Ghost Hunt:Volume 7 Chapter 6

Chapter 6 - August 13th 5.30pm to 8pm

1

“It’s alright, it’s alright.”

Only when I heard John’s voice did I carefully open my eyes.

“Open your eyes, it’s alright, just look in a different direction and it’ll be fine.”

Encouraged by John’s gentle persuasion, I opened my eyes with fear; what appeared in front of me was John. John’s body just blocked the doorway – like this I couldn’t see inside, and I gently let out a breath.

– It stank! Masako and Yasuhara held each other’s hands and slowly retreated along the wall and also stood where they couldn’t see inside.

“John, take them to the entrance hall.”

Came Bou-san’s voice from inside.

“Right. Come on – let’s go back.”

John’s strange accent triggered my mixed sobs and laughs.

Holding on to John we went back to the entrance hall through the barricade. There were windows on the left side of the entrance hall facing the field; I stuck my nose through where the glass was broken and took a deep breath.

The damp smell of rain was so refreshing.

After a very long time, only after it had already turned dark outside the entrance hall, did Bou-san and Naru return. The moment the pair of them entered the barrier I smelt a mild stench. After such a long time, to see them both return, finally allowed me some peace.

“What’s the situation now?”

Upon hearing John’s enquiry, Bou-san shrugged.

“It’s still good; I think it’ll scare the young ladies to death if they had to pass by that area, so we used the gym mats from the next classroom to cover it.”

Gr—great – thanks, Bou-san.

“Is that, as expected – a body?”

At this point, Bou-san nodded his head tiredly.

“It’s already in that state, so it couldn’t possibly still be living. – It was an adult!”

This made all of us very surprised.

“Adult?”

Bou-san and Naru slumped exhaustedly onto the concrete floor.

“Water, -- right, it was an adult; it wasn’t just children who disappeared.”

“Takigawa-san, which is your cup?”

“The one with the dragon printed on it. – Because a child had disappeared, adults came up to this place to search. After that, a group, like ours, was sealed in. Amongst them one person disappeared, after which there was no meaning for them to continue searching. Hence the body was abandoned here. – the above is Naru’s theory.”

– I increasingly felt that that group was the lowest of the low; if they had told us beforehand then we wouldn’t be caught unprepared like this. Both the Village chief and that assistant were unforgivable.

Yasuhara poured the tea and handed the cups to Bou-san and Naru.

“Here, Shibuya-san’s is the cup with the fox right? – And then? What about Matsuzaki-san and Lin-san?”

“Because I didn’t see all the way inside, I can’t be sure, but it looks like they weren’t there.”

“– there was only the body? –”

“I don’t think I saw a living person.”

What strange words. I glared at Bou-san.

“Does that mean that there was a living animal then?”

The moment the question left my mouth, Bou-san’s expression changed.

“To say what there was – I really didn’t see it clearly.”

“What?”

“What it was, I don’t know either; to say ‘what’–”

– What was Bou-san talking about—?

“Although I don’t know what it was, if I were to describe it with the vocabulary I can use, then what I saw was a ‘hungry ghost’.”

“Ai—?”

“—a ghost which was about the size of a child.”

2

For a moment, everyone was silent.

“What is a hungry ghost?”

“In Sanskrit it is called a preta, which transliterates from ‘Pra Ita’. Literally, it means ‘one who is gone forth’, translating from the Chinese it simply refers to a ghost, which I think is more accurate. What we call a ‘ghost’ really refers to a deceased person; because it awaits its descendents to offer food, it is known as a ‘hungry ghost’. – On this topic, at the very beginning –”

“Were there such things in the past?”

“This theory was spread by Buddhism. It refers to ghosts of people who were evil while they were still alive, who reap their karma as hungry ghosts, which are spirits that have to continuously endure the pain of hunger. Their bodies are very thin, their necks as slender as a needle. Even if they came by some hard-to-find food, they are unable to swallow it; if they forcibly ate it, the food would turn immediately into fire – something completely inedible.”

“Scary–”

“Maintaining their constant endurance of the pain of hunger, the dead for whom burial was not held and whose identity is thus unknown are known as ‘hungry ghosts’. They are normally described as small ghosts which have limbs like dried twigs, and bellies bloated outwards like a large drum.”

– As expected, Bou-san is a monk after all. I was already gasping in admiration.

“Then… then is there a hungry ghost up there?”

