FICTION: Ghost Hunt, Only Sleeping
I've actually posted this up in FFNet last week, but I wasn't able to post it here (due to...laziness? Procrastination? I have no idea. D: ) soon after I uploaded it. So here you go. An update, after almost two years of non-update. Here's to hoping the writing inspiration would actually continue, damnit. And look, an actual summary which does not in anyway relate to the actual story as usual haha :D
TITLE: Only Sleeping
SUMMARY: What is the difference between sleeping and awake? What is the difference between knowing the future and jumping into the unknown? Naru must race against time to save Mai - and at the same time, find what it really means to live.
CHARACTERS: All
GENRE: Supernatural / Romance / Slight Adventure
TIMELINE: (as this continues where the manga left off, excluding Noll's return from England. In this story, he never returned. Madoka handles the SPR Japan branch instead of Noll.)
FFNET Chapters: one/two
Chapter Two: Ship of Fools
Music: Ship of Fools (Kajiura Yuki, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle)
Heavily Inspired by: X/1999 and various Clamp works
Naru watched as Ayako set up the equipment monitoring Mai's health, lost in thought. They were in the country, at one of SPR-owned homes, used only when investigators from other branches visit. The group ruled out Mai's apartment as it is too small for the equipment needed to monitor the still comatose young woman; not to mention it was too near to the city - too noisy and chaotic for someone who needed silence and tranquil surroundings.
It took them two hours of travel, but it was only when they were outside of the city that Naru felt absurdly safe.
It was a good thing that Lin and Hoshou already took the needed equipment from Ayako's house before they arrived; from the looks of things, the group would be there for a while. The two men left to fetch their other members - Lin to get Madoka from the office, Hoshou to get John and Masako from the airport. All were worried, most especially now that Naru himself came from England.
His phone suddenly buzzed, jerking the 22 year old from his musings. Glancing briefly at the screen, he answered. "Lin."
"I've got Madoka. We're heading back already."
"Alright. Put her on the line."
Mori Madoka's voice, unusually subdued, filled Naru's ear. "Naru."
"I assume you have the files?"
"Yes. All from the last two years; none for this year yet since Mai-chan took this year off to concentrate on her studies." Madoka paused, and Noll heard the flipping of paper. "I also took the laptop just in case, as well as the files where she assisted instead of being lead. Requests for her to take cases are already in my personal file."
Naru nodded, and then belatedly realized that Madoka couldn't see him. "Good. I have this feeling we'll need to see them."
"It looks like it. I'll see you later then. Here, I'll give the phone back to Lin."
A moment of silence; a rustle. Then: "Noll."
"What's your ETA?"
"We'll be there in an hour and a half, at most." Lin paused. "And Noll? SPR was being watched."
Naru's hand tightened on his phone momentarily, then relaxed. "Where you followed?"
"No."
"Good. We'll wait for you here, then. Be careful."
"We will."
Naru flipped his phone shut, grimly wondering what kind of cases Mai had taken to warrant SPR being watched, and Madoka being tailed. He had stopped monitoring her cases from England after several successful ones, confident that Madoka would be enough to safeguard the young, immature psychic. However, it would seem that in hindsight, Naru should have continued monitoring Mai's progress.
The scientist clenched his fist, a faint scowl lingering on his lips. If he had continued watching over her, then maybe, just maybe, things wouldn't have progressed this far.
"I really don't understand," Ayako murmured, breaking Naru's chain of thought. The doctor-miko was hunched over Mai, carefully sliding the IV needle into the young woman's wrist. "It's standard SPR procedure for a full medical four times a year, with a certified SPR-credited doctor - more so for a psychic investigator like Mai. In fact, it was recommended that she undergo medical after every case, most especially ones that takes toll over mind. Her last year's physicals did not indicate anything amiss; it was the same as the ones two years ago. For her to be like this now…"
Naru frowned. Perhaps he should've included Mai's physical examination files for Madoka to bring? Aloud, he asked, "How about her CT scans? EEGs? MEG?"
