[Start Of Flashback
"Akemi... run..." Akemi's father weakly reached out. The passed out little girl stuck on her seat on the back car remained motionless— it scared him even more to imagine that Akemi isn't breathing— because that is what she looked right now.
"Claire... honey please..." He once again tries, not bothering to focus on the footsteps he heard outside. His daughter's safety was top priority, looking beside him was his unconscious wife. He needed to get them both out of here,
Yet the sound of the scratching door sliding open with strain moved his attention from somewhere else. A foreign man, his lips stretched out with a crazy smile on his face— his eyes set on the unconscious little girl.
"No! Please!"
But the foreign man didn't even bother to move his eyes, bloodshot and gravely clear with a dangerous lust. "Because of you..." the man kept repeating, his hands shaky and chest constantly moving in rapid speed as he breath heavily. "Because of you..."
"No! no! Not my daughter please!" Akemi's father kept pleading, struggling to remove his seat belt. This time gaining the foreign man's attention.
The crazed man gave out a hysterical laugh. "Don't worry, you'll be next!" His eyes moved towards Akemi's unconscious mother in amazement and awe, his stare close to hysterical and unhinged. "Even sleeping she looks beautiful— AHAHACK-ACK!" His laughter turned to boisterous coughing.
"We'll be together soon! Don't you worry!" The man pointed to Akemi's father, the unconscious Akemi laying limp in his arms. "This little brat ensured that we couldn't get married but don't worry— I'll make sure it don't hurt one bit, you'd like that, don't ya?!"
End Of Flashback]
"Why did you let her move around by herself?" Naru's cold stare grounded the two women in front of him. Mai and Ayako already having heavy shoulders when they found out both Masako and Akemi where absent in the room. Though the former, Masako turned out to actually be outside; It took a while on looking for her, probably a couple of hours but John managed to find her nonetheless,
All that was missing was Akemi.
"I'm sorry..." Mai and Ayako mutters under their breath just as Monk and John comes inside the room.
"Hey..."
"Any luck?" Naru was quick to ask the moment he caught their silhouette.
Monk shook his head, yet John was the one to speak. "Nope, we couldn't find her."
It was already a few hours since Akemi was identified missing. The others were set on looking for her, Lin watched the cameras and looked for any signs of Akemi appearing yet he too came out with nothing while the others took to physical means and looked around the mansion.
With the sun starting to set, they were on the peak of their worry.
"I think, she must be somewhere in the empty space below us." Naru looks up in determination, as he continued to speak. "We need to tear down the wall again. That's all we-"
TAPPP
TAPPP
TAPPP
A knock on the closed windows stopped Naru from continuing his words. It gained the attention of everyone present and looked at the closed windows.
Lin stood up from his seat and opened it wide, revealing a concerned looking Madoka and Yasuhara, both managing to get inside without any inconvenience. Madoka gratefully smiles, patting Lin on his cheek gently as thanks.
"We're back from doing legwork. We got the message at the hotel about us leaving so we thought we'd come and help— but I can't believe this has happened..."
"Poor, Akemi-chan..." Madoka worriedly fiddles with her hands before glancing towards Naru's direction.
Naru clicks his tongue, "And so?" turning to Yasuhara without as much as a greeting. "What did you discover?"
Seeing their want for information, Yasuhara didn't delay, much to the other's satisfaction. "We found people who worked at an affiliated charity hospital. When it shut down, they were working as assistants."
Bou-san lets out a low whistle, standing beside John in the middle of the temporary base. "Man, wasn't that during the Meiji Era?"
"Yeah, so they were pretty old but they remember the past very well. Most of them were around ten years old at the time," Yasuhara continues. "They said that they would ask for money for the patients who were leaving and so many would sneak out at night to avoid that. When they were captures, they would then be taken to the Mountain Villa. Those who came back from there were all scared of the place..."
Naru crosses his arms, with intense concentration. Though his air of nonchalance remains, no one could dispute the knowledge that even he, has concerns. "This is just my guess but I don't think they necessarily needed to be brought here."
"What do you mean, Naru-bou?"
"Sacrificial victims were selected from among the people from the hospital." With the mention of his name, Naru lifted his gaze off the floor and looked at Bou-san with a humorless exterior. "And with Akemi's abundant spiritual energy, he would have his strength grow that could last him until he maintains Akemi's last breath. He wouldn't need any more of them as long as he has her."
