I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to read. Hope you enjoy it!
SmileRen; Thank you!
EmpressSaix; I don't feel like Yoruichi could really help her improve, you know?
Luafua; Thank you so much.
16; Yeah, I feel like Kubo leaves him out too much.
Eternal Cat Moon; Thanks! Is this soon enough?
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"You are a horrible person." Akuma said staring at me in disbelief.
"Worst Kouhai ever." Kiyoshi whined.
"We do need the support…" Daichi said trying to lighten the mood. "It could be worse..?"
"Who is worse than Don Kanonji?! He's a quack and knows nothing about wrestling!"
"We need the support and the money!" I argued ignoring the increasingly murderous glares Fuzen was sending me.
"He'll also sign off on our community service hours!" Keigo defended holding up the agreement terms. "His company has agreed to pay for charter buses and four star hotels for our tournaments!"
The boys calmed down slightly but still looked unimpressed by the idea of spending the entire day helping out Don and his staff.
"We could afford to buy our own uniforms." I added waving the hideous bright yellow leotards in the air.
"Alright I'm sold." Kiyoshi said immediately. "That alone is worth the torture."
"You have no choice so might as well get over it." Kagine, the gym teacher, said ushering us to the school bus. "Maybe after this someone will actually want to join the wrestling team."
"Ouch." Akuma winced fighting hurt. "I don't want a bunch of losers to join. I want fighters who are compassionate about wrestling!"
"That's the spirit!" Sakuya yelled sticking her head out the bus window. "Now get your asses on the bus I'm paying him by the hour!"
Akuma and Kiyoshi went to the back to get the larger seats so they could nap during the ride while Fuzen sat up front with his mom and dad to help work out the tournament and training schedules.
"It's only for a couple of hours." I said taking the front seat near the window. "And we get to skip class~"
"Evans!" Kagine snapped glaring at me. "I will send you back to class if you keep it up."
"I'm the one who set this up. No me, no Kanonji." I stated crossing my arms over my chest. "It's guest speaker day anyway. We got an accountant."
"Oh that's awful." Daichi said leaning over this seat behind Keigo and I. "We got a veterinarian. She brought kittens. I'm missing kittens, you owe me."
"I'll take you to a cat café for your birthday."
"Sweeeeeeeet!"
"When is your birthday?" Keigo asked curiously. He was out of his element. Waaay out.
"August first!" Daichi chirped. "What about you?"
"April first! What's your favorite color?"
I smiled and looked out the window to watch the landscape pass and tell Keigo make friends by himself. I freaking love car rides they're so calming.
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"Well kids have fun!" Sakuya chirped getting her free kimono and pass and into the onsen.
"James said you didn't need to come into work tonight." Pops said following the rest of the parents, who decided to show up.
It's a completely free spa day for them and someone needed to take us home since the bus driver refused to wait to drive us home after six.
The lobby was large and decorated with Ukiyo-e style paintings. A few cats ran around the room but a slender black cat sat on the receptionists desk and stared at us with intelligent yellow eyes. It was kind of unnerving.
"Sign here, here, and here." The secretary said pointing at numerous spots on our waivers and other legal documents. "Fill out the back of this form as well."
"What the hell do we need to sign this much stuff?!" Keigo barked looking at the list of possible accidents they would not be liable for if they were to happen. "P-possession? Will not cover an exorcism?!"
"Kid, we specialize in ghosts. You're going to be working around ghosts. Slip up once and your prime ghost meat." She said popping her gum loudly.
Akuma rolled his eyes handing her his finished packets casually making the gesture for crazy.
"I thought we are selling merchandize and helping set up film equipment and tables?" Kiyoshi added as we all handed her our packets.
"Yes. In a haunted hotel with a live ghost hunting demonstration and filming." She said like he was the biggest idiot on the planet.
"Karissa, I don't want to be possessed." Keigo whined clinging to my arm. "This place gives me the creeps! It's like the live taping all over again!"
"Don't worry. I won't let them haunt you." I said wondering how much ghost presence he felt.
The cat made a weird laughing sound jumping off the counter and rubbing her face across everyone's legs.
"You believe in ghosts?" Akuma asked looking around the old hotel curiously.
The hotel, Heianbo, is a traditional Ryokan and has been in the same spot and owned by the same family since the Edo Period. It's what you'd imagine feudal Japan would like with a few modern influences.
