The Holes in our Hearts

Chapter 4: When Memories Return

"Alright Lin. You may leave for the day." Naru had just emerged from his office in time to see his assistant still typing frantically at his computer. At his words, Lin looked up from his work hardly breaking pace in his typing.

"Thanks. I was getting ready to leave soon anyway. Hopefully that stupid plumber will be here on time. It is quite an inconvenience to have to spend the money to stay in a hotel while my apartment is under water." With that Lin stood up from his desk and stretched. "Are you sure that you will be okay tonight? My Shiki haven't been able to detect anything that is blocking Mai's mind, but I just have a feeling that this thing means serious trouble for all of us."

"Don't worry Lin. Of all people you should know that I am the most capable person when it comes to fighting off the supernatural. Have a good night Lin."

"And you Naru." Lin was frankly less than appeased by the boy's answer. As he grabbed his coat of the nearby rack he thought to himself, 'But who will protect you from yourself Noll?'

With Lin's typing removed from the office, the whole complex seemed to become deafeningly quiet. As Naru stood in the main room, he became lost in thought. The plain walls, the silence, even the darkness that filled the room due to the absence of sunlight were the things that defined his life. It seemed proper. If his beloved brother couldn't be alive to feel the sunshine then why should the twin who was left behind get to have that privilege?

"Naru," Mai whispered as she came up behind him from the kitchen, "I have finished al my work for the day. Are you done as well? I didn't know when you were planning to go to your apartment, but I do need to swing by my own first and grab some necessities. I feel absolutely horrible about this. I'm being nothing but an absolute bother to you." With that Mai cast her eyes down at the carpet as though it would provide the solution to her problem.

Almost as though he were in shock, Naru's eyes widened in response to the girl's statement. Here she was with her memories blocked by something that obviously was no joke if Lin, Naru, or Gene could really tell that much about it, and she was worried about being a bother to him! "Don't be dense. I know there is little room in your head for a brain since you skull is so thick, but don't you realize it would be even more of a pain if I had to scrape you out of a dark hole somewhere because I didn't listen to my brother. Besides," Naru said in a far softer tone than the one he used to tease Mai, "You could never be a bother to me when you are such a blessing."

For a moment Mai was in shock and preparing herself to smack him upside the head. He had really gone too far with the insults this time. It was only a moment after Naru finished talking that Mai realized what he had said. The resulting blush was thankfully hidden by the dim light of the office.

"Thank you Naru" she stuttered. "I really don't know what else I would do if you weren't here. There really aren't a lot of people I can rely on nowadays."

At that moment, assistant and scientist looked each other in the eye. Some say the eye is the gateway to the soul and emotions. To Mai this had never seemed more evident than when she looked into Naru's eyes. He had let the mask drop for the moment, showing the world just how vulnerable he was. His eyes reflected the pain of someone who had seen pure grief, an understanding of what it was like to lose someone and continue life without them, and one other emotion Mai could not place. If it hadn't been for Mai's extreme doubt that Naru could be attracted to a girl like her, Mai would have thought that last look was one of love.

The two held eye contact until Naru broke it with a hint of regret echoing through his being. It was rare that he got to see the wounded part of Mai come out. It was those moments he treasured the most around her. Anyone can put on another face for another person, but it takes real trust to show someone who you really are. Naru was touched that Mai had chosen to open up to him of all people.

"We should probably start moving them. It's already dark and I want to be settled in long before midnight. That's when most of the harmful supernatural beings reach their highest level of power."

"Okay Naru, let's go."

With that, the two coworkers walked out the door. Little did that know that the night ahead would be longer than either of them could have imagined.

Later that night, at Naru's home…

Mai's eyes widened in shock as she took in the sight of Naru's "small" apartment. Everything was huge and perfect. The few pieces of furniture that were placed strategically around the apartment were all black and modern. The walls, painted a variation of neutral colors, made the overall room look pristine.

It was only after Mai realized she was gaping that she turned red with embarrassment. Not only had she just been gawking at her boss' living space, but he had seen just how different their lifestyles were. Mai remembered brining him to her apartment so she could grab a few pairs of clothes. Her apartment was the literal polar opposite of his. Everything in her home was small, cluttered, crowded, and blasted with random color surges.

'He must think I'm a total pig compared to this kind of lifestyle," Mai thought to herself.

However, unbeknownst to Mai, Naru was watching the symphony of emotions that were playing across her face. He loved the utter shock that made her eyes twinkle, the look of amazement that made her whole face seem to glow, and the small blush that accompanied the embarrassment. It was only when he saw Mai's face reflecting sadness that he became concerned.

"Mai, is this not to your liking?" Naru asked, slightly unsure what could have made her get so depressed all of a sudden.

It was like Naur's words jolted Mai out of her thoughts. Quickly she slid her smile back into place and looked at Naru. "Everything is absolutely amazing! I was just a little bit in shock. You work so much it seems weird to think that you ever would have really cared about decorating."

Naru wasn't fooled for a moment. It had only taken him one day in Mai's presence to learn the difference between a true smile and the one she used when she just wanted people to believe she was happy. Despite the many times he criticized her intelligence for his own amusement, Naru knew that Mai was actually one of the smatter people in the world. She had learned to hide most of her emotions, and that was something very hard for a person to accomplish.

"Okay. Well, the guest room is around the corner. You may feel free to make yourself at home. Oh and Mai?"

"Yes Naru?"

"Tea."

Of all the phrases in the world that could have drove Mai to murder, that one word was starting to become her trigger. For a moment she seemed ready to scream but then she relaxed and laughed. That was what Naru was waiting for. A smile that could set the world on fire. This one was real. Naru knew that he had made the right call when it came to making Mai smile.