"All were normal - at least from what I remember." Ayako straightened, done with the IV. Sighing, the doctor removed her elastic gloves, balling them and throwing them into the trashcan. "I was the doctor assigned to her so I have all her files; I've asked Hoshou to get them for me from my house. We would've done MEG if only she was conscious; but her last EEG was yesterday. No results yet."
"I see." Thoughtfully, Naru took the medical chart Ayako held out, flipping through the pages. "The doctors can't find anything wrong?"
Ayako's shoulders slumped. "No. Nothing. Besides, the fact that Mai is the first dream-oriented psychic SPR Japan has means there are no tests specifically made for those with abilities like hers. Madoka-san said that even the Main Branch is monitoring her progress quite closely."
"It is to be expected. I've asked Madoka to get Mai's case files, and pick up Yasuhara along the way." The psychic murmured, putting the clipboard down. "Until we get those case files, we're walking in the dark."
And I don't like venturing into the unknown.
::::::::::::::::::::
Mori Madoka stretched, working out the kinks from her arms before dropping them back to her lap. Folders and binders were scattered on the table, her laptop radiating light unto her face. She yawned and turned her attention to the report before her.
Typed neatly in English, Taniyama Mai's report on one of her cases.
"Dealing with you Noll has surely sharpened Mai's English," the older woman commented lightly, skimming the paper. "She may not have your fluency in spoken English, but in written she certainly shines."
Said male merely grunted, blue eyes skimming through another case file. "She shouldn't be with SPR if she can't speak nor write English, Madoka. If you would remember, our Main Branch is in England."
"True."
Lin, who was working beside them, suddenly frowned. "Madoka."
"Hmn? What is it?"
Lin tapped a finger on one of the case file, brows furrowed. "This name keeps showing up on most of Mai's cases last year. Saiki Daisuke. Out of the 18 cases she took, 10 of them were requested by that person. The year before that, he requested her thrice, one after another."
"Ah. Saiki Daisuke-san?" Leaning back on her chair, the woman cast her eyes into the ceiling, lost in thought. Suddenly, her expression cleared. "Ah. Saiki-san. He is from a local shrine near the SPR office. More often than not, people with troubled cases come to him and he gives those cases to us. Yasuhara was the one who recommended us to him."
Naru's eyes narrowed and he leaned forward towards Madoka unconsciously. "And you did not realize that this Saiki Daisuke requested Mai for most of those cases?"
"Actually, Mai was only requested by Saiki-san five times - 3 times two years ago, twice last year, if I remember correctly." Madoka sighed and ran a restless hand through her hair. "Most of the times Mai was taken to a case usually because she was requested specifically by the team lead - you'd agree that cases finish faster if she was involved. It was also the Main Branch's directive that she be involved more in cases as the data she usually brings back are of top quality."
"It may be just coincidence, Noll." Lin commented, drawing the scientist's attention. "Certainly people would feel better about consulting a shrine rather than be seen going to SPR."
Naru sent the onmyouji a disbelieving glance, but leaned back on his chair again, conceding. "It maybe coincidence, but it's the only pattern we have right now. The only lead."
"No, Noll." Madoka murmured thoughtfully. "Saiki-san's not the only lead we have."
The scientist cocked an eyebrow.
Madoka raised an eyebrow in return. "We have you. Out of all of us, you are the only one that Mai was able to contact, however briefly, through the dreamscape. Even with her body here in Japan, and you in England, she was able to establish contact with you. There might be a chance for you to encounter her again - "
"If I sleep." Naru interrupted, rubbing a weary hand over his face. "However, dreams are not my forte, Madoka. My shields -"
"If Mai was able to walk -as she called it - into your dream, your psychic shields might've been allowing her access. " Madoka waved a careless hand. "Even with that kind of reasoning, Mai is a powerful dream psychic - the only one we have. Your shields would probably be child's play to her. After all, the dreamscape is her playground, her world."
