A/N ~ Hey guys! I'm so sorry for the delay. I went from managing a small business to owning it and boy has it been . . . something . . . Anyways, I've been reading through what I had written and will be posting as much as I can. Due to the circumstances, I cannot provide a schedule for posting but I'm going to try and power through the remaining 40K I have written for you guys and get it posted. I definitely need to read through my notes to see where I was going but, hopefully, I get something written.
Naru frowned, well, as close to a frown as she had ever seen him get. He rested a hand at the small of her back while they caught up to the group as they were shown into a large office and library between the two sets of curving staircases within the grand foyer. French doors had been thrown open by the caretaker and the room itself was bright with tall windows framed in lace white curtains. JSPR had gathered around a large table while the caretaker instructed them on where they could set up their monitors and the exact number of new outlets and where they were.
"The largest guest suite is directly above this room," the caretaker added as JSPR spread out to examine the heavily laden bookshelves and décor within the large room, "There are two bedrooms for you to utilize as requested."
"We'll drop our things off in the suite and then begin set up. Meet back here in an hour," Naru called out over the low chatter of the group.
The guest suite, as expected, was large and consisted of an open living space and kitchenette. There were two sets of lounging furniture, large overstuffed couches piled with pillows, along with an oval table for dining. The two bedrooms each had three large queen beds, which would work out as long as JSPR continued to rotate shifts, and adjoining bathrooms. The inlaid bathtubs were large enough for four people to sit in, let alone one, but shower stalls had recently been installed for guest convenience as well.
Mai sat down in the bathtub with a giggle, her head just rose above the lip of it, and kicked her feet as she rested her arms along the rim of the tub. She knew what she was doing tonight as soon as she had free time. It was easy to forget about the looming horror she had felt when they first arrived now that she was opening her mind to the positive aspects of the property. No one else sensed anything and Rocco was standing next to her, sniffing at the tub curiously, calm as could be. She theorized that Gene's statement had swayed her intuition a bit and had decided to withhold her judgement on the location until she had spoken with Gene that night. He had only been going off of his memories of the property from when he had crept up at night on a dare and not even gone inside.
Still, though, she should be cautious regardless.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Mai jumped and lifted her eyes to Ayako, who stood in the doorway of the bathroom with her hands on her hips and a brow quirked, while a smirk twitched at her lips.
"Nothing," Mai mumbled, "Just exploring . . . "
Ayako chuckled as Mai climbed out of the tub and patted her leg to garner Rocco's attention before she shuffled out of the bathroom after Ayako. "Well, you can hold off on exploring until we do our walk-throughs," Ayako called back over her shoulder as she strode through the room and back out into the living space.
It took them a little under an hour to set up on the ground floor and prepare for interviews. Mai was just descending the stairs into the grand foyer, a silver platter piled with tea cups and a currently brewing pot of tea, as carefully as she could. The spoons and cups clattered precariously and she stuck her tongue out in concentration as she gently strode between the stairs and into the study where the rest of SPR was gathering once more to divvy out duties for the evening.
Mai set the tray down on the coffee table nestled between two floral patterned Victorian couches and straightened with a relieved sigh. She lifted her eyes to the tall window set behind the couches and marveled at the fact that there were more fountains and winding garden paths on the other side of the mansion as well.
"Monk, I want you to set up the camera's on the east side of the property with Mai so that she can take temperatures and do a walk through. John, you and Hara-san will do the same on the west side. I know I usually don't ask you to assist with the manual work, Hara-san, but if you wouldn't mind . . ."
Naru's voice cut through Mai's dazing and she turned just in time to catch Masako offering a curt nod in response to Naru's request.
"Ayako, if you would take Yasu and set up microphones in the locations with the most activity, use that time to feel for the trees in this area," Naru continued absently as he flipped through his black notebook where he stood next to the large table on which their monitors were stacked. "We have carts for your convenience this time around, so start loading them up with the necessary equipment and once we have completed our interviews, you may begin."
Everyone nodded, while Ayako sighed, and split up to begin sorting through the equipment that had been piled out of the way near the French doors.
Mai paused next to Naru with her hands behind her back and asked, "How many interviewees do we have, exactly?"
Naru flicked his notebook shut and turned his cold eyes onto her and paused, Mai quirked a brow, and he set the book down on the table while he moved over towards the couches in the far back of the room where the tea currently sat wafting steam into the air. "There are only two people we need interview," he stated as he passed her.
"For this whole place?" she questioned in surprise.
Naru ignored her for a moment as she followed after him to pour him a cup and pass it to him habitually before she sat down on the opposite couch with her hands resting upon her knees. Rocco took it upon himself to make his way over then and sit on the floor before her.
"There has been no one here except for the caretaker for decades, Mai," he elaborated before taking a sip of his tea and leveling her with an exasperated look.
"Oh," she grumbled and reached out to scratch Rocco behind the ears. "What about the kids?" she asked as an afterthought.
Naru lifted his eyes to hers over the rim of his tea cup, "What kids?"
"You know," Mai waved her hand about with a scowl, "All the kids who come up on dares, from the nearby town, I bet you they have all sorts of information."
Naru hummed and leaned back in the couch as Lin came to join him on the cushion next to him. "We'll have Yasuhara and Modako ask around when we send them out to do further research," he stated shortly. "Now, if you wouldn't mind . . ." he trailed off with a glance over her shoulder.
Mai looked back to see the care taker waiting patiently to begin his interview.
