"Not all those who wander are lost."
~J.R.R. Tolkien


Chapter Seven

No Time To Kill

Naru was dying, not in the literal sense, but in a manner associated with fatigue. He was sprawled across his couch; one leg was slung over the top of the sofa, while the other somehow touched the ground. His arms were stretched out like the wings of a butterfly, occasionally brushing against a pillow or a book. Normally, he would never do such a thing, but the rules were different in his own home. He could do whatever he wanted. Of course, that had its own boundaries, but no one had to know. His life, as simple and mundane as it was, had a privacy setting. He wasn't planning on changing it any time soon. Everything was fine the way it was. Naru was certain other people thought differently, but he didn't care. He was an adult. He could control his own fate. Well, at least he thought he could. Things were beginning to change, and he wasn't too sure anymore.

A groan slipped through his lips as he adjusted his position along the couch. He ran a hand through his messy black hair, wondering why his work at the university tormented his soul. Normally paranormal research was interesting, but lately it failed to stimulate him in the slightest. Perhaps that was due to his wondering mind. He couldn't help but think of Japan and the fiery girl who lived there. Ever since the last phone call, he couldn't help but wonder whether Mai had gotten herself in trouble. She seemed normal enough with her insults and ridiculous mood swings, but behind that he could sense that something was off. It was like visiting a lake during a sweltering hot day. In the distance, maybe miles away, you knew there was a shoreline of some sort. Due to the humidity however, it couldn't be seen. Despite the clouds, sky, and everything that seemed remotely distracting, you knew it was there.

If Naru had a choice, he would have ignored the situation all together. Unfortunately, he didn't have the ability to. With his gifts, anything remotely paranormal literally seemed to punch him in the face. It didn't matter if he plugged his ears, or closed his eyes—ignoring it was impossible. He had tried, and that only served to cause more trouble. For instance, he was currently attempting to pretend that the issue didn't exist. He had worked all day imagining that Mai was a person that didn't matter in the slightest. His efforts failed. Naru didn't know why, but everything—random conversations, colleagues, books, television adds—seemed to scream her name. He saw her everywhere in the smallest of things and it was driving him insane.

He pulled his fingers away from his head, and sighed deeply. He had only one choice. It was obvious—nearly clear as day. He would continue ignoring everything and everyone. That was the only was he could continue living his private life. The people that called him were of no importance. The letters he received in the mail were of little consequence. His parents, two people in the world that refused to leave him alone, could slowly fade into the background. It was all possible. Naru just had to continuing trying. That was after all, how success was created.

In determination, he shook his head and reached for the television remote. His efforts would all begin with a small bought of reality. Television may kill brain cells, but it did one thing right: create a wonderful distraction. If he wanted, he could stare at the screen for hours, literally rotting inside. Everything he saw on the small screen—the weather, news, advertisements for shampoo, stupid jingles promoting gum—it would take away the annoyance her felt inside. His pain would fade away, all due to an invention he shared a passionate love-hate relationship with. A snort slipped thorough Naru's lips as he turned the television on. For some reason, some foolish melodrama popped up on screen. A child was starring at a bag of chips as if it were a bar of gold. Before he could change the channel, he listened to what the kid had to say. If it was any other day, he would have listened to his better judgement. Unfortunately, his mind was dulled.

"May I have—" Naru changed the channel, ignoring the dull buzz of the television screen. It had happened again. The name 'Mai', despite the different spelling and pronunciation, had some how assaulted his senses. He bit his lip, ignoring the frustration that pooled within his chest. He just wanted her to go away. She brought back memories that were almost painful. He knew for certain, as a faint headache was beginning to plague his brain. In agony, he starred at the television again, hoping something of relative interest would be displayed on screen. It was the news channel. Two people, a man and woman, were sitting in front of a table. They were talking, and it took everything for Naru to listen to what they had to say.

"Looks like rain in the central London area this evening." The man said with a bright grin, his teeth glittering in the fake light. "I'm told by Doug that the weather may improve tomorrow—" The channel changed again. Naru continued to click the remote several times before landing on a historical documentary. It looked interesting, something that couldn't possibly contain Mai's name in the least. Before he could go insane, he focused on the show, wishing his brain would just turn off. By the looks of things, a narrator was talking about the French Revolution. He had a thick accent, one which could have possibly been Australian or Scottish. Naru didn't think it suited the mood of the piece, but in the end he didn't care.

