Chapter Four: No Pressure
Mai pov…
"Mai, don't run too far, okay." My mother shouts, watching her sit on her brown beach chair. I wave at her with a giggle.
"Okay mama," I yelled out, turning around to find myself in the apartment complex yard, filled with beautiful trees and flowers, making it my own adventure. Laughing to myself, I started to run towards the bushes, near the fences.
"Now, what should I do?" I place my small hands on my waist, looking around, to see if I could find something better. Nothing caught my attention. Now swinging my arms back and forth, walking towards my right, trying to see if I can walk in a straight line, only to have a white puffy rabbit jump in my sight.
"Bunny!" I gasp outstretching my arm out to see if I could catch it, but the more I try, the further it will run.
"I only want to catch you, and pet you." I cried out, now running towards it. Moving rapidly, I move deeper into the flower beds until the bunny stops in front of an old big mirror, that lies on the ground. I stop in my tracks and tilted my head.
"Huh, what's this?" I move towards it and bend on my knees.
"Is a mirror, a huge mirror, Mama will like this." I reach out to touch the dirty glass, in doing so, I scream in fright when I see a small boy trap inside the glass around five looking up at me.
"Mama!" I yelled, falling into my behind, breathing hard, but the boy moves closer and touch the glass.
"Don't, please, help me."
..
"Should you do it?"
"No, why should I?"
"Because you're the human here."
"I can't do it, the reason you said, I'm human, I can die, if I die, I can't save you all,"
"But.."
"But nothing, now Housho, jump it or not, we will be stuck here for the rest of our lives." I groaned as we stood on the edge of floor opening. The violent shakes have become frantic and more dangerous than ever before. There's actually gaping holes on the floors. Now we stood at the edge of it, trying to head towards the kitchen since Housho wants to see Ayako.
"I can come back later Housho, you can go and court Ayako." I turned around, but he suddenly reaches out and holds my hand. I turned to stare at him, and suddenly my hand started to itch. Snatching my hand away from him, I rub my hand, trying to calm it down.
'Strange,' I thought, looking down at my itchy hand.
"Don't go, please, I want to see her, but she won't see me if you aren't with me." his eyes shows sadness, causing my heart to tug.
"Fine, but I can't jump that, do you know anyone with powers to transfer us into the kitchen, I don't know, Yuki or someone?" I asked him. Housho shook his head.
"No, besides our King and her, there's no one else with those powers. Oh, Ayako does, but she isn't here." He sounded broken hearted.
"Then we have to wait Housho. Come, when the time is right, you can come and see her, is too dangerous." I walked towards the throne room, my eyes sadness, to see how destroyed it looks from these last few days.
"Naru will be sad to see this." I thought to myself, rubbing my arms up and down. Then I glance at my red hand and notice that it wasn't bad of an allergy reaction.
'He didn't touch me for that long, thank goodness.' I thought in relief.
Housho moves towards the chair and sat down.. He sighs, and place his chin on the flat of his hand.
"Can you tell me, what's going on? I didn't want to be a burden, but if you expect me to help, I need to know what's causing this, I have been here for five days, and for those five days, even though I'm home sick, I'm starting to like this place, a bit." I admitted to him. Housho lifts his gaze and something beam in his brown eyes.
"Really? Odd, that our King didn't say anything. Is easy you just have to save a soul." My eyes widen, and I move towards him.
"Oh? Really?" Housho nods, and he was about to say something else, but a clearing of the throat interrupted us.
"Really, a soul that is not meant to be here, if you kindly get up from my chair?" my heart jump from his voice, I turned to see the King standing there, my eyes widen to see blood coming out of his mouth, and he's holding onto his stomach. My heart stops.
"Naru, what happen?" I ran towards him, about to touch his swollen cheek, but his piercing eyes stop me from doing it. Remembering his second rule.
"Nothing out of the ordinary." He mumbles, moving towards his chair. Housho immediately ran out of the throne.
"Hosho, where is."
"Let him be, come here," The King orders. I nodded, moving towards him. He stares at me, then he points at his right.
"There's alcohol under the concrete walls, bring me a bottle." I was taken aback but nodded, rushing towards the concrete wall near his chair. Getting on my knees, I can see a gaping hole, filled with a flask of bottles, and I cover my nose, from the strong smell of alcohol. I took the first flask and stood up, hurrying back, I handed him the flask. He opens it, with his mouth, and spit the top off and pours it on his arm, then on his stomach, he hisses in pain. My eyes widen to see blood washing down his stomach, noticing a large gash there.
