CHAPTER 100! 10 YEARS OF DANGEROUS SOULS! ENJOY!
Post Case 10-Choices
April Friday Several Days Before Case…
"I assume you have a case involving the paranormal again, Atsuchi-san?" Naru said as Lin came in from the kitchenette with cups of tea. The tall assistant proceeded to sit down and open his laptop to take notes.
"Well, yes and no," the officer admitted as he took a sip. "As you know I've been transferred to Ichihara briefly and then to Saitama as a detective. You may have also heard about the body of a young girl being found a couple of weeks ago."
"I did see a headline in the paper," Naru commented. "Before you continue, I must tell you I have no interest in taking on any case involving the media."
"Trust me when I say I want to keep you as far out of the limelight as possible." The young man opened a small file. "We have been very diligent in keeping details away from the press, hence why news hasn't broken out that there have been three murders. The third body was just discovered yesterday morning."
"Saitama's police force must be pretty desperate to hire a team of psychic researchers," Naru said dryly as he peered over the open folder.
"My goal is to have you hired as consultants. Being newly transferred and newly promoted I do have to tread carefully. To which I may have the perfect solution to have you involved."
"Please get to the point. We investigate the paranormal, not missing person cases or homicides." Impatience was never a good look on the young manager.
"Adachi Takako, twenty-three," Atsuchi continued, undeterred, pulling out a picture of a young girl. She had golden brown eyes and jet-black hair. "She was the first victim, the media is only reporting it as a mugging gone wrong, however she had been missing for over a week prior. She was last seen at a bar nearby her apartment. The second and third victims had also frequented the same bar prior to their disappearance."
"And you've looked into the owner and workers in the bar?"
"All have alibies for the times of disappearance. More than likely the culprit is a customer or even a bystander watching the door from the street. Security cameras have not been helpful as the girls had all left alone and simply vanished into thin air. Then there was a sighting of Takako at the very bar she disappeared at. The media didn't reveal which bar she was last seen in or what she was wearing that night, however several witnesses described the girl in accurate detail."
"Educated guess and luck would probably fit the bill."
"That's what we believed until we asked the bar owner to check the security tapes for the night of the sightings. Takako was last seen wearing leggings, a red tanktop, and a denim jacket. The security footage gave us this pretty picture at the entrance of the bar." The detective pulled out two photos, each depicting the victim in the outfit she disappeared in, staring directly at the camera. The most eerie part of it were the tears in her clothing and the fact that the bottom half of her legs couldn't be seen.
"So she's appears to be haunting the bar she disappeared at…" Naru stroked his chin as he examined the photos.
"Her sister also swears that she was visited by Takako's spirit. I don't necessarily want you and your team directly involved with the investigation until absolutely necessary. I've talked with the bar owner and he would be willing to host you for a paranormal investigation to drum up business in a slightly more positive light-"
"When in actuality you will be filtering in information to us and hopefully we will lead you to the culprit."
"You're making it sound much more manipulative than it really is."
"You're calling in a favor after you did one for us. I'm just calling it what it is." Naru sat back a bit as he pondered the potential case. "You are asking for a lot, my company focuses on cases of the paranormal variety, not serial murderers. A couple of members of my team are underage as well, you wish me to endanger them?"
"Of course not, I wasn't expecting you to bring children to a crime scene. Like I said the bar hasn't been disclosed to the public and the owner wants to keep it that way. The building is no longer part of our investigation so your team will be safe there. I actually encourage you to leave the underage members of your team out of this case for their safety but that is entirely up to you. If they are present they will only be as involved as you let them and I won't be giving them inside details."
Naru was silent still pondering over the information before him.
"Your team was able to catch those vandals from the cemetery last fall. Stroke of luck, maybe, however your team has a very good track record for solving mysteries."
"I'd hardly equalize serial murders and paranormal investigations as simple mysteries."
"Shibuya-san, I won't lie to you, I am in a rather desperate situation," Atsuchi confided with a breath. "Not so much in the reputation aspect, I really don't give a damn what others think of me. However, three girls have been brutally murdered and the police as a whole don't have much to go on. Convincing the chief to allow you to be a consultant won't be easy, but the fact that you don't interact with the media would work in our favor. I think you and I both agree that the right spiritualists would be a great asset to law enforcement."
