化物狩団

She listened as the two friends fought quietly in the hallway, trying to ignore them. That wound had looked pretty bad. Maybe she should get out her medicine supplies...she would ask later.

"I wonder what that was about," Ezra said, leaning back in his chair.

"Don't be nosy." Kintarou had pulled out a rather thick book and was flipping through it.

Ezra stared at him, but didn't say anything before the two reentered the room. Chihaya went back to her seat and pouted; whatever argument they had had, it looked as if the Commander had won.

"Okay, so," he started, "does anyone have any ideas?"

Ezra shook his head. Kintarou continued reading. The Commander sighed and sat back down.

"Um." Mihoko got up and walked over to him. "Would you like me to change that bandage for you? It doesn't look too good."

He stared at her for a moment. "Can you? I mean, do you have bandages with you?"

She nodded. She went back to her seat and grabbed her bag, pulling out a small first-aid kit. Really, people could say she was being paranoid, but it had proved its usefulness more than once. "I always have a kit with me." She brought it over.

"Oh, well, uh, sure then..." The Commander rolled up his sleeve and held his arm out.

Mihoko opened the kit and proceeded to change his bandage. The Commander stared at her the whole time, never moving an inch. Mihoko finished quickly.

"Well," Kintarou said suddenly, "I can't find it." He closed the book.

She wondered what he was looking for in there.

"Either way, we should probably check out your house."

Before the Commander could even react to this, Chihaya jumped out of her seat. "Oh yes! Field trip time!"

"That is a fantastic idea!" Ezra agreed. He righted his chair and sat up.

"Do I not get a say in this?" asked the Commander, looking exasperated.

Chihaya shook her head. "I mean, unless you think your mom will mind."

"No one should be home right now."

"All right; great! Let's go, everyone!"

The Commander lived about fifteen minutes from school by walking. It was a nice fall day, however, so Mihoko didn't mind.

When they arrived at his house, he looked inside then waved the others in. They all walked down a dark, narrow hallway. A door was open and Mihoko peered inside. It was the kitchen; messy. She wondered what the Commander's mother did in the daytime.

"Y'know, Commander," Chihaya spoke up, "it's usually polite to offer your guests something." She smirked.

"Does anyone want something to drink?" He flatly asked without stopping or turning around. No one responded, and soon they came to the end of the hallway. He opened a door and led everyone inside. She assumed this was his room. It was small and mostly bare, except for a small table and a few clothes scattered around. Everyone sat down around the room.

"There's really nothing to see right now. It really only comes out at night or in the morning."

"That's all right. We should try to figure out what it is." Kintarou pulled out his large book once more and started flipping through pages. "So what are some of the effects or signs of this 'ghost'? Besides these attacks, that is."

"Well, sometimes it throws things at me, and, um..." The Commander crossed his arms. "I hear noises at night sometimes, like some kind of animal is walking around."

"Do you have a pet?"

The Commander shook his head.

"I think," Chihaya loudly interjected, "we should all meet her later tonight."

Mihoko heard the front door open and a woman call out "We're home!" into the house. Quick footsteps echoed through the hallway, then the door opened a crack and someone peered in. A grade-schooler. He smiled at the Commander and asked, "Hey, bro, can I come and join the party, too?" He smirked.

"No." The Commander didn't even look towards him.

The child stuck out his tongue and slammed the door shut, but thankfully, before it made an unpleasant sound, another hand caught it and opened it all the way. A tired-looking woman in a worn kimono stood and smiled at everyone. "Raizou, I didn't know you were having friends over today!"

"It was sort of sudden, sorry," the Commander muttered.

"It's quite all right." She turned to Chihaya. "Chihaya, dear, I haven't seen you in some time!"

"Hello!" Chihaya waved. "I'm going to spend the night; is that all right?"

"Of course it is!" The Commander's mother took another look around the room before addressing her son again. "You all have fun, all right?"

The Commander nodded, and with that the woman smiled and shut the door.

"Anyway," said Chihaya, "back on track."

"Maybe sometime after dark, later in the night?" Kintarou suggested.

Chihaya looked at the Commander, who shrugged in return. "Fine, whatever," he said. He stood up and walked over to the sliding door next to the garden. He opened it wide and pointed outside. "Let's all meet by that tree. Can everyone make it tonight?"

The quiet boy and the strange boy both nodded.

Mihoko had to think about this for a minute. How would she be able to slip away that late at night? She could probably just tell her father the truth; he'd be ecstatic to know that his daughter was following in his footsteps. He'd probably even give her some supplies to help.

The real question, of course, was he even going to be home then?

She also nodded.

The Commander nodded back. "Okay then; the meeting is adjourned for now."