CHAPTER TWO~ FINAL
WARNING: is for the people who didn't like the previous ending. If you liked the previous chapter, reading this might spoil it! Fair warning!
When Mai woke up, she was lying down in a world of nothing but white. She stood up slowly, trying to figure out where she was and why she was here. A white fog surrounded her, seeming to fade her surroundings into nothing. Light seemed to come from everywhere at once, and Mai noticed that she had no shadow, as if she were transparent. There was nothing in this place.
Place? Where was this? It didn't seem like the hell Mai had believed she would end up in. There was absolutely nothing. You couldn't tell the difference between floor and ceiling, let alone if there was a wall in front of you. But there was nothing attacking her and she seemed to be alone, so Mai deemed it safe to precede with caution. Wow, all that military training must have been drilled into her head. Still checking for danger even in death.
Becoming board after discovering that this place was harmless, Mai desired to look around. After all, there was nothing but white and she had no idea as to where she was. Exploring might be a good pastime.
Mai turned around in a full circle, noting that everything seemed to be the same and chose a random direction to walk in. As she walked, objects began to appear. Slowly becoming visible after appearing out of thin air. It was like walking through a cloud.
A sudden thought came to Mai. Was this Oblivion? Was she stuck in Limbo?
She focused her attention on the object she was walking towards. It was a bench. A bench with a couple sitting on it, holding hands and cuddling; they looked so familiar...
Her throat tightened and Mai felt tears welling in her eyes. These people... she knew them. They where, they were...
Walking was not fast enough. As tears threatened to drown Mai, she sprinted towards her parents.
"Mom! Daddy!" She sobbed and tackled her parents into a hug, wrapping her arms around their wastes and hitting the floor with her knees. All she could do was sob and hold them tight, as if they might disappear any second.
The couple smiled down at their daughter, the warmhearted mother reaching out to stroke her daughters hair. The father grinned and wrapped an arm around his wife and his daughter, relishing that he could hold her after so long. After 14 years, the family of three was together again.
"Mai," a voice like a gentle breeze reaching the sobbing woman's ears, "please don't cry. Were here now."
Mai, realizing she was being foolish, sat back on her heels and whipped her eyes with her left hand. Her right still held onto the woman that was her mother, not willing to let go a second time.
Mai's mother was beautiful, with long brown hair that reached her waist and kind, reddish brown eyes. Her features were delicate and pale, like a white rose. But she was not delicate, her tongue was sharp like a razor with a temper that could make fire seem like ice. Her glares would have made Naru seem like a puppy in comparison. But she had a huge heart, and a beautiful soul.
The man beside her mother, Mai could only vaguely recognize. Her father had died when she was still a small child, and it had been almost two decades since Mai had seen him. Mai clung to her mother, slightly afraid of the man before her. On the streets, Mai was never treated well by men. Ever.
Seeming to realize this, Taniyama Ichirou simply smiled and kept his distance, restraining himself from hugging his daughter.
"Mai," the soft voice came again, "This is your father. Ichirou. He wont hurt you." Mai nodded, and tentatively smiled back, feeling like a child again. She could tell this man was kind, and when he reached forward to hug her, she didn't mind. In fact, she practically threw herself into his arms.
Ichirou laughed, a mix of amusement and joy and held his daughter tightly. Taniyama Kimi grinned at her husband and child, enjoying the moment.
"There's so much I wanted to talk to you about!" Mai said, both to her mother and father as she released her death grip.
"Mai," Ichirou said, and to Mai his voice sounded like an angels. Ichirou was a tall man, taller than Naru but shorter than Lin. He had light brown, shaggy hair that suited him all to well. Honey eyes peaked out from under his shaggy locks and always seemed to twinkle with mischief. Now, both her parents seemed to be in their late twenty's, and Ichirou looked fit and strong, but kind as well. Always ready to have some fun or play a prank.
"I know," Her fathers voice broke Mai out of her thinking, "we have so much to talk about. Especially with that Naru fellow."
"Dad!" came Mai's surprised cry.
"Icirou," Kimi's voice warned with a pointed look at her husband. He sighed, "fine,"
Kimi rubbed her husbands shoulder comfortingly as Mai giggled. Ichirou seemed to perk up at the giggle, and smiled at her.
"But there is no time,"
"eh? What do you mean?" came Mai's scared reply. "I'm dead, how can there be no time?"
Her mother gave Mai a pointed look at the mention of her death. "I had hoped you would keep us waiting for a long time, Mai. What were you thinking, getting yourself killed! Your still so young!"
Kimi's fiery reply startled Mai, and Mai became a little annoyed.
Mai huffed, "Its not like I chose to die! I mean, there was kind of a war going on! Besides, there was nothing left to live for!" Mai cried.
Kimi glared at her daughter, "So you gave up?! That is not what my daughter would do! There is still so much worth living for!" Mai felt slightly hurt by her mothers words, but covered it up with a glare.