"What happen? Who did this to you? Where were you?" I move rapidly to take the bottle away from him. He lifts his gaze at me.
"The dark creatures attacked me when I was examining my labyrinth." He explains. I blink shocked that he actually told me.
"Dark creatures? Who are they?"
"Creatures that devour souls. If they find the soul you have to save, then everyone in this castle and my labyrinth will be over." Something in his eyes seems to go beyond anything. I gulped and nodded at him.
"Wait, like shinigami? Are they the cause of this castle falling into pieces?" I asked him, going towards the opening of the concrete wall, to see if there's anything I can use for him.
"Yes," he agrees. I groaned in frustration, to find nothing to use for his cuts.
"Here, my King, the bandages." I heard on my right. I turned to see Housho running back with a handful of bandages on his hands.
"Thank you." I heard Naru whispers. I turned and reach towards Housho. I smile at him gently.
"Let me do it. I have learned one thing or another about treating a wound." For a reason somewhere in me told me to do it. Housho hesitates and turns his gaze towards Naru. Then he turned and nods at me. Handing it to me, I turn and went straight towards Naru.
"I will try not to touch you, okay," I told him. Naru stares at me, but nods, as he places the flask down. I glance at the wound, and wince of how deep it looks.
"You need to get a doctor."
"There's no doctors in this land." He whispers to me. I glance up, our eyes lock, and I swallow hard. Looking down, I started to treat his wound, by washing it first, and patching him up.
'Who is this soul that I have to save, and why did this Shinigami hurt him this bad?'
…
"Madoka, Lin!" Naru yells, as we entered the library once again. I move closer to Naru, just in case. He looks pale and tired. Lin and Madoka came out of one of the bookshelves entrances and look up at us.
"My King, what happen?" Madoka rushed towards Naru. Naru waves his hand and looks straight at Lin. Lin raised a brow.
"The creatures are more violent, they want that soul, I need you and Madoka to move towards another location." He tells them. Lin and Madoka glance at each other, something unspoken pass through their eyes and both nodded, and turned to stare at Naru.
"Yes, our King, what about what you told us a few days ago?" Madoka questions, while her eyes landed on me. I raised a brow, but remember that Naru asked of her to keep a watch on me.
"You will remain doing so, for now, both will keep this library from harms way. Where's Yuki?" he demands. Looking around the place. Lin cleared his throat.
"She's with her sister at the moment, trying to find a way to fix the mirror."
"Is that so, then go to her, and tell her to send me her sister," with that, Madoka and Lin disappear from our sight, and the next thing I knew, we are back in the throne room. I rub my forehead, watching Naru grasp his wound.
"You should sit and rest, or not it will get worse." I suggested, moving towards his side. Naru stops at his tracks and turns towards me. His blue eyes become piercing, but didn't make me flinch at the least. Instead, I move closer to him.
"Are you normally stubborn or hard of hearing?" I grumble under my breath. Naru simply blinks at me, but then we heard footsteps behind us.
"My King, my king.." I heard a small voice. Turning around, I watch Gene run towards us. I quickly move and huff out when Gene crashes into my arms.
"No touching King right now. He's hurt." I told him. Picking up Gene. His face fell, turning to face Naru.
"Did those bad creatures hurt you?" Naru gave Gene a gentle smile and rub his head.
"They did kid, but nothing I can't handle." Gene eyes, sadness, turning to face me.
"Yes?" something in his eyes wanted to tell me something, but then he just buries his face in the crook of my neck, suddenly a giggle escapes my lips, causing Naru to stare at me.
"Did I hurt you?" Gene asks, concern after he lifts his head up. I shook my head.
"No, sorry, I'm not using to anyone laying their forehead on my neck. You're the first." I told him. Gene tilts his head, then turns towards Naru.
"If the King, I mean Naru does it, will it not tickle anymore?" his words caught me off guard, causing me to blush instead of answering him.
"Err.." I had no idea what to say to him. Naru eyes seem to become amused by my acts, but don't say anything, Instead, he moves rather close to me, and his eyes landed on mine. My cheeks burn even more.
"Do you want to test that?" Naru suddenly asks boldly, but his voice drops dangerously, that it caused me to shiver in an odd way. My eyes widen while Gene smiles at us.
"Try it, my King. I doubt Mai will mind. If she ticklish, we can. I mean I can tickle her even more." I turned to give Gene a.. 'Are you serious?' look.
