'Click'
Disclaimer: Yeah well, life goes on but I never owned Ghost Hunt at all...
Thanks to all my reviewers! Guys the reviews were lovely, I had so much fun reading all the comments and that inspired me to write. For reasons to my long absence see A/N below. Thanks to the following Guest reviewers:
bloodydeathgirl: I'm really happy that you enjoyed the story – especially when people tell me that I'm funny because honestly, I'm the least funny person on earth, though I sound better when I write. Thanks so much for the encouraging review! Have a cookie :)
Lovenarumai: Thanks! :D I'm glad you enjoyed...well Takigawa has a weak nerve when it comes to Mai – and I think poor John has always been exploited by me. Here's the update, I hope you enjoy throughout! Catch a cookie :)
ZzSheilahzZ: I'm ecstatic that you found the characterization well enough, I constantly worry about a character's personality and I'm never satisfied. You're the first person to inquire exactly why I kidnapped John too – apart from the humor. All in good time I guess. Have a cookie and thanks :D
Summary: 'Now, when I see Noll – I see my reflection in his attitude, although I was more intellectual while solving matters of the private life...Noll on the other hand clearly needs to sharpen his skills in this genre of life.' - Martin Davis debates on how to get an inside scoop into Naru's life at Japan.
'MARTIN'
I have married one difficult woman...
I sighed internally as I watched Luella animatedly describing her 'oh-so genius plans' – plans that revolved a bit too much around me...which I think, is a frightening prospect since I also saw Madoka contributing to this so-called conspiracy.
Whatever was being cooked inside their minds has to be definitely drastic...otherwise it wouldn't be a product of the two evil masterminds sitting with me at the dining table.
"But Martin!" Luella fidgeted a bit, as if struggling to keep her enthusiasm and protect her lady-like dignity as well. "Dear, you so have to take part in it. You are his father."
Father.
"Luella is right Martin." Madoka supplied, siding irrationally with Luella. "If you won't do this, then who will?!"
Who will?!
Damnation! I wouldn't do such a thing in a million years, anyone but me can do this – they can ask Lin for his precious time and his valor but I will keep out of it for all I can.
"No." I firmly stated, avoiding Luella's bright blue eyes. "Luella, you know I haven't ever done such a thing in my life. I won't do it now, as you can see."
"But Martin, that is preposterous! Only you can talk to Noll and make him talk back like a parrot. That's the only way to find out what is bothering him!"
Make Noll talk like a parrot. Oh sure, that is something I can easily do...hah, really...
"Luella. Try to understand." The advantage to having a wife who is a psychologist is that a man learns how and when to win a fight against insistence by manipulating emotions. "I have never had a heart-to-heart talk with either Noll or Gene – I definitely can't manoeuver this as you say."
"But-"
"Madoka," If I could only press them down a little bit further then I could easily take this situation in my hand and stop the foolery that these two women are up to. "I have never advised either of those two on any other matters except the paranormal – so please keep me out of this. Instead you can ask Lin for his help – surely he can handle such matters better."
"But you are his father, Martin! We can ask Lin but that would be no fun!"
Fun? They are arranging this talk between us for fun?!
One advise to Lin – think before acting or proposing to Mori, both of these are supposed to be words of wisdom.
"Absolutely no." I stood up and collected my coat from behind the chair, ending the conversation with a finality that should be a matter of pride. "You both better let Noll sort out his own matters – that young man should be sorting things out himself."
And then just as I was thinking that I had finally defeated the mass of plotting evil that is Luella and Madoka, a baritone voice interrupted the conversation the three of us had been having.
"What matters?"
Noll...
Luella recovered from her internal shock at seeing Noll out of his room with lightning speed.
"Oh Noll," She sighed in her motherly fashion, beckoning him to join us. "Martin was just telling me and Madoka that he wanted to talk to you after breakfast...concerning some things that need to be discussed briefly. Would you be a dear and join Martin in his study for your little chat?"
Chat?
Luella's sweet voice seemed not to affect Noll as he barely nodded and then gave me a side glance as if asking me to confirm what Luella had said. Clearly, Luella had again done it.
The mass of plotting evil had won again and now had dragged me into this plan almost without any further argument.
"Ah, yes." I coughed almost as if buying time to think whatto say. "Noll, come to my study after you're done eating...we have to err...talk."
At that I saw Noll raise an eyebrow as if challenging my statement but he said nothing at all – it was almost as if he had decided to accept my sudden invitation. Luella's eyes twinkled and she smiled at both of us happily.
