Bou-san and Lin moved Eijirou-san to the storeroom in the immediate vicinity of the living room. While Naru contacted John outside, Ayako and Akemi took the room beside the headquarters to help Akemi prepare for her exorcism. Which took a little over past Eleven o'clock when they arrived.
The first to arrive before that, besides Bou-san and Lin who were already guarding the still unconscious Eijirou, was Naru. His stance not at all calm as he still kept to himself with an alert gaze. His arms crossed in his chest, internally letting an index finger tap in his head as he waited.
That was the sight Mai sees she came in next. Stepping inside the room as quietly as she can as though any loud sound could wake up Eijirou and placing herself beside Naru, Mai clasps her hands behind her back, glancing at the boy beside her. "So can John come?"
Naru without removing his gaze from Eijirou, lightly nods. Unaware of Mai trying her best to step closer, "Yes. He said he'll depart from the other side on the first plane tomorrow with Hara-san."
At the mention of the medium, Mai felt her brow twitched and stopped her advances. 'Why was Masako coming?' Letting her jealousy get the best of her, Mai's words were filled with sarcasm. "Wow. With Masako, huh? You also called Masako?"
Naru took note of the tone, a frown making its way to his face as he turns to stare Mai in confusion. "I don't want to be outmaneuvered. This way, we'll avoid trouble." He uncrosses his arms. Stepping away to reach the sliding doors to check over some of the monitors and cameras they'll use for the exorcism.
Mai shrugs her shoulders, 'Hmm, I'm not so sure...'
Soon after their conversation, Akifumi was the only family member there— opting to stand on the corner while they all waited for Akemi to join the room.
It was then that the doors to the storeroom slid open, Ayako being the one to touch and Akemi took slow steps to walk inside. Her hands pressed elegantly on her abdomen with herself being adorned with her pure white traditional dress. The people on the room who hasn't seen Akemi kept their eyes staring in awe, unable to look away as though they have seen a moon fairy. They watched Akemi touched the hem of her attire, lifting it to reveal a shy part of her ankles— some of them couldn't help but look away as though they were giving Akemi her privacy. An act back to the conservative centuries.
Akemi takes off her wooden sandals, letting her hands and arms situate itself back to her sides. Taking a deep breath in, and at her exhale, like an angel coming to save Eijirou's pain, knelt in front of him with her catalpa bow already in front. Akemi took out her beads, whispering a few words unrecognizable to the ears of others before throwing her white beads up and letting it circle with Eijirou, still passed out inside. Though he was soon twitching at the sound of Akemi's chant.
With a shake of her bead and another thump from her bow, Eijirou's eyes snapped open. His eyes with baited breath, the others prayed with her in hopes on saving Eijirou. "I ask that my request be heard and answered, purify this vessel and may peace and calm be granted." In the corner of the room, the video camera was fixed on staring at Eijirou who suddenly starts to twitch.
With a shake of her bead and another thump from her bow, Eijirou's eyes twitched and quickly fixed on Akemi whose face didn't change in concentration. A hiss came out of his snarling lips, weak but slowly gaining his strengths even restrained. He rolled around in hopes to loosen the ropes, his lips twisting to a sneering smile, gaze focused on Akemi.
"Why don'tcha look pretty~ hee~hee~" Eijirou began to growl, the sound rumbling from the back of his throat.
Mai steps closer to Naru, worried eyes watching Eijirou. A hand just an inch hovering from Naru's back in hopes to cling unto safety. "...Is this safe?"
It took Naru a while to respond, that was what Mai first noticed, unable to move her gaze away from Akemi and Eijirou. It was only after did she took note of the tight clenching of Naru's hands. "...I don't know..."
Their eyes narrowed in alert when Eijirou got his legs freed from the ropes, enabling him to stand. His eyes manic and lips twisted in a nasty grin. Almost like a greedy laugh, Eijirou started to sprint towards Akemi's direction. His movement made the audience in the room go rigid in alert— plans on intervening once he got near but they watched stunned as Eijirou got flown back to the ground as soon as he reached the surrounded beads.
Akemi repeats her chant. "I ask that my request be heard and answered, purify this vessel and may peace and calm be granted."
Eijirou lets out a growl grumbling from his chest, similar to what a dog produces when angered and threatened. Eijirou jumped back to his feet, snarling at the sight of Akemi's unwavering stare. He looked at her in distaste. "Shut up! Shut up, wench and get me out of here!" The others froze at the sudden use of vulgar language, but Akemi continued undeterred.
