Chapter Nine: Thanksgiving
Naru pov
My head hurts, but I'm still alive,
"You know, I'm not dead, stop looking at me like that." I hiss through my lips, crossing my arms, while everyone stared at me, John is next to me, with a bandage wrap around his head, eating some food, while I groaned.
We were in a small room, made out of wood, and five beds in a row. The window is a circle on my right, and one door on my left.
All I remember was…..
Ms. Hara was practicing her singing while Ayako helps her pose. John and I walked down the stage, to put a piece of metal on the spiral stairs. I wanted to secure it since I took notice that there's a loose board. In doing so, suddenly John yells, causing to turn, and drop the metal on the floor. My eyes flew wide open, when I see a piece of plank falling down, before I could move, John pushed Ms. Hara out of the way, but hits him, I move towards his side, only to have Ayako scream. I look up, to see another wood heading my way, and then everything went dark.
"Both of you are so lucky, the phantom did a number." Ms. Hara spoke, causing me to turn my gaze at her.
"Phantom?" I asked, in doing so, Lin and my mother came rushing into the room, breathing hard.
"Noll," she gasp out, coming up to me and wraps her arms around me.
"John," I heard, I turned to see my boss taking off his hat and glanced at me.
"What happen?" My mother asks, looking at John then at me.
"Someone didn't secure the planks on the roof, so it slid down towards the hole and almost hit Ms. Hara," John explains.
"Ms. Hara?" she asks. Ms. Hara clears her throat and bows down.
"I'm Ms. Hara, John, and your son saved my life." she explains.
'At least she gave credit to John, I didn't do anything.'
"While the both of you are safe and sound, I don't care how it happen," she breathes out, turning to face my coworkers.
"May I ask, who are you all?" Ayako flush, but nods. I move and pointed at each one. My mother nods, and suddenly Ms. Hara sits next to her and grasp her hand. My mother's eyes narrow.
"I'm a famous Opera Singer, I'm not sure if you heard of me, but I have been singing at the Opera House, where your son works, for a month, I hope we can become good friends." My mother nods her head slowly turning to face me, as to say,'Err, what do I say to that?' I shrug at her.
"Well, nice to meet you, and you're a very beautiful young lady." My mother nervously laughs, making Ms. Hara eyes brighten up. I mentally groaned.
'Don't feed her ego mother, please don't.'
"You should come with your husband, it would be an honor," My boss interrupts while he stares at my mother. My body went rigid, and my mother turns towards me. Something passes her eyes, as I avoid her eyes.
"Well, about the accident, I have no doubt is the Phantom fault, I knew something was going to happen sooner or later," Housho shakes his head while Lin lifts his head up.
"What are you talking about?" he asks. I tighten my hands.
"Think about it, the rumor about her killing men, and who got hurt? John and Oliver, two males, and since they live there, I bet she couldn't hold it any longer. Makes sense." he shrugs. Lin turns his gaze at me, then my mother widens.
"Phantom? You didn't tell me that there's a phantom," she asks me.
"There's none, is just stupid rumors, it was an accident, someone didn't place the wood right, also where's Yasuhara? I haven't seen him since I awoke?"
"Mate, he went to use the outhouse," John points behind, as he finishes his food. My boss walks around and takes his plate.
"Well, she used me as a trap, when I get my hands on that phantom, I'm going to get rid of it myself," Ms. Hara said, making my heart pound uneasy.
'No, what is wrong with these people?'
"I don't care about the rumors, phantom or a monster, you and John will sleep over our house, at least for tonight," My eyes narrow.
'No, I can't leave her alone.' My boss claps at her.
"Good idea, everyone, take a couple of days off since Thanksgiving is in a few days. Can you return to work the day after thanksgiving? How about that?" Everyone claps, and I frowned, not liking that idea at all.
'Then what about Angel?'
Mai pov
It's been four days, four days since I heard of Naru. No one else come either. I lay on Naru bed, crying once again.