While I, Martin Davis, just stood there; shaking my head internally.
Women.
I never really understood why Luella chose to sit next to me on her first day of college – what I mean to say is that there were plenty other empty seats next to more sociable people than me but I don't know why...I still remember the way her blue eyes shined merrily in the morning light as she smiled brightly at me, not saying anything.
That whole day she had tolerated my quiet demeanor and kept babbling quite childishly as I promptly ignored her...the college had been one for the elite genius only and on that day I found it hard to see a spark of intelligence in her. Luella had just been a clumsy, scatter-brained and a strangely blunt girl but then slowly I began to see the intellect in her; how she topped Psychology and how she was interested in mathematical codes and riddles and whatnot.
And how she began to sit next to me, everyday, in each class ever since her first day – even though our friendship was not pronounced, even though I tried hard to isolate myself from everything.
Now, when I see Noll – I see my reflection in his attitude, although I was more intellectual while solving matters of the private life...Noll on the other hand clearly needs to sharpen his skills in this genre of life. What do I talk to Noll about? How do I persuade him to get to talk to me – surely Noll will not tell me anything, he's been as quiet as anything ever since he returned from Japan and its been a whole year but he doesn't seem to be adapting to life here.
And I don't understand the vague hints Lin keeps dropping about Japan over dinners, Noll does though – I swear over my soul that I saw him slightly spluttering in his teacup when Lin said something like 'not hating her as much as I hate the Japanese'. Noll had glowered at this but had promptly said nothing to affirm or negate anything.
Though I know they're not talking about Madoka. It's somebody else Lin was referring to.
See my point there, Lin is more qualified to give all these talks and lectures to Noll – the Chinese obviously knows more about my son than anyone else...while I know nothing about his private life.
I sighed.
At the precise moment, the door knocked and I put my pen down, leaving my new thesis for the time being. There were other important affairs to untangle. Mission 'Get-Oliver-To-Talk'.
"Come in."
As I expected, Oliver stepped inside the room, his expression clearly nonchalant – holding a folder and his cell phone in his hand.
"Oliver." I acknowledged him with a nod of my head, gesturing for him to sit. "I see that you were going somewhere?"
He took the chair and nodded at me too, symbolizing the fact that our relationship of father-son seemed to be solely based on raised brows, nods and handshakes. I had never been really close to Noll as some might expect, especially since our dispositions so collide – but I had not been his ultimate adviser except when he needed help on paranormal theories or had to come with me to the BSPR...that had been a long time though, I hadn't caught up with Noll properly ever since he went to Japan for Gene's body.
"Yes I was." He said and paused. "I need to go to the office and see the manuscripts where I left them."
He didn't mention Gene's death as the point where he left his hypothesis, he's so much distant and I will never forget his expression when he saw Gene's death in his vision. He looked so...lost...not scared or frightened or grieved...but lost.
"Ah well that's good." I could find nothing else to say to him for the sake of conversation. "I assume that you're going to work on the new thesis that you wanted to research on. About latent psychics I believe?"
"Yes, I have enough material on research, I supposed I should be starting."
"Good." Lord! Why must I not speak like a father with my son? "Although I don't know when exactly you conducted your research. Its been a while since I reviewed any of your theories. Who did you research on?"
"A member on my team...back at Japan...had been a latent psychic."
What a short answer.
"Lin had told me. The girl...what was her name again?"
"Taniyama."
Just Taniyama? No, well I recollect that her name was Mai – ah! She is the girl Luella and Madoka keep whispering about.
Oh...
Is she Noll's love-interest...
Oh.
"Mai Taniyama? The polite girl who you had as your assistant?"
"Yes."
His face showed no emotion but I think I saw him trying to contain a smile as he mentioned the girl.
Now that I think about it – she is the girl Lin keeps giving vague hints about!
This was what I kept referring too – I clearly lag behind the topic of Noll's personal life which makes me slightly angry at Luella; why she never told me anything of the sort! About Taniyama Mai or Oliver's interest in the young lady. And she wanted me to talk to Noll – that is preposterous!
Though now that I recollect...Madoka and Luella did say something about her which I had promptly ignored as sheer gossip.
"So Noll," I entangled my fingers and leaned in the chair, trying to sound like the professor I was during classes. "There are a few things that I find...quite...debatable."
A perfect start to the legendary speech...not.
