge at the moment."
Lin nodded his understanding at that. He hadn't taken her actions seriously, but was gauging her reactions. She looked exhausted, and more than a little unnerved. She was carrying Emrys in a manner that was protective, and seeking comfort. She had to have been that way when Bones was that small. They both looked up when Naru made his way towards them. His eyes were narrowed and Yuki wondered who had pissed him off. His anger was almost palpable, and she couldn't help but hope it wasn't her.
"What happened?" Naru asked.
"I got the camera fixed, and then the door slammed shut," Yuki answered.
"Yet, you brought a piece of wood into an empty room," Naru pointed out and her eyes narrowed just the slightest.
"It felt like someone was behind the door, but it was impossible with no one in the building," Yuki stated, Naru noted that she did so unhappily. "I'm not entirely sure what was in the room with me."
He let out a breath through his nose, calming down just the slightest. It wouldn't do for him to lose his composure. A door opened, and he turned his gaze that way. Misa stood there, a cup of coffee in her hand. She took one look at the teenager that had been under her care and raised a brow. She paled when Yuki glared at her. His own joined her, scaring the woman further. Naru moved to hide his part-timer from the older woman's line of sight. Yuki's habits of keeping information to herself had to come from somewhere, and he knew exactly where.
"We need to talk, Matsuda-San," Naru informed the woman before turning to look at Yuki. "Head back to the base and call John, explain the case to him."
"Yeah…sure," Yuki's uncertain confirmation was unlike her.
She gave him an unreadable look before making her way to the base. She had a limp to her walk again, kicking a reinforced door was bound to do that. He held a hand out and motioned towards Misa's office. He was going to have a serious word with the woman about leaving his part-timer alone. Lin noted the look on Naru's face. He was going to back him with whatever he had planned.
"What did you want to talk about?" Misa asked, not allowing anything to show on her face.
"Once we finish this case, Shibuya psychic research will not allow you back inside," He bluntly informed her.
"I'm afraid that I still have some level of guardianship over Yuki, I'll have to be able to enter her place of work to check in on her periodically," Misa stated, the coldness to her eyes making his own narrow.
"The same Yuki that you haven't spoken to in two years," Naru pointed out. "You haven't been following your duties as a guardian."
"Hmm, that's because she's such an independent girl," Misa smiled, and Lin frowned.
Independent? Even he could tell that she had to be. No wonder she made it so that people could see her as dependable. That she would know what she needed to do. He knew that he needed to stop Naru from pushing the older woman too hard. His glare had turned icy, and Lin gathered that he was at his limit. So, he had met his match when it came to being stubborn.
"John, it's good to see you," Yuki greeted the priest from her spot outside the theatre.
"Hello," John greeted with a kind smile before he gave a worried frown. "What happened?"
"It's that dark spirit I told you about," Yuki answered slowly getting up, ignoring the burning in her thighs. "I'll show you to the base."
John walked behind Yuki and glanced around the theatre. She walked around it like someone who knew the layout already. She got a few waves from the janitorial crew and she awkwardly returned them. The base was in a small room with a heater in the ceiling. Lin was sitting at a computer, typing away in English. John caught Yuki's name on the screen every so often and frowned. Just what had happened?
"I'm glad you could make it," Naru said and John jumped a bit at the silent entrance.
"Where has most of the activity been?" John asked, not wanting to be around an angry Naru.
Whatever had angered him, had done so to the point that everyone in the room was on edge. The woman that stood at the doorway was glancing at Yuki every so often and the albino simply stared ahead with a blank expression. Ah, so that's part of the issue. He noted that Naru had moved again, and this time she was hidden from the older woman's sight. That was a new development.
"The tunnels, but there's a room that Yuki had been trapped in," Naru answered. "It's where the old building used to stand."
Yuki blinked. No wonder she had been trapped inside. That made too much sense. If that was where Taku took his last breaths, then that would be where he was the strongest. John nodded his understanding before sending Yuki a small smile. She couldn't help but relax just the slightest, John had that effect on people.
"I'll start the exorcism immediately," John informed them.
John left the base and Yuki turned her attention towards the cameras again. She was pointedly ignoring Misa, not wanting to have an altercation with the woman. A hand on her elbow made her blink before she turned to look at Naru. He was moving her somewhere in the base, and she inwardly huffed before letting him do so. She was sat beside Lin and handed a headset to listen to the exorcism. His expression left no room for questions, so she simply put the headset on.
Yuki watched the cameras again and gained a slight frown. Taku was fighting back, she could hear his growling as John said prayers. A part of her hoped that Ai and Ryo were nowhere near the exorcism, they were innocent in all of this. They didn't deserve to be forcefully removed from the theatre. Emrys growled slightly before pushing against his owners leg. Yuki didn't look down as she reached with a small hand and scratched him behind the ears. She wanted to see Taku leave, she needed to know that he was gone. The growling increased to the point where Naru was able to hear it through the normal speakers. Misa brought a hand up to her mouth in thought as she heard it. Lin barely stopped typing, but his speed decreased as he watched the cameras as well.
It grew and grew until, with a final growl, the room stilled and the atmosphere seemed to change. Yuki still felt the suffocating presence, but it wasn't Taku's. It was Misa's. Lin went back to typing as John brought an arm up and wiped at his forehead. His exorcism was a success, and he was relieved. It was rare that it went as smoothly as it did. Yuki removed the headset and closed her eyes in thought.
"Thank you." Two voices whispered in her ears.
She opened her eyes and looked at the reflection of the room in the monitors. There at the door to the base was Ai and Ryo. They were holding hands and smiled when her eyes met theirs. They bowed in unison before vanishing in a gold light. They passed on, now Yuki could relax a little. She knew one thing. She was never going to set foot back in that theatre until Misa stepped down from her position.
"Let's start to pack up," Naru stated, and Yuki nodded.
Emrys sat to the side and watched as the humans around him began to pack away wires, his owner was given that job since it would keep her in the line of sight of her boss, and monitors. He felt hands in his fur and looked up to see the bright priest that was always happy to see him, and the feeling was mutual. He was sad to leave him.
oooooooooO0Oooooooooo
Gene looked at Yuki as she sat beside him in the one place that she seemed at peace in. He had stopped her from reliving his death again, but he knew he wouldn't always be able to do so. She looked at the flowers before her, and gently touched one of the blooms with a single finger. He looked up at the slightly overcast sky and wondered about that. Rain in a world of comfort was a sign of depression, or of trauma. Both was likely if he wanted to be technical about it. He ran a hand through his hair and he heard a small sound from Yuki.
"I'm glad those two were able to pass on," Yuki stated, a soft smile on her face.
"Yeah," Gene agreed. "I'll miss them, they were oddly funny."
"I feel the love, sorry I'm not funny enough," she commented with a wry smile. "I'm just getting ready to ring the bells of Notre Dame in the future."
Gene let out a snort at her words and she slowly joined him in laughing. Her laughter made her entire face light up. She looked her age when she laughed, less world weary as well. He brought a hand up and wiped at his eyes. He couldn't help but hope that his brother figured out that he was starting to have feelings for the albino, but he knew how stubborn his brother could be. He wanted to have a little sister, and he knew that Yuki would be a great one. He looked up at the sky again to see that it had darkened and the Milky Way showed itself. Of course she liked space, he should've known better. His expression darkened slightly.
He had the feeling that something was going to change his spiritual charge, and he didn't like it.