"Oh, don't you glare at me young lady," Kimi warned, "I'm still your mother, even if we seem only a few years apart right now."
Both mother and daughter glared at each other, looking so similar it was hard to tell them apart.
You could practically see the sparks flying. Ichirou simply sat of to the side, a content smirk gracing his handsome features.
"Now, now," he interrupted, gulping when both glares turned on him, "Lets continue on, shall we?"
His expression turned serious, "Mai, you still have so much to live for."
Mai frowned. "But there all gone," she said, tears once again in her eyes. "There is no one left. They left me all alone in that treacherous world." tears now dripped down her cheeks.
"They went on ahead, why can't I follow?" Mai asked.
Kimi and Ichirou looked at each other. "Mai," Kimi called her daughter softly, "they did not leave."
"eh?" Mai's startled gaze fell on both her parents. "what do you mean?"
"This is hard to explain..." Ichirou trailed off, scratching the back of his head.
"Dad, say it," came Mai's strong reply. "Are they ghosts or something? Do I need to exorcise them?"
Kimi laughed. "No, deary, there not ghosts."
Mai's eyes widened, daring to hope. "Then, they're alive?" At her fathers nod, Mai could barley keep herself together.
After a lifetime of shock, Mai finally pulled herself together enough to ask, "how?"
"Ah, the tricky bit," Ichirou muttered.
Kimi sighed. "Well... God gave you another chance at life."
"What." was Mai's intelligent reply.
Kimi sighed again. "We were sent to tell you. At the warehouse, your 'stronghold', none of them were killed. They survived."
Mai looked as though she was going into shock. A thought suddenly came to her.
"Naru? What about Naru?"
Ichirou muttered something about 'stealing his daughter away from him', 'he better take better care of her this time...' and 'damn him' as Kimi smiled a sad smile and shook her head.
"Then..."
"He died with you Mai. But, you can see him again."
"What do you mean?"
"Like we said, God gave you a second chance at life." Ichirou answered, pulling himself together after his little rant. "Witch means, a life with him and the rest of your knew family."
Mai looked shocked, "why would he do that for me?"
This time both her parents truly smiled. "He has been watching over you, just like we have. He decided that you did not deserve this. You are a kind child, and have been through so much, that he decided to give you a second chance. It was also based off of a prayer from a former priest. John.. Brown I think his name was."
Mai was so shocked she was unable to respond.
"The survivors found you and Naru, side by side, barley alive. The red headed doctor managed to save you. You are now in a safe house, a hospital in a sort of comma. John prayed for your recovery and safety."
"How am I here then?" Mai asked, "am I not dead?"
"No, you are lost." was Ichirou's reply. "You thought all was gone, and believed yourself to be dead, and so you are here, caught between."
"what about Naru?"
"He is safe, back in his own body. He needs you now." Kimi smiled. "But before you go, there is someone who wanted to see you."
Mai, still confused, heard foot steps behind her and turned to find herself looking at a handsome man dressed all in black.
He was smiling.
"Gene!" Mai yelled in joy, and sprinted at her brother figure, tackling him with a flying hug.
Gene laughed at her childishness, spun her around once and set her back on her feet again.
"Gene! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Naru?" Mai questioned.
The blue-eyed twin nodded. "I already went to see him," Gene said, "he knows the gist of things. Now he's waiting for you. Everyone's waiting for you"
Mai felt tears of joy come to her eyes. They were alive! Everyone was there!
Mai then asked Gene a question she was dreading. "Will you come to?"
Gene's smile turned melancholy. "Mai... I can't." Mai felt tears come to her eyes once more. She would loose her brother now. Damn that cruel world! "My physical body, I'd need it, but its nothing but bones now." Mai broke down and sobbed into Genes chest.
"No... I will not cry." Mai muttered to herself, surprising Gene.
"Gene," Mai said strongly, pulling away from Gene and wiping her eyes. "You must promise you will move on, if your not coming back with me." Mai said, standing with her head up and shoulders back.
"I want you to move on. For both your sake and Naru's," she said.
Gene looked at the woman in front of him in surprise, before relaxing and closing his eyes, a smile on his pale lips.
"I will." Was all he said. It was enough.
Mai turned to her parents, "You can't come either, can you." It wasn't a question.
Both Kimi and Ichirou clasped hands and shook their heads. "There was so much I wanted to talk about..." Mai said quietly. "You must move on to, you hear me?" Mai demanded, fresh tears in the corner of her eyes. "I never want to see you here in Limbo again!"
Both her parents smiled softly, and nodded, and opened up their arms. Mai flung herself in them, knowing she would not see them again.
"Mom, I'll miss you," Mai mumbled into Kimi's cardigan. "Dad," she looked her father straight in the eye. "I'm glad I met you." Ichirou felt tears in his own eyes, but hid them and instead called "I love you, Mai. Take care, and if that Naru ever hurts you tell him he'll have to deal with me in the afterlife!"
