Theatre Wars

Chapter 7: In which there is a lot of rain and Mai remembers.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Ghost Hunt.

Note: This chapter makes direct reference to the prequel.

The attic level again. It is all quiet as Masako and I creep forward.

"Why are we creeping?" I whisper and nearly run into her when she stops suddenly.

"Lin doesn't know," she answers after a pause.

"Why?"

"Because he'll try to stop us and I know you're the only one who can do something about this," she answers impatiently.

"Speaking about that…" this time it is me who stops. "Do you really believe that?" I ask hopefully. Even in the dim light, I can see Masako's glare. "Just beause he likes you more than me doesn't mean anything. Don't think I've given up on establishing a romantic relationship with Naru just because I happen to agree with you," she replies coldly. Peeking round the corner, she motions for me to follow her. "Now hurry up, we haven't got all day."

"Hai…" I allow myself a grin. This is more like the Masako I know.

Turning the corner, I gasp in wonder at the sight of the room.

"It's beautiful." The wood-panelled floor is flooded by pooled moonlight pouring in from latticed windows on both sides, the high ceiling darkening with height and silver dust motes drifting peacefully. Mai glances quickly at me and then shares a reluctant smile.

"Yes," she admits with the guilty air of someone who shouldn't be enjoying herself. I step into a moonbeam, and then peer outside. I can see the bridge from here, but nothing is moving outside either. Masako makes a sweep of the room, letting her torchlight scan the dimmer recesses of the space. There is another window set into the opposite end of the room and what looks like a narrow closet set into the wall by it. The finger which I trace over the lintel comes away coated with dust and I wrinkle my nose.

"Lovely," I mutter, wiping it on the hem of my shirt. "Is there where you last saw Naru?"

"Yes. He turned the corner which we did just now and simply vanished, hence the need for our own caution."

"And…you want me to sleep here?"

"Yes."

If you say so… I stretch out on the floor uncomfortably and the last thing I hear before I close my eyes is the soft patter of Masako's feet before she settles down to wait beside me. Even without looking, I know she probably has her back to the wall under the window.

"If Naru has been caught in her time, you will have to look for him there."

"Alright," I murmur, squeezing my eyes shut and willing myself to dreamland. Only it doesn't work. "I can't sleep," I say desperately after lying for what feels like eternity. Masako stares at me.

"It hasn't even been a minute."

"Really?"

"Yes, Mai."

"Okay," I answer, and lie down again, feeling oddly comforted. "Before I sleep, there is something I've to tell you."

Masako raises an eyebrow. "Much as I appreciate your grateful thanks, I hardly think the time appropriate."

I huff, sitting up grumpily. "No! I merely wanted to say that Naru wanted to check out the pipe system in the auditorium before he...".

Masako nods once in understanding. "Very well. I'll tell Takigawa. He knows we're up here."

I yawn suddenly and cover my mouth belatedly when Masako smirks.

"And one more thing. Haruo was two-timing Shizuko."

"What?"

"Yeah…" My eyes start dropping of their own accord. Finally. "I'll ask him who… if I see him."

"Ask who what?"

I spin round eagerly. "Naru?"

But it isn't Naru. Even if the person standing before me is wearing those familiar black jacket, shirt, trousers and shoes. Even if he has the same dark hair and blue eyes, there's no mistaking him for Naru. I've learnt after the first time and Gene and Naru are more alike than they consider themselves to be. I take half a step forward and the stop when recognition hits me. "Haruo?"

I really have to try and notice when I dream.

He smiles at me, a real open and warm one and it looks so strange on Naru's face that for a moment I am struck speechless. Then, his face falls. "I was hoping you would be someone else."

"Shizuko?" I hazard.

He looks surprised. "Well, yes."

"Why are you possessing my…boss?"

Haruo lifts up an arm in puzzled inspection. "Well. I need a way out of here," he says reasonably. The irrationality of his justification makes me want to hit this two-timing idiot.

"He isn't dead yet! And even if he were, you can't just do these kinds of things!"

Haruo eyes me doubtfully. "I'm afraid I don't know what applies to the world of the dead."

