Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt
"I hate you," Sayuri stares at the computer, "I hate you so much right now. What did I do to deserve this? I have loved you and cherish you and did everything right. Why won't you come back to me?"
She was staring at her word document program for chapter twenty.
Nothing could come to mind. She knew where the plot was going, some what. She left the last chapter on a cliffhanger about the mystery of the phantom and the curse. Now she had nothing for her fictional ghost hunters to go after.
"I know you hate me but give me a chance, I'll figure something out."
The sound of her cell phone going off makes her jump out of her seat, falling over onto the floor. Sayuri looks up to see her phone singing to her. She grabs it and answers it.
"Hello?"
"Yuri-chan!"
"Hi Misa," Sayuri sweatdrops as her old friend Misa was on the other end. The girl was nothing but bubbly personality and had the knack to getting herself into trouble with finances and men. Mostly men.
"You sound disappointed? But I thought you loved me!"
"You only call if you need me to bail you out of something. I've been doing this routine since high school. So what's up?"
"Not much. And this time you won't have to bail me out of anything! I want to treat you to dinner so we can catch up. I heard you been busy lately. I figured a nice girls night out would do you some good. That way you wouldn't have to focus on work." Misa's perky voice actually sounded sincere this time.
Money wasn't a problem if she got stuck with a bill. She just hope Misa wouldn't get them kicked out wherever place they were going.
"Alright," Sayuri writes down the information, "just gotta get a sitter for Sho then we're go to go!"
"Yay!"
It wasn't hard to get Mai to sit for Sho while she went out. In fact, Sho and Mai nearly kick her out the door that night as she was getting ready. Sayuri didn't want to leave them alone. Her brown hair was curl softly at the ends, dressed in a pretty blue dress that went to her knees. She took a white sweater to go against the chilly air. Her black heels click against the pavement as her friend Misa pulls up in a taxi.
"Hey girl!" Her normal brown hair had been bleached streak with pink at the tips. She was wearing some hot pink dress. The skirt part look way too short on the girl.
"Hey Misa," She gets tackled into a bone crushing hug.
"We're going to have fun," Misa takes a good look at her, "so pretty. I seen this dress in the department store front not too long ago. I wanted it so bad."
"Too bad," Sayuri twirls, the skirt flying around her, "and it was in my size too. It's amazing just what discounts you get when the manager is a horror fan."
"You and your creepy ghost stories. I just don't understand you. It's weird. No one wonder you're still single," Misa helps Sayuri climb in.
"I'm single on my own account."
"Uh huh," Misa gives directions to the cab, before taking a compact out and powdering her nose, "still weird."
"A lot of people don't. They find it classy."
"You mean having something that goes bump in the night to rip out your throat is classy, then I must have the wrong definition."
"It's just a story Misa," Sayuri soon saw city lights coming into view.
"Speaking of single," The bleached blonde puts one leg over the other, "what about that hot detective Ritsuke? He still on the market?"
"You're too late," Sayuri smirks, "he's actually dating someone."
"Is she prettier then me?" The blonde gasps, looking worried.
"Sure she is," Sayuri blinks at the look on the blonde's face. And she could also set you on fire and pull all your limbs out of their sockets if you even get within ten feet of Ritsuke.
"Oooh shot!" Misa snaps her fingers, "oh well, you win some, you lose some. If she ever decides to just kick him to the curb, let him to know he can call me anytime."
"I'll be sure to mention it to him," Sayuri wanted to laugh. There would be no way in hell or any alternate universe that Ritsuke would want to date Misa. He found her annoying and a man killer. He wanted a real woman who would love and cherish him. One that would he see himself with in fifty years, not days.
"Okay, so you're single...got the hots for anyone?"
"Not really," Sayuri fiddles with the strings of her purse, "it's...I'm not entirely sure."
"Lemme guess. He's hot. He thinks you're hot. And he can't figure out emotions? Guys are so not romantic," Misa scoffs.
"Something like that," Sayuri laughs faintly.
"Forget about him. He's not worth it. Just try and have fun tonight. First, let's have some dinner!" Misa grins, dialing her hot pink cell phone to make sure the reservation was still good. Sayuri sits back, smiling. Misa was right. She wasn't going to worry about man problems tonight. Nope, she wasn't going to think about that stoic Chinese man anymore. She was going to have fun and catch up with an old friend.