"I'll keep that in mind," he murmurs, picking up Gene from my arms to his. Gene frowns at him but lays his head on his shoulder.
"What do we do now? What if the creatures attack again, you can't defend us all the time." Gene sounded worried. I licked my lower lip, walking towards the window, staring at the labyrinth, which for a reason looks darker than the normal, and is not night time.
"Is so dark, what is happening? It wasn't like this a few days ago," I asked, turning around, only to gasp to find Naru standing a little too close to me, but his eyes are staring outside the window, and his arm leaning against the wall, half blocking me off. Suddenly I hiccuped and glance down at the floor. Naru arched a brow, looking down at me.
"The creatures doing. Masako and Lin moved the library for now. So if anything, no one can find it unless I tell them where it is."
I lifted my gaze, ignoring the fact that I can see his bare chest up close. I gained courage and breathed out.
"What is it so important in that library?" I finally question. Naru lowers his gaze towards me and coughs a laugh.
"Is more important than your own life." Was his answer. I blinked, but then snarl at him, about to push him, but then I froze on the spot, remembering his second rule.
"Jerk." I hissed, walking towards my right, where he doesn't have his arm blocking off my way out. In doing so, another violent tremble shook the grounds, causing me to take a hold of the wall, Naru grunts.
"Kid," he yells turning, I follow his stare, to see Gene grasping the chair for his dear life, fear plaster in his eyes.
"Gene!" I strange fear crept into my heart, that I rushed towards Gene side. Naru follows suit, and finally reaching the child. His blue eyes glance up at me, and tears gather in his blue eyes.
"That was scary. King, please do something or our home shall be destroyed before we know it." He started to cry. I move, as he jumps into my arms. I bury him in my chest. I soothe his back.
"Is okay, is okay." I kept repeating lifting my gaze towards Naru.
Naru sat down on the floor, not before wincing in pain, and run his finger through his dark hair.
"What are you thinking of?" I asked him. Naru lifted his gaze towards me, and a sudden pulse rushed towards my veins.
"A lot of things, but mostly, to get to the core of this problem." Now that catch my attention. I move my body towards him. While Gene lays his head on my chest this time.
"Which is?"
"To lure it out, and eliminate it for good."
….
I stare at the labyrinth that night, from my window. I didn't dare open them, though. Since Naru warned me to not to. I leaned my forehead against the glass, feeling achy for some odd reason.
"Don't' stress yourself too much." I heard behind me. I jump from the sudden scare and turned to see Madoka and Ayako sitting on top of my bed.
"What are you two doing here?" I asked them, moving towards them. Both girls glance at each other, then back at me.
"To help you of course."
"With escaping or with helping the poor soul?" I tested, crossing my arms, going up towards them.
"With the poor soul, do you still want to escape?" Ayako asks this time. I sat on the edge of my bed and huff out.
"I don't know. This still feels like a dream. You two remind me so much of my friends back where I come from and even have the same names." I told them.
"We wouldn't have you here if it's not dire. Our King is desperate enough. He normally won't do this. He doesn't like any female around, but since you're the only one that can help." Madoka sighs, after she explains, floating above me. I look up, noticing the sadness in her face.
"I will help, is always been my job to help those indeed, even to the dead. I won't escape, plus I have no other choice do I?" I nervously laugh at my lame joke. The girls went silent for a brief second, then Ayako touches my shoulder. I glance at her.
"You need to remember your promise, in order to save us. I don't know what is it, but Our King told us, that you made a promise, and you have to keep it. I don't trust humans, but since I have no choice to rely in one, I have to be open minded. So here I am helping." Ayako seems to be sincere with her words.
Madoka float in front of me, her eyes turn tender.
"I have known the King since he was a child. I know him more than anyone in this castle or the realm. Lin and I watch him grow up. What I tell you is the truth. You have to ignore all the rules he set for you. Become his partner, his best friend. Learn more about him, let him learn about you. Let him open up to you. He hasn't opened up to no one for years. He became isolated." Madoka paused, as sadness seep into her eyes. For a reason that pained me to hear that.
'What cause the king to become like this?' I questioned in my mind.
"What happen to him?" I question. Madoka shakes her head when Ayako sighs out loud.
"I don't know, Madoka nor Lin will tell us." She replies. Madoka gave Ayako a strange look but then returns towards me.
"Mai, I can sense you have a pure heart and soul. You have something that no one else does to heal our King heart. You can save that poor soul and save us all. Remember become our King best friend." I felt a sweat drop.
"Geez, no pressure there." I mumble, but then something in her eyes causes me to rethink it since she looks dead on serious.
