Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt
"Are you stalking me?" The first question that comes out of Sayuri's mouth, "did you call my editor to see where I was staying at? Did you planned all this out, Shibuya?"
The team was setting up camp in the main conference room next to the desk. Naru ignores Sayuri's questions, while Ayako gets a list of the rooms from the receptionist.
"Answer me Naru!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," He stands up to go talk to the manager of the hotel.
Sayuri sighs, sitting down.
It all made sense. The hotel. The suite on the bottom floor. Heck, Katsuro made her go a day early that way she wouldn't walk out on the group. There wouldn't be a escape route. And if she went back, Katsuro probably threaten to make sure she couldn't get another book publish. She runs her hands through her hair, wanting to tug it out.
"Miss Hara," Naru turns to Masako, "sense anything around Miss Natsuma?"
"No," Masako tugs at the sleeve of her kimono, "I don't sense a spirit around her."
"Good," Naru turns back to the monitors, "just make sure to keep an eye out. That goes for all of you."
Mai sighs, turning to watch as Sayuri stares into the wood pattern of the table. She didn't look very happy. The usual grey eyes were flashing, annoyed. Her fingers dug into her brown locks, pulling slightly. She couldn't blame Sayuri for being angry. But Naru had his reason to corner Sayuri at the hotel.
A hand slaps near Sayuri, causing the girl to look up.
Ayako leans over the table, "stop your pouting for two minutes. If you haven't stopped to think, this benefits you and counters your annoyance."
Her book.
She suddenly wish she hadn't thought up to do ghost hunting on her newest horror novel. She cursed herself the day she found that ad in the newspaper for Shibuya Psychic Research.
Fate was defiantly playing against her, wanting her to become closer to the team. The team that consists of Naru Shibuya and his assistant Lin, a monk who was also a bassist, a self made shrine maiden, a celebrity medium, a teenage priest, and a teenage girl who was latent psychic.
And there was her, right in the middle of it all.
Where did she fit into the equation?
She was a horror novelist who suppose to have a ability that deals with the dead.
Something that she was terrify to even trust. Was it really her power to see the dead or just her mind playing tricks on her? Her face pales, recalling an incident where she was talking to the pictures of her recently departed grandparents. Her mother had walk in, hearing her conversation. She had never seen her mother look so scared and angry. That was the day she believe that there were no such things as ghosts.
On top that, she slowly grew to realize just what her parents jobs were. Prosecutors for the damn. She hated how they represented the bad guys and not the good guys. She also hated the fact that sometimes they won, and they got pay very well for it. Her parents wealth was nothing but a deal that they had made with the devil.
Her mother's sister married a con-artist. Her parents let them get away, only helping them when it was necessary for them. Her whole family were nothing but liars.
She hated her parents' jobs. She hated her aunt and uncle for being the criminals they were and nearly putting Sho's life in danger.
Ghost stories to her were all made up stories. Stories fuse together from fact and twist into a lie. A really good lie that anyone could believe that someone could see a ghost.
"Sayuri?"
A hand touches the top of her head.
Her eyes look up to see Monk standing next to Ayako.
"What is it?"
"You were crying." Monk had move to the girl when he saw silent tears falling down her face, dripping onto the table's smooth surface. The look on her face broke a little of his heart.
Sayuri brushes her fingers across her cheek, touching the wetness, "I guess I was."
"It's alright to be scared and not want to admit it... but you have so much standing right in front of your eyes. Just... for once... try and believe in the unbelievable before you get hurt," Ayako sits down with Monk leaving his hand on Sayuri's shoulder.
"I..." Sayuri chews on her lips.
They were trembling.
The last thing she wanted to do was to cry in front of these people.
"Now are you going to help us or keep denying the truth?" Ayako taps her fingers impatiently on the table.
Sayuri hears herself let out a sigh.