"Wow," Sayuri muses the moment they got out of the taxi and stare up at the high white arches of the restaurant, Sen, that Misa giving directions to, "I only ate here once and that was when my first book sold millions. It was a surprise from my editor."
"Knew you would love it," Misa leads them through the glass doors of Sen. The entire place reminded Sayuri of a ballroom from Europe. Only it was high vaulted ceilings with soft glowing gold chandeliers and white curtains. Everything was so bright that she felt like a princess.
"Misa, I don't know how to thank you."
"Don't thank me," the blonde steps aside as they approached a table, "thank them."
Sayuri stops, staring at the people that are at a rounded table clothed in white. The lights made the crystal sparkle and the silverware dazzling. Sayuri now realize that this was a place. It was a place for an ice queen. And said ice queen stood up from her seat at the head of the table. Her polish dark hair shows the hints of red in the candlelight, pulled back into a intricate bun. Her clothes are a simple dark gown with a short long sleeve jacket. She looked so poise, like a queen who knew how to run her kingdom.
"Sayuri," Noriko Natsuma rises from the table, walking over to greet her daughter. Her lips press to Sayuri's cheek in a chaste kiss. Her cold hands take Sayuri's, studying her daughter's appearance.
The whole floor felt like it was about to gobble her up into one big bite. And Sayuri really wish she would. Her grey eyes scan to try and find Misa. One of her mother's 'friends' had gotten up to hand Misa a envelope. Her quick eyes see that there was a check inside. Misa bows before her mother before sending a apologetic smile to her. Betrayal rise up in her mouth, making Sayuri sick to her stomach.
"You look wonderful, sweetheart."
Sayuri felt herself threw up a little bit in her mouth. Her mother would never use terms of endearment unless she was around the public or people she was trying to impress. Her mother was such hypocrite. When was the last time she even said 'I love you' to her and meant it?
"Thank you," Her voice sounded calm as possible, "You look put together as usual."
"Of course," Noriko gives her a smile.
Sayuri wonders if any of her mother's friends would notice just how cold that smile really was.
"I'm sorry to have to have you meet up with us this way but I ran into Misa just last week. I ask about you and she said she haven't talk to you in a while."
"I've been busy," Sayuri couldn't tug her hang away from her mother. It was the iron grip she would use when she was a small child. It was a sign to make sure she behave.
"I'm sure you have been," Noriko motions for the empty seat next to her, "please join us."
Sayuri does as she is told. There was no where to run. No where to shout or yell. She was trapped. No matter how many times Sayuri had avoided her mother, Noriko ended up with the upper hand. That was the way it had always been. Noriko had to always get her way. Even if it involved paying Misa off to have her dragged her out here to the city to meet up at some fancy dinner with her mother.
Just what card was she playing this time?
"Sayuri," Noriko indicates to the young man sitting on the other side of her, "you remember Daisuke Iroshi? He's one of the lawyers present at my law firm."
She remembered Daisuke alright. The play boy whose family was nothing but lawyers and tax collectors. Her mother had them meet when they were still in the high school years. Daisuke kept making passes but by then, Ritsuke was there to tell him to back off.
"Of course," dinner was brought out to them and she didn't really feel like eating one bite. Nothing seem warm anymore. Everything felt cold and dark despite the amount of light in the room. She was stuck in a temporary prison. She was stuck there until Noriko got what she wanted from her daughter.
"My, it has been a long time Sayuri," Daisuke flashes his signature smile that makes a lot of women swoon. But not her. She wasn't amused to say the least. Her facial expression was kinda shy and emotionless.
"Yes, it has. Since high school. I'm glad to see that you made yourself a good lawyer." A nudge is felt near her leg. That was her mother's sign to eat something or risk embarrassing her. She could barely swallow whatever food it was on her plate. Everything tasted with no flavor.
"Yes," Daisuke sips his wine as everyone else makes conversation leaving the two to chat, "tell me? What happen with university? I thought you be out of law school by now."
"It wasn't my destiny to be a lawyer," Sayuri wanted to gulp down the wine but she knew she get a look from Noriko. The best she could do was play the daughter card long enough then get the hell out.