"A meeting of the Estates-General was called upon by Louis XVI in Versailles to discuss and approve a new tax plan, on May 5, 1789."

Panic filled Naru's veins. He clicked the remote again, shaking his head. What he was hearing was not Mai's name. That was impossible. He believed in coincidence, but what he was experiencing was far more intense than that. It was real. He diverted his attention on the television, quickly analyzing the horror movie that played on screen. It was a random film, probably something that had no purpose but to scare teenagers. It didn't look very clever. In all honesty it looked like a waste of time.

"My God!" The female lead screamed in a high pitched tone. "The killer is coming—" Before she could finish speaking, Naru changed the channel again. Instead of remaining on one show, he continued clicking the remote. The screen flashed before his eyes, slowly turning his black and white world into something filled with colour. All the images he saw blurred together; they no longer resembled reality in the slightest. He saw a bar of toothpaste, a car, a little girl smiling, a dog—so many pictures that meant nothing. All that mattered were the words, the small clips of noise that somehow oozed out of the television screen.

"My goodness, don't speak in such a way darling—"

"NO! I'm going to keep my god damned—" The television crackled, suddenly releasing a onslaught of static, before continuing to follow Naru's commands. He continued clicking the remote, pressing the button as it was his last hope.

"My oh my, it's a wonderful day—"

"Let's learn how to say microscopic! Say it with me, mi—" With the speed of some sort of animal, Naru turned the television off. He slammed the remote on the table, his hands literally quivering with frustration. He cursed fate. He swore at the world. It didn't matter what he did; his life would never be simple. It was tied around Mai. Like some sort of toddler, she had twisted herself around his legs. It wouldn't be surprising if he suddenly fell on his face. If Naru had thought any better, he would have believed he was already sprawled along the ground. That was what she did to him—made him feel like he was falling.

Before he could regret it, Naru threw himself off the couch and practically ran to a nearby closet. He threw it open, quickly locating a faded black jacket. As he slid it on, his brain ran at one hundred miles per hour. He was planning. Five hours before—no, days before—he would never have considered finding Mai again. Now, everything had changed. Paranormal things always happened in a specific order. First he had received a god-awful dream, one which continued to send shivers down his spine. Afterwards, Taniyama had somehow appeared in a cafe. Naru still couldn't comprehend what her appearance had meant. The stupidity that occurred today just baffled his mind; he had heard Mai's name everywhere and didn't know what to think. Fortunately he had decided to do. It would all begin with paying a visit to Lin.

Naru snatched his keys and quickly hurried out the door. It didn't take very long to reach his car; it was parked in an excellent position alongside the road. It was easily accessible, which should have placed a smile on his face. Unfortunately it only served to elevate his frustrations. He blamed it on Mai. The woman, girl, whatever she was, had the ability to make his head spin. It was incredibly rare, but was happening nonetheless. He just wished it would end. Naru breathed uneasily and placed the key within the ignition. Before he could think, it appeared as though he was parked in front of Lin's home.

He glanced out the window, taking the opportunity to appraise his friends home. It was a quaint cottage built in an older district of London. In Naru's opinion it was like looking within the pages of a story book. The house was a picture of fiction somehow living within reality. It was worth writing about. In the past, an author could have glanced at the windows and marvelled at how the light filtered across the cobblestones. It was awe-inspiring, but fortunately he wasn't the kind of person to fall victim to such small beauties. He had business, a goal in mind that could no longer be controlled by rational thought.

A pained sigh slipped though Naru's lips as he exited his vehicle. He slammed the door shut and quickly walked towards the front door. Before he could knock however, it was suddenly thrown open. In order to survive the abrupt onslaught of light, he threw an arm over his face, wincing as a dull throb of pain assaulted his senses. It appeared as though his headache remained. Despite driving and walking in the open air, it refused to dissipate. It was a sign of stress, one he utterly despised. If he had a choice, he would have rather cut his finger than deal with the sharp blasts of agony seeping into his skull.

"Madoka—"

"Expecting someone else?" Naru managed to spit out before pushing past Lin and walking into the house. He didn't bother kicking off his shoes. What he had to say was far too important. His friend would understand; he was a good judge of character despite his crusty exterior.