And there are ghosts everywhere.
Three Geisha like ghost women walked past us gossiping and giggling. When we first entered the property a samurai with a spear yelled and asked for our names. That was awkward since I made eye contact and he decided to follow us. He's still yelling at me.
"I do." I said watching an elderly man ghost pet the large fat cat sitting in front of the open sliding door.
"Well that's unexpected." Kiyoshi commented passing around appropriately sized Ghost Hunt shirts and our staff passes.
I shrugged noticing more modern ghosts walking around tending to things. It was strange since they should have turned into Hollows. At least that's what Rukia led me to believe.
"Children!" Don shouted swiftly walking towards us. "Welcome! And thank you for offering your youth to me!"
Don decided to hug each and everyone of us. "It's my Blessed Hug! No ghost can touch you now that you are under my protection!"
Akuma, Kiyoshi, and Fuzen glared at me. I just smirked and watched a screaming ghost trip one of the camera guys.
"Is that the ghost you're here for?" I whispered as I received my hug.
"I believe so." He whispered back. "What should I do about the others?"
Don's film crew and merchandize staff came forward and split us up to help with various tasks. Akuma and Fuzen are helping set up all the equipment and tables for the Dinner With Kanonji special. Daichi, Kiyoshi, and Keigo are to sell merchandize and help the patrons.
I get to spend the day with Don and the creepy black cat.
"They aren't doing anything harmful so leave them I guess." I said keeping an eye on the ghost dressed in a tuxedo who continued to scream and try to harass everyone near him.
"It smells like bad spirits!" Don yelled as his camera man focused on his. "Let us find this devil!"
The hotel owner walked us through the entire hotel telling the history of it and adding in notable deaths.
We proceeded to walk the entire hotel even though he knew exactly where the problem ghost was. The owner mentioned a German business man overdosed while staying here perfectly describing the ghost.
Said problem ghost dropped a light fixture on the secretary, slammed the cats tail in the screen door causing it to attack Keigo's leg, and continued to scream clawing at the chain in his chest.
The ghost hunt fans were cheering from the auditorium while they watched the live taping.
"I have found the problem!" Don yelled receiving a chorus of 'Bohahaha!' from across the property.
"Fuck off you, goofy retard!" The problem ghost shouted flipping us off while trying to clog the koi pond filter.
I laughed ignoring the camera man's glare. I wasn't allowed to be in the shots or make noise just hold the microphone.
Don dramatically twirled around his spirit stick. "Be at peace! Konanji Paradise Jab!"
He smashed the bottom of his spirit stick into the forehead of the grumpy ghost. The area he struck lit up slightly before he disappeared.
His fans cheered loudly and whistled. While the nearby ghosts gathered looking at Don in horror.
"Amazing Kanonji-san!" The owner clapped. "The place feels lighter! I do believe there are more however."
"Are you sure?" Don asked looking at the other ghosts. "They aren't do any-"
The wall behind the ghosts exploded knocking the owner and camera man back into the garden area. Debris and shards of glass obstructed our vision.
"Not again!" the cameraman shouted desperately trying to clean the lens of his camera.
The ghosts were screaming in terror while one was screaming in absolute pain.
"Help him please!" One of the geisha's shrieked standing in front of us.
A large bulky hollow had the samurai in his mouth and was shaking him around violently like a dog with a toy.
"Leave it to me!" Don said getting into the same stance he used to make the Kanonji Bomb from the last time.
I frowned wishing there was something I could do to help.
The Hollow had long and broad sharp-ended nose, a large shell-like armor on its back, while the rest of its body is similar to a goblin shark in appearance.
It also had four arms. two large dominant arms and two smaller secondary arms protrude from its belly. Its large arms each have three clawed digits, the middle digit being significantly larger.
The Hollow noticed the power up and snapped it's head in our direction crunching through the ghosts body.
It charged bellowing out that horrible cry they are known for. Don would have stood his ground if I hadn't tackled him to the floor barely managing to dodge its blade like nose.
It destroyed the doorway behind us, took out a few cherry blossom trees and managed to spark a fire by knocking over lanterns.
Don's spirit bomb blew up the room sending more debris and glass into the air and killing some of the ghosts.
"Move!" I barked pulling him away from the Hollow's lashing tail. It was long and tip resembled its nose.