"The same things!" I practically yell. Swallowing nervously, I grab his arm and I can feel Naru's muscles tense instinctively. "Please, tell me what Shizuko has done to him?" Haruo passes a hand over Naru's forehead shakily and then stares at me nervously. "What did you just do to me?"

"Do what?"

"Send that tingle down my – this fellow's spine. Don't you know you do that?"

"No…?" I quickly let go. We stare at each other awkwardly and then Haruo starts to laugh. It's weird. Naru, I realise with a pang, never laughed, not once since I've known him. He sees the look I give him and something like recognition crosses his face.

"In truth, I've no idea what Shizu has done. I am sorry you got involved. You seem nice."

"I don't understand. You're supposed to be dead. Were you summoned?"

"There was never a need," he says sadly. "My real body never left the building."

I gape.

"Wait. Do you mean she murdered you?"

No answer. Haruo clams up entirely, turning slightly away from me. But, even if he refuses to speak, I can see the pain in his eyes. They remind me of Naru's whenever someone mentions Gene. I put my hand on his, though with more care.

"Take me to her. I can handle it." I bite my lip when he doesn't react. "Please? That person whose body you're borrowing," I emphasise, "means a lot to me." Again, he doesn't say anything, but this time, I sense his hesitation.

"Shizu… can be vindictive."

"Believe me, I've seen worse."

He smiles at that. "You're very young." I glare at him and find myself irrevocably – softening. He returns the smile. "Your…boss doesn't smile much does he?"

"I don't understand...?"

He shrugs offhandedly. "Only, you can't seem to take your eyes off me when I do."

I've had ghosts trying to attack, possess or kill me, but flirting has to be a first. I stomp away and he follows after me. "Where are you going? Actually, is there even anywhere you can go?"

"Jerk," I growl, the word coming easily enough – I've called Naru that countless times, and this jerk is ten times worse.

"Naru has his faults, but he wasn't a cheat." Spinning round, I prod his chest angrily. "So. Where is she?"

"You won't this place on your own I'm afraid. The path to Shizu's lair - I, mean, room is only open to certain persons, namely me," Haruo explains tersely. I wonder why he seems nervous. "Oh, and I must warn you that Shizu won't go easy on you. If there is anything I can claim to know about her, it's that she's got gall." He paused, struck by a thought. "Kind of like you, actually."

I snort as we tramp along dark corridors and up cobwebby stairs. "I'm not a boyfriend murderer. And why do you stick with her anyway?"

"I'm waiting for her." His answer catches me by surprise. But before I can ask, we've arrived at a space that seems suspended in time. Haruo knocks once lightly on the door.

"Come in," a voice greets silkily, bringing with it an echo of sawdust, cobwebs and the sickly sweet smell of lilies. All things to do with death.

"Miss Taniyama, I presume?" the voice continues and a svelte figure in a yellow kimono appears from behind the gossamer curtains on the other side of the bed. I stare at her. Her lips were red and full, her loose black hair sleek and shiny.

"What have you done?"

She strokes my face. "You wouldn't deny me this chance would you? After all, we're both women in love." She grips my hand gently, her voice soft, entreating. When I remain silent, she sighs, then motions for Haruo to leave.

"I'm afraid I took the opportunity to probe your mind, which is easy enough once we've link."

"What?" I protest loudly. "You read my mind without my permission?"

She frowns, her pupils dilating like inky pools. "I let you into mine. It's only fair to return the favour."

What have I gotten myself into? Her grip on my hand tightens.

"Let me go," I say, trying to keep the wince from my voice. She pushes me back on the bed, her legs on either side of me. "Oh, I think you remember this," she whispers, her other arm raised, a screwdriver glinting. "You can't have him. None of you can."

I scream, and then am thrown back onto the wall. Naru stands up, shakily, blood pouring from his shoulder. He's yelling somebody's name. I hadn't noticed before the first time round; even with a stab wound to his shoulder, Naru's PK was incredibly focused in finding its target. The thin curtains at the window are hardly disturbed. He'd meant to hit me. Well. I had been possessed and trying to kill him. The scene whips forward, this time, I'm lying on the ground, tied up, about to have unimaginable things done to me by a salivating zombie-creature when Naru busts in, uses his psychic abilities again… I reach out to desperately try to stop him but then everything starts to fade and I'm sitting on a comfortable patch of grass, white clouds drifting serenely across a blue, blue sky. It's been a while since I can remember feeling at so much peace. A shadow falls over me and looking up, I see Naru wearing a familiar frown hovering above me.

