Series on Display: Ghost Doll and Factory

[noizchild]

Chapter Three: Whoops:

March 11th, 1983.

Kato found himself woken up in the middle of the night by someone pounding at his front door. The older man walked down the hall, mumbling in aggravation.

“Hold your damn horses!” Kato yelled. “I’m coming! I’m coming!” He made it to the front door and slid it open. An eighteen year old boy stood in the rain looking inside. He looked like a high school senior. His blackish brown spiky hair had been neatly cut to his collar. The boy still had on his school uniform. In his arms he held a spelling little ten-day-old baby. This boy held an umbrella over the both of them. Kato looked at him with bags under his eyes.


“What do you want?” he mumbled half-asleep.

“Please sir!” his guest pleaded, “My daughter and I need a place to stay for the night! Can you put us up?” Kato stared on half out of it. His eyes turned to the baby. She looked so little and cute with her pink cheeks. The baby slept peacefully wrapped up in her little yellow and white blanket. Just seeing her stirred something in Kato’s frozen heart. The boy reached into his pocket and pulled out a fist-full of yen.

“Here,” he said, “I’ve got the money!” Kato looked on in silence as he kept his eyes on the baby.

May 8th, 2009.

Anna awoke the next morning to two big surprises. The first one stared her right in the face. The woman found her red backpack sitting before her. A note had been taped to it. Anna took it and read it. “You left this!” was all it said. She looked at the note front and back. No name at all. Anna looked at her backpack again. Something seemed off here. How did her backpack get all the way out here? Who brought it here and why? Anna began to think it was possibly a trap. She definitely decided to check.

A sound outside Daisuke’s office distracted her thoughts. She heard footsteps, not to be mistaken. Anna crept over to the door and peeked out crack she opened. A man stood at the foot of the hall talking to a woman. Judging by his fancy suit and clipboard, he was a real estate agent.

Kimoto Manor is being sold?, she thought. Oh, this just took many steps backwards. Anna noticed the realtor and the woman walking closer.

Oh crap!, she thought. The woman knew that she had to make herself scarce or she would get caught. She used her memory of Daisuke’s office to hide.

Come on, Anna thought, Think genius, you practically spend years studying papa’s office! Try to remember everything! The answer came to her right after that train of thought.

Of course, she thought. Anna walked across the room to the wall. She felt along the walls for the hidden sliding door. This was where she hid to spy on Daisuke when she was a kid. The woman found, slid open the “secret closet” as she called it, and slipped inside with her backpack in hand.

Outside in the hall, the realtor showed a young woman and her little daughter around the Manor. For a whole decade, Eastern Noel had been trying sale this manor. Due to the stigma attached to it however, there had been no takers. Everyone believed Daisuke’s death cursed the Manor with the Eda-Kimoto legacy. The realtor became obsessed with selling the property. He had to jump through many hoops to do it. His cleaner girlfriend would really want sex and a ring after this last attempt. He called her in the wee hours just to scrub out the leftover blood in the tatami mats one more time. She really wasn’t happy about that.

“You can’t even get anyone to come out and look at the property!” she nagged him. Her boyfriend refused to give up. This woman and her daughter were his last chance. The realtor took the girls to Daisuke’s office. He slid open the door.

“And here,” he said, “Is something like an office area.” The mother and daughter looked around. Their realtor waited as he fought to keep up the cheerful look on his face.

“Pretty nice, huh?” he asked. Anna waited as the man went on describing Daisuke’s old office. She couldn’t see the people.

Don’t buy the house! Don’t buy the house! Don’t buy the house!, the woman thought over and over again. The realtor walked over to Anna’s wall.

“Oh, check out these walls!” he boomed. “They don’t make them like this anymore!” Anna began to panic.

Don’t open the door! Don’t open the door!, she pleaded in her mind. Instead, the realtor knocked the door. A low hollow sounded echoed in the room. The realtor smiled at his potential clients impressed.

“Shall we go on?” he asked. Anna breathed out as the people left the room. The Kimoto Manor was really for sell. Anna lowered her head in stress. She hadn’t expected this at all.

The realtor took mother and daughter back to the front door. He smiled as the nervous cracks in his cheerful mask began to show.

“So,” he said. “What do you think? Is the house to your liking?” The little girl’s eyes lit up.