"I'm so sorry," she rushed before she jumped from the couch and gestured for the older gentleman to take a seat.
The caretaker sat down with a pleasant smile and waved Mai off as she floundered about to apologize further. Instead, Mai poured him a cup of tea and took a seat in an adjoining armchair while Lin opened his laptop. There was a prolonged moment of silence while the man sipped from his tea. Mai glanced over to Naru curiously, puzzled by his display of patience, but the young man only stared back at her before he lifted a hand and gestured to the caretaker imploringly.
"Oh!" Mai exclaimed, surprised that Naru wanted her to take the reins on the interview, but pleased. She supposed it made sense, after all, she was far more polite and patient than him. "Where are my manners," she rambled in English and shifted to face the care taker, "My name is Taniyama Mai, I am an investigator with SPR."
The caretaker laughed, sensing that her feathers had been ruffled, and gripped her outreached hand in return. "My name is Charles Iverson, it is a pleasure to meet you," he assured heartily as they shook hands and then broke apart. She noted that his hands were rough and callused from hard labor and as he leaned back into his seat she was overcome with the knowledge that he was a trust worthy and hard working person, much like her father had been.
"Thank you for having us, Mr. Iverson," Mai responded in kind with a smile, "We'd like to ask a few questions about what you might have experienced here throughout your time looking after this property. I'm sure it hasn't been easy, given its size."
"It does get overwhelming at times, it takes me years to get around to everything that needs doing, and by the time I do, it all has to be redone!" he agreed with a roll of his eyes. "But, it is such a hauntingly beautiful place, I feel at peace here, and the work is almost therapeutic."
"I am glad that you're happy here," Mai murmured with a relieved smile, "with that being said, do you have any strange occurrences to report?"
"Well . . ."Charles trailed off as he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees and turned his eyes to his cup of tea in thought. "I don't know much about the paranormal, as I never had the mind for it, but things do happen around here. If you ask me, it all leads back to the ballroom where they supposedly found everyone all those years ago. It's almost like it wants to lead you there. I've heard music, multiple times, coming from that room but by the time I get there it stops. And sometimes . . ." he trailed off again and scratched at his cheek nervously.
Mai waited to prod him further, sensing that he was gathering his thoughts, or his courage, to continue. She could see Naru, arms crossed and finger tapping his forearm, from the corner of her eye. She knew he preferred to get straight to the point and collect pertinent information clinically but Mai had found, over the years, that there was much information to be gained in casual and friendly conversation. If a person felt more comfortable in your presence they would be more likely to divulge information that they felt hesitant about sharing previously.
"Sometimes," he began again and lifted his eyes to Mai's, "All the doors in the house will lock themselves and the only ones you can open are the ones that lead to that room."
"And is it the same with the music? When you get there it's empty?" Mai questioned gently. She wished that she had a notebook in front of her, but given that Naru had sprung the interview on her, she had not thought to prepare. She sorely missed her hello kitty pen. She would often fiddle with it absently while she spoke with the client and it helped to focus her line of thought. Instead, she twiddled her thumbs and leaned an elbow onto the arm of her seat.
"I don't know, miss, I never follow when it's the doors locking. I plant my feet and I wait until whatever it is gives up. Or . . ." he explained with a nervous chuckle, "I break a window and make my escape."
Mai's brows furrowed as something niggled at the back of her mind about Charles Iverson. She hummed thoughtfully and hesitated before she asked, "Why?"
"Why?" Charles questioned in surprise, bushy brows raised, before he glanced at the two men on the couch then back to her. "I know a trap when I see one, miss, and I don't plan on playing the part of the mouse."
Mai sat back in the chair, face thoughtful, and fell silent while Charles took another sip of his tea. Was it the mouse he didn't want to play the part of, or the fly in the spider's web? Mai resisted the urge to shoot Naru a glance, not wanting to alert Charles to any alarm the statement may have stirred within her, but she glanced down at her hands and tapped her thumbs together in thought.
"How many times has this happened, Mr. Iverson?" Naru spoke up coolly in Mai's silence.
"In my years here? Three times," he answered with a half shrug.
Lin's typing did not cease until the conversation had officially come to an end. Charles excused himself a few minutes later, stating that he had much to attend to, but not to hesitate to speak with him if they had any questions or concerns. Mai watched him go, still a bit lost in thought, before turning back to Naru and Lin with a sigh. That was twice now, someone had referred to the property as some sort of predator. She bit her lip and opened her mouth to voice he concerns when the French doors were thrown open by an unfamiliar man.
All eyes turned to watch as the man strode through the room with a sort of elegant confidence they would have compared to Naru himself, however, this man wore a bright smile and a blue suit. A silken black tie reflected the low light of the room but was far outshone by his white teeth.
"Oliver!" he exclaimed as he swung around the couch and reached out with a hand.
Mai watched with wide eyes as Naru leaned forward with a sigh to shake the man's hand.
"Oh, don't be like that, Oli," he chastised teasingly before turning to shake hands with Lin and then settled his gaze upon Mai. "And who's this?"
"I'm Taniyama Mai, and you?" she asked with a quirked brow as the man bowed dramatically before her.
"I am Henry Davis, the client, and a partner of BSPR, at your service," he drawled and offered Mai a roguish smile.
"Davis?" Mai questioned nervously, cheeks pink under such treatment.
"Mai," Naru called with a sigh, "This is my uncle, Henry."
