Hardy Boys and Hell Girl are not mine
Okay, another explanation...
The Shibatas are a Japanese family introduced in season 1 of Hell Girl. The family consists of two people: Hajime (father) and Tsugumi (daughter). The most important thing to know about them is that they are very distant relatives of Ai. She lived in fuedal Japan, and had a cousin. The cousin had kids, and eventually the Shibatas of modern time are here. She tried to kill them once, but stops once realizing her cousin loved her. The two had discovered Ai's past, and that she was damned to be Hell Girl because she killed her whole village for trying to sacrifice her when she was seven.
Well, enjoy!
"You've summoned me. My name is Ai."
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The plane ride to come days later was dragged out between the three planes. Fenton Hardy had mostly slept, while Frank became attentive to the scenic view the window seat had given him. He distracted himself with the overhead sightseeing, trying not to think about the things to come.
And then it happened again.
His luck had held out, though. Everyone on the plane was either in deep slumber or coming close to it. He was able to keep his voice lowered as well, so it wouldn't be overheard.
"'So, you want revenge for her acts?'" the brunette heard himself mumbling. The sun was setting, as it usually did, radiating brilliant bright colors. It gave a feeling of warmth, but also the sense of the flame within the people.
"It's all her fault! If she hadn't ruined my life-"
His father was beginning to stir. "Did… you say somethin'?"
Frank was startled, ignoring part of the vision as he tried to remain calm. "Just thinking…" he replied, turning away as another part came to him.
"'That's all you have to do. But, your end of the contract is a bit more complicated.'"
"Huh?"
"Just remembering… the case…"
"Oh." The retired cop settled back into his chair, and started to drift off again.
"'Of course, you still get to decide…'"
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"It's been a while, Frank."
"How is this-"
"Putting it kindly, you're asleep. And I'm visiting."
"Kindly?" He chuckled.
"What are you doing, though? I thought-"
"It's Dad. He wants to stop her."
The silence between the two could not have lasted more than a few moments, but it felt like an eternity.
"He won't be able to stop her."
Frank could only nod.
"You're both using fake names, right?"
"Yeah…"
"Be careful, Frank. I'll see you later."
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His father had arranged for them to stay with a reporter by the name of Hajime Shibata, who had apparently tried to track down Hell Girl himself more than a year ago. He and his daughter Tsugumi had moved into a new house recently, but had agreed to allow them to stay.
"So you're Fumihiko and your son…"
"Fusao," Frank reminded his host in Japanese. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Shibata-san."
"As to you. And this is my kid, Tsug-" Hajime turned around. "Great. Where'd she go?"
"Sorry, Hajime-chan." A young girl about eight or nine years old ran up to the three men. "I'm Tsugumi!"
"Nice to meet you, Tsugumi…" Fenton Hardy became thoughtful for a second.
"-Chan, Dad. Tsugumi-chan," Frank reminded his father.
"Oh, yes…"
The group piled into Hajime's car, and they were off to the new house.
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"So, have you been to Japan before?" Tsugumi had asked Frank as they reached the house. The fathers were busy engaged in their own conversation, and paid no attention to the two in the backseat.
"I have. This is my dad's first time visiting, though. And…" Frank half choked on his next words, struggling not to lose self control. "And my younger brother was here for a foreign exchange program when he was killed."
"Oh… I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I think he was happy to be here. He always had wanted to go here…" Frank looked down, and met her eyes. "I think he's fine, though. It's almost like I can feel his presence here."
"That's good. I can feel my mom's presence sometimes too." Tsugumi looked at the floor in embarrassment. "But, I think she just wants to make sure I'm okay."
"Yeah, same here." Frank turned, and looked out the window. "Sometimes, I might be the one watching him…"
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"So, what do you know about Late Girl?" It was night, and the four were all surrounding the dining room table, eating dinner.
"Huh?" Hajime turned to Frank, already learning that the younger one had known more Japanese.
"He meant Hell Girl." Looking at his father, Frank told him in English "Jigoku is Hell. Chikoku is late."
"Oh…"
Hajime, however, had begun to have changed attitudes completely. "So, you're names-"
"Fake."
"Ah. Well… Ai Enma isn't all that she appears to be."
"Really now?" The older Hardy seemed to have started taking mental notes for future reference.
"She's cursed. Forced to ferry souls to Hell for others, and watching the victims suffering the same fate."
"She was in love, too." The three turned to the young girl, who whispered "She was in love, and had her heart broken."
"Sad." Frank could tell it was false sympathy from his father, but said nothing.
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He was still up in the middle of the night, listening to a tapping on the glass door leading to the balcony. Frank had been lucky, since no one else really wanted the bedroom next to the balcony. He guessed Tsugumi would want the room one day, but not currently.
Getting up, the brunette headed toward the door, moving the long curtains and sliding the door open. What caught his sight at first was the clear night sky, with only the stars and the moon placed within.
"Nice, isn't it?" Frank turned, to find a blonde, about a year younger than him, staring back with shining blue eyes.
Instead of answering, he walked up and embraced the other in a hug.
"Nice to see you too." The other hugged Frank back, and the brunette could mentally see him smirking.
"Why did you come here? If Dad catches you-"
"Forget it bro. If he comes close, I will know, jump the ledge, and leave."
"'Jump the ledge'? He'll hear-"
"He'll hear a bird flying. And he'll wonder why the hell you were watching a bird."
"Thanks a bunch." Sarcasm, but it relief to him. To be able to joke like before…
"So, I take it you miss me?"
"Course I do, Joe. Of course I do."