“Yeah!” she cheered. The realtor relaxed behind his upbeat exterior. There was one yes there, now for the young mother. She frowned at him sternly. The realtor fought to keep his nerves intact.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. The mother looked at him sharply.

“Pretty good,” she said, “But… something keeps bugging me about this house.” The realtor’s confident poker face began chipping away.

“What is it?” he asked. The young mother narrowed her dark brown eyes at the realtor behind her silver-framed glasses.

“I know Japan’s economy is bad right now,” she pointed out, “But it’s almost impossible for a house as big as this to be sold at such a low price like it is. Okay, what’s the deal? Leaky pipes? Hidden damages? Terminates?” The realtor began to sweat.

Oh no!, he thought, I’m going to lose this deal! The mother an icy look flashed in her eyes.

“Come on,” she insisted, “Tell me the truth. If I stuck with a money pit, I will sue the shit out of you and your company!”

“Mom, calm down!” her daughter yelled as she tugged on her blue jeans. The woman calmed down and went silent. The realtor swallowed hard and dropped his shoulders. No way out now; it was time to tell the truth.

“Okay,” he confessed, “Ten years ago, the previous owner was murdered on Halloween night. Rumor has it that his own family, the Eda-Kimoto clan, killed him as a blood sacrifice. Some believe that this house is cursed because of that.” The mother raised an eyebrow at him.

“That all?” she asked.

“Yes!” the realtor yelped. Silence passed before the young mother’s eyes lit up brightly.

“That is so cool!” she cried. “I’ll take it!” The realtor looked at her surprised and puzzled.

“R-Really?” he asked with big eyes. The woman grabbed him by the hands.

“Of course!” she shouted. “I love the paranormal! This house will be perfect!” The realtor stared at her at first, but then he gave her a real smile.

“Done!” the realtor said. “The house is yours!” They bowed after the woman let go of him. The realtor felt like flying. He finally managed to sell Kimoto manor after all. Good news for him, but bad news for Anna.

Anna wasn’t the one with problems. Tsuzuki realized that he was screwed. He ended up chewed out by Konoe for yesterday’s turn of events. Not only did he bring Anna back from the dead, but he used a Hell Stone to do it.

“Ju-Oh-Cho’s duty is to bring the souls to Meifu and make sure they stay dead!” Konoe yelled. “Kimoto-san is supposed to be here, not back in Chijou! What were you thinking?!?” Tsuzuki lowered his head.

“I was talked into it,” Tsuzuki said with a nervous chuckle. The rage in Konoe’s eyes began to flare.

“And how did you manage that one?” he asked. Tsuzuki bit his lower lip.

“It’s kind of a difficult story…” he mumbled. Hisoka frowned and rolled his eyes.

Idiot, he thought, I should’ve come with you. The boy knew something like this would happen. Konoe frowned at them both.

“The worst part is you used a Hell Stone!” he barked. “How the hell did you come across one of those?!?”

“Well there was a man there who claimed that he was a friend to the friend,” Tsuzuki did his best to explain, “He offered it to me as a way to get her to help out with the case.” Konoe and Hisoka turned their attention to him. The chief narrowed his eyes at the oldest Shinigami before him.

“Does this man know anything about you or this investigation?” Konoe asked in a sharp tone. Tsuzuki shook his head as he shrugged.

“He didn’t say, but I figured now that she’s alive again,” he said in a pinch, “We could use her to help us out in some way even if she doesn’t know who killed her.” Konoe raised an eyebrow at him.

“And how do you plan to do that?” he asked. Tsuzuki froze as he ran out of options to save himself serve discipline. Konoe frowned at him.

“I will go to Enma-Daioh to deal with you and her later,” he warned. Now, Tsuzuki was stuck guarding her as punishment for the time being. Was it really worth all of that?

Damn it!, Tsuzuki thought as he ate his apple pie. Why did this case have to get so hard? This was all Kato’s fault! No, this was all Kato and Tsuzuki’s own fault. The Shinigami got distracted by her greenish-brown eyes that he hadn’t seen in so long.

Suddenly, Tsuzuki noticed someone sitting next to him in the café. He slowly looked up and saw none other than Kato sitting next to him. He seemed to be smirking to himself about something he found rather amusing. Tsuzuki glared at him crossly.

That bastard!, he thought. He put me in this mess! Damn him!