"No..." Mai, hunching back. "What do we do?! They have Akemi-sempai!"
Ayako reaches out her hands, trying her best to stay calm. "Stay calm, let's just find her!"
Monk nods in all seriousness, turning to glance at the panicking high school student. "That's right," mushing Mai's cheeks together making her pucker her lips. "Everyone's got to keep it together. Okay? Akemi is one tough chic, she can handle herself long enough for us to find her."
"Urk.."
"Answer me."
"...Okay."
Monk remained still for a few seconds before accepting Mai's answer. "So where do we start tearing down?" His question aimed towards their leader of intellect and Naru didn't disappoint on leaving them hanging,
"Anywhere near the empty space. Yasuhara-san, Madoka, please help us."
"Okay!"
"Lin, come with me." Naru calls, not bothering to pick up his coat while Lin hastily followed behind the brisk walking teenager.
"Naru-chan?" Monk watches Lin and Naru leave with Oliver following them, the group confusingly looking at each other in hopes to get some kind of answer yet Madoka was the only one who seemed to know what the two will do. And she prayed that Naru would get answers,
"These are her belongings?" Naru asked as Oliver brought them a purse of hers.
When Naru was notified of Akemi and Masako's disappearance, one of his immediate thoughts were to find them the supernatural way. He first took a hold of Masako's comb, which led him nowhere but at that second he was informed of Masako's appearance.
He hoped Akemi would be mentioned in one of the sentences spoken to him but all they could say was nothing.
Opening up her purse, Naru inspected each object there was— until he managed to find her glasses. Clutching it in his hands, Naru focused his very thoughts into finding her.
Akemi.
While somewhere in a hidden room, Akemi sat on the very corner; hugging her legs closer to her chest in hopes to hide herself even though it's useless.
Though a second passes by, Akemi lifts her head up quick, her eyes glancing around the room. "Naru?"
She heard him. Or at least she felt like she heard him,
"What is it?" Gene in front of her watched Akemi in interest.
"Gene? Why are you here?" Akemi stared at the smiling twin in front of her with crystalized eyes. 'I must have heard wrong... Gene must have been the one calling me.'
True to his counterpart, Eugene Davis gave out a gentle smile. "You're scared, so I hoped to keep you company. I just managed to stop by, that is all."
Akemi herself found her lips lifting up just a bit at the sight of Gene's calming smile.
"I still prefer your brother's company over yours." No offense, she wanted to add but the sight of his widening smile presented Akemi that he didn't took it to heart.
A gentle laugh followed, "I don't doubt that one bit."
"This is bad, it's been over half a day." Monk clicks his tongue turning to send a worried glance towards Naru who kept his eyes on the blue print. "Hey, what's next?"
"I'm finding out now." The young boy looked grim. He found nothing with Akemi's glasses, it irked him to get nothing when Akemi usually wore it all the time, whenever she can. Now it just laid clipped on his buttoned shirt. Opting to keeping it for now as they don't have the time to fix things back.
"Got anything yet?" Bou-san turns to Lin who was using the same equipment they used the last time when tearing down a wall.
Yasuhara hummed while he looked on another copy of the house print. "If the measurements are correct, the surrounding rooms are concealing a separate 'X' floor. The walls haven't deteriorated, so I'm still searching." Yasuhara sighs, "An 'X' floor..."
"It must be another floor below the first floor."
Mai frowns, finding all of this as a waste of time though presented a question of genuine interest. "Hey, why don't we start tearing down walls, instead of waiting around pinpointing the right one?"
Ayako nods, "In the end, that would be faster."
Bou-san sighs, turning to Ayako. "Man, why don't you go home and leave this to the pros?"
"Hey!"
"I'm not apologizing for that!"
"Stop making us more tense!" Madoka watched the two starting to bicker with a concerned frown on her face.
"How are you feeling?" Gene asks as he sat beside a still curled up Akemi. Her arms tightened around herself despite the lack of strength she has.
"...tired..." Exhausted was the right word. Akemi felt all of her body leave with her strength; sluggish and disoriented at the same time. Akemi seemed like any moment she was going to faint, Sleep sounds so nice.
