Chapter Text
“So what did you say this cursed item did?” The woman on the other side of the phone tried to be clearer this time with Reigen, he could barely understand what she was saying through her hysterical crying. Reigen felt bad for this woman, she was very obviously upset about what was happening.
“I’m sorry, I-I said that this mirror I found in the basement of our new house cursed my husband! He’s f-forgotten everything about me and th-the kids.” She lets out a small sob before continuing, “I-I’m scared it’ll curse me too!” The woman’s voice was thick with tears, hyperventilating into the phone. He ran a hand through his copper blonde hair before going to type out a summary of the woman’s problem into the notes of his computer as he tried calming her down a bit.
“I’m very sorry to hear that ma’am, we at Spirits and Such will be happy to take your case immediately. I’d say this classifies as an emergency exorcism so we can discuss payment and everything else when we get there, I’ll need to call in my other employee in case this gets out of hand just to be safe.” He heard the woman let out another cry into the phone when he finished.
“T-thank you so much Reigen-san, every other exorcist I’ve called didn’t believe me or s-said it was-“ Reigen could hear her swallowing another small sob, “a-a lost cause.” He couldn’t help the scowl that crossed his face and the pinch of his own nails against his palm as his fist clenched up into a fist. ‘How could someone say that to this poor woman?’ Was the only thought that crossed his mind, his teeth biting the inside of cheek.
“Well ma’am, no more need for worry because I, Reigen Arataka, will make sure that nasty curse will be destroyed!” He couldn’t help gesturing dramatically with his hand like he usually did, “I just need your address and we’ll be there as soon as possible.” The woman blubbered out many thanks before giving him the address, he hung up the phone and sighed.
“That sounded intense.” Reigen looked over at Serizawa, his head nodding.
“Yeah, it sounds bad. The woman sounded like she’s been crying for hours.” He stretched before getting up from his chair and taking out his phone. “We might need Mob for this one, she was saying that a mirror in their basement erased her husbands memories.” Serizawa’s eyebrows shot up at that, tensing in his chair.
“Oh wow, I’ve never heard of anything like that before. Are you sure you should go?” There was concern lacing his tone, the blonde looked over and waved a hand dismissively.
“I’ll be fine Serizawa, I’ll have you and Mob with me after all.” He looked back at his phone and clicked through his short list of contacts, clicking Mob’s and calling it. It was a short call, after Reigen apologized for calling him in on short notice and explained the situation, Mob said he was on his way after hearing the case and hung up.
“Okay Serizawa, start getting ready to leave. The sooner we get there the better.”
-
“Thank you thank you thank you for coming!” Mai, Reigen finally got her name when they were on the phone, said when she opened the door to let them in.
“It’s no problem ma’am, we’re happy to help.” He gestured dramatically to the two standing behind him, “I’ve brought two of my expert exorcists to help with this case.” She let them inside after bowing in thanks and Reigen could see both Mob and Serizawa physically respond to whatever was in the house as soon as they stepped over the threshold.
“I can feel it,” Mob said suddenly, his eyes drawn to the floor like he was trying to see what was under the floorboards. “It’s powerful.” Reigen and Serizawa shared a look before his attention went back to the client.
“So where is your husband? May we speak with him so we can get a good look at what this curse is doing?” The woman nodded, her eyes watery and fingers clamped together like it was the only thing keeping her from falling apart. Mai lead them to a bedroom off to the side, opening the door to reveal a disheveled looking man sitting on the side of the bed, eyes staring blankly at the wall. The wall had many photos spread across it, pictures of the family going on trips and being happy together. Yet the man’s eyes held nothing in them as he stared.
Reigen walked in slowly, Serizawa and Mob trailing behind him. He stopped just short of the bed, the man finally noticing them and turning his head to stare blankly at them.
“Hello Jirou-san,” Reigen greeted, having gotten his name from Mai, “My name is Reigen and these are my employees Serizawa and Mob. We’re here to help.” The man stared for a moment, looking between the three of them before speaking.
“Am I supposed to know you?” His voice was confused, his speech a little slow. Reigen shook his head, “No sir, but your wife is worried about you. Looks like a nasty curse has been put in you.” He looked over his shoulder at Serizawa and nudged him, whispering lowly, “You feel anything from him?”
