Hey Guys, is anybody still out there?
I'm sorry, I know I need to apologize. I made a mistake, maybe it is a common thing for authors but it was my first. I like Ghost hunt, the characters are well developed and perfect for picking and throwing into any kind of situation or new abilities and I did. I had four stories at the same time.
It was too much.
Eventually I really couldn't separate them out and keep each authentic unto itself and then... I couldn't write it at all. I broke the perfect platform for writing. I broke ghost hunt.
It has taken me until now to be able to write it again. Some of this was written a while ago and just recently corrected and now posted, some is new, I will finish this one and the others if or when I can. One at a time. Let me know what you think.
A few days after they had settled in, Lin and Mai were called to Martin's office.
"Miss Taniyama," Martin addressed her.
"Mai please."
Martin studied the girl for a moment then continued. "Mai, reviewing your records and the emails my son has sent about you, I was thinking that before we start further training we should proceed with some testing. That way we can more accurately set up a training regiment tailored for your abilities. I just want you to relax for a few days, I will just ask you to come in a few times and answer questions and the like. Nothing to worry about. Noll and Gene often enjoyed the testing, it sometimes helps reveal new things about yourself and possible ways to control your abilities."
Mai nodded, skeptical about anyone enjoying being tested but said nothing.
"Mori-san, why did you bring these useless assistants with you?" Naru asked as Madoka entered his office, the dor still ajar he was not upset that all three would hear his words.
"They are far from useless, they all have been assistants to other investigators in England before."
"How many speak Japanese?"
"They are all enrolled on an online course."
"Have any studied the culture?"
"It is best experienced."
"So they won't know the difference between a person praying or possessed?"
"That is not their forte."
"Can any of them exorcise a spirit?"
"No but John Brown and Takigawa are capable."
"Have they personally seen spirits?"
"Tomas has."
Naru paused considering, "Did he write the Ottoman file?" he noted an infamous case that the investigations had gone completely awry. Most of the equipment was ruined and the conclusions ranged from possession to UFO's. The client demanded a refund and refused to speak with anyone at BPR again.
Madoka hung her head, "They were brought or other reasons than to work on cases."
"So the home office has taken away my assistant and replaced him with three buffoons that will need to be protected on cases? At least you have been on a case before, although your abilities are limited."
Limited was not the word for it. Madoka, for all intents and purposes was mundane, she had knowledge of ghost hunting, training techniques and was a whiz at research, but besides use of Psychic artifacts she was mundane. Madoka winced under his words. He was usually harsh but she never winced, he paused but when she did not rear back and return his anger he knew.
"You are staying, aren't you?"
"I am only here as an internal investigator. Since I know Lin well I thought it would be most fair."
"I am not taking any of them on cases." Naru stated firmly, "Without you atleast as a babysitter they will be detrimental to any case."
"I am not a babysitter."
"You are the only person who speaks English and Japanese besides myself and I do not have time to translate all my instructions during a case."
"What about Mai?"
"She is currently in England and could not translate either." He glared at her.
"There isn't one case that you haven't had to babysit her, she has the highest medical bills in all of BPR including Japan and satellite locations all over the world. You have never thought of leaving her behind."
"She speaks the same language as the rest of the team and she has psychic abilities. Strong ones that rival mine or Gene's."
"And her medical bills?"
"Are not a factor during a case."
"It is not a factor that she is hospitalized 5 out of the last 7 cases?"
"She may be a danger magnet but she contributes to the case, which is more than I can say to any of my current help."
"Naru-bo," Takigawa called from the door, "I know you are in a discussion with Mori-san but I have a client I brought, if we are still able to take cases." He looked between the two of them then walked away.
"We will be short handed but we will manage." Naru stated. "Mori-san if you would take notes."
"That is not why I am here."
"Then tell whichever office help that can speak Japanese to take notes in whatever language they can manage." He walked out of his office. Madoka sighed and picked up a pad of paper, heaven forbid Naru actually take notes himself.
