A/N: Sadly, I could not think of a story for Monday and Wednesday's prompts, so I'll only have 3 out of the 5 fics done for angst week.
So today's prompt is Blood.
This fic has been inspired by "Red Like Roses Part 2" from RWBY! (Anyone seen RWBY? It's in the first season, episode 8. Go listen to the song like on repeat with this story!) This song just fit this theme soooooooo much, so I just HAD to use it! Mai's part is in normal text and Naru's is italicized. Enjoy!
Your Blood Is Red Like Roses
I looked up at Bou-San in shock.
"What… What did you say?" I said, hoping I was hearing things.
"Naru-bou is… is gone, Mai. He's dead. I'm sorry…"
I felt my heart clench at his words. My world felt like it came to a sudden halt. How? How could he be dead? No, he couldn't be. HE'S NARU!
I shook my head at Bou-San. "No, no, no. Naru is not dead. He can't be…"
Bou-San placed his on my shoulder. "I'm sorry Mai…"
"Take me to him," I said.
"Mai, I don't think…"
"Take me to him, Bou-San! Please… I… I have to see this for myself."
Bou-San's shoulders dropped in defeat. "Alright," he sighed.
…
When we reached the basement of the house that we were on a case for, I saw him. I saw Naru lying on his stomach. His face was turned so I could see his eyes closed and his skin was paler than usual. As I walked closer, I saw the blood pooling around his chest.
"Na.. Naru?" I said. I slowly leaned down to touch his cheek and I felt no heat coming from him. He was cold to the touch. I quickly pulled my hand away and covered my mouth.
"It can't be…" I shook my head. "Naru… Naru you… YOU BAKA!" I yelled as I ran away from his still body, away from the basement that was quickly filling with the scent of his blood, away from the house that took my fiancé away from me.
Stupid Naru...Why did you have to go and try to exorcise that spirit without me?
I opened my eyes and saw my own face right in front of me. I bolted up and realized that the stupid demon actually killed me. Great. If I wasn't dead, Mai would probably kill me for doing what I did.
I looked around the room and saw that the demon was gone. I couldn't sense it either. Good. At least I was able to destroy it before anyone else died. I felt a presence behind me and turned to see Mai and Takigawa in the room. How long have I been dead for him to have gone and told Mai and bring her here? Why did he bring her here?
"N.. Naru?" I heard Mai softly say as she approached my dead body. I saw her touch my cheek and her reaction told me she didn't believe I was dead when Takigawa told her. It was her idea to see my body.
"It can't be…" she said. She placed her left hand over her mouth as she tried to fight back tears. The engagement ring I gave her sparkled a little from the light in the room. I saw her small body start to shake. Seeing her like this was breaking me. I always hated seeing her like this. I slowly walked towards her, but she suddenly yelled, "Naru… Naru you… YOU BAKA!", causing me to freeze in my tracks as I watched her run away.
"MAI!" Takigawa yelled as she ran past him. He shook his head. "Damnit Naru…"
I swear he knew I was there, because Takigawa turned towards where I was standing and sighed.
"Naru, why did you have to make that stupid bet with the demon? You knew you would die and did it anyway. Did you even think about Mai?"
After that he walked out.
It dawned on me then. I was so focused on saving everyone, including Mai, that it didn't occur to me that if I did die, what it would do to her.
I sighed as I closed my eyes and entered into the Astral Plane.
When I opened them, I saw the mirror image of myself scowling.
"You're an idiot, you know that?"
"Yes, Gene, I know. I am an idiot."
Gene nods. "Good."
"Can you bring Mai here?" I ask him.
"Yeah… I can. But not right now."
"Why not?" I asked my twin.
"She needs time, Naru. Time and Takigawa or Lin to find her and bring her back to base. If I pulled her here right now, she would be vulnerable in the middle of the street."
"How do you know where she's at?"
Gene sighed as he swiped his hand in the air. An image appeared in front of me. It was Mai, running and crying. She finally stops at a bench about a block away from the house.
"Mai…" I said softly. My heart, or the area where my heart use to be, was breaking. I can't believe I caused her to feel like this….
After what seemed like forever, I heard footsteps approaching me. I looked up and saw Lin walking towards me. He quietly sat down next to me and I flung into his chest, sobbing, as he gently patted my back.
Who would have thought when I met him that he would comfort me like this years later. Lin let me cry for a little while longer before he suggested we go back to base. I nodded, hesitant to go back to the place where I lost the man I love.
…
When we walked back into base, I noticed a blanket in the corner covering something. My heart sank. I knew it was him. It was Naru's body under that blanket.