"Too bad. I bet you would have made a fine lawyer, just like your mother."
If she had a gun, she would have aim right between the eyes and his blood would be spilling into his dinner. That was a nice image and it made her relax a little bit.
"So you write horror novels, Miss Natsuma?" Another friend, an older gentleman speaks up from next to her.
"Yes I do," That question came as a surprise. Usually her mother never associate with people who knew her with her books.
"I've read your first two. It's somewhat graphic," Another man, very lean and bookish wipes his mouth.
"I have to make a believable story. One that draws the readers in. It's the only way to sell a good story, wouldn't you agree gentlemen?" She takes a nice gulp of her wine.
Her eyes glance at her mother whose eyes flash angrily for a few seconds. Sayuri mentally smirks. That's right mother, get angry with me. But you wouldn't want to say anything in front of these men if you want to keep your image. I'm happy that they like my stories. I hope it makes you boil and that you take it out on the next intern by the time you come back into your office Monday morning.
"So what is your next novel about?" Daisuke asks.
"My newest?" Sayuri plays the innocent card, "not much except...ghost hunting."
"Ghost hunting? Interesting," he laughs while Noriko looked way too surprised by that. Her dark eyes glance at her daughter who grey eyes blink innocently at Daisuke and everyone else.
"It just sorta came to me. It's not something I normally do but it makes for a interesting plot line. Don't worry gentlemen, you won't be disappointed."
"Tell me," Daisuke puts down his fork, "do you believe in ghosts?"
Her mouth opens, staring at him in shock and surprise. How was she suppose to answer that questions now? Since everything that had happen between her and SPR? That she was really a medium and saw dead people? That her many times great grandfather was a ghost that might be protecting her family home from a evil curse?
"Oh don't be silly, Daisuke," Noriko's laugh is hollow, "Sayuri doesn't believe in that silly nonsense. She just knows how to weave a good story to tell. She's good at being convinced that her stories are true. One of the reasons why she should have been a good lawyer."
Her mouth closes, not really answering Daisuke's question since he was now distracted by her mother. It was a close call yet she felt horrible inside. How could she be faithful to SPR while her mother still had some sort of control over her? How could she face them if she had lied to her mother? They would understand but it still hurt her inside.
Guys, I nearly screwed up. I'm sorry. I love you all so much. I couldn't stand if I hurt you. You just don't understand how much my mother has control over me. She's a horrible person.
That's when she feels her phone vibrate. Sayuri jumps, taking it out of her purse and reading a text from Mai.
"I'm sorry to end this lovely dinner so shortly but my cousin needs me," she gets up, avoiding the hand that was about to grab her.
"Don't be silly," Noriko stares at her, "I'm sure your sitter can take care of it."
"It's important," Her eyes narrow, "and I really must go."
Sayuri walks away quickly from the table, not evening looking over her shoulder to see if her mother was following her. It didn't take long to walk out of the restaurant and down the street. She kept walking until she knew for sure that she was far away from the building. Sayuri flips open her phone, ready to call Mai.
Mai never texted you. I did that.
Kyo?
I'm sorry but I just couldn't stand by and let that happen to you. I don't like her Sayuri. She's a monster.
You did that so I could get out of dinner? I was surprise that you didn't do it sooner.
I couldn't get the phone work.. Those contraptions are not as easy as you make them out to be.
Thank you.
Sayuri shakes herself out of her daze. Now what was she suppose to do? She puts her sweater on as a small wind picks up. Great, here she was thinking she have a girls night out with a friend only to be left alone in the city after having to deal with mother. Sayuri sighs.
"I could get a ride home then Mai and Sho be worried," She stares up at the street signs, "but if I at least try and go find something to do then maybe..."
Heck, she didn't even know where Monk's band would be playing. Or how to get Ayako's house from her spot. And the church was too far away. Ritsuke's apartment was on the other side of town and that she had no idea where Tsubaki lived.
She knew one place.
A place she thought she be avoiding due to Misa's guy advice.
Fat chance I'll ever talk to her again, the little traitor. She sold me out for money. Next time she gets into a pickle, she cry to someone else to bail her sorry ass out of a mess!
