Day 3 - 12:00 AM
"Is everyone ready?" John asked as he tucked his vial of holy water in the folds of his robes.
"Wait, where's Matsuzaki-San and bou-san?" Naru said, his brows furrowing.
"Probably on another date," Masako answered nonchalantly. Everyone turned to face her, with varying degrees of shock and incredulous-ness on their face.
"Why would they be on a date before our exorcism?" Lin said, annoyed. Masako shrugged, bringing a kimono sleeve to her mouth.
"They've been going on date this whole investigation. Yesterday I ran into them at the coffee shop while researching," Yasu pointed out. Naru frowned and crossed his arms.
"That's true, I'm not sure what they're up to but they have been ducking out together an awful lot," Mai admitted. Lin just sighed.
"We'll have to wait for them to get back," Lin said and settled back into his chair. Naru's frown deepened.
"I'll call them," John ventured before whipping out his phone and dialing a number. "Monk? Hello, I'm glad I got a hold of-"
John was interrupted when Naru snatched the phone out of his hands.
"Stop frolicking with Ayako and get back here, we have work to do," he said coolly before hanging up. Mai and John exchanged open-mouthed looks while Yasu laughed.
"So what's the plan again?" Mai asked. Naru shot her an annoyed look but his eyes appeared mild so she dismissed it. He was probably doing it for show, by now she knew he always took time to explain things to her no matter what.
"It appears we can't simply exorcise the spirits," Naru began.
"Then why are we doing just that," Yasu interrupted. He blushed when Naru shot him a frosty look.
"As I was about to say, we can't just exorcise them. I've determined that out target is Kito-san, so we must draw her and the other spirits out. Once they're out, we'll move onto stage two of our plan." Naru's gaze caught Mai's and she nodded her assent.
"What exactly is our stage two?" Yasu piped up again. Naru held Mai's gaze for a second more before turning back to Yasu, letting out a small sigh.
"We're going to summon another spirit." Yasu's brows furrowed.
"Why would you do that?" he asked.
This time it was Lin who spoke up. "I learned that shortly after the death of Jade-san, Kito-san found another man. When Nakame-san learned of this he grew enraged and confronted her. Before their deaths, Kito-san allegedly admitted that she was in love and was regretful of what she'd done. I believe that if we summon Kito-san's love she will leave us and this theatre in peace."
"I only hope we don't anger the other spirits in the process," Masako mumbled into her sleeve. John bit his lip at that.
"It'll be fine, just stick to the plan," Naru assured them. "Anyhow, Monk and Matsuzaki-san are here."
Just then Monk and Ayako burst in, looking flushed and rumpled.
"Let's get this show on the road," Monk declared.
Mai stood next to Naru in front of the stage as Ayako began her ritual. Naru had decided to use her because she would cause a distraction but wouldn't actually harm the spirits and send them into a frenzy. Monk and John were stationed on opposite ends of the build and were working in to the centre of the building in an attempt to drive the spirits together.
Masako and Yasu were chatting with the actors and informing them of what was happening but would return shortly and Lin was off placing charms.
So far things were looking good.
"Are you okay?" Naru asked Mai softly. She shot him a confused look before realizing she was tapping her foot impatiently.
"Oh, yeah, no problems here," she assured him, flashing a grin. He simply nodded and turned back to watch the procedures. Outside Mai could hear Monk chanting and she knew they were getting closer.
"We call upon you to bless and purify this unholy site," Ayako muttered. Mai crossed her arms against a sudden chill and waited. Any minute now.
Just as Ayako had finished up the last of her rites, all her candles blew out. Mai waited for the overhead lights to go out but nothing happened as Ayako frowned and joined the duo.
"I'm finished, all the lights in the east side of the building are either out or flickering crazily and I evacuated everyone," Monk reported as he entered the stage. Naru grunted his assent as Masako and Yasu swept in.
"Everyone is leaving now, however the owner's are staying," Masako informed Naru.
"Good. All we need now is John and Lin," Naru noted. Mai shivered involuntarily, a clear sign that the temperature was dropping even more. Naru glanced at her, concerned, but she waved him off.
Lin marched in as well and reported his progress to Naru in hushed tones.
"Naru, on stage," Yasu said suddenly. Everyone turned to look and Mai's eyes widened. An angry black cloud was forming on stage and the lights above the stage were blowing out one by one.
That's when John burst in, and everything went to hell.
Instantly the lights all went out at once and the chairs began rattling. It was such a ruckus Yasu couldn't help but clap his hands over his ears, and Ayako winced as a sharp tearing sound emanated from the stage. She could tell by the loud woosh and the large thud and rustling that the curtains had been torn down.
"Why have you come here," an angry female voice rang out. Mai couldn't visibly see the cloud but she knew that it had expanded and was beginning to seep out into the auditorium where SPR was.