“Good afternoon!” the barista greeted him, “How may I help you?”

“Yes,” Kato said, “I would like an order of freshly made green tea rare cheesecake to go, please, darling.” The barista’s cheeks turned a light shade of pink.

“O-Of course, sir!” she stammered out. The young barista got to work right away and gave the cooks the order. Kato smiled to himself.

Such an easy cute doll!, he thought. The man turned to his left and saw Tsuzuki glaring at him still. Iwao smiled at him.

“Well hello Tsuzuki-san!” he greeted the Shinigami, “So nice to see you again!” Tsuzuki became serious and bitter.

“You bastard!” his hissed under his breath, “You nearly got me fired!” Kato smiled as he completely turned around to his “friend.”

“What’s a little conflict between bringing back someone dear to you?” he asked. “Beauty and love come with a little pain. You’ll forget that your boss was even angry with you about Anna-chan!”

“Little conflict?!?” Tsuzuki yelled with a red face, “Who the hell are you and why do you care so much about Kimoto-san?” Kato smiled at him as he put up his hand to calm down the Shinigami.

“Twenty-six years ago,” he said, “An eighteen year old boy came to my door late one rainy night. He had a ten day old baby in his arms. This boy asked me if I would put him and his daughter up for the night. He even tried to pay me for lodging-probably about two months worth of his paychecks.

“I looked at that little baby after he asked this of me. I couldn’t really explain it myself at the time, but I felt great pity for her. So, I told the baby’s father to keep his money and he could stay as long as he liked.” Tsuzuki looked at him oddly.

“I don’t get it,” he said. “Why are you telling me this?” Kato had a dreamy look in his eyes as he shrugged at him.

“That boy was the father of the woman that you resurrected,” he answered. Tsuzuki’s eyes grew big in surprise. Kato’s lips curved into a catlike at him.

“Surprised?” he asked. “It is the truth, after all.” The Shinigami sat there with all words lost to him. The barista returned with the older man’s cheesecake. Kato gave her a charming, flirtatious smile.

“Thanks, darling!” he said. The man took his boxed-up cake and gave her a huge amount of money.

“This is for me and my friend here,” he said, pointing at Tsuzuki. Both barista and Shinigami looked up at him with big, surprised eyes.

“S-Sure!” the barista exclaimed with flushed cheeks. She took the money and got out the change. The young barista began to hand him the change, but Kato held up his hand.

“Keep the change,” he said. The man and barista bowed. As Kato gracefully left, Tsuzuki watched his back. More red flags shot up about that guy. He would now have to keep a good watch on Kato and protect Anna from the Eda-Kimoto clan.

Damn it, the work and trouble just keep piling up!, he cursed himself. Yet, Anna seemed to make it worth it.

Cherry:
http://www.mediaminer.org/fanfic/view_st.php/163513
http://ficwad.com/story/132116
http://www.gotvg.net/viewstory.php?sid=32&warning=4
http://archiveofourown.org/works/73709/chapters/97755
http://www.lunaescence.com/fics/viewstory.php?sid=21055

The Section for it

Welcome to the Factory

I: Pandora

Foreigner. Eighteen year old Pandora Wolf looked all around her. Tokyo in the flesh. It looked just as magnificent as it did in the pictures; if not better. She was here at last. The flight from England had been worth it. Now that she was here, it was time to expand and grow.

Pandora looked at her watch. 10 am already. If she went now, she could catch the first cab into the city. The first one pulled up in a rush. The driver rolled down the window.

“Where to?” he asked. Pandora smiled at him warmly.


“Just anywhere,” she replied. The driver smiled back at her.

“Okay,” he said. “Hop in!” Pandora climbed into the cab with her luggage. The driver pulled out to drive off. Here begins the journey into the experienced. No turning back here!

II: This Charming Man:

Andy Teach had this strange charm to him. No one could resist his alluring ways. When Andy spoke, people fell under his spell instantly. Everyone knew he would go far in life.

Andy had a normal childhood. Father worked in a steel factory and mother taught art. Andy’s father died when he was eighteen months old. The boy developed a close bond with his free-spirited mother. However, this bond could be viewed as odd. Some called it an Oedipus complex. There is no evidence to back this up. It’s all speculation really.

