A Ghost Story

Chapter 16

Goku ran home as quick as he could, eager to tell Hakkai what he had found out about him from Henry. Goku did not want to believe what he had heard, but he knew it to be true. Apparently, the story of Hakkai had been around since his death had happened and that he still haunts the Bartly House, which is the family name. Now that they had a family name to the house, it would be easier to find out more about it and its first residents.

Hakkai’s story is one of the most famous legends of the town, but only passed down by oral tradition. He could not be sure if everything the man told him was one hundred percent sure, since something is either changed or added to the story as the years go on. Goku ran down the short driveway and burst through the door of the house.

“I know what happened to Hakkai!” He said out loud, but froze as he saw the gloomy faces of his three friends. “Do you…already know?” He asked. Sanzo nodded and crossed his arms.

“Gojyo found out. He had a vision of the murder and what went on, which in turn made Hakkai remember everything.” Goku looked at Hakkai sadly, who had his head turned and hung in sorrow.

“I’m sorry, Hakkai.” Goku said softly. “I really am.”

/Please…I need to be alone.’/ Was all he said as he slowly floated up the stairway and out of sight. Gojyo sat on the couch with a heavy sigh, hanging his head over the back of it. Goku sat next to him and Sanzo sat in the other chair. The three of them sat in silence for few moments, then Goku spoke.

“He loved his sister…” he looked at Gojyo.

“Yeah so, what does that mean to me?” He responded, not lifting his head up.

“Don’t lie to yourself, Gojyo.” Said Sanzo “We know you’ve fallen for Hakkai and even he carries a torch for you. But now that he remembers his true love…you’re wondering where that leaves you.” Gojyo lifted his head up and glared at Sanzo but said nothing.

“What are we going to do?” Goku asked.

“There’s nothing we really can do.” Replied Sanzo. “The only thing we could do is get a priest in here to maybe destroy that portal thing and send Hakkai on his way. Or at least a medium who could maybe contact the spirit world and whatnot. Maybe it could find Kanan and Hakkai can speak to her. If ghosts have unfinished business, I’m assuming Hakkai’s has to do with Kanan, or vengeance for his murderer.”

“But where did they bury Kanan?” Gojyo asked. “If she was killed too, she must be wandering around somewhere too.” Sanzo’s eyes widened as he thought back to the ghostly image of a woman he saw last night.

“She has her own story,” Said Goku “The old man I talked to in the church told me Hakkai’s story. It is a ghost story around these parts that has always been told. Kanan’s ghost is said to wander the streets at night, a short road that was once lined with trees and flowers. She liked to walk there with her basket and collect the flowers.
So she’s out haunting roads somewhere and Hakkai is here.”

“I saw her” Gojyo and Goku turned to Sanzo. “I saw her last night, while I was waiting in the truck. A ghost of a young woman was walking the roads where I had broken down. I had to take this road because of a car accident on the main one. And that ghost dog you saw last night must be Hakkai’s dog Hakuryuu.”

“Then what I felt that time when I was climbing the oak tree…it was trying to tell me something! It was trying to tell us about Hakkai.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised at this time now if the tree could talk. Some people say that everything has a spirit and a story to tell. Think of all the stories that oak tree could tell.” Gojyo said and looked out the kitchen window at the large tree.

“But what do we do with Hakkai?” Goku asked. “I’m worried about him.”

“I am too.”

“Leave him alone to grieve. He will feel-“ Sanzo was cut short by there being a knock on the door. The three exchanged glances and Sanzo got up to go to the door. He opened the door and raised his eyebrow at the middle-aged priest that stood there and the younger one behind him.

“Good day to you, sir. I’m Reverend Louis and this is my son, Aaron.”

“And? You’re not handing out those ‘end of the world’ pamphlets, are you?” Sanzo frowned and the man chuckled.

“No, no, my good sir. My old friend Henry told me that a certain young man wanted to see me about the famous Bartly House ghost.” Goku came up next to Sanzo.

“That’s me.”

“Good day to you, lad. May we come in?” Sanzo stepped aside and let the two walk in. Gojyo lit up a cigarette and watched the two men walk in. Reverend Louis saw all the girly pictures on the wall and shook his head. “Youth these days.”

“Can I get you some water or some tea?” Goku offered.

“Ah, some tea would be lovely, then we can talk about your ghost.” Goku went to making the tea and the reverend sat at the kitchen table with Gojyo and Sanzo, his son standing behind him. “So I’m assuming you already know the story behind the ghost.”

“Yes, we do.”

“Tragic story, I must say. The young man did sin, but his sentence was not justified. Keep in mind that around that time, people had nothing more to go on other than suspicious tales and beliefs. No matter what a person’s crime or sin is committed, that does not excuse another to take away one’s life. God would never approve of such drastic measures.”