"All this time, trapped here. We want our revenge," a male voice responded. John gasped and Masako leaned into him to comfort him, bringing a smile to the priest's face.
"What you did was abominable, and you must pay," another female voice cried. Mai realized that the plan was working, and all three spirits were together. The only problem was that they were all incredibly angry, there was no telling what they would do. Already Mai knew the theatre was destroyed, a lot of the chairs had been broken and overturned, the lights were most likely broken and the curtain lay on the stage.
"No," John shouted. Masako frowned and gripped his arm.
"John-san, please don't interfere," she hissed. John swallowed loudly but didn't shake her off.
"You can't hurt me, I am strong," Kito taunted. Mai's eyes were adjusted now and she could make out two more swirling black clouds on either side of the stage. This looked bad, she hoped Naru would act quickly.
"Combined we are stronger than even you," Jade bit out.
"Masako," Yasu suddenly cried as Masako slumped to the ground. John quickly knelt down and supported her head in his lap, and waved Yasu away.
"Do come at me, if you do I'll hurt the precious boy you've been watching Nakame," Kito challenged. Yasu frowned. Surely they didn't mean him. In response to his question he felt something icy and moist wrap around his upper arm and jerk, dragging him to the stage.
Monk tried to grab the boy but he was pushed back by an unseen force. Ayako made another stab at grabbing the boy but she was simply tossed aside as well. Yasu grunted as he suddenly hit the bottom of the stage. It was still dark in the theatre and his heart was racing a million miles an hour.
"Don't touch him," Jade warned. Kito laughed, a chilling sound that made Yasu feel cold all over.
"You should listen to her," Naru spoke up suddenly. Mai's eyes swivelled in the darkness to find him as she realized he was no longer at her side. She saw his shadow approaching the stage.
"What will you do, child?" Kito spat.
"Enough of this, you must pay," Nakame said. Kito let out a shrill scream of someone in pain, making Masako stir and groan. John gently covered her ears and cast a nervous look at Monk, who was grimacing. Mai felt rather than heard Lin approach her and was grateful for the man's presence.
Kito's loud scream changed into hysterical laughter.
"Oh please, did you really think that would hurt? I'll show you hurt," Kito hissed. Mai gasped as Nakame let out a yell. She wished she could see clearer. Where was Naru? And Yasu?
"Stop it," Jade choked out. What was going on?
"It hurts," Masako whimpered. Mai turned to her friend and saw that Masako was rolling around in pain. "The pressure, it hurts."
"Masako what's going on?" Ayako asked, concerned. She knelt next to the medium and smoothed her hair back, a motherly gesture that made Mai's stomach hurt.
"There's a pressure in my head. Kito's hurting them," Masako ground out.
"Stop all of this right now," Naru's voice rang out. The whole theatre fell silent at his cold and authoritative tone. "Here, take this."
Mai fully expected Naru to throw a hitogata at Kito, and her lover would magically blossom into existence. To her surprise he tossed something heavy onto the stage. A book? Kito inhaled sharply and Mai saw the looming mist shrink slightly.
"W-Where did you get this," Kito demanded. Mai tried to move closer but Lin's hand on her shoulder stopped her.
"I think it's yours now," Naru said, not unkindly. The cloud shrank even more.
"Impossible," Kito murmured, so softly the rest of the gang almost didn't hear her.
"Open it," Naru instructed.
"What are you doing," Jade demanded angrily. "Stop this, she must be punished."
"No, wait," Nakame silenced his lover. Mai was starting to forget they were ghosts, they sounded so human in the darkness.
"This can't be," Kito said, her voice catching. Mai heard the clicking of a lock, and then the rustle of paper. Everyone held their breaths, silent. Mai still couldn't see Yasu, and she was growing very concerned. "This- this cannot be."
"What is it," Mai whispered to Lin.
"A letter, from a certain someone. We found it last night," he explained in hushed tones. Mai's eyes widened. That was so smart.
"I-I've been such a fool." Monk grunted and muttered something that sounded a little like no kidding under his breath but Ayako silenced him. "Is this real?"
"Yes." Naru's voice was soft and Mai felt chills, yet she knew it wasn't just the cold. She wasn't used to hearing the kinder side of Naru.
"Is he really waiting for me?" Kito asked in a wavery voice. There was no response so Mai assumed Naru was nodding.
"What is this," Jade asked, her voice still hard but less furious.
"It's okay to move into the light. I can see him and I know you do too," Masako suddenly said from behind the gang. They turned to see her standing on her feet, supported by John.
"Yes, I suppose you're right," Kito replied. Mai could make out faint flashes of light on the stage and the cloud instantly dissipated to form the shape of a woman.
"That's it, really?" Ayako muttered in disbelief.