"You have a connection with my brother." Gene pointed out, and Akemi with all her strength tried to lift her head but all she could do was turn so her face observes Gene.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know if you or that idiot scientist knows but— you two flow on the same wavelength."
Akemi sluggishly blinks. 'Same... Wavelength...?'
"Wanna try something?" At her silence, Gene gave out a sweet smile that Akemi stared at in distrust. Often the sweetest smiles hold the craziest ideas.
And Akemi should know.
She does it all the time to Naru.
"Are you tired?" Masako sits beside Mai, her eyes concerned when all Mai did was quietly shook her head. 'Bou-san and the rest have been working all day, naturally they are going to get irritable as they get more tired. It's just a matter of time. The anxiety levels are rising.'
"Why don't you sleep, so you can learn more?"
Mai sighs, hesitating. "But..."
"Isn't that one of the way of gathering information? So you can confirm Akemi's safety?"
That quickly changed her mind.
"I- I'll do my best!" Mai let her eyes fall, letting darkness fill her sights and laid down waiting with her head on top of Masako's lap.
It was only a matter of time.
The door to the room opens ever so slowly, Akemi freezing at the grating sound it emitted with a familiar voice following its grate. "Akemi-sempai?"
Quickly looking up, Akemi's eyes widens at the sight of Mai. Getting up, she walks towards the high schooler who was near to tears at the sight of the heiress.
"Mai? What are you doing here!?"
"I'm glad you're okay! Any injuries? Are you all right?" Akemi weakly smiles, patting Mai on top of her head.
"Yes, I'm fine. Mai, you should leave; It's not safe for you here..."
Shaking her head, Mai didn't want to leave Akemi alone. "Just a little longer, sempai! Just hold on a little bit longer, we're coming to save you!"
Akemi nods, being in her spiritual form— it lacked the physical body she has that is sickly pale. She grabs Mai's hand and drags her towards the door. "I'm not planning on staying idle, either." Akemi smiled towards Mai, poking her forehead and the sight around the high school student started to blur. She was waking up.
"No! not yet... Akemi-sempai!" Mai reaches out her hand.
"Don't worry." Akemi elegantly smiles towards the high school student. "You did a good job, Mai. I am so proud of you."
While on the other side, where Naru was with the living; situated on the other room in hopes to find another entrance, felt his hand loosen it's hold on the torch he has as it clattered to the ground. His eyes widens slightly at the sight before him when he made his way inside.
Akemi beaming a smile, quickly knelt down to pet Oliver. The dog finally calming down just a bit at the sight of Akemi's presence. "Good boy, make sure to stay safe, okay? I know that you're safe even inside the mansion but I still worry, you know?" she giggles yet at the sound of the flashlight falling to the ground made Akemi turn to gaze at him; gently standing up, clasping her hands behind her as her smile widens ever so elegantly.
With closed eyes, she says: "Hello."
She was there right in front of him.
"You..." Naru frowns at the sight of Akemi shaking her head.
"I'm not really here, I'm still at the hidden room— unconscious." The heiress announces, her hair swaying on non-existent wind; her bare feet stepping closer to him. "Mai managed to lead me here, by opening a connection that Gene made..."
'Gene?!'
Seeing his reaction, Akemi waved her hand over. "See, there was this— thing and then— "
Naru shook his head, stopping Akemi from rambling. Raising a hand, his expression turned critical. "Explain later— tell me how I could get to you?"
Akemi blushed, interpreting it on a different way. It didn't help that she could clearly see him too. "There's a door here. Right over there," Akemi points towards a wide wall. Walking beside Naru who steps towards the equipment that they had placed inside the room to see. Indeed that space has a thin walling.
"Does it go within the house?" Akemi nods,
"Look for a room with a fireplace and a two-door closet—inside is a secret passageway leading to a gravel path where the gardeners would drag their victims to..." Akemi shook her head, not bothering to continue her sentence. "Once you see a clearing, there should be a door ahead— I'll be there on the second floor, the last door on the left hallway. You won't be able to miss it, it's the only steel door there." And with that Naru left no time to waste as he called the others before turning to Akemi. The heiress still fully translucent before him,
It made him frown. Akemi worries over the wrinkles he might get on frowning so much.
