ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ MAI AKEMI ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ
"You failed again." Mai crookedly smiled as Bou-san turned to an embarrassed Ayako.
'Wow... It looks like this case is gonna be pretty intense.... First a fire broke out in the kitchen and the book case collapsed.' Mai thought to herself, her thoughts made it hard for her to hear Ayako's flustered reasons. Somehow she shivered at the scary unnatural events. 'So this is what a paranormal activity is like...' Mai shivered.
"You may leave now if you're scared." Mai snapped out of it as Naru spoke out of nowhere, her lips turning to a frown as she knew those words were directed to her.
"I— I'm not scared!" but when Mai turned to face Naru he was already paying attention to something else, turning to look at Akemi who stood next to him. 'Damn this— he's not even listening anymore...'
"By the way, it almost seemed like the poltergeist was responding to Ayami-chan's shouting..." Bou-san spoke, lifting a finger to scratch his cheek in thought while John stepped in to add,
"Mai also mentioned that she saw a kid in the kitchen window... You think that Ayami-chan caused the poltergeists?"
"The auto-suggestion test indicated that a human didn't cause the poltergeist." Naru assured as he leaned close to the monitors with Oliver sitting beside him calmly with his tongue out. The sight oddly delighted Akemi, 'Naru looks great with a dog... I wonder if he is a dog person?'
"How sure are you about the results of the test?" Bou-san asked and without a moments hesitation, Naru answered a confident hundred percent.
'Maybe he is more of a cat person...' Akemi smiled, tilting her head to the side.
"Is it possible that the auto-suggestion failed?" Akemi asked as she left Naru's side and sat down by the sofa at the very corner of the room. The burn on her thigh lightly giving off a stinging sensation that made her highly uncomfortable but her expression revealed none of it and remained calm, it fooled all of them, well except for a certain someone who knew of her predicament.
"No way." Naru shook his head and when Bou-san was about to inject his opinion, Lin's voice cut through, catching the attention of many as his words revealed something that unleashed the beginning dangers of the case.
"Naru, the temperature is starting to decrease..." Lin said as he stared at the screens, particularly on Ayami's room monitor.
"Lin, the speaker." with no other words needed from Naru, Lin turned on the speakers for all of them to hear.
BAM!
Immediately as Lin turned on the speakers, thumps and knocks are heard all over the room, each one of the psychic research crew held their breath at the paranormal activity.
BAM!
"Wow..."
DUM DUM
"But there's no one in Ayami's room..." Mai stared at the monitor at worry, her eyes showing fear and concern not just for Ayami but for everybody else in the house because of this 'Poltergeist'.
TAK! TAK!
"The temperature," Lin gestured at the screens revealing the temperature. "It's dropping very quickly... Now it's below freezing."
'What...?' Mai turned her gaze at Lin in shock, 'then that means...'
"It is highly impossible for Ayami-chan to cause this, no human can change the temperature of a room to below freezing without the help of anything else." Akemi straightened her back, feeling her temples drummed what almost felt like a headache closing to a migraine as the sound of knocks and thumps continued to surround the room, the longer she stayed hearing those noises the more it started to sound like... cries.
It was starting to take a toll on Akemi physically, 'something in this room...something in this house holds some very negative energy, something sad.' Akemi heard a woman yell out a cry and the whole room starting to contort but before she could fully experience it, Akemi stood up and the room went back to be their base and the cry echoed slowly till she could hear it no longer in her mind— as the image disappeared so did her headache.
'The dizziness is coming back again... I'm sure Naru won't mind if I rest early for today.' By the sight of Akemi standing, Oliver stood and walked beside his master, sensing something wrong.
"I really do apologize everyone, it looks like I need to leave ahead of schedule..." Akemi sheepishly smiled, her head bowed to show her sincerest apologizes. She really is bummed that she won't get to stay much longer but if the body won't work than so does the mind, is what her grandfather repeated every time.
"Akemi-sempai? Where are you going?" Mai turned as she noticed Akemi's leaving figure, feeling confused at the same time saddened to have her sempai leave so early, well technically it was really late but in terms of Psychic phenomenon it is still early.
"I will be taking a rest by the van..."
"....eh? EHH?!" Mai gaped at her sempai who smiled as if there was nothing wrong with what she has said. "-b-but Akemi-sempai... That van...?"
