By Yai-tzu Hin
Warning: No part of this story or cast of characters may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the author, Yai-tzu Hin. If you do, moths will eat your favorite shirt, mice will take up residence in your kitchen and you can't get rid of them no matter what, all the bulbs in your reading lamps will go out, you'll run out of gas in your car when you're running late, and your computer will develop the annoying habit of deleting the best part of every fic.
Grumbling to herself, Kayumi glanced sideways at her brother. He was ignoring her.
"How in the world did I get shanghaied into this?" she asked aloud not caring if anyone heard her or not.
"Because you have a car." Yatsurugi replied studying the unfolded map in his lap.
"So does Haruka."
"But she had to work this weekend and you didn't." Keien said from behind her. He was sitting in a relaxed position, legs stretched under her seat and hands folded behind his head. His younger sister, Meiko sat beside him in the back seat of Kayumi's sports car. Her arm was still in a sling from the accident nearly a month ago. She was staring out the window at the scenery passing by, her thoughts her own.
"I could have been doing other things." Kayumi muttered. "And why did we have to take my baby out. I could have borrowed Haruka's car."
"Your car has everything we need in case there is a breakdown. Especially a cell phone and batteries." Yatsurugi answered continuing to study the map.
"You're never going to let that one drop are you?"
"Let's just call it pay back and leave it at that."
"You're evil."
"No, I'm angelic." Kayumi glared at him then turned her attention back to the road in front of her.
The trees outside had almost lost all their foliage, leaving the scenery bleak and desolate. Road signs stuck out like white dots on a black field. Winter was rapidly descending, pushing the gentle and unusually warm autumn aside. There had been a hint of frost that morning and its chill still hung the air even as the sun shown down.
"Meiko, where exactly do we make the turn off to the hotel?" Yatsurugi asked. Meiko stirred from her reverie and fumbled with her purse trying to open it.
"I'm not sure, let me check the directions again." Rifling through all sorts of matter that had been stuffed in her purse, Meiko looked for the instructions. After pulling out a tube of bronze lipstick, seventeen receipts, two pens without caps, and a comb, she found it.
"You really need to clean out your purse." Keien remarked watching her stuff the receipts back in.
"Someday, oniichan, but you never know when you need lipstick." Meiko informed him with a quick smile.
"I don't wear lipstick."
"Wait until you pass out from too much alcohol." Kayumi laughed turning down the heat. The car was getting hot and stuffy.
"You'll want to take the turn off to the right just before the sign to the Shinju Hotel. Imizu said it is only paved halfway." Meiko said reading off the crumpled paper in her hand.
"Yosh…good, Kayumi and I will keep an eye out for it." Yatsurugi began to fold the map. "It shouldn't be long now."
Kagamida Imizu had invited Meiko, Keien, and Yatsurugi to her uncle's hotel for their break. After Meiko's accident, Imizu had become an even better friend. They often studied together and went out on 'male hunting' expeditions to the local hangouts to check out the men. Not that flopping down on the Keien's couch didn't give either of them a good show, but Yatsurugi had the odd habit of disappearing at just the right time. This was probably part of the reason Imizu had invited both Keien and Yatsurugi along with Meiko and who ever ended up their chauffeur to the hotel.
The Shinju Hotel was nestled in the mountains near a small but prosperous vacation town. The three story old house had been built during the early part of the century by a British couple. The Kagamida family had bought it from them and turned it into a hotel in the thirties. Imizu's uncle had inherited the business from his father and planned on passing it down to his children in turn. Every break that she had, Imizu normally came up to work for her uncle as a maid and a baby-sitter.
"There's the turn off." Yatsurugi said pointing out the window to a space between to large leafless trees. Kayumi turned and in a moment they were on their way towards the hotel.
***
Imizu looked out the window just in time to see a red sports car with a black dragon painted on the hood pull up the drive. Assuming it was guest or somebody lost, she called for her cousins. Kagamida Jin and Kin came crashing down the staircase into the lobby. They practically fell over one another in their attempt to reach their cousin.
"What?" Jin asked breathlessly coming to a dead halt in front of the desk.
"We have guests." Imizu stated. "You should be prepared."
"God! You've got to see this car!" Kin called staring out the window. "Oh, and the guys in it are hot!"