"And you think my team consists of the 'right'spiritualists." Naru was not amused. Not in the slightest.
"Please think about it, depending on the results it could land you some consistent jobs. Here, keep this file, not all of the details are in it but enough for you to get an idea of what we're dealing with." Atsuchi pushed the folder closer to Naru's side of the coffee table. He proceeded to stand up and give a slight bow. "If you would please let me know your answer by Monday, it would be appreciated."
"I can make no guarantees," Naru warned as he accepted the folder and stood to walk Atsuchi out.
"I wasn't looking for one today, also I completely understand your hesitation with Taniyama-san being another one of your assistants." The officer hesitated at the door with his hand on the handle. "I haven't been able to keep an eye on her as often as I had originally promised, but I haven't seen any sign of that boy from before. She hasn't reached out to me about him either, has she mentioned him to you?"
"To my knowledge he hasn't bothered her. What makes you think she has anything to do with my decision to take your case?"
"Wasn't my intention. Thank you again for your discretion on this matter-" Atsuchi shook his head as he turned the knob to find a certain young brunette behind the door. "Good to see you again, Mai."
"O-Officer Atsuchi?" Mai gaped, glancing between the young officer and her young employer.
"I will let you know of my decision in the next few days," Naru said with a nod. "Mai, tea, when you've settled in." With that he strolled back into his office.
"I do have to get going, but I'm glad to see you're doing well," Atsuchi said with a smile.
"You too. And thank you for what you did for me over the winter, I really appreciate it," Mai said with a bow.
"I'm just glad everything worked out, you still have my card, right?" The girl nodded. "Well, my offer still stands, if you're ever in trouble feel free to call my cell."
"Will do, thank you again Atsuchi-san." With that, the high schooler entered the office and went straight to work in making tea.
Once she finished the tea, Mai made sure to drop off a mug to Lin who had hidden himself away in his office. The next thing she knew she was in Naru's office approaching his desk, where he was examining the contents of a manila folder.
"So what's going on? Do we have a new case?" Mai asked as she placed a mug of tea on her boss's desk.
"Possibly," Naru muttered as he closed his folder. "Have a seat, Mai."
Confused, Mai sat down in the plush chair across from Naru's desk. "We already had my yearly review, did I screw up something?"
"Not at all," he replied taking a long sip. "I'm sure you've noticed that I take on all sorts of cases that involve the paranormal, correct?"
"You mean, like curses, hexes, possession, devil worship. Human caused poltergeists, then there was the summer camp last year-"
"Precisely, the case that Atuschi-san has discussed with me will not be a traditional case."
"Not like the cemetery haunting that was just vandals?"
"Correct. This case in particular wouldn't have us directly involved. There are reports of a spirit in the area we would be investigating, however our true task will be to aid the police in their own case."
"So we'd be working as consultants?"
"Unofficial consultants, Japan as a whole is not ready to employ psychics and spiritualists for homicide cases to aid the police."
"Homicide?" Mai repeated, if she didn't know any better she would've said she saw her boss stiffen. It must have been her imagination.
"This is to remain classified. At the moment this stays between the three of us, you, Lin, and myself." Naru corrected. "As I said, Japan isn't ready to acknowledge the asset that spiritualists can be for such cases, though with the amount of conmen and scammers, I'm inclined to agree."
"So we're going to pretend to be ghost hunting when in actuality we are gonna filter information to Atsuchi to catch a murderer?"
"That is one way to put it," Naru said, tapping his index finger on the desk. "Which brings me to the topic I wish to discuss with you. Should I take this case, you are not obligated to join in the investigation."
"Huh?" Mai couldn't remember a case that SPR investigated without her since she was hired two years prior. Probably because there wasn't. Why is he suddenly giving her a choice?
"You are in your senior year of school, this case in particular has unavoidable dangers. I understand if you are uncomfortable with working this case. You are also, technically, a minor. Meaning your safety will be entirely my responsibility as your employer."
"I'm going to guess that this isn't a singular murder that Atuschi wants you to investigate," Mai said slowly, a scene flashed in her mind of February. The last time she had seen the young officer. "Considering you are discussing this with me before you accept the case leads me to think this is you returning a favor and leaning towards accepting."