"Let me out! Let me out! let me out!" Eijirou kept repeating, sprinting back to the barrier with heavy steps, his eyes widening in threat. They thought Eijirou would keep repeating but his next words confused them. "Bride! Wench! Bride! Bride! WENCH!"
"Is it beyond Akemi-sempai's abilities, after all?" Mai took another step closer towards Naru, her fingers looking for at least the end of his coat to hold as she watched nearly in fear. Eijirou's tantrums were starting to scare her, "Why can't Lin-san do it?"
"Because we don't know the true identity of our opponent." Naru remained stiff in his stance, not once removing his gaze away from Akemi and Eijirou. "Mai, step back."
Mai's heart stuttered at the sound of Naru's voice imploring her. She felt a hand nudge her back, her eyes turning to glance at Naru who was still fixated on watching Akemi do her work. The woman gracefully standing up, her chants not once ceasing nor pausing nor stuttering from Eijirou's threats.
Akemi's hand fluttered into crossing gestures, before her eyes narrowed over Eijirou's. "Leave this vessel." Akemi's voice lowered in command before delivering a firm strike on Eijirou's chest with the heel of her palm.
Eijirou let out a painful cry, Akemi's spiritual energy flowing around and doing her bidding on cleansing his body. His screams lasted minutes when it reality only counted for at least a few seconds. Eijirou scratched and slapped his body in agony, his skin blistering slight like poison ivy before delivering a final blow to himself. His head falling back to the ground with an unconscious expression. The reddening of his skin reaction disappeared but the scratches remained.
Mai quickly looked at Eijirou's direction, all paused in breathing as the shadow of something pale overlapped his figure. It separates itself from his body. The shadow, some kind of beast, tried its best clinging unto Eijirou's body—like an adhesive tape to prolong his possession— slowly lifted away on his skin. It looked painful almost.
"What...is that?" Mai stared at it in confusion mixed with fear. There was no reply from Naru nor the others, he suddenly looks up from the ceiling and the creaking noises from the house rattling could be heard.
Taking a glance, Naru saw Akemi lifting her hand on a half prayer with a talisman on the other. She throws it with precision, sticking it on Eijirou's unconscious body and the shadow clinging unto Eijirou soon snapped.
Naru's eyes narrowed at the sight. He, himself could see the apparition but knowing of the audience behind him, they had no clue of what was going on. "Lin, accompany Mai. Take care of the spectators."
On his orders, Lin urges Mai along with a nod. Keeping his eyes staring at the shadow while Mai slowly proceeded to where Akifumi and the others were. They all standing there in surprise and stupor, oblivious to what was going on,
The beast seemed to double in size, gradually becoming darker. It stooped down with its pair of eyes staring steadily in Akemi's direction. Akemi clasps her hands together, fully ready to its attack.
However, the beast sprang up, jumping over Akemi and sprinting towards Mai's direction.
Akemi stunned at the sudden change of target, calls out to the others and thankfully Lin and Bou-san intervened which resulted to the beast springing itself all over the ceiling. Trying its best to get the others off its back.
Akemi couldn't just throw out her offense when it was moving so quick, her tongue clicked in annoyance. She needs to think. Fast. Akemi thought before the shadow altered its path to Naru's with haste.
There!
Naru crouched low as if to square it off, but his concentration was cut off when Lin yelled.
"Naru! Don't do it!" Faltering as though it didn't came to his mind as his hand rose unconsciously. Naru looked at Lin for just a moment before noticing Akemi's quick movements— taking a hold of the beads and turning to face his direction.
Naru returning his gaze, saw that the beast caught itself wrapped and choked by white pearl beads on its neck. Its body strained as though it was contained tight. Looking behind he took notice of a pale Akemi. Her gaze set on the beast, before pulling it harsh, calling out to Ayako and Bou-san.
The woman nodded in haste, throwing out one of her talismans, letting it hit the beast. The beast growled as it burned, pulling harshly on the beads, Akemi let her spiritual energy infuse with it. With a yell she tugs it tight. her lips muttering an incantation, "-Egredere de loco meo!"
and the beast evaporated in sight, the scent of sulfur lingering in the air.
They all took a breath of relief, Lin and Akemi especially, as the beast got close. Too close to Naru. They wouldn't know what to do if Naru ever got caught. Akemi wouldn't be able to handle seeing him driven like a rabid dog like Eijirou and having to go through the same exorcism he was placed in.