The wooden floors splintered and groaned as the tail lashed around in agitation while the Hollow tried to remove it's nose from the building. It was too large for the small garden area.
The owner and camera man fled the scene upon Don's request but I felt like they would have left anyway.
"Karissa!" Pops shouted running towards us.
"Pops!" I panicked noticing the Hollow becoming unstuck. "Stay back it's dangerous!"
"I know." He said looking directly at the Hollow before pulling the bag off his shoulders and tossing it. "Catch."
I managed to despite the tail nearly taking my head off. Don was trying to beat it back with his spirit stick to no avail.
"Fuck yeah, Pops!" I found my guns inside the bags.
"Don't worry about the fire!" Pops yelled. "The owner is starting the sprinklers. The firemen are on their way too!"
"Those are illegal!" Don yelled over the Hollows victorious screams.
"Shut up, you're being ridiculous!" I yelled back at him focusing my Reiatsu and firing.
The Hollow staggered back from the force but was hardly scathed. It let out a loud rumble charging again while swinging his head back and forth trying to hit us with its nose.
"Human there are more!" The geisha from early shouted pointing at the bird like one in the sky. Fortunately, It was smaller.
Don threw his spirit stick like a javelin hitting the flying one in the mask managing to crack it and send it into the ground.
The larger Hollow caught it in his jaws and crushing it. Purple blood oozed from its lips as it snapped at the other Hollows showing up.
"What the fuck is going on?!" I yelled managing to take out a few of the smaller ones. "Don make sure everyone else is okay!"
"I can not leave you here alone!" He argued using his Kanon Ball to take out a cluster of them.
"Don't give me that shit!" I snapped glaring at him getting hit with a sudden blast of cold water from the sprinkler. "I can protect myself, they can't! Some of those people might have some spiritual pressure making them targets!"
"Bu-"
"They need you! They need their hero!"
The Large Hollow smacked down plenty of the smaller ones and gobbled them up sending chunks and purple blood everywhere. For ever five, he ate he grew slightly larger and louder.
He lost interest in the smaller Hollows and refocused on me using his two smaller arms to rip apart the smaller ones trying to gnaw on him.
He reared back before lunging directly at me. I dodged to the left, he swung his head after me. I ducked firing a couple of rounds of into his eye.
It screamed stomping backwards and clawing at its face with the smaller hands while smashing the area around me with its larger ones.
A cat meowed loudly as I hid behind a boulder waiting for the thrashing to slow down. I didn't need to be caught by more flying pieces of debris.
The black cat from earlier sat down in front or me and her paw before running it over her head then looked at me before doing it again.
"Oi." The cat paused its licking and stared. "You are one stupid fucking cat."
It hissed before doping it again looking at me intensely. The Hollow stopped lashing out and charged the boulder smashing it as I rolled out of the way hitting it in the other eye.
The cat meowed again weaving between my feet rubbing her paw over the nape of her neck again.
I killed two more hollows while trying to find the weak spot on the larger as it thrashed around wildly.
One of its large arms managed to graze my chest ripping through my shirt and opening thin red gashes. I yelped in pain firing off the guns simultaneously ripping holes in its teeth and face.
The Hollow forced its long nose under the floorboards flinging me, the cat, and the boards into the air.
I cursed twisting myself so I could see the Hollow. I aimed towards it's neck and well what do you know it screamed then burst into fragments before disappearing.
The cat clawed her way onto my shoulders as I tried to right myself so I'd land on my feet instead of my face.
My land was painful on my ankles but I managed to finish off the smaller ones quickly while the cat meowed and gave me a arrogant look.
"Don't sass me, cat." I snapped putting a chunk of wood from my calf. "Go like your asshole or something."
She yowled before swiping a paw at me.
"Karissa!" Keigo shouted slipping down the hallway holding a shirt over his face. "Are you all right? The firefighters said they couldn't find you! One of them fainted coming near here! They said it was carbon monoxide!"
He slid on a patch of fading Hollow blood and fell face first through the old man ghost. He shivered before jumping to his feet.
"Y-y-you're bleeding." He gagged looking at the scratches across my chest. "There is an ambulance outside! Use this to cover your face! Are you going to faint? Please don't faint."
"Relax, I've been breathing it in this whole time and nothing happened."