He raised his eyebrow skeptically and crossed his arms – clearly in his stance to challenge me. I'd rather do anything else than be challenged by my own son.
"Debatable?" He sounds mildly surprised at my statement. "About my theories?"
How do I phrase that this is a man-to-man talk about his private life?
"No, young man," Yes, Oliver is quite dense but I'd like to think that he would listen to me rambling on and on without challenging me or my sanity. "If there is one thing that I instantly trust from your side is your accurate hypothesis about the paranormal."
He smirked – the first sign of proper acknowledgment by Noll.
"So the debatable things refer to?"
"Your private life – specifically your life at Japan."
There I said it – there is an awkward silence between us that keeps stretching on and on...since both of us are quite unsure of how to or what to say during this time but since I invited him so.
.
.
.
"Noll...me and your mother are quite worried about you." I noticed his entire demeanor changing with the mention of Japan; he seems tense with his fingers intertwined and his knuckles white.
"I don't quite understand -" He remains impassive but I can see the unfocussed look in his eyes – the look which means that he is musing deeply.
"Of course Noll, let me elaborate at least." Elaboration is actually my personal observation about Noll ever since he came back to England, its been a year and he promised his mother that once back he would stay...permanently here. "You have been having nightmares lately -"
"Not that I know of." He says defiantly and looks at me – he's always this stubborn but today I'll have none of his obstinacy.
"Noll, don't lie." I simply said and observed how his eyes widened slightly for a single moment. "You have been having nightmares, haven't you?"
"Yes. Though they are nothing to worry about."
Nightmares – and nothing to worry about?! Is that boy simply testing the limits of my patience regarding his well-being?
"Nightmares are nothing to worry about!?" I stood up rather angrily and could see that he was as intimidated as he could get; his head was bowed slightly and his posture was stiff. "Noll! You do know how you get those though – do you?!"
"My fears induce my nightmares."
"Exactly!" I hit the table with my fist and watched as he looked uneasy. "Noll you have a new fear now, don't you!? And you never told me? I told you that nightmares in your case can make your PK go haywire! You should have told someone, Lin or anybody so that they might have helped you!"
He looked sullen all of a sudden, his expression was guarded though and for the first time in my life – here I am scolding my son...Noll...of all people – Gene had been here a lot of times but never Noll.
"I'm sorry."
Noll isn't really a believer of apologies; he doesn't demand them nor says them.
"You should be sorry!" I exclaimed, knowing that he must have been having real fears that might have projected into his dreams. "Noll – tell me what your fear is."
It's more of a command but he pays absolutely no heed and instead avoids the question for a few minutes.
"Noll, I'm demanding something, son."
"Father," He is irritated alright. "They are under control, I apologize for not telling you earlier."
"Noll." I warned.
"It's nothing at all."
"Fine," I'll ask him later – for now there are more important matters to discuss. "What about Japan?"
He looked bemused in his own way – contemplating my statement deeply.
"What about Japan?" He asked. "What do you want to know about Japan?"
"Lets start from the basics – I hear from Lin that you miss Japan."
The truth is that Lin hadn't even made the statement – but do I care if Noll glares Lin down to pulp? No. Of course not.
"I don't miss Japan." He emphasized and appeared to be annoyed. "Except the fact that Japan holds more prospects for paranormal research – I have no reason to return there."
"I'm afraid that's what I find the most debatable, Noll."
He's raising that darned eyebrow again and I want to tell him to abstain from doing that when he's talking to me. It makes me think as if I'm being unreasonable, which I'm clearly not. It reminds me of the day when I met them at the orphanage; how Noll was looking so immersed in the book and how he had raised his eyebrow and challenged my theories even on that day...
I knew, at that moment that I wanted a son like him...
"Do you think that I might have other reasons for returning to Japan?"
"Yes," I smirked lightly and leaned forward, to examine his expression. "Like a certain young lady who, you are afraid, might start liking someone; other than you – in your absence?"
I'm sure he muttered something along the lines of – 'She already likes someone else.' and maybe something like 'I don't understand why Madoka's doing this.'
"Son, you know how I feel about mumbling."
"I don't know what Madoka planted in Mother's head."
Planted? No, son you have got it all wrong; that is an understatement...how do I tell you that all they have been talking about is your marriage and err...grandchildren. Madoka has embedded this in Luella's head – quite literally.
"The topic of our conversation is not Madoka or Luella." I paused, letting him know that I won't allow diversion from the topic, oh for Luella's sake only. "The information you share with me, I assure you, will not reach anybody else. Not even Luella. Therefore I want you to confide in me. Properly."
