Hi everyone! This chapter is a good balance of the creepy feeling you get while playing this game and the laughter that comes from talking to Rentaro! This chapter and the next one will both be talking with Rentaro. Enjoy! =D

Chapter 22

            I went to bed, woke up and went to the school. After another long day of teaching, I went back to the ryokan and graded some papers. When that was done I called Bess and George.

            “Nancy! How’s it going?” said Bess and George together, in perfect harmony.

            “I’ve run into quite a few dead ends and was hoping you guys could help. Have you seen the robotic cats they have here?” I asked.

            “I love those!” exclaimed Bess, “I don’t know if they’re cute or creepy, but I love them anyway.”

            “Miwako has one, it’s cute… but it’s a little aggressive.”

            “It’s in guard mode. There’s a way to over ride that, some sort of code word or something,” George told me.

            “Right, I need to figure out what that is. Can you guys help?”

            “Hmm, I bet if I check around the expo I can find someone who knows.” Suggested George.

            “That would be amazing! Thanks!” I told them.

            “Anytime, need anything else?” they asked.

            “Nope, that’s it! Talk to you two later.”

           

            “Bye!”

            While Bess and George were working on that, I thought maybe I’d go and pay Rentaro a visit. He was the only one who wasn’t currently upset with me. Not that I knew of at least…

            “Hello,” He said to me as I walked into his shed.

            I hadn’t seen him in a while so there was a lot to talk about. “Thanks for repairing my screen. That was pretty embarrassing,” I told him.

            “No problem! Easy fix, just took a little steam to loosen the paper, little new glue – no one will ever be able to tell. Just don’t do it again, or at least wait until the paper cuts heal. Ugh, I think thinking about paper cuts is worse than getting them. Why did I bring it up?”

            “Do you know what happened to the mirror in the baths?”

            “Oh that thing… I sorta hit it a few years back and put a little hairline crack in it. It’s days have been numbered for a while.”

            “Sorry about breaking it.”

            “Oh no, don’t worry. I’m just glad you didn’t get hurt. Mirrors can be very dangerous when they’re breaking. In more ways than one.”

            “What do you mean?”

            “Oh, shards of glass and such. Not stuff to mess around with.”

            “Something weird happened… When I looked in the mirror, I didn’t see my reflection.”

            “Aha!” he exclaimed.

           

            “You know what happened?” I asked.

           

            “You’re a vampire! Seriously though, that’s pretty messed up. Maybe you need to get some more rest. This place might be getting to you.”

            “What do you think of Yumi?”

            “She’s pretty much the older sister you want to have. She’s cool, she’s adventurous, she’s a pain, but no matter what she’s got your back. Although MAN can she be bossy! I’m betting she’s already put you to work.”

            “A little…” I admitted.

            “That bossy thing is just her special way of saying – I am your boss now do what I say!”

            “So you grew up next door?”

           

            “My dad and I moved here when I was about seven.”

            “Why do you spend all your time here when you live just next door?”

            “Never got my room decorated right. Plus, this place has always been more fun, and Miwako’s here. And I have my work shop…”

            “Miwako seems a little frustrated lately.”

           

            “Why wouldn't she be… the way guests have been filing out. But maybe she’ll finally come to her senses and move to the city with me.”

This is my avatar for George! Btw, I'm not going to do color all the time... that was a mega fail. =P

Hi everyone!!! I really hope you like this chapter! I think it's pretty funny! Nancy wakes up to do some investigating in the middle of the night and has '1 in the morning/Sarah was bored and wanted to be funny brain'! Also, I just realized that I forgot to do what I was planning to do on Valentines day! I was going to make everything pink, red, and purple! So here is your late Valentines day gift from me! Enjoy the pretty colors!!!! If you guys like it (or if I like it) I might write my posts in pretty colors everyday! Haha! Enjoy! =D
Haha! Just so you guys know I accidentally changed the background color and then changed the color of the words so it was just a block of fuchsia! I fixed though (as you can see) so don't worry! Hehe! =D

Chapter 21

            My alarm went off and I woke up. I went downstairs and looked behind the front desk. I was very disappointed to find that the computer needed a password. I didn’t think it wouldn’t need one; I was just hoping. There were a couple of travel broachers. One was about about the Bavarian Alps, another was about Greece (That one was interesting.), and the last one was about Dread Isle… That seemed familiar. I wasn’t quite sure why.

