#‘the little chinese women in our headphones is mad at me’ | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

bernardschweizer1 · 7 years

Text

Taishan (1)

I recently had occasion to learn the Chinese vocabulary of noise, inconvenience, and complaint. An apartment below us in our building is undergoing an ambitious and extremely thorough renovation, resulting in deafening noise levels. Thank goodness, I have noise-cancelling headphones, but sometimes even Stevie Ray Vaughn’s amplified electric guitar cannot drown out the jack hammer. At those times, I would storm to the management office (guǎnlǐ chù) and complain (tóusù) that the noise (chǎo) of the demolition (chāi fángzi) had gotten too bad (tài bú hǎo le), especially the drilling (zuǎn kǒng). And I would insist that they tell me until when (dào shénme shíjiān) this madness (#@*!) was supposed go on, so I could come up with a plan to stay sane. After I’ve had my say, they would usually tell me something about a fast approaching end of the project, but nothing would change.

So, one day when it got particularly annoying, I decided to take a hike—literally. To plot my escape, I pored over a map of China, crossing it with my bucket list of places to go hiking. I quickly narrowed it down to one location which, though more than 800 km away (roughly the distance from Switzerland to Holland), was located along the high-speed train line to Beijing, which means that traveling would be less than four hours. Soon, I held the ticket to Tai’an in my hands and busied myself with booking accommodations.

The hiking destination, Taishan, is one of the five holy mountains of China. Some consider it to be the most important of the five mountains. My sense is that this judgment is influenced more by worldly than spiritual considerations. Indeed, being located relatively near Beijing, the place was favored by frequent visits from the emperors. This, in turn, means that the mountain received a rather lavish amount of resources for development. For instance, by the standards of hiking trails, the path they beat up to the Heavenly Gate on the top of the mountain looks rather like a superhighway--a multilane stairway to heaven!

This was not a point of attraction for me, but I figured that there might be alternative routes to go.

But before I get to the hiking portion of the report, I want to clarify that this was my first solo trip in China. In a sense, it was the final exam to see if I was ready to graduate from my “survivor Chinese” level. But early on in my stay at Tai’an, I had reason to suspect misunderstandings because the prices I heard seemed to be wrong, making me wonder if I had my numbers all mixed up. But then I realized that the dollar (or rather kuai/yuan) simply stretched much farther here than in Shanghai. For instance, my large, well-appointed room at the Sheraton set me back all of $73.

The bathroom even fancied a large picture window with a mountain view next to the tub. Another example: a fancy retractable aluminum hiking pole with spring shocks cost just 20 kuai (or $3). In the US, you would not even get the hand strap on said hiking pole for that amount. In many regards, Shanghai is as expensive—or even more expensive—than major Western cities, but Tai’an is in a different league. Here, I noticed a certain financial insouciance that would be unthinkable in places like Shanghai: One lady who wanted to sell me a tourist map told me it was 8 kuai ($1.30), but when I wasn’t bargaining, she voluntarily lowered the prince to 5 kuai. I ended up giving her 6 to play her game of defeating each others’ expectations. For a moment I felt like I was in a Monty Python scene.

People here also don’t charge Westerners more than they do locals. By contrast, in Shanghai even native-born Chinese like my wife (who are considered as “returnees”) are charged more than died-in-the-wool Shanghainese at the fish market and other bargain-intensive places. But along the path up to Taishan, I bought a bag of local herb tea for 5 kuai, and as I walked away, I saw the sign board in Chinese characters that did indeed list the price as 5 kuai per baggy.

Finally, to top it off, when I stepped on a bus for a few stops but did not have the 2 kuai exact change required for the fare, an elderly lady nonchalantly handed me two 1-kuai pieces. Since I didn’t want to be remembered in this town as another dirt-poor Westerner spooning off the locals, I insisted that she keep my 5 kuai bill, which she did, but only reluctantly. In any case, this aspect made me feel perfectly comfortable as the sole Westerner in this place.

I’m not kidding, I didn’t see another Westerner here, and the scarcity of my kind showed in the behavior of the locals: I lost count of how many times I had my picture taken with enthusiastic Chinese who just wanted to be seen with a wàiguó rén (foreigner).

What this meant to them was not entirely clear to me…maybe they considered me exotic. Or I appeared to them as a kind of walking status symbol. This sort of treatment (which scholars would call “reverse othering”) didn’t bother me at all since I obviously derived not disadvantage from it. On the contrary, I reaped a tangible benefit from the attention I was getting: I’m not saying that I was feed like an animal at a petting zoo, but the locals did show a strong proclivity to hand me edibles for free. It started on the way up when a fellow hiker, who kept pace with me, spontaneously offered me half of his freshly purchased cucumber. For a moment I hesitated because of food safety concerns but then I bit into it, and the cold bursting freshness was a sheer delight to my parched mouth.