Naru was quiet, his answer clear to her after working so closely with him for so long. Mai leaned back in thought.
"If I were to say I'm not comfortable working the case, what would happen next?"
Almost as if rehearsed prior, Naru folded his hands and sat up a little straighter. "Most likely, I'll accept the case. Lin and I, with the possibility of the others depending on this case's needs, will travel to Saitama to assist Atsuchi. You will monitor the office, handle phone calls, interview potential clients, conduct follow-up calls, not unlike your usual office duties. I would also possibly ask Madoka to check in on you."
"The case is that dangerous?" Mai looked down at her hands in her lap. A dark heavy feeling weighed in her stomach, Naru showing this sort of consideration and caution was unusual for him. She didn't like it. Not a bit.
"That being said, I am not forcing you to stay behind and watch the office. I am not saying you cannot participate and investigate, however because of the nature if this case I do want to consider your decision carefully. Should you join, you will be mostly involved with the paranormal aspect and not the criminal investigation. There is a possibility that the two will combine and your involvement with the criminal investigation will be unavoidable. I don't want you to answer right now."
He's being more roundabout than usual, Mai noted as she furrowed her brow. I can't help but feel like he has the same bad feeling I do. "Okay," was all she could muster up to say.
"Tomorrow please come in with your answer or whether or not you need more time to think about it. I won't rush you."
"Okay," Mai repeated as she stood up, obviously dismissed. The heavy feeling in her stomach turned hollow yet it gripped her heart tightly. Everything in her body was telling her something was wrong.
Nevertheless, she walked out and slowly closed the door behind her.
"Planning on moving all by yourself?" A familiar voice made the priestess perk her head up. She had been loading boxes in the trunk of her car.
"Houshou, what are you doing here?" Ayako asked raising a brow.
"Don't forget about us!" Behind the monk a certain bespectacled college student popped out, followed by a blond priest.
"How did you know I was moving today?" Ayako ignored the comment and crossed her arms.
"Educated guess," Monk answered with a shrug. "You said you had the next week to move and that the hospital set you up with a temp apartment. I figured you would need a couple days to pack and knowing the amount of crap you own I asked these guys to help with the heavy lifting."
"Ready when you are, Ayako!" John said cheerfully with a grin.
"Not that I don't appreciate the help, I'm just moving my personal stuff today. Movers are coming on Monday to move the furniture," Ayako said with a hand on her hip.
"Again, I've seen how much stuff you own and we're here to lend a hand." Monk's face held a cheeky grin.
"You snooped through me stuff! You perv!" the priestess exclaimed throwing a whack at the monk that he dodged rather gracefully.
"Ooh, you gotta be quicker than that!" he teased, as the woman threw another fist.
"You're one to talk!"
"Now that was uncalled for!"
Watching the spectacle, Yasuhara turned to John holding a single key. "Monk already gave me the key, wanna get started on bringing down the boxes?" he asked. The young priest nodded and they disappeared into the apartment building.
"You inconsiderable assho-" The words died in the priestess mouth as Monk wrapped his arms around her. She stiffened at the contact, not really sure what would be proper response.
"It's okay to accept help, Ayako, even if it's just moving boxes," Monk said with a chuckled in her ear. "I'm not really sure what we are anymore, you probably don't either, but at the very least we are good friends. That doesn't have to change."
Ayako let out a breath and wrapped her arms around him, rolling her eyes as she did so. "You truly are an idiot," she muttered.
"So he wants you to office sit instead of going on a case? How lame," Michiru said between bites of her ice cream sundae.
"Michi, I think you're oversimplifying it," Keiko replied.
"And I think you're under-simplifying it."
"And neither of you have managed to give Mai any advice. What great friends you are!" Genji gave an enthusiastic grin that dripped in sarcasm. Earning him an elbow from the long haired girl next to him.
"Venting comes first, advice later if applicable," Michiru said taking another bite.
"When is advice not applicable?" Taiki asked digging around in his parfait.
"Primarily when you know what you have to do or there really is nothing you can do and you want to vent your feelings to your friends judgment free," Keiko answered.