The younger psychic sighed in resignation. It rankled that Madoka called his shields child's play for Mai, but what she did say was correct - when it comes to dreams, there was no one as powerful as Mai.
Even untrained, she was able to channel dreams and help in cases no amateur should have been able to.
"Alright. I'll try that avenue. Lin - the moment Yasuhara returns, question him about Saiki." Naru ordered as he gathered the case files and stood up. "Madoka, we need you and Ayako to figure out what is Mai's focus. We need it to get Mai back. For the meantime I'll relieve Ayako from watching over Mai."
Madoka smiled and flashed him a victory sign. "Will do. And once you sleep - "
"If I sleep, and was able to contact Mai," Naru interrupted firmly, "I'll let you know."
::::::::::::::::::::
She was just so tired. So tired of running - of escaping. Was there no end to this?
Various images of events distorted around her, people's faces flashing though her mind as she ran. Shaking her head, she closed her eyes, tears sliding down her face. Weak, she stumbled and fell, skirts of white floating down in tangled disarray over tired feet. Raggedly drawing in air, the young woman buried her face in her arms.
All she wanted was peace. A respite from seeing things that she never wanted to see, dreams that she never wanted know. Why was this happening? Why were they after her?
She had trusted, and now she was betrayed. She gave, and still they took. But she will be strong. They will come, and she will be saved. He will find her, and she will come home.
Home.
Scrubbing her fist angrily through her cheeks, the young woman stood up. Shakily, the young woman righted herself, just in time to see dark tendrils reaching towards her, intent on having her during her brief moment of weakness. Eyes narrowing, light gathered in front of her - a barrier that crackled with energy, shielding her from harm.
"You will not have me," she murmured, stance defiant. Behind her, the space distorted, will o' wisps materializing to open another portal. Another dream. "I will die before you ever have me."
Howling, the black tendrils of energy hardened until they resembled jagged lances and blurred forward, intent on catching the young woman before she escaped, yet again. But just like before, they closed around an empty space; the young woman had let herself fall into the opened portal and closing it behind her.
An inhuman shriek ripped through the air, and the dark hands vanished.
Gasping for air, the young woman fell to her knees, sweat trickling down her face. She had done it - she had escaped, again to another dreamscape. Well-trained she may be, but this was taking toll on her reservoir. Jumping and walking through others' dreams, seeing the past, the present, the future without her consent - it was slowly draining her of her energy, her gift spiraling out of control.
Pain suddenly lanced through her and the young woman gagged dryly, dissolving into heaving coughs that wracked her petite frame. Wiping her mouth with the back of a trembling hand, she slowly stood. She has to keep moving forward. She was able to find him and his dreamscape before, and she can do it again.
Taniyama Mai took a jerky step forward. "Naru…"
Author's Notes: Writing this was a bit enjoyable, although I must admit I only had a vague idea of where I wanted it to go to. This one focuses only on Madoka, Lin, Naru and lastly, Mai. Others will come later as soon as I get their characters right - I even have this sneaking suspicion that I got Noll out of character a wee bit... Hopefully just a little bit. Unbeta'ed as I just want to keep going as fast as I have the words inside my head.
Some terms that needs to be explained:
EEG: Electroencephalography, the recording of electrical activity along the scalp. EEG refers to the recording of the brain's spontaneous electrical activity over a short period of time (over 20-40 minutes). It's mainly used for those with epilepsy, to differentiate "organic" encephalopathy or delirium from primary psychiatric syndromes such as catatonia, to serve as another test of brain death. More information to be found in Wikipedia, of course. They're also used quite extensively in neuroscience, cognitive science, cognitive psychology, and psychophysiological research.
MEG: Magnetoencephalography s a technique for mapping brain activity by recording magnetic fields produced by electrical currents occurring naturally in the brain, using arrays of SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference devices). Applications of MEG include basic research into perceptual and cognitive brain processes, localizing regions affected by pathology before surgical removal, determining the function of various parts of the brain, and neurofeedback. For the purpose of this story, let's say it is also being used by SPR as one of the standardized psychic tests. For further information, research at Wikipedia.
