File #1

Forbidden Spell

Sunday

11:45 A.M

We're usually off on Sundays, but during cases, there were exceptions. We met at the office at 10 in the morning, as usual, and from there, Lin-san drove us to Kasukagi-san's house, which was about forty-five minutes away. The drive was quiet, as it most always was, with neither Lin-san nor Naru talking. Of course, I could just babble on by myself like usual, but today, I simply didn't feel like it.

I still feel a bit apprehensive about this case. I don't exactly know why.

We arrive in front of a small, but cozy-looking house, and park in what serves us as a parking garage—which was actually just a completely desolate street. There was nothing around the house, nothing near, except the cemetery, which lay more or so about 5 miles away.

The back door to the van slides open and I meet with Lin-san's inquiring look. I step out of the van; the joints in my back, legs, even shoulders and elbow, cracking from being immobile for more than half an hour sitting down in the back amongst the equipments without a proper seat to sit on. But I smile at him and tell him, "I'm ok."

Naru had already begun speaking with Kasukagi-san and explaining to him exactly what we need, so it was up to me and Lin-san to unload the equipments. Before he went through the door to the house, I thought I saw an uncertain look in Naru's eyes, but I shake it off. It couldn't be. He's the most assured person I've ever seen in the world.

"Lin-san, how come we're setting up base so far away from the cemetery?" I ask him, looking up from my work. He's very, very tall.

"Because there's nowhere to set a base up at a cemetery. It would be too dangerous to us and the equipments, as grave robbers often come."

I pull my lips to the side and muse, "I don't think it's grave robbers we should be worried about."

"As long as it's still not investigated, it would be wiser to assume that there is nothing paranormal there."

Lin-san was right, but I couldn't help but to disagree. Something within me, my intuition, I guess, was telling me that place was dangerous; not because of humans, but because of something inhuman.

I decided to carry the lighter loads and figured the small T.V screens ought to do the trick. So I pull one out and walk ahead of Lin-san towards the house. And as I take the short flight of steps of the porch to the front door, a nauseating feeling suddenly comes over me. And it intensifies as I draw nearer the door. By now, I'm almost doubled over. I don't have the strength to keep going inside. Blood.

"Mai, what's wrong?"

Naru. He was already inside the house and was on his way to step outside to help us unload the van. I look up and see his face: it was blank, but his eyes betrayed the smallest hint of worry. He took a step forward and reached out his hand to grab the television from my hand, but I could not bring myself to hand it to him. I feel as if the slightest change of position would throw me over the hedge, and my stomach innards into the floor. My face contorts into a grimace as the feeling becomes stronger, and my stomach contracted and relaxed far too quickly and forcefully. Finally, I manage to heap the camera into his hands before I race off back to the street and hurl my stomach contents into a nearby bush.

"Taniyama-san!"

"Lin! Get her some water."

"Ah."

I squat on the floor and place a hand over my stomach, trying to ease the pain as I retched and hurled my breakfast into the ground. It took a while for me to finally start settling down, and by then, Lin-san and Naru had already finished bringing the equipments into the base.

Useless. Again.

I stand up from my place, sick of the stench, and walk over to them. Naru hands me a piece of gum, from who knows where, since I've never seen the man put anything into his system other than tea. Not that you're supposed to eat the gum, but you know what I mean. I thank him and laugh weakly, "I'm… feeling better now. I'm sorry I couldn't be of much help…"

Naru only stared me down. He was probably mad at me for slacking off after all.

"What happened?" he asks, with his toneless voice.

"I don't… really know. The minute I took a step up the stairs, I felt this nauseating feeling come over me, and it got worse as I neared the door. It was as if… I was breathing in stale air. It smelled like metal… like blood, and rotting flesh… and it was so bad I couldn't take it." I then remember the uncertain look he had on his face moments ago, and decide to ask hurriedly, "Naru, you felt it too, didn't you?"

His face remained unreadable, but his eyes affirmed it. "I thought it felt odd, but it wasn't nearly as bad as yours."

"So you didn't feel sick or anything?"

He shook his head. "It was more physical. I felt repelled, pushed back rather roughly."

"Lin-san! Lin-san, too! Did you feel anything?" I turn around to search his eyes.

"I felt some strong physical force, but nothing like yours."

I don't understand. How could they not have smelled it? I didn't even realize I was shaking. It's strange. How is it that we're 5 miles away from the cemetery, and yet experience very strong paranormal activities here?

"Mai, do you think you could try getting inside the house this time?"

I really didn't want to, but what choice did I have? We were to stay in this house until the case was solved. But if it means feeling like that every time I go into the house, then maybe I should just sleep out in the van. I'll even resort to begging Naru, if I have to.

I nod my head anyway, but my stomach begins to knot again. Not from the house this time, but from the anticipation for the worst to come.

I walk slowly toward the house one more time. Naru and Lin-san stationed themselves on either side of me, ready to help me out in case I weaken again. With one sharp breath, I take the first flight of step.

Nothing.

I keep going and going until I reach the door.

Still nothing.

Naru sighed. "I thought so."

I didn't get what happened. I turn around in confusion. "Eh?"

"Both Lin and I felt nothing the second time we entered the house."

I think about it for a second. "Ah! It's like stepping into cold water and feeling the sting, and then getting used to it after the initial hit, isn't it?"

"No. This is different." He placed his chin between his thumb and pointing finger, deep in thought. "If it were the same as stepping into cold water, we would still feel a little sting even after the initial hit, although the signals firing to the brain get weaker and weaker, and ultimately we start getting used to it. This one didn't have anything the second time around at all." He stepped in after me. "We will wait for the others and see what they experience."

--

It was the same with the others. All of them felt some strong repelling force, but nothing of the nauseating feeling I got. But when Masako came, she couldn't take the pain, and immediately started running away and vomiting behind a tree. It became the same drill as with me earlier, with everyone asking if she was alright, offering water, and questioning what had happened.

I look at Naru, but I can't tell what he was thinking. We would need some information from Kasukagi-san to understand the history of the house, and possibly find answers to these perplexing questions.