Leg. Crim Princss Chapter 8

Chapter 8 : The haunted Inn


The Saturday in the morning, Arashi met with his friends on the train station.
Takuma Shiro waved at him cheerfully. He was a tall man with brown short hair and glasses that covered his lively black eyes. Hiragi, Yuko’s brother, was like a male version of his sister. They were twins, after all.
They took the train and sat together chatting cheerfully. Arashi couldn’t stop noticing how different was the environment compared to the one felt when he was with Ayako.
—Hey, Arashi… why didn’t she come? —said Shiro.
—She had to work, so she couldn’t come…—answered Arashi.
—What a pity…I really wished to meet her…—sighed Shiro.
—Could that girl possibly be? Shizuka Ayako?— asked Hiragi.
—Shizuka Ayako? You mean that pretty girl with a cold expression?
—Yes, Yuko and Sumire saw you two having lunch together…
—Yikes Arashi! Just a few days working with her and you’re already dating her!!
—No, you’re wrong! We’re not…
—You’re such a bandit Arashi!—said Shiro laughing — you certainly met a pretty girl!
—Don’t be idiot, Shiro! —said Hiragi — Arashi shouldn’t date that woman…
—Why not?— said Shiro— She’s not that bad…
—She is a witch…what other reason do you want?— said Yuko —Arashi, stop meeting her…
—If I date her or not is none of your business, guys…— said Arashi annoyed — Besides… I work with her, there’s no way I don’t meet her…
—But Arashi…She’s a devil…—said Yuko — She can make curses and kill you with a look…
—That’s stupid…She’s not a witch…—said Arashi really exasperated— She’s kinda cold, but she’s really nice deep inside…
—And she’s pretty too…—commented Shiro.
—Shiro, you idiot…—scolded Hiragi — You can’t notice only the looks! She’s a witch, what if she seduced Arashi to death…
—She wouldn’t!! —almost yelled Arashi —She’s not a witch or a devil! It’s because of people like you that she is that cold!
—But…— began Yuko.
—Forget it…. I’m completely capable to choose people…—he said angrily— Don’t judge her as if you knew her…
There was a pause. Everyone looked at Arashi. They’d never seen him that mad.
—Don’t get mad, bro…—said Shiro —why don’t we change of topic?
They started talking about movies, books and other things. Arashi madness vanished very soon, and their chat fell on the inn they were visiting.
Shiro explained that it was and antique place, and people said that the ghosts of the old owners haunted one of the buildings of the structure.
—I heard that it had to be closed to the public since many animal corpses started appearing there, and even a maid was found in a nasty condition there…—said Shiro.
—Ah! —cried Yuko — Why do you brought us there, Shiro?
—There will be an exorcism taking place there this weekend and I thought it’d be interesting…
—You stupid!— moaned Yuko —  Haven’t you see ghosts movies? Everyone knows that is too reckless to be close to an exorcism!
—We won’t be close…— assured Shiro — I just want to meet this famous exorcist. He was the one who performed various exorcisms in awfully haunted places…
—You said a Maid disappeared?— Asked Arashi ignoring Yuko’s moans.
—Yep, they found her body chopped into pieces, quite nasty…but she seemed to have problems with a gang in town, so…
—It’s more a police matter that supernatural…—said Arashi —Relax, Yuko…there are no ghosts…
—But the animals?— said Hiragi.
—A fox or may be a wolf…— said Arashi.
—Oh, You’re so brave Arashi! — cried Yuko hugging him.
—Hehe…—smiled Arashi nervously and looking at Shiro imploring for help —Oh, c’mon Yuko…—he sighed.
—Yuko…Leave it already!—said Hiragi sternly.
Yuko let go Arashi and he looked at his friend thankful rubbing his neck.
—Hey, Arashi… I hadn’t notice but… are you okay? You don’t look very well…—said Shiro.
—Yeah, I’m fine…—he answered —Someone has been playing pranks on my window and driving me into nightmares that’s all…I haven’t had a chance to sleep well lately…
—You’ll have a good night today…that someone playing pranks couldn’t come all this way, no?
—You are right…
The bell announcing they’re arrived sound and they got off from the train. They took a  bus to the inn ( that was deeply inside the mountain).
It was a nice place, a traditional tatami house with large garden covered by snow and frozen ponds. It was really cold as they arrived to the reception and a couple bellboys took their things to their rooms. They decided to have a look around a Shiro took them to the haunted building.
It was all burnt and in deplorable state. The woods were rotten and the paper on the doors was gone. They saw a couple of boys making a circle on the snow and putting red candles on the line. Another man put a cup of wine and incense in the middle of the circle. They noticed that the circle surrounded that building.
—They’re part of the exorcism ritual —explained Shiro — fire means the light in the darkness; red wax is the sacred color to keep spirits enclosed; the wine is a tribute and the incense guides them to the other world…
—Creepy —said Yuko.
—You know much about it…—said Hiragi.
—My uncle explained it to me, when he came to visit last Thursday… He was talking so well of the exorcist that I’m dying to meet him.
—Who’s him?— asked Arashi.
—No idea. I’ve heard of him, but never seen him…
—Is that so…—said Arashi looking at his friend.
He suddenly saw a long back hair disappearing behind the ruined house. Arashi felt chills on his back and something inside him shook.
—Arashi?— said his friend awaking him from his thoughts.
—Eh…what?
—You’re pale, are you all right? —asked Hiragi.
—Yeah, it’s just the cold…
—yeah, it’s freezing. It’s good time to take a swim don’t you think?
—Yeah! Let’s go…
They followed Shiro to the springs. As any other hot spring bathroom, the ladies bath was separated from the men’s by a thick bamboo cane wall. Even though they were easily able to talk to Yuko.
The water was warm and delicious; it really made them feel great.
—Oh…this is great…—said Hiragi his face was lively red — A lot much better than coats…
—Yeah, by the way what are the plans for this afternoon then?— asked Arashi.
—I don’t know you, but I really want to have a good look on that haunted place…—said Shiro.
—Shiro! That can’t be!—said Yuko.
—C’mon…there’ll be a lot of people around and we’re just looking…
—Well…—said Hiragi.
—I’ll go…—said Arashi.
—I’ll come too…—cried Yuko-
—Oh, boy…well I’m in, too…
—See? You were all interested after all…
—No way —replied Hiragi —but it can’t be helped.