"You should wake up now,"
Akemi's smile froze, her eyes widening a bit in confusion whilst the corner of her lips slowly fell. "But-"
"If you remain unconscious, you never know what is happening to your actual body now." Naru sighs, his brows furrowing over the dozen possibilities it could lead. Despite knowing his brother is there with Akemi, he would still rather avoid the gruesome possibilities. "You won't be able to protect yourself in this condition." Naru lifts up his hand to touch her, only pausing when he realize he couldn't— she was only an apparition after all.
Seeing what he was about to do, Akemi lifts up her palm calmly and encouraging him. An inviting smile, welcoming his gesture and places her hand in his.
Naru quietly lets Akemi do what she wanted, the heiress fixing hers so they gently touch each other. Finger tips to finger tips and palm to palm.
"Okay."
It lacked a sense of touch but the comfort was still present nonetheless. Akemi repeats, "Okay."
They were quiet for a while, the sound of the others getting closer but both of them didn't mind.
Akemi gave out a nostalgic smile as she stared at their hands and felt his aura. "When I panicked you used to do this when we were young..."
Naru stiffened whilst Akemi remained staring, this time directing her gaze towards Naru's, whose eyes ranged from a deep violet blue to dark midnight skies. 'He has such beautiful eyes... Though I didn't know they looked this lonely...'
And Naru felt it in his chest, drums constantly thumping over his ribs, beating faster whilst he clenched his hands. His eyes straying over her face that went back to it's natural state of health, despite constantly straying— he could not help but go back to her eyes that remained still on his, her expression devoid of anything that could determine what she is feeling.
They were so clear and staring directly at him that his breath hitched any words he planned on saying and it left Naru to watch instead her movements.
While Akemi opened her lips: "I'm jealous of all the eyes that can see you." She boldly states before a soft smile appears on her lips, her head lightly tilts further. "But your voice is my favorite sound, so I guess I don't mind it one bit..."
'You are not alone... Please, don't look so lonely.'
Naru stayed silent. The two looking at each other too long to be considered a normal gaze.
"Wait for me." Naru's voice blurts out, imperative and full of emotion and promise.
Akemi kept her eyes towards Naru. For the first time they have been together— their eyes made contact, both seeing each other in ways they didn't before.
"I'll wait..." The times spent are so precious that it shuns the importance of now. Both unaware the gift of the present that unravels beautifully in the future.
Naru nods, "Just a little longer..."
Akemi's elegant smile was removed, as her eyes glimmered in crystalline tears with a more vulnerable smile plastered on her lips. After a few more seconds, Akemi let him go first and took a step back; intertwining her fingers behind her, letting her hair cover and smoothly flow down as she tilts her head up slight.
Her eyes still on his, savoring every second on staring at him. "I'll wait..."
Then the door to the room Naru was in opened with a loud creak, Masako walking inside with Mai; the medium's eyes widening when she caught a glimpse of Akemi. A visual close to how she sees spirits, transparent.
But Akemi caught her attention— breaking the prolonging gaze between Naru and her, shaking her head, the heiress places a finger over her lips with a silent shush. Now was not the time to reveal abilities. Time was of the essence,
Without anymore last look towards Naru, Akemi disappeared.
With a brooding look, Naru's eyes burned with determination that went unnoticed by the others. "Let's go."
"Did it work?" Eugene asked when Akemi once again opened her eyes, her actual body back once again to being weak. The heavy atmosphere once again placed upon her shoulders as she connected once more to her physical domain.
Conjuring up a slight smile, she gave Gene the happiest smile she could give. "Yes... Thank you,"
Returning the gentle gesture, Gene smiles. "I'm glad it worked."
Yet a question ranges through, "I am quite curious about one thing..."
"Hm?"
"Why is it difficult for Naru to see you? Couldn't you do the same for him as you always do to Mai? I thought you both have a firm psychic connection?" It was rather confusing how a high school student with no connection whatsoever to the paranormal is able to connect to Gene so easily when his very own twin cannot call upon him,
Akemi is only able to see Gene because of her abilities but more often then not— she is only able to see him in dreams and not an actual spirit.
It was quite a curious phenomenon.
Eugene's smile didn't dwindle yet it didn't widen either, "I can't really explain it either... The idiot scientist is the one with most answers, so this is quite a question for me as well."
Akemi remained silent and Gene found himself speaking thoughtlessly.
