A/N: Woooo! Here is the next chapter! Please review! Thanks!
"What is that blush all about?" Ayako commented snidely as she sauntered past. "Did you have a good time with Naru during the ride or something?" She smirked.
Mai's blush deepened, "N-no! N-nothing in particular happened!"
"Riiight…" Ayako said sarcastically. "Well now you don't have to keep all that lovey dovey stuff secret anymore do you…Mrs. Kazuya Shibuya?" Ayako smiled and patted the teen's head as she passed. Mai was in too much shock to say anything in her defense.
Masako soon followed and shot Mai a withering glare. Mai sunk inwardly but luckily John and Bou-san where right there to shuffle everyone inside. In little under an hour they had all been introduced and settled in the base room; all the equipment was set up and all their luggage had already been brought to their rooms.
Naru waited impatiently for the client to arrive. The owner of the hotel was a middle aged man and his wife. They had been in ownership of the hotel for the past seven years and lived on the grounds for over ten. The owner stated that the strange occurrences only started recently; within the past month or so.
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"Sorry to keep you waiting Shibuya-san." A well dressed middle aged man entered the room followed by his wife and secretary. "I am so glad you could make it. Was the drive alright?" He sat down on the couch opposite of Naru and his team.
"It was fine, thank you." Naru responded in his professional tone. Mai noted that Naru had turned on his professional switch and was now in full business mode. "Will you please explain what exactly has been taking place here?"
"Of course" the man folded his hands in his lap. "It started about a month ago when some guests noticed that the lakes on the grounds started to change color. When staff members went to check…the water was blood red. Since that night…" The man paused and looked to his wife.
"Since that night we have experienced a great deal of strange and unexplainable things." The older women spoke tentatively.
"Please, continue." Naru prompted, the gears already turning in his head about what he wanted to do.
"Guests and staff have reported hearing sounds and voices in rooms or locations where there are no people. They have also seen figures and apparitions that can not be explained by any logical argument. The water color in the lakes will change but in the next instant be normal again; red, aqua, orange, yellow…" The woman explained slowly making sure everyone present had heard her words.
"When did you notice the absence of wildlife?" Naru referenced his notebook. He knew this aspect of the case intrigued him the most; it was the hardest to explain.
"The staff and I started to notice it about two weeks ago. It seemed that one day there were koi in the pond and birds in the trees…and the very next they were gone." The husband looked in thought. "Our staff checked the koi pond in the garden and there was not a single fish…or body of a fish…anywhere. There were no signs of predation or that anyone had tampered with the pond either. It wasn't until later that we realized the extent of the problem."
"No birds or other critters can be found in the forest anywhere around our hotel…I would say for about a mile around the building." She sighed and looked at her husband before she spoke, "there is a break in the trees where a stream flows from the higher grounds. On the other side…there are birds…"
"I see." Naru glanced at Lin to make sure he had recorded all the information…he had. "Is there anything else you would like to add before we start setting up our equipment?"
The owner looked at his wife and secretary. His wife shook her head and his secretary voiced that he didn't have anything to add. "No, if there is anything that we forgot to mention we will let you know." He rose and bowed; giving his farewells and thanks. "Please let us know if there is anything you require. A staff member will alert you when dinner is ready."
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Once gone, Naru wasted no time before he began to bark out orders. "I want cameras and microphones set up in the locations specified where activity was witnessed." He sat down a list of locations provided to him by the owner and a blue print of the grounds. "Lin and John can work on the sites in this area" he pointed to a spot on the map, "and Bou-san, Matsuzaki-san, and Hara-san can set up in this area…" he pointed to the opposite side of the document. "Mai…you will assist me with setting up surveillance outside."
Ayako dearly wanted to make some snide, caddy remark about Naru wanting to work alone with Mai but held back when she spotted Naru glaring at her. Apparently he had picked up on her desire to speak and had immediately cut off her plan.
Bou-san noticed Ayako's plight and patted her gently on the back. "Come on Ayako, Masako-chan, let's get moving!" He stated cheerfully as he grabbed the list of locations and a copy of the map and handed it to Masako. Ayako took the microphones and Bou-san took the cameras. They would probably have to make more than one trip…but so would everyone else. "Well then Naru, we're off!"
"It seems we are too!" John smiled as he and Lin followed the monk, medium, and miko out of the room leaving Naru and Mai alone.
Mai momentarily pondered the fact that everyone had acted awfully hasty in their retreat from the room. Usually there was much more dawdling and dragging of feet to start investigating. But today everyone grabbed up the equipment and went right to work without any word of complaint. "Don't you think they left awfully fast?"
"What do you mean?" Naru looked on in mock ignorance at the question. He decided not to let her dwell on the question. "Let's get to the garden and check things out." He was already up with a camera in hand and heading for the door.
Mai sighed. Naru was doing a typical Naru act when he didn't want to discuss something; he changed the subject. He also moved quickly so that she didn't have time to continue the conversation…typical Naru. 'Oh well…' Mai thought. 'He is probably as uneasy about the whole…us…thing as much as I am…'
"Okay" she said as she moved next to him. "Is there anything you need me to carry?" She gave him her best innocent, naïve look she could muster.
Naru stared at her with an inquisitive look on his face. He had the sudden urge to just lean in and kiss her…but pushed it aside. "Grab the stand and cables."
Mai grunted and Naru smirked at her turned back as she grabbed the said items. It was getting harder and harder to control himself but he knew now was not the time. "Is this the one?" She held up a set of cables and Naru nodded in response.
"Those will be fine." He stated rather gruffly. "Let's go."
Mai followed wordlessly. She was much too tired to waste her precious energy on arguing with the un-breakable Naru. She was thankful however that Naru had let her off the hook about last night. She would be in trouble if he suddenly asked her again…she might just break…
A/N: Oh man it is like 44 degrees here! AMAZING! So warm! Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter...more will be on its way soon! Thanks! Please let me know what you think!