But everything else was done and already finished. with that in mind, Akemi's knees weakened— falling in relief and energy close to depleting. It seems she has used too much today, often times she didn't need to repeat her chants to set the exorcism but at this situation, she repeated close to a dozen times before there was finally a result. Whatever it was, it fully intended to stick unto the family.
but the others got worried at the sight of her loosening, "Akemi-sempai!" and went to reach but Naru being near, got to her first.
"Are you okay?" Akemi heard Naru whisper towards her, the man wrapping his fingers around her arm, the other on her shoulder to try lifting her to stand. "You'll ruin your clothes."
Akemi weakly chuckles, her energy depleted. "For once I don't care about my clothes," Akemi lets her head rest on Naru's shoulders. Not caring if he thought she was leaning on him with all her weight nor caring about the reaction of others. She was tired, she had no strength left to even care and the traditional dress was heavy. "I'm just glad you're safe..."
"You were cutting it close though," Naru mutters near her ear for only her to hear. His tone lighthearted and not at all snappish. More like, disapproving.
Akemi scoffs, a teasing smile on her lips. as she soon let them close in content of his warmth. "Yeah, but I saved you still, didn't I?" before she transcended to sleep, all she heard was a sigh. Her body being lifted up with care, Naru barking orders.
and letting herself lull to sleep at hearing his voice.
After the events, when he finally woke up— Eijirou-san stated he doesn't remember any of the events that happened after he walked out of the kitchen that night. With no further clues they could get from him, they all went back to headquarters to fix up and gather the data.
Then they tried to view the video from the camera, connecting it to the monitors but soon— during Akemi's prayer— the image got broke and didn't show further image of the shadow, yet the camera kept recording.
"It's probably a spirit barrier, since the tape is running properly." Lin explains when he saw Mai's disappointed pout at watching the video. "All the needles on the other instruments are off the scale." At that Mai was glad they decided on putting other equipment in the storeroom, even though she doesn't know which equipment is which or what they are for— with numbers she couldn't understand— she guesses it was safe to say they got a few data that Naru would gladly look back into.
Mai peeks at the results, each one off the charts and some even displaying errors. Even though she couldn't understand any of the data, one thing she did comprehend was that this was no trivial case at all.
"It seems to be a mere fox, but it might not be such an easy opponent." Bou-san comments behind Mai, already giving a sigh at the problematic case.
Mai nods along the monk, the girl noticing Lin's gaze unfocused on the monitors— more attentive to the sidelines, curiosity got the best of her and followed it. Only to pout when she saw Naru still holding Akemi close to his chest, Ayako behind the two with her calpa bow.
"I'll excuse myself to give Akemi some rest. You all wait here and keep the base running." His gaze goes to Mai, narrowed. "That means no slacking off, Mai."
"I'll come along with you, I can help Akemi change into more comfortable clothing." Mai slouched even more at the command, letting out a huff of breath. 'Here I thought I could have volunteered to go with him, if only Ayako didn't get to it first!'
Ayako noting to keep herself away from Naru's radar, planned on coming along quietly. That and she was too worried about Akemi to speak further.
Bou-san was quiet for a while, his gaze following Ayako and Naru before he let out his true thoughts. "Ayako. Who does that woman think she is?"
"What do you mean?" Mai unknowingly replied, an automatic response out of her lips. 'I'm more problematic on losing my chance! I could have suggested on going along with them!'
Bou-san oblivious to Mai's thoughts continued. "Do you think she actually lives up to her role as a Miko?" That piqued Mai's interest, easily getting her out of her thoughts. 'I have to admit, so far I don't notice her doing anything useful...'
"What do you think, Lin-san?" Mai turns to Lin, hoping for some answers but when Lin himself spoke of it being not his place, Mai didn't prod any further.
Though the topic continued.
"It's kind of suspicious how she calls herself a Miko, but from what I saw, does a proper Miko assigned to a shrine tremble uncontrollably during an exorcism?" Bou-san says, pertaining to the event of where they all first met. "Not to mention her words where she herself said Exorcism was not under her jurisdiction,"
Mai blinked, her brows furrowed in confusion. "But doesn't her talismans work? It should mean she's legitimate right?"
Bou-san shrugs, that he could admit. "I don't doubt she's done some proper studying, but if she really doesn't have any abilities in the first place, then why does Akemi defend her work and Naru brings her along?" Bou-san got that point, Akemi doesn't seem to be the kind of person that can easily be fooled due to her abilities nor does she condone scamming others and Naru— despite his clear trust and closeness to Akemi, wouldn't let himself be influenced on tagging a useless member (even Mai has her purpose in the SPR). He wouldn't let fakes tag along his cases, that's for sure.