"All I know is that I try to get in touch as much as I can, yet my telepathic connection with my brother has weakened— I reckon that we don't have the same psychic wavelength as we used to when I was alive— but most of my time here in the afterlife is like a dream-like state. Often times, everything just seems lucid— yet when I do regain consciousness, you guys will be in the middle of investigating and so far I could only reach one of you..."
Akemi felt her head lull to the side, her purple orbs sharpening. "Don't you think it is because you are not dead?"
Eugene froze, his eyes widening in the midst of silence that permeated the air.
"...I beg your pardon?"
"The ceiling in here must be the bottom of the first floor." Yasuhara says, his eyes glancing towards the ceiling above them. The group already inside the locked room with a torch in hand to lead the way.
Monk turns to Mai, who resolutely yet stiffly walked beside him. "Is this the place you dreamt about?"
Mai shook her head. Her dirt brown eyes glancing around, "Nuh-uh... this isn't it. There was a fireplace, and a closet to the right..."
John who was walking alongside them heard her words. "Perhaps, this is the main wing where Kaneyuki-shi lived?"
Naru spoke. The boss walking ahead of them with his own light torch, "It must be— let's look for a room with a fireplace."
With his command, they each separated into two with Mai quickly opening a familiar door.
"This is it!"
Naru was quick to be on her side. "Here?"
"It's here! No mistaking it." Mai points towards the closed closet doors. "Inside that closet, is a passageway!"
Keeping his eyes on the closet doors, Naru opens it without hesitation and was greeted with a gravel path. 'Just as Akemi had said.'
Ayako hugs Mai, cheering and proud. "Good job, Mai!" They'll be able to save Akemi now!
While Bou-san gulped down, staring in surprise at the correct assumption. 'Teenagers today sure are scary...' Bou-san felt a shiver crawl up his spine; the group continuing their path walk until they reached right where the hedges should be, the plants all dried up and dead from the lack of light and water available.
Yasuhara frowns, "Isn't the floor above us unnaturally high to conceal this place?"
Bou-san hums in agreement, flashing their torch on the ceiling above them, the others such as John and Ayako did the same.
It was a weird experience.
Naru caught sight of it before the others. "There's a door ahead."
'This is it!' Without thinking Mai started to sprint, leaving the others behind calling for her. "Mai!"
"Naru!"
"Akemi-sempai!" Running up the stairs and into the empty hallway, Mai opens the steel door with a loud blag and nearly slipped when she went inside. "Sempai! Where are you?!"
"Mai?" A cough rang out, Akemi weakly leaning back on a tiled wall to support her from falling.
With haste steps, Mai went closer. Letting out a breath of relief at the sight of the heiress still alive.
"Thank goodne— Ah!?" Mai went to hug Akemi but a hand behind her reached out from her shoulder, making the teenager jump away from Akemi. '-Is it?!'
"Are you all right?" Akemi gently smiles at the sight of Naru's familiar aura. His hand reaching to lightly caress her cheek, his brow twitching at the coldness of it.
"...I'm all right," Akemi weakly answers, leaning her head more to his warm palm as she realized how cold the air was when his warm palm touched her skin. "You really came."
Naru lets out a huff as though it was purely offensive she even thought of him not coming— grabbing her arm and pulling it over his shoulder, Naru lifted Akemi up. "Mai, are you injured?"
Mai gives out a smile, happy to see Akemi being okay but snapped out of it at the question. "Huh? There's blood..."
Drip.
"It's when I slipped, I put my hand on the table— " Mai froze as she flashes her torch over the table she touched. Drip.
Freezing at the sight of blood covering it. 'What the...!'
Drip.
"No way... all of this blood...?" Mai steps closer towards Akemi and Naru, shaking like a leaf as she moves her light towards a tub not far from them.
Drip.
Naru's hold on Akemi tightened at the clear sight of the crimson filled tub. The features of it looked completely warm, as though it came out fresh from its source. "Naru..."
Drip.
Drip–!
The blood on the tub started to bubble, and something inside started to move.
Slowly rising until a crown of a head appears— drenched in blood. Drip–!
Drip–!
Urado slowly lifting himself when his eyes were revealed— half his face hidden by the tub of blood but his eyes arched with a grin.
Giving out a menacing snicker.
Splash–!