“I only saw something like that; I don’t believe that a child had committed a sin that deserved the punishment of becoming a hungry ghost. Firstly, I don’t believe in hungry ghosts and stuff – that is just a product of people’s imagination. – But if the children were starved for some reason, that might be why I saw that image.”

He said, as he directed his gaze towards the ceiling with an extremely serious expression.

“It looks like this really is the field where Takigawa-san can showcase his abilities.”

When Yasuhara said that about him, Bou-san wrinkled his brow.

“Isn’t there a festival to feed the hungry ghosts? That is for the exclusive purpose of appeasing the hungry ghosts, isn’t it?”

“Unfortunately, this is simply for commemorating the dead – the type that is performed during the Feast of All Souls / Hungry Ghost Festival(15th day of 7th Lunar Month).”

“Oh, that, - I didn’t think it would actually be that.”

“Right! That… when the corpse fell down it appeared like there was someone moving above the ceiling boards, wasn’t there?”

When he heard my words, Bou-san quietly replied.

“It looks like it.”

“Could it be – is it that?”

“It could be; I don’t know the real situation either! All I know for sure is that this place is very dangerous, and the earlier we get out the better!”

We sank once more into silence. That we had to get out as soon as possible was common knowledge. But what about how to rescue Lin-san and Ayako?

“Let’s relax a little! To continue in silence like this wouldn’t change anything. Whose cup is the one with the swan?”

John raised his hand when he heard Yasuhara’s words.

“Thanks, that’s mine.”

“No need for thanks, no need; whose is the one with the rabbits?”

– Rabbits.

Masako replied, somewhat reluctantly.

“It’s Matsuzaki-san’s.”

“Following that –”

Yasuhara’s expression had changed slightly. He poured tea into all the cups.

“Thanks.”

No one’s hands contacted those 2 cups.

“Young man, you are shaken deep inside, aren’t you?”

“Ya la! And you expose me once again.”

“It looks like you haven’t had enough practice.”

“All in all I’m still an inexperienced young man! I really want to mature into an impressive man like you, Takigawa-san.”

“I’m currently in a bad mood, so don’t make fun of me.”

Yasuhara smiled and said,

“Hey hey… did you choose this one?”

“Ah?”

“I’m only curious whether you’re objecting because you’re in a bad mood, or if you’re objecting to my youth?”

“I say, you fellow…”

“You mean to say you admit you’re a middle aged man –”

“In any case this old man is Japan’s number one…”

“That’s Mount Fuji!”

“In any case this old man is Momotaro’s subordinate—” (J-C tl’s note: then wouldn’t Naru be Momotaro? Lin is the dog, then who is the monkey?)

“That’s Mr Pheasant!” (tl/n: The tale of Momotaro is told in Japanese folklore – Momotaro’s subordinates are the pheasant, the monkey and the dog.)

“Any- any how, my breakfast—” (tl/n: my guess is that they are starting to sing nursery rhymes here.)

“I ate a bun for breakfast. – This is forcing it a little.”

“Yeah…”

Grin!

That humans can still smile in a situation like this, really is impressive.

I thought while I smiled.

I reached my hand out to the side, and picked up the cup that was between mine and Yasuhara’s.

3

“This cup is mine.”

It was a little girl who held the cup.

…

– This child…

Ah ne, how did I…

“The one with the doggies belongs to 高户(Takaru?)-kun!”

There was an even smaller boy in the direction of the girl’s gaze. I stared blankly at everyone’s faces.

Yasuhara blinked and grinned bitterly.

“We’re in trouble here, how can you space out like this?”

“Ai? – Yeah, perhaps I was spacing out again.”

“Mai nee-san (older sister) is weird!”

Mariko(鞠子=Kikuko/Maiko/Mariko I’m just picking one at random) started giggling.

– Right, this child is Mariko. How did I know? How could I space out again?

“Sorry Mariko, I probably am rather tired.”

“Aren’t you half-sleepwalking?”

Bou-san said with a bitter grin.

“As if! – I’m sorry; Takaru-kun’s is the one with the doggies, here!”

“Thank you!”

I smiled at Takaru-kun. However, for some unknown reason, my heart was filled with panic. What happened here? – What is the meaning of this sort of feeling? I glanced at everyone – all their faces were filled with worry.

“What’s up? Mai nee-san and everyone are all very weired.”

“Yes… indeed…”

As though to dispel something, Bou-san spoke,

“The sun is going to set very soon, if we still don’t think up an effective countermeasure…”

Naru nodded.

