Ghost Story

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, a large family of swallows will nest right next to your bedroom and wake you up at dawn, gerbils will chew through your computer cables, the phone company will disconnect your phones for no reason,your favorite CD will become so scratched that you are forced to replace it, and your computer will develop the annoying habit of deleting the best part of every fic.

"Why the hell did I let you talk me into this?" Keien grumbled glaring at Meiko. She smiled sweetly.

"Because you're my older brother and you're big and strong." She batted her eyes at him.

"Come on both of you." Yatsurugi called. "You're lagging behind."

"Yeah." Imizu snapped. She swung her flashlight back and forth in the dark hallway. "If we're going to find it, we can't have you squabbling."

"We're not squabbling." Keien informed her trotting to catch up with them. "I was merely asking how in the world we got roped into this."

"Because you helped me with Eizou at my uncle's hotel. Therefore you can help me find the ghost here." Imizu stated before turning and making her way down the hall. The interior design club on campus had bought the old house several months ago. Their plan was to allow interior design classes to use it for projects. Unfortunately, things hadn't gone as planned. Imizu's roommate, Nanami had come back to their dorm room in tears. She'd said that her class' project had been ruined. Everything had been torn off the walls and furniture had been overturned. This wasn't the first time. They'd been having problems from the very beginning. People saw strange lights floating, some claimed to have felt a cold wind when none of the windows were open and things flew off tables by themselves. Having run into ghosts before, Imizu had volunteered her services to help her roommate. Then she'd called Meiko and begged her to ask Keien and Yatsurugi for help.

At first Keien hesitated, but Meiko had pleaded so much and Yatsurugi had said that it did sound as if a poltergeist was at work, that he had relented. Now the four were trekking through the house at midnight, armed only with flashlights and holy water. Keien didn't want to know how Imizu had gotten a hold of holy water or what they would use it for, but it made her feel better having it.

"Maybe we should have called Kayumi and Haruka. They could be helpful." Keien suggested.

"Kayumi had to go home to do some paperwork." Yatsurugi said. "Some stuff that needed to be filed that she didn't do before she left."

"Oh." Keien said.

"Home? Where exactly are you and Aisaku Kayumi from?" inquired Imizu. Yatsurugi coughed.

"A little place called Heaven." He replied. "It's one of those towns that you can't find on any of the maps."

"Oh, it's that small?"

"Um…yes." Keien smirked as Yatsurugi tried to worm his way out of Imizu's curiosity. He glanced over at Meiko and noticed the faint outline of a familiar long blond ponytail. Reimu is certainly laid back about this, Keien thought as the angel solidified, winked at him, then disappeared again. Ever since his time as an angel, Keien had noticed that he could see more of his friend's guardian angels. Most of the time, he just felt their presence, other times he could see their forms hovering about. Those that he saw, normally he'd met before his time as an angel, like Reimu. He'd seen Shinji floating after Suiichiro once with a female angel that looked like she needed an aspirin. Suzu had been storming ahead of Keien's ex at the time, mad about something. The woman was a bitch, pure and simple. Keien felt sorry for her guardian angel, she had her work cut out for her.

Suddenly Keien froze. In front of him Yatsurugi did the same. They stood stalk still before taking off.

"Hey!" called Meiko. "What's with you two?"

"Didn't your hear that crash?" Yatsurugi asked over his shoulder. Meiko and Imizu didn't answer; instead they ran after the men. They made a left, crossed the kitchen and hurled themselves into the living room. Flashlights scanning they found the entire living room a disaster. Newly placed wallpaper had been stripped from the wall and a glass vase had been crushed as its end table toppled over.

"They just put up that wallpaper yesterday!" Imizu snapped. "What is wrong with this ghost?"

"Look, we don't…." Yatsurugi covered Keien's mouth before he could finish the sentence. Holding a finger to his lips, he scanned the room.

"I think it's still here." He whispered. Something scooted into the hallway beyond them. Yatsurugi saw it out of the corner of his eye. "This way!" They ran through the house following the ghost as it slipped from room to room. No matter how hard or fast they ran it always managed to keep one step ahead of them.

Finally, they gave up and called it a night. It was nearly two in the morning and they all had classes in the morning. No sense running themselves ragged now. There would be other chances to catch the ghost.

"At least we know something is here." Imizu said. "We'll just have to try again tomorrow night."

"Really." Haruka said as she poured herself a cup of tea. "You two should be getting more sleep."