"IYAHHHHH!" Mai clung towards Naru and Akemi, the two towering over her due to their tall statures, making it a good enough protection and assurance of a wall. Akemi wraps her other arm protectively towards Mai— shaking— Akemi's eyes glimmered in pure bravery.
Naru narrowing his eyes; a glint of danger in them as the evil spirit fully lifts himself up to reveal his skin and bones. "Urado..." His voice lowered in hidden anger.
'We can't escape.' Naru, lifting his hand only to glance at Mai who kept shaking next to him, 'No, I can't.' Tsk.
Lifting a hand on a half prayer, Akemi started muttering and a gush of wind pushed Urado back to the tub. "Mai! let's go!"
Naru pulls Akemi out of the room, but before they could, a hand pushed Akemi and Naru apart. "Argh!"
While Mai remained stiff. 'A hand..?! But my back is against the wall— these hands belong to those two men! This is how everyone was murdered. The vengeance of people long dead!'
"Huuuuu..."
'It's here!' Mai froze as Urado suddenly appeared in front of here, more dangerous than before. "KYAAAAAAHHH!"
A soft whistle rings out, and the grip over Mai disappeared with the sight of Lin and Bou-san finally reaching the room. "Are you all okay?!"
"Monk-san!" Mai breathes out in relief, while Ayako quickly goes to Akemi. "Akemi! Are you okay?!"
"Let's get out of here," Lin says as he helps Naru up. "Urado hasn't been vanquished yet. I'm only somewhat surprised his servants."
They all quickly dragged themselves out of the room, Ayako still making sure Akemi was alright while Naru and Lin helped her weakened state— her body growing weaker over the seconds as Urado wanted to gain strength.
"Go out through the window over there! Get out of here any way you can!"
Mai heard Naru yell behind them, feeling chills run up her spine when she looked back to see Urado already staggering towards them. His manic eyes set on Akemi. Then, Naru's words rang on her thoughts. 'Urado won't naeed any more victims as long as he has Akemi-sempai...'
One by one they all jumped out the window that Yasuhara and John broke down but Akemi froze as she felt a caress on her head. Coughing out, she weakly calls. "Lin... Naru..."
"Akemi? What is— "
Before Lin could fully finish his sentence, they noticed Akemi's hair slowly being lifted up.
With fearful eyes she looked at them. The people left inside the building froze; Lin, Naru and Akemi.
Gasp.
PULL!
Akemi was out of there arms, the heiress letting out a scream as she was being dragged back in quick force towards the steel room, which opened wide to welcome her.
Naru and Lin were quick to react and tried to reach her. 'No!'
"Akemi!" Ayako and the others called out as they peeked from the window they escaped on. The walls considerably high for Bou-san and Yasuhara to quickly climb up and help.
With all her strength left, Akemi gathers everything she could and manages to clutch unto a wooden pile but it broke just a second after.
Yet that was all Naru and Lin needed as they caught on and latched unto Akemi.
Still being pulled, Akemi gripped tight on the wooden stick, it wasn't a staff but it was enough. Urado was already nearing her, one touch was all he needed and he could take her away and her energy.
Akemi has little time.
'Please work, Kami!' Gathering all she can, even those spiritual energy that was being replenished; she placed it all on the stick before stabbing Urado with it as he leaned towards her.
With a scream he started gripping unto the wood trying to take it out but it only gave him more pain. A sizzling sound came out of it, the wood turning sacred and burning Urado further.
The hold on her disappeared as the two guards vanished.
Taking advantage of this, Naru and Lin quickly dragged her away; Akemi kept her eyes stuck watching Urado wail in pain before evaporating like dust. A scene she was not unfamiliar with,
The scent of his putrid metallic scent along with sulfur penetrating her nose. Fortunately, Naru broke her out of it as he nudge her forward.
"Go." Naru nudges Akemi out of the window, Ayako already waiting outside to help the heiress.
And soon all of them where finally out.
Each member of the SPR sat on the ground, all of them trying to catch their breath. Bou-san was the first to break the silence, "Our missing colleagues, they were heaped on the upstairs room floor. Like cargo or things." The monk informs, gaining Akemi's attention as well as the other two that split from the group back inside. "Their necks were sliced. On top of that, the room before it was stacked with so many bones, probably from the victims— after extracting the blood he must have cremated the remains in the incinerator then neatly stacked them.