TITLE: Only Sleeping
SUMMARY: What is the difference between sleeping and awake? What is the difference between knowing the future and jumping into the unknown? Naru must race against time to save Mai - and at the same time, find what it really means to live.
CHARACTERS: All
GENRE: Supernatural / Romance / Slight Adventure
TIMELINE: (as this continues where the manga left off, excluding Noll's return from England. In this story, he never returned. Madoka handles the SPR Japan branch instead of Noll.)
FFNET Chapters: one/two
Chapter Two: Ship of Fools
Music: Ship of Fools (Kajiura Yuki, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle)
Heavily Inspired by: X/1999 and various Clamp works
Naru watched as Ayako set up the equipment monitoring Mai's health, lost in thought. They were in the country, at one of SPR-owned homes, used only when investigators from other branches visit. The group ruled out Mai's apartment as it is too small for the equipment needed to monitor the still comatose young woman; not to mention it was too near to the city - too noisy and chaotic for someone who needed silence and tranquil surroundings.
It took them two hours of travel, but it was only when they were outside of the city that Naru felt absurdly safe.
It was a good thing that Lin and Hoshou already took the needed equipment from Ayako's house before they arrived; from the looks of things, the group would be there for a while. The two men left to fetch their other members - Lin to get Madoka from the office, Hoshou to get John and Masako from the airport. All were worried, most especially now that Naru himself came from England.
His phone suddenly buzzed, jerking the 22 year old from his musings. Glancing briefly at the screen, he answered. "Lin."
"I've got Madoka. We're heading back already."
"Alright. Put her on the line."
Mori Madoka's voice, unusually subdued, filled Naru's ear. "Naru."
"I assume you have the files?"
"Yes. All from the last two years; none for this year yet since Mai-chan took this year off to concentrate on her studies." Madoka paused, and Noll heard the flipping of paper. "I also took the laptop just in case, as well as the files where she assisted instead of being lead. Requests for her to take cases are already in my personal file."
Naru nodded, and then belatedly realized that Madoka couldn't see him. "Good. I have this feeling we'll need to see them."
"It looks like it. I'll see you later then. Here, I'll give the phone back to Lin."
A moment of silence; a rustle. Then: "Noll."
"What's your ETA?"
"We'll be there in an hour and a half, at most." Lin paused. "And Noll? SPR was being watched."
Naru's hand tightened on his phone momentarily, then relaxed. "Where you followed?"
"No."
"Good. We'll wait for you here, then. Be careful."
"We will."
Naru flipped his phone shut, grimly wondering what kind of cases Mai had taken to warrant SPR being watched, and Madoka being tailed. He had stopped monitoring her cases from England after several successful ones, confident that Madoka would be enough to safeguard the young, immature psychic. However, it would seem that in hindsight, Naru should have continued monitoring Mai's progress.
The scientist clenched his fist, a faint scowl lingering on his lips. If he had continued watching over her, then maybe, just maybe, things wouldn't have progressed this far.
"I really don't understand," Ayako murmured, breaking Naru's chain of thought. The doctor-miko was hunched over Mai, carefully sliding the IV needle into the young woman's wrist. "It's standard SPR procedure for a full medical four times a year, with a certified SPR-credited doctor - more so for a psychic investigator like Mai. In fact, it was recommended that she undergo medical after every case, most especially ones that takes toll over mind. Her last year's physicals did not indicate anything amiss; it was the same as the ones two years ago. For her to be like this now…"
Naru frowned. Perhaps he should've included Mai's physical examination files for Madoka to bring? Aloud, he asked, "How about her CT scans? EEGs? MEG?"
