Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt
Mai quickly makes it up to the front door of the office. She had gotten a call from Lin about attending an important meeting. The only reason Naru didn't call everyone was because he was first talking with whomever it was. Mai was just about to open the door when the others arrived shortly.
"Hey Mai," Monk arrives with Ayako and John following him.
"Hey guys, any idea on what the meeting is about?"
"Not a clue," Monk passes Mai to open the door.
Masako and Yasu had arrived a few minutes before they did. Masako was sitting next to Naru with Yasu leaning forward on the other side, talking to whomever it was. He was looking very excited, asking the person questions.
Naru barely looks up at the others standing in the doorway, "stop standing there and meet our newest patron."
The others all come around to see a young woman about in her early twenties talking happily to Yasu. Her caramel brown hair falls around her face. She's dress causally in a black jacket, cream t-shirt, and dark jeans with black boots. Her eyes look up from Yasu for a moment.
"Why hello there."
"You're..." Monk's eyes widen, "Sayuri Natsuma."
"Huh?" Mai blinks before recognizing the girl, "You're...you're..."
"Yep, Sayuri Natsuma, top horror novelist of the century. It's nice to meet you all. I was just passing the time answering some of Yasu's questions. You all must be the rest of the SPR team."
"What brings you to SPR, Miss Natsuma?" Mai asks her.
"I'm here to become a patron," Her grey eyes flicker, "and to consult with Mister Shibuya here about research."
"Research?" Mai turns to Naru.
"Her newest novel is going to be about ghost hunting. She wants to tag along with us in order to get a better sense at what we do around here," Naru didn't seemed at all displeased at that.
The team all stare at one another before long Naru accepts Sayuri's request. "On the next case, I expect you to be there Miss Natsuma."
"You will expect it sir," Sayuri salutes him, "and don't worry, I won't be in the way. Just to help with whatever I can and to observe."
"That's all I will expect from you."
The way Naru had given her the cold shoulder surprise her. She would have thought Kazuya "Naru" Shibuya would come off as more of a fruit cake. Sayuri makes a mental note not to upset him when she went on the next case. She had already met Yasu and Masako. She knew of Masako but doubst her abilities. Yasu seems to be alright guy with a strange sense of humor.
"So, Naru, do we have a case lined up?" Mai inquires, leaning over the back of the couch.
Naru pulls out a file, "another haunted home. This one might be in interest to Miss Natsuma since it's near her home. You live at the old Nadeshiko Manor, correct?"
"Correct, though I'm surprised you know it by that name." Sayuri simply raises her eyebrows at Naru.
"You're not the only one who knows how to do their research, Miss Natsuma." Sayuri could have swore Naru smirk for a second before frowning again.
Yasu leans forward, "When do we leave?"
"As soon as possible. The owners are quite upset over the matter," Naru stands up.
Sayuri watches as the team prepares to leave. She hadn't realize just how much equipment was needed for ghost hunting. Sayuri was pushed into help Mai into carrying some wires.
They get to the location, to which happen to be some of Sayuri's neighbors. The team sets up in the main room with Sayuri taking notes in the corner. Just was needed with all the equipment? It look too much like a security set up.
She chews on the cap of her pen when suddenly someone stops beside her, "Pretty ritzy set up, don'tcha think?"
"Oh, Norio! I mean - Takigawa," Sayuri jumps and turns to face the monk.
"Ah so you're a fan huh? Didn't figured someone like would be," Monk surprises her with a smile.
"You be surprise what you find out about people," Sayuri turns, "so why do you guys need all this stuff?"
Monk nods towards the cameras, "Those we use to monitor the rooms and temp, especially if we get some activity. Microphones are used to record audio feed and we have night vision and heat cameras as well. That's what Mai is setting up on the second floor with John."
"Huh interesting," Sayuri makes a note. She wanted to crack a smile so bad. Since when did a shrine maiden, a monk, a priest, a medium, a couple of teenagers along with Naru and Lin need scientific equipment?
Monk's lips twitch into a small smile, "Disbeliever huh?"
She feels her cheeks heat up unpleasantly.
Was it truly that noticeable?