And suddenly, Mai knew where Gene had gotten his flirtatious behavior from. She pulled her hand away from Henry with an awkward smile before she reached over to pour him a cup of tea as well. Henry sat down on the other couch and threw one arm along the back of it while he sipped his tea and scanned the room, eyeing the rest of the SPR team curiously. His eyes were bright and lively, blue and sparkling like the ocean, whereas Naru's were glacial in comparison. Of course, Mai knew they were in no way blood related, but they both were pale and dark haired with the bluest eyes she had ever seen. It was almost comical that they were only related by law.
Naru pushed himself to his feet, gliding over to the table where he had left his black book, and returned a moment later flipping through the pages casually. "Tell me, Henry, have you yourself experienced anything out of the ordinary here?"
"You know I've never been all that spiritually sensitive, Noll," Henry muttered with a sigh before his eyes alighted on the tea before him and he reached forward to take a sip.
Mai attempted to studiously watch and listen to Henry as he spoke but she guiltily glimpsed Naru from the corner of his eye as he snapped the notebook shut with an irate sigh and a carefully crafted mask of indifference that was quickly crumbling. He prided himself on being as cold and enduring as a marble statue but it seemed people like Henry, Gene, and Mai herself were the lichen to his rock. Mai tried not to smile, she really did, but there was a gleefully satisfied side of her that was enjoying his struggle. She debated on taking after Masako and wrapping herself into a kimono just so she could lift a sleeve to her mouth to hide her expressions and underhanded comments.
Lin, it seemed, was as familiar with Henry as his charge was because he soon pushed his laptop shut and leaned back into the couch in a moment of exhaustion. Even Mai knew that the combined flight and drive over, dealing with SPR, had worn him down to a bare skeleton of the patient and composed man he had once been.
"Then I guess we will have to rely on the research my staff will provide from here on out. You may leave," Naru stated casually, with a hint of ice, and leveled his uncle with a blank stare. A stare behind which, Mai was certain, roiled a cacophony of insults.
Henry laughed and clapped his palm against a knee, "I don't know if I've ever been so thoroughly dismissed in my life."
"Pity," Naru shot back breezily and clasped his hands over his crossed legs, eyes unwavering.
Mai's eyes widened and she heard a familiar but poorly stifled laugh from the other side of the room. She was not known to hold her own verbal punches when push came to shove but there was something so breath taking in the way Oliver Davis refused to give a flying fuck about anyone's feelings that he deemed unworthy. Even his own family! Poor Luella, she mentally bemoaned, while her gaze shifted to Lin who was staring back at her as if he shared her sentiments.
"Well then," she exclaimed in an effort to hide her exasperation with the situation, "I guess that's that. Mr. Davis," she began and pushed herself to her feet with a forced laugh, across from her she watched Naru's face contort uncomfortably, "I'm sure you have a busy schedule, would you like me to walk with you?"
Henry waved her off with a knowing chuckle, "Don't you worry, Ms. Mai, I am familiar with Noll's claws. I'll stop by in a few days to make sure everything is going well."
Mai bowed low, hands clasped before her, as the forced laughter faded from her throat. Once she straightened, Henry was already slipping out the door, and she let out a relieved sigh now that the tension had diminished with his absence. Gosh, she rubbed the back of her neck as she turned to glance at her employer and . . . boyfriend? . . . she felt like she had just witnessed her friends parents arguing in front of her. Desperately wanting to help and alleviate the growing negativity but knowing it wasn't her place to. It was something she had been learning to deal with frequently since joining the SPR team. When your job required you to insert yourself into a family home or business you learned to hold your tongue. Though it was a hard lesson for Mai to learn.
"I thought I was going to crack back there," Monk muttered as he pushed the cart full of equipment along behind Mai. They had departed the study along with the others while Naru seated himself at the large table next to Lin to monitor and assist with set up.
"Imagine how I felt," Mai grumbled as she noted the temperature of their first room stoically. The clipboard was cold against her arm while she balanced the thermometer atop it and carefully navigated her pen around the device. She paused dutifully to get a feel for the room while Monk pulled the cart out of the doorway and lifted a tripod to begin set up. "Like being stuck in a room with you friends parents arguing in front of you . . ." she continued to grumble.
"Nothing beats when Lin and Naru disagree," Monk shot back as he set up the microphone on a table and flicked it on with an impish smile. "They just stare each other down like cats, I swear they're telepathic," he continued.
Mai snorted and glanced out the window of the sitting room with a quirked brow. "They wish they were telepathic. They're just trying to beat their own thoughts into the other's head until one of them cracks."
"Mom, dad, please stop arguing," Monk moaned dramatically.
Mai laughed.
The radio on Mai's hip beeped and crackled to life, silencing the two, and the room seemed to drop in temperature as a familiar voice spoke up.
"Don't hesitate to let me know when you two would actually like to start working."
Mai glanced at the thermometer curiously to see if the temperature had actually dropped and noted a point five degree difference with a fascinated hum.
Nothing happened that day during set up. The base was constructed and Lin took up post in front of the bank of monitors like a dragon guarding its hoard while the others shuffled about and busied themselves with minor tech issues and what exactly they would be doing for food that night. Ayako sat at one of the many sofas, scrolling through her phone in search of restaurants in the nearby town, her shining red nails clacking away against the screen, while Masako sat next to her sipping a cup of tea with poise that Mai herself could never accomplish.