“Do not, in any case, fall into their trap.”

Naru’s voice sounded like he was telling it to himself; what I did not expect was to see Naru actually wearing an expression of stupefaction.

“I think the body just now was also a trap.”

“A trap?”

“Because if everyone panicked because of that, and ran blindly out of the classroom, they could have made any one of us disappear!”

Is this so—

Bou-san suddenly started laughing.

“This—could you be over-thinking this? Disappear? How can we disappear?”

I was slightly shocked.

“How can you start joking? Right now, aren’t Lin-san and Aya—”

– Ai?

Mariko looked uncomprehendingly at me.

“Mai nee-san, who is Lin-san?”

“This…”

Bou-san smiled grimly.

“You bastard are completely dream-walking!”

“Ah ne?”

Masako also looked at me, shocked.

“Mai’s the best at dreaming with her eyes open.”

“Oh, shut up; my mind is only just slightly wandering a bit.”

“Only just slightly? You’re mind has really wandered far away, - who said that?”

I inclined my head in thought.

“Who said that?”

“Have you forgotten what you’ve said yourself?”

“This…”

Ah ne –? Who was it who said to come over?

“Let’s ignore this huge idiot.”

Naru said coldly.

“Bou-san, has a barrier been set up here yet?”

“It can be set up; but do we have to go to this extent?”

Naru frowned.

“Indeed, but it’s always better to be more cautious.”

But – it was Yasuhara who spoke.

“If we wait cautiously in the barrier the danger would be reduced, but if we were to leave this place wouldn’t any path be equally dangerous?”

“Yes…”

Bou-san nodded.

“I concur with the young man, Yasuhara. Rather than hiding in here we should take the initiative and attack; I want to hurry up and start exorcising already. To ask this old man to wait here like this for death is simply not possible.”

John also nodded in agreement.

“Yeah… there are also children amongst us, we still have to consider how to set forth.”

Indeed.

I looked at the 2 children sitting honestly in a corner. Mariko was 11, Takaru, 9; we had to protect the two of them regardless.

“There already are safety measures. But when night falls there will be spirits that become active. Shouldn’t we consider a slightly more proactive method of escape?”

After some hesitation, Naru nodded.

“Yeah—First, we have to look for a way out. Fortunately this school is built with wood; let’s try if we can bore a hole.”

Bou-san nodded.

“How should we do it? We don’t have tools.”

“First search each classroom for anything that can be used as a tool, if we can’t find any then we’ll use fire.”

“Burn it? Isn’t that too much?!”

“We’ll just smoke it, to make to wooden boards more fragile. If that still doesn’t work then we’ll look for a way to force the spirits into an impasse.”

“Force them into an impasse?”

“Force the spirits into a specific location, then perform exorcism there.”

“Ah—is that the plan?”

“Everyone will search within the school. Hara-san, can you check out the situation in each of the classrooms?”

“Alright!”

4

Following behind Masako, who was checking the situation in the classrooms, the row of us searched each classroom. Soon, we found empty bottles in which we placed wood chips and lit to be used as lamps. However, in reality we still depended on touch to search for things.

After the two children heard John’s words, they, too, helped to search.

“Children, listen properly! We are searching for hard objects, ok?!”

“Yes!”

“Got it!”

We classified the props that were in the classroom. I watched Mariko and Takaru, who were enthusiastically helping, closely. They chatted with John while energetically searched with their dust covered hands. From time to time they’d forget their job and start playing; after a mild admonishment from John, they’d immediately start helping again.

This should be a hilarious scenario – it should be such at least, shouldn’t it? – But why – why would it be so –?

“What’s up, Taniyama?”

Yasuhara asked.

“I don’t know; I just feel rather uncomfortable inside –”

“Are you alright? You haven’t caught a cold, have you?”

“It’s not that. It’s not the type of discomfort brought on by sickness. But for some reason my chest feels tight with worry, it’s like there’s something stuck in my throat – it’s extremely uncomfortable…”

Yasuhara’s face was filled with worry.

“Do you feel like this too?”

“Too? Do you feel the same as well?”

“Yeah – for some unknown reason, here – this place, it’s like it is being blocked by something.”

“Yeah…”

Yasuhara lowered his voice, his gaze turning to the the two children by John’s side.

“Do you feel very strange looking at Mariko and Takaru?”

“Do you feel that way too, Yasuhara? Me too – whenever I look at them I feel like there’s some terrible thing about to happen and feel very nervous.”