"She's a self-claimed Miko," Bou-san shrugs. "I'd bet anything she's only a medium who just wears the clothes of a Miko."
Mai hums in thought, nodding in understanding. "That must be it..." Mai saw movement on one of the monitors, she exhaled when she saw Ayako making Akemi's futon diligently with Naru still carried Akemi by the doorway,
He waited for Ayako to finish making the bed, before Naru himself stepped inside and gently placed the heiress down. Her clothes already changed into something more comfortable.
"I hope Akemi-sempai is alright." Mai voices out, her gaze concerned, remembering the last time Akemi slept on a case. It did not look good for Akemi,
Bou-san leans closer to see the monitors, eyes taking in what he could understand. Ayako took the girls temperature, nodding and started to walk out the door. They watched as Ayako paused, finding no one following her— turning to see Naru still situated beside Akemi's bed.
Only when Naru left the room did Bou-san made a conclusion, "She's fine." Naru wouldn't have move nor leave Akemi be if she wasn't,
Mai sighs, Bou-san leaning back to sit on the floor yet she was still confused. "Ne... is it really a difficult thing to expel a possessing spirit?" The high school girl removes her gaze from the monitors, turning to face Bou-san and Lin.
"Well, there are various cases of spirit possesion." Bou-san starts, hesitating on how to approach the topic but went along with his first thoughts. "When it comes to fellows with a little bit more resistance, they tend to cling tightly on the person. So when a person is possessed by one such as this, they're under an evil influence but still this isn't a very difficult exorcism if a spiritualist has stronger will than the possessed person. The spirit will come out even if the spiritualist doesn't call out to it."
Mai let out an 'ooh', nodding. She didn't know about that, "Then Eijirou-san?"
Bou-san lifts his head in thought, eyes gazing at the ceiling. "He must be a strong willed person for Akemi to take a long time in his exorcism. Must be the threat of knowing his family history that gave him a fighting will. Therefore it's serious. To make a person do something against his own will means they become unable to compete with their own will. So to speak, the spirit must have been infesting in his mind. Its not that easy to expel spirits of this kind." Mai hummed, listening attentively more compared to her school lessons.
"Roughly, the power of possessing spirit is the person's own will. Often times spirits would possess in means of hovering around the person, trying to weaken their mentality per se by whispering evil influences. All in all, it would be weakening the energy of the possessed. When this is the case, there are worries, a depressed mood, and a drop in physical strength. Yet when the mental state is enhanced though with positive energy, some spirits don't come in the first place. Most would dislike dealing with it because it will be a tough nut to break."
"Really?" Bou-san nods, thinking of ways to explain when his gaze went to the monitors, noticing Naru's figure making his way back to the base.
"Take Naru-bou for example,"
Mai blinked once. Twice. Tilting her head, "Naru?"
Bou-san gleefully nods, proud to have such a great example. Behind them, Lin kept quiet but was not stopping them either, if anything he seemed to let it pass. "He's the type that are obstinate and stubborn, and they have full confidence in themselves and they don't feel depressed."
Mai tried to control her smile, 'He is like that!'
Bou-san shrugs, okay. "Let's say he got caught momentarily off-guard and forcibly infested, but given the kind of person he is, it can't be done by a half-hearted spirit." To emphasize the impossibility of it, Bou-san childishly shakes his head side ways.
Mai shook her head along, "So you're saying the spirit we are dealing with has full intent on making the Yoshimi family..." Mai let the sentence drag, not having enough strength to spoke of it straightforward.
Bou-san nods, not needing to have the full sentence to understand. "Definitely. It may be even tough for John or Akemi if it were them to be possessed. But Naru, so to speak has exceptional willpower, which is extensive."
On the sides, Mai noticed Lin nodding along.
Bou-san continues, "So it would be more troublesome if it were to successfully get Naru before Akemi extinguished the thing." 'What? How so?'
"If it were successful and entered his consciousness and got control over him, you would expect the willpower to reject the spirit," Mai nods but Bou-san clicks his tongue and shakes his head. "-but the truth is it might be exploited and used in order to protect the spirit. Exorcism, after all, is a battle of wills. So of course, the one with better willpower wins. So if Naru were to be possessed and we have John exorcise him, which one of Naru and John do you think is stronger?"
From what she could tell, Naru has stubbornness she hasn't seen on others. "...Naru."