"Why are you here?"

Not exactly the greeting I am looking for. I pout. "You can greet people properly you know," I point out, but only half-heartedly as he settles down on the grass beside me, tucking one foot comfortably while resting his head on the bark only inches away from me. "…or never mind," I ramble on, "seeing as you'll do things your way anyway."

"If you know that, why do you still complain?" he asks after a beat.

"Can't blame a girl for trying."

He shuts his eyes, head tilted up to catch the light breeze that's tugging at his collar and hair. I take a deep breath. Swallow. Lick my lips even though they're not dry. There won't be another chance and what else can this be but another chance? We're back at the amusement park from six months ago. In that past, I remember sitting right here too, though things are going a little different. I can change it here. It's a dream after all. Naru can clam up after this if he wants to, but I'm not going out without doing this first.

Leaning over, I lightly peck him on his right cheek nervously. Naru whips round in a flash, blue eyes widened ever so slightly. I flush, embarrassed. "I'm not going out without first doing that. If – if I'm dead, I want you to know, well, no hard feelings between the two of us. That is…"

I am babbling.

Naru gets up and without a backwards glance, strides away towards the amusement park, shoulders stiff. Gee. Well, I suppose it could have been worse; I hadn't put it past Naru to insult my kissing. The sky darkens and the first fat drops of rain splash onto my bare arms. No point moving. If I'm already dead, it's unlikely I'll die of pneumonia. I sneeze, and shiver. It's cold. Do the dead feel? Surely they must… Gene can. But then, Gene's a special case. I sneeze again. Great. Now's there's snot too. And so, I am too busy trying to wipe it away discreetly when Naru returns.

"What makes you think you are dead?" He stares expressionlessly at me and I return the look blandly, struggling to hold in my dribbling nose. I sniff hard.

"Aren't I? I mean…" I answer slowly and then clap a horrified hand to my mouth. "I'm not?"

I jump up, narrowly missing Naru's chin and back away from him. He is watching my every move with a hawk-like gaze. "I was stabbed," I yell.

"So was I, six months before," Naru replies with infuriating tranquillity. I can just hit him.

"But…" I sputter.

He folds his arms and steps past me to lean on the tree. "You are shivering. Any idiot can tell you're still alive."

"If you haven't noticed, this is a dream," I shout back above the sound of the lashing rain. I'm practically soaked through, but Naru is perfectly dry, the rain stopping millimetres from him and seem to slide off. He catches me looking. "I'm not deceased either. Only…" he tugs meaningfully at his collar. The red scarring has deepened, and it looks fresher. "…I'm more worthwhile protecting, in a manner of speaking."

He gestures with a slight tilt of his head and a sardonic smile. "After all, this place is a prison meant for me."

Something in his voice makes me inspect him more carefully. Naru seldom allows himself to show any weakness and even now, with his stubborn pride, it doesn't show up except under close scrutiny. He looks exhausted, his skin pale and eyes finely bloodshot. "Done admiring? I suggest you try to wake up." he says, still managing to be sarcastic even though he must be drained.

"I don't think I can. I've been locked up here with you."

Even as I say that, I know it to be true.

He smirks, and I glare at him. "I only meant the second part," I retort coldly and turn away with a huff when a muffled thump makes me turn back again. Naru has slid to the ground, and he is shivering badly.

"Naru?" I rush forward, but he stiffens, lifting his head to glare at me when I reach out to steady him.

"Oh stop being such a stubborn idiot," I snap, grabbing his arm and pulling him up. Naru stumbles, and then, with an exasperated sigh, leans reluctantly on me. I square my own shoulders, my knees wobbling only slightly. I've been prepared for him to be heavy but… this is…

"This is ridiculous," Naru says, giving voice to the unspoken thought in my head. "Where do you think we can go?" His eyes travel downwards doubtfully. "Or how far for that matter."
"Well, I need the shelter even if you don't," I growl.