Ayako walked over to me and pulled me into a hug, not saying anything. Bou-San, Masako and John gave me a hug afterwards, all of them hoping to make me feel a little better. But how can I? How can I feel like normal ever again?
I walked over towards the couch that faced away from Naru and laid down. I slowly felt my eyes close and everything went black.
…
My eyes open and I see the usual smile that greets me. Gene. But seeing his face makes me think of Naru. I suddenly felt my tears start up again.
Gene's face softens and extends a hand to help me up. He pulls me into a hug and starts petting my hair.
"I'm sorry Mai. I'm sorry my younger brother is a complete idiot."
"It's ok, Gene," I sniff. I pull away from him. "So, what do you have to show me so we can leave this place?"
"Nothing," he said simply.
"Nothing?"
He nods. "Noll got rid of the demon."
"So why'd you pull me here?"
"Because I needed to talk to you."
I turn around to see Naru right behind me.
"Naru…" I whispered as I walked towards him. I extended my hand to cup his cheek, but instead I slapped him. His bangs cover his eyes as he stands there.
"How could you, Naru? How could you be so reckless?!" I screamed at him, feeling hot tears fall down my face. "How could you sacrifice everything we were planning? All our dreams?"
His head slowly rose as he looked into my eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Mai."
"You.. you promised... everything would be alright. That.. nothing would happen…"
Naru wrapped his arms around me and placed his chin on top of my head as I cried into his chest..
"I know, Mai. I underestimated the demon. He was much more powerful than I thought. I thought I would have been able to get rid of him with my PK, but he managed to get a hit in before I finished him."
I clung onto him, not wanting to let him go. Not wanting to admit he'll be gone when I wake up.
"Naru… How… how can I continue now? I feel so incomplete without you. You were everything for me..."
"You are my everything, Mai. You always will be."
Naru pulled away and looked into my eyes again. He gently wiped away my tears with his thumb as he continued.
"I messed up, Mai. I only thought about protecting you. I didn't think how my death would affect you. Hell, I didn't even think it was a possibility that thing would be able to kill me before I could destroy it. I made a choice, and it ended up with me making a sacrifice."
"How could you not think of me, Naru? I need you, Naru… I just feel so empty now."
I stepped away from him as I hung my head.
"I figured that one day you might have left me, but… I never thought it would have been like this."
"Mai," Naru said as he closed the gap I made between us, "why would I have left you? I love you too much. I didn't plan for this to happen."
I sighed. "I know. You tried to protect us. And I understand, but… I just… I can't get the image of you covered in blood out of my head."
"Mai, please listen to me… You're going to have to be the brave one now for the group. You need to finish purifying the house. Have John, Takigawa and Ayako do a cleansing. The demon was keeping the spirits there and making them violent. Now that he's taken care of, the spirits can be cleansed."
I nodded slowly. I looked back up at Naru and hugged him. I knew my time here was running out, but I didn't want to leave.
"I understand, Naru but… I don't want to go back. Not without you!"
Naru placed his hands on my cheeks and kissed me. I could taste his tears that mixed with mine. I savored this kiss, knowing I won't be able to kiss him every day like I use to.
After we parted Naru placed his forehead on mine and smiled softly.
"I want to go back so much, Mai. Not being with you is hurting me, but it can't be helped."
"I know," I said softly. "I love you, Naru…"
"I love you, too, Mai."
And with one last look at Naru, I came back into the real world. The real world that is now Naru-less. A world I do not want to live in, but a world I have to be in.
After I came to, I told everyone what Naru told me. The spirits in the house were quickly cleansed and we packed up that evening.
As I walked out of the house and towards the van, I spotted a red rose bush. The roses were as red as blood. It made me think of Naru and how he's gone. How he was ripped away from me to soon. I placed my hand over my heart as I felt it clench in pain.
I felt someone place a hand on my shoulder. I looked over to see Lin standing behind me.
"It's time to go, Mai."
I nod as I turn back towards the bush. "Ok."
As I turned to walk towards the van, I felt a sudden, but soft, gust of wind ruffle my hair. I knew it was Naru telling me he would stay with me and help me until it was my time to join him. I let a small smile slip on my lips as I felt his presence surround me.
"Thank you, Naru," I whispered. "For everything."
A/N: Anyone else crying? I am feeling very depressed after this one. My heart is just breaking for Mai! Oh why do I do this to them? That's right, because my mind gets inspired and then stuff like THIS happens…
Well, I'll leave you all to recover. Until Thursday!
And as for my other stories, soooooooooooo sorry I haven't updated them! With work, then school starting again, I haven't been able to write! I'm gonna start trying to get them going again. I PROMISE!