"Why sleep in a stuffy van when all of us are given designated guest rooms by the owners themselves?" Ayako humphed, crossing her arms with a raised brow as everybody except Lin and Naru faced Akemi,
"I learned not to lean on where the majority lies," the room went silent at Akemi's words, the smile on her lips seemed to be heavier than it seemed and sharper than it beamed. "-I'm not trying to be rude... But it's just that— I don't like sleeping in other people's houses, especially spiritually haunted ones... They are... Confining for me." Akemi hesitated with her words, trying to find the right one that won't come off as either weird or rude.
"Don't tell me you're scared?" Ayako asked, "I expected this kind of reaction of agitation from Mai but not from you, Akemi..." Ayako spoke up, eyeing Akemi with narrowed eyes— trying to at least get something from the beautiful girl but to no avail, Akemi only tilted her head slightly and smiled at them before turning to look at Naru.
Who was already staring back at her with expressionless eyes.
"I have had unpleasant experiences staying in other people's houses and would rather not experience them ever again if possible," Akemi's gaze turned somewhat sharp and knowing— clear of any haze as she connected it with Naru's unyielding ones. "-but if Naru would tell me otherwise, I might consider staying longer than necessary~" and it went back to her total teasing.
Naru turned to look back on the monitor, turning his back at Akemi with only one sentence to say. "Go and take care of the things you are occupied with— stay if you want to, but you're presence isn't needed right now..."
At his words, if Masako were here, she would already be hiding a smile but Mai felt a bit delighted hearing this but couldn't help but be ticked off on how Naru addressed her sempai, even the others almost winced at Naru's words but none of them expected Akemi's giggles.
"Hai hai~" Akemi lifted a hand to stifle her giggles, understanding Naru's words, remembering it to be the same as when she burned her thigh. It almost seemed like Naru was itching for her to leave, but Akemi knew better.
"Ja! I better get to it! see you guys tomorrow, Oyasuminasai~" Akemi waved gleefully at them and left the room with Oliver beside her,
"Goodnight!"
"Have a good rest, sempai!"
But as Akemi closed the doors out the base, her wide smile slipped into something more serious as Oliver tensed beside her, snarling at the silhouette in front of them.
Akemi's brow twitched, as she noticed it to be formed like a woman's— pulling out the pendant of her necklace which was hidden underneath her shirt the whole time and held it tight with a concentrated breath as the silhouette started to move towards her and out of the light.
Only for it to form differently and reveal her guard that her family insisted to come along. "Milady, I believe it is time for your—" the female guard spoke but as she saw Akemi's tensed stance letting out a relieved sigh, her expression turned neutral and professional. "—is something the matter, Milady?"
"Ara..." Akemi placed a hand on her head and slowly shook it sideways, "You made me worry for a second there— I thought I was seeing a depressed mother for a second..." Akemi froze.
Oliver barked as a call, trying to get his owner's attention noticing how silent she became. "Arf!"
"Milady, I believe it is almost past midnight I already booked a room for you at a hotel nearby if you are already finished with your work..." The guard bowed as Akemi lifted her head and shook of her chills before smiling kindly at the woman.
"Thank you for your hard work~" Akemi thanked, before looking towards a certain room which she remembered to hold the living room where Noriko-san introduced her family on the first day.
'This feeling...' Akemi frowned as she placed a hand on her pocket where she could feel a slight bulge, the medication pills she intakes that help her, lay dormant on her clothing. 'Should I— ?'
"Arf!" Akemi turned to look at her pet guardian, seeing his care-free but concerned eyes— Akemi couldn't help but pet him and lead him outside with the female guard at front, her hand no longer inside her pocket and the thought of what to do with it is still undetermined.
"The Hotel where we will be staying is right over there,"
ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ MAI ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ
"Ayami-chan really said that?" Naru turned to glance at Mai as she spoke about what happened in Ayami's room, highly disregarding that Naru showed up in her dreams.
"Yes, isn't that strange?" Mai felt a sweat drop by her cheek as she watched Naru's stoic expression, 'It was definitely a dream— this guy wouldn't smile like that!'