"Oliver? What are you doing here so late? Don't you know it's rude to suddenly walk into another person's home?" Lin questioned in a serious tone. In spite of Naru's behaviour, he shut the door softly. He only sighed loudly, obviously cursing his unfortunate luck.

"I would apologize, but I don't have time. I need to speak with you."

"You have made that quite obvious." Lin replied, starring deep into Naru's eyes. Concern flashed across his features briefly, forcing a frown to appear along his face. "What happened? You look terrible."

"I never look terrible." Naru managed to say as he flopped down on a nearby couch. He ran several fingers through his hair, trying to find the right words to say. Unfortunately they didn't come. His mouth was dry and his head continued to pound painfully. It didn't feel like a normal headache, but he wasn't about to tell Lin that.

"Well you do today. What happened?" He asked again, finally choosing to sit on a faded brown chair. "Don't avoid telling me—I'll know if you're lying."

"I'm going to Japan." Naru said in a blank tone. After some thought, he had decided that there was only one way to meet Lin's ridiculous criteria. It was rather simple. All he had to do was spit out what he planned to do. That would lead to less questions, and in turn his happiness, which was incredibly difficult to achieve. He doubted that visiting a different nation would suddenly improve his feelings, but he had to try. That was the only way Mai would leave his head once and for all.

"What?" Lin managed to say in a shocked voice. "When did you decide this?"

"This evening. I wasn't going to tell you, but in the end I believed it would be a good idea." He replied casually, slowing crossing his legs.

"A good idea? When did you suddenly think that going to Japan would be a good idea, Oliver?"

A loud sigh slipped through Naru's lips. "Today. I thought I told you that?"

Lin remained silent. He was obviously wondering if Naru had gone completely insane. Of course his thoughts were understandable. Nobody in their right mind randomly decided to travel hundreds of miles for no reason. Japan was a country that contained many memories, some of which were sad, happy, and dramatic. It was a place filled with images of the past. Naru, if he had any sort of rational thought, would have run screaming from the idea of returning to that place. Unfortunately, any form of rational thought that remained in his head had vanished due to Mai's foolishness.

"Give me a good reason why you want to go back there." Lin snapped angrily, looking at Naru as if he were a mere insect. "It isn't because of her is it?"

In order to remain calm, he breathed deeply. A small lie was already forming within his head. All he had to do was let it out, and Lin would leave the subject of Mai alone. He never talked about other people if he could; the man believed it was completely rude. It was of course, but Naru never lived by that code. Fortunately his friend did, which meant one thing: he could use it against him. That would solve his problems. That would make his life easier for a moment.

"There is a parapsychology conference in that area this year. I would like to attend."

"Your father mentioned that to you months ago. If I recall, you refused his invitation." Lin said in a frustrated tone. He leaned forward in the chair, his hands resting along the top of his knees. Occasionally his fingers would move erratically; they tapped out a song only he could hear.

"I reconsidered his offer." Naru asked quietly. He closed his eyes briefly, fighting against the pain that wreaking havoc within his head. He wanted the conversation to end. That way he could return to his apartment and lie down. Maybe he would sleep for once. Ever since his creepy dream, he remained awake, his eyes refusing to close.

"You have no reason to attend a conference of that scale." Lin managed to say after several moments. "People will see you—they will remember what happened. Your brother was all over the news, Oliver. You will be recognized. If that happens, who knows what danger you could be in. You're safe in Britain."

"I have to go there. I don't have time to wait."

The expression on Lin's face darkened. "You have no reason—"

"He's lying, Lin. I thought you could tell?" A voice interrupted in an amused tone.

Naru suppressed a giant groan. He wearily glanced towards the door, his insides screaming at the person that was standing beside it. If there was one person he couldn't lie to, it was Madoka Mori. She could smell falsehoods as if they were some sort of baked good. He could tell; the large grin that stretched across her face revealed everything she thought. The expression, as simple as it was, sent shivers of annoyance down his spine. He knew everything he had worked towards would come to an end. The woman would rip open his insides and seek the truth. She would make him spit out the real reason why he wanted to travel to Japan. Madoka was a teacher. She knew how to pull his strings.