Naru processed the information given with a passive expression yet his eyes showed his thought process. "Perhaps, Hiroyuki-shi concealed this..." He frowned. "But one person couldn't have dealt with so many bodies."
"A lot of people died... how sad..." Masako muttered under her breath, a hand lifted to cover her saddened frown.
"It's getting light out," Naru glances towards Akemi who was slowly gaining color once again. "We can go back in again soon."
"You want to go back inside?" Mai stared at Naru as though he was delirious, watching him pat himself clean as he stood and out of dirt but his actions made him drop something.
"Oh, Naru, you dropped something..." Ayako perked, leaning to pick something up— being the one close to the boy.
Mai blinked in confusion, seeing the object at Ayako's hand. "A...comb?"
"Ah! That is mine," Ayako and the others froze as Masako takes the comb, her heart beating quick at the sight of Naru having it in his pockets.
"What?!" Mai and the others gaped.
Masako blushed, "I must have left it in the room..."
"Wh- why was Naru carrying it? Now that I look it, you are also carrying Akemi-sempai's glasses!" Mai faked her smile, her lips twitching every second to cover her anger and jealousy but Naru didn't bother to look and left them behind by walking away. 'Are you ignoring me?'
"Aw. He is trying to hide his feelings." Bou-san teases, a sly grin passing his lips.
"She's concerned about him..." Madoka chiming along with her own grace. A hand over her cheek as she smiled,
"How touching, what a great story..." Yasuhara adds, wiping a non-existent tear on his eye.
Mai felt a burn of fire deep in her chest, her eyes glaring as she glanced at Masako's teenage blush. "Y-you guys—!"
Akemi kept quiet, watching everything that happened with a wry smile after sighing. 'Ara... having rivals sure is tough...'
The SPR group once again is back inside the mansion once the sun has fully risen. Yasuhara gaining his role of being the boss of the group and is currently speaking with Ohashi-san, "I will present a report later but we must allow this place to rot in strict accordance to your ancestor's sealed will. Otherwise, I think only purification by fire will do; an exorcism would be useless."
"I understand," Ohashi-san bowing towards them in gratitude as well as apologizing for putting themselves in danger.
While Akemi was finally cleaned and okay, raises a hand. Her eyes shining in clear determination. "Actually, I think I would like to try and do an exorcism..."
Mai blinks in confusion, "Akemi-sempai?"
Ayako stared in concern, "Are you really okay to do such a thing?"
Akemi sadly smiles, explaining: "For the victims to at least get some peace..." And they did just that to the Miyama Mansion, after exorcising the spirits to the best of her abilities, Akemi finished right before the sun sets. Some of the victims used for Kaneyuki-shi's greed and selfishness to live long all leaving peacefully while others where too lost for them to be saved,
Ohashi-san already scheduled its purification by fire right after. Yet that didn't stop the heavy heart Akemi was leaving with. This event was mentioned by a local newspaper the next day however, it was a small story about the fire compared to the real truth.
Back outside the mansion, they are now packing and double-checking the equipment before they leave. Akemi and Mai having a light conversation in the midst of it to pass the time, although the heiress forgot how they even got to this part of the conversation.
"Then why don't you get to know Yasuhara more?" Mai asks, as she and Akemi each carried a light bag to place on the van where Naru, Lin and Madoka stood.
Akemi raises a brow at Mai's obvious ways of separating her and Naru after finding out Akemi's feelings over the passive boy. Mai blushes at being caught, emboldened to ask such questions when she saw Naru keeping Akemi's glasses and having Masako's comb, she was falling behind! — but Akemi was in a mood enough to bite,
"We are too alike— the world won't be able to take such damage." Akemi smiles, passing by the three people near the van. Their conversation gaining the attention of their ears,
"Then John?" Mai pushed, and Akemi shook her head.
"He is too kind, he won't last with my teasing~" A grin plasters itself on Akemi's lips. Fully amused towards Mai's effort to deter the heiress of her wants.
"Then Bou-san!" Akemi shakes her head.
"I see him more as a brother figure, he reminds me too much of my cousins..."
"Oh... Then um— how about Lin?" Akemi opens her mouth only to hesitate, acting as though she was considering the idea. "Well—"
"Akemi, cut that out and get back to work!" The girls flinched at the sudden yell, turning to glance beside them— only to freeze when Naru stood close with crossed arms.