Seeing Naru's deep thinking, Akemi smiled and clasped her hands behind as she leaned towards Naru, playfully. "By the way you are thinking, I am guessing I have to ask Noriko-san about the doll now?"
The only response Akemi received was Naru lifting his eyes to stare at her, slightly narrowing as Naru noticed how Akemi's eyes didn't show any haze as it did before. "Please." Naru nodded, before turning back to the monitors.
'It is definitely not him! Definitely a dream!' Mai nodded, as she burned holes on the back of Naru's head.
~~~
ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ AKEMI ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ
"This is Minnie..." Noriko handed the doll towards Naru's waiting hands, the stoic man stood quietly and inspected the doll with Akemi standing next to him, turning to glance at the doll as well. "My brother gave it to Ayami as a gift right before we moved into this house."
"Did Ayami-chan change before or after that?"
"....I believe it was after," Noriko said a while after she thought about it, Naru turned and faced the doll towards Akemi— his eyes piercing straight at the graceful woman with intensity.
Akemi shook her head at Naru, "Maybe if I touch—"
"Arf!"
"GIVE IT BACK!" Akemi wasn't able to finish her words as Ayami ran towards Naru and Akemi with Oliver following behind her.
"Give Minnie back to me! Don't touch her!" Ayami tried to jump and reach her doll but with Naru's tall stature she had a hard time,
"Ayami-chan I heard you can talk to Minnie?" Naru asked but Ayami ignored him and grabbed her doll after successfully reaching it within her grasp.
"No one touches her!"
"Ayami!" Noriko called out as Ayami ran away with her doll, taking note of the turn of events, Akemi bent down next to Oliver who sat next to her the moment Ayami ran towards them.
With a smile, Akemi petted her dog and leaned in to whisper at him, "Go watch over her, Oliver—" Oliver stuck out his tongue and licked her cheek. Akemi snickered. "She needs you right now..." and so with a nudge, Oliver went to Ayami's side.
"Naru... We have to learn more about that doll," Akemi said without even turning her eyes away where Ayami and Oliver went with the doll, a look of discomfort clear on Akemi's porcelain face.
~~~
ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ AKEMI NARU ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ
"Hey! Isn't that the Minnie doll?" Bou-san spoke as he got inside the base room, to see Naru sitting in front of the monitor that revealed Ayami's room. "-I'm surprised that 'Little One' let you borrow it..." Bou-san added as he watched the monitor, specifically the doll that sat on Ayami's bed alone.
"Naru took it after Ayami-chan fell asleep," Akemi said as she passed by Bou-san and Mai and handed Naru his tea.
Naru picked up his cup without leaving his gaze at the monitor but the moment his cup reached near his mouth, Naru took a sniff and looked at the cup of tea in his hands. "This is...?"
"Not your usual blend," Akemi smiled, not one bit perturbed at Naru's quick turn to glare at her. '-pick on anything but Naru's tea...' Mai and Bou-san sweat dropped and reminded themselves to take note of it.
"But I do suggest you try it," Akemi added as she sat on a vacant chair, the tray placed on her lap. "- It's herbal tea— Grandmother insisted I bring it along with us but I made sure to blend it according to your preferred taste..." Akemi let out an unbothered stare as Naru continued with his narrow gaze.
For sure Naru have noticed, back in the office the equipment for tea has increased and the tea drastically improved despite it being made the same way it usually did.
At least, that was what Naru noticed.
Naru let out a breath before taking a sip of Akemi's tea and the taste would forever be engraved on his mind.
Naru caught the smell of Honeysuckle flower, it tasted sweet and held a pretty floral taste but Naru bore in mind the slight taste of black tea mixed in the blend.
Overall it reminded him of a beautiful garden scent with a taste of honey and milk.
Naru sighed as he placed his cup back on his saucer, Akemi letting out a smile— knowing she caught him in. "Does the Wizard approve of this Princess' tea?"
"!..." Naru turned to face Akemi, silently and ever so impassively stared. He caught on that Akemi's grandmother did send herbal teas but it was Akemi's care that the tea tasted the way it tasted.
'She has love for tea...'
Akemi waited with a calm smile, remembering Ayami's words one time when she watched over the child, the little girl suggested that Akemi looked like a princess and Naru a prince, but somehow Akemi pushed that thought off and believed that Naru was more of a Wizard than a Prince, hearing this Ayami agreed.
