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File #1

Forbidden Spell

Saturday

2:00 P.M

After the tea, we were back to our usual selves. Naru had locked himself up in his office once again, as goes with Lin, and I was back to filing.

Can't anybody with a really terrifying case come to us any time soon? I'm so bored out of my mind here!

As if right on cue, there came a timid knock on the door. I immediately jump up to answer it, expecting it to be Bou-san and the others, but to my surprise, I came face to face with a man, possibly about in his mid thirties. It was a creepy sight in it itself. His eyes were sunk so low, his long hours of sleep deprivation totally evident; his skin was pale and dry, his hair, both head-wise and facial, were a total mess. I've never yet seen a man so completely… ghost-like.

I step back a little, despite myself. "U-uhm… how may I help you, sir?"

"This… this is Shibuya Psychic Research, isn't it? The paranormal investigators?"

"Yes, it is. Do you have a case you'd like us to investigate?"

I involuntarily let out a little scream as he lunged at me and shake me back and forth rather roughly. "Stop them, please! Stop them! So many have gone! I'm… I'm going insane!"

"A-ano…" I'm trembling from fear. "C-calm down, sir! Who have gone? What's driving you insane?"

He looks at me with wide, frightened eyes, and whispers, "The spirits in the cemetery. They're terribly angry. Terribly, terribly angry."

"I-I'll call my boss. Step inside, sir, and I'll be right out with him." It took me loads of strength to help him get to the couch, for he was extremely shaky around the knees, and he wasn't exactly being helpful when he let his weight go completely and relied on me to drag him.

I knock on Naru's door and wait. I see his silhouette through the translucent window as he opens the door to his office, and once his head peeked through, I push him back roughly and close the door behind me. I must've come out to be rather forward and rough, and I daresay he was quite surprised at what I did. But I gave him no time to say anything.

"There's a client, Naru. Please, please let's take this case. The poor man can barely stand and walk on his own! He's terrified!" I feel tears threatening to burst out, but I hold it in place. "Promise me you'll hear him out! Promise me you'll really think about the case!"

I feel his eyes on me.

"Naru!" and I humble myself completely before him, bowing my whole body at my waist and never pulling my head up until he spoke a word. "Naru, please."

Before I knew it, Naru had already passed by me and was out the door. I hear him introduce himself to the man, and called on me to make them some tea.

I was glad and relieved.

"Kasukagi-san, how long have you been working at that cemetery?"

"Six years."

"And for six years, have you ever experienced any paranormal activities?"

"No, never. Until recently."

"How recent?"

I notice Kasukagi-san look down sadly and distantly for a second, before raising his head to answer Naru's question. "It's been about two months and a half or so."

Naru closed his eyes. I knew that to be a sign that he was thinking.

"And what activities have been happening in the cemetery?"

"T-things fly. It wasn't particularly dangerous before, but now, things crash into walls—even into the guests. A couple people had already been hospitalized. One had a lit candle with melted wax pelted right at her face, and one had a huge rock thrown at his face. Pity too, for it was a child." He shivers. "There have also been voices. They weren't threatening at first, but as time went by, they became more and more distraught. Began saying things like taking people into their realm, cursing anyone… playing into their victim's fears. There have also been circumstances where people were forcefully yanked to fall into open graves."

"Naru…" I say softly as I sit down next to him. He knew what I was thinking; he merely nodded.

"Kasukagi-san, you are aware that cemeteries are widely known to hold many sorts of paranormal activities. People that have died and had proper burial, either choose to pass on, or to stay behind to be with their loved ones. However as time goes by, those who chose to stay behind soon forget that they have died, and begin to harbor envy towards their living relatives. They begin to think they still belong in this world, and want to make their presence known."

That's right. Bou-san had said a while back that spirits can change over time. Just because they were nice, doesn't mean they always will be.

Naru looks at me, and I feel like I'm faltering under his gaze.

"This would explain the rocks and candles thrown at people, but the voices claiming to take people into their realm…" he held his chin, deep in thought. "Even so far as to pull them inside a grave. This is more than just a normal cemetery haunting.

"Mai, call on Bou-san, Matsuzaki-san, Hara-san, and Brown-san. Call Yasuhara-san as well. We're going to need everyone. Kasukagi-san, we will see you tomorrow. Please have three rooms prepared for us by then."

I shut my eyes tightly. I didn't have a very good feeling about this one.