"Guys?" Imizu said glancing out the window. She recognized Yatsurugi and Keien immediately. Keien was helping Meiko out of the car, while Yatsurugi and a young woman opened up the trunk. They pulled out several suitcases and bags before shutting the lid. Imizu watched the foursome approach the hotel wondering who the woman with dark purple hair was. A girlfriend perhaps?
"Kin, stop drooling. Those are the friends I invited up for the week."
"I wasn't drooling." Kin replied tartly. Jin chuckled.
"Meiko!" Imizu called out waving as she hurried to open the door for them. "Hello, Nakabori-san, Aisaku-san." She bowed and let them by.
"Konnichiwa Imizu." Meiko answered giving her friend a smile. "How are you doing?"
"Not bad. I'm glad you, your brother and Aisaku-san could come." Imizu nodded towards Keien and Yatsurugi. She eyed Kayumi who seemed a bit irritated by being left to carry most of the luggage.
"Kagamida, this is my sister Aisaku Kayumi." Yatsurugi said quickly sensing Imizu's concern over Kayumi. "She was kind enough to drive us up."
"Konnichiwa Kagamida-san." Kayumi said politely bowing. Imizu responded quickly and returned the greeting.
"You're welcome to stay too." She smiled happily glad that Kayumi wasn't Yatsurugi's girlfriend.
"Domo arigatou gozaimasu."
"My, she is being formal." Jin commented from the desk.
"And you're not." Imizu informed him sternly. "I'm sorry, these are my cousins, Kagamida Jin and Kin. They're twins." The boy and girl looked almost identical. They both had short auburn hair, brown eyes, same height, and similar builds. The girl, Kin was busily fiddling with the necklace about her neck. Jin came over to help Kayumi with the bags. He smiled at her and she was inclined to return it.
"I'll show you to your rooms." He said hoisting two suitcases and a duffel bag at once. "You said that they were to have the two rooms on the third floor, cousin?" Imizu nodded.
"I'm sorry Meiko, I tried to get my uncle to give you rooms on the second floor, but they've been taken already."
"That's okay," Meiko said. "The third floor is fine." Imizu smiled and then skipped over to the front desk, grabbed the correct keys and lead her friends up to their rooms.
***
A cool breeze wafted into the room from an open window. Keien was lying on one bed fast asleep while Yatsurugi was sitting on the other reading. Their room was done in up to reflect the fashions of the early part of the century. There was dark wood paneling below cream painted walls. Paintings and wood carving prints hung on the walls in wooden frames painted bronze. Polished wooden furniture with deep mahogany and gold trimmed cushions were strategically placed about the room so that one did not trip over them in the dark. Currently a blue duffel bag rested on one chair, half its contents exposed for all to see.
Yatsurugi shivered and decided to close the window. Dodging the curtains that fluttered in the breeze, he reached over and slammed the window shut. The sound didn't disturb Keien one bit and Yatsurugi returned to his spot on the bed. Leaning over to the nightstand, he flipped on the tiffany lamp and went back to his book. He was just getting to an interesting part when he felt the bed bounce. Startled he looked up.
Perched on the end of the bed dressed in a tee shirt, jeans, black coat and tennis shoes was Reimu. His brown wings outstretched to keep his balance; he smiled broadly at Yatsurugi.
"Afternoon."
"Afternoon Reimu. What are you doing here?"
"I got bored so I thought I'd come visit. Meiko and Kayumi are both asleep. I'd go bother Imizu's guardian angel, except she's not here."
"Keien's asleep."
"I doubt he'll wake up." Yatsurugi put down his book giving up on ever finding out who exactly killed the rich widower.
"So you're going to bother me instead." Reimu smiled smartly.
"Come on we haven't had a good conversation in ages. That one in Meiko's hospital room doesn't count." Reimu informed him allowing his legs to fold so that he was now sitting cross-legged on the quilt.
"So what do you want to talk about?" Reimu was silent for a moment.
"Have noticed anything strange about this place?" he asked cautiously at length.
"What do you mean?" Yatsurugi replied glancing at Reimu's shoes. "You know, you really should take those off when you're sitting on the bed. The staff might get irritated."
"Oh, they won't leave a mark. They're angelic sneakers after all. Don't tell me you've forgotten about angelic footwear already?"