Mai set a cup of tea beside Naru on the large oak desk but the man did not spare her a glance while his eyes roved over the papers in his notebook. He reached for the tea, focus never broken, and sipped at it absently. Mai rolled her eyes at the lack of response and turned to shoot Rocco a look, wondering if even he could believe why she put up with the man, but ended up smiling at the sight of him curled in his travel bed dozing.
What she wouldn't give to have not a care in the world.
Mai waltzed over and plopped herself down on the opposite sofa from the other girls and heaved a sigh of boredom. She was resigning herself to a quiet evening when Naru snapped his book shut and spun the wooden computer chair around to face them all.
Sensing that a discussion was about to be had, Monk, Yasuhara, and John all squeezed themselves into the remaining spaces on the couch.
"Hara-san, did you happen to sense any spirits?" Naru asked, straight to business.
Masako lifted a sleeve to her mouth as her perfect brows scrunched together in frustrated confusion. "I sense that there are spirits here but nothing like I've ever come across," she began quietly, "I am unable to differentiate one from the other, as if they have all melded together, though none feel to be malicious."
Naru gripped his chin between his fingers and lowered his eyes in thought. No sound broke the silence except for a spurt of typing on Lin's part that fell silent soon after. Mai had to admit that, while they all thought over the statement in the still bright with daylight room, it was almost comforting. The calm that settled over them was reassuring.
"Mai," Naru questioned, lifting his eyes to her for the first time in a few hours.
Mai perked up, confused for a moment at why he was calling for her, before she shook her head with a shrug. "I haven't felt anything," she answered simply, "In fact, once we got inside, I felt really comfortable."
Naru did not respond immediately, eyes locked on hers, before he dropped her gaze and spun back around to notate their reports in his folder. "I want everyone to rest up before tonight. We will be taking shifts to walk the grounds in pairs throughout the night to collect information and attempt to contact any spirits that may remain," he spoke clearly as he deftly drew his pen across paper.
"Really?" Ayako questioned with a squawk. She had set her phone down to listen as Naru spoke but it fell from her lap and hit the rug below with a dull thud. Her reaction caused Monk to stifle a chuckle while John only offered an understanding smile to the woman as her eyes darted between them for support.
"Investigations are conducted a bit differently here," Madoka offered kindly from where she leaned up against the table next to Lin. "Your last big case was conducted as Shibuya Psychic Research, as such, Naru stuck to the standard workflow that you all have crafted as a team. However," she continued to explain, "This is a case that has been taken on by BSPR and the information will be shared and documented by those within BSPR themselves."
"So we are adhering to BSPR standards on this case then?" Monk questioned while scratching at his cheek absently.
"Correct," Naru answered as he shut his notebook once more.
"Everything is to be recorded, even your trips to change a battery, will require one of you to have a hand camera rolling," Madoka instructed as she pushed herself away from the table and dropped her hands onto the top of a cardboard box resting on a table by the window. "While we will still be researching and theorizing like normal, we will also be actively attempting to record documentation of the existence of spirits, as well as our experiences."
Mai blanched. Did that mean they would be recorded at all times? Oh man, she bemoaned mentally, she was going to look like a total fool with her clumsiness and reckless attitude. Not to mention, those at BSPR would probably see just how much of an 'Assistant' she was with every demand for tea Naru made. Let's not forget how much of a mess she looked like on cases. As she got more in depth with the spirits they were working with she tended to forget such things as personal hygiene.
"We'll have a camera crew arriving in the next hour," Madoka added cheerily.
The group groaned, with the exception of Masako, who was used to her own camera crew following her around. Now Mai understood why she was always so prim and proper at all times. Would Masako provide lessons? She was certain if she did the lessons would come with a side order of steaming underhanded insults.
"They better not follow us into our rooms," Ayako grumbled with crossed arms.
"Don't worry," Madoka assured the women with a giggle, "They are not permitted to enter personal quarters unless otherwise instructed."
"I ask that you try and remain on your best behavior," Naru's voice drifted over to them as he leaned over to get a look at Lin's notes.
Monk snorted but attempted to cover it with a cough when Ayako slid a glare in his direction. He dropped his eyes over to Yasuhara, who was grinning at him in what he could only assume was agreement, and chuckled. If anyone was going to be misbehaving, it was certainly Yasuhara.
"We'll have to keep our PDA to a minimum, my love," Yasuhara drawled.
There it is, Monk thought and grimaced, "Boy, what did I tell you?"
"If anyone wants to freshen up before the camera crew gets here then now is your chance," Madoka sang out and giggled when the women of the group jumped to their feet and disappeared through the doorway in record time.
Naru scribbled another note into his book, undisturbed by the antics carrying on behind him, and was the picture of graceful concentration while his once teacher chortled over his shoulder.
The camera crew consisted of four men and one woman who were calm and collected as they surveyed the base casually. They carried a level of cool composure that Mai was exceedingly jealous of to the point that she found herself likening them to Naru and Lin themselves. They looked like they belonged there, unfazed by the potential dangers of the case and careless of whether or not they offended anyone. Be that as it may, they were still easy to get along with and Monk made fast friends with the lead cameraman almost instantly. Their collection of equipment was quick to join that of SPR's scattered about the floor of the base room.
Mai sat at the large table in the back of the room along with the rest of SPR and Madoka. The camera crew stood behind them, in front of the windows to utilize the natural lighting, and had set up a camera to film them as they officially started off their investigation. Madoka had mentioned that Naru had cheated by allowing them to set up equipment and get a feel for the property before the crew had arrived but the man did not comment after the statement and the others had spared him a glance before returning their attentions to the strawberry blond woman curiously.