'Did Naru died? No one has come. I didn't do anything.' I held his pillow,
'Mama, am I destined to be alone all my life? Is it my fault because I killed you and papa?' I move, not knowing what to do. All my life I have always been alone, and when Sister entered my life, it was short lived.
'I should visit his parents house, I need to know, I need to know,' with that, I move my body, only to wobble. I haven't eaten anything since he got hurt. I wipe my eyes and headed for my room.
After I got dressed and place my cloak on, I stop and dropped to the floor.
'I don't want to face it, Naru, I miss you, and my heart hurts.' I pounded on my chest, crying harder.
Naru pov
'Is she okay? It's been four days, This is killing me,' my mind scream while I sat warmly in my parents' living room.
"Ms. Hara?" John asks, watching Gene and Ms. Hara coming into the living room. Madoka lifted her gaze watching my brother and Ms. Hara walking in.
"This is a surprise," John seem to be awkward, turning to face me. I shrug at him, returning back to my tea.
'How I miss tea.' I thought.
"Sorry to intrude without announcing myself. Here, I brought some dessert," she bows lifting her hand up to show her container. Gene takes it and nods at her.
"Take a seat, do you want some tea?" he offers. Madoka shrugs my shoulder, as to say,
'Who is that?' I leaned towards her and whisper.
"A bad tick that doesn't want to leave." I whispered to her, Madoka eyes narrow, and slaps my shoulder pretty hard.
"You are so mean." but she giggles. John turns towards us and arched a brow. I wave my hand.
"Is there anything we can do for you?" I asked, watching Lin walk in with a plate of cookies at hand. He stops and looks down at Ms. Hara, then lift his gaze up towards me as to say,
'What is she doing here?' I shrug at him,
"Don't know," I mouthed at him. John clears his throat, but doesn't say anything. I can tell he feels uncomfortable, I don't blame him.
"We were about to hear songs and cut a cake that Oliver, mother prepare, do you want to join us?" Madoka asks Ms. Hara.
"If is no bother. Also happy Thanksgiving,"
"Happy thanksgiving as well, please don't take this the wrong way, but don't you have a family to go to?" John asks her. Ms. Hara shakes her head.
"No, well Ayako is my only family. Her mother adopted me when I was eleven."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know you were an orphan." I frowned, looking down at my hands.
'I'm guessing Angel is too.'
"My life wasn't that bad, Ayako parents are sweethearts towards me. I love them, but today they were out of town, and I decided to stay behind since I have to go back to work tomorrow," she shrugs.
'That explains how Ayako is her assistant, maybe her parents made her? Wonder what is Ayako background.'
"Tell me, how was the orphanage back then? I grew up with the orphans since my mother loved to help a lot." John was now interested. I wasn't, but I am forced to.
My mother enters, with a chocolate cake on hand, and turns to see Ms. Hara with surprise eyes.
"Hello there, dear," Ms. Hara stood and bow at her while she places the plate on top of the table. A chocolate cake.
"Hello Ms. Davis, happy Thanksgiving," she blushes. My mother nods, going up to me, and sits next to me.
"Ah, to your question, the sisters were so good to us, never had a complaint, but one little detail," she explains. Now that got our attention. Lin moves around and sits next to Madoka. Madoka smiles at him gently, as he just nods.
"What is that?" Gene asks while he moves and sits next to mother.
"A small girl. I can't remember her name, but she was a monster. Disfigured face, and she always causes a ruckus."
"Oh my, what happen to her?"
"She died, I am not sure how, but rumor has it, she killed one of the sisters that took care of her."
"That's sad, she was really a monster," My mother gasp out,
"Can we stop the rumors, and can we eat desert," I blurt out, not liking this.
"Let's, happy thanksgiving," I move forward, but for a reason I couldn't eat…
…...
"For who is this again?" Madoka asks while she packs extra food on the containers. I cleared my throat.