"No. It's just habit." Yatsurugi grumbled irritated that he had forgotten something as basic as that. Angels weren't supposed to leave a trace of where they've been no matter what they're wearing. He'd gotten used to being human that it had become second nature to remove his shoes upon entering a room. Reimu smirked at his embarrassment and continued.
"You didn't answer my question."
"No. What makes you think there is something strange here?" Yatsurugi said quickly recovering.
"I don't know. I snuck up to the attic and started nosing about. I thought I felt something up there."
"Like what?"
"If I knew, I wouldn't be asking you." Reimu leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "Want to come up to the attic with me and check it out?" Yatsurugi thought about it. What did he have to loose? Reimu obviously wasn't going to stop pestering him until he did something. Unfortunately, that meant he'd have to ask Imizu to allow him into the attic. Groaning inwardly, he threw himself off the bed.
"All right, but I have to ask Kagamida about it. So she'll probably come with us. You might want to be invisible."
Reimu chuckled and assured Yatsurugi that he would remain invisible. They left a napping Keien in the room and went to find Imizu. The strawberry blond wasn't that hard to find. She was still at the front desk reading a romance novel. Turning each page slowly as she intently studied every word, she didn't notice Yatsurugi until he coughed.
"Oh, Aisaku-san. Is there something I can do for you?" Yatsurugi shifted uneasily and tried to think of a good reason to go up to the attic.
"I was wondering if you could take me on a tour of the house? It's such a fine old house that I…"
"Oh, no problem. I'll have my aunt watch the desk. It's not like anyone is going to be checking in. There is a couple that called and said that they'd be here at five, but other than that no one else should be coming." Imizu slapped the book shut and hastily strode into the small room behind the front desk where her aunt was working on paperwork. There was a brief conversation followed by Imizu practically skipping out to Yatsurugi.
"Well, shall we get started? We'll begin in the dining room. You know this place was built to resemble the old British manor houses of the Victorian era, with modern modifications of course." Imizu rattled on about the construction and history of the house as she drug Yatsurugi from room to room. Reimu trailed along behind admiring the workmanship that had been put into the house. He knew Yatsurugi was silently cursing him for being talked into this, but he was enjoying the history lesson.
They worked their way from the first floor to the third floor. When Yatsurugi suggested they go to the attic, she hesitated.
"I'm not sure we should go up there. My uncle uses it for storage. Jin and Kin have been fairly adamant that I stay out claiming it's too dangerous." Imizu said blocking the attic door from Yatsurugi.
"I'm going up." Reimu whispered. "See if you can sense anything." He vanished quickly into the attic. Yatsurugi nodded.
"Do you believe your cousins?" he asked turning his attention back to Imizu.
"Actually I think they're up to something. They've always been troublemakers. Not to say they're into gangs or drug dealing. It's more that they're mischievous."
"Listen, there are two of us. What could happen?" Imizu blushed slightly.
"I guess it is pretty silly. Okay." She turned and opened the door. "As long as you're with me, I shouldn't be frightened." Already she was planning the exact moment when she could scream in fright and grab onto Yatsurugi's arm. This might not be so bad after all, Imizu thought. Even if my cousins are hiding another wild animal up here again.
Climbing the flight of steps, Imizu turned on the lights as she came upon the switch. Yatsurugi followed behind, growing more concerned. He was beginning to feel as if something was watching them. Reimu was right. There was something strange up here he could sense it.
Turning on the last light, the attic was suddenly awash in the pale glow from two hanging bulbs. There was furniture, boxes, old curtains and cobwebs all over the place. An old bed with a broken headboard was shoved into one corner and a small table had been set next to it. On the table was an open book.
Yatsurugi noticed Reimu hovering above the bed looking quizzical. Imizu obviously didn't see him and instead began wandering around.
"I didn't realize my uncle kept all this stuff. Hey, this is from last Christmas." She said digging behind a pile of boxes. She drug out a wreath that had obviously seen better days. "He should have thrown this out after it caught fire."
"Fire?"
"Yeah. Strange things like that happen sometimes. The thing just burst into flames one evening. We think that there was a loose wire in the lights and it sparked. Anyway…" she put the burnt wreath back and began rummaging again. Yatsurugi wandered over to the bed and sat down. Reimu glided down to stand next to him.
