Octoberyuki: hello everyone, how are guys doing? It is November well now December lady and gents; I am sorry I haven't updated it will all be explained at the end of the story ok? I hope you enjoy this chapter.
I walked down the hall; my tiny feet making a pitter patter sound against the cold hard wooden floor. I noticed I was no longer in my apartment but my old house I use reside in America. I walked up to the balcony window and noticed my reflection; I was my nine year old self. My black hair was now to my shoulders, my dark eyes full of curiosity and wonder; I wore my grey nightgown. I turned around and saw my mother, "Mommy?" she gave me a soft smile and vanished. "Wait mom please don't go"
I made my way to where she once stood and fell on my tiny knee. "Please mom don't leave me… come back…"I felt someone place a hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see dark blue eyes looking back at me, "N-Naru, is that you?" He gave me a soft smile, I couldn't help but feel this wasn't Naru but who else would it be? I noticed I was no longer a nine year and no longer in living room. "Alice don't be sad, I don't like seeing you like this." I couldn't help but ask "Are you sure you're Naru?" He just smiled and pulled me into his arms, "don't be sad Alice, just close your eyes and go to sleep." I pulled myself closer to his chest and I did what I was told.
I quickly sat up and placed my hands against my cheeks, "Oh my…did I just dream of Naru!?" I shook my head a little and noticed it was only five in the morning; I let out a heavy sigh. Again with those dreams of my mother except this time was different. I had someone there to comfort me and I wasn't alone; but I didn't expect that to be Naru. I walked into my kitchen and noticed a bowl of candy. "Oh yea todays Halloween" (note I was going to do it on Halloween but time my friends. But now I am updating this and now its December explanation at the end of story.) I noticed no note this time, "good I really don't want to talk to you."
After checking if my so called father left me a note I took my shower. Once I finished I wrapped my towel around my body and stood in front of my closet wondering what to wear. But my mind kept wandering off to my dream, "meh… did I really dream of Naru? What in the world is wrong with me, do I like him?" I thought back to when we were heading over to Melody's office; how my heart reacted and what he said. "I mean Naru is a good guy in his own way but honestly I can't help but think that wasn't Naru."
I decided on to wear black jeans with nice white ruffle blouse. I threw on my black flats and quickly but carefully threw my hair in a fishtail braid; I grabbed my bag and made sure my knife was in my back pocket and rushed out the door. The streets slowly began to fill with life; I stopped by a small café on the way to the office and grabbed a cup of coffee. I honestly felt tired for some reason; I also couldn't stop thinking about that dream, but what I also couldn't stop thinking about whose voice was in my head!
I groaned in annoyance as I walked up to the office door, "Damn it I hope I am not losing my mind." I stepped into the office and noticed no Mai; I shut the door behind me and placed my things on her desk. "Alice?" I turned around to see Lin, "what are you doing here so early?" I took a quick sip of my coffee and said "I um woke up early and well couldn't go back to sleep so I just decided to stop by and I guess work."
He nodded "have you heard from Mai?" I gave him a confused look "No, I haven't." He let out a heavy sigh
"Maybe we should call her…"
"You again, but your right…though she might be asleep I will wait till she gets to the office and if not I will give her a call."
"Good idea."
As Lin walked back to his desk he says "Let me know if you hear from her." I just nodded; I made my way towards 'the lair' and knocked. "Come in" I opened the door and said "Morning Naru!" He placed his folder down and said "Is Mai here yet?" I pulled out my cell and noticed it was already 6:30. "Honestly no, is she supposed to be here this early?" He then said "I wouldn't ask that question if she was supposed too would I?" I glared "Ok I get it stupid question, but no I haven't. I will give her a call."
"What are you doing here so early?" I walked over and leaned on his desk "couldn't fall back to sleep, so why not come to work early?" He crossed his arms across his chest "good thing you did, Mai isn't here yet." I then said "yea, is that normal thing for her?" He nodded "yes it is." I nodded and as I was about to walk out I heard
"Idiot scientist"
I spun around; I noticed Naru had his face buried in a book. I walked out the room "I must be going nuts, that sounded like Naru" I whispered. I began to sort through files and going through some paper work.
"Just to let you know you are not going nuts" I almost leaped out my seat. I looked around and no one was in the room except Lin and I. "I'm mean it, you're not going nuts."
I couldn't help but voice, "ok if I am not going nuts then who the hell is this?" I heard the male voice chuckle and echo in my head, "you already forgot? I have been in your mind all morning and I visited you last night." I almost dropped the stack of files I held in my arms, "w-wait what do you mean you visited me last night?!" I felt myself getting frustrated, "Alice no need to get angry. You were so cute when you were a little girl."