He doesn't want us to seem incompetent, Mai thought with a roll of her eyes.
"As of this moment, all investigation will be documented and recorded for review, as such, any action, theory or additional investigation must be approved by myself," Naru began from where he sat at the head of the table. "On this team we have three primary investigators: Madoka Mori, Taniyama Mai, and myself, Oliver Davis. Assistants: Koujo Lin and Yasuhara Osamu. And consultants: Takigawa Hosho, Matsuzaki Ayako, Hara Masako, and John Brown."
Mai watched Naru as he clinically ran through introductions with a practiced ease born from years of experience. He pulled the original case file from his notebook as he spoke and set it aside. The rest of the team watched him with rapt attention, looking to him for guidance in this new method of investigation. Naru seemed completely unfazed by the whole thing and proceeded to run through the case details with an air of refined boredom.
Wish I could reach that level, Mai thought with a quiet sigh. She sat back in the wooden chair and glanced down at her change of clothes absently. The ones she had chosen to wear that morning had been wrinkled and dirtied after the long car ride and set up of equipment. Charles did an excellent job of keeping the property in decent condition but it was obvious general cleaning was low on the list of priorities. The place probably had enough dust to populate an entire planet with dust bunnies. Once she had pulled on a pair of black leggings and long blue tunic over one of her preferred black sports bras, Ayako had taken it upon herself to pull her hair into an artfully crafted messy bun just as she was bending down to tie her sneakers. Surprised and distracted, Mai had straightened with a quirked brow and the woman had followed up by applying a layer of mascara without a single word. Mai was left wondering if she should feel violated while Ayako returned to her own primping in the bathroom.
"Due to the nature of this investigation, you will find that this case may take longer to solve, as everything will be recorded. There will always be a camera in base recording our actions and only one team will be assigned a task at a time so that a second camera may follow and document the event. We will have two people at the monitors at all times, two people researching, and the remainder are permitted to use their free time resting within assigned quarters or here at base. Is this understood?"
Those at the table all nodded with a resounding 'Yes!'
"John," Naru turned his impartial gaze to the blond priest who perked up upon being called, "I would like you to take Hara-san on a walk through. Make sure to verbalize any of your thoughts on the possible haunting. You have two hours."
Mai watched as Masako lifted a sleeve to her mouth to hide the growing ego upon being chosen first to provide her services. But at the mention of walking through the property again, Mai noted, her shoulders slumped ever so slightly and she dropped her sleeves once more.
"After which, I would like Takigawa-san to take Mai through as well. This will provide us with enough data to get an understanding of what we are dealing with spiritually. In the meantime, Madoka and Yasuhara-san will be researching and compiling all pertinent information."
Mai grimaced but made no comment as those at the table stood to begin their assigned tasks or find a way to entertain themselves until further notice. Monk and her would be prowling the grounds well into the night. She would be lucky to get to bed by midnight and she didn't want to know what that meant for Ayako. If Naru chose to send her out after they returned then they would never hear the end of it.
"I'll order us some food in the meantime," Ayako advised grimly, as if she had had the same thought as Mai, but refused to make a scene on camera.
Monk turned a bemused look on her before a conniving grin bloomed across his face and shoved his hands into his pockets. He had come to the same understanding as Mai in that, while on camera, the priestess would behave herself.
Knowing that the case was officially starting, Mai glanced to Naru expectantly from where she stood in the middle of the room. Naru had moved over to where Lin had claimed a seat at the monitors and crossed his arms as he scanned through the steady images fed by the cameras set up throughout the property. He was in a mood if the tightness of his shoulders was anything to go by. Most likely due to the way in which the investigation was to be conducted.
Now that Mai thought about it, while in Japan, they were rarely actively investigating at night. Outside of a tape swap or battery change, Naru refrained from sending anyone out once the sun had fallen. It was common knowledge that spirits were more active at night, so why then, weren't they? Why had Naru chosen to deviate from BSPR protocol with his own team?
As if sensing that her thoughts were currently revolving around him, Naru lifted his eyes over the bank of monitors to hers. There was no emotion present, as if he were observing her just as he had been the footage, but an eyebrow twitched soon after. He was inquiring as to why she was just standing there with barely a movement let alone opening his mouth.
Ah, she thought absently, because it was Naru. As soon as any case got too dangerous he would pull the plug and send them packing. Naturally, he would avoid sending them out into the lion's den and left the cameras running to collect any action in their absence at night. It simply wasn't worth the risk to him. Which begged the questions: Did BSPR value their staff's safety so little that even Naru felt it was unacceptable? Thus spawning his bad mood as he was forced to once again adhere to their workflow? Or was it simply the standard to investigate at night and members of BSPR understood the risks and Naru was just uncomfortable with sending his team out because it was his team? They were very close nit and had grown exponentially together as a group and Mai knew, though he never spoke of such things, that he valued them as more than just employees.
Or maybe she was overthinking things and he was just in a bad mood because he knew all of BSPR would see how much of a mess they were when it came to maturity and professionalism.
That was probably it.
"Mai."
Mai jumped, eyes returning to focus on him once more, and she laughed embarrassedly.
"Are you spacing our or having a vision?" Naru questioned with brow raised once more. His voice was light but with it came a familiar frost in the air, sending shivers down Mai's spine.