"All were normal - at least from what I remember." Ayako straightened, done with the IV. Sighing, the doctor removed her elastic gloves, balling them and throwing them into the trashcan. "I was the doctor assigned to her so I have all her files; I've asked Hoshou to get them for me from my house. We would've done MEG if only she was conscious; but her last EEG was yesterday. No results yet."
"I see." Thoughtfully, Naru took the medical chart Ayako held out, flipping through the pages. "The doctors can't find anything wrong?"
Ayako's shoulders slumped. "No. Nothing. Besides, the fact that Mai is the first dream-oriented psychic SPR Japan has means there are no tests specifically made for those with abilities like hers. Madoka-san said that even the Main Branch is monitoring her progress quite closely."
"It is to be expected. I've asked Madoka to get Mai's case files, and pick up Yasuhara along the way." The psychic murmured, putting the clipboard down. "Until we get those case files, we're walking in the dark."
And I don't like venturing into the unknown.
::::::::::::::::::::
Mori Madoka stretched, working out the kinks from her arms before dropping them back to her lap. Folders and binders were scattered on the table, her laptop radiating light unto her face. She yawned and turned her attention to the report before her.
Typed neatly in English, Taniyama Mai's report on one of her cases.
"Dealing with you Noll has surely sharpened Mai's English," the older woman commented lightly, skimming the paper. "She may not have your fluency in spoken English, but in written she certainly shines."
Said male merely grunted, blue eyes skimming through another case file. "She shouldn't be with SPR if she can't speak nor write English, Madoka. If you would remember, our Main Branch is in England."
"True."
Lin, who was working beside them, suddenly frowned. "Madoka."
"Hmn? What is it?"
Lin tapped a finger on one of the case file, brows furrowed. "This name keeps showing up on most of Mai's cases last year. Saiki Daisuke. Out of the 18 cases she took, 10 of them were requested by that person. The year before that, he requested her thrice, one after another."
"Ah. Saiki Daisuke-san?" Leaning back on her chair, the woman cast her eyes into the ceiling, lost in thought. Suddenly, her expression cleared. "Ah. Saiki-san. He is from a local shrine near the SPR office. More often than not, people with troubled cases come to him and he gives those cases to us. Yasuhara was the one who recommended us to him."
Naru's eyes narrowed and he leaned forward towards Madoka unconsciously. "And you did not realize that this Saiki Daisuke requested Mai for most of those cases?"
"Actually, Mai was only requested by Saiki-san five times - 3 times two years ago, twice last year, if I remember correctly." Madoka sighed and ran a restless hand through her hair. "Most of the times Mai was taken to a case usually because she was requested specifically by the team lead - you'd agree that cases finish faster if she was involved. It was also the Main Branch's directive that she be involved more in cases as the data she usually brings back are of top quality."
"It may be just coincidence, Noll." Lin commented, drawing the scientist's attention. "Certainly people would feel better about consulting a shrine rather than be seen going to SPR."
Naru sent the onmyouji a disbelieving glance, but leaned back on his chair again, conceding. "It maybe coincidence, but it's the only pattern we have right now. The only lead."
"No, Noll." Madoka murmured thoughtfully. "Saiki-san's not the only lead we have."
The scientist cocked an eyebrow.
Madoka raised an eyebrow in return. "We have you. Out of all of us, you are the only one that Mai was able to contact, however briefly, through the dreamscape. Even with her body here in Japan, and you in England, she was able to establish contact with you. There might be a chance for you to encounter her again - "
"If I sleep." Naru interrupted, rubbing a weary hand over his face. "However, dreams are not my forte, Madoka. My shields -"
"If Mai was able to walk -as she called it - into your dream, your psychic shields might've been allowing her access. " Madoka waved a careless hand. "Even with that kind of reasoning, Mai is a powerful dream psychic - the only one we have. Your shields would probably be child's play to her. After all, the dreamscape is her playground, her world."
The younger psychic sighed in resignation. It rankled that Madoka called his shields child's play for Mai, but what she did say was correct - when it comes to dreams, there was no one as powerful as Mai.