            The only thing left that looked interesting on the desk was a box. But when I reached for it Suki scratched me! I wondered if there was a way to turn her off… I decided that I would call Bess and George about it later.

            I turned around and found some sort of safe or something like that in the wall. It had an odd lock using some kind of key cards. One was missing though so I couldn’t do anything with that then.

            I went over to a little fire/heater thing that they kept on all the time. I was suddenly over come with the urge to touch the thing that you put the kettle on….

            “Ouch!” I exclaimed, “That fire is hot! Not surprisingly….” I waited to see if someone had heard me but no one came. That was a relief. I wasn’t sure how I would explain something like that…

            Ok, I thought to myself, what have we learned today Nancy? That’s right, don’t touch the fire thingy!!!!

            I wanted to make getting up in the middle of the night worthwhile so I went and tried to go into the cultural room (The room that Takae is always in).

            “It’s locked!” I whispered to myself.

            Next I tried going to Rentaro’s shed. I tried to push the door open but it wouldn’t budge.

            “This one is locked to!” then I pulled the door open, “Oh… never mind.”

            I looked around, that didn’t take very long. The shed was so small I was surprised that Rentaro could stand (No pun intended… maybe.) being in here all day. There was nothing interesting in there. Just some robotic thing that he was working on.

            Well Nancy, you managed to get scratched by a cat, burn yourself, and find absolutely nothing at all, I thought to myself, it’s time to go back to bed. 

Just so you guys know, the smiley face is green cuz that's my favorite color and it's my signature smiley!!! And this is blue cuz it's my second favorite color and I wanted to use a different color from the story! =D

Hi everyone! Today's chapter makes me feel bad... We make yet another person upset with us. I hope we run out of sad stuff to talk about wither everyone. It's starting to get kinda depressing... Anyway, I do something that did not happen in the game. I tried to make it happen but the game wasn't cooperating. In the end I decided that I'm the author of this story and I can do whatever the heck I want! I basically needed to make the chapter longer (It's still pretty short though...) and didn't want to talk to anyone and saw an opportunity! Hope you enjoy my author's independence! AHHHHHHH!!!! oops... it's ok. I was copying the chapter onto here and I accidentally pressed something else and it disappeared! Luckily I had saved it before!!! I would just like to take this moment and thank the Lord that I actually saved something when I needed to!!! I have quite a reputation for not saving my games when I'm playing Nancy Drew and then something happens and I have to start all over again! Anyway, sorry for giving you a heart attack and enjoy chapter 20! =D

Chapter 20

            I left Miwako and went to go see Yumi.

            “Hi! What’s up?” Yumi greeted me as I walked up to her bento stand.

            “Yumi…” I really didn’t want to talk to her about this… “ I’m ready to help with more bento!” Oops… I guess I just got nervous. I made the bento and, as usual, it was adorable and Yumi loved it.

            “Yumi,” I started, “ I saw the article about what happened to you mother-“

            “I’m busy. Maybe you should go.”

            “It said that you were the first one to find her, that must have been very hard-“

            “I said I’m busy. That means Leave. Me. Alone. Now!” She shouted, and went back to work.

            I left and decided I would go to sleep for now and then get up later to look around a bit when no one would be watching me. I didn’t know if I would be able to concentrate knowing that I had hurt Yumi  by bringing up that night.

            By the time I got back to my room it was 10 at night. I went to take a bath but when I got down there I saw the blue banner and realized that I had forgotten that today was men only. I went back upstairs and tried to sleep. The results weren’t very good. Eventually I got up and sat on my balcony thinking about everything that had happened here at the Ryokan Hiei.