“So what can you do, exactly?” Gojyo asked “The ghost isn’t the problem, its this force that is keeping him here on Earth.” The reverend nodded.

“Yes, I feel a very strong presence here.” He turned to his son “Aaron, take a few moments too look around, feel for anything out of the ordinary.” Aaron nodded and took out a small camcorder before walking slowly around the house.

“What’s the camera for?”

“For requests like this we prefer to videotape what we see and do. For instance, if you would want to do an exorcism or the like, we would need such things to use for documenting. We also have to do recordings. It is a church policy. And also, ghosts have been known to speak in tape recording and appear on video, which will also help. But as of now, I can’t do much without permission from the church, but I can bless the house for awhile and keep whatever evil force you believe is here at bay.” Goku gave the priest the tea and he thanked him.

“Hey Sanzo, why don’t you go show him the cellar.” Gojyo said, jutting his thumb to the back door. Sanzo nodded and stood up.

“Follow me.” Goku followed the two of them out and Gojyo leaned back in the chair, letting his cigarette slowly burn. Hakkai appeared suddenly above him, looking mournful. Gojyo just blinked up at him lazily.

‘Why is there a priest here?’

“He’s looking into that force in the cellar.” Gojyo stood up and tossed his cigarette in the sink. “He’s going to bless it, or some shit like that.”

/A priest will not do anything./

“It’s worth a try.” Gojyo had forgotten that Aaron was still in the house and he heard Gojyo talking to someone, even though the others were under the house. He raised his eyebrow and looked around the corner of the stairway handles. His eyes widened as he saw on the small camera screen Hakkai’s brightly shaded ghostly figure. He immediately zoomed in on the two and could hear some of their conversation. Hakkai floated around the table and extended an arm to Gojyo. Gojyo waved his hand slowly through Hakkai’s.

/Gojyo, I fear that I will never be gone from this house. I do not wish to spend eternity in heaven waiting for someone to free Kanan./

“Hakkai….I want to help you, but I also don’t want you to leave. But it’s not fair that you are stuck here in your own Hell. You could be at peace somewhere else in Heaven.”

/That is true, but I…I do not know, Gojyo. I do not know what is on the other side. All I have known is here./ Aaron continued to record as he watched Hakkai float around behind Gojyo and hug him with ghostly arms from behind. He zoomed in a bit more and this time could make out Hakkai’s facial features. /I share a special bond with you, Gojyo. I know you share the same with me. How can I leave you here on Earth to be alone? I can not leave you. I will wait with you./

Gojyo felt his eyes threaten to water at the heart filling words of Hakkai. Never had he had such words of devotion come from one person. They had only known each other for a short bit, but Gojyo felt just as strongly about Hakkai as he did. Hakkai was the only one who did not judge him at first and even understands him. He was almost in the same boat as Hakkai.

/I love you just as much as I love Kanan. She may be the only woman in my former life, but you are the only man in this life. Is it possible to love two people at the same time?/ Gojyo chuckled.

“Yes, its possible.” Aaron closed the camera screen slightly and went outside to find the others. His father and the other two men were just coming up from the cellar when Aaron went to meet him.

“F-father, it’s time for us to go. We will be late for the mass.”

“Mass? My boy, its only 4:30. Mass doesn’t start until 6:00”

“Yes, but we have all those flowers being delivered today for the alter.”

“Oh yes, you are right.” He turned to Sanzo and Goku. “I hope my blessing will bring your ghost some peace until we can figure out more about it. I suggest running it by some mediums or witch doctors. I will see what the church says we are allowed to do.”

“Hey, do you believe in ghosts?” Goku asked the reverend.

“I do believe in ghost. I believe there are individuals who get lost on their way to God. Sometimes it can be helped, sometimes it can not.”

“Are they only the people who do bad things who get lost?”

“Not always. Sometimes people die in accidents and there was possibly something they still had to do on Earth, or tell someone something. Sometimes they don’t even know they are dead. But God does not shun these lost souls. Whenever your ghost does pass on, he will be welcomed in God’s kingdom.” Goku smiled at that and Sanzo rolled his eyes. “Good day to you, sirs. It was a pleasure meeting you. Please, come by the church on Saturday evenings, we have Bingo.”

“Thank you, Mr. Reverend!” Goku said, watching the two leave. When the two men got in the car, Aaron took out the camera and turned it on.

“Dad look! Look at what I caught in the house!” When Reverend Louis saw the ghost around Gojyo his eyes widened.

“In all my years. I never thought I’d see one. I always knew they were there but-“

“Think of all the money would could make! We have actual footage and audio of a real ghost!”

“Absolutely not. The people do not need to know about things like this, for it sends them into a frenzy. People are better sometimes if they remain skeptical. There is a good reason why the UFO crash landing sight in Roswell is kept under tight lock. You must have respect for the dead, son. We keep this between us and the church.” Aaron nodded anyway but had other ideas and uses for this footage.