FICTION: Ghost Hunt, Only Sleeping
Partial chapter four. I can't seem to help myself; I've already posted chapter three up in FF.Net. I think I'll have to fix the ages since this is a mix of anime series + manga series; those cases happened in a span of a year and half. So to round it off, the ages should be age+2 years+5 years (so, in Mai's case, she'll be 23, and Noll, 24). It's just a minor thing, but it puts me off quite a bit. Also, who knew researching for diplomatic mission/sovereignty in a foreign land can be so tedious? Certainly not me.
TITLE: Only SleepingSUMMARY: 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
FF.NET Chapters: one / two / three / four
x x x x x x
“So Older Brother mentioned the Sea of Tears?” Houshou frowned and laid down his chopsticks. Suddenly, he didn't feel like eating. “This is bad; and we only have three days left.”
“Just what is the Sea of Tears?” Yasuhara carefully asked, looking up from his box of orange chicken. “I've researched online and offline about it, but I never saw any reference indicating what or where is it.”
Hara Masako lifted a kimono-clad sleeve, hiding her pursed lips. They have arrived an hour ago, driven by the monk and had immediately rushed to Mai's room - only to see Naru hunched over an open case file, asleep.
It only became obvious that it wasn't an ordinary sleep when the scientist jerked awake, eyes wild and Mai's name falling from his lips. It would have been hilarious if only the matter at hand wasn't so grave.
By silent agreement, Father John Brown had taken over watching the sleeping Mai. At this point, all information that they need to go over was with Naru - their only link to Mai.
How quickly circumstances change, Masako decided. Once, it was Mai that they depended upon for clues when she dreamt; for answers to questions that burned in their minds. Now it was strangely apt that when the tables turned, it was Naru who took Mai's place.
Absurd, but there it was.
Stifling a sigh, the medium lowered her sleeve, glancing at the scientist at the corner of her eye. Of course, it hurt that even after five years, just the mere whisper of Mai in danger was enough for Oliver Davis to go back to Japan.
Maybe it was time to concede defeat, after all.
“...Sea of Tears, Masako-san? Masako-san?”
Yasuhara's voice filtered through her thoughts, and the medium jerked back to the present. Berating herself for inattention, Masako lifted blue eyes to the researcher, cocking a graceful eyebrow in silent inquiry.
“I was asking if you'd encountered anyone mentioning The Sea of Tears?” Glasses gleamed in the artificial light as Yasuhara shifted. “Bou-san, that cheater, doesn't seem inclined to enlighten us.”
“O-oi! I never said that!” came the monk's offended voice. Then, with a heavy sigh, Houshou conceded. “I just... I didn't think that someone would mention it here. A name so obscure...”
Finally, Naru spoke, dark blue eyes intent. “Then?”
“I first heard that name when I was still in Mt. Koya,” Houshou narrated, absentmindedly patting Ayako's hand when she touched him in the shoulder in concern. “I was still in training, then; studying about the different spiritual planes in this world. One of my masters guided me to a Spirit Walk to better understand it.”
Houshou propped a chin on his fist, lost in memories. “After that, Sensei warned me: never to set foot in The Sea of Tears. It is a plane where all the sinners go after their death; forever experiencing torment. Never attaining peace, nor atonement. Neither will their souls be reincarnated.”
“Eternus purgatorium,” Madoka murmured, glancing at the scientist. “And Noll, you said that if Mai's spirit does not return to her physical body after seven days - “
“She shall be forever bound to that place,” Naru continued grimly. “That is, if whoever was after her doesn't get Mai first.”
“Noll. Someone is after her?” Lin steepled his fingers. “That would explain why someone was watching JSPR Office, and why our van was tailed.”
Naru nodded curtly. “I asked Mai if she knew who wanted to take her; she said she doesn't know. What she did say was that while she is sure it was not Saiki Daisuke, it might be someone he knows - or someone from his family.”
“It cannot be someone from his family, Naru.” Masako interrupted, lifting a sleeve to hide frowning lips. “Saiki-kun is a very distant relative; he is an orphan, just like Mai. His last remaining family is his uncle, who is a teacher - but the last time Saiki-kun and I talked, he said his uncle is in Okinawa, for a three-month long teacher's training.”
“We need to figure out Mai-chan's focus, it's our best bet on getting her out of the dreamscape,” Ayako decided, squeezing her husband's shoulder before letting go. “Did you ask Mai?”
Naru rubbed a weary hand over his face. “I tried. She wouldn't tell me. She said that if I don't figure it out on my own, it will never work.”
“That's true. It is, after all, the key to her soul.” Madoka murmured. “Did she say anything else? A hint?”
“Home is where the heart is.” Naru recited solemnly. “That's all that she could tell me before she shoved me out of the dreamscape.”
Masako snorted. “Trust Mai to leave such a vague clue. Really, that girl..”
“It makes sense, actually.” Yasuhara finally spoke up, adjusting his glasses. “Mai's way home can only be where her heart is. And her heart will always lay with her - “
“Family,” Ayako breathed in delighted discovery. “Of course, why didn't I think of this before? Of all the things that Mai treasures the most, it's family!”
“Hara-san, do you remember the Urado case?” Lin suddenly spoke, startling the medium. “You said that Mai-san came to you and assured you everything will go well.”