Very good. I mentally patted myself on the back. Manly thing to do, no beating around the bush...
He has an expression which paralleled to 'What-exactly-do-you-want-me-to-say?'
"This Taniyama girl..." I tried to sound nonchalant but even I couldn't keep the surprise out of my own voice. "How do you feel about her?"
Wrong move apparently. Noll did a double take and his eyes widened almost slightly.
"Feel?" And its almost a whisper as if he thinks I've made an incredulous over-statement, he recovers himself immediately. "Madoka has always been chirruping ridiculous things, never once have you trusted them...why now?"
"Because now, I have evidence Noll..." He looks sullen now, as if this topic is too much for him to bear or as if he doesn't want to talk on it. "Firstly there are those nightmares of yours, for the first few months you ate so little food that your mother considered asking a psychologist for your therapy."
"Mother usually over-reacts..."
"True." I nodded and then continued, ticking his irregular habits on my fingers. "And then you haven't even touched tea ever since you came from Japan, you have not been working too enthusiastically and now even after staying here for almost a year...you don't seem to not be adapting to life at England."
"Life is about adapting all the time."
"A novel thought," I acknowledged with a tight smile. "It's another aspect that you are not conforming with this principle these days."
Noll pursed his lips and looked at me as if expecting me to continue and so I did.
"I have never seen you brooding before Noll and this attitude of yours surprises me so much. I don't usually consider such matters but for the sake of honesty, tell me what you have in mind about Japan."
He clearly speaks as if the answer had been rehearsed and maybe he has practiced it inside his mind.
"Japan has a high rate of paranormal activity; I think the business there was a good decision and the team was well unified, consequently we had no problem solving the cases we usually got."
"I know Noll; I know you're qualified to do any competitive work," I sounded impatient even to my own ears. "But I'm trying to get an inside scope into your private life at Japan."
It suddenly dawned on him, why exactly I had invited him for this 'little chat'.
"Oh." He muttered. "Mother."
"Exactly, your Mother wanted this little talk to take place though let me reassure you, none of the contents of the talk are going to be released anywhere. You can talk. Freely."
He remained cool on the exterior but I can see the wheels turning in his head, analyzing everything I have just said like data.
"What do you want to know."
Yes, finally some straight conversation, God knows it took half an hour to just get Noll to open his sealed mouth.
"Lets start from Mai. What comes in your mind when you think of her?"
"She's idiotic really, clumsy, scatter-brained, inept but...she's different."
Different?! My son claiming someone to be outside his range of reasoning...This could give Freud a field day! Hell to it, it has given me a field day!
"She's not categorized; neither a pumpkin nor not one. I can't classify her; she may be an idiot but she's so perceptive to human feelings and she's a latent psychic." He paused as if thinking on how much information to give away. "My first instinct is to keep her out of trouble, in which she constantly keeps on falling. I find this...disturbing."
"Disturbing, in a sense that you fear your instinct or that you abhor it?"
"Mostly fear of liking the feeling."
He doesn't like the fact that he likes it. Oh, complicated Noll.
"Most of the fear is just in your mind Noll, it's playing tricks with you – I suggest that you stop over-thinking your issues."
"And then she went and confessed to me."
Confessed! Then why is this idiot sitting before me?!
"But Noll...surely you didn't reject...her -"
"I didn't – I just asked her a question; after I came to know that Gene was her spirit guide...I thought maybe she was confusing us."
His rut of self-deprecation is what makes him suffer so much – I've tried to tell him so many times that even though we loved Gene, it doesn't mean that he is in any way inferior to his twin. Good Lord! A girl likes him and all he does is pose questions and doubts.
"She never replied...but she gave this to me...when I was leaving"
He reached in to the pocket of his coat and pulled something out; it was a small object and I wasn't even sure what it was until he handed it to me.
It was an old metallic key.
I gazed up at Noll, rubbing the key between my fingers – trying to make some meaning of all this.
"It belonged to her parents. After their death, Mai used it as her lucky charm."
"Lucky charm." I murmured, examining the key. "How thoughtful of her to give it to you."
"But that's not all..." He was lost in his thoughts as he took the key from me and placed it on the table. "Can you see the carving in the key, right there..."
Sure enough, there was a rough carving on the key that looked almost like writing and the longer I stared at it, the more I found out that the scribble was not simple graffiti – it was a message.