"We've been trying, but we've been at that house four nights in a row and have yet to catch that thing." Keien groaned as he lay on the couch. Haruka frowned. "That's why we asked you to come help us tonight. Hell, Yatsurugi asked Reimu to show up because we need the extra bodies."

"Reimu? Meiko's guardian angel?"

"That would be him. He's been hovering around, but hasn't been much help because he physically can't help us as long as he's invisible. So Yatsurugi asked him to show up and pretend to be a friend from out of town. If Meiko asks, he's staying with us for the next couple days because he's thinking of transferring to our university."

"Got it." Haruka replied blowing on her tea. "So the more bodies, the more likely you'll be able to corner the ghost."

"That's the plan." Keien said sitting up. "We have to meet the others at the house in two hours."

"That's fine with me. I haven't had a good adventure since the time Father tried to take us sailing and the boat capsized."

"I remember that." Keien muttered rubbing his head. "I nearly drowned."

"But Yatsurugi pulled you to safety. Then we spent an entire day on that island until someone came and rescued us."

"Mother was so mad." Keien recalled. "She was going to kill him if he ever did something that crazy again." Haruka laughed at the memory. "You were about sixteen or seventeen at the time if I remember correctly." Haruka nodded. "Well, I doubt this will be as adventurous."

"I prefer strange ghosts to wilderness survival anyway." Haruka commented. "Less insects."

"True, but you get mirrors and stools hurled at you instead." One dark brown eyebrow arched.

"Really."

"Well, a stool was rolled into our path and the hand mirror was thrown at us."

"This sounds lovely." Haruka muttered a sarcastic edge in her voice. She took a sip of her tea. "Hum…needed to have soaked the bag longer."

Two hours later, Haruka and Keien stood outside the entrance to the house with Imizu and Meiko. Meiko happily introduced her older sister to Imizu and Haruka bowed politely at the introduction.

"Wow, so you are the one with the sixth sense. That is so cool. Um…I'm sorry. I'm just happy that we have more people tonight."

"It's quite alright Kagamida-san." Haruka assured her, eyeing Meiko as the youngest Nakabori child squirmed.

"Gomenasai Haruka, but I mentioned that you sometimes see things that no one else can see."

"It's fine Meiko."

Keien crossed his arms in front of him wondering what could be taking Yatsurugi and Reimu so long. Just as he thought it, Yatsurugi came up the drive with Reimu in tow. The other angel was dressed in khaki cargo pants and dark green turtleneck. Around his neck was a circular pendant on a gold chain.

"So that's Reimu." Haruka muttered. "Not bad at all. I bet Meiko will love him."

"Haruka!" Keien hissed. Haruka smiled.

"Hey, someone has to play matchmaker while Kayumi is away." She glanced over at her little sister, who looked as if she'd just been hit by a two by four. "And I'd say my prediction is right." Keien groaned.

"Kagamida Imizu, Nakabori Meiko, Nakabori Haruka, this is an old friend of mine from high school..." Yatsurugi began.

"You can just call me Reimu." Reimu said. "Any friend of Yatsurugi's is a friend of mine. Hey Keien."

"Hey Reimu, thanks for tagging along." Reimu raised his hand.

"No trouble at all. I'm visiting for the next couple days, so it isn't a problem. Besides, you two are putting me up, I have to do something to repay you."

"You're visiting?" Mieko asked edging closer. Reimu nodded.

"I'm thinking of transferring to this university," he said turning so that he was looking only at her. Meiko swallowed. She knew she'd seen him before, but from where she couldn't remember.

"Have we ever met before?" she inquired cautiously.

"Not that I recall." Reimu lied. "I would remember someone as pretty as you." Meiko blushed. Yatsurugi coughed.

"We have a ghost to be hunting." He said clearly. Haruka nudged Keien in the ribs.

"See, I told you."

"Haruka…" Keien warned. His older sister merely smiled and turned on her flashlight. They all headed for the house. Once inside they split into groups of two to scout out the place. If anyone saw the ghost or felt its presence, they were to call out. Meiko wanted to go with Reimu, but Keien had her go with Imizu instead, much to Meiko's disappointment. Haruka and Reimu went towards the back bedrooms, while Keien and Yatsurugi snuck off to the kitchen. Imizu and Meiko were supposed to be walking the hallways.

"So," Haruka said as soon as they were well away from the others. "You're Reimu."

"Yes I am." Reimu replied not quite sure where this was headed.