"The first," she admitted with a sigh, "Tea?" she offered in way of apology. Honestly, it was why she had first glanced over at him. Once everyone got down to business he would usually order her to make some while he sat, like a cat, waiting for its prey to make the first move. Poised to pounce, if you would, on the first sign of activity.
Naru's brow dropped and his lip twitched, threatening to pull into a smirk or a frown, before he nodded once.
Mini task acquired, Mai picked up the silver tray from the coffee table and collected the tea cups scattered about the room with a small smile. She was grateful for the task, no matter how simple, and it put her at ease to know that nothing had changed despite the cameras. It wouldn't be so bad, she decided, for BSPR to see all that she did. Maybe they could actually count and document how frequently Naru drank tea and determine whether it was detrimental to his health or not.
As she left the room, she heard Rocco padding along after her, and made sure to leave the French doors open so that he could follow.
It wouldn't be so bad having the cameras around, Mai thought as she strode through the foyer with Rocco at her heels. Ayako was on her best behavior and Monk was in a good mood because of it. Naru seemed to be less demanding and Yasuhara would have to swallow at least ninety-five percent of his comments. Masako, on the other hand, would probably be herself. Regardless, the crew seemed fun enough and it would be a new experience for all of them.
While her thoughts were positive on the matter, Mai had neglected to recall how much of a klutz she was and, as if to remind herself, tripped over the first step of the stairs leading up to the main suite. She let out a yell, causing Rocco to startle, and struggled to slow her decent. The silver tray filled with used tea cups rattled dangerously as she caught herself with her elbows a few steps up, and only one cup tipped over the edge to bounce back down the stairs and shatter on the marble floor.
Back in base, Naru heaved a defeated sigh and turned from the monitors to stalk out of the room. The others followed him with their eyes, not too worried due to the lack of barking, before they returned to their own tasks. Ayako was on the phone ordering food while Monk browsed through a magazine in boredom.
"Mai," he called softly as he approached the scene. Rocco turned to greet him with tail wagging and barked once as if to alert him to the situation.
"I'm okay," Mai muttered from where she lay on the stairs, arms trembling under the strain. "But could you give me a hand?" she asked with a nervous laugh. No matter how she attempted to move it would only result in more broken cups. Just her luck to not only fall but fall in such a way that would leave her helpless unless someone came along to assist. She supposed she could have just dropped the tray but her frugal conscience would not permit her to waste a whole set of tea cups just for her convenience.
She watched with a grimace as a graceful hand entered from her peripheral and lifted the tray out of her grasp. Mai let her arms flop forward in relief, muscles trembling, and sighed into the carpeted stairs. Her elbows throbbed with the beginnings of what she was certain would be fierce bruises and she pushed herself up tenderly.
"One day you'll have to learn to watch your feet," Naru remarked casually and lifted the tray over one shoulder while his other hand came to rest at Mai's back.
Mai scowled while she rubbed her elbows, wishing they weren't so sore, otherwise she might have planted one in Naru's ribs. She allowed her anger to pass and dropped her gaze to the stairs as he guided her up, frustrated with her own clumsiness, and wondered why Naru decided to even bother with her. She imagined that in a perfect world he would have ended up with someone like Masako, had she not blackmailed him into spending time with her, or maybe a world famous ballerina. Maybe even a woman of noble birth, royalty, she thought with a snort. Someone who was as graceful and composed as he was. He was one half of the ultimate power couple already. Sure, Mai had amazing spiritual abilities that were steadily growing, but that didn't mean he had to actually date her. Were they even dating?
Mai rubbed at her face as they entered the main suite where the kitchenette was located and Naru parted from her to set the tray down on the counter. The cups rattled one last time before he turned back to face her and reached for her arms. Obediently, she lifted her hands over her shoulders so he could look at her elbows. She felt his cool fingers grasp her arm as he leaned forward to examine the abused flesh with a critical eye. Nothing serious caught his attention, she noted, as his eyes glided over her elbows easily before he leaned back and allowed her to drop her arms once more.
"Just another battle scar," he murmured quietly, something akin to a smile pulling at one corner of his lips.
Mai smiled back, though it was weighed down with melancholy, and nodded. The words were heavy, but offered lovingly, as she had disclosed to both him and his mother months ago that her father had often said the same thing. Any time she had returned home as a child with scrapes and bruises from a hard day's play he would crow over her new additions to the collection of her battle scars.
"I would hardly call my fight with the stairs a battle," she drawled facetiously before she turned to fill the electric kettle with water. The faucet spilled forth water, the sound breaking the silence of the room, and chuckled. "Only I would trip up the stairs," she muttered, "I'm just glad Yasuhara didn't see. I'd never hear the end of it."
She heard him hum in agreement but paused as she felt him move up behind her and his lips ghost across the back of her neck. Goosebumps flushed across her shoulders and down her back and she was powerless against the shiver that wracked her body in response. Absently, she wondered if this was his way of begging for tea. It was the second time he had sidled up to her while she was making him a new pot of tea and both times the image of a dog, sitting at ones feet and whining while its dinner was being made, bubbled forth in her mind. She bit her lip, fighting a grin, and refrained from voicing her thoughts to him for fear of offending his vast ego.
"I'm assuming there are no major injuries to report."
Mai jumped, blood rocketing to her cheeks in record time as a scarlet blush blossomed, and glanced over her vacant should to catch sight of Ayako standing in the middle of the room with hands on her hips. But that Naru, she noted wryly, took his sweet time in pulling away from her. She felt his hand slide off her hip as he turned away, stoic as ever, and spoke calmly.