It didn't take her long to find the office of Shibuya Psychic Research. By now, her feet were killing her due to the long walk via subway and back in heels. Sayuri mumbles about burning them once she got home. Her eyes look up the stairwell to the office door. She knew it by heart now, very much like Mai.
There wouldn't be anyone there right now, at this time of night unless Lin was working late again. Or he could be at home working, wherever home was to him.
All she wanted was some familiarity.
She wanted comfort, even if it meant standing in the evening hours in the cold in nothing but a dress and heels in front of a place she found to be the center of her universe, besides home.
"I'm an moron," Sayuri walks up the steps, wincing slightly at the soreness of her feet.
Grey eyes stare at the door.
"I'm going to feel really stupid if this lock," Sayuri holds up her hand, "really stupid. Okay, if its lock, then I'll just bury my pride and go home. I'll tell Mai and Sho everything that had happen. If its lock, I'll buy them dinner and we'll watch scary movies or something. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."
Her hand barely touched the knob as the door opens.
Sayuri jumps back, staring up at Lin's dark eyes.
Lin was surprise to see her there. It was late enough and he had already sent Tsubaki off with Naru to find dinner and get some sleep. He had seen something move pass the door, thinking it was Tsubaki forgetting something yet again only to find Sayuri. He was very surprised by the way she was dressed.
Her hair tumbled down her shoulders, with shadow painted eyes and pink lips. She wore a white sweater over the top of her blue dress. She look like she had come back from some party. Her hand still remained frozen in the air where she was about to open the door. Grey eyes stare up at him, looking surprised.
"May I help you?"
"Wha? Uh no, I just-This was stupid. I'm sorry if I bother you," Her words came out brisk, tearing her eyes away from him. She turns to walk back down the steps and call a cab. Her face was burning.
I am so stupid. What was I thinking? I was upset and he's here. I'm an idiot!
"Sayuri?" His hand touches her shoulder, "why on earth are you here at such an ungodly hour?"
"I don't know," She speaks, not looking at him, "because I'm stupid..."
"Excuse me?"
"It's nothing," Her voice cracks, "I was suppose to have a night out with an old friend. She sold me out to my mother. My mother. Do you realize how horrible she is?"
"Sayuri-"
"Horrible," She was loosing it and she wonder why. She wonder why she was loosing it in front of Lin of all people. She should be loosing it to Mai, Tsubaki, Ritsuke, hell even Monk and Ayako. Hell, she could call John up and talk to him. Most of the time, she just wait until Sho was asleep so she could have a break down.
"She's horrible. The stories I could tell you. She's mean. All she cares about is herself. Do you want to know what she did to me when I told her I could see my grandparents as ghosts? She didn't just yell. She hit me. She hit her own daughter around, screaming and yelling. She called me crazy and that if I ever did that again...well, enough said. So I'll leave you to your paperwork. You can just write this off as I had a horrible night and I tend to ramble when I'm upset."
Something broke inside her.
She turns away, trying to walk away from him and the office that she found odd comfort in. Sayuri wanted to mentally smack herself. She was an idiot.
I'm dumb. I can't finish a chapter. I have no idea how to raise an eight year old boy. I can't handle my mother. I can't tell if my old friends are lying to me. Hell, I can't even find a normal guy to be crushing on. And I see dead people. Yep, my life is just a bunch of roses!
Her fingers touch her face.
She looks down to see that tears were falling down her cheeks, ruining her make up.
Why was she crying?
Why didn't she notice herself crying?
Long arms grab her, pulling her away from the stairs. Sayuri is force to turn around. Lin bends down, staring at her face. Her knees were shaking, from wanting to bawl and the cold. His long fingers brush at the tears on her face.
"Get inside," he leads her through the door.
Sayuri had realize just how cold she was.
"You're an idiot." His dark eyes glare at her, looking very disappointed in her. She sighs, knowing the feeling already and not once letting this look burn her. Sayuri was already numb from her mother.
"I have already establish that fact," Sayuri lifts her head, "you could just let me go and I can call a cab. I'll be out of your hair in no time."
"Sit," He orders.
Sayuri does as she is told. Something is put around her shoulders. It was his jacket. The faint smell of something masculine reaches her senses, making her feel fuzzy inside. A box of tissues are put in front of her. She wipes her eyes and face, trying to salvage what she did to her make up.
A cup of tea is place in her hands.