Later on, a group of women picnicking right on the steps of the stair path held out their bag of freshly baked sponge cake to me and let me grab a couple. Another guy I chatted with for about half an hour using my stumbling Chinese rewarded me for my effort with a whole pack of cookies. During our conversation, he told me, he’d spotted me five hours earlier down at the middle point of the hike. That’s how much I obviously stuck out there.

But as good as folks here are in the friendly-overtures department, giving directions is not their forte. The concierge at the Tai’an Sheraton usefully told me that the Dai Temple—the town’s main attraction, beside the mountain—was a mere 15 minutes down the road. I naturally thought that most people’s 15 minutes was my 10. But the “map” the concierge handed me turned out to be equivalent to an imaginative child’s drawing: It bore only a slight resemblance to the actual lay of the land.

It took me almost one hour to reach the Dai Temple, for it was over two miles away, and I took a few wrong turns. I was again surprised the next day when at the conclusion of my hike I ended up at the foot of the mountain looking for local transportation. I asked some people at a store about the location of the bus stop to return to Tai’an, but they looked at me as if I were asking where the launch pad to the moon was. I know the word for bus stop (chē zhàn) and the question word “where” (zài nǎlǐ), so that was not the problem. Anyway, they could not help me, but when I kept walking down the road, I spotted the bus stop merely two blocks further. Fortunately, the little confusion did not prevent me from being back at the Sheraton in time to order a taxi to take me to the train station. At least the taxi driver had a decent sense of orientation.

2 notes · View notes

rdmfavcpls · 7 years

Text

White Day - Ghost Hunt

Title: Women’s Regret

Category: Ghost Hunt

Pairing: Naru/Mai Rating: T

Summary: Naru in all of his egolastic glory, does not realize the importance of March 14th, especially to Masako, who is sending even more glares to Mai now than ever before. Naru just states a simple comment which then causes Monk to explain about White Day. Disclaimer: I do not owe any rights to Ghost Hunt or their characters Author Note: This is not a direct sequel to my Valentine’s Day one. I am sorry it’s way past White Day but life just keeps getting in the way.

~~Story Begins~~ ~~Valentine’s Day~~ Doctor Oliver “Noll” or “Naru” Davis had returned back to Japan to be with the SPR group in Japan that he had secrectly enjoyed. The constant bickering between Ayako Matazuki -a miko priestess - and Housho Takigawa “Monk” - a part-time monk. Osamu Yasahara a now fourth year high schooler who does quick research and loves to tormet both Monk and Naru himself with his teasing. Father John Brown - a catholic priest dealing with exorcisms - trying to stop Ayako and Monk from fighting and always willingly to give an extra hand. There was Masako Hara - a famous TV medium - who he didn’t quite miss due to the fact that she did have blackmail over him when he was first there, but she would be quite mad if she wasn’t invited back within the group whenever her schedule would allow her. However, the one person who he had missed the most was his accident prone, trouble magnet, amazing tea maker assistant, Mai Taniyama who was a second year high schooler who had confessed her feelings for him, now she acts like it never happened, which Naru figured it was better this way since she loved his deceased twin brother, Eugene “Gene” Davis, instead of him.

There was a knock on his office door causing Naru to look up from the more recent case file he was debating about, “Naru,” he heard Mai’s voice call out, “Masako is here to see you.” He sighed, pinching his nose, “Let her in,” he responded letting his nose go as he prepared to deal with the celebrity. The door opened and Masako walked in, her black short hair framed her face and brought out her brown violet eyes, she was wearing a red kimono with a pink floral design on it and she was carrying a heart shaped box that Naru figured was carrying chocolate in it.

“How can I help you?” Naru asked not even looking at her for five seconds.

“Oh, I don’t have a case for you,” Masako responded politely. “I just came here to give you some chocolates and to wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day.” He sighed and took the box of chocolates, “Thank you. Happy Valentine’s Day to you too.” Masako hid her smile behind her sleeve before walking out of the office. Naru sat the box of chocolates on top of the ones he received from Ayako and Madoka but he had it underneath the box of which Mai gave him and he was slowly munching on.

Naru regretted the way he rejected Mai’s confession because he had feelings for her too so he was surprised when Mai sounded relieved and excited about him returning and her getting her job back. Naru at first thought that being around in the office with her would be awkward but Mai acted like nothing happened and while he was still awaiting an answer, he was content to hear her voice filtering through the walls. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Yasuhara!” he heard Mai spoke happily. “Mai, my dearest,” Yasuhara spoke through the walls, “I have been waiting for this day where I hear you confess your feelings for me.” “Get off!” Mai yelled. “The only feelings I have for you are those that are in between friends. Besides, I thought you were waiting for Monk to return your feelings?”