"It's just really weird, he's never given me a choice to go on cases. Like, he's been careful lately with the safety of everyone on the team for the last couple of cases but I can't think of one that he explicitly said I couldn't or shouldn't go on." Mai's appetite seemed to vanish as she stirred her hot fudge sundae. Such a waste of ice cream to be left with cold milk soup.
"So what's your gut telling you? Since you're sworn to secrecy on the details," Taiki asked.
"Something is wrong. Very wrong, but I don't know what."
"You did answer my question, can't fault you for that-ow! Michiru!" Michiru looked as innocent she could, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she had kicked her friend's boyfriend in the shin.
"What does your gut think you should do?" Keiko continued, ignoring the spectacle next to her.
"I don't know, I'm almost inclined to take Naru up on the offer for office sitting. It would give me more of an administrative role, even if it is temporary-"
"There you go, problem solved," Michiru said, scraping the bottom of her bowl. "Office sitting it is!"
"Weren't you against that plan?" Another kick. "Will you stop!"
Mai ignored the altercation and put her head in her hand, propped up by her elbow. "But deciding to do that doesn't make the feeling that something is wrong go away. And then I say I'm going to go on the case and the feeling just gets worse…"
"Quite the dilemma," Genji noted with a mouthful.
"You're not very helpful…" Mai grumbled rolling her eyes.
"Well, at least he gave you the option to think it over," Keiko said with a shrug. "I know it doesn't sound like much, but sleep on it and see how you feel in the morning. Who knows maybe your dreams tonight will tell you what you should do."
"Somehow I'm not sure I'll like the answer I'll get."
Practically all her life, at least her professional life, Masako Hara was praised for her grace. Poised and proper, never a step out of place as she would walk through haunted homes and sites. She had her kimono to thank for that, initially being rather difficult to move around in, she trained herself to be able to move as silently as possible, giving her even more of the appearance of a doll.
However, in this particular moment, she wasn't wearing her kimono. And honestly, her movements were not graceful at all. But there was a sort of beauty in that.
Masako was practicing the steps that she had learned, in front of her floor length mirror to keep an eye on her form. It was hard to not cringe at the awkward way her body moved, unaccustomed to the toll that ballet would take even after a single lesson.
"We all start somewhere, and it is never too late to learn, even if it's just a hobby,"the assistant teacher's voice echoed in her head as she tried to get her leg higher in an arabesque.
Without the coverage of her kimono she felt vulnerable, naked, exposed, yet it was very freeing. In this moment, she wasn't Masako Hara, she was Satoko. An average girl with an interest in dance. Trying to figure out what she wants to do for the weekend. Focusing on the present and enjoying new experiences.
Just as she would have been had she never made it to television fame. Had her mother never become her manager. Had her mother saw her for something more than fame and fortune. It was no wonder she had no friends. No wonder Naru despised her. No wonder she felt jealousy when she saw Mai. Despite the brunette having gone through trials of her own, her life was far more ordinary than the medium's. And she secretly wished for it.
But now's not the time to dwell on it,she told herself as she held on to the dresser for a plie. What matters right now is that I take time for myself. I can't change how I grew up, but I can try to gain some experiences I missed out on.
The medium sat on the floor and began some stretches to ease any soreness she would likely feel. "I may be a medium, but that's not all I am," she whispered to herself as she took a deep breath and leaned into the stretch.
"Are you sure you don't want us to come with and get you settled?" Monk offered once the priestess's car was packed to capacity.
"I really appreciate everything you guys did today, but I can't ask you guys to do that. It's a long enough drive as it is," Ayako said with a sympathetic smile. "The landlord knows I'm coming today and has someone waiting to give me a hand with the boxes."
"It wouldn't be a bother," Yasuhara said offering a hand. "None of us had plans-"
"Seriously, thank you so much for everything, but this part I need to do on my own," Ayako interrupted, holding up a hand to stop them. "You won't see me all the time, but I'm sure I'll join you guys in a case or two in the future."
John was the first one to accept that the priestess had made up her mind and took her hand in his. "Take care of yourself, Ayako. And keep in touch, if you need anything let us know," he said with such a genuine smile that only the young priest could give so easily.
"Thank you, John," the priestess said, giving him a hug. "I'll do my best."