"Just some bruising," he advised as he leaned back against the counter with arms crossed.
Ayako studying them suspiciously before she too crossed her arms and shifted her weight to one leg. "Why are we here Naru?" she questioned tiredly, as if she had been laboring over the thought for some time.
Naru did not find her question worth answering and remained silent while Ayako's patience dwindled.
"There's obviously nothing here and we hardly have any credible reports of hostile activity," she continued scathingly, "Why are we investigating this property?"
"Henry Davis is a private partner of BSPR and offered a large sum to have it fully investigated, be that as it may, this is a case study. We are collecting information that may possibly be used to further the study of parapsychology for all," he answered calmly in the face of Ayako's ire.
"So he paid big money to have this place looked at based on nothing but old wives tales?" Ayako muttered back with a raised brow.
"Anyone will do anything for the right price," Naru shot back airily.
"As long as you're being honest," the red head grouched before stepping forward and shooing the man away from the counter so that she could get a look at Mai herself.
"Ayako . . ." Mai admonished lightly as the woman pulled at one of her arms.
"I don't like playing the part of a fool, Mai, now hush," Ayako grumbled and pulled at the other arm impatiently. Mai gave in with a roll of her eyes but caught sight of Naru as he slipped through the doorway and disappeared down the hall, most likely heading back to base.
"So," Ayako began scandalously, "You and Naru?"
"Ayako!" Mai shouted and swatted at her hands while the woman laughed. "Is that why you came up here? Just to spy on us and tease me?"
"No, of course not!" Ayako assured slyly.
Mai narrowed her eyes at her, untrusting, before she turned back to the kettle to pour the steaming water into the ceramic pot to steep the tea.
"This is a little weird," Mai voiced awkwardly as Jenna, the woman on the camera crew, adjusted the microphone clipped to the strap of her sports bra.
"You'll get used to it, don't worry," Jenna assured her with a laugh. She stepped back to take a look at Mai, making sure the microphone wasn't in the way, before she patted the man behind the camera on the shoulder. "We're good to go Avery," she murmured while she lifted a tablet containing the palace blueprints for review.
"Don't worry about it Jou-chan," Monk ruffled her hair, amused at the way the bun on her head bobbled, before he started off down the dark hall. "Now let's go explore a spooky mansion and find all the secret rooms," he threw back over his shoulder with a grin.
"Why do you always try and scare me with secret rooms?" Mai muttered as she hurried to follow him while Jenna and Avery remained a comfortable distance in the background. Rocco, of course, trotted at her heels with his tongue lulling.
"Because you always get trapped in them," Monk answered with a shrug and shined his flashlight into an open doorway absently.
"Masako does too," she whispered waspishly, the dark of the night hushing her.
"Once," Monk shot back as they moved into what looked like a drawing room. There were several ornate couches and chairs scattered about around a large fire place. A piano stood abandoned in the corner while three large windows allowed moonlight to spill across the carpeted floors. Mai swept her flashlight in an arc across the walls, pausing to take in the several detailed paintings, before she spun about the room and took a deep breath. The air was heavy with the smell of dust and paper but it wasn't an all-together unpleasant scent.
"Ayako," Mai countered belatedly, quietly, and shuffled over towards the piano.
"Again, once, and it wasn't even due to a spirit, it was your little friend," Monk could be heard murmuring in amusement from the other side of the room as he poked at the fireplace mantle and its decorations.
Mai hummed absently and poked one of the keys of the piano. A solemn note rent the air, causing Monk to whirl around, while Mai winced apologetically. Still, the sound struck a chord in her heart and she fell still while Monk crossed the room towards her. It continued long after her finger had left the ivory piece and rung in her mind. It was so lonely and so haunting and she felt that a stream of following notes should have played out.
"Do you feel anything?" Monk asked as he paused just behind her.
Mai pulled her hand away and lifted her eyes to the camera for a split second before allowing her gaze to glide past the obtrusive presence. "No," she answered quietly, "Just loneliness . . ." She glanced about the room one more time then led the others back towards the door. "It's like a blanket over the whole place. It's always present but just barely enough to notice. In the daylight I didn't think anything of it," she continued as Monk once again took the lead and strode further down the hall.
The rest of the walk-through was much the same and they had decided to visit the ballroom last before heading back to base. The large halls filled with furniture and artwork were unsettlingly quiet in the moonlight but it was not enough to strike fear into the hearts of the seasoned paranormal investigators. Predictably, quiet conversation continued to flow despite the obvious growing bemusement of their camera shadows.
"So, you and Naru, huh?" Monk crowed lowly as they stopped in front of the ornate wooden doors that had been left open. Old worn carpet gave way to sparkling black and white checkered marble. Mirrors that lined the walls of the ballroom threw the soft light of the night about until the empty space practically glowed ethereally.
Mai scowled over her shoulder, one foot hanging over the threshold in midair. Monk let out a bark of laughter but grimaced when Mai slapped his shoulder.
"There are always ears listening, you know?" she grumbled, setting her foot down, while Jenna flicked her eyes between the two in growing exasperation. It was obvious Ayako had blabbed to the monk at some point after she had walked in on them in the main suite, she had just hoped no one else would broach the subject, much less on camera.
"Jeez. If I didn't know any better I'd say you lifted weights," Monk grumbled as he rubbed at his shoulder. He pointedly ignored her statement until he was satisfied with the growing rage in her eyes and smirked. "An old bird told me things seemed to be going well, that's all," he explained with a freckles shrug.