My felt my cheeks heat up; I then thought back to my dream.Good lord, that question I asked dream Naru! If he was really Naru, "good lord I hit the nail on the head. You are not Naru, who the hell are you? You're not some ghost taking the shape of Naru are you? If you are then be prepared to get your ghost butt exorcised I know people buddy!"
The voice broke out in laughter, "you are so funny and cute when you're angry. I can see why you are starting to grow on Naru." Again I almost dropped the few remaining folders in my arms out of shock. "But you're right; I am not Naru. I know Naru told you he had a brother." I unconsciously nodded "Yes he did, wait a minute you're his brother? He told me he HAD a brother…that's you?" An image of him smiling came and went, "you hit the nail on the head Alice. Hello Alice my name is Eugene but you can call me Gene; I am Naru's deceased twin brother.
I stumbled my way to the desk; I plopped down on the chair. I needed to sit down or I was about to pass out from shock. My phone went off; I looked at the number and didn't recognize it. "That's Mai's number" I couldn't help but roll my eyes, thank you captain obvious. "Hello?"
"Alice, its Mai…I don't think I will be coming to work today." I couldn't help but wonder what happened between her and Lin. "Mai is everything ok? Naru needs his tea and I don't think I can make it perfectly to his liking! Also it's going to be boring without you!" She let out a heavy sigh, "Don't worry I am sure you can make it just fine. I just can't come into work, I am not feeling well."
"Well hold on a second" I made me way to the office "come in." I held my phone out, "It's Mai." He took the phone from my hands; his fingertips barley brushings my hand. "Mai, where are you? If you were not feeling well then why didn't you call me earlier?" "I can't help but think she is trying to avoid Lin…" "She is, Mai usually doesn't let things like that get to her. They must have fought it out pretty bad if she is not here right now."
My thoughts were interrupted when Naru shut my phone, "Alice Tea." He handed back my phone and I walked out to the kitchen, "Gene does Naru know you are in my head? Well here is another good question…WHY ARE YOU IN MY HEAD?" Again he broke out in laughter, "No he doesn't know. Also I think we linked cause of that vision you had?" I placed the kettle on the stove "Gene…I saw your death?" I felt a shiver run down my spine; "yes, but I don't remember where my body is located." I then said "yes, but I feel if I had something of yours and I really concentrate I may be able to find you but I don't know if your brother would you know….want me to interfere?"
"Knowing him he would want to do this all by himself. It's more of a pride thing." I rolled my eyes "sounds like him alright. Hey another things; does Mai know about you?" The kettle screamed; I removed the kettle as Gene said "um not really. When she saw me in here dreams she thought I was Naru. She had this huge crush on Naru but after a while she gave up. Eventually she and Lin's relationship began to grow; I would always help her in her dreams. But ever since they began to grow closer and closer I stopped appearing."
I walked in and placed Naru's tea on the table and left the room; "Why did you stop appearing in her dreams?" "Because I thought it was weird, she thought I was Naru and now she is with Lin. Think about it, Knowing Mai she might think she is cheating on Lin if she is dreaming on Naru." I held back a laugh, "ok I see your point. But maybe if you tell her who you are then it won't be weird for you Gene. From what I am seeing this girl is a spirit Magnet! The short amount of time I have been here ghost walk into her body like a 24 hour stop and go!" "I know, maybe I will take your advice. By the way Naru has been trying to get your attention for like a minute now."
I looked up from my desk and saw Naru giving me an angry stare. "Obviously you have been hanging around with Mai too much."
I crossed my arms and let out an angry huff "well excuse me, and don't insult Mai. She is not here." He then said "a client will be here soon I suggest you make some more tea." I stood up and said "personally I think the tea is mostly for you. I think you have a tea problem Naru." He gave me a stern look which only made me laugh as I headed towards the kitchen.
-Ghost Hunt-
Later that afternoon the client arrived, and I was right. The tea was for him of course. "Why can't he ask like a normal person?" I walked back out of the kitchen for like the third time today and placed the tray on the table. A man about his late sixties sat across from me; he wore a grey suit with a black tie and shoes. His grey eyes locked with mine; "what brings you here today sir?" He ran his hand through the few white hairs he had on his head.
"My home that I have bought for my daughter and her child is haunted." Of course Naru had to come in and say "then why isn't she here telling her story?" His tone had some bite; I shot Naru a glare while the man said "She is picking up her daughter from school so I decided to come in for her." Seems reasonable, "My daughter keeps calling me and keeps telling me that the house I bought them is haunted."
"At first I thought it's a new house and she is just needs to get use to the place. I don't believe in the paranormal, but one day my daughter Annalee called and says there is an unseen force talking to my grandchild."