"Yes," she could hear rustling, "I will help. I will help and stop being such a-I mean, I'll help and maybe," she found herself trying hard to form the words, "consider the fact that there are things paranormal."
"Yes!" Mai pumps her fist in the air.
"Doesn't mean that's my answer to saying 'I believe'," Sayuri points a finger at her, "Its going to take me some time to get use to it. Just...baby steps..."
"Don't worry," Monk places his hand on hers, "you won't go at it alone."
Her sea grey eyes stare into his brown before staring at each of them. That warm feeling she got from the case she first went with them came back. The whole room seem to fill up with something she couldn't explain.
It was a nice, happy feeling.
There must be something. I'm feeling happy all of sudden. As if for the first time, I got people I can count on.
"Finally," Naru ruins the mood, "now can we now discuss the case at hand? I didn't go over it at the office because I wanted Miss Natsuma present."
Naru puts down a small pile of files, along with a blue print and a map of the hotel. He also pulls out some newspaper clippings. Sayuri stares at the black and white newspaper photograph of the hotel. It look fairly newer along with the parking lot filled up. The picture must have been taken in the summertime.
"The Ehime Hotel was build a few years after the war for tourism. After that, it went through periods of ups and downs. Ten years ago, a tragedy occur within the walls of the hotel. "
A newspaper lands in the middle of the pile.
"Murders at the Ehime Hotel," Mai reads out loud, "wait, murders?"
The files were open as Naru takes the main one. Everyone stares at the photographs of the bios of the people that were staying at the hotel late one night.
"On September 27, at 12:15 a.m., a man armed with gun, walks into the hotel. Only eight people were staying at the hotel that night. All eight plus the receptionist was found early in the morning, at 7:00 by the morning shift. The gunman was never found nor any evidence concluding who the gunman was."
Naru puts down the file, taking out pictures.
"I'm warning you," He doesn't show a hint of emotion, "these pictures are gruesome."
He places the pictures up on a white board that the hotel gave to him in use of. "First one to be shot," Naru pins up the picture, "the receptionist, Miss Naomi Sato. She was nineteen when she died."
"Second," Naru pins up the other, "an older gentleman who walk into the lobby to read by the fire. He was walking down the hallway and came face to face with the gunman. He was caught by surprise."
"Third and fourth and fifth," Naru pins up three or more pictures, "three teens that were heading back to Tokyo from a recent concert. Mika, Jyou, and Eiji. Jyou was shot first while Eiji and Mika tried to run out of the way. Eiji was shot twice in the back. Mika shot once."
"Sixth and seventh, a newly wed couple. Both shot in the back," The pictures of the bodies continue to cover the board.
"The last, a mother and daughter. The mother was shot in the chest, trying to protect her daughter."
The pictures of dead bodies and blood made everyone queasy. Sayuri wanted to look away but couldn't. It burn in her mind how someone could just walk in and kill everyone in one place then just leave as if nothing happen. What really piss her off that the guy got away.
"Is..." Ayako gulps, "are these the ones that might be haunting the place?"
"Those are the only recent deaths that have occur in this hotel," Naru continues, "reason why I brought up the case was I wanted you to know who these possible spirits might be. I have a hunch but I can't be entire sure until the evidence presents itself."
"She was just seven years old," Mai glances at the photo of the happy smiling girl before looking at the crime scene, "did the police really have no leads?"
"None that really could be proven," Naru turns away.
As everyone prepares to take the cameras up into the rooms where each of the victims were staying at, Sayuri takes a closer look at the photos. The first photos were the ones that the victims were smiling in. The second photos were the ones of their bodies.
"Wait," Sayuri pauses at the old man, "that's...the horror author...Sutiiven Osama...he was murdered? Here?"
"Don't tell me that you're a fan," Monk chuckles.
"Well duh, I have all of his books," Sayuri groans, "great...I'm going to be dealing with my favorite author's ghost."
"Not just his," Ayako reminds her, "all of them."