It was quiet which is weird between the two assistants, he looked at the door waiting for some kind of respond but when it was still quiet, he got up and went to the door before Mai finally spoke the silence, “You’re hopeless.” “No where near as hopeless in love as you are,” Yasuhara responded. “I don’t know how you do it.” “You and me both,” Mai responded before Yasuhara let out a yelp, “What the hell are you trying to do?” Naru opened the office door and saw Mai sitting on the office desk chair, a handful of Yasuhara black hair in her hand as she started pulling on it. Yasuhara was grimacing in pain, his brown eyes shut in pain, he was wearing a simple white shirt with black jeans. Mai let go of his hair, her brown hair having a red headband to keep them out of her amber eyes, she was wearing a white pink shirt that had red hearts on it and a white skirt with a simple red heart on one side. She wore white tights with red hearts that led to her brown shoes.

“Mai, is there a reason you are hurting the same person who takes the evening shifts on the weekend?” Naru asked. Mai instantly let go of Yasuhara and looked at her boss, “He tried to touch my bra strap!” “You are just so festive that I wanted to see more,” Yasuhara responded causing Mai to bonk Yasuhara on the head, “Ow!” “Mai,” Naru spoke. “I’m not apologizing,” Mai responded. “Tea.” He than went back into his office. He closed his eyes and released a breath, he was getting jealous of Yasuhara trying to sneak a peek at his Mai. Oh, who was Naru kidding? He lost his chance that fateful day when they found his brother’s body. ~~March 21~~ “Uh, Masako,” Mai asked as they went around sensing for spirits within a haunted hotel. “Why are you glaring at me? If I did something wrong, I’m sorry?” “Hmph,” Masako responded. “Why would you be sorry over Naru getting you something on White Day and not me?” Mai looked at Masako like she had gained 13 heads, “Masako,” Mai said as she stopped in her path. “Naru didn’t get me anything on White Day except for his daily demand on tea.” Masako looked at her, “He didn’t do anything special for you?” Mai thought about it, “Do you consider demanding his tea short by two on his daily basis special?” “You kept track?” “I was bored for the week my school went on a class trip expect for me and had nothing better to do,” Mai explained. Masako stared at her, “No, demanding his tea two times less is not something in which I would consider special.” “Than no, he didn’t. It’s not like I’m worried about it or anything,” Mai said as they continued their exploration. “He has zero interest in me.” Masako placed her arm, covered in a red and white butterfly pattern kimono, “Mai, the spirits here, they mean no harm but they have taken an interest within you.” Mai tossed her hands up in the air, “When don’t the spirits take an interest in me? Why wouldn’t it be nice if the spirits just walk up with a cake and apologize?” “Spirits don’t work like that,” Masako responded. “I know, it still would be nice.” ~~SPR Base~~ Lin, a tall Chinese man with black hair, stoic brown eyes moved his black headphones onto his neck upon hearing the women’s conversation, it was a lot more entertaining listening to their conversation than it was Ayako’s and Monk’s argument over who can read a thermometer correctly and John giving a lecture to Yasuhara who had made a joke over one of the crucifixes being upside down. He spun around in his chair to look at Naru who was going over the case file, “You forgot about White Day?” “What?” Naru asked looking at his guardian who wore his usual white shirt and black pants. “White Day.” “What is White Day?” “A holiday,” Lin responded. “Common to Asian culture.” “Okay,” Naru responded. “Is there a reason as to why I should know what White Day is?” “You don’t know what White Day is?” Monk asked as him and Ayako came back into base. “Well, that explains as to why I haven’t received anything back from you,” Ayako spoke. “That also explains as to why Masako has been glaring and getting short with Mai and yourself.” “It’s just a stupid holiday!” Naru spoke which only caused Monk to start tsking. “What?” “White Day is the opposite of Valentine’s Day,” Monk explained. “It used to be that out of the female suitors give out the gift to the guy who they liked on Valentine’s Day. Than that guy had a month to decide on who his wife will be so he will give a gift in return to the girl he chose. Now, the guy kindly gives back to the ladies but the one that they are interested in - if any - get a slightly different present.” “It just sounds like another pointless holiday,” Naru spoke going back to the case file. Lin mentally sighed and put the headphones on, looking at the monitors to see where Mai and Masako are located at. Ayako just started laughing, “Very well, say what you want,” Ayako spoke. “But if you don’t give them a gift, than they might think you aren’t interested and within doing so, might start to move on.” “Imagine, the horrors,” Monk exclaimed. “What horrors are we imagining?” Yasuhara asked as him and John returned to base. “What type of boyfriends Mai might be introducing us to,” Monk explained. “Oh my,” Yasuhara gasped in mock surprise, a hand covering his mouth. “Why, some of them might just be so handsome that even I would swoon upon them looking at me.” “Or they could be incredibly kind and help our sweet Mai with her homework when she’s having trouble,” Monk spoke in a thoughtful tone.