"Don't tell me I disrupted your date." Naru said blankly. He sent a glare towards the door way, suddenly wishing his mentor could disappear.

"Do you always have to be so rude?" Madoka said with another smile. She walked into the room and quickly settled into a chair next to Lin. "I thought I taught you better."

"You're the rude one. You just interrupted a private conversation. If you taught me anything, it was to ignore people who couldn't mind their own business."

A laugh slipped through Madoka's lips. She rolled her eyes and sent a sympathetic look in Lin's direction. "I can mind my own business, but not when people chose to mislead their friends. Tell him the truth, Oliver. At this point we both know you have other reasons for going to Japan. I know about the phone call, and I know just by looking at your face that something is wrong."

Annoyance filtered through Naru's veins. "You're the problem Madoka. I know you're smart enough to figure that out."

It was Lin who spoke next. His voice was calm, but carried a hint of anger that couldn't be ignored. It was like a spark; as it interacted with the air it became a flame, one that destroyed everything in its path. It was a warning, a piece of information that Naru couldn't ignore. If there was anything he didn't want to do, it was experience Lin's wrath.

"Enough. You came here to talk to me and I expect to hear the truth. Anything else and I will ask you to leave. I've done it before and I'll do it again."

A large scowl consumed Naru's features. He had no choice. If he refused to speak, Lin would do something unbearable. He suspected that is would involve his parents, which would literally be worse than death. If they discovered his intentions, he would be unable to travel for years. Since Gene's death, they refused to allow him to wonder around without a guide of some sort. His mother and father were possessive and didn't know when to back off. In order to save himself, Naru had moved out of his old home and changed his phone number. He didn't want his parents attention. He didn't need to be reminded of what was lost. It was better if he chose to remain alone. That way he could remain detached from the world and the pain it created.

"I haven't been sleeping." Naru began in a blank voice. "Want to know why?"

"Yes, Oliver, I really do. What to you think I have been doing for fifteen minutes? Asking you for a cup of tea?"

Naru met Lin's gaze and suppressed another frown. He refused to look at Madoka as she was the cause of the whole mess. Without her, there would have been no need to describe his real intentions. He could have continued speaking about some ridiculous conference he never planned to attend in the first place. That would have made his whole life easier. For a moment, he could have bathed in relief. Now he was forced to speak about a subject that secretly drove him insane. Before he could convince himself otherwise, Naru told Lin the truth. He spoke about the dream and his vision, conveniently leaving out anything to do with hearing Mai's name. His reason was simple; he didn't want to sound insane. The rest of the story was weird enough without it. In fact, his whole experience sounded like something that could be written in a novel. It was certainly pathetic enough to be placed in some popular teen book.

"You had a vision? Doesn't that mean Mai is dead?" Madoka asked in a worried tone.

"I'm not certain. She could have astral-projected without knowing it. From what I know, she has never attempted to control her gifts."

"So you didn't decide to call Mai Taniyama on a whim." Lin stated thoughtfully, his eyes glistening with concern. "You called in order to see if she was alive."

Naru released an annoyed sigh. "Yes. What do you think I was doing?"

"It sounded like you were doing something stupid." Lin remarked darkly, before shaking his head. "Oliver, I'm sorry to say, but even if you did travel to Japan your parents would likely interfere."

"I am aware of that."

A confused expression appeared on Lin's face. "Than what did you plan to do?"

Madoka began to laugh loudly. Every giggle that slipped through her lips bounced off the walls and danced around Naru's head. "Lin, don't you see what he's trying to do? He's asking you for help."

Naru remained silent. He glared at Madoka and cursed the smug grin that decorated her features. Despite everything she was right. In his own weird and abnormal way, he was asking for help. He would never actually ask however, as his pride got in the way. His actions spoke more loudly than his words, so he wasn't surprised that one person in the room understood what his sudden arrival meant. Unfortunately it had to be Madoka. She would ceaselessly tease him for the rest of his life, all because she knew one terrible thing—Naru, despite his callousness, had the ability to feel something for another person. It may have been concern, but it didn't matter. Madoka obviously thought his actions were romantic in some shape or form. The thought of Mai in that way sent shivers down his spine.

"See?" Madoka sang in a happy voice, "he is asking you for help."