Sayuri nods, trying to regain focus. It was nice that Naru had information on all of the victims. That way if there was such activity, it could be any of the those still trap in the hotel. The thought was sad in itself. It came close to what she could have written. Her eyes land on the girl and her mother.
Her eyes widen, taking a step back away from the girl.
Why didn't she notice that before?
"Sayuri?" John touches her arm.
"I've seen that little girl!"
"When?"
"Where?"
"Just today," Sayuri starts to feel panic rise up in her chest, "when you guys were carrying equipment in. That was when I didn't know it was you guys. I walk out of my room and turn to look. I look back and she was just standing there. I help her go back to her room to her mother."
Sayuri turns around, bolting from John. She grabs the nearest trash can and throws up into it. Ayako moves to comfort her, rubbing her back. Sayuri wipes her mouth, feeling a bit scared and shock.
A cup of water is handed to her.
Naru had already documented her sighting. "We need to set up cameras and microphones in the rooms they were staying at. Also for the hallways, we're setting up sensors. The hotel is letting us use their own security system to capture anything as well.
Everyone was paired into teams, setting up equipment. Sayuri, Mai, Monk, and John all got the three floors while Ayako, Masako, Lin, and Naru got the second and first floor.
"Yasu isn't here?" Sayuri asks Mai, who she got stuck with to set up cameras in the rooms.
"He's got a exam to study for," Mai finishes positioning the camera.
"I bet he would like this place," Sayuri glances around.
"Hoping on seeing that little girl again?" Mai asks her.
"Yes and no," she groans, "I can't believe I lost my lunch after I figure it out."
"I don't blame you," Mai helps her with wires, "you see her then the photos then put two and two together then-"
"Mai, I don't think Naru is going to like it if I puke on the carpet," Sayuri turns green with Mai apologizing.
"I'm glad you decided to help us out," Mai smiles, heading back downstairs, "we've all been worried about you since your encounter."
"Worried? About me?" Sayuri felt touch, "but why? I mean, I barely know you guys and you barely know me."
"Because," Mai turns around, "for good reason you're meant to be apart of this. A part of our lives as we are to your life. You got a gift Sayuri, even if you like it or not. One day you might help someone cross over."
"I just get scare..." Sayuri sighs, "because I'm afraid I might get into something that I not meant to be in."
"That's the life of a ghost hunter. Everything is going to scare us at sometime or another. I've been frighten plenty myself but I know I have the others there. We do it together Sayuri, no matter what."
"So how does someone like you," They take a moment to wait for Monk and John to finish up on the last two floors, "get involve with Naru and this whole ghost hunting business?" Mai sits on the steps while Sayuri leans against the opposite wall.
"He was called by the principal at my school to come check out abandon building that was suppose to be haunted. He also called Monk, Ayako, Masako, and John too. I was involve because I was walking around it and scared myself silly. I ran into Lin, getting him hurt and breaking a camera. Naru pretty much made me work for him to pay it off. I never left since."
"Wow," Sayuri chuckles, "talk about fate."
"It was," Mai smiles, "If I had the chance to go back and change anything, I wouldn't. It was the best day of my life."
"You really do care about them, don't you?" Sayuri sits down on the steps next to Mai.
"They're...sorta the only family I have," Mai chuckles, "it's good, odd, but good."
"Only family?"
"Yeah, I'm a orphan," Mai catches the look on Sayuri's face, "You just assume I had parents?"
"I...I figure you were like me. That your parents didn't care what you got into," Sayuri shakes her head, "so you live alone?"
"Pretty much," Mai leans back, "I do work for pay on top of having the fun of chasing ghosts from Naru. The school also helps me out, letting get the chance to do my schoolwork and pay off the bills."
"Mai," her tone was serious, causing the teenage girl to look at her oddly, "if anything would happen. And I mean anything, you know you have a place to stay with me and Sho just in case."