“Or so incredibly sweet that he brings flowers into the office randomly for her or have them delivered with sweet little notes of love,” Yasuhara continued.

“Or a smooth talker who makes her face light up with a little blush.” John feeling the air get colder a little, “You guys,” he said meekly. Ayako felt it too but she wanted to join in on the fun so she looked at her freshly painted nails, “Or how about a creep who only wants to get his way into her heart before breaking it.” Monk’s eyes went wide, “Oh no! Even worse, someone who takes away her precious innocence with false promises.” Air got colder. “A stalker who knows everything about her,” Yasuhara spoke in terror, “Who knows where she’s been and where she lives. Someone who installed cameras into her apartment, who can watch her undress!” “A jerk who slowly steals her away from us and controls her to where her confidence is destroyed and she’s blocked off from the world,” Monk continued. Air was so cold that Lin even shivered and had to ask his shiki if there were any spirits within base and John just meekly tried to get the gang to stop. “A dashing man who is only seeing Mai on the side because he considers her a booty call,” Monk gasped. “A man who would put his life before hers possibly leaving Mai within a burning building,” Ayako spoke.

“The worst yet,” Yasu spoke gravely like he was telling a ghost story, “a man who gets another woman pregnant while Mai is away on the case.”

“No,” Ayako spoke, “A man who leaves a letter on her desk breaking it off with her is the worst.” Air getting close to freezing and John sees Naru clenching the used to be pristine paper. “You guys are so way off,” Monk said. “The worst is a man fighting with Mai because he believes she’s cheating on him with how much time we are gone on cases.” “No, the worst of the worst is a man who sweeps Mai off her feet, who she gets married too and starts a family with,” Lin spoke knowing that will hit a nerve on his charge. The air was now below freezing as Naru looked up from the paper, “Don’t you guys have anything work related to do?” Something caught Lin’s attention on the monitor before the girl’s scream blasted his eardrums. He stood up and tossed his headphones onto the desk, “The room heading towards the pool, Masako and Mai are in trouble.” They left the room but if they would have stayed a little longer and watched the monitors more, than they would have seen a hole appear out of nowhere underneath Masako and Mai to where Mai noticed it first and pushed Masako out of the way leaving Mai in the way of the hole. When everyone showed up in the room, they saw Masako on the ground soaking wet, staring at the floor shocked and surprised, “Masako,” Ayako started, “What happened? Where’s Mai?” “There was a shadow figure in the doorway, right out of camera’s reach, they caused the pool’s water to come out of the pool and started coming at us. Mai noticed that a hole had just opened on the floor and pushed me aside just as she started to fall. The hole just disappeared along with the shadow figure,” Masako explained. “Why is it always Mai?” Ayako asked. “Why can’t it be Naru or Monk or Yasuhara for a change?” “Why are you including me?” Yasuhara spoke. “The spirits were intrigued with her. They kept chanting, ‘she’s the one,’” Masako spoke quietly seeing Naru hands clenched and the anger within his eyes. Maybe it’s because Mai always needed someone to protect her, or that she never worries for herself, but Masako could see that Naru was worried for his assistant and that he cared deeply for her. However, with this case, Masako was also worried about Mai. ~~With Mai~~ Mai woke up with a groan as she held her head and sat up. There was no dream of the past, no Gene to explain what happened. When she finally took in her surroundings, she noticed that she was in the locked honeymoon suite that no one could enter, even when the door was unlocked and when they were trying to knock the door down. She looked around at the room that had beautiful red satin sheets on the bed with a sheer red bed curtain, the walls were painted a deep red color and there was a nightstand next to the bed which had a lamp. In front of the bed was a full-length mirror that didn’t help show how Mai looked like due to the bed curtain. She gasped as she saw she wasn’t in her regular clothing but in a white dress that went down to her feet, there was thin straps on the dress keeping it up on her as the top part was covered in jewels. “Okay, Naru,” Mai grumbled. “How do you explain me falling through a hole on the ground floor, ended up in the never opened before honeymoon suite that’s on the fourth floor and wearing what appears to be a wedding dress.” She than looked around again, searching for someone else, “Masako?” There was no response, there wasn’t another bed or another figure and there was only two doors, one that led out of the room, and the other was opened which led to a pretty blue themed washroom. She went to move off of the bed when she felt a strange sensation, it was like she was tossed out of her own body and looking at her body through her own eyes. Mai watched as her body got up, her bare feet walking on the plush red carpet and into the darker part of the room, Mai now seeing how the dress was layered a bit on the bottom and how the jewels dazzled within the light. The door never opened but two people entered the room, one was a tall man who was tanned with too much gel black hair, he was wearing a tuxedo and Mai felt sadness and betrayal within her heart, tears glistening within her eyes as the wind blew her hair in her face. Mai looked around and all of the large heart shaped windows were closed. Mai than felt anger within her as she looked at the lady who was currently kissing the man, her long black hair was curled and she was wearing a dress that resembled a bridesmaid dress. She than heard her voice speaking in anger, “You traitors! You disgusting traitors! You married me Koujo but you decide to spend our wedding night with my best friend!” “Maiya,” the man spoke in surprise. “I can explain!” “No! No more lies, no more explanation! You couldn’t tell me the truth when I asked about it when I received the same White Day gift as all the other girls!” Maiya spoke with Mai’s own voice. “As for you, Keysha, you were my best friend! All the boys I liked, you dated and I asked you to leave this one alone and you betray me! What did I ever do to deserve you to treat me like this?” Mai saw a black aura form around her body as she kept backing up towards one of the windows, “I loved the both of you but you broke my heart now, due to your betrayal, my life will be on your hands.” Mai was pulled back into her body but she saw the black figure from earlier jump out of the window. Mai got her surrounding back and looked up seeing the black figure. “I was a fool,” the figure spoke to Mai, “to ever fall in love and to ask my friend to stay away with. I should have broken up with Koujo on White Day but I never truly cared about White Day before, my best friend getting all the special presents expect for me twice. One from Koujo and the other from the bellboy who worked here and I went to school with.” “Is this why you picked me?” Mai asked seeing the warm light surround the spirit and a woman who looked a lot like her mother was revealed to be the shadow figure. “Partly, the other part is so I can tell you that you’re parents are always with you and are happy with you,” the woman spoke. “You’re mother just so happened to be my niece and I met her when she was three years old.” Maiya than gently touched Mai’s cheek, “I wanted to meet and tell my story to my great niece who was named after me.” “Grandma told me a lot about you when she was babysitting me after father died,” Mai spoke. “You always did follow your heart.” “Yes. Sorry, your clothes got wet so I had to put you in the dress,” the light grew warmer. “Thank you, for coming. The other spirits will need just a basic cleanisng for they were all victims of the same crime that happened to me on our wedding nights. I would like it if you put this dress at your grandmother’s shrine. You’re boss is quite worried about you, you should confess to him again.” The spirit disappeared leaving Mai alone in the room. “How am I supposed to leave?” she asked herself as she looked around. She went to the door and tried it seeing that it can now open. ~~SPR Base~~ “It is impossible for that hole to have taken her, anyway,” Yasuhara spoke the truth that they were trying to avoid. “There’s no passage way because this was just added five years ago.”