Mai bit her lip, looking for an escape but was bested first. "Mai, stop playing around and continue helping with the equipment!"
"H-hai!" Mai trembles while she shuffles away to get some of the equipment— wanting to go as far as she can on the target range of Naru's hissy fit. 'Gotta get away!'
While Akemi remained where she stood tall and elegantly smiling at Naru's consistent glares. "..."
"Go."
Akemi playfully salutes, "Yes, sir!" Then leaves to carry more equipment and guiding Oliver to stay in the van.
Madoka watched it all with a bright grin on her lips, though each member of the SPR turned when Ohashi-san approached.
"Oh! I'm so glad I managed to find you all still here!" Ohashi lets out a bellow laugh, clasping his hands in front of him as he once again thanked each and everyone of them.
Turning to Yasuhara, The ex-Prime Minister asked. "Are you all planning to leave so soon? The town nearby is actually having a Spring Festival! and I have to say, they celebrate the best festivals." Ohashi continued to remark on how the village nearby is secluded, and would willingly welcome others to celebrate and have their festival. Especially with the full moon rising later, makes the festival extremely special and grand.
The crew wanted to go, but for sure Naru won't budge if they asked. "What should we do?" Bou-san, Yasuhara and Mai whispered to themselves after Ohashi-san left.
They really really wanted to go. After everything that had happened, they wanted some fun at least but Naru didn't seem to be a festival kind of guy.
Peeking behind them, they watched Naru, who was busy talking with Lin and Madoka— taking note of his grim expression as the three conversed quietly to themselves. This quest was already starting to look impossible just by Naru's grim expression.
But whoever told them to never try?
"Naru, there's a town nearby and they are hosting a festival!"
"No." Bou-san out.
"Naru, can't we at least just go? Even for a few minu-"
"No. We are leaving." Mai strike one.
"But Naru, it's a festival! A Spring Festival!"
Naru glares: "If you want to go to the festival, you may go there as you please, but know that we are leaving you behind." Naru says to Mai, he desperately wants to leave.
"But Naru!" Strike two.
Naru closes his book, letting out an annoyed sigh. Bou-san and Mai gulped, only having one last chance to persuade Naru before all hell breaks loose upon them.
"I don't see the point in all of this-"
"Naru! I heard there was a festival!" Bou-san and Mai sucked in their breath as Akemi appeared with her angelic chime. Their stomach vacuumed in baited breath. Yasuhara behind the heiress gave a cheer,
"Can we please go?" Akemi clasps her hand in front of her, unaware of what the others were already doing before she came pleading with sparkling eyes. Yasuhara just approached her earlier with a nonchalant smile, telling her about the Spring Festival that the village nearby was doing— when he spoke of having it as a nice way to bond with the others, the heiress was already caught with the words Festival before he could give any more reasons.
"I've never been to a Spring Festival before and it would be fun with the entire group with us!"
The others watched, already finished trying to convince Naru to let them join the festival and so far on the pleading, he never budged.
"No." Naru frowns, not looking at her as he discards his book on a bag.
But Akemi didn't give up. "Please~ Please~ Please~!" Akemi pleaded. "I promise to do anything you want! Please!" Madoka then appeared beside Akemi, placing something in her face with a wide flowery smile.
The heiress did not bother to care whatever it was and continued her pleading eyes.
Closing his eyes, Naru turns to face Akemi.
"Akemi, even if you..."
The others watched with baited breath before Naru let out a sigh after a few minutes worth of pause.
"Naru... Please...?" Akemi whimpers, fluttering her eyelashes at him with slight teary eyes.
"..." Naru remained staring.
The other watched. Waiting.
This was more suspenseful then learning about Kaneyuki-shi's actual history.
Naru sighs.
"Fine."
Akemi jumped around, wrapping her arms around Naru— her round rimmed glasses hitting his face lightly. "Thank you! You're the best!"
Naru clicked his tongue, his brows furrowed as he grimly walks away while the others cheered at the fun time they'll have.
'Darn glasses.'
A/N: Ahi~ I try to finish this as fast and as good as I can. I have to admit, I feel like every thing is quite quick? Maybe a future editing will come but for now- I am satisfied with this!
Merry Christmas Everybody!
For those with different beliefs, then have a wonderful day!