Hardcore identity theft (1)

Reiju and Kaemi exited the taxi and walked into the hotel where the conference was being held.

"My cover is that I'm acting as a liaison for a company known as Shonen editor. It used to be one of the largest publishing companies in the nation, but since it lost one of it's star authors, it's been a shell of it's former self. The CEO went to prison for a few years as a result of labor violations. As a result, many big name authors moved over to another company. When the CEO was released, he once again took over the company, but had a reduced talent pool. Just so you know, I don't need to really try to garner any interest in the actual company. Though what about you?" Kaemi asked.

"Just say I'm an upstart reporter," Reiju replied as she pulled out a notepad.

"I hope you can get a press pass. You'll need one if you want to get in as the press."

"Well, if I can't I'll just check into the hotel and do reconnaissance there."

                                                                             ...

The girls ended up checking into rooms right next to each other. As they headed for the main conference hosted in the grand ballroom, Reiju was stopped at the door.

"If you don't have a press pass or are a representative for a corporation or country, you are not permitted entry," the guard stated.

"Oh she's with me," a woman with an asymmetrical blonde bob smiled.

She appeared to be a reporter, though Reiju had no idea who she was. She was accompanied by a blonde gyaru with a video camera.

"This one's the writer I told you about," she smiled.

"Does the Mizutani-shimbum truly need another?" the guard asked.

"Yes, they may be juniors, but I want to gain experience."

"Well, I can't argue with you. Though she will need the physical-"

"Right here," the woman smiled as she handed Reiju a press card.

"Well that was unexpected. I guess I'll just keep an eye on her instead of wandering around as originally planned," Shiruka thought.

                                                                               ...

"You're Reina Kinoko correct?" the blonde woman smiled.

"Yes." Reiju replied.

"Well you owe me for this. Now stick with your partner while I do my thing," she said as she walked away.

"I don't know who she is either. I just totes carry my video camera everywhere with me and was mobbed by security when I passed by. Then she appeared and claimed I was a camera woman and gave me a press pass. Unlike what the pass says, my name's not Sayako Ueda, but... Chihono," the blonde girl smiled.

"Yeah, name's Rei. Though we should probably refer to each other by the names on the passes. Wouldn't want to get in trouble," Reiju said.

The two then maneuvered around the conference. Reiju then spotted a woman that looked like the victim chatting.

"That's gotta be her. I bet she's the imposter. Though why's the ghost staring at her like he doesn't recognize her?" Reiju thought.

Shiruka then floated over to Reiju.

"Something's off, her hair color's the same, but her face doesn't quite match up," Shiruka whispered.

"Well duh, she's not the real deal."

"No, I meant in the vision."

Reiju quickly changed her tone.

"How so?"

"Its the eyes. The eyes look different."

Suddenly, another woman with long brunette hair appeared. Reiju recognized her as one of the three other women that had gone to the salon. Shiruka then held up his copy of the suspect notes.

"Even here in the notes, the eye color doesn't seem to match the victim, even though the imposter is dressed like them."

"What about the stylists?" asked Reiju.

"Can't really tell with that low quality employee book. I'd also need to get a good look at them too. A lot of the stylists had green eyes."

"Green eyes? Huh, pretty sure the victim and the imposter before us have brown eyes."

"Yes. However, two of the other women that visited the salon have green eyes. The black-haired one, and the other brunette up there.

"Was that woman the one in the vision?"

Shiruka went to check. As he did, Reiju turned to see a pale trembling Chihono.

"Forgot she was there, ugh does she think I was talking to myself?"

"Reiju! She's the one I saw in the vision. Though she looks a little different up close!" Shiruka shouted.

"But that makes no sense."

"Hey... um a- are you a gh- ghost?" Chihono nervously asked Reiju.

"No. I'm real why are you-"

"I can see a ghost through my camera. He's got glasses, brown hair and wears a green shirt. Plus you were talking with him."

Shiruka and Reiju froze.

"What the hell? She can see the ghost?" Reiju frantically thought.