"Of course my Lord Narcissist!" With that, Mai bowed and placed her bag in the guest room before skipping off to the kitchen to make the requested beverage. Just as she brushed past Naru, a old fashioned grandfather clock in the corner struck midnight.

"Oh crap" was all Naru was able to say before the room started to shake.

"Naru, this is it. This is the same pressure Gene and I felt in the dream world. But, Naru, it's so much stronger." At this point Naru and Gene had both been forced to their knees by the overwhelming weight. Both were getting a firsthand experience of the pressure Atlas must have been under when he was asked to hold up the sky. Then as soon as the rumbling started, it stopped.

Mai crawled over to Naru, "What was that. Please tell me you know."

When Naru looked at her face he hated having to lie. It seemed too cruel to tell Mai that he was actually just as scared as she was. He had never felt anything like that. Recalling his earlier comment to Lin, he began to wonder if maybe he had overestimated his ability.

"Hahahahahaha, so you are the knight who is supposed to protect my fair lady? You are nothing more than a boy trying to fill a man's role." The voice was a deep tenor that rang with power and authority.

Both Mai and Naru looked around. Quickly they noticed the man in the corner. He was tall and quite handsome, but in an entirely different way than Naru. His eyes, green as a forest blazed through the dimly lit room. A head of hair as black as a midnight with no moon adorned his head. The man stood up off the wall and began to walk towards the couple that was kneeling together on the floor.

Looking directly at Naru he said, "You are nothing more than a worm. You think your weak little abilities will be able to stop me. You are not just a worm but a fool. This girl is mine. She always has been. Now you come in and waltz over like the world is yours. Did you honestly think someone as low as you could ever have someone as wonderful as Mai."

Now Naru had been insulted a lot in his life. But never, had anyone had the nerve to call him a worm! The last bit of him that had felt overwhelmed earlier converted into anger as he processed how this man kept referring to Mai as his! "A supernatural being who has invaded my home without invitation has no right to stake a claim on anything here. I would suggest that you leave before we see just how much this "worm" can hurt you when he gets angry."

The man didn't even flinch as Naru gave him a glare that would make most people run screaming through the hills. "You think so you puny mouse. I would squish you right now but that is not why I have come." Turning to Mai he said, "I am truly sorry for the pain I have caused you my beautiful one. I was hoping you would remember on your own but it appears that the mind block was too strong. I want you to tune to my spiritual pressure." Mai did as she was told and then gasped. "That's right. I'm not what's hunting you. How could I ever hunt the woman I'm in love with? My brother on the other hand is a different story."

Both Mai and Naru froze at this. Naru's vision went red. First this man had invaded his home, called him a worm, and now he was claiming to love Mai. However, before he could do anything Mai spoke. "Who are you? I don't even know who you are and yet you claim to love me."

"Shall I let you remember? These memories have been suppressed for a very long time Mai. This is going to be painful. My brother started to seal them a year ago. Have you ever noticed how all you memories of when you were younger seemed fuzzy? Like something was missing? That's because something was. A whole other world that you had loved. Do you really want to know?"

Mai looked at Naru. He was still buzzing with anger but also with concern. They locked eyes. In one moment of total communication when no words were needed they both came to understand so much about the other. The pain they shared, the love they both felt, and they're concern were all expressed in ways words could never hope to mirror. "Naru," Mai whispered, 'I have to know. We have to be ready for whatever is coming and I can't do that if I don't remember."

"I know. Just don't forget about the memories you have now." Naru looked at the man. "If you so much as harm a hair on her head I will make you beg for hell's relief."

"Oh I'm sure little worm. Do not worry. I would never hurt Mai." Turning to the girl in question he said, "All you have to do to remember Mai, is hear my name. Are you ready?"

With a final look at Naru, Mai closed her eyes. Somehow, she knew life would never be the same after this moment. She sensed that this man who claimed to be from her past could answer some of the questions she had. However, she knew it would be impossible to emerge without being changed. But if it meant she could keep Naru safe from this man across from her, she would have her eyes opened to all the things that she had supposedly forgotten.

"Yes"

"Well then my love. My name is…" he leaned in next to Mai's ear and whispered "Grimlock."

Naru's heart melted when Mai looked at him before agreeing. Her eyes showed nothing but love. It was in that moment that Naru realized Mai had stolen his heart. Now, Naru was forced to watch in horror as this creature leaned next to Mai and whispered his name. Instantly Mai's eyes widened and she was engulfed in a flaming light. The bandage she had wrapped around her hand flew off and the word empty blazed across her skin in fire. It was then that Naru remembered the incident earlier that day. How could he have been so stupid to have forgotten it?

Mai meanwhile was beginning to cry. Her eyes were open but they weren't seeing anything of this world. Rather, she was transfixed by the memories that had been hidden from her. Grimlock and Naru both watched as she reabsorbed all the things she had long since forgotten. After what seemed like an eternity, the glow faded and Mai collapsed.

Naru caught her just before she hit the floor. However, Mai was unconscious.

"Mai? Mai? MAI?"

Naru's pleads of agony went on into the night as he begged for the girl that completed his life to wake up and remember the life she had shared in his world.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt. I am just playing around with the characters for my amusement and hopefully the amusement of a few others.

Hello readers. It has been a very long time. For that I apologize. Hopefully I can try and update more frequently. Now that all the exposition is out of the way, I just have to do one more explanation chapter before the plot really gets moving. Please do not hesitate to review. I would love to know how to improve! Thanks for reading!