She proceeded to exchange an embrace with Yasuhara and Monk before hopping in the front seat. She rolled down the window and waved goodbye as she drove off. The three young men continued waving until she turned the corner. "So…" the college student began with a shrug toward the eldest of the group. "Did you ever figure out what you guys are?"
Monk let out a breath and shrugged as he headed down the street. "Nah, believe it or not we have time to figure that out." He waved a hand to beckon them to follow. "C'mon, I know a Tapas bar near here. Don't know about you, but I'm starving."
Saturday 12:12 P.M.
"Please tell me you have some decent advice for me," Mai begged as she cradled her cell phone between her shoulder and ear.
It was a very nice day in Shibuya, partly cloudy, warm but a light breeze made it comfortable. It was the perfect day for Mai to enjoy her lunch in the park nearby the office. She still needed to give Naru her answer on the case, but she still didn't know what she wanted to do.
She prayed Hozumi might have an answer. "You're not going to like this, but your instincts are your best resource in this situation,"Hozumi's voice came through the speaker as Mai pried open her bento.
"I swear, if you ask me what my gut is telling me I'm throwing my bento at the tree," she growled, using her chopsticks to pick at her food.
"First, you won't do that because you're getting a little hangry and doing that would make it worse."Mai rolled her eyes at the accuracy. "Second, that is exactly what I was going to ask you, but it sounds like you've already sought out some great advice."
"Great, isn't exactly the word I would use…"
"Then I take it your gut doesn't like either answer."At that Mai sighed in agreement, shoving more food in her mouth. "Which answer does it feel the worst about?"
"You want me to pick the lesser of two evils?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes. Sometimes there is no right answer, only a wrong answer and a no so wrong answer. Up to you to decide which is which."
"I really don't know what it is about this case, I literally know nothing of the details. Yet the idea of going on it makes my skin crawl and my stomach heavy. But the idea of not going makes me nauseous and shaky."
"Okay, which feeling can you tolerate longer?"
"What?"
"Would you rather critters crawling in your skin and a lead stomach, or shaky hands and an uneasy stomach for a week?"
"Probably the shaky hands and queasiness…"
"There's your answer, listen, Mai, it's okay to step back and let others handle a case. You've worked at SPR long enough to be able to maintain the office in your boss's absence. This is your chance to gain more administrative experience and who knows, you could become office manager because of it."
Mai snorted. "Yeah, I doubt that Naru would put a high school senior in an office management position."
"Why not? Wasn't he only sixteen or seventeen when you met him? He was not just the office manager but the CEO, why couldn't you do something like that?"
"You really think, Naru is giving me this option because he wants an office manager?"
"Actually, I'm giving you ammo to use at your next annual meeting so that you can earn a bigger raise."
Mai chuckled and rolled her eyes before glancing at the time. "I better go, I need to scarf this down before Naru starts having tea withdrawal."
"Gotcha, let me know how things turn out," Hozumi said as Mai was ready to hang up. "Just remember to put yourself first on this one. You might feel uneasy because of the possibility of your friends getting hurt, but it's okay to sit this one out. I say if you have the option, take it."
"Thanks, Hozumi, you might have actually helped." She hung up and placed the phone down on the picnic table. "I've never run the office all by myself before, at the very least I'll be able to put it on my resume."
"Any word from your grandfather?" Izumi asked as she poured herself a mug of tea. Her usually neat hair was tied in a messy bun on the top of her head and her normally put together appearance was replaced with athletic shorts and a hoodie.
"Not a peep," Hozumi sighed as he typed on his laptop. "Which means either the event in his premonition is either nowhere near soon or nothing has changed and Mai will die a horrible death."
"I love how optimistic you are, Sweetie," Izumi said with a roll of her eyes as she walked over to the table and kissed his temple. She sat down across from him as she took a sip.
"And I love how sarcastic you are." Hozumi returned her eyeroll with one of his own. He ran his hand through his hair before stretching his arms. "She's improved so much lately, I really hope she decides to stay home from this case."
"What wrong with this case?"
The young man shrugged. "She doesn't know either, just that she has a bad feeling when she tells herself to stay home and an even worse when she decides to go."
"Think she'll stay home? Seems to be the lesser of two evils."
"Don't know. She seemed to be leaning that way when I talked with her about an hour ago, but time will only tell."