Serizawa nodded, “It’s faint but I can see it all around his head. I don’t think I can exorcise it without hurting him. We might have to exorcise the cursed object.”
Reigen sighed, he was really hoping something could be done about the man immediately so he could calm Mai down but it couldn’t be helped. He turned his attention back to Jirou, “Sir do you remember anything about what happened when you lost your memory? Do you remember anything from your life?”
Jirou looked a bit lost, eyes back on the pictures hanging in the wall. “I-….. I can’t remember anything… I just remember waking up in the basement in front of a mirror… I think… I think I saw someone I knew with me… They looked.. familiar?”
“You mean your wife?”
The man shook his head, “No… but they felt… important to me.”
That just left Reigen with more questions, sighing as he ran hand through his copper hair. They all left the room and asked to go to the basement, if they were to fix anything they’d have to destroy whatever curse or spirit was haunting the mirror. They were cautious as they all stepped down the staircase, flashlights in hand provided by Mai.
“Master I think you should wait upstairs.” Mob said when they made it to the bottom, “I don’t have a good feeling about this.” Reigen looked at Mob curiously before patting the teens shoulder, “I’ll be fine Mob, I’ll hang back and let you guys handle the spirit okay?”
Mob didn’t look comforted by that, his blank eyes looking at him for a moment before staring off into the corner of the basement. They pointed their flashlights at the corner, seeing a large square object leaning against the wall with a sheet over it.
“I’m guessing that’s the mirror huh?” Reigen observed, feeling a gust of cold air blow through him. He shivered.
“You alright Reigen-San?” Serizawa looked over at him curiously, Reigen just used his free hand to rub at this fore arm to warm it up. “You guys didn’t feel that rush of cold air?”
The espers shook their heads, looking at each other with concern.
A rattle interrupted them, their flashlights going back to the covered mirror in an instant. Reigen felt his chest tighten up a bit, a bit unnerved at the tapping now coming from the mirror, the sound increasing with each passing moment.
“Reigen-san, stay behind us.” Serizawa’s body stepped in front of him, Mob standing a bit closer to Reigen.
The sheet was fluttering as the sound increased in tempo and frequency, the frame rattling against the floor and walls. Reigen couldn’t help his grip tighten around his flashlight, not taking his eyes off of the covered mirror as it shook and rattled in the corner.
Then everything went quiet. The sheet dropped.
Reigen’s heart jumped into his throat when his eyes fell on their reflection, his palms clammy. His back straightened and a chill ran down his spine. He gasped.
Why were there two Serizawa’s in the mirror? And why was one standing behind him? He whipped his head around, there was nothing but darkness. He looked back at the mirror, his blood ran cold.
Where did Mob and the two Serizawa’s go?
He suddenly felt weak, his knees shaking before buckling under his own weight. His hands caught him before he could hit the floor, his flashlight rolling away from him. He was shaking, head swimming as he heard unintelligible voices all around him. Holy shit maybe he should’ve just stayed upstairs after all.
He looked up, now somehow directly in front of the mirror. Serizawa was standing behind him in the mirror again, the usually expressive eyes of the taller man was blank, his deep brown eyes now just white. He couldn’t look away even if he tried, an invisible force holding his face forward. The fake Serizawa bent down beside him in the reflection, leaning over the smaller framed man. His mouth was close to Reigen ear, his frame shaking from trying to break whatever hold this spirit had on him but to no avail.
He could feel hot breath on his ear, goosebumps pricking up the hair on his arms as a familiar voice whispered.
“Wake up.”
-
“Master! Master Reigen wake up!”
His eyes opened, not sure what was happening. What was going on? Was someone calling him? His name was Reigen right? His eyes looked at the boy leaning over him, a familiar looking man kneeling beside him on the opposite side.
“Oh thank god! Are you okay?” The familiar man said, his hand grabbing at Reigen’s arm in concern. He was quiet, his brain trying to work out who these people around him were. Where even was he?
He sat up, looking around with a confused look. “I’m sorry…. Do I… know you?”