Disclaimer: I do NOT own Ghost Hunt. Wonderful and fantastic genius, Fuyumi Ono-sensei does.
[[HOUSE OF EVERGREEN]]
Episode 6: The Rescuer
I stare at Naru. He stares back at me with a gentle smile on his face. I am holding onto a small ceramic pot in my hands. A young sapling, with new, light-green leaflets. Quite cute, I think to myself.
"A mulberry tree…?"
I ask, curious. I am glad about a gift from Naru. Why wouldn't I be? However, there is a slight uneasiness: something feels really wrong. Why would Naru give me a mulberry tree? Why is he giving me a gift? That sounds unlikely. I ponder, but he just smiles and replies, snapping me back to reality – or something that seems like it.
"Yes. You see, all the trees around here are evergreen. And you never saw any deciduous plants, right? Isn't it sad that you never get to see fallen leaves?"
"Hmm…"
That's an interesting way to see things. It may be because he saw and experienced more things than me. Or maybe because he's older and more mature. Most people think that evergreen trees are good because they are ever green.
It seems like he can read my mind. He grins and speaks.
"The fallen leaves are real pretty. And the fruits are delicious too. It's still a sapling, but hopefully it'll grow quickly. We should get some manure as well!"
I can barely hear what he speaks, distracted by his beautiful smile. My heart starts jumping madly.
###
…What was that?
I gasp at the quick flashback I saw. I don't think I even lost consciousness; actually, I don't think that lasted for more than a second.
I'm surely surprised that I didn't get hurt at all… I think. There are lots of rocks and pebbles here. Instead, I feel the warmth of someone holding me. I turn around to see that person's face.
It's a man. I don't know him. Who's he?
It is Bou-san who notices my absence first. He yells out. Ayako follows him.
"Mai-chan! Are you okay?"
"Mai! Where are you?"
"I'm right here! I just slipped, but I'm fine!"
"Jeez, you slipped again? Are you hurt?"
Bou-san sighs, relieved. He walks slowly now, relieved, towards where he hears my voice. I reply.
"Ye-yeah, it's okay. No worries, the man here saved me."
I point at him, standing right next to me. Of course, in scary stories, this man is not supposed to be here by now; he should have disappeared. But the man besides me does not, because he is indeed a real person.
"Hi. I'm Masao Muramoto. I'm deceased Muramoto-san's nephew. I'm the university student living in the house – have you heard of me?"
He introduces himself to Bou-san, then turns to me, asking the question. Of course I know him.
"Ah, yes. Muramoto-san… Thank you."
"No worries. Just call me Masao. That'll be fine."
He grins. He seems cheerful and kind. I think he's not a bad person.
###
By the time we – meaning Bou-san, Ayako, Masao-kun and me – all settled and reached the graveyard, everyone else was already there, and the sun has already set. Naru stares at us with annoyed expression on his face, then remarks how careless I am, falling everywhere. Ugh, jerk! I frown, but don't say anything, already knowing that I'll lose if I argue with him. I always did.
Naru turns around, asking Masako whether she can sense a spirit here. She nods.
"Yes, I can sense the presence of a spirit, but it's currently dormant. Should we wake it, or should we return tomorrow when there is light?"
"I guess leave it! It's not the best situation – going into a graveyard when dark."
Bou-san speaks.
"Especially someone as clumsy as Mai can trip in the darkness again, and this time, maybe get a serious injury."
"Bou-san! I'm not that stupid!"
I land a punch on Bou-san's back. He groans. Oopsy, maybe it was too hard.
###
The attic again? In this rocking chair? I try to move my body. It moves. I sigh, relieved. This place is lonely, but somehow, it's better now. There is less tension in the air. I turn around. Is somebody else in this room?
"Naru!"
I exclaim, surprised. No wonder why this room didn't feel so dangerous anymore. His tender smile was more than enough to warm up this cold place. I smile, now completely relaxed. But it's not only him, because besides us, stood the woman I saw in my dreams: the beautiful lady in a lovely kimono and haori. She smiles at me charmingly. I feel rude not saying hello to her.
"Ah, hello, er…"
I don't know her name. She smiles warmly. A truly beautiful smile, I think, now she doesn't look scary at all like before. She introduces herself gracefully.
"Please call me 'China'."
"Umm… China-san, you are the spirit of this house, right? Is there anything I can do for you?"
Yes, Saiko-chan said that she has a wish, and as soon as that wish is fulfilled, she will happily go to the other world. It is Naru who replies.
"Chinami-san doesn't need help, Mai. She says you have to help him, not her."
Him? Who? I want to ask that, but my mouth betrays my thoughts and body, asking a different question.
"How?"
Instead of China-san, Naru replies. At that, China-san just gives Naru a thankful smile.
"Because you are exactly like her."
"What?"
Umm, hello? There is NO WAY that I'm like China-san. Or exactly like her, because she's absolutely gorgeous, where as I am… rather plain. I roll my eyes, puzzled.
"I didn't mean the appearance."
Naru warmly smiles at me. I marvel at such beautiful smile. I ask.
"Then what does?"
"Just… the presence. Atmosphere around you."
That sounds even more hardly likely! China-san's so graceful!
Naru smiles, obviously reading my mind ever so clearly, but this time, he is looking at China-san. His smile is still as gentle as it ever has been, but there is bitter sympathy in his voice.
"Yes, she grew up. But remember, she was young once. From what I've heard, she was once a bright, slightly mischievous and stubborn girl like you. And that's when he and she met for the first time."