Mai couldn't help but laugh. An over protective father, strong, kind and mischievous; just the man she had wanted as her father.
"This is it, huh." Gene said, hands in his pockets as Mai turned to face him.
"You take care. If you keep on being this reckless I will come back and haunt you myself!" Gene swore, a mischievous glint to his sapphire eyes.
Mai laughed, then faked a pout. "I can't help it you know. Its in my nature!" She said and turned away. "If you don't move on I will come her just to torment you!" She called behind her as she jogged into the fog of oblivion.
The three ghosts watched her go. "She's so strong and beautiful," Ichirou said and looked at Kimi, "just like her mother." Gene smiled, "but she's got your trouble streak," Ichirou laughed. "Yup, I guess so!"
Kimi watched her daughter go. "She'll be alright," she whispered.
Gene turned in the opposite direction from witch Mai went. "Shall we then?" He asked.
The three of them walked away, vanishing into the fog and to whatever lay beyond with smiles on their faces.
LINE
Mai woke up to find herself in a hospital. She could tell it was a hospital because of the smell. But that was it.
Sitting herself up, Mai looked around. She was in a typical hospital bed, in a typical hospital room, with the typical hospital decor. The only thing different from a usual room was the amount of people in it. There were seven people in the room, sleeping in various spots on the floor or in a chair. Only one other person was in a bed. That was a boy with hair the colour of midnight and eyes the colour of sapphires.
Naru.
As Mai slowly took out the IV drip, and other various wires from her arms and the breathing mask from her face, the cursed heart monitor beeped, waking up all the various sleeping people in an instant, worried for the little girl in the bed.
As soon as Mai's family saw she was awake, they all broke down. Some crying, some laughing, some coming up and tackling (Bou). Mai simply smiled at the chaos that erupted.
Mai called John over. "What is it, Mai? Can I get you something?" the kind priest asked.
Mai shook her head. "I jut wanted to thank you," she said, "Without you both Naru and I would be dead." and laughed upon seeing John confused face.
"Don't worry about it!" She laughed. Johns confused questions were cut short by Lin coming up and giving the small woman a hug. While he was a silent and rather intimidating man, he was not a cold one. The little Japanese girl had managed to weasel her way into his heart. John decided to let it slip, figuring that Mai would tell him someday.
Just then, the other monitor that was hooked up to the second patient started beeping faster, and the man on the bed stirred.
"Naru," Mai called softly and a hush fell over the room, "Naru, wake up."
"Mai..." he muttered. She smiled, "I'm here." and his beautiful sapphire eyes opened, searching for her before Naru was even fully awake. "Mai..." he said again, his voice breaking.
The other occupants of the room shared a knowing look before shuffling out of the small romm, giving the couple some privacy.
"Were alive," Mai said, smiling at Naru, tears of joy in her eyes. Her face was blushed from crying.
"Yeah," Naru agreed his own voice cracking slightly. "Were alive,".
Mai forced her stiff body out of her bed, stumbling the last few paces to Naru's bed and collapsing next to him on her back. She sighed in relief as she did so, walking was hard.
Naru chuckled and Mai turned to face him, "your still recovering you know. We were dead for a while, so take it easy."
Mai grinned back at the love of her life. "I can't help it, being reckless is in my nature."
Naru could only laugh in agreement. "But you wouldn't want me any other way, would you." Mai continued.
"No," Naru whispered, "I wouldn't."
"We can't tell the others what happened, can we. They'd never believe us," Mai stated.
"Maybe John," Naru mussed, "But no one else."
"I knew it. Oh well, I never thought I would say this; but I'm glad to be back in this god forsaken world." Naru smiled his agreement. "So am I." he whispered.
"You do realize I'm never letting you go after that, right?" Naru added with a knowing look.
Mai giggled. "Haha, my father and Gene would haunt you if you did." She was only half teasing.
Laughing at Naru's raised eyebrow, Mai simply curled herself into his chest and felt Naru's strong, warm arms wrap around her securely.
"I wouldn't want you to," She mumbled, feeling exhausted. After what she - they had been through, who could blame them?
And so the depths of sleep took the new couple, shielding them for another few hours from the hard trials that were to come. But, no matter what, the couple knew that they would be fine.
The rest of the gang found the couple hours later, curled up in each others arms smiling.
This is the end! This writing may be off because I didn't plan to write it, but hey! What ever makes you guys happy!
Let me know what you thought of my writing for both chapters! Sorry that this one wasn't a song fic, but I couldn't find a good song!
I look forward to ALL reviews! Please don't hesitate to let me know how I did! And not just about plot and such, my writing as well!
Love all of you for reading this! Please check out my other story, Ghost Hunt: A Strange Continuation. It's still ongoing!
Well then, see you next story! Luv Y'all!
Sammy~