"Someone I know," Something in her eyes sparkles.
"A girl?" I blinked, but nodded.
"Yes, a girl,"
"Really? Do you like her?" she suddenly asks, while she moves placing the container on the bags.
"Not exactly, she's different from most girls I met, just don't tell anyone,"
"Don't tell me is Masako?" Madoka scrunches her face, I shook my head.
"No, as a person, I only see her as a co-worker, but as a man, I have zero interest in her," I took the bag.
"Oh, thank goodness, I don't like her for your personal wife, she's too much, but I do like her as a friend. So, who is this girl that, are you taking out food in the middle of the night? This is the first." she wiggles her brows. I felt my face flushed, but I kept my face straight.
"A special girl that needs lots of help, that's all," with that, I turned around, heading out. Masako giggles and crosses her arms.
"If I'm not wrong, I think he's in love with this mystery woman. I have never seen his face flush like that, or his eyes soft, by talking about a girl. Even if he tries to play it off. I'm rooting for you. I just hope you figure it out yourself."
Going out, I move rapidly away from my home and headed for the Opera House.
'I wonder how she's doing? I doubt she ever had a thanksgiving with anyone before. I hope she likes my mothers' food.' for a reason, my heart raced, of the thought to see Angel again.
Mai pov
'Another year of being alone,' I wipe my tears while I huddle myself on the cold ground, my eyes ached from so much crying, my throat hurts as well. My nose is too stuffy to breathe right.
'I should just kill myself, Masako was right, I don't bring anything but hurt the ones I care of.' I look up at the sky, only to see the first snowdrop down. I kept my eyes on it and open my hand so it can land on top of my palm.
'I don't want to die, I want to know if Naru is okay? Is he really dead? I need to know, but I'm afraid, afraid to go to his house and see the reality.' I huff out, watching my breath come out.
I stood up, only to flop back down.
'I need to see Naru, I miss him, I want to believe that he's alive, if he does miss me or does he believes that I did it?' I move this time crawling since I couldn't stand up.
"Didn't I tell you to place your shoes on, or not you're going to catch a cold." I heard behind me. I stop my crawling, and my eyes widen. I turned to see Naru bending down on his knees.
"You don't even have a jacket on, and.." then his eyes widen.
"Angel, you look like hell."
'My imagination again.,' I move and blinked.
'He's alive and well, right?' I have fresh tears running down my cheeks, as he frowns.
"Let's go inside, it started snowing. I sneaked out of my parents house, they treated me like a child. It was annoying," he suddenly moves forward to grasp my arm. I gasp, that felt real.
"Why are you crying? Angel, you're burning up," he moves and place his hand on my forehead. My heart exploded, he's real?
"Damn it," Naru curse, as he moves a bag up to his arm and suddenly he goes around and places his arm under my legs and on my back and picks me up. My eyes widen more.
'He's real? He's real,' I didn't know what to do, he walks rapidly towards the Opera house, and I kept staring at him. When we reach his room, he lays me down. I look up at him, as he starts to go towards his cabinet to get blankets.
I move softly, ignoring my dizziness, I grab his hand. He stops his movements and turns towards me.
'You're alive, I thought you were dead. Naru,' I cried, taking his hand and press it on my cheek.
'So warm,' I close my eyes, as Naru kept staring at me.
"I couldn't leave the house, I'm sorry." I move my hand and cup his cheek, then something seems to pass his eyes.
"You heard what the others said? Is not your fault it was an accident. John and I are doing just fine. " He suddenly wraps his arms around me, burying me on his warm chest. My first hug in fourteen years. The first time a man hugged me.
My heart exploded with bliss and happiness.
"My boss gave us a few days off since the holiday. I couldn't get away from my mother, until today, Madoka covered for me. I was so worried about you." he moves and cups my cheeks. His eyes looking straight at me.