"See I told you there was something strange."
"Yeah. I don't think that wreath caught on fire by itself."
"You should read the book." Reimu suggested pointing to the open book. Yatsurugi reached over and grabbed it. Flipping it over to look at the title he suddenly felt very cold. Reimu threw up his head and glanced over in Imizu's direction. Frozen he watched her stiffen and slowly back up. A thin cry escaped her lips.
"A…A…Aisaku-san." She squeaked and then she screamed loudly. Yatsurugi leapt off the bed and ran over to her. Reimu's clothes shattered and were replaced by his armor. A sword materialized and he stood guard as Yatsurugi suddenly found himself face to face with terror.
***
The bed was soft. Kayumi had fallen asleep as soon as she had pulled the covers over her. Now she was awake and debating whether or not to get up. After spending ten minutes waiting to see if Meiko was awake too, she gave up and threw off the covers. Wandering into the bathroom, she fixed her hair and makeup before sneaking out of the room. She was hungry and wanted a snack. There had been a kitchen on the first floor, or so Jin had told her. He was a sweetheart, although he obviously wanted to be seen as a punk. He'd tried to hit on her and Meiko as he carried their luggage up the stairs. His sister had teased him and he'd stopped.
Halfway down the stairs to the second floor she thought she heard a familiar voice. Glancing over the railing she noticed a mane of raven black hair snuggling up with someone with orange hair with blond tips.
"Aww. Isn't that cute?" she teased. Both heads snapped up.
"Kayumi?"
"Hi Eros, Psyche. Do I even bother asking why you two are here?" Eros bit his bottom lip while Psyche giggled.
"We got tired of vacationing at the other spots." Psyche replied as Kayumi descended the remaining stairs. "We heard about this place from one of the Kagamida guardian angels and decided to try it out."
"I didn't know you knew them." Kayumi said walking over to them. Psyche was dressed in a green turtle neck and tan slacks. It wore a thin silver chain about its neck with a single sapphire pendant. Eros had bleached the tips of his hair, which didn't surprise Kayumi at all. He was wearing a tight white tee shirt and black jeans. His band like tattoo was visible on his right lower arm.
"Yeah, one of them stopped by and asked about love potions a couple of years back. Anyway, what are you doing here?"
"Meiko is friends with Kagamida Imizu and she invited us up for a week."
"That's nice." Eros said. "Psyche and I were on our way to the kitchen for a snack."
"Then we can walk together. That's where I was heading." Psyche smiled although Eros looked a bit sour for having his snuggle session interrupted. He'd live though. Suddenly they heard a scream from the attic. Followed a minute later by Imizu tearing down the stairs. Yatsurugi was right behind her taking several steps at a time. Reimu flew down after them in full battle armor complete with sword. They blew right past the threesome and headed straight for the lobby.
"What in God's name is going on?" Eros demanded watching them clear the last couple steps with a leap onto the ground floor.
"I don't know, but let's find out." Kayumi snapped hurrying after her brother.
Imizu skidded on the carpet and nearly ran into her cousin Jin who was picking up the luggage of a woman with short brown hair and hard black eyes. She was dressed in a freshly ironed navy blue pants suit with a white collar. Her foot tapped impatiently at Jin was trying to collect all the small pieces of matched luggage. Her associate was a tall young man with bleached blond hair and hazel eyes. Coming to a dead stop behind Imizu, Yatsurugi inwardly cursed. The young man glanced up from signing the hotel's registry.
"What was that screaming about?" the woman demanded. She was one of those people that were used to being paid attention to. Her dark eyes narrowed at a sheet white Imizu and a seething Yatsurugi.
"It…um… It was a mouse." Imizu lied. Jin stared at her skeptically and hoisted the suitcases into his arms.
"There is no need to disturb the entire hotel. We came here for some piece and quiet, not young ladies screaming at the sight of a mouse.
"Yatsurugi, Kagamida-san is something wrong?" Kayumi asked coming up behind her brother. She glanced up at the new arrivals and inwardly shuddered.
"I'll explain later." Yatsurugi informed his sister as he tried to catch his breath.
"Jin, help Tamahazura-san and Tamaide-san with their luggage. You'll be in room 206." Imizu's aunt informed the couple. Tamaide strode passed everyone and headed straight up the stairs without anyone telling her which direction room 206 was. Jin struggled to keep up with her. Tamahazura calmly followed pausing by Yatsurugi.