Lin pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply. He looked hesitant, but as time passed the expression faded away. "I believe you, Oliver. I know you want to go to Japan, but all is ask is that you sleep on it. Maybe you will change your mind."

It was obvious as to why Lin wanted Naru to reconsider his sudden decision. His visions had a tendency to end badly, and that was certainly the case with Gene. He had previously travelled to Japan to find a body, rather than his living and breathing brother. For all he knew, Mai Taniyama could already be buried in a ditch somewhere. If he chose to remain in Britain, he could avoid another potential catastrophe. Unfortunately he didn't plan on changing his mind. He had a feeling Mai would haunt him if he refused to jump on a plane and do something rather than nothing. He didn't after all, have visions for no reason.

"What if I don't change my mind?" Naru questioned slowly, meeting Lin's grey gaze. He continued to ignore Madoka, as the the satisfied grin that dominated her mouth refused to fade. She acted like a star, constantly glowing despite the darkness that crept along her skin.

"Than you tell me everything in complete detail tomorrow. I know you left something out." Lin paused, frowning as Naru failed to suppress an obvious grimace. "After that, we can deal with your parents. I know you're looking forward to that."

Naru rubbed his forehead and sighed miserably. Lin's sarcastic statement had literally filled his body with dread. He hadn't seen his parents in over a month. Telling them about his impending trip would be akin to death. They would, without a doubt, treat him like a century old monument. Despite everything, they enjoyed putting him in a cage. No one could touch him, talk to him, or see him—simply because he was fragile. His parents acted like he was the living incarnation of Gene and it was unbearable. Returning to Japan was one thing, but his mother and father were another. Avoiding them would be difficult.

In pain, Naru rubbed his forehead again. He ignored Lin's last statement and looked toward the kitchen. He could see the edges of a cupboard and a window. Every once in awhile a car would zoom by, shedding light on the wooden surface. It was a simple thing and for some reason it managed to take some stress away. He could feel it fall off his body like glittering armour. In a way, he had fought an inner battle. It may have been a small one, but it still inflicted damage. Naru knew—that's why he had a killer headache.

"Lin, I need a Tylenol." He said plainly, leaning back against the faded leather couch.

"Use your manners, Oliver." Madoka muttered under her breath. Despite the tone of her voice, she continued to smile. "What did I teach you so long ago?"

Naru couldn't help but grin in return. It was basically invisible, but he knew she could see it. "Like I said, if you taught me anything, it was to ignore people who couldn't mind their own business."


A/N: Hello, everyone! I apologize for the late update. This week has been a busy one, so I haven't had very much time to write. I went to Canada's Wonderland, saw some family, and painted like CRAZY. All of the walls in our new home are white, so I have become a slave to my mother's will. I get to paint EVERYTHING. It's all insane, but don't worry! I will write more chapters!

Anyways, thanks for the support guys! I'm really happy you are all liking this story! Like always, please continue to read and review!

AmyNChan: My question is this: why would an entity wait until certain aspects of the book are read? Perhaps the journal didn't truly bring something with it? Maybe the words themselves are haunted? Maybe the book haunts people in a specific way? Keep thinking! You are very close to discovering something pretty important!

Vampgirl1309: Yes! Naru should hurry up! That is of course if Mai needs to be saved…blah, who am I kidding? Why write a story if one of the characters doesn't need to be saved? Anyways, I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! It was certainly amusing to write!

Rebecca: I'm glad you liked it! Keep reading!

CUPCAKE-L3VER: Here is a new chapter! I'll try to update quickly, but I can never predict how that will turn out. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. Despite that, I shall try my best!

Naruisawesome: First thing: I love your username. It's awesome! Second thing: Aw! Don't bash Sadao! He's a nice guy! He might be a little too nice, but hey, kindness counts! Lol, well now you know the answer to your question! Naru will show up in Japan again! It might take some time, but he will!

ThePurplePomegranate: I'm glad I creeped you out! Woah, I just realized how weird that sounds. Aha, sometimes words can be disturbing. I do plan to make this story scary to read. It's definitely a challenge to make people scared, so I'm happy it worked on you. Of course I mean that in a good way. If you are freaked out, I'd recommend imagining that the shadows are nice. If not that, than just envision rainbows and glitter!