"Is not your fault, I just had a minor concussion, that's all. You got yourself sick for nothing Angel. Is my fault for not coming earlier." he held me once again. I move my head and held him tight.
'I'm glad you and John are doing fine. Your alive Naru, I don't care about the rest, while you are here, I don't care.' I cried harder. Naru doesn't say anything but held me tight in his arms.
Naru pov
All I can feel is guilt. I can't leave her alone for one minute. I watch her body tremble violently, as I wrap another blanket around her.
I broke, when realization dawned on me, she was blaming herself that it was her fault that we got hurt. How stupid can I be? I forgot that she can hear everything. She's a very sensible girl.
"I brought some food, you should eat, and you're lucky, I have some herbs as well. I'll make tea," I move to grab my bag, and place it on top of the bed and took out the containers.
"I packed it up for you, I hope you like it, my mother made it," I told her. Angel lifted her bloodshot eyes and stares at me like a child.
"Is thanksgiving dinner," I told her. Her eyes widen, moving her head.
'So I'm right, she never had a thanksgiving dinner.' that broke my heart, that she never spent it with someone one.
"I'll be right back, you need something hot to drink." Angel kept staring as I stood up and headed for the kitchen. Moving quickly, I go down the hallways towards my right and enter a small kitchen. I bend down to grab a kettle, and went towards the buckets, and glance down to see if there's fresh water. Luckily, there is.
About ten minutes, I prepare her tea. Moving swiftly, I enter my room and sat on the edge of the bed, and glance up at me.
"Here, drink this," I told her. I move it to her side and she takes it. She slowly drank it, but her expression seems painful.
"Your throat hurts?" I asked her. She nods, as her body kept trembling violently. I place the containers down on the floor.
"Keep drinking that, I'll look for more blankets." standing up, I went to the cabinets and start searching, but I frowned.
'Mother is right, I need to get more blankets.' Shaking my head, I turned, to see that Angel already finished her tea. Then an idea came to me. I suddenly felt my cheeks warm up.
"I have an idea of how to warm you up, but this is wrong," I told her. Angel hands me the cup, and bows, as to say, 'Thank you,' I place it on top of my table and turn to get on top of my bed.
She blinks at me.
"You need a bath, but since your body is too cold, you need to return your body temperature back to normal. Since there's no more blankets, I have to use another method, okay, trust me," she just stares. I grab the blanket. I took off my shoes and wrap the blanket around me. Angel's body goes rigid at my sudden actions.
"I won't do anything, I'm just going to warm you up. One time, when I was younger, Gene and I were playing in a frozen pond, near our house. Suddenly a crack appears from nowhere, I fell into the cold water. Gene helps me out, but I was freezing to death." I started.
"Don't get me wrong, remember what I told you a few days ago, don't let anyone do this to you, okay." I took a hold of her small waist and lift her up. She so light is not even funny. She yelps, but I open my legs and place her between them. I wrap my arms around her, with the blanket. She moves to stare at me, I felt my cheeks getting warmer by the second, and my heart racing.
"So then, back to the story, so my mother put a fire up, but that didn't warm me up at all. So she got into the covers with me and wrap her body with mine. I warmed up pretty fast, and it was a precious moment for me." I told her. I look down at her, she looks a small child in my arms. I felt her body tremble with mine.
'Don't think of it.' this is the first time I share a bed with a woman. Her eyes ask me, 'Why precious moment?' I shrug at her.
"Cause I got to hold my mother for a long time. I do love my mother, and for that moment in my life, I could feel all her love for me. So that's why I'm doing this to you. So you can get warm." I told her. Okay, that was very lame.
She nods, as she snuggles more into me. I can feel my heart beating harder. A silence filled over us for a few minutes, and finally her body starts to calm down. I move my arm and held her tight.
'She's soft, too soft,' I lower my head.
'Why the hell does this feel right?'
