Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt
Two weeks later...
Sayuri finds herself at a high end restaurant sitting next to Katsuro enjoying dinner with his boss and his wife. It was older gentleman with grey hair dress in a three piece suit. His wife wore a dress and jacket combination colored the same as the wine. Sayuri felt it was nice to have to talk about work, rather then work.
Naru hired her on as a part time medium, in case Masako didn't or couldn't come. Sayuri happily agreed, having fun while getting the crap scare out of her. Only once after the incident in the woods that Kyo had to jump into her body to scare away a spirit. The rest was helping Mai or Lin. With Mai, she could talk easily. With Lin, the man seem to keep to himself so she respected it by quietly doing her work at the other end. Sometimes she was so quiet, Lin would startled himself when he turns around to find her there.
Takigawa finally gave up trying to get her out on a date. They settled on being just friends, though sometimes he felt like a annoying brother. Ritsuke didn't jump on the SPR wagon yet but once in a while he bring a odd case to Naru. The detective seemed to tolerate the ghost hunters while happily flirting with Ayako every chance he got.
On top of the ghost hunting, she found herself writing like crazy. The inspiration seemed to just burst every time she come home from a case. Though that usually meant that Sho had to wake her up to get him to school on time. The eight year old was even more attach to her, even calling her 'Mom' once when he was ask over for a sleepover with some of his friends.
"This is amazing," Mr. Ishichi hands her back the manuscript, "I want to keep reading. I feel like I'm right there with these kids. How did you come up with this?"
"Oh magic," Sayuri laughs before taking a bite out of her steak.
"Ghost hunting," The older man laughs, "I never thought someone could make ghost hunting seem so...scary."
"Well," Sayuri cringes at lying to him, "you know most of my novels are ghost stories. Why not do one about people who go hunting for ghosts? Besides, it makes even more interesting when the heroine isn't running away from a scary guy waving a axe around."
"That is true," Mrs. Ichichi giggles, "I've read all your books and I must say despite how much I feel apart of the stories, I always end up scaring myself."
"Sometimes I do too," Katsuro sips his wine, "Sayuri is our mistress of horror, up with former Osama that is."
"Rest his soul," Mr. Ichichi, "The old bastard was hardheaded but he wrote good stuff. I bet if he was here, he would love your writing, Miss Natsuma."
Sayuri had to gulp down her wine. She wasn't about to tell the Ichichi's about her personal experience with the dead author. She just continue the dinner with Katsuro's boss and wife until Katsuro spoke up about getting home to tuck his children in at night.
"It was nice meeting you again, Mr. Ichichi," Sayuri bows to him and his wife.
"It was nice reading your new stuff," He laughs, "I about to invite you to a upcoming Halloween ball. Will you be attending? A lot of top artists are showing up."
"As nice as that sounds, I have a date with an eight year old who I pinky swear that I do a Halloween party for him and his friends," Sayuri chuckles.
"Oh that's right, you are your cousin Sho's guardian," Mrs. Ichichi, "Isn't it nice to have kids around?
"Now it is," Sayuri chuckles, "he wouldn't talk to me for a while. But I grew on him and he grew on me. Now I can't seem to go a day without Sho."
"You're going to make a wonderful mother someday," Mrs. Ichichi gives her hand a small squeeze. Sayuri faintly blushes at the comment. The thought of being a mother never occurred to her, not even when she was young girl. All she wanted to do was write but she never knew what until she recall the stories her grandfather told her. A faint smile appears on her lips. It was maybe in her future plans if she wanted to be a mother. She'll just have to wait and find out.
"You did great," Katsuro hugs her after his boss leaves, "and I'm loving the story already. Probably the best work you have done so far."
"That's what you said about my last book," Sayuri chuckles as he walks her to her car.
"And to many more to come," Katsuro lets her get in, "I'll talk to you later. Say hi to Sho for me."
"Give the kids kisses for me," She yells back, "and tell your wife I want that brownie recipe!"
"You got it!"
Sayuri flips on the radio, feeling pretty good about her newest novel.
I guess my time with Shibuya is doing some good to me. I can't wait until I finally finish the story! My readers are going to eat it up!
The moment she stops at a red light, her eyes turn to the corner. A girl walks out wearing a red dress and red heels holding a black umbrella.
The girl turns to stop in the middle of the crosswalk, turning to face her car. Her dark hair is curled around her shoulders and face. Full painted lips and shadowy eyes stare at her. Sayuri realizes that the girl's dress wasn't red. It was stained with blood.
The moment the light turns green, Sayuri's car hits the gas, flying towards the girl. Sayuri tries to step on the brake only to have the girl disappear the moment the car touch her. The sound of squealing tires is heard while Sayuri tries to get her car under control.
The brunette leans over the steering wheel. Her heart was heard in her ears, thumping in her chest like she ran a marathon.
