Once Again by CS EVE

A month after Naru returned. Mai has yet again confessed to Naru. But no matter what Mai says to Naru. Naru has always believed that Mai will never be his. He already knew he lost her. Gene is the one she loves. Whenever Mai and Naru would be alone, Mai would try to talk to Naru, convincing him that she's the one he loves. Naru already understood the situation ever since they were in the forest—on the day that Gene's body was found.

Mai on the other hand finally stopped and tried to talk to Gene but she can never move on. She wanted to see him once again. Mai became desperate that she even asked Masako to help. Masako helped but it seems like Gene didn't want to talk to Mai. Mai already knew that Gene hasn't walked to the light. She knew that Gene still has that unfinished business in the living world.

It was already been a year since Gene was found. Mai decided to find Gene no matter what.

Mai's POV

His voice—I miss his voice. I want to see him again. Concentrate Mai… You'll see him just concentrate. I closed my eyes as I tried to contact the spirit from the other side. I suddenly sighed and opened my eyes again. "Gene… I miss you please, let me see you." I whispered. I didn't receive a respond. For the 9th time of trying to contact him. I was not able to see him. I looked at my surroundings and hugged my knees. "Gene I know you haven't moved on. Please talk to me" I said as I started to tear up. I sobbed. Why Gene? "Gene if you won't talk to me, I'll find you permanently in the spirit world!" I suddenly stood up and looked for a knife in my kitchen. I found myself a small knife in the counter. I looked at my wrist. My hands were shaking, my tears were falling from my eyes.

"Don't do it" I heard a whisper through the wind. I dropped the knife on the floor, I panted and then shed tears. Thank goodness. "Gene, why are you avoiding me? Please talk to me" I looked around and saw darkness. Where? Where am I? I walked in the darkness. I could feel something wrong. "Mai, Stop looking for me please" I heard his voice again. "Gene, it's hard." I paused and looked down. "He's pushing me away" I covered my face as I continue to cry. "Naru keeps on pushing me away… Gene" I couldn't stop from crying. His voice was soft and gentle. Suddenly all I could hear a faint voice, it was getting louder and louder.

"Mai!"

I slowly opened my swollen eyes and saw the light. "Where? Where am I?" I muttered to myself as I could slowly see clearly. "Ayako" I rubbed my eyes as I sat up and looked at my surroundings. Right, we're still on a case. I paused and calmed down.

"Why were you crying in your dream? Is it related to the case?"

"No, it's not. I just had a really good dream—I guess" I said as I sighed then looked at the time.

"I'm sorry did I wake you up?" I looked at Masako who was sitting on her bed nearby. It was 3' o'clock am.

"You were crying. We thought that you were awake-"Masako paused and looked at my bed.

"Masako?" I felt a sharp pain in my wrist. "Ouch," I said as I looked at the blood-stained white cloth.

"Mai! What have you gotten yourself into" Ayako pulled up the sheet and saw my wrists bleeding?

"I don't remember any of this" I looked so confused. In my dream, I dropped the knife. Why is it that I am bleeding?

"Masako, call an ambulance" Ayako said quickly as she wrapped my wrists with a clean cloth.

"Mai, you're losing a lot of blood" Ayako looked at me with worry. "Ayako, I don't understand. Why this is happening to me. In my dream… In my dream" I then got dizzy then everything went black.

"MAI!"

Masako's POV

I rushed to base only to find out that there was no one inside. I took the phone near the counter and called the ambulance. Then suddenly I heard Ayako screaming Mai's Name. I quickly dialled the numbers and told the lady on the other side about what happened. After doing so, I rushed back to the room.

"Mai, Hang on!" I rushed inside. Takigawa-san, Brown-kun rushed behind me as well. Upon arriving we saw Ayako crying as she checked Mai's heartbeat. I covered my mouth as I started to shed tears. I couldn't stand looking at Mai in a bloody condition. I saw her neck bleeding slowly unlike her wrists earlier.

"Where is Naru?" I asked Takigawa-san. He looked stunned as if he was a mannequin. "Bou-san!" I said aloud looking at him. "He went out with Lin for information."

I clenched my hand into a fist. I looked away from Mai. She was getting paler.

Suddenly we heard the siren of the ambulance. Thank god.

Mai's POV

Gene are you trying to make me see you permanently? I slowly opened my eyes but he wasn't around again. I looked at Ayako and Masako worrying outside the emergency room. My body slowly floated to the roof top. I closed my eyes and saw souls going up to the bright light. Maybe it's my time. I then open my eyes. And to my surprise, I saw Naru looking at the sunrise.

"You're reckless as always Mai. This must be what you wanted. To finally be with him" Naru looked whispered to himself as he held the key to my old house. "You're dreams are more powerful than I expected." He muttered again. He then turned around and I caught his eyes to mine as if he really looked at me. Naru.

"I won't give up"

Suddenly there was a great light again.