It was a word in Kanji.
"It's Mai's writing, she knew I wasn't able to decipher Kanji."
"So...do you know what is says? Do you know what it means."
"I asked Madoka." He was looking away at a distance, looking distracted. "It says 'You'"
You. How strange.
"You?"
"The question I asked her..." He cleared his throat. " It was 'Me or Gene' I knew she was confusing us, I was not the type of person she would ever like; she said it herself – she said I was a cold-hearted jerk, and a narcissistic tea-addict."
For a moment, I'm befuddled and then it hits me like lightning.
The girl had so ingeniously answered Noll's question and said 'You' to indicate that she loved Noll not...Gene. And to think she intentionally wrote it in Kanji...hoping to get her message across without him realizing.
Marvelous!
"One thing is established Noll; that girl is no idiot." I sighed tautly and smiled. "Why young man, you are quite smitten with her."
"I'm not...I don't want to be, I didn't ask for this."
"So you mean you don't like her."
"No, that's not what I meant – I don't want to rely on her in any emotional way, not when I know how easily I can lose her."
I pinched my nose bridge, trying to make Noll understand that death wasn't essentially haunting Mai only; if he keeps on fearing things like this he can never make progress.
Then something hits me, again.
Noll's fear...his nightmares...
"Noll," I tentatively asked. "Do you see Mai die in your nightmares?"
He stiffened all of a sudden and looked at me apprehensively before the facade returned but he never gave any sign of acknowledgment.
"Noll – is she the subject of your nightmares?"
No answer yet...
"Noll!"
Finally, he nodded almost imperceptibly and my curiosity heightened about this girl...Oliver Davis who people thought to be infallible...he fears for a girl's life.
My son fears something...oh.
Silence hung heavily in the air for a few minutes and was promptly broken by Noll's phone vibrating.
He sighed and flipped it open, staring impassively at the screen before a look of curiosity seeped into his eyes.
"Takigawa?" He muttered to himself. "Strange."
Nonetheless, he attended the call and almost snapped in the phone.
"Takigawa." He sounded agitated. "Is everything alright?"
All of a sudden, Noll jerked the phone away from his ear when the person on the other side of the phone started screaming in a booming voice, loud enough for me to hear.
"NARU! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO! MAN, I CAN'T FIND HER ANYWHERE – GOD KNOWS IN WHAT CONDITION SHE IS OR WHERE SHE IS! NARU SAY SOMETHING!"
Noll sighed imperceptibly and calmly answered.
"Takigawa stop hollering, who are you talking about? What has happened?"
"MAI-CHAN!"
He stiffened and there was a silence on the other side of the phone, it was so thick that even I had stopped breathing for a few moments.
"Matsuzaki, what happened to Mai?"
There was silence, a combination of bated breaths and hushed angst which was broken by Noll yelling into the phone. I had never seen my son so fervent before.
"Matsuzaki? Damn it! What happened to Mai!?"
There was still no answer and I had to grip Noll's shoulder to keep him from yelling any further.
"I said tell me!"
Never once before had Noll lost control like this...
"Mai-chan has been kidnapped Naru...we thought you...knew..."
Oh...no.
Noll simply snapped the phone shut, still as a statue – his jaw was clenched and a dark look was stretched across his face. Shit! This was not good, Noll would go and do something drastic if he isn't calmed down now.
"I leave her for ten months and she decides to disappear." He's almost snarling the words to nobody in particular as he stood still. "I've got to find the dummy..." He strode to the doorway, muttering what appeared to be a variety of swear words, a determined look etched on his face but I stopped him with a very vital question.
"But son – you don't even know her whereabouts."
He smirked cruelly for a flitting second and it crashed upon me; how he's going to do this, locate the girl.
Psychometry – endangering his mental and emotional well-being.
"And whoever has done this...is not going to survive for long."
With this, he exited the room, clutching the key between his white knuckles, looking absolutely livid and furious.
They say that love makes you do strange things...
I believe it now.
A/N: Yeah well, I'll be honest – life has been sickeningly turbulent; what with exams (oh yeah they've ended now), school starting once more, no internet for half a month, fighting with best friends, continuing cold wars in class, minor depression (after watching that movie 'The Boy In The Striped Pajamas' TT_TT), writer's block, bad weather and tons of homework – I'm still in the bog since all the above are still unresolved. I hope you like the chappy. Just leave a review!
Baked cookies on cyber sale for all :D
-borntoflyhigh-