“Me too. What in the world is going on?!”

“Could it be that because this place is too dangerous, and to have children in this type of circumstances…?”

“Perhaps – it probably is like this.”

I knew it was very dangerous, but besides that there was still something…

I shook my head, dived into the chest and continued sorting the assorted items.

“It’s annoying – there’re so many of them. I feel like I’m getting a little scared.”

“I’m like this as well…”

Saying that, puzzlement suddenly showed on Yasuhara’s face.

“What’s up?”

“Nothing much – it’s like there’s something not quite right just now—”

He tilted his head in thought. A voice came from behind me.

“Did you find anything?”

John stood up and looked at us. He pulled Takaru and Mariko on either side. Behind him was the lamp; the flickering light made their expressions appear exceptionally dark.

This – I somehow felt that I had seen an extremely unsettling picture.

5

There wasn’t a single tool that could be used to break the walls in the first floor classrooms.

When we went up to the second floor, the little door was no longer attached and was propped up by the side. When I passed through the entrance, I somehow felt something extremely discomforting; I, too, couldn’t identify the cause of this discomfort.

Searching the practically empty classrooms, I felt my way to the inner most classroom. There weren’t any tools here either.

“From the looks of it, we can only use the most dangerous method then—”

Bou-san’s words received a nod from Naru.

“Ah—”

Is it alright to use fire?

Just as I was thinking such and about to walk out of the classroom, Yasuhara, who was walking behind Mariko and Takaru, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“Yasuhara?!”

Yasuhara’s expression was extremely strange.

“Oni-san (big brother), what’s up?”

When he heard Mariko’s voice, Yasuhara immediately took 2 steps back – Yasuhara was alone in the classroom now.

“What’s up, oni-san(big brother)? You’re very strange!”

Takaru said, smiling.

I called Naru and the others, who were about to go to the corridor, back.

“Naru, wait—Yasuhara? What’s up? Naru and the rest are about to leave!”

“Taniyama – the car!”

“Ai?”

“Why would there be two vehicles?”

Why—two?

Just as I was stunned speechless…

That moment, I don’t know how to describe that moment. Suddenly the classroom’s walls spat fire, engulfing Yasuhara.

It was as though somebody set the fire deliberately, it was indeed that type of sound. Blinding flames filled my vision; in a blink of an eye there was only a wall of flames in front of me.

“—Ya! – Ah!!!”

“Yasuhara?!”

“Hey!”

The classroom was filled with smoke, as was the corridor.

— Why did this happen?

– How could it? It was impossible.

“Yasuhara!!”

“Mai! Hold it! Run away quickly!”

Masako gripped my wrist.

“But, Yasuhara, he—”

“Please, don’t mess around!!”

Masako shielded her head with her hand. I looked at Masako, then at the sea of flames in front of me. I sighed a deep sigh. I called it a sigh, but I was really choking back tears.

Holding tightly on to Masako, who was holding on to me as well, I shut my eyes.

The fire continued for a quite a few minutes, then suddenly diminished, and in an instance, it was extinguished.

The lamp remained inside the classroom where the fire had taken place. There weren’t any signs of a fire, there wasn’t even any smoke. It was as though the fire that had just happened was a complete lie. But at the same time, the things that should have been there had vanished. Needless to say, Yasuhara; the junk that was scattered across the floor, the pictures stuck to the walls, and even the heaps of dust on the floor had all disappeared. It was as though someone had done a thorough cleaning, all of it – not a thing remained.

“It looks like it’s not possible to use fire.”

When I heard Naru’s cool voice, I looked blankly at him. In reality, I felt very dissatisfied inside.

– At a time like this, is this a time for such calm discussion?

“Looks to be so, ya ne ya ne!”

When I heard Bou-san’s voice, I turned. Masako also appeared to have been shocked.

“Bou-san!”

Bou-san sighed, then patted Masako’s and my head.

“Control yourselves, the two of you, do not cry!”

How could this be? Facing me, who was stunned speechless, was Yasuhara’s (tl/n: this is most probably a mistake in the Chinese raw) worried face.

“You guys must have had a shock.”

“A shock? How can you call it that?”

At this time, someone tugged my clothes.

“What’s up, Mai-nee-san(big sister)?”

“Mariko, just now…”

When I looked towards Mariko’s face, I completely forgot what I was about to say.

I looked strangely at the 3 children in front of me.

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