"Well, fancy meeting you here. I'm surprised Keien let his watchdog out of his sight. I know I wouldn't." All the hairs on the back of Yatsurugi's neck stood up. The urge to send Tamahazura Suiichiro and his bitchy fiancée on ride in a leaky boat down the Amazon River was very strong.
"And why, pray tell, would you care?" Yatsurugi shot back maintaining a calm exterior.
"Just wondering. Ouch!" Suiichiro flinched as he felt a sharp pain in his eye. He blinked a couple times while Yatsurugi stemmed the tide of anger that threatened to carry him into physical violence.
"SUIICHIRO!" Tamaide Suzu called. "I need your help!" Suiichiro hurried off to join his fiancée in their room. Yatsurugi glanced back at Kayumi who wore an evil expression upon her face.
"What a bitch." Psyche stated. Then turning to Yatsurugi it smiled and hopped over. "Hi Yatsurugi. Long time no see." Psyche's perky manner snapped him back to reality and he was forced to smile.
"Psyche. It has been a while. How's Eros?"
"I'm fine."
"You know each other?" Imizu asked staring wide-eyed at them. They deteriorated into pleasant chatter for a few minutes before Kayumi finally inquired what had sent them streaking down the stairs at warp speed.
"I saw something." Imizu replied.
"I saw it too." Yatsurugi said. "It was a ghost."
"A ghost?" Eros muttered to himself.
"You don't believe us do you?" Imizu said hysterically. Eros held up his hands in defense.
"No, no. I believe you. I've seen a ghost or two in my time." He said reassuringly. Psyche and Kayumi quickly reassured her that they had also seen ghosts. Imizu relaxed a bit. "The question is why there is one haunting your hotel."
"Ghost?" Kin asked coming into the room. "Oh, come on cousin you don't believe in ghosts?"
"Aisaku-san and I saw one in the attic! They're real!"
"Yeah, right. You probably saw a shadow and freaked out. You're such a wuss."
"I am not! I know what I saw! Aisaku-san saw it too!" She turned to face Yatsurugi. "You saw it didn't you?"
"I wouldn't have come flying down the stairs at a dead run if I hadn't." Yatsurugi stated.
"Oh, come on. You guys are just pulling my leg. Well I might as well go see what sort of mess you made." With that Kin left heading up the stairs. When she was out of ear shot Yatsurugi turned to Imizu.
"She knows more than she's letting on."
"Probably." Kayumi agreed. Eros and Psyche nodded.
"If she knows something. Then so does Jin." Imizu informed them.
"There is more to this than meets the eye. I say we hold a meeting to discuss forming a hunting party. Maybe we should go and wake up Meiko and Keien. They should know what has happened." Kayumi suggested.
"Might be a good idea. The last thing we need is some irate ghost throwing things across rooms at guests." Yatsurugi said looking at Imizu who quickly agreed.
Yatsurugi and Kayumi left the other three in the kitchen getting snacks while they went to get the other two. Above them Reimu hovered, his sword and armor replaced by the outfit he'd been wearing earlier. Next to him a second angel stood. He was shorter than Reimu with blue-black hair that fell to just below his shoulders. Violet eyes watched the other two guardian angels ascend the stairs.
"My Reimu, you certainly know how to welcome an angel. A ghost, ne?" he said picking invisible lint off his gray sweater. Reimu nodded. "Sounds interesting. I doubt my charge will mind if I hang out with you guys for a while. It's not like he pays attention to my subtle warnings anyway."
"I'm sorry you're stuck with him Shinji. I bet you and Yatsurugi used to have a great time watching Keien and Suiichiro."
"Oh, yeah a real laugh. At least Keien pays attention to the little voice telling him not to walk out onto a busy street. Suiichiro simply runs across against the light! And he's smiling and laughing the entire time he does it!"
"I'm so sorry." Shinji crossed his arms and lowered himself to the floor.
"Well, if you need another ghost hunter. Count me in."
"The more the merrier. Why don't we go up to the attic and see if we can talk to this ghost?"
"Sounds good. Let's go." They flew off towards the attic leaving everyone to their own devices.
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