“We have to have missed something,” Naru spoke. “Naru,” Lin spoke being the voice of reason, “We have been over the history, blueprints, land movements, and tried to recreate it three times.” “It’s been a day since she disappeared,” Ayako spoke. “There needs to be something told.” “Hey, guys,” John spoke looking at the monitors. “I think I found Mai.” “What! Where? Is she fine!” Monk asked racing towards John. “How in the world did she end up on the fourth floor?” “What?” Masako asked surprised. “That’s impossible. We were on the ground floor.” Monk and Naru were out of the door before Masako got done speaking, everyone else surrounded John. “Why is she in a wedding dress?” Ayako asked. ~~With Mai~~ Mai was alone within the empty hallways, the only sound being her feet pitter and patter against the cold hard floor. She had just reached the stairs to get to the third floor which is where the girls room was at when she heard fast footsteps coming from below. “Mai!” she heard Monk yelled. She stopped as she reached the stairs, “I was willing hoping to get back into my clothes before they found me.” Mai sighed. She was going to do what her great-aunt asked her to do. She deserved some happiness instead of heartache. “Mai!” Monk yelled as he ran up the stairs and then proceeded to hug her tightly, cutting all air circulation from Mai. “Oh God, you aren’t hurt are you? Did anything bad happen? Where were you?” He than looked at her, “Why are you in a wedding dress?”

“I...need...air,” Mai gasped out. Monk pulled away from her letting her breath only to hear what sounded like a cough coming from below. She looked towards the stairs to see Naru standing there, “Naru!” “You can answer those questions back at base,” Naru responded. Mai had a blush forming on her face, “Can I at least get out of the dress first?” Naru smirked, “Sure, if you want one of us to watch to make sure you don’t disappear.” Mai puffed her cheeks out in anger, “You pervert!” “Hold on,” Monk spoke grabbing the walkie he still had, “Hey old hag, Masako can you hear me?” “Who are you calling an old hag!” Ayako asked over the walkie talkie. “You -since you responded,” Monk responded. Naru walked up the steps as Monk and Ayako went at it over the walkie, “You okay?” he asked. “Yeah,” Mai said with a forced smile which was a sign that she was not okay. She looked away quickly.