"Sayuri, I doubt that-"
"I'm saying it because," The older girl puts a hand on Mai's head, "you're awesome. And I care about you. And that was way before I knew about your situation. You seem happy and that is all that matters. But I'm telling you because I care, and that Sho would kick my butt if I left you on the streets. So you have a free invitation to stay at my home in need of emergency or because you're tired of living alone. Deal?"
"Deal," Mai shakes her hand before hugging her, "You're cool Sayuri."
"D'aw," Sayuri laughs, "so are you. You have to be to put up with Naru."
"Yeah," Mai blushes, "but once in a while, he has his moments."
"Ooh that is strange, Maybe we should do a investigation on that," Sayuri jokes, holding up one of the cameras while wiggling her eyebrows.
The two girls are left into a pile of giggles.
"Sayuri, Mai, hurry up and finish," Naru's voice cackles over the radio.
"Aye aye captain," Sayuri makes her voice sound gruff, saluting with Mai trying to stifle her giggles.
"What are you two giggling about?" Monk comes around the corner after Mai and Sayuri adjust the last camera. The two girls stare at him before giggling to one another. Monk felt his lips move. It was nice to see Sayuri laughing. She wasn't annoyed or angry at all. Her grey eyes dance, giggling as she whispers something to Mai. Her eyes look back up to him.
"Girl stuff," Sayuri chuckles.
"Uh huh," Monk just shakes his head as John comes around the corner.
"This case has go to be one of the saddest ones," John comments on their way down, "to have nine people die. And that killer took his time to do so."
"Yeah, I mean who just walks into a hotel and shoots up the place?" Monk questions.
Sayuri stops walking, thinking about something. The three stop, turn around to look at her.
"Sayuri?" Monk asks, "are you okay?"
"I'm fine," She looks confuse, "wait, he walks in and shoots up the first two people on the main floor. The first floor I mean. Then he goes up to kill everyone else. Odd."
"Yeah it is," Mai comments. They all pause a moment when Sayuri walks away from them.
"Then," Sayuri looks around before opening a door then slamming it. It made a loud noise. She then starts banging up and down the walls of the hallway. The three sweatdrop, suddenly questioning the brunette's sanity. The noise was loud enough for Naru to come onto the speaker, asking what the racket was all about.
Sayuri points to the radio in Monk's hand, "see?"
"See what? I'm not getting it," Monk gets the radio taking out of his hand.
"Naru? I have a theory. Could you help me prove it wrong or right?" Sayuri speaks into it. The voice on the other end sounded very annoyed, "what is it Miss Natsuma?"
"Have Ayako get on my laptop. There should be a sound bite that reads 'gun shot'. Have Lin hook it up to the speakers to make it sound like it came from inside the building." Sayuri doesn't hear a response.
A few second later, a loud bang is heard from atop the four floor.
"What did that sound like you three?"
"A gun going off," John comments, "why did you have-"
"The gun shots," Mai felt her hands tremble, "why didn't they hear them? If they did-"
"There wouldn't have been nine bodies. There were reports of gun shots going off around the time of the killing. But why didn't the people upstairs hear it?"
The lights began to flicker on and off.
"I think they're coming out for the night," Sayuri hands the radio back to Monk. The four just stand there, watching as the lights and the sounds of the doors open and close. It goes quiet for a few seconds. The radio crackles, with Naru trying to contact them. It goes dead. Monk hits it a couple of times, trying to get it to work.
Mai points her finger behind Sayuri. John and Monk already position themselves on either side of Sayuri and Mai.
"Sayuri..."
She turns around to see the little girl holding a doll near the end of the hallway. Mai squeaks, hiding behind Sayuri. John looks to Monk for a second, who still holds his position but doesn't do anything. The light flicker again, diming.
Her eyes had dark circles under her eyes, holding the doll tightly. The doll was covered in blood just like in the photograph. The little girl was all bloody with a black, blood burnt hole near the top of her head.
"Did you come here to help us?"