"It's tolerable." Akemi placed a hand over her mouth as she tried to control bursting into laughs at Naru's disregarding gesture.
Ever since Akemi worked at the Psychic Research and learned Naru and Lin's favor on tea, she put her skills to the test and silently cheered her grandmother for having Akemi learn about tea and turning it into a hobby and tradition of theirs.
Akemi tried to control her smile, but it came out as giggles. "I'll get you a refill~"
And Akemi decided to leave it at that and took Naru's cup that he managed to finish in just a few minutes,
Naru didn't say anything else and Akemi left the room with a smile on her face.
~~~
ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ MAI ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ
"...That doll sure is spooky looking," Mai spoke up, trying to show her attendance at the atmosphere that her sempai left hanging, but on the back of her mind, Mai couldn't help but think of something more.
'Maybe I'm just imagining things...'
"Well dolls were originally made to contain spirits. They were hollow inside so spirits could easily possess them." Bou-san spoke up, lifting his hands for the back of his head to lean on but his gaze lightly stared at Naru and the monitor that showed the doll.
"Wow..." Mai let out, as she didn't know those were the conditions needed for a spirit and doll possession,
"So what are we gonna do?" Bou-san asked, and placed his weight on the back rest of Naru's chair.
'Eh? Naru...?'
Mai's attention turned to Naru's tensed posture as he stood up from his chair without answering Bou-san and leaned closer to the monitors, seeing his attentive gaze on the machine— Mai took a glimpse.
Mai felt her heart stopped a beat.
"...Minnie?! But— No way.... It was just sitting there a moment ago..." Mai stared at the screen with wide eyes as the doll that sat on the bed was now laying with its back turned to them, facing down the bed.
But that wasn't the end of it,
Mai clenched her hands near her chest with hitched breaths as the doll slowly moved as if it was being pulled out of the bed,
FLP! FLP!
it moved ever so slowly that it made Mai crazy with fear and waiting.
'Just do something already!' Mai hissed wanting this eerie feeling to fall,
As it neared the end of the bed, Minnie turned its head knocking itself off its body and fell off.
GOROO—!
Mai felt shivers ran up to her spine at the simple sound of something rolling on a wooden floor. It creeped her out even more as it was a doll head being controlled by something unnatural.
TAK!
and this was the last limit for Mai, as the doll stopped right in front of the camera, with it's eyes staring empty at them.
"KYAHHHH!" Mai screamed, clasping her hands on her ears, bending down the floor as if to hide herself.
Then the monitor for Ayami's room blacked.
"Ara? Did something happened?" Akemi stepped inside the base room just as Bou-san ran quickly outside,
"Akemi-sempai!!!!" Mai didn't even notice the monk leaving the room quickly as the high-schooler just ran with all her might and clung unto her sempai, almost knocking out the tray that has Naru's refill.
"-Eh—Ehh! Mai be careful..." Akemi furrowed her brows at Mai in worry as the girl clung unto her as if her life depended on it, Mai was shivering as she hugged Akemi's waist.
"...." Akemi frowned in concern at Mai's uncharacteristic gestures but Akemi wiped it off as quickly as she can and smiled like a gentle mother and patted Mai on the head. "There...there, Mai you shouldn't be afraid of these things— we have Naru and Lin with us, see?"
True to her words, Akemi gestured to the men inside the room who didn't pay the girls any attention, Akemi sweat dropped at them. 'How reassuring...' Akemi lazily chuckled at the 'men' in the room.
"We also have professionals in the house," Akemi pointed out. "-the more you are scared of these things.... The more it will haunt you, so wipe those tears— a lady shouldn't cry, because a Lady's tear is more precious than any jewel." Akemi smiled as she quoted her grandmother, but Mai couldn't help but notice how sad Akemi's smile is.
It reminded her of when Akemi taught her to be herself back before they came to this case.
And both were unaware of the lingering glance that Naru gave as he heard Akemi say her words. '-Those words...' Naru felt himself frown in his thoughts but it couldn't be and left it in the back of his head.
Naru would keep her words in mind but right now, there is a case that needs to be solved.
'A lady's tear is more precious than any jewel...' Naru thought deep as an image of a little girl crying fleeted his mind,