He… the word echoes in my mind, spinning around until everything becomes blurred and dimmed. I wake up. There is no one in this room. I look at my watch. It's… NINE?! Hang on, Naru told me to be down by at least, 8.30. NOOOOOOO!
I panic, jump in to the bathroom, and start brushing my teeth as fast as I can; until my hands don't even respond. My arms are totally numb now. And there is only one thought in my mind. No! Not another cynical scolding from him!
In the rush, I forget about the dream.
###
Just like I expected, I had another bucketful of scolding from Naru. Now, finally after that long lecture, I'm finally in charge of monitoring in the big bedroom on the second floor, which we are currently using as the base. Naru is sitting on the sofa, reading all the data he collected.
I really don't feel like doing this, I grumble, totally exhausted. Can't he ever be forgiving and kind just for once? Well… come to think of it, that will be kind of scary too. Naru being forgiving and kind. I sigh at this stupid idea, and it is just then, when I hear a friendly voice behind the door.
"Mai-chan, are you here?"
Masao-kun bursts into the room without knocking. Naru's eyebrows rise as an indication of an anger. Please, Naru! Don't! I give him a look with that message. Before he explodes, I better take Masao-kun out of this room. Completely trapped in the fear (of evil Naru), the reply stumbles out of my mouth after a short, sharp intake of a breath.
"Ye-yeah."
"Are you busy now?"
I'm monitoring.
"Umm… sort of. Why? Is there anything wrong?"
"If you're fine, would you like to go walking around the garden with me? I'll show you around. There are lots of things in the garden."
"Wow – what sort of things?"
"It's…"
He explains in great detail. A pool? A secret garden? A glasshouse? Wow, I didn't know such places were here. Naru never told me that; he just expected me to know all these things in 30 seconds by reading a page of his notebook, all written in English. Why wouldn't I accept this kind offer?
I smile at him.
"That'll be great, but I'm working now… How about in the lunchbreak?"
"That'll be fine."
"…Mai,"
Naru calls me, looking up from his laptop. I flinch. Please, God! Anyone! I can tell by his voice. He is very, very angry. Most definitely.
"We're going to the graveyard straight after we had our lunch. Sorry, Muramoto-san, but can you please leave this friendly arrangement till the end of the investigation?"
Naru smiles at him politely, but it's his fake smile. His eyes are burning coldly like dry ice. It's a super-scary stare. I shiver, feeling the room temperature going down. I'm sorry, Masao-kun. I'm so sorry… Sorry… I shout as many apologies as I can, but none of them leaves my mouth, frozen by Naru's icy stare. Poor Masao-kun is shaking uncontrollably now.
"I… I guess that will be fine. See ya."
He quickly stumbles out of the room, and at once, Bou-san and Ayako enter.
"Whoa, Naru-bou, what did you do to him? He looked like he has seen a ghost!"
He didn't, but he saw something scarier. I reply in my mind. But please, Bou-san, don't make Naru any angrier! PLEASE!
Being thickheaded, Bou-san continues, disregarding my whole silent prayer.
"You didn't, by any chance, go berserk at him?"
Naru grumbles.
"I did not."
That LIAR! You did go berserk at him! Now totally wild and unstoppable like beasts of the jungle, I stand up furiously, clenching my hands tight. I yell at top of my lungs.
"NO, HE DID!"
Naru glares at me, but I'm already uncontrollable.
"Masao-kun was only being kind, asking for a walk and said he'll show me around the house, whereas this person," – I point at Naru – "told Kayako-san that he'll show me around and did nothing, expecting me to set up all the equipments without knowing my directions reading his stupid notebook all written in English! And when Masao-kun was only being kind, and I had someone to finally show me around the house–"
"Ma, Mai-chan, please, at least take a breath."
I follow Bou-san's advice and inhale once, short.
"Naru just told him off with his scary demonic eyes! Look at the thermographic camera! Can't you see it's totally blue here? It wasn't like this before Naru was acting like as if he was possessed by the most evil spirit ever! Well, I guess he is the most evil spirit I've ever met!"
I finish my sentence, short on breath. Naru tries to rebut, but Bou-san is the one to speak first. He talks with an evil grin on his face; the sort of expression on a cat's face while toying with its prey.
"Really? Our cute little Naru-chan told him off…?"
Naru glares at him.
"Takigawa-san, if you have so much free time to make silly jokes, why don't you go to the cemetery and exorcise the spirits there, so then Mai can afford to go walking with Muramoto-san? I'm sure you would like that idea very much."
Bou-san tries to rebut, but Naru continues.
"And Mai,"
"Wh-what?"
I glare at him. I can't lose here! Not right now!
"Didn't you hear that we were leaving as soon as we had lunch before? To be precise, everyone in the group heard it during breakfast. Of course, you overslept hence losing the opportunity to confirm your schedule. Same for the notebook. Didn't I tell you before to look at the back of notebook, because I translated the whole thing in Japanese for you? Did you even listen?"
Darn it. At his logical, but merciless rebuttal, I can't say anything. After all, all his statement by statement was absolutely right. It's a total K.O. But I lost again?
However, this whole chaos of argument (or defeat) becomes suspended by tense atmosphere, for Yasuhara-kun finally returns, with the fully detailed history of this house.
I nervously glance at his huge stacked pile of information. I see the picture of the woman in my dreams. My eyes widen.
"Chinami Amamiya, eloped with her lover one day", it read.
To be continued =]
Comments:
All I can say is, I wanted each episode to be around 1000 words, they become longer and longer each time and now… it's 2000! And I was supposed to get to the climax this episode, but failed! One more to go! NOOOOOO! My horrible spacing! *groan*