Sayuri clears her throat, "yes as a matter of fact I am."
Monk cocks his head to the side, "How is it you got into writing ghost stories then if you don't believe?"
"Because," Sayuri taps her pen, "it's fiction to me. Nothing but stories."
"Yeah well all fiction is based off some base of reality, Ms. Natsuma." Monk replies with a taunting smile. "Now how about you go and help Yasu with some of that shelving?"
Sayuri felt her jaw drop as Monk taps her playfully on the behind with a clipboard he was carrying, before walking off to ask Naru about something.
"That..." She growls in frustration, walking off to help Yasu.
Sayuri helps, plotting a way to get at Takigawa. Maybe she could bet him that it's termites that was causing the house to seem like it was spirits. Or maybe it was a stray cat. She sometimes saw one or two roaming around the neighborhood.
Her eyes watch the team working, wondering how they all kept such straight faces as they wrote down statistics. She was surprise just how much she was keeping a straight face.
As her eyes take in the time, she frowns in realization. "Mr. Shibuya?"
Naru glanced up, "Yes, Ms. Natsuma?"
"Would it be alright if I bring my little cousin here? He can't be left alone and I have to go and pick him up from school soon."
Naru frowns, "as long as he behaves."
Sayuri wasn't sure if that was a yes or a maybe, but she took it as a yes. Sayuri quickly leaves her notes to go back to her car to go pick up Sho. It didn't take long when the car comes back with a very smiling eight year old in tow.
"Wow! I get to hang out with SPR! You're the greatest cousin ever!"
"Sho, behave. I'm at work."
Sho quiets down immediately before Mai entertains him with tic-tac-toe for a bit.
"Wow, little tyke is well-behaved. How old is he?"
Sayuri feels a vein in her temple throb as she turns to see Monk leaning in the doorway, arms crossed over his broad chest as he watches Sho and Mai giggling.
"Eight," she comments.
"So...does he live with you?"
"Yes, I'm his guardian," Sayuri feels a moment of pride at the word 'guardian'. She really was doing Sho a favor by giving him someone who will love him and take care of him.
Sho glances up, "Yeah, she's just as bossy and nags just like a Mom too."
"I do not," Sayuri glares at Sho.
Sho sticks his tongue out and pulls down on his eyelid, "Do too!"
"If you weren't family, I'd strangle you right now." The vein pops back out.
John raises his hands, "Easy now,"
"Cool, you're the priest. Half of our family is Catholic. Your accent sounds funny, where are you from?" Sho immediately leaves Mai and heads to John's side. John smiles and subconsciously runs his hands through the dark tresses of the young boy.
"Australia, mate."
"Sayuri, can I get a pet wallabee?" Sho asks in excitement.
"No, Sho!" Sayuri looks horrified, "I am so sorry,"
"Don't be," John smiles at her, "it's natural for a boy his age to curious."
Mai straightens up, "Hey, Sho, wanna go and play in the yard? We can make giant piles of leaves to jump in!"
"Yes!" Sho stops before turning to Sayuri, "Can I?"
"Yes you can. Just stay with Mai the whole time!" Sayuri calls after him as the two leave for the back door.
John smiles adoringly, "Mai sure is a wonder with children."
Monk smiles, "Yeah she's going to make a wonderful mother someday."
Sayuri writes a note to ask Mai if she could help babysit in the future. Her eyes drift back down to her notes. How was it that they were having a normal conversation despite being in the middle of ghost hunting? Why did it feel so...nice?
It wasn't like this back home.
A moment later, Sayuri notices a change in the atmosphere. Naru and Lin look incredibly serious, and Masako even looks a bit faint.
"Woah, did something happen?"
"Shh," Monk places a finger to his lips, grabbing her by her elbow and pulling her closer. "Watch the monitor for the master bedroom."
Oh you got to be kidding me. Don't tell me...something or someone is going to pop into the camera. I saw this movie before. Heck, I wrote the darn book for crying out loud.
Sayuri does as she's told, watching the monitor.
Grey eyes narrow, widening a split second later. "Is that... knocking?"
"Lin, turn up the audio feed." Naru orders.