The medium nodded curtly, long black hair swaying with the movement. “She gave me her...old house key...”
Well, posting it here as I will be continuing it later. Who knew I'd actually progress beyond chapter 3? It boggles the mind, really.
TITLE: Only SleepingSUMMARY: 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
FF.NET Chapters: one / two / three / four
x x x x x x
“So Older Brother mentioned the Sea of Tears?” Houshou frowned and laid down his chopsticks. Suddenly, he didn't feel like eating. “This is bad; and we only have three days left.”
“Just what is the Sea of Tears?” Yasuhara carefully asked, looking up from his box of orange chicken. “I've researched online and offline about it, but I never saw any reference indicating what or where is it.”
Hara Masako lifted a kimono-clad sleeve, hiding her pursed lips. They have arrived an hour ago, driven by the monk and had immediately rushed to Mai's room - only to see Naru hunched over an open case file, asleep.
It only became obvious that it wasn't an ordinary sleep when the scientist jerked awake, eyes wild and Mai's name falling from his lips. It would have been hilarious if only the matter at hand wasn't so grave.
By silent agreement, Father John Brown had taken over watching the sleeping Mai. At this point, all information that they need to go over was with Naru - their only link to Mai.
How quickly circumstances change, Masako decided. Once, it was Mai that they depended upon for clues when she dreamt; for answers to questions that burned in their minds. Now it was strangely apt that when the tables turned, it was Naru who took Mai's place.
Absurd, but there it was.
Stifling a sigh, the medium lowered her sleeve, glancing at the scientist at the corner of her eye. Of course, it hurt that even after five years, just the mere whisper of Mai in danger was enough for Oliver Davis to go back to Japan.
Maybe it was time to concede defeat, after all.
“...Sea of Tears, Masako-san? Masako-san?”
Yasuhara's voice filtered through her thoughts, and the medium jerked back to the present. Berating herself for inattention, Masako lifted blue eyes to the researcher, cocking a graceful eyebrow in silent inquiry.
“I was asking if you'd encountered anyone mentioning The Sea of Tears?” Glasses gleamed in the artificial light as Yasuhara shifted. “Bou-san, that cheater, doesn't seem inclined to enlighten us.”
“O-oi! I never said that!” came the monk's offended voice. Then, with a heavy sigh, Houshou conceded. “I just... I didn't think that someone would mention it here. A name so obscure...”
Finally, Naru spoke, dark blue eyes intent. “Then?”
“I first heard that name when I was still in Mt. Koya,” Houshou narrated, absentmindedly patting Ayako's hand when she touched him in the shoulder in concern. “I was still in training, then; studying about the different spiritual planes in this world. One of my masters guided me to a Spirit Walk to better understand it.”
Houshou propped a chin on his fist, lost in memories. “After that, Sensei warned me: never to set foot in The Sea of Tears. It is a plane where all the sinners go after their death; forever experiencing torment. Never attaining peace, nor atonement. Neither will their souls be reincarnated.”
“Eternus purgatorium,” Madoka murmured, glancing at the scientist. “And Noll, you said that if Mai's spirit does not return to her physical body after seven days - “
“She shall be forever bound to that place,” Naru continued grimly. “That is, if whoever was after her doesn't get Mai first.”
“Noll. Someone is after her?” Lin steepled his fingers. “That would explain why someone was watching JSPR Office, and why our van was tailed.”
Naru nodded curtly. “I asked Mai if she knew who wanted to take her; she said she doesn't know. What she did say was that while she is sure it was not Saiki Daisuke, it might be someone he knows - or someone from his family.”
“It cannot be someone from his family, Naru.” Masako interrupted, lifting a sleeve to hide frowning lips. “Saiki-kun is a very distant relative; he is an orphan, just like Mai. His last remaining family is his uncle, who is a teacher - but the last time Saiki-kun and I talked, he said his uncle is in Okinawa, for a three-month long teacher's training.”
“We need to figure out Mai-chan's focus, it's our best bet on getting her out of the dreamscape,” Ayako decided, squeezing her husband's shoulder before letting go. “Did you ask Mai?”
Naru rubbed a weary hand over his face. “I tried. She wouldn't tell me. She said that if I don't figure it out on my own, it will never work.”
“That's true. It is, after all, the key to her soul.” Madoka murmured. “Did she say anything else? A hint?”
“Home is where the heart is.” Naru recited solemnly. “That's all that she could tell me before she shoved me out of the dreamscape.”
Masako snorted. “Trust Mai to leave such a vague clue. Really, that girl..”
“It makes sense, actually.” Yasuhara finally spoke up, adjusting his glasses. “Mai's way home can only be where her heart is. And her heart will always lay with her - “
“Family,” Ayako breathed in delighted discovery. “Of course, why didn't I think of this before? Of all the things that Mai treasures the most, it's family!”
“Hara-san, do you remember the Urado case?” Lin suddenly spoke, startling the medium. “You said that Mai-san came to you and assured you everything will go well.”
The medium nodded curtly, long black hair swaying with the movement. “She gave me her...old house key...”
Well, posting it here as I will be continuing it later. Who knew I'd actually progress beyond chapter 3? It boggles the mind, really.