"I then told my daughter since she was young it was just the usual imaginary friend. Until…" I gave the man a confused look "Until what sir?" He took a deep breath "Until my grandchild was found on the roof about to jump. Luckily my daughter found her in time and stopped her. But was stunned me the most is what my grandchild said to my daughter." He let out a shaky and heavy breath "Nina told my daughter that her friend told her if she jumped she could see her father again." My eyes widen at his remark I couldn't believe at what I was hearing.
"This all began a week after they moved in, I asked the real estate woman about the house and all she said that someone did leave there previously but nothing bad happened." I don't buy it one bit, the real estate lady is hiding something. Yea I agree Gene, I am sure we can figure it out without her help. Lin and 'Your brother' I emphasized those words are pretty good at digging stuff up. Naru then said "did that occurrence with your grandchild happened as soon as you moved in?"
The man shook his head "No, at first it was her talking to the thing we thought was just an Imaginary friend. My daughter told me things began to move on their own accord such as the kitchen chairs would be on the table. I assure you it's only her and her daughter that live there." He then said "Soon after my daughter would hear a little boy's laughter every once in a while around the house." I then said "so it escalated over time" the man nodded. Naru closed his eyes for a sec then opened them and looked straight at the man.
His gaze caused a shiver to go down my spine. "We will take your case, expect us there tomorrow afternoon. You can leave the address and a number we could use to contact your daughter with my assistant. Also let your daughter know we will need a base for our equipment and a room for four men and a room for four women." The man nodded to every word Naru said while I got up and quickly grabbed a pen and a sticky note from Mai's desk. "Thank you Mr., Shibuya" with that Naru stood up went back to his lair. He quickly wrote everything on the sticky note "Thank you young lady" I smiled and waved goodbye as he left.
I pulled out my phone and the time read 2:40. I clicked on Mai's name and quickly stepped out the office. Ring….Ring…ring… "Hello?" I frowned slightly at her soft sad tone "Mai, its Alice. I was wondering if you want to meet up in a little bit?" it was silent for about a second and she said "Yea, sounds like a good idea. Where at?" I thought about and the perfect place came to mind. "What about the café near the office? I could use a hot cup of coffee how does that sound?"
She was silent for about a minute until she said "Alright sounds good see you in a little bit?" I smiled "yea, just send me a text when you are close." "Alright I will, see you soon Ali." I walked back into the office and knocked on Naru's door. "Come in" I walked and closed the door behind me. I looked up at Naru who had his nose in a book and said "Hey is that ok if I take my lunch soon?" He didn't pull the book that was in front of him away. He didn't respond for about a minute, I then said "Naru is it ok?" Silence once again; call him idiot scientist that should get his attention. I let out a huff and then said "Can you please put your book down for a second and please pay attention to me for a second you idiot scientist!"
His gaze immediately flew from the book and to me, "what did you just call me?" I froze in place, Gene what did you make me do?! You wanted his attention and I helped you get it. More like going to get me killed, "I um was asking if I can take my lunch here soon." He slowly stood up from his desk and slowly walked around his desk. "Don't play stupid Alice" I began to back away slowly. His cold gaze never left me, "Alice."
My back hit the door and he stood in front about me. His body was about inches from mine, "I said idiot scientist." He crossed his arms across his chest and glared "where did you get that and don't lie to me." I swallowed hard; it got silent. So silent that you could practically here Lin's loud clacking of his keys from here. He placed his hands on against the door trapping me; his hands near the sides of my head.
The pregnant silence was broken with my phone going off; I grabbed my phone and opened it to see it was a text from Mai. "I am almost there, meet me in five minutes." I closed my phone Naru then said "Alice" I looked up and my dark eyes locked with his dark blue orbs and I said "Can I make a promise?" He raised a brow and said "I don't have time for childish games" as he was about to pull away I grabbed his arm gently. "Wait, this is serious Naru. I will tell you but right now this isn't the time."
I just feel it's just soon; he just opened up to me about his brother! I don't think it's a good idea to waltz in here and say 'hey you dead brother is in my head!' I saw a small glimmer of confusion in his eyes, "Please Naru. I promise you I will tell you it's something that's, well complicated." He stood there silent; he left out a sigh of defeat. "Fine and hurry up with your lunch." I rushed out the office and I said "Lin I will be going out to lunch want anything?" he stopped typing "No, I'm fine. I will call rest of the SPR members about the case." I walked up to the door and said "thanks Lin."
-Ghost Hunt-
I reached the small café and as I stepped in I saw Mai sitting at a table alone with two coffee cups. I walked over and as I sat down she looked up and smiled. "Hey Ali, how are things going in the office? Is Naru driving you crazy with his addiction?" I laughed and thought his brother is driving me crazy is more like it. "Not really, oh is that drink for me?" she nodded and handed me the small mug. "Here, I kind of guessed. It's a Vanilla latte" I smiled. "Actually this is one of my favorite. Its on top five lists, this one happen to be number three so good guess."