Bou-san snaps his fingers. "See? That's why exorcism is difficult. With that in mind, I wonder who would win between Naru and Akemi?" The two dirfted in thought,
Akemi is stubborn in her own way. Naru is stubborn in his own way too.
With that in mind, Bou-san turns to Lin. "Hey Lin, if you and Naru were to fight— who would win?" Mai paled at the sudden turn of conversation,
"Oi, Bou-san! What are you talking about?!" The two men ignored Mai, as Lin without hesitation answered.
"If it were a fight to the death, Naru would best me." Mai stopped her scolding, even Bou-san was stunned at the answer but best not let it be seen.
"Naru? Naru would win?" Mai gaped, while Lin nods.
"It may not look like it, and its not in my place to say but even Naru has his strengths— one that might even say is dangerous." His words were enough for now.
'Naru? Dangerous? Are we even talking about the same Naru?' Mai drifted off to her thoughts, unable to grasp the information she was given and it took a while— just in time for Naru and Ayako to step in.
Seeing Naru, Bou-san changed the topic quick. "How's Akemi?"
Naru walked inside the room, Ayako sliding the doors closed behind them. "She's fine. Just drained of energy— Let's continue on with the investigation, please." Stepping to stand beside Lin, Naru checked the data gathered from the equipment. Skimming over the papers,
"Doesn't that mean, Akemi would be left completely defenseless in the meantime?" Naru sighs, he didn't want to ponder over Akemi's wellbeing for now. She is fine and well, already resting. What is more to learn about?
"Yes. I had Matsuzaki-san place some talisman to protect her from anything wanting to barge in." Naru flips a page, Mai opting shake off her thoughts after hearing Naru's voice.
"Oh, so that's why you took so long."
"Hn."
Ayako sits on one of the vacant couches. "With the experience we just got today, what do you think Naru?" Her question pertaining to whether the case was worth to take or not.
Bou-san, who still kept sitting on the floor hums. "The family are completely defenseless, we can't afford to run away and take them with us. In other words, there aren't many options for us. Flee and abandon once Akemi wakes or else try to do everything within our ability."
"If you lack self-confidence, then by all means withdraw." Without as much as looking back, Naru gestures to the sliding door. "You know the way out."
Bou-san and Ayoko, blanched. Wincing internally at the young boss. 'As always, you are brutal...'
At the mention of leaving, Mai stood determined. "There's no way we can leave! I won't abandon the Yoshimi family!" Disbelief written all over her face as she realized the professionals thought of abandoning the case.
Not expecting anything else, Bou-san nonchalantly smiles, Naru wasn't letting go of the case, Akemi is still resting but he knew she wouldn't leave either. "Well then, Mai is staying. What about you Ayako?" His choice already known the moment Mai stood
Ayako sighs, crossing her arms on her chest. "I'm not leaving Akemi to the hands of you imbeciles, I think I'll manage somehow."
Bou-san scratched the back of his head, "Doesn't seem too reliable." He mutters under his breath before going back to a normal tone, where everyone could hear. "Well, I might as well stay. Since there's something I have that Naru doesn't."
"Oh that's news, I wonder if you can tell us?" Naru and Lin on the side even stopping to listen.
Bou-san lightly closed one eye. A teasing smile on his lips, turning to Mai and Ayako. Letting his back be defenseless. "A humble attitude and kind personality."
A moment of silence spread,
Then laughter ensued. "That's true!" Despite the happy atmosphere they made, only one wasn't enjoying their merriment.
"If you all have time for jokes, I suggest doing them elsewhere." They froze at Naru's harsh glare. It sent shivers up their spine when Naru's lips twitched into a smile. "There are people with goal-oriented personalities focusing here."
The temperature to the room dropped to a negative. Their backs undeniably going cold at Naru's glacial stare. What scared them more was not his lack of a frown but his more sinister smile he tried to portray as genuine and civil. He felt like a dormant volcano, that showed signs of exploding any second— one they are waiting to errupt any moment.
And would inevitably lead to their death.
They knew better. He wasn't at all happy, nor genuinely civil.
The three waited frozen in place, watching Naru go back to analyzing data— glancing every so often, as though Naru would go 'Sike!' and torture them with heavy workload. However, when minutes passed with Naru kept quiet and continued checking papers, did they relaxed and went back to work.
'We avoided Mount Naru-veus!' Mai and Bou-san quietly cheered to themselves. (A/N: for those who don't know, referencing towards the famous volcano of Pompeii. Mount Vesuvius.)
Another chapter published! Wohoo! Hope you guys enjoy~~~