"Quiet woman, you'll jinx it," Monk warned her.
"I've missed you," Kito said happily before there was a bright flash of light and she was gone. Mai could feel the heaviness lift around her. However there was still a problem left to solve. Correction, two problems. Nakame and Jade had come expecting revenge and it had been snatched from them. Mai could feel their fury.
"How dare you," Nakame's voice was cold and unyielding. Mai flinched. Still no Yasu!
"You will pay for that," Jade added. Ayako screamed as she felt something hard ram into her back, sending her tumbling to the ground. Monk joined her soon after, rolling around in pain.
"What the hell was that," Monk ground out, clutching his lower back. When Lin shone his flashlight on their backs they revealed angry red hand prints.
"We could do this all day," Jade said smugly. John cried out as something grabbed his hair and tugged fiercely, sending him staggering backwards. He was quick to splash holy water in the area around him, stopping the attack. Mai felt her heart beating a million miles an hour. They were working through the members of SPR, their attacks getting worse. She had to do something, anything.
Lin let out a soft cry as something hard crashed into his head. Mai gasped as he crumpled, and Masako began screaming at them to stop. She could hear Naru pounding up the aisle to his friends.
"Shut up, child," Nakame warned her. Masako let out a choked gurgle as hands wrapped around her neck, silencing her. Monk leapt up and began chanting in an effort to release her.
"Naru, what do we do," Mai said, worried as he reached her. "And where the hell is Yasu!?"
"I don't know, this is going worse than planned. I didn't think they'd get this angry," he admitted tersely. Masako took in several gasps of air as Monk finished his chant.
"I have an idea," Mai suddenly whispered. "Is Kashikoi-sama still here?" Naru shot her a look.
"Mai, no, you can't risk clients," he warned her, reaching out to grab her as she slipped around him.
"It'll work, it has to!"
"Mai, where are you going," Ayako demanded. Mai easily dodged everyone and bolted into the theatre.
"Naru, stop her, it's dangerous out there," Monk yelled as the doors slammed.
Mai sprinted down darkened corridors. Her gut told her to head to base, which was where she was headed. She felt eerie as she raced headlong down hallway after hallway. Nothing was happening, and her stomach seized as she realized it was because the ghosts were wreaking havoc in the theatre. Her friends were in serious trouble.
She finally reached the base and flung the door open panting. To no surprise, Daishi and Kashikoi stood calmly in the room, waiting for her.
"We were just watching, swear. I wanted to see what was happening," Daishi said nervously. Mai smiled gently at him.
"You're not in trouble." Daishi grinned at her and released his tight hold on Kashikoi's hand. "But we need you Kashikoi-sama, please help us."
"I dreamed of this moment," Kashikoi answered distantly. Mai resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She needed to get her back to the theatre and get her plan in action, not hear about some old lady's dreams. She clenched her fist as she saw Ayako be dragged down towards the stage before Monk stepped in and carried back up to safety. Everyone was huddled together for protection. But still no Yasu.
"Please, we have to go," Mai pleaded with her. Kashikoi's eyes focused on Mai's wide brown ones.
"You have a red aura, did you know?" she murmured before reaching out and grabbing Mai's hand and heading for the door, dragging the now confused teen behind her. For an old lady she was surprisingly strong. "Daishi, stay put please. Hold on to your charms until I return."
Mai got one last glimpse of Daishi's panicked face before the door closed and the two began walking as quickly as possible to the theatre.
"I have seen you so many times before you came, in my head," Kashikoi began talking. Mai frowned slightly.
"I don't understand."
"You don't have to child. Know this, you are a born saviour. Just like your boss, there are some people gifted with abilities to save." Mai bit her lip and found herself supporting Kashikoi more and more as she attempted to quicken the pace. "I saw you one night when this first started happening. Before you were even born. You'll be the one to end it all."
"Please don't say such things," Mai mumbled as they reached the door from the dressing room hallway. They were getting close to the theatre.
"I can only do so much child, it's up to you," Kashikoi warned her. Mai sighed as they quickly reached the theatre doors. She didn't like what Kashikoi was saying. She came to the woman for help, not a moral lesson.
"Mai!" John called to her. Mai grimaced at the howling in the theatre. Objects were flying around and it was still deathly cold. Everyone looked haggard and almost everyone was bleeding in some place. Mai's heart thudded when she saw blood trailing down Naru's face and the way John was awkwardly holding his wrist. Masako was unconscious and Lin sat limply against chairs.
"Stop all of this right now," Mai commanded as loudly as she could muster. "I have someone here for you."
She could hear Nakame and Jade gasp as she released Kashikoi so the woman could step forward.
"What is all of this," the woman scolded. Mai locked gazes with Ayako and winked. The miko smiled. "Shame on you two, you aren't the people I know. Why the big fuss? Kito is gone, you should have no more reason to be angry."