Even untrained, she was able to channel dreams and help in cases no amateur should have been able to.
"Alright. I'll try that avenue. Lin - the moment Yasuhara returns, question him about Saiki." Naru ordered as he gathered the case files and stood up. "Madoka, we need you and Ayako to figure out what is Mai's focus. We need it to get Mai back. For the meantime I'll relieve Ayako from watching over Mai."
Madoka smiled and flashed him a victory sign. "Will do. And once you sleep - "
"If I sleep, and was able to contact Mai," Naru interrupted firmly, "I'll let you know."
::::::::::::::::::::
She was just so tired. So tired of running - of escaping. Was there no end to this?
Various images of events distorted around her, people's faces flashing though her mind as she ran. Shaking her head, she closed her eyes, tears sliding down her face. Weak, she stumbled and fell, skirts of white floating down in tangled disarray over tired feet. Raggedly drawing in air, the young woman buried her face in her arms.
All she wanted was peace. A respite from seeing things that she never wanted to see, dreams that she never wanted know. Why was this happening? Why were they after her?
She had trusted, and now she was betrayed. She gave, and still they took. But she will be strong. They will come, and she will be saved. He will find her, and she will come home.
Home.
Scrubbing her fist angrily through her cheeks, the young woman stood up. Shakily, the young woman righted herself, just in time to see dark tendrils reaching towards her, intent on having her during her brief moment of weakness. Eyes narrowing, light gathered in front of her - a barrier that crackled with energy, shielding her from harm.
"You will not have me," she murmured, stance defiant. Behind her, the space distorted, will o' wisps materializing to open another portal. Another dream. "I will die before you ever have me."
Howling, the black tendrils of energy hardened until they resembled jagged lances and blurred forward, intent on catching the young woman before she escaped, yet again. But just like before, they closed around an empty space; the young woman had let herself fall into the opened portal and closing it behind her.
An inhuman shriek ripped through the air, and the dark hands vanished.
Gasping for air, the young woman fell to her knees, sweat trickling down her face. She had done it - she had escaped, again to another dreamscape. Well-trained she may be, but this was taking toll on her reservoir. Jumping and walking through others' dreams, seeing the past, the present, the future without her consent - it was slowly draining her of her energy, her gift spiraling out of control.
Pain suddenly lanced through her and the young woman gagged dryly, dissolving into heaving coughs that wracked her petite frame. Wiping her mouth with the back of a trembling hand, she slowly stood. She has to keep moving forward. She was able to find him and his dreamscape before, and she can do it again.
Taniyama Mai took a jerky step forward. "Naru…"
Author's Notes: Writing this was a bit enjoyable, although I must admit I only had a vague idea of where I wanted it to go to. This one focuses only on Madoka, Lin, Naru and lastly, Mai. Others will come later as soon as I get their characters right - I even have this sneaking suspicion that I got Noll out of character a wee bit... Hopefully just a little bit. Unbeta'ed as I just want to keep going as fast as I have the words inside my head.
Some terms that needs to be explained:
EEG: Electroencephalography, the recording of electrical activity along the scalp. EEG refers to the recording of the brain's spontaneous electrical activity over a short period of time (over 20-40 minutes). It's mainly used for those with epilepsy, to differentiate "organic" encephalopathy or delirium from primary psychiatric syndromes such as catatonia, to serve as another test of brain death. More information to be found in Wikipedia, of course. They're also used quite extensively in neuroscience, cognitive science, cognitive psychology, and psychophysiological research.
MEG: Magnetoencephalography s a technique for mapping brain activity by recording magnetic fields produced by electrical currents occurring naturally in the brain, using arrays of SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference devices). Applications of MEG include basic research into perceptual and cognitive brain processes, localizing regions affected by pathology before surgical removal, determining the function of various parts of the brain, and neurofeedback. For the purpose of this story, let's say it is also being used by SPR as one of the standardized psychic tests. For further information, research at Wikipedia.