I then said "Alright, I know you are not sick. What happened between you and Lin Mai?" She frowned and looked down at her cup "well when you left, him and I went at each other." I nodded and said "alright but what happened exactly?" she let out a heavy sigh and began to play with the fingers. "Well he was upset I placed myself in harm's way. But I told him I had to stop Akira, I wasn't going to stand by and just watch him hurt my friends or the client for that matter."
"I told him that I was doing my job, he then got flustered and said-" she looked up. I took a sip off my coffee and she did the same. I swallowed the warm liquid and I said "He said what?" Her warm brown eyes seemed to have lost its shine, "what I did was reckless and he doesn't need that kind of stress. He said that I was Naïve." I almost spit out my drink out of awe, I am going to kill Lin.
I forced down the liquid down my throat and let out angry shaky huff. "Mai Listen, yes you may have pulled a suicidal stunt back there but I honestly would have done the same thing."
"It's our job to look out for the client; also our team was in jeopardy. But I think that performance you pulled freaked Lin out. I think he didn't know how to react, but that doesn't give him the right to talk to you like that."
I leaned back on my chair and crossed my arms "If he had something to say I am sure he could have said it in a more civil way." I pulled out my cellphone and checked the time I still got some time. "Look Mai, I get you don't want to see him right now our talk to him but don't hide. Go to work like nothing's happened and let him come to you." She gave me a small frown "I don't know" I reached across the table and placed my hands over hers. "Trust me, be strong Mai. You can't let one argument get to you."
Her frown turned into a smile "thanks Alice" I smiled back at her. Good job Alice, you handled this better than I would.I held back a smirk that was trying to creep onto my face that is because I am a girl Gene. I noticed Mai's smiled faded and was her gaze shifted. I turned around but saw nothing but people siting enjoying their drink. I turned back to Mai and said "Mai what do you see?" She then said "I have no idea I think I might be hallucinating."
I think this is a good time to leave, somehow she sees me? I swallowed hard shoo go then! I felt him fade and I noticed Mai doing a double take "I could have sworn I saw Naru standing behind you." I let out a nervous laugh "see you miss Naru! You have to come back to work." She paused for about a minute thinking "Yea I guess, well then again I didn't sleep well." I stood up "see, now go back home take a hot bubble bath and sleep! I have to get back to Master, oh we have a case tomorrow so be at the office before noon ok?" she nodded and said "alright, thanks Alice I owe you one."
I let out snort "what are friends for?" I quickly left the café and said gene how did she see you? Well I guess Mai's abilities really have spiked, well I will have to be more careful.I rolled my eyes no, you have to tell her eventually! He then said you do have a point, just not right now.I walked up the office steps just make sure that you tell her soon, but you might want to hide. I am going to rip Lin a new one.
I never knew you could be so violent Alice. I felt an evil grin form on my face well now you know. I walked in and noticed Naru wasn't present and I saw Lin clacking away. I hung up my coat and I walked over to Lin "Hello Alice." I then said "I met up with Mai." He stopped typing and shifted his attention to me "You did? Is she ok?" I crossed my arms across my chest and leaned on left foot giving me an intimidating look. He didn't phase, not a single once of emotion on his face.
I know its bothering you so why hide it Lin? I then said "Mai told me what you said to her and I think that was very insolent of you Lin." He let out a heavy sight and turned his attention towards his lap top "I can't do this now." My annoyance flared I looked at the lap top and focused on it close! The lap top slammed shut barely missing Lin's fingers. "You listen to me Lin Koujo! I understand what Mai did was reckless but I am sure you could have talked to her in a more considerate way. She wanted to protect you and her friends but not only that. She was doing her job, so I suggest you go up to Mai and apologize to her. Why don't you be a good mate and talk to her."
I could tell I got him; a stunned expression was etched onto his face. I whirled around and walked back to my desk and as soon as I reached my desk "Alice tea!" I rolled my eyes and shouted "Yes, oh great one!" With that I vanished into the kitchen and prepared Naru his tea.
OcotberYuki- hoped you enjoyed I deeply apologize for being gone so long. I hit a bump in the road and depression hit me. it gave me a severe writers block, for those who are still following this I deeply apologize. I hoped you enjoyed this chapter and for those who are new well hello! I hoped you enjoyed this as well. Also sorry if grammar seems off, I actually wrote while I have a temperature and I feel like crap so yea. Sorry bear with me and I am trying to get into the grove writing after so long. So TATA for now!