All was normal until Andy got into junior high. His mother died on his birthday in a hit-and-run accident after he started sixth grade. For a short period, Andy became restless with his life. Then, the boy discovered himself through his mother’s first love, art. The boy took interests in many things over the years. If he fancied someone, he would work his charm on them in like magic. Many girls had a crush on him in high school. And pretty much did as he pleased throughout his teen years and 20’s. Who could say no to such a charming man? Everything practically fell right into his lap. Money, jobs, dates, resources. He had it all. But what to do with it over time?

Andy always wanted to be different. He did his best to achieve that goal. His style, methods, and work met off-beat standards always. He could be called a trend-setter by all of peers. He led by nature. That plus his charm and talent led to a chemical reaction. Thus, the birth of the factory.

III: June 1st, 2060:

Pandora sat in the cab looking out the back window as she rode past. The driver watched her for a moment.

“You a college freshman?” he asked. Pandora looked at him surprised.

“You can tell?” she asked. The driver nodded.

“Where are you going to school here?” he asked.

“Tokyo Sakura Art University,” Pandora answered slipping into an English accent. The driver perked up some.

“Oh you’re English?” he asked.

“Yeah!” Pandora called.

“So what are you studying here?” the driver asked.

“Designing,” the girl replied.

“Clothes?” he asked.

“Yes,” Pandora replied.

“I see,” the driver answered. Pandora watched the road ahead of her. Japan was so new to her. She just transferred schools from England. Pandora always wanted to be a fashion designer ever since she was a little girl. Fashion and art were her two favorite things. But, London life didn’t cut it for her. Pandora wanted much more. Enter Japan. Pandora acquired a love for it at the age of thirteen. Since then, she wanted to know all about it. So now, here she was. In Japan at long last. The cab driver smiled at her warmly.

“Say,” he spoke up. “Today is opening day at TSAU. They usually have a really famous artist come out and speak to the students.” Pandora looked up at those words right away.

“Really?” she asked.

“Yeah,” the driver replied. “In fact, we can take a shortcut and I can get you to the lecture just seconds before it starts!” The girl’s eyes lit up right away.

“Could you?” she asked in a matching tone.

“Certainly!” the driver said in confidence. Pandora’s excitement shot up higher.

“Well then,” she replied. “Go, go, go!”

“With joy!” the driver answered. Then, the driver drove right to the shortcut and stepped on the gas.

IV: Recruit:

Test room 1A filled up quickly. Andy Teach would be the speaker semester. The school had to pull many strings to get him here. Pain in the ass, that it was. But all worth it. Pandora made it to the lecture hall just in time. She took a seat on the front row.

In one minute, Andy came out to the stage. He looked out at all of the new students. They all looked the same to him. However, one student in particular caught his eye. Pandora sat on the front row waiting. Andy studied her for a moment. Pandora wasn’t homely or comely. Just a typical Plain Jane. But yet, something about her held his attention hostage the whole lecture. Pandora felt the same way. She didn’t know who he was, but Andy worked his magic on her without trying. She hung onto his every word. It was as if they were the only people in the room. No one else mattered.

The lecture finished just in time. Pandora was surprised when it was over. “It’s over already?” she thought. No, girl. It’s only beginning! In seconds, Pandora noticed that someone was standing over her. She slowly looked up and saw Andy looking over her. Pandora looked away in a rush. He turned her face towards him. The freshman got a good look at the man. His fierce rum eyes had her own locked on him at all times.

“Do you know who I am?” Andy asked her. Pandora felt like she was staring at God. The girl could barely speak. She just shook her head at him. Andy smiled at her.

“I am Andy Teach,” he replied. “What’s your name?”

“Pandora,” she said quickly. “Pandora Wolf!” Andy lightly shushed her.

“What are you studying here?” he questioned.

“Designing fashion!” Pandora called. Andy smirked right at her.

“Interesting,” he replied. “I could use someone like you at my factory sometime.” Then, the pop artist let go of her face.

“We’ll keep in touch,” Andy finished. “I know where to find you.” Then, he left the test room. Pandora sat all alone at the desk. She stared blankly at his back. What just happened?

“Uh…” Pandora replied. And just like that, she had fallen under his spell. Here started the road to experience.

V: The Factory:

What was this factory exactly? It started out as an abandoned warehouse. Andy bought it two years ago out of boredom. He turned it into his personal little art studio. The was where the magic took place. Now, Andy didn’t think of the ideas himself. People just handed them to him. He only brought them to life. Simple as that.