The audio feed is turned up. Sayuri continues to hear a knocking sound. It was kinda creepy yet kinda silly at the same time.
Her eyes scan the room, seeing everyone was present except the two outside. She could see Sho and Mai outside, in the yard by the oak tree, surfacing in giant piles of leaves.
No one is making those noises...
Sayuri pauses a moment.
"You got to be kidding me," she mutters under her breath.
"The temperature has dropped three degrees below zero, Naru." Lin states suddenly.
"Monk, I need you in that room!" Naru exclaims.
Monk nods, "Right! On it!" he says, before running out of the room.
"Hey, where's Takigawa going?" Sayuri exclaims.
"He's going to-" Naru is cut off when Sayuri takes off after Monk, "Miss Natsuma! Don't follow him!"
Sayuri ignores Naru, following Monk up the stairs.
He's just going up there to show off! There's no real spirit! They're all in on this! It's all about scaring the disbeliever. I'll show them!
She reaches the second landing, hearing Monk's booming voice chanting gibberish. Sayuri throws open the door, having ice cold air hit her. She ignores it, walking inside the room.
They managed to manipulate the air conditioning.
Monk takes one look at her, "Sayuri, get outta here! There are multiple apparitions!"
"Hah! Whatever! I don't see anything!" Sayuri snorts.
"Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it's not there!"
Monk gives a loud curse, moving to lunge in front of her, but not before Sayuri gets slammed hard into the doorway. The back of her head whacks against the wood along with her spine, her sinking to the floor and throbbing in pain.
"Ow..." Despite the pain, Sayuri's eyes open.
"Okay now I'm pissed off!" She tries to stand.
Monk grasps her hand, pulling her to her feet and backing her towards the hallway, chanting still.
Sayuri struggles, trying to inch away from him.
Sayuri...
"What?" She turns to Monk who is still chanting. He gives her a puzzled stare before focusing again.
I got a concussion and now I'm hearing things!
Go...Sayuri...go..
"Fine!" She finds herself aching, listening to the voice inside her head as she leaves the second floor.
She stumbles through the doorway, tripping over the rug and spiraling straight into someone's arms. She glances up to see Yasu, his face etched in worry.
"I'm fine...just a hurt back and possibly a concussion."
"Matsuzaki, examine her." Naru says, his teeth ground and eyes flashing coldly. Sayuri ignores the rage that was in Naru's eyes. She could handle him while Ayako looks her over. "I think I need to go to the hospital. That hit to the head really done me in."
Ayako smiles, "You're fine. Just a bump."
"No I'm serious. It's one thing to hear voices, but if I start seeing pink elephants dancing in my living room then I got a problem."
"Voices?" John repeats.
"Yeah voices...or voice," Sayuri gets a ice pack from Ayako.
"It was a voice," Sayuri repeats, sighing at the feel of cold ice on her head.
None of them were looking at her like she was a crazy person, either, which made her feel creeped out.
"First time it said my name...then it told me to go," Sayuri inches further into her seat, "so I told it 'fine' and came here?"
"Direct communication?" Naru says to Lin, who nods.
Sayuri laughs, most because of how uncomfortable she was feeling, "wait...you guys think that a ghost or spirit was talking to me?"
She didn't get answer which made her laugh even more. It only took her ten minutes to realize that they were being serious. Sayuri shuts her mouth. Now she suddenly felt really stupid.
"She's a vital asset to the case now," Naru sighs, almost irritably.
"Oh no no..." Sayuri shakes a finger at Naru, "I am not going to be any kind of 'asset' to the case. I just got push and hit my head. No biggie. Why should I be an asset if I heard a voice in my head? And if you really cared, it sounded very male which is why I thought Monk was talking to me for a second."
"Sit," Naru orders.
She flops down, shutting her mouth at once.
"Stay."
Pouting, Sayuri looks at Yasu and John for help. Both just shook their heads. Sayuri turns her chin up, glaring at Naru.
"I'm going to say this again, I don't believe in any of this. I hit my head. It scramble my brain. And don't order me around like a dog."
Naru lifts her chin, looking directly into her eyes.
"Ms. Natsuma, do not panic."
She sucks in her breath sharply.
"You might be possessed."