            I went back into my room and just about jumped out of my skin! There were muddy footprints on the floor that went right through the wall! Strange, I thought, I hadn’t heard anyone come in. I guessed I was just so deep in thought. Hmmm…. The culprit was most likely someone who hadn’t seen me come in. So, anyone but Miwako. She still could have done, I just didn’t see why she would bother when she knew I was up here. Maybe she didn’t see me come in…  back to square one. I got a towel and cleaned up the mess. Anything to waste a little time. By the time I laid down again it was about 11:30. I was so exhausted. I set my alarm for right after when Miwkao would leave and went to sleep.

This is my avatar for Bess in the game!!! Well, except for jewelry. They don't let you do that part in the mini game on their website. Oh well! =D

Hi everyone! HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!!Today's chapter is interesting! (I say that about every chapter, don't I?) We have an intense conversation with Miwako... that's it really. We'll talk to Yumi in the next chapter. Do any of you have plans for today? I really don't... I think I'm going to the gym and then hanging out with the dog. I might watch a romantic movie. I was think about Phantom of the Opera, Sense and Sensibility, or Beauty and the Beast! They're all fantastic movies!!! Anyway, Enjoy today's chapter! =D

Chapter 19

            I walked downstairs to go see Yumi but when I was almost to the lobby, I heard what sounded like another unhappy customer talking to Miwako.

            “When we first walked in the door, my wife told me she had a bad feeling about this place, but no, I told her she was being unreasonable. But whatever it is that’s going on here, we are not going to put up with it anymore. That thing you left in our room! No one should ever have to see something like that. I want my money back,” shouted the man.

            “There was nothing there-“ said Miwako, trying to calm him down.

            “And I want to see this place closed down! You’d never get away with something like this where I come from!”

            “Sir, please, there was nothing there. No one left anything in your room,” Miwako pleaded.

            “Oh, ‘please’ yourself!” he said as he walked away.

            Miwako started crying. I wasn’t sure if me going to talk to her would help or not but I gave it a shot.

            “Hi Miwako. That was the last customer, wasn’t it?” I said.

            “Yes Nancy, it’s just you now. So, make yourself comfortable, we’re all here for you until something happens to scare you off to,” she said to me.

            “I don’t scare easy.”

            “I’ve heard that before. Look, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be upsetting you with all this. Please, you’re my only guest left, let me at least make sure you have a good trip. Maybe you’ll recommend us to your friends…”

            “I still want to help.”

            “Help? You want to help? Look around you, this place is beyond help. It was spooky and lonely before… everything that happened happened, and now… Why do you think Yumi got out of this place as soon as she could? People come because they’ve heard it’s haunted, they come here to be scared, and even they can’t take it. I’m sorry Nancy. There’s nothing you can do here. Help yourself and find somewhere safer to stay,” she said, and turned away from me.

            “I’m going to do what I can,” I said, and walked away.

I din't have a good picture for this chapter, so... Here's a picture of some cupcakes I made last year!!! (We also ate them last year! haha!) 

Hi everyone! I think it's funny how I say that I'm not gonna be able to post very often and then I post everyday... Anyway, chapter 18 is certainly an interesting chapter... Something that I've wanted to happen for a long time finally happens! Then, something not so awesome happens. If you cry at the drop of a hat (like me) then you might want to have a tissue handy...

Chapter 18

            I headed up to my room so I could call Bess and George and see what they were up to. I went upstairs and was in the hallway when the lights started flickering. The lights turned back on and then all the doors, one by one, opened and slammed closed! The lights flickered again and it was all over. Or so I thought. I walked up to my room, number 24. When I got there the 2 on the door had fallen off! In Japan four is considered to be a very unlucky number, coincidence?

            I opened the door and walked in expecting something scary to happen. Nothing happened, everything looked the same. I guess my nerves were just a bit on edge… or a lot on edge. I sat down and called Bess and George.

            “Nancy! How’s it going?” chimed Bess.

            “I had another strange run in with the ‘ghost’ here,” I told them.