"How? If he.." Madoka shook her head, as Ayako moves her body towards me.
"Do it naturally. Have you ever been in love?" she suddenly asks me. My cheeks flare up.
"Err, I had a crush for my boss, but in love in love? I can't say since I never got the chance to experience it." I told her the truth. Something in her eyes sparkles.
"That's all I need to hear. Now be careful things will be shaken up soon. I hope it helped,"
"Remember human, we all rely on you, and keep our King safe." And with that both girls left me alone. .I groaned, pushing myself back on the bed, with a groan.
"Again, no pressure at all!" I yelled, rolling to my stomach, and cover my face with the pillow.
Naru pov
"Come on, come on. Let's visit our Star." Gene jumped on top of my bed, with joy in his eyes. I sat on the corner of my room, looking out at the night sky, trying hard to not feel the pain. I close my eyes, leaning my head against the cold concrete.
"No." it wasn't even a command.
"Aww, my King, are you not feeling well? Does it hurt that bad?" I heard the kid ask. I open my left eye to see him looking up at me with concern eyes. I wave him off.
"Not really, I'm fine, just tired, I haven't slept for a few days." I admit. Gene tilts his head concern plaster all over.
"Oh. Should I get our star, she can help you sleep better, like last.," there my eyes snap open and turned to stare at him.
"No, she's sleeping," I told him. Gene frowns even more but moves up towards the window, crossing his arms, seriousness passes his eyes, as the night shadows his face.
"You know, you need to stop teasing her and start her to save his soul before it becomes too late." His voice change dramatically, not as a child but a grown adult type of voice. I sigh, rubbing my forehead.
"She's just that teasable, you know that. I haven't had this much fun in a long while." Gene turns his gaze towards me.
"I know that, but you have a job Naru, one job, to get Mai to save that soul before its too late. Look what they have done to you. I can't afford to lose you. She's our hope, and you're my hope as well." Something in his tone sounded afraid. I leaned forward, spreading my legs.
"Why in the world do you sound more adult than I?" I change the subject. Gene shrugs, smirking at me.
"Don't you dare change the subject, and you know why. Oh, are you happy about the name she gave you? I was meaning to ask you that." My heart jumps oddly, and my eyes soften. Remembering when Mai named me. My whole body felt alive, and my own soul jumped, I felt alive once again, feeling like someone again. No longer will I be just a King, but someone with a name.
"It felt nice to have a name once again. I have forgotten my original name long ago. Do you like yours?" I asked him. Gene shrugs at me.
"Sounds familiar to me, Gene.. Hmm, doesn't fit with me, but for a reason its warm." he admits.
I rolled my eyes at him, looking up at the night sky, suddenly a dark, shadowy shinigami flew right pass, making my body go rigid. Gene groans, turning his gaze back at me.
"They aren't playing any longer."
"I know that, I can't force her to do it, she needs to save him by her own will and remember her promise she made to him." Gene frowns, going up to me, he pats my head with his small hand.
"She's quite something isn't she? She very beautiful, isn't she? She grew up very eye catching." I move my eyes towards him.
"She's something alright, but not beautiful." I half agree, and he suddenly smiles, removing his hand, something devilish spark in his blue eyes.
"What?" I asked.
"Adults are too much sometimes, I'm glad I'm a kid, but when both of your touch, you felt it right?" I went still for a second.
"No." I lied, turning my gaze away from him, feeling my cheeks turning warm. Gene chuckled,
"Lier, your face is turning red, just like Mai's.. You have felt something. Remember something, get closer to her, befriend her, you surely need it." he suddenly sits on my lap. I move, and look down at him.
"What the hell are you doing?" I asked surprised. Gene shrugs, snuggling into my chest.
"Going to sleep. I'm sleepy. I won't hurt your wound, " I sigh, leaning back.
"Go to bed for that." I murmured. Gene shook his head.
"You're more comfortable, plus." He paused, looking up at me. I raised a brow.
"What?"
"If I do, I'll be tempted to go with our star, and right now, I'm trying my best to not tell her anything." I frowned at his words, wrapping my arms around him and look outside.
"Me too, is hard, especially when she doesn't even remember me."
Thanks for the reviews.. There's a little preview on Naru point of view. Is not much, but it will make more sense later on.. :) Remember, my grammar sucks. So don't expect anything glamorous, besides a good story (I hope), that hopefully will touch many in a ride of emotions.
Disclaimer: Don't own Ghost Hunt at all… TT