Naru grabbed his own walkie-talkie, “Lin.” “Yes? Is everything okay?” Lin responded. “Can you have Masako come up and help Mai change?” Naru asked. “She’s on her way,” Lin responded. Naru nodded and put the walkie away only to realize that Monk was still argueing with Ayako over the walkie and that Mai was on the third floor heading towards the girls room. “Mai!” he snapped out causing her to stop walking. “You are not to be alone!” “I’ll just wait here than for someone to show up,” Mai spoke back. “Especially since this dress doesn’t belong to me and I want to keep it clean.” Naru arched an eyebrow at that comment but Masako had showed up and ushered Mai into the room. “Monk, let’s go,” Naru spoke heading back to base. When everyone is back at the base, Naru tapping his fingers against the desk he’s sitting at believing that the two women are taking forever, Monk packing back and forth only for Ayako to slap him over the head. Masako and Mai came back with tray filled with tea which Mai handed out before sitting down as Lin came over with his laptop. “Where would you like me to start?” Mai asked knowing that a lot has happened. “Tell us about what happened from the beginning,” Naru spoke.

“Well, Masako and I were heading towards the pool when a shadow figured appeared, distracted us by moving the water to the hole that had just appeared in the floor which would have gotten both of us, but I noticed it and pushed Masako out of the way. Sorry if I injured you in anyway,” Mai explained. “You shouldn’t worry about me when you was gone a whole day,” Masako responded.

“I was gone for a day?” Mai exclaimed shocked “So, what happened next?” Lin asked getting them back on topic. “I woke up in the honeymoon suite that never opens,” Mai explained. “I looked around and when I noticed I was in the wedding dress, I tried to move to get to the door, to see if I can get someone’s attention.” “That makes zero sense,” Yasuhara spoke. “How could you have ended up on the fourth floor?” “The shadow figure wanted to speak and show me something that happened in the room. I was literally tossed out of my body for her to take control of as I watched the past unfold. She was just a new bride on her wedding night when her new husband walked into the room with her best friend, kissing her each other. She jumped out of an open window wearing that wedding dress I was wearing.” “She?” Lin asked. “Yes,” Mai responded. “Nazuka Maiya, she doesn’t deserve to be called by her married name when she never truly got to experience being married.” Lin stopped typing, “Maiya, kind of sounds like your name Mai,” John spoke. “I was named after her,” Mai responded. “She was my great aunt who regretted some of her choices within life and that she knew the signs of him cheating on her but refused to believe it.” “That explains why you wanted to get out of the dress so badly,” Monk spoke. “She just wanted to meet and to speak with me,” Mai said. “She said the spirits will leave once we cleanse them. They were all victims of the same fate she had.” “That’s terrible,” Ayako spoke. “How did you get out of the suite?” Naru asked. “By the door,” Mai commented. “I think it was because she was finally free, that she allowed the room to be opened.” “Interesting,” Naru spoke. “John and Masako, you two will cleanse the first floor, Ayako and Monk you two will be the third floor, Lin you’ll take the room by the pool. Yasuhara, let the clients know that they can start coming back tomorrow. Mai and I will watch the process via the monitors.” “You got it big boss!” Yasuhara spoke. “Why do I always get stuck with the stupid monk?” Ayako complained as they exited the room. Masako just followed them out knowing that the man who she has been pinning for will finally make a move on Mai, and if he doesn’t, well, Mai and Masako already talked about it. Masako will help Mai move on, because Naru also rejected Masako’s feelings. “Why do I get to be stuck alone with you?” Mai asked crossing her arms. “Because you can’t seem to keep yourself out of trouble,” Naru responded flatly. “Excuse me for not wanting Masako to end up in the hospital again,” Mai spoke crossing her arms. “We may be at ends but I consider her as my best friend. She’s the only one who I can talk to about my nightmares.” Naru turned to look at her, his blue eyes burning with an unidentified emotion within them. “I want an answer.” “What answer?” Mai asked confused. “You haven’t asked any questions.” “When you confessed your feelings for me,” Naru responded causing Mai’s eyes to go wide. “What?”

