Out of Sight

Sequel to 'Out of Hand'

Or just Book 3

By Lowefantasy

1

"Reporting for duty, sir!" I did my most rigid salute.

I got the expected droll stare. "How many times have I asked you to not…whatever. Here."

A manila folder was flopped on the blackety black desk between us. He turned back to his computer as though to resume an interesting episode of a TV show that could never exist because I swear my professor has a phobia of cable, dish, and videogames.

"What'chya watching?" I asked.

"I'm reading," he said tersely. "As should you." He gestured his chin to the folder, his eyes not once leaving the screen.

Wondering if I could pull off an embarrassing joke based off his answer, I took the folder and opened it. A stack of papers were clipped inside, or whatever the hell those bendy metal arms that go through holes in the top are called. Hey, my word calendar didn't include office supplies.

The first thing I saw was the school's logo.

"I'm getting kicked out!" I screeched, mostly just to screw with him.

"For the love of—" he scratched the back of his head hard, something he did sometimes when frustrated. "I said read! It's from the president of the school. He wants me to look into a case I'm about sure is just a building facing age and structural failure."

I at least read the first paragraph before asking, "And you won't just do the tests to prove it to him why?"

"Because I have better things to do than calm the delirious fantasies of idiots."

"Uh, dude, that idiot is your boss."

"Rank doesn't change intelligence."

I shrugged. "Just saying." I looked back down on the folder. Since Professor Davis didn't seem ready to kick me out yet, I took a seat in a blackety black reading chair, propped my legs up on one of the armrests, and got to reading.

A cursory glance at the symptoms the president and the teachers of the old science building were complaining of seemed to suggest a poltergeist—and that was all. And, having been in the building myself on multiple occasions to attend my physics class, I too had my doubts. The building was so old it still had that brown industrial carpet from the age when poop colored carpet was a good idea. In various rooms, there were stains on the ceiling, and in the maintenance room, which I went into a grand total of once on a tour, by yours truly Jeff, I thought I could make out the old outline of a coal boiler.

"And you're certain it's structural without doing the tests why?" I asked.

"Because all of the incidents have a legitimate explanation that connects to a building that is simply old and possibly settling to one side," he said. "Also, I don't have the time. It's midterms."

I gave him my own droll stare. I'd been practicing off of him. "And I don't?"

"This is your midterm test. You get to do all the tests proving me right."

"And if you're wrong?"

Another 'you're stupid' look.

"I've already walked through the building and read its history," he looked back to whatever enthralling thing he was reading. "There is no reason for it to be haunted. Besides, it's an excellent opportunity to test you in a safe environment. You did get my recommendation for medium training, yes?"

I wrinkled my nose. "Yes."

"Have you two set up a time to practice?"

I wrinkled my nose farther. "No."

He looked at me again, this time his cheek against his hand.

"Masako Hara is perfectly capable—"

"—full of herself celebrity who thinks she has, not just you, but everyone wrapped around her finger." I said with a growl. "And FYI, if she comes into your office naked, you were warned."

He sighed, the long, heavy, exasperated sigh.

"You're being unreasonable in your evaluation of her," he said. "From all reports and meeting her myself, she is simply confident in her abilities and perfectly polite."

"Yeah, maybe to you."

"What exactly happened between you two to get you this way?"

I stiffened. It had only been a phone call. And a brief visit that would scar Ayako and I for life.

"She…she thought she'd show of her medium power in our apartment," I said, looking away. "And channeled someone who use to live there, and they kinda happened to be a perv—but that's not it! It's what she said afterwards too. She didn't even apologize at all, and the things she said were just rude."

"Hmm," he said, as a sign he had lost interest.

"I got hit in the head and almost humped by a girl!"

"That isn't necessarily her fault and will you please stop bloody yelling." He was pinching his nose now. Irritated. "Whatever the case, you need to put it aside and accept those lessons with her, for your own safety, or you'll never be a capable ghost hunter. You'll just be crazy."

"Seriously considering changing my major," I said.

He didn't even grace that with his attention.

I crossed my arms. "Did you hear what I said? I just threatened to change my major and take away you're top pupil."

"Hmph. You are not my top pupil. The most psychically powerful, but not the cream of the crop."

"I'm still threatening it! You could at least try to stop me."

"Why?" A click of the mouse and a scroll of the screen. "I already know it's an empty threat."

"Oh yeah? How so."

He didn't say anything for a minute, his blues eyes shifting back and forth across the screen. He didn't scroll down anymore though, even though there was only one paragraph on there and a genius like him had to be a fast reader.

I threw down my hands. "Fine. Flippity fine. If it will keep stupid dead kids from possessing me and letting me go through their crap, then fine. But I'd like to see you act as maturely after getting restrained and humped by the same gender!"

"That would never happen because I'd never get restrained in the first place."

I dug my fingertips down my cheeks, pulling down my lower eyelids. "Ugh, you're so arrogant. Maybe you and Masako deserve each other."

"Whatever," he flicked a hand at me, eyes to the screen. "Can you go now so I can read?"

"What about tools? Or teammates? Do I get someone to help me out?"

"You get to find that help, as most ghost hunters do. As for equipment, I've already dropped off what you need at your apartment." He turned to give me what could only be his blood-chilling glare. "You already know what will happen should you damage any of it."

I stiffened. "Swift and immediate death, sir."

The glare softened and the corner of his mouth twitched.

And for a brief moment, that could have taken a full 3 seconds, he just looked at me, straight in the eyes, unflinching. My heart tripped a bit over itself. What was he looking for?

But then it was back to the ever important screen, which he finally scrolled. "I expect a thorough report of the likes I've never seen, at least from you."

I sighed. "Yeah yeah, I got it." I already had some ideas in my head as to who I could ask for help in this midterm endeavor.

"Oh, and Mai?"

"Yes, oh blackety black one?"

"It would be best if you didn't tell Takigawa you have a fiancé."

I winced. "Hey, you can't switch from professor to girl-friend-giving-love-advice like that, it's creepy as hell and still none of your business." I paused. "And I don't have a fiancé!"

"Didn't you promise to marry that Chance boy?"

I flushed. "How'd you…wait, did I say something about that when you came over that one time?"

"You were sleep deprived and, frankly, rather feverish," he said, as though that explained it all. "You said you'd promised to marry the kid if you didn't get whoever you wanted at the moment, which I'm presuming is not Takigawa, so I thought it best you not tell him. He seems the type to get desperate."

Heat and shivers ran up and down my neck and back. What if I…did I tell him? Did I say he was the one? Oh God, please tell me my sleepy half-conscious self hadn't been that suicidal.

But…the professor wasn't acting any different. Which either meant, no, saving grace, I hadn't thrown myself into a hole, or he heard and…

Now that was just depressing.

"Guess I'll see you in class," I said, opening the door. It was unfair how fast my mood was plummeting when I already knew Professor Davis was out of my league by a few miles.

He said nothing, and I didn't expect anything, as I closed the door behind me with a snap.