"Why do they come to me when I don't want them?" She grumbles, trying to regain her breathe and state of mind. She had to calm herself down and get home to Sho. Mai was babysitting tonight and didn't want to keep the girl waiting up all night. Sayuri recalls Mai's face when she handed her money before she left, saying that's what she earned for the night.
The thought made her laugh, making it easy to forget the ghost girl that almost gave her an heart attack.
Clammy hands reach for the keys to start the car back up only to have someone knock on her window. Sayuri screams, startled as the car door opens.
"What the hell are you trying to do? Kill me?"
Flashing grey eyes turn to the culprit who decided to make her think a creep was getting into her car.
"Are you alright?" Lin's eye stares at her, leaning into the car.
"Uh...physical or mentally?"
"Miss Natsuma?" Naru's voice is heard from behind Lin.
"What happen?" Lin asks.
"Uh you know the usual...A GHOST FREAKIN STEP IN FRONT OF MY CAR THAT'S WHAT!" Lin clamps a hand over her mouth the moment she spazzed out.
"Hush," His eyes close, "you need to stay calm."
Sayuri doesn't move. She doesn't even swat his hand away. Grey eyes stare away from him. After a few moments, Lin pulls his hand away from her mouth. Sayuri hears her seat belt click. Next thing she knew, she was standing on the sidewalk with Naru. Lin takes her keys from her, locking the car up.
"You do have your phone on you?" Naru asks.
"Uh yes," Sayuri wasn't sure what just happen, "but I need to get home and call Mai. I left her to babysit for me. I don't want to-"
She gets cut off as Naru dials Mai's number to tell her that she would be running home late due to a run in with a spirit. He hangs up, "she won't mind staying for a while longer."
I just got ambush...by Naru and Lin.
"You can come with us," Naru grabs her elbow, "You need some fresh air anyways."
"But I..." She's nudged along by Lin.
"You shouldn't be driving," Naru walks ahead with Lin behind Sayuri, "especially after a run in with a spirit."
"Are you telling me what to do?" A vein begins to throb.
"You need to remain calm," Naru walks to the rest of the sidewalk, followed by the other two, "also we might need an extra hand. We're buying equipment."
Whoever is messing with my life right now, I hate you. I hate you very much and I pray a flower pot falls on your head
She went along, knowing that if she tried to escape that Lin would probably grab her and carry her off. Sayuri finds her mind busy as she ends up helping Lin and Naru. She found herself drifting as she was just allow to carry a few things while Naru did all the work ordering. Before long, she was loading up the back of the van. Her watch realizes they kept her busy for about forty five minutes.
She taps Lin's shoulder. He turns around to see her holding out her hand.
"May I have my keys now so I can go home?"
"Will you drive safely?"
Sayuri nods eagerly. Sighing irritably, the Chinese man hands over her keys before wordlessly turning to carry on. She turns on her heel, leaving the two to the van.
"Miss Natsuma," She flinches at Naru's voice, "did you happen to know where you saw that spirit?"
"About two blocks from here. At the intersection next to the coffee shop," Sayuri continues on with a description, "female, with dark hair and smoky eyes. Red lips. Red heels. Her dress looked red until I realize it was blood stained. She was carrying an umbrella. Have a good night you two."
Sayuri makes it to her car. She drives safely home, sighing as she gets out. Mai greets her at the door. They all pile in so she could get Mai home then back to the house to tuck Sho into bed.
"Why were you so late?" Sho asks.
"Uh..." Sayuri rubs the back of her head, "ghost scare. Naru and Lin got me to calm down."
"What it monster-like?"
"No, just a creepy lady with a umbrella."
"Okay," Sho yawns, "good night Sayuri. Have sweet dreams about good things and not about creepy ladies with umbrellas."
Sayuri shuts off his lights, leaving the small light in the corner on. The glowing angel gave a soft, peaceful glow. John had gotten that for him after the scare in the woods. She also knew the others kept a couple of signs around the room to protect him. They were all so sweet to Sho.
Her heart felt touched.
Her hand brushes up against something. It chimes, startling the young woman. Sayuri peers at it in the dark. It was strange looking wind chimes with symbols that she could barely recognize.
"I wonder who put this here," Her fingers brush up against it again, creating a soft tune.
The soft chimes sounded so gentle and peaceful. Sayuri leaves Sho's room to go to her own. She yawns, trying to forget about her upsetting moment while coming home. Sayuri watches the leaves dance outside her window, praying that no monsters would come to haunt her dreams.
That's when she hears the chimes again.
Her eyes dart around the room only to see them hanging on her bookshelf near her window. The moonlight catches them, creating a soft, silvery glow.
"Sweet dreams," She whispers to Kyo, tucking herself in.
Sayuri falls asleep to the soft song that the chimes made during the night.
All night she had nothing but peaceful dreams.