“That actually happened?” Mai squeaked in surprise. “You forgot?” Naru asked honestly believing that the assistant would forget something about that. “No, I just thought it was a dream/nightmare,” Mai exclaimed. “I mean, I have gotten rejected before but not in the way you rejected me so I just figured it was a bad daydream which followed me.” “I see, only an idiot like you would think of something like that. So, I’ll ask again. Me or Gene?” Naru asked bracing for the worse. “You,” Mai responded not missing a beat this time and staring in Naru’s eyes. “It was always you with your stupid, narcissistic, egotistic, arrogant attitude.” Naru was left speechless and sat there staring at her causing Mai to place her hands on her hips, “I know I’m pretty to look at but you aren’t getting paid to look at me.” His words, his words getting twisted to fit her whenever he catches her staring at him for too long. He smirked, “I might be getting paid to look at you, you do need a babysitter anyway.” “You jerk!” Mai yelled puffing out in anger. “Mmm, yes but I’m now your jerk. So how does Monday, after you get done with school sound for a late snack before helping me find the perfect gifts for White Day?” Mai stared there blinking, “You haven’t done anything for White Day which was a week ago?” “I just learned about it today, and I learned that in order to keep with the good social standing between Madoka, Ayako, Masako, and yourself, I should get them a gift. I have no idea what to give them however.” “Are you admitting a fault?” “No, what makes you think that?” Naru asked looking at her. “Just my instinct,” Mai responded with a smile shaking her head. “However, I will help you. I can’t believe that the first date I’m helping you shop for belated White Day gifts.” “Thank you,” Naru responded as Mai handed him another cup of tea without him asking. ~~The End~~

#Ghost Hunt #Mai x Naru #Mai Taniyama #oliver davis #Naru #White Day

22 notes · View notes

bt2018bt2018 · 6 years

Photo

Retail Insights February 15, 2018 http://ift.tt/2F0Gy05

Click on an image below to zoom in & open photo gallery >>

Overhead skeleton for store decoration

Overhead art animal skeleton

outside store name board explicitly communicate that it accepts AMEX

outdoor sale sign with an arrow

OFFERS AT A SINGLE GLANCE sign wanted on this brochure stand

NATIONWIDE NEWS agencies team up to provide parcel collection points to customers

Mirror next to mannequin in store

Mirror on stores pillars

Mirror integrate into shelf

Mirror integrate into store pillars

Mirror integrate into shelf makes it easy to see how headphone looks on me

Mirror at back of shelf edge for shoe display

Mini trees inside retail store

MIMCO selling points at a glance through store window

Mannequin with see-through dress

Mannequin prancing

Mannequin paired with flowers

Mannequin leaning forward

Mannequin at corner of store window

Mannequin and mirror

Lock to lock luggage handle in place

Levitating shoe

Koala and trees product visual merchandising

jump rope counts for you with LED lights

Jumbo elephant sale

iPhone lock screen update

Interesting Jacket

Interesting coasters

How to keep your headphones from taking up previous space

Heat tech extra warm leggings

Heart shaped packaging for glasses wants you to buy both boxes

Happy water bottle with cute toy

good things come to those who wait

Good pets deserve great rewards

Golden shoes sold at this mall

Golden reflective shelf background for clothing

Giant mirror in retail store

Giant mannequin squashing basketball

Giant baby wipes for portable shower

Gel soles leather shoes

GEL sole shoes

Fresh meat sold at this pet shop

Free glasses clean

DON'T FORGET - sign

Direction to recycle with arrow sign

Different zipper colours for this waist pouch

Dedicated pickup counter for people ordering juice through the app

David Jones environmentally friendly shopping bags

Cute baby feet images overhead shelves displaying clothing

Cosmetics beauty store visual merchandising

Convenience store fridge communicate selling point on its product with overhead space

Confident mannequin posing

Chandelier

Bistro lighting

Biggest savings of the season sign

Barbershop with terminator Statue

Ballerina shoes

Bad sweater day

Babies overhead photos at a glance in this mall

Australia's softest tissue

Arrow tips for sunglasses

Arrows and sunglasses

Arrow for mall directory

360 degrees video camera

adoption centre at this pet shop

adopt a hermit crab

Adequate sofa seatings in this mall

Visual Merchandising FOCUS Concept

Tax Time Madness

Stamps available for sale at this convenience store

Specialist Maths & English Tuition

Shirts

Overhead Shoe Products compartment

POST OFFICE Paper Bag as Advertising medium

Amelia's Wardrobe

24 hr Dry Cleaning Drop Off

Price Checker shows movie trailer

Sales pitch for Lotto wants u to dream

Shiny Bricks in this retail store

$15 off for every$75 spent promo offer limited by time

Bottle Cap Darts

Breville manage your food pressure, temperature and time

Colourful towels

Comfy Bed Position

Disadvantaged Indigenous Children

Happy Ben at Kit Kat Stand

Gold Embossed Book Cover

Get Fully Charged

Mannequin

Little Story Card next to Product

Invisible Thread

Nothing Escapes the Miele AirClean System

Nutri Bullet

Sunbeam Espresso Machine

TARGET Centre Safety Mirror installed overhead

The VS Style

Transparent Baby TuTu

Turn winter into a winner

Gel ink multicolour pen at office works.

Upside down Spider-Man in retail store ceiling frees up space

100 dollar note as a bookmark.

Why should Chadstone jb hi-fi stop selling discounted junk products? Mousepad doesn't work. Lost customer for a lifetime to recoup a little of capital. Win the battle. Lost the war

Black lipsticks for Caucasian female

Myer. Free cookie with dining in and take away coffees

Batman logo haircut at the back of kids head.