The building is dark, the rain comes in through a window that hasn't been fitted with a window and typically, no lights have been installed yet. I scowl around. Why, if dreams were unreal, were they also so realistic? "I remember this place. Yasuhara jumped out at me from the room over. Ooh.

"There're souvenirs here!" I say as I pick up a clown doll. Naru, characteristically, ignores me, but when I look back a second time, his eyes are closed, his chest rising rhythmically in peaceful sleep. I hide a smile as I flit over to the other shelves, collecting several other stuffed toys which I then arrange around us. I'm in the middle of this when Naru's eyes flick open, a red-haired plush doll squeaking when he puts his hand on it accidentally. He looks wordlessly at me. I grin. "Cute huh. I'll hand it to Shizu. She's good at this."

Naru's eyes darken at the mention of her name and he treats the Hello Kitty doll that's digging into his elbow to a death glare.

"I see that you've managed to keep yourself entertained."

Picking up an aeroplane emblazoned with the amusement park logo, I make sweeping motions with it over Naru, who is forced to duck his head to avoid me. "Oops. Bomber pilot coming through! Beware the grumpy bear which just woke up! Whee!" Giggling to myself, I put the toy down and smile at him innocently. He glares at me and then looks away. Still smiling, I push some of the stuffed toys closer to him. "Don't be scared of the grumpy bear," I say, patting the Hello Kitty doll and a Kero plushie. "He's mean, egotistical, proud," I continue, "but he's really alright. All the onee-chans like him 'cause he's so pretty, including the ghoulish ones."

"Lamia. Not ghoul," Naru corrects automatically even though he doesn't look mollified in the least. "Shizu is a lamia."

Sensing a mini-lecture in the wings, I wait for him to continue.

"A vampiric species of monster. She's managed to sustain herself this long feeding on Haruo's spiritual energy and the sense of fear and envy she cultivated in this place."

"Until you came along," I finish for him.

"Yes. While the lamia not particular about her energy source, she tends to draw on those of the opposite sex."

"So…" I say slowly, thoughtfully digesting the implication of his explanation, "they seduce their victims?"

Naru, uncharacteristically, reddens. I cough, blushing too when he remains silent. "Erm. Sorry. I shouldn't have brought that up." We lapse into awkwardness and I look hastily away at the puddle forming under the window.

It hadn't been raining that day when we sat under the tree.

"Who do you think she was when she was alive?" I ask nervously when the awkward moment seems to stretch.

"Very likely a low-ranking cast member that has not been in the limelight much." Naru answers. The relief is unmistakable in his voice. "I'll need a member list from Aoi Theatre Company to confirm that though."

"Aoi? But they're the ones being attacked, mostly."

"Envy, Mai, of Shizuko," he explains with exaggerated patience. "It's both Shizu's source of strength and her weakness."

"And all along, I was thinking it was Shizuko's spirit that was haunting this place."

"I should have thought about that," Naru admits grimly. He looks out of the window as well. "The first thing is to lure her out."

I wait. Naru doesn't waste unnecessary words and sure enough, he leaves off gazing absently to seize me up, calculating. I match his own probing gaze with a suspicious frown. "And how exactly?"

Naru's eyes shift furtively but the smirk remains before he meets my eyes again. "I suppose we'll have to make her jealous."

If it only sounds as simple as it does. This time, it's my turn to look away.

"N-No." I walk away, wrapping my arms about me. "I don't even know what you feel about me... other than that you really, really like the tea I make."

"I don't dislike you, if that's what you are asking," Naru replies quietly from where he is seated. "I don't talk about it because it's obvious."

"What is?" I snap coldly. "That you like me?"

He sighs and then gets up, using the wall as a support. We stand facing each other across the window. Lightning flashes, illuminating Naru's white, tired face.

"I remember telling you that I wasn't easy to like," he continues after a beat. "It was a hint."

I nod tightly. "I remember. I don't recall giving up on you either."

"Exactly," he murmurs as he leans downwards, angling his lips to mine. "You should finish what you started."