Sayuri looks up, puzzled as he sits next to her.
"I'm bothering you. Why aren't you kicking me out?"
"I'm not letting you stand out in the cold in nothing but a dress," Lin covers his hands with his own, trying to keep her warm.
"You could. I wouldn't blame you if you did. I would be totally okay with that. Because it's my fault I'm such a moron."
"Why do you assume that I wouldn't want you here?" Lin asks the questions, giving her a glare.
"Because," Sayuri shrugs, "I just assumed that you would."
Okay, he deserved that. The last time they talked to each other, it left nothing but a cold silence between them. She wouldn't even look at him for a week. Sayuri would only speak to him unless it was necessary. That look in her eyes, the tone in her voice, and her body language said it all.
"Did it hurt?" She pulls her hands from his, sipping her tea.
"Yes, I deserved that."
"You should," Grey eyes glare, "you're just as big as a jerk as Naru."
"Don't push it," Lin looks at her again which she avoids the gaze by staring at her tea.
"I'm sorry," those beautiful eyes were now looking dangerous, "but I'm not in the kind mood Lin. If I had my way, I would had Kyo toss my mother around in public for...I knew this night was too good to be true. All I wanted was to go out and just not have think about anything."
"She ambush you," Lin tucks the jacket closer around her. She look so frail after crying silently in front of him. He knew it was intention for her to do that in front of him. Sayuri seemed to be the type of girl to not cry in front of everyone.
"Yes, she did. She had my friend paid. It pissed me off. On top that, I think she try to set me up with some guy I barely knew back when I was a teenager. I still think he's obnoxious. The prat. He tried to make the moves on me when we were sixteen. I told him no and he took it as a 'yes'. Thankfully Ritsuke was there spying or else-" She stops as she sees the look on his face.
"Lin? Lin. Lin," She snaps her fingers, "you're scaring me and my ghost so stop it."
"Yes, it was a good thing that Satoru was there."
"You had that look like you wanted to beat him up."
"A man should never treat a woman like that."
"I agree," She sips more of the tea, "can I go home now or do I need you to walk me home?"
Lin stares at her with one eyebrow.
"I'm being a smartass," Sayuri sets down the cup, "look I doubt that you want me here any longer and that you're only putting up with me cause deep down you are a gentleman. So in a nice fashion, I shall disappear and you can just think this whole incident was some delusion of you overworking."
Sayuri hands him his jacket, "thank you anyways. Don't worry, I got the cab company on speed dial. See ya later Lin."
She turns around, heading for the door. Sayuri opens it but it's slam shut by a hand just above her head. She nearly jumps out of her skin. Sayuri turns around to see Lin standing over her, with some look in his eye.
"You are not leaving," he speaks, sounding like he was pretty much pissed off that she just walk away talking to him like that.
"Yes, I am."
"No, you're not."
"You really want to turn this into some immature argument? Cause if we do, I'll win," Sayuri sticks her lip out, glaring at him. It did seem comic to see the small Japanese woman staring up at the Chinese man with such vigor.
"No you won't," Lin smirks, "ask Tsubaki. I always win."
"Meanie," His jacket is place around her shoulders again, which confuses Sayuri.
"C'mon," Lin turns everything off before grabbing her hand, "we're leaving."
"Now? But don't you have-"
"Naru can beat me later," Lin smirks, getting a look from her, "he'll live. We're leaving."
"Taking me home, huh?" Sayuri sees that he had grab her hand as they had walked out the door. He locks up before grabbing her hand again to lead her down the stairs. His hand was warm. And that her hand fitted into his.
"No," Lin walks her over to where they kept the van, "I believe you deserve a real dinner."
"Without my mother," He opens the door for her. He helps her inside before slamming it shut. He gets into the driver's side.
"Without thinking about your mother," Lin starts up the van, "sorry if this isn't much to drive you somewhere nice."
"As far as I care Lin, you can take me anywhere," Grey eyes were sparkling beautifully again, making him faintly smile.
"Fine with me."
Sayuri settles into the warmth of the van, smiling as Lin heads out to some restaurant to take her to. The evening didn't turn out the way she planned it but now she was sitting in shot gun next to the Chinese man that was offering, no driving her to dinner.
Nope, everything turn out alright.