Naru surveyed the room as he entered. Takigawa was speaking with an unknown Japanese man. Young like the monk, ripped clothing but expensive threads, shaggy hair and an earring. Band-mate or other associate from the monk's night life.
His eyes turned to the others in the room. Assistant A, B and C. Names didn't matter, they were unknown and without merit in their dossier. Even mundane workers like Madoka could be of value if they put the effort into becoming worthwhile. Some days he wondered if that was why Mai's abilities developed so quickly, she wanted to be useful. Even if that meant making tea, or keeping children out of the way, she tried. That was another note Madoka should have known without him pointing it out.
"Shibuya-san this is 'Arata' he believes he is cursed."
"Please explain Arata-san."
"Well I tour around and play gigs all over Japan and have gone to a few ther countries. And you know the kids love it, we get fan mail, videos of kids from 3 to later thirties singing our songs and imitating us. So we do our best to keep it live and active you know?"
Naru nodded encouragement although he didn't care about the band.
"You've heard of Arata?"
"I do not follow contemporary artists."
"What do you listen to man?" he turned toward Takigawa, "I thought you said this man was down?"
"I said he'd be able to help figure this out, not that he listens to music."
"He enjoys more classical selections." Madoka inserted, trying to placate the client.
"Classical?" he turned back toward Naru, "Like what?"
"Bach, Bethoven."
"Ah, the other long haired musicians." He laughed. "Anyway, the kids are why we play and we have little pre-concert parties, and back stage passes for them and then for the teenies we do after show stuff, you know?"
Naru nodded.
"Well we have a certain selection of people who stay back stage, kids with illnesses and the like. They get a view and special treatment, parents think its great."
Naru nodded, glancing to the monk to see if he was going to get to the point soon.
"It's like this, I don't believe in hexes and curses, but something is definitely going on. You see we've had to cancel these parties and things have gotten even worst."
"Please describe the situation."
"Well it started with simple things, the TV in the VIP room was staticy then switching off, we replaced the TV, ahd a back up one and kept a technician in the room and it kept happening. Then one time the TV exploded while the technician was working on it and mind you this is not just one stage, we go to places all over the world and it happened. One bad plug, half a dozen but not in every city we visited. Then other things started too. Part of the curtain would fall on guests, or back stage would collapse. Other things always happening to the guests and VIP's. It has not affected me or any of the band but we had to stop the parties because of the last where a girl got injured."
"She walked up to the TV and it exploded. This little girl whose wish it was to be back stage of Arata, and she went to the hospital." Monk shook his head, "she didn't touch it, nor was it plugged in."
"When is your next concert?"
"This weekend."
"I would suggest you don't have a backstage party."
"We already cancelled that." He looked towards the monk wondering if the boss was really that dense. "All we have is a live link up to Tokyo hospital. We haven't had any problems with that before but this is getting worst, I don't want it to escalate to the people in the audience or people helping back stage. A concert has a lot of high-powered electrical equipment."
"I understand, we can have a team investigate the incidents this Friday and work from there. We will need-" he paused looking at the group in the room, "Ten passes to get us everywhere at the concert, room for a base and places to put up cameras."
"The base is easy, your cameras will be harder, there is a lot of movement backstage, I can't guarantee they won't be bumped and jostled."
"They are insured."
Arata shrugged his agreement, "Do as you like then, although we will need to insist on absolute privacy. If any of your film gets out there will be lots of problems. Even if rumors of your investigation gets out there will be hell to pay."
"Naru, I was wondering if we could have a celebrity invite?"
"Keep our investigation under the cover of a celebrity? I do believe that would be perfect."
"Really?" Madoka asked dumb founded.
"Of course, we have a well known celebrity which may choose to bring an entourage and possibly camera men."
"I thought you might like it, too bad Lin isn't here."
"We will manage." Naru glared over at the office help, "Could you make a celebrity invite to Hara-san? She would be a guest of honor, maybe she could do a little interview about superstitions of being backstage etc?"
"That would be cool, would she go for it?"
"I believe so."
So... how does anyone like it? Let me know.
Please review. Thanks!