She could feel the tension in the air slacken.
"This outburst, this spat, is unnecessary. You taught me once when I was young to always be kind because you never knew what was going on in one's life. This is certainly not kindness, no?" Kashikoi continued scolding them. Mai had to admit, it was mildly comedic to see an old lady berating two large, angry presences.
"She's right you know. All this hatred. I'm sick of it," Jade relented first after a few moments of silence.
"Nonsense! I wanted so badly to see Kito suffer for all she had done. I was wronged. They must pay." Nakame's anger was back.
"Have they not paid enough? Stop this, please. If you try to hurt them, you'll have to go through me." Nakame gasped at Kashikoi's words.
"Please, don't hurt her. She's right, we should leave," Jade whispered. Nakame inhaled and exhaled heavily.
"But how?"
"You need to let go. Of all of it. I know what happened was terrible, believe me, I saw it. But you can't be stuck like this forever," Mai spoke up. Her voice was shaky and she mentally berated herself. She was aware of the gangs gazes on her.
"I-I guess I could," Nakame relented. Kashikoi let out a grunt of relief. Mai could tell that internally the woman had no desire to get hurt in the conflict.
"I see it, can you not? Come darling," Jade said softly. Masako smiled gently in her unconscious haze as the two spirits linked arms and marched forward. There was another flash of light, and Mai blinked.
"Well, that was a hell of a lot of trouble," Monk spoke up after the light faded. "Is everyone okay?"
"I think Masako'll be fine, just a little knocked out. My wrist is sprained but I'm okay," John confirmed.
"I'm alright," Lin added. Ayako and Naru also said they were fine.
"But seriously, where's Yasu," Mai pointed out.
"Did someone call me?" Yasu said from the doorway. Everyone turned to see him standing casually with Daishi.
"Where did you go?" Ayako asked incredulously.
"Well, after Naru got me away from the ghosts I decided to leave." Everyone shook their heads at him disbelievingly.
"I guess it's over anyhow, no matter," Naru declared as he awkwardly stood up, wincing slightly. One by one SPR began to rise off the floor. They were all standing around when Kazuko stormed in. When he noticed the lights were out he fiddled with the switch until the lights came on.
Mai gasped at the damage. Half the lights were broken and glass littered the floor. The curtain lay across the stage, littered with dirt and plaster and other broken items. Kazuko's eyes grew impossibly wide as the blood drained out of his face.
"M-My theatre," he said in disbelief.
"All in a day's work," Yasu said cheerfully as he patted the man's shoulder. "You're welcome, by the way. The ghosts are gone."
"I knew the case was going to be different, but I didn't think the lesser ghosts would turn on us," John admitted in the van on the way home. It was him, Monk, Masako and Mai in one vehicle and Lin, Naru and Ayako in the other. They were on speakerphone with each other trying to get records straight.
His wrist was bandaged and he had some bruises, but he was fine. Lin had several cuts, but they were small so he was fine after a cleaning. Naru had a bandage on his forehead but he was fine as well. The worst was Masako and Ayako, who had minor concussions and bruising. Mai was the only one who escaped unharmed, which was a first.
"I'm kind of glad Yasu got out, mad as I am at him," Mai said. "Masako confirmed that he was followed the whole investigation. Something much worse could've happened considering the ghosts had their sights on him."
"Where is he now, anyhow? He's not in your van, is he?" Monk asked from the drivers seat. Everyone groaned.
"He's home sleeping. I sent him home as soon as we left the theatre," Lin confessed. Monk rolled his eyes.
"Useful kid, eh?" prompting laughter from everyone in his vehicle.
"You weren't very useful either, with your constant dates with Matsuzaki-san," Masako pointed out.
"What?!" Monk and Ayako both shrieked.
"Oh, Matsuzaki-san, you can hear me," Masako commented mildly. Mai and John giggled as Monk and Ayako began to splutter out excuses.
"If you're dating, it's fine. We saw this coming ages ago," Mai reassured him. Monk huffed angrily.
"We're not dating. If you must know, we're in the midst of securing a potential case," Ayako said sharply. Masako flushed and quickly brought a sleeve to her mouth.
"Pardon me, we kept seeing you two sneak off together, we just assumed," Masako trailed off.
"So you're not dating?" John asked, prompting surprised looks from Mai and Masako.
"NO." Monk and Ayako answered at the same time.
"I have to say, I'm disappointed. You two had a good thing going," John commented slyly. Mai's jaw fell open and Masako looked no better.
"W-Why I- I would n- ... shut up," Monk snapped.
Everyone laughed, except for Naru and Lin, of course.
"Well, that's another case down," Masako spoke Mai's thoughts quietly.
"Thank goodness."