Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume2 Chapter2 (section)

===2===

After dark, Naru came back. Base became a meeting place again. As Naru walked in, Bou-san waved at him, "Yo. Did you make any progress from your research?" 

"It was okay... Have there been any changes here?" Naru replied absently, his head turned toward Lin-san's direction. 

"As of now, nothing changed." Bou-san persisted, "I performed an exorcism today." 

"Really." 

...Hey, Naru, can't you use a softer tone. 

"I think the exorcism was successful." 

"Congratulations." 

Bou-san wrinkled his face, "...You, how come you're not cute at all?" 

"My cute side merged with my capable side. —Lin, give me a layout of Ayami-chan's room." 

...Just give up Bou-san. You can't make him cute. 

Ayako snickered, "Forget it. You can mess with the handsome guy after you succeed." 

"That's right. Otherwise I'll end up ashamed just like Ayako." 

"...What did you say?" 

"Nothing." 

...Can't you guys be quiet? 

Naru stood up, his face devoid of emotion. "Mai, come here. We will examine the camera's angle." 

"Okay." 

...Hey you, do you only think about work? 

Naru and I went to Ayami-chan's room to check on the videocam. 

On the way back, I spoke to him, "Come to think of it, I have something important to say." 

"Do you want me to listen?" 

...Why you. 

Fine then! Say what you want! I was going to answer like that, but then I held myself back and explained to him in a calm, business-like manner. 

"...Don't you think that's kind of scary?" I asked. 

Naru thought about it for a moment, then answered, "I want to see the doll first. Where is it?" 


<span style="font-size: 300%;"><center>* * *</center></span>

"Over here." 

"Oh? So this is Minnie?" 

Noriko-san seemed confused, "Yes, it is..." 

Naru took the doll, then squinted at it with his deep eyes, "When did you buy it?" 

"Before we moved into this house. My brother went to Europe... This is a gift... He said it's from Paris." 

"Did Ayami-chan's personality change before or after that?" 

Noriko-san thought for a moment, "Afterwards...I think." 

"I see..." 

I looked at Naru, "Is something wrong?" 

"...I'm not sure." 

"Give it back!" 

Suddenly Ayami-chan's voice shot out into the air. I was so scared I jumped. Ayami-chan pulled at Naru's black clothes. 

"Give Minnie back! Don't touch her!" 

"Ayami-chan, can you speak with Minnie?" he asked. 

Naru didn't get a reply. Ayami-chan persistently stretched out her hand and finally grabbed the doll back from Naru. 

"I won't let anyone touch her!" 

Ayami-chan clutched onto Minnie, then turned around and ran. 

Naru walked out, his face deep in concentration. 

I didn't sleep well tonight either because I stared at the TV in base. 

"What's that?" I asked. 

I pointed to some numbers on the screen. 

"Don't point at it. Your finger is too unsteady." 

...Oh, come on. 

"That indicates the quantity of ozone in the air. On the side is the quantity of static electricity. And on the side of that are the components of the atmosphere... Do you have any other questions?" 

...No. 

I was about to complain, but then Naru stood up. "It's starting." 

"What is?" 

It really is. The temperature of Ayami-chan's room decreased dramatically. 

I looked at the equipment. Three of the thermography machines whirred. Now it was in temperature mode. The video camera slowly changed its angle until it faced the bed. In the center was Minnie, situated on top of a pillow. 

We took the doll from Ayami-chan when she was sleeping. 

"Bou-san, they're saying the temperature is dropping," Ayako remarked . 

"It's just the wind," Bou-san replied. 

Even though he sounded confident, are things really going to go smoothly? 

Concentrating on the TV, Naru didn't seem to hear the monk's comment. 

Minnie's emotionless face was in the videocam. Glass eyes. Emptiness. 

"Dolls sure make me feel uncomfortable," I said. 

Behind me, Bou-san replied, "Well, of course." He crossed his arms. "Dolls used to be vessels for human souls. Hitogata resemble humans. In the past, they were used to curse people." 

"Huh—?" 

Ayako nodded, "It can serve as a channel for curses. Sealing spirits into voodoo dolls. Then you stick needles into the doll. If the voodoo doll is damaged, so is the person it represents. This is a method to hurt people." 

...Oh— 

...Naru abruptly stood up. 

All eyes turned toward him. Naru stared intently at the screen. 

I stood up too. Ayako, Bou-san, and Lin-san all leaned forward. 

...Minnie's head was facing downwards... 

When did it happen? I was just watching the screen a moment ago! 

Minnie's golden hair spread across the pillow. 

Under our intense gaze, Minnie moved. Sliding and moving, she moved like a stiff puppet. Her head fell off. 

...Scary...! 

The dismembered head rolled on the bed. Then there was the sound of it hitting something. It was as if the doll was alive. 

Afterwards, the temperature in Ayami-chan's room rose until it was back to normal range. 

We rushed to her room. 

Everything was the same as we left it. The head didn't fall off. Minnie didn't seem any different; she was sitting in her old position. 

In addition... The video camera and cameras were working properly. But when we re-wound the tape, it was all blank. There was no sound either. Everything was just blank. 
All the data recorded was gone. That is to say, we didn't have any evidence of what we saw... It was almost like a nightmare. 

We were stuck in quicksand, not sure what we could do even though Naru said this happened often. 

But now we know one thing for sure. 

Bou-san's exorcism was also unsuccessful.