"It's none of your business, Bou-san," Mai snipped before continuing into the ballroom with head held high. Rocco followed her lead and began exploring the large open space excitedly.
"You wound me, Jou-chan, I'm practically your father. I have a right to know these things," he called after her and laughed when she spun around with fire in her eyes. He watched though, with some hesitation, as the fire dwindled and her shoulders slumped.
"I know that," she murmured. "It's just embarrassing. It's hard enough to get him to open up to me when it's just us . . ."
Monk sighed and his eyes softened as he stepped in after her, "Aw, Jou-chan, it'll be alright. Naru-bou's just a man of logic and facts. He's hardly a fickle person and he's analyzed everything, weighed his options, and decided on you. I hardly think his feelings are going to go anywhere. You could tarnish his beautiful face for life and he wouldn't love you any less. I know I wouldn't."
As if to emphasize his statement, Monk wrapped her up in a bear hug, lifting her feet from the ground and squeezed her tightly. Mai laughed as he swung her around before he set her down and ruffled her hair for the second time that night.
"Naru is the nickname Oliver has taken to using, isn't it?" Jenna asked curiously, tablet hanging loosely in her hands, while she stared at them openly. Her voice echoed throughout the ballroom and drew the two's attention to her.
"That's the one," Monk assured her with a snort, "Naru the narcissist as Mai so eloquently dubbed him the first day she worked with him."
Jenna's mouth fell open and she floundered to find words, looking like a fish out of water, before she lowered the tablet to her side and glanced over at Avery. The man was staring at them, no longer through the eyepiece of the camera, with a vacant expression. They had both known Oliver Davis since he and his brother were first adopted and Martin had brought them into the BSPR office to parade them around proudly. Little Oliver had worn a scowl that day and he had never taken it off since. To think that, based off of the vague conversation they were privy to, the man had found someone he loved . . . It just didn't seem possible. Even when Madoka had come to them with this new assignment and had cheerily informed them of who they would be working with, they had all internally grimaced, expecting to spend two weeks with the asshole they had grown to know and hate.
Jenna finally snorted on a laugh and lifted a hand to cover her mouth in bewildered amusement. "I never thought the day would come that someone would be able to put up with that git," she admitted boldly.
"Are we in the presence of a goddess?" Avery murmured and zoomed in on Mai with the camera, getting a close up look at the glower she had sent their way before she turned and threw her hands in the air.
"I want a blooper reel when this is all over and done with," Monk mused as he watched Mai stomp about, attempting to restrain herself from unleashing a verbal lashing on all those present.
"I see why Dr. Davis was so unsure about sending a film crew to document you guys, you really are a bunch of goofballs," Jenna followed up after she had fallen silent. "I will, of course, be making a blooper reel. This is too good. But I have to wonder; shouldn't you be more serious while walking the halls at night? Won't you guys yelling and arguing scare of potential spirits?"
Monk half turned to look back at her with a quizzical brow raised. Her tone was not condescending in the least, purely inquisitive, and so he offered her a grin and waved her off. "We just do this to get a feel for the place and to get familiar with it. Trust me, if there are spirits here, they will find Mai. We don't call her the ghost magnet for nothing. She's practically a flare on the spirit radar."
Jenna refrained from entering the camera shot, as she wanted to continue the conversation, so she raised her voice to be heard once more. "How so?" she asked as Mai came to a stop at the far end of the room, eyes drawn to the windows.
"Mai first started showing signs of latent ESP a few years back, which steadily progressed to both post and precognitive visions when she slept. Astral projecting was soon to follow. She's even capable of taking physical objects with her into the astral plane and delivering them elsewhere," Monk explained knowledgeably as he grasped his chin between his fingers in thought, "But if you ask me, her real talent lies in her ability to empathize with spirits and cleanse them. Our last international case-."
The monk was cut off as the walkie-talkie crackled to life at his hip and he glanced down curiously before a cold voice filtered over the device, "That's enough, Monk."
"Understood," he radioed back, shifting to hit the button while the walkie-talkie remained on his belt, before he crossed his arms with a sigh.
Jenna scowled but refrained from further comment. One's abilities could be a sensitive topic, she knew from experience with BSPR, but Oliver Davis and his favored investigator were too juicy a topic to pass up. Taniyama had been the talk of the office and she knew that many of the investigators and professors had been privy to the footage of their infamous case.
"Sorry," Monk offered awkwardly before he turned his eyes back to Mai, "You getting anything from this room?"
Mai did not respond as she continued to gaze out the window, hands clasped before her, and Monk cocked his head curiously.
"Speaking of . . ." he mumbled and moved forward to stride across the room towards the woman, "Mai? You there?"
Her silence continued.
Monk reached over to grasp her shoulder and she jumped before turning her eyes to him as they came back into focus. "What?" she questioned absently and rubbed the back of her neck as Monk gave her a quick once over.
"You getting anything from this room?" he repeated himself gently.
"Not really," Mai answered dazedly. Her eyes roamed over the room once more while Monk grasped her arm and guided her back towards the main entrance with furrowed brows. Her eyes remained vacant and she followed at a half pace until they crossed the threshold and she turned to look back as they shuffled down the hall. "It's a nice room," she mumbled, "We should go back some time."
"Will do, Jou-chan," Monk assured her distractedly before he looked over to Jenna and the camera, lips tight and face heavy with a knowing expression. Jenna met his gaze curiously before she dropped her eyes to her feet thoughtfully.