The factory had no electricity. So, Andy did most of his work during the day. Sometimes, by candlelight. Either way, it all worked out. The results were all that mattered.

People lived in this factory as well. Nobody seemed to want to leave. Why would they? The factory was the place to help spread out to fame in the art world. To be successful, one would have to go out Indie or underground. The factory qualified for that status too well. Well, the factory prepared for its newest arrival.

VI: Run Rabbit Run:

Pandora made it to the factory that evening. Andy slipped her the address and a key in her bag before he left. One could imagine the girl’s surprise when she found the items by lunch. She had no choice but to go. Turns out, the factory was in walking distance of Tokyo Sakura Art University. Pandora found herself at Andy’s front door in no time. She drew in a deep breath. “Here goes!” the freshman thought. Pandora pulled out her key and unlocked the door.

Inside looked like a strange room. Paintings and films all over the place. Pandora looked around surprised. She had never seen so much art before in her life. Tradition met pop here. Pandora lightly ran her hand along a life-size portrait of a geisha. Shock met her face instantly. “Oh wow!” she thought. “This is made of real silk!”

“You like it?” someone asked behind her. Pandora whipped right around startled. Andy stood behind her like a vampire closing in on his prey. He looked over at the geisha.

“You can have it if you want,” he offered. Pandora raised an eyebrow at him.

“You mean it?” she asked.

“Yeah!” Andy answered with a nod. The freshman still couldn’t believe it.

“For how?” she asked.

“No charge,” he replied.

“Really?” Pandora asked.

“Really,” Andy answered. Pandora stared at him stared.

“Okay,” she said at last. “I’ll take it.” Andy smiled at her like a hungry wolf.

“Good,” he said. Pandora breathed out some. Andy looked down at her shoes. She sported red glittery kitten heel sandals. Her white ankle socks highlighted the red sparkle of the shoes.

“Interesting heels you have,” Andy commented. Pandora blushed as she looked down at her own shoes.

“I just grabbed these at random!” she said modestly. Andy shook his head at her.

“No,” he replied. “Be proud of your heels. They are who you are.” Pandora looked at him with big eyes.

“You mean it?” she asked. Andy leaned in close to her ear.

“Your heels are like your designs,” he whispered. “Be proud of them.”

“Which?” Pandora asked.” My heels or my designs?”

“Both!” Andy called. Then, he headed up the stairs for the night. Pandora stared at him confused. That did it for her. Andy had her sold. Pandora was now part of his flock.

VII: The Pieces:

Andy wasn’t the only one to get a good look at Pandora. The girl came back to Earth when she heard someone say, “Well looky here!” She jerked her head up in a rush. Two women were staring right at her. They looked to be about in their thirties. Buxom women they were. The left one’s hair composed of lush dark mahogany curls to her waist. She looked like a queen in her royal dark purple long flowing skirt and tight black corset. Her heavy make-up completed her look. The woman on the right had long straight blonde hair. Lady in red couldn’t describe her more. She too looked like a harlot. They stared the freshman up and down. Pandora did the same to them.

“Can I help you?” she asked. The women smirked at her.

“Are you Andy’s new little student?” red asked. Pandora stared at them blinking for a moment.

“Yes,” she answered confused. “Why? Who are you?” The women smirked at her again. They each stepped forward.

“Jamaica!” purple said boldly.

“Savannah!” red answered like-wise. Pandora stood boldly.

“Pandora,” she replied. “Pandora Wolf.” The women giggled at her.

“Tell me Pandora,” Savannah spoke again. “What exactly do you do?”

“I’m a fashion designer student,” the freshman replied. The women smirked at her again. Pandora watched in silence.

“Why?” she asked. “Is that bad?” The women giggled at her.

“What do you think?” Savannah questioned. Pandora thought about that for a moment.

“No,” she replied at last.

“Well then,” Jamaica replied. “There’s your answer.” Then, they walked away into the blackened factory. Pandora stared at them confused.

“What was that all about?” she asked herself. What a strange place this was.

VIII: Dorothy:

Strange land. Just like Oz this factory was. Pandora became Dorothy. Three interesting people she had met in the course of one day. Well, there would be more where that came from. Stick around and see.

Go Black

Factory

The Section for it