            “What happened this time?” asked George.

           

            “I was in the hallway, and one by one, the doors started to slam…”

           

            “Creepy. Just thinking about that, I’m not going to be able to get any sleep tonight. I’m not sure how you do it,” said Bess.

            “It is a little creepy, I’ll admit that. I just need to figure out how someone could do it.”

            “Good call. It could be easily automated… I think,” said George.

            “Well, I’ll let you two go,” I said.

            “Bye Nancy!” they both said as they hung up.

           

            Right then I got a text. It was another goofy picture of Yumi! I loved getting those! Then I got another text. I looked and found that it was actually a group of texts from Savannah. They said:

            “Last evening, officers responded to an emergency call from fifteen year old Shimizu Yumi after she found her mother Shimizu Kasumi, 42, who runs the Ryokan Hiei, lying unconscious in the indoor ryokan bath. After arriving, emergency crews were unable to revive the apparent drowning victim. Police are currently treating the case as a crime but have yet to press charges. If this is an accident-“ That’s, it. The article ends there. Logan.

            Wow… I thought. Yumi found her mother’s dead body. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what that was like. I thought that maybe it was time to go talk to Yumi. I didn’t want to bring up the past because I knew it would hurt her, but it had to be done to find out what was going on in the present…

IT's just a random picture I got off of Google. I  have no idea what it says...

Hi everyone! Sorry, I was really busy yesterday and didn't get any pictures of the snow and now it's mostly gone... Today I went over to my bro's to hang out with some friends, it was so much fun! We play Star Wars games, it was awesome!!! I loved it! Anyway... I just about killed my hand last night! I was helping my mom make these bookmarks that we're handing out a a dance coming up soon. Let me tell you, tying 75 bows HURTS!!!! My left hand hurt so bad last night! It's better today though, but I get to tie more bows! YAY!!!! (Sarcasm!! =P) So I'm done talking about Star Wars awesomeness and hurting hands... Enjoy chapter 17! =D

Chapter 1 7

            I left the room and as soon as I was in the hallway, I got a phone call.

            “Logan here,” he said.

            “Yes?”

            “Alright. Savannah wants me to translate that article for you. I don’t know what it was you said to her, but whatever you did to get her to talk about that paranormal garbage you need to knock it off!”

            “Excuse me? I can’t promise that.”

            “You really don’t get it, do you? This ghost stuff isn’t a joke, especially not to her. Since I’m the one left picking up the pieces after she gets to wrapped up in one of her cases, I’m telling you. Leave it alone for her sake, and yours,” he told me.

            “What happened to Savannah? Why doesn’t she work paranormal cases anymore?” I asked.

            “It’s not something she likes to talk about,” Logan said with a sigh.

            “I gathered that, but can you tell me?”

            “When we’re travelling, I spend weeks with her touring on buses, long plane flights, we talk a lot. I know everything about her childhood, her best friend’s dog’s name from when she was five, her favorite ice cream flavor, she’s very chatty.”

            “Then what has she told you about-“

            Logan cut me off, already knowing the end to my question, “Nothing, not a single word.

I’ve asked, and when I do, she just goes quiet and excuses herself. She’s never told me to stop bugging her about it, but I can tell that she wants to. That’s why I don’t want you bothering her about it either. Whatever happened when she was writing the second ghost book… it really got to her.”

            “Second ghost book?” I asked. This was the first I had heard of it.

            “Wasn’t supposed to mention that. It’s a secret, and it’s not done so don’t think you’re going to get your hands on it… I don’t even know if she still has the manuscript. She had me tell her publisher she burned it, but I don’t know if that’s the truth.”

            “Well, speaking of her books, I need a copy of the first ghost book she wrote. Could you help me out with that?”

            “Sure! Bookstores are a great start. Or the internet is helpful, but I’m more a brick and mortar person, honestly. I suppose you could also go the books on tape route – TV’s Ralston Popplers does an excellent job with the text… really makes it come alive,” he said, back to the guy who hung up on me… twice.