Crew cut at shaver shop saves me money

News agency offer gift wrapping service. Pushcarts too

Departmental store put charity coin box next to cashier

Glitter skin moisturiser

What if the face of watches is made from bulletproof glass as a selling point. Eliminate customer anxiety and fear

Stairs to buildings should have sign and arrow to direct people with babies in prams to nearest ramp access into building

Square board with Body Image and Hole for Head for retail shop Photo competition and to hide body of customer

Ladies tight mini skirt with pockets akin to pants

Backpack vacuum cleaner

Fun fact stories in Brochure next to products in store

Split payment at self-service cashier

Uniqlo staff wear Japanese clothing

Sack the boss' n year of the monkey' lottery ticket - signs

Street or mall overhead ceiling light with stencil project word on floor as well as lights

Put teddy bears on the walls of florist

Attractive women distributing flyer improve flyer penetration rates

Store greeter. Anti-theft bag checker and sample distributor roles in one person. Big W

Lacey back for dress

Beanie with quote terrible hair day

Luxury brand store entry hostess carry tablet to take down email address of customers waiting on queue to enter store

Inner zipped pocket for down jacket

Wireless bra by UNIQLO retail clothing store

Retail store offers discount signage shaped as outline of product

Melbourne Color Coded Post Box

Discount sign shaped as product that it is talking about

Immerse your senses in virtual reality while you wait .jpg_

in store plant

Inspirational quote in sportswear shop

Integrate giant ship with video game shelf

Integrate mall pillar with mirror for customers to make an informed decision

Integrate mirror into mall pillars

Jeans categories viewable at a single glance through overhead sign

Kettle top opens slowly to release steam and avoid splashing

Kid Mannequin

Lamp in a box

Lego pencil case

Leverage on most populous escalator point in mall to advertise promos and services

Lingerie mannequin wearing pearls

lingerie Mannequins posing wildly with a mirror as background

Lingerie model

Lingerie shop in Melbourne central mall

Make full use of store corner to display product

Mall directory

mall promo sign next to the elevator door

Mall welcomes Chinese customers by communicating in Mandarin

Mannequin hanging by a string

Mannequin in action

Mirror allows you to instantly compare your own shoes with product shoes

Marbled mall floor

Mannequin on a swing hanging from the ceiling

Mannequin laying hands on another mannequin shoulder

Mirror as background of product shelf

Mirror as background shelving for white lingerie

Mirror at corner of staircase

Mirror integrate into mall's pillar

Mirror integrate into pillar with compliments

Mirror integrate with Shoes on shelf

Modern coloured lipstick

Missing reason on Why would customers make the efforts to pick up brochure at UNIQLO from a distance away

Mirror integrate with Shoes on shelf

Mirror integrate into pillar with compliments

New and improved socks

MyVoice at BigW

Mysterious visual merchandising

New York giving tampons away for free

No commission on all foreign currency

Nothing over $20

Novelty blenders

Office set up in the middle of the Departmental store

Overhead hanging remote control vehicles

Overhead lamp with grass protruding

Overhead lighting

Overhead Retail Store Nameboard Integrate with Arrow

Overhead television deter theft

Overhead television introduce product

Pair chicken with soft drinks advertisement on drinks fridge

Pair internet steaming tv services to sell television products

Pet shop sign with arrow on back door

Photo of model in photo shoot using Cosmetics sell products

Photo stand next to product show model wearing jeans

Please queue here for service sign

Products on a box layered with paper hay

property agency let's you rent condo before you buy

Quality paper

Queue here for service sign

Quick and easy Spanish recipe book

Quote by kikki.K

Retail store with framed advertisement and arrow

Retail store pays tribute to the glorious dead

Selling points next to property advertisement

Sell medications by asking if customer have a symptom

seamless briefs for no visible lines

Scalp camera consultation

SALE gown on mannequin

Shoes levitating in this store

Shelf edge with Label for jeans product

shelf background with image of foods

Sexy naked legs sell stockings product

Sign that play with words sell products

Sign that compliments you sell products

Sign invites you in to store

Sign communicate upstairs product category at a single glance

Stacked washing machine to save space

Staircase tells you where is the elevator

Star next to brand name

stocktake sale sign

Storage space in built into beds

store greeter double as working staff by folding clothing at entrance

SUHDTV by Samsung

suit and tie

the suitcase is also a scooter

Suitcase

Suncubator

Sunset backdrop in visual merchandising

If our insights have benefited you or your circle of influence, please support us by clicking on the advertising banner below as well as sharing this site with your sphere of influence.

It costs you nothing & only takes a few seconds of your time.

Thank you, and God Bless you and your family.

Retail February 15, 2018 at 11:48AM

#IFTTT #Blogger

0 notes