Scenes from Shibuya

Disclaimer: The characters of Ghost Hunt do not belong to me and are the property of their respective creators.

Thanks to everybody who reviewed. Glad you enjoyed it and that Naru in non-black attire sits well with you all.

2. Cut!

She surveyed the building solemnly, her large dark eyes peering first right, the left. No, the building, dilapidated as it was, was merely a disused structure. "Hara-san, do you sense anything?" her co-host whispered conspiratorially. The camera tracked round, the director, a portly man with an absurd cap mouthing his instructions silently. She cast a demure look at the lens directed at her. "No, unfortunately I don't, Matsushita-san" she murmured. The co-host, a newcomer, a flashy young man dressed in sombre black looked disheartened for a second and then perked up. "Ah, perhaps we should try an upper floor. The lady caller who made the report mentioned that a man committed suicide by hanging himself to the rafters on the highest floor." Motioning for the camera to follow, he tramped upstairs, his shiny loafers creaking on the warped floorboards.

The camera panned across the rafters, taking in the peeling wooden roof, the mouldy carpet on the ground lit by small pools of light, the speckles of dust floating lazily to settle on it. It was almost peaceful, that is, if one ignored the obscene graffiti scribbled on all four walls. If a death had really occurred here, the man had already moved on.

"… he was a salaryman. Filled with grief after his wife took off with another man, he took his life in this abandoned building. They say that when they cut him down from the beam, his face had such a terrible grin on it that his wife, sorry, ex-wife, fainted at the sight…"

She coughed politely. "There are no spirits here. I believe it is common for bodies to seize up in a condition known as rigor mortis. Sometimes, the facial muscles stiffen in a way that gives the visage of a grin or leer," she informed him with a gentle smile. "You're very fortunate not to have the experience of witnessing dead bodies yet," she added. Matsushita's mega-watt smile shrank just a fraction. "Indeed. Has Hara-san seen a lot of dead bodies then?"

She tipped her head gravely. "You could consider it a job hazard."

"I see… It is a slight disappointment to know that there are no spirits here in this corner of Harajuku but that means we can sleep safe tonight eh?"

"Cut!"

The two of them instantly relaxed. Matsushita mopped his brow. "What a dump!" he moaned, sinking down onto a foldable chair that had been hastily dispatched as he sat down, fanning himself with the script. "Are you sure it isn't haunted? Suppose some little pale-skinned creature is hiding behind the sofa over there?" he enquired archly. "It's not like you can see through furniture can you?" He sniggered as if he'd said something incredibly funny. Masako ignored him. If some people considered her obnoxious, they ought to meet her co-hosts. Not that she blamed them or anything but it was terribly boring working with grown men that operated more on bravado than good sense. The director signalled her over. "Good, good Masako-chan. We'll just shoot the last bit and then we can leave." He squinted at her. "Oi! Someone get here and give Hara-san a touch-up! We'll be starting in five!"

As the make-up artist approached, muttering sourly under her breath, there was a muffled thump and creak. Everybody turned in the direction of the sound. It was coming from behind the sofa. Then, a small ball, of the sort young children played with bounced out from behind it and an eerie cackle echoed round the room and. "Stay calm," Masako warned sharply when Matsushita tried to get up. His face was ashen. "What the heck? You said there wasn't anything here!"

A shadow loomed slowly from behind the torn back of the sofa. With terrified screams, Matsushita and half the team bolted. "It's not a ghost," she repeated firmly as Matsushita cowered behind the camera man and the director. Leaning over the edge of the peeling furniture she glowered calmly at the two elementary schoolers huddled behind it, giggling silently.

"Excuse me. Shouldn't you two be at home?"

To her surprise, their faces paled and they ran out screaming. "Ahhhhh! Ghost!"

Honestly! What was it with this people? And she was considered to be a well-looking girl too. Only children and Mai would consider her appearance to be supernatural than normal. She was taking a step back when a rat crawled out from under the sofa. The two boys peered round the door nervously and she pointed at the scrawny creature. "There's your ghost," she said austerely.

Stepping out into the late evening, Masako waved as the rest of the crew zoomed off in the tv station's van. Her own chauffeur was late and she looked at her watch impatiently as she waited by the curb. It was unbecoming, to say the least, and she decided to cross the lane over to where Yoyogi Park was. At least she could rest her feet at one of the benches. Dressed in a blouse and skirt, she could people watch inconspicuously as she waited. People would have noticed her in her kimono but now she knew she was a mere face on the street. Anonymity was a relief after facing the camera for an entire day.

As she observed the smiling couples venturing forth arm in arm, she felt a slight pang. She considered taking a detour to SPR first but then she might walk in to find them together. Naru would ignore her and worse still, Mai would scold him for his rudeness, be extra nice to her and they would end up squabbling. If only that girl knew what sort of effect she had on the rest of the team. Even Naru had been susceptible. Like a sunbeam on ice or something. Was it any surprise that she, Masako would be on the losing side of their friendly rivalry? A small girl pointed at her.

"Hey, mama! It's Hara Masako! Isn't she cool?"

Breaking from her reverie, Masako hastily snapped on her professional smile. Several heads turned at this.

"Hey, isn't it that tv medium? My, she looks even cuter than she does on screen…" a boy said, grinning at her as his friend nudged him. She smiled back, acknowledging the praise as the boy turned tomato-red.

A young couple came over. "Can we get an autograph?" the girl asked eagerly.

"Of course," she said, beaming genuinely as a small group rapidly formed around her bench.

"Can you really see ghosts? What're they like?" The boy from behind had sidled up close. Did she have time for a drink? Did she visit Harajuku often? Would she like him to show her around? As she chatted with all of them patiently, she figured what the heck (as Matsushita would say). There were always some things that you won at. Like now.

A/N: I know Masako isn't really anybody's favourite character but I fancied writing non Mai and Naru stuff. It didn't turn out so well but it was an interesting experience. Will get back to the latter soon though. =)