            “No, I meant, could you send me a copy?”

            “Oh! Nope, but thank you for asking.”

            “Have you finished translating that article yet?”

            “Just about, I’ll have it sent to you as soon as I finish.”

            “Thanks. Talk to you later.”

           

            “Goodbye,” he said and hung up.

Improvising... This is a pic that I took and edited myself. Thought it looked sorta spooky! (insert cute ghost smiley here) =D

Hi everyone! Again I'm sorry for not posting a chapter every day. I'm going to say now that I'm going to be really busy until at least the 27th of this month. I have tons of school stuff coming up and just tons of other stuff as well. Thank you for understanding! So before I move on to today's chapter, I want to tell you some exciting news! The abriviation for Nancy Drew 26: Tomb of the Lost Queen is TMB! Thanks to my friend Marissa (aka Future HeR Animator) for letting all of us Nancy Drew fans know that! She figured out a clever puzzle on the Amateur Sleuth Blog that I never would have gotten in a million years! Ok well... maybe in a million years... ANYWAY!!! (teehee!) It's snowing here again! It's so gorgeous! All the trees are covered in this light layer of frost and snow! I'll try and take some pictures and then I'll try and post them on here! Well, enough chit chat, time for chapter 16! In this chapter we have, what I think, is a very intriguing/funny conversation with Logan! Enjoy! =D

Chapter 16

            I grabbed an envelope and put the article in it to give to Miwako at the front desk.

            “Hi Miwako. Can I leave this envelope here to picked up? It’s for my friend Logan.” Logan wasn’t exactly my friend, but I guessed he was on my side now.

            “Sure,” she said, taking the envelope from me.

           

            “Thanks!” I said, then I thought of something important I should have told her, “I’m really sorry, the mirror in the baths broke. Something really strange happened before it broke though. I saw an image of a woman who wasn’t there with me.”

            “Don’t worry Nancy, I’m sure it was nothing. I’ll have Rentaro take care of it right away. Until please stay away. I don’t want you to get hurt,” she said. She obviously didn’t believe that I saw anything.

                                                                                                            

            “But I saw something, I’m sure of it!”

            “You work to hard Nancy-san. Up to late, off to teach so early. You must rest more. Your judgment suffers if you don’t get enough rest.”

            “I know what I saw!”

            “Nancy-san, please. I have to get back to work,” She said, turning away from me.

            I guessed that was the end of that conversation… I decided I’d go to see Takae and take another lesson. I walked into the room and there was a bunch of colored paper on the table. I sat down and Takae greeted me kindly.

            “Nancy-san. Today I have an important lesson. We will learn origami,” she told me.

            “Great, Let’s get started!”

            “Origami has been around in many forms for centuries. Master Yoshizawa brought back the art before it could disappear. There is a grave danger, Nancy-san, in forgetting. If the whole world forgets a thing, or a person, then it is gone forever.”

           

            “What do you mean by that?” I asked.

            “I have for you here, a selection of origami patterns a few steps away from the last step. You must simply match the pattern to the completed design,” she said, ignoring my question.

            I finished all of the origami. It was kind of fun and they were really cute!

            “They are perfect, absolutely perfect! You have many talents Nancy-san!” Takae praised me.

            “Thank you! We fixed the portrait, I think it’s back up in the lobby.” I hadn’t actually seen it but I figured that Rentaro would have already put it back up.

            “It is, yes.”

            “Rentaro tells me that’s it’s very important to you.”

           

            “Yes, it is very important to all of us.”

           

            “Why were you so upset when it fell?”

            “You would be upset if something you loved broke.”

            “There was more to it than that.”

           

            “No. That was all.”

            I figured I’d better go before I made Takae even more upset with me.

            “I’ll let you get back to the origami.”

            “Goodbye.”

            Well, I had managed to make two people mad at me and hadn’t learned anything. Great…

I wrote chapter 17 at the same time that I wrote this one and I almost posted them both! Tricky chapter 17... ;P