"My sister's guardian angel."

"Yes. Why are you smiling like that?"

"Because I want to know what you think of her."

"Well," Reimu began. "She's nice, very outgoing, has a pleasant smile, can be a bit pushy at times. I think she gets that from her father."

"Most likely."

"Although she has her mother's strong maternal instinct I've noticed. Especially after she saved that little boy."

"Of course she got hurt instead of him and ended up in a coma."

"Yes. Well…" Reimu began.

"Don't worry, I know you did your best. I'm not blaming you for anything. She was just doing what she thought was right. A wonderful quality in a young woman these days." Haruka commented purposely not looking directly at Reimu.

"Yes. I have to agree."

"Indeed. I think any man would admire her conviction."

"I can't argue with you on that." Reimu suddenly paused. "Is there a reason we're talking about this?"

"No reason." Haruka told him.

Reimu eyed her suspiciously. He was about to say something further when a cold wind blew in. He ran his flashlight about the room, but saw no open window.

"Brrr…is it just me or is it cold in here?" Haruka asked moving closer to him.

"It is cold, but I see no open window." They stood still, except for the beams of their flashlights scanning back and forth. As suddenly as it had come up, the wind was gone. They stood for a few more minutes before deciding to leave the room. As they entered the hallway and headed for the next room, they heard a crash from the living room. Yatsurugi shouted something Haruka missed. She was too busy staring at the blur that came barreling towards her. It hit her with the force of a hurricane, knocking her to the ground.

"Haruka-san! Are you all right?" Reimu asked nearly forgetting himself and using his powers. The other four came running into the hallway. All flashlights were on Haruka. Haruka felt something hold her shirt tightly. Opening her eyes she found herself looking down at the top of a mess of black hair. Large dark purple, nearly black eyes stared up at her. They were filled with tears.

"Oh my God, it's a kid." Imizu said.

"What's your name?" Meiko asked leaning down. The child whimpered and buried its face into Haruka's chest again. Meiko sighed and flopped down on the couch in the living room. Imizu had turned on all the lights in the house and the six, plus child were sitting in the half complete living room with the wallpaper still torn off the wall.

"I still can't believe that all this destruction was done by one small boy, or it a girl? I can't tell from the long hair." Imizu muttered. After letting Haruka stand, the child had refused to leave her side and was currently sitting in her lap, peering out at the others. Its clothes were tattered and torn, the colors faded to dull browns. Its hair was unbound and hung in waves down its back. Yatsurugi was struck by how much the child resembled Psyche and wondered if this one would at least tell them what sex it was.

"I think he's scared." Haruka said. "I bet he's been living here before the club bought the house. Kagamida-san, how long had this house stood empty?"

"I'm not sure, but I'll look into it. Maybe he's a homeless kid. Wait, are you sure it's a he."

"Yes."

"We better call child services or something." Keien said matter-of-factly. "He should be placed with the proper people."

"I have to agree with Keien." Yatsurugi said. The child peeked out at the two men. His eyes were wide with fear and he looked as if he were about to cry. He thrust his face back against Haruka and held on so tightly that Haruka thought the fabric of her shirt would rip.

"Well, we can't do anything tonight. We've caught our 'poltergeist' and now he needs a warm place to sleep for the night. We'll call in the morning." Haruka said. They all nodded in agreement. "I'll take him home with me. I have the room." Once more everyone agreed. Haruka sighed and tried to make herself appear less exhausted than she was. One hand began to stroke the boy's soft ebony hair in a reassuring fashion. In a low voice she spoke to him. "Now, dear, what is your name?" The little boy looked up at her. Sensing no harm would come to him, he relaxed his grip on her shirt slightly.

"Nodin." He whispered.

"My name is Haruka, this is my brother Keien, my sister Meiko, and their friends, Imizu, Yatsurugi, and Reimu." She figured it would be easier for the child to remember given names rather than confuse him with the surnames. Especially since two people had the same surname and one person wasn't giving his. "You will be staying with me tonight. Do you understand?" Nodin stared at her, then nodded.

"Hai."

"All right. Let's get you home."

She held him in her arms as she carried him out the door. Meiko stayed behind to help Reimu turn off the lights, then joined the others outside. Imizu locked up the house. Looking back at it, she smiled.

"Well, let's hope this is the last of the problems." She prayed. Nodin stared at her from over Haruka's shoulder. Then he smiled wickedly.