"Those are guns." He said pointing at them. "Your guns. Why do you have them? How did you sneak them in? If you get caught with those…"
Keigo stared at them then me before he gabbed them and put them into his pant pockets which were large and hid them a lot better than my skirt could. I would have protested but I suddenly felt very tired thanks to the adrenaline wearing off and the use of my Reiatsu.
"What are you still doing in here anyway?!" He asked leading me out of the hotel as I put the t-shirt he wanted me to cover my face with over my torn shirt. "Did that bastard leave you here?! A death on his show would get him so many ratings!"
"I was helping get other people out." I lied trying not to look at him or I'd feel guilty. "Pops brought the guns for me. Just in case of a extremist attack. Some people hate what Ghost Hunt stands for."
"That was really brave of you." He wasn't buying it.
"Miss are you all right?" An EMT asked swiftly moving towards me while his partner grabbed the stretcher. "Are you having trouble breathing? Were you unconscious at an time?"
"I'm okay. It's only minor cuts really. I can breathe fine and no."
They put me on oxygen anyway and Pops told me just to go to the hospital. He followed in the car and Keigo rode with me.
The hospital almost bored me to tears and I had so many questions to ask Pops. We had to wait for three hours until the doctor could see us. Keigo refused to go home even though it was getting late.
The doctor looked like an older version of Ishida with white hair. He made me take x-rays before stitching up the wounds on my calf and chest then having a nurse clean and wrap the rest of them. Pops gave them my information and medical history while the doctor wrote them down,
"Get some rest and eat to recover your energy." He said leaving the room quietly after signing off my release forms.
"Thank you for staying with us, Asano-kun." Pops said shaking his hand. "Would you like us to drop you off?"
"Of course! I couldn't leave my injured best friend to suffer alone in that dreary place!" Keigo chirped pulling me into a one armed hug as we walked to the car. "What should I do about the guns in my pocket?"
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"I'll give you some answers but first how about I heat us up some leftovers?" Pops said ruffling my hair. "I'll meet you in my lab."
I nodded letting out a long yawn. I need to ask Tessai to help me work on building up stamina or something.
"What the fuck?" I gawked staring dumbfounded at the black cat sitting at the computer casually typing away.
The cat lazily shifted her head to look at me letting out a low sound that sounded remarkably like a 'hello.'
"I am way too tired for this shit." I grumbled moving the cat away from the keyboard before it was clogged with fur.
"You were less than impressive today."
Holy crap. The cat was totally talking. The cat had a surprisingly masculine voice.
"Die! Devil kitty!" I bellowed lifting the swivel chair and throwing it at the yelling cat.
"Stop!"
"Hold on kitty! I'll exorcize the demon which plagues you!" The cat's eyes widened in horror as I gripped a scalpel in my hand. The cat lifted it's palm flashing it's claws.
"Bring it on, idiot!"
"Oi, fuck you cat" I hissed flicking it towards the cat. It dodged and lunged aiming it's claws at my face. I slapped it away when it got close but the little shit was quick!
"Pops!" I screamed looking around for the little devil. "Satan's cat is in here! Call a priest!"
"Calm down!" It yelled jumping on top of a counter knocking over empty test tubes and batteries.
Pops burst into the room and immediately tried to cat the cat.
"Did it manage to log in?" He asked urgently.
"I don't think so…?" I said stunned by the strangeness of it all. "Pops, what the hell is going on?"
The cat had managed to escaped the room but was apparently nicked by one of James' elaborate traps that Pops triggered in hopes of catching it. All we got was a lump of fur.
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A Kouhai is your junior at work, school, or a group. Usually they belong to the same organization as you but they entered the organization after you. A "kouhai" could also be someone who has entered the same "industry" as you but at a later date. In this case "industry" has a very broad meaning, e.g. the entertainment industry, a professional sports league.
A cat café is a theme café whose attraction is cats that can be watched and played with. Patrons pay a cover fee, generally hourly, and thus cat cafés can be seen as a form of supervised indoor pet rental.
Cats are always girls in my mind. Karissa doesn't know anything about Yurochi
The gesture for crazy is pointing your finger towards your head and making a circular motion.
A Ryokan is a type of traditional Japanese inn that originated in the Edo period (1603–1868), when such inns served travelers along Japan's highways.
Ukiyo-e is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints (or woodcuts) and paintings produced between the 17th and the 20th centuries, featuring motifs of landscapes, tales from history, the theatre, and pleasure quarters.