"Or…you could text her tomorrow and see if she made a decision," Izumi said slowly, leaning forward with her suggestion. "You're not her therapist, if anything maybe a mentor, but even still, you two do have a type of friendship. You care about her enough to be worried about your grandfather's premonition."
"Think I'm gonna leave you for her?" Hozumi raised a sly eyebrow.
Izumi scoffed and waived the notion away. "Trust me, if I thought you were that sort of man, I wouldn't be sitting here right now. I like to think I know you a little more than you think."
That earned a chuckle out of her fiancé. But Izumi's face became somber as she stared at her mug.
"That being said, I've only met her a couple of times but I care about Mai too. You know I don't have premonitions like your grandfather and my abilities really only work with Reiki in close proximity. I have to say that I don't have a good feeling at all. And I don't think it will change no matter what Mai decides."
Naru was surprisingly calm and took Mai's decision very well when she came back from lunch. Apparently he had a feeling that she might choose to watch the office and actually was in the middle of creating a list of tasks for her to complete in his and Lin's absence.
Still, a nagging feeling weighed in her stomach as she worked on her homework at her desk in her bedroom. It was late evening on this Saturday and because Mai was to sit out on the case, Naru had given her the office key as well as the following day off. She wanted to get her schoolwork done that night so she could enjoy the day running errands and hanging with her friends.
"It's weird, Naru seemed almost…relieved…" Mai muttered as she struggled with the math equations. She scribbled out the incorrect answer and closed her notebook. "He said homicide and we'd be unofficial consultants. Maybe the murder was more gruesome than he wanted to admit. He wouldn't let me see the file, but I can't really blame him for that…"
She grabbed her history textbook and notebook before settling into her assignment. "It's probably more information than he's even allowed, better that I didn't see it. But still-"
SMACK!
"Argh!" Mai groaned having smacked her own face. "What am I doing? I already said I was staying behind on this case why am I so preoccupied with what the case is? Geez, Mai, you literally have so many other things to do right now. Homework for instance?"
Her pen went to her paper yet the words never came. A frustrated groan and Mai found herself padding to the bathroom. Perhaps a hot shower would clear her head.
Once again, the familiar purple glow surrounded our favorite high schooler. Mai walked to nowhere in particular looking for her spirit guide. "Jin? Jin! Are you here?" she called.
A sudden chill flew down her spine as she suddenly could see her breath. "Jin? Are you gonna show me something? What's that?"
She turned around knowing that there was nothing behind, but that didn't silence the weeping. Someone was crying nearby, it was a heartbroken and hopeless sort of cry. It was definitely a woman and though Mai couldn't see her or tell where she was, but she knew she was nearby.
"Hello? Do you need help? Or is there something you want to tell me-"
SLAP!
The clap of a hand sent Mai doubling over. "You bitch!" the shriek came from an unfamiliar voice.
Mai looked up to see a girl several years older than her with golden brown eyes and jet-black hair cut in an asymmetrical bob. "Whoa! What was that for?"
"Three girls are dead right now and you have to fix this!" the young woman growled as she clenched her fist.
"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Mai shouted back. She was still in the purple glow, she wasn't in some flashback and this wasn't Jin in front of her. She looked at her hands and clothes, she was still Mai so she wasn't reliving someone's memory, or at least she didn't think she was.
"It's your fault we're in this mess! Another girl is gonna die unless you take responsibility and stop this maniac!"
"I'm in Tokyo! How is your death my fault!" Mai shouted back bracing for another slap or punch or even a kick.
"You need to end this! I didn't have to die! Neither did those girls! Just end this already!"
"I didn't kill you!"
"No, but you're the reason we died! You're the only one who can stop it! If you don't go to Saitama and put everything to rest, I will personally make sure you die an even more horrible death than mine!"
I wanted to get this up earlier today but that didn't really happen. Thank you all again for your support and continued support with this fic. Hard to believe exactly 10 years ago today I had the guts to post it and here we are 100 chapters and more than 500k words and much more to come!
Next Case: Case 13: Never What It Seems-When Naru takes on an unofficial consulting case for Atsuchi, he realizes just how desperate the Saitama police force is. Perhaps this will be SPR's deadliest case yet.
Thanks for reading!