Suddenly Angel makes a noise, a small grunt. I tilt my head, to see her look up at me. Her cheeks are still flushed red. I move my hand and press it on her forehead.
"You still have a temperature. As soon your body warms up, take a bath, then I'll make you some soup, so you can swallow it okay?" she nods. She moves, laying her head on my chest. There we stood, holding each other, and for me, it was something that I won't change for the world.
Mai pov
I don't know when, but I fell asleep on Naru chest. I thought I died and went to heaven. This is so new to me, being held like this. If it's a dream, then let me never wake up.
I flutter my eyes open, feeling much better. I look up to see Naru sleeping under me. For some odd reason, he ended up laying down. I move, only to have Naru wrap his arm around me and pinned me down. I blinked, looking up at him.
'Does he like this as well? I do, your very warm and big.' I smiled gently.
"Don't move too much," he groans. I blinked, looking down, Naru opens his eyes, then his eyes widen.
"Angel, how are you feeling?" he asks in a scratchy voice, pressing his hand on my forehead. I blinked.
'Much better thanks to you,' I move, sliding my body upwards, only to have Naru moan. I stop, frowning at him.
'That felt good, is that normal?' Then Naru eyes shot wide, and I move back, getting concerned.
'Sorry, did I do something wrong?' I asked him. Naru lifts himself up and rubs his neck.
"Don't do that okay," I frowned,
'Why?'
"You're not wed, okay, I fell asleep, this is inappropriate," he tells me. Then my eyes widen, and I move back, I just realized that I slept with him.
'Sorry, sorry, I did something I shouldn't? Sister, I slept with a man,' realization hits me hard. Naru moves away from me.
"You should go and take a bath, I'm going to heat up the food." he tells me. I shook my head violently.
"What's wrong?" he asks, now concerned. I pointed at the bed then at us. Naru arched a brow.
"I don't get it."
'We slept together, we shouldn't until we get married, Sister told me that how it works. Naru took my err something. I don't know, but he took it.' I felt fresh tears gathering in my eyes.
Then he arched a brow.
"Wait, why are you crying?" I pointed at the bed and at us. I shivered, wiping my eyes. Naru moves and cups my cheek. It took him a moment.
'Naru you told me to not let no man touch me. You did. I slept with you, you think I'm an easy woman now.' I kept on crying. Then Naru eyes widen.
"Are you crying because we slept together?" he asks. I nodded.
Then a sudden laugh passes his lips,
'Why are you laughing, is not funny.' I hiccuped.
"Angel, we didn't do anything. We fell asleep. Is true, we slept together, but that's all. I promise I didn't touch you inappropriately," he assures me.
'Inappropriately? Isn't what married people do? Sleep like we did?' I gave him a questionable look.
'Now I'm confused, what do they do then?' Suddenly Naru cheeks turn red, clearing his throat.
"Err, let's keep it clean for now. You still learning. Don't worry, you are still pure, I assure you that." he pats my head, as I nodded, trusting his words. I stood up.
'I don't get what he meant, but it felt nice, very nice to wake up on top of him. I want to do that every day. If we get married, we could?' I suddenly smile gently at the thought of being Naru wife.
'If is only in my imagination, I want to be his wife, then we can sleep together every night, not only that, stay by his side, and help him in everything he does, trying to make him happy.' I wipe my eyes.
"So that settle; feel free to use my bathtub, I'll heat up the water for you. Do you have any clothes?" I shook my head.
'In my room.'
"No? Err, I think Ms. Hara has some clothes left over in her room. I'll check, you two should be the same size." he murmurs, leaving the room. I stood up, feeling a bit better, even though my throat and my head hurts.
'Naru, I don't know why you are this nice to me, but thank you. Thank you for caring for me, and for being alive.'
Naru pov
"There you go," I place the container down, as we sat on the floor. Angel looks fresh and wash. Her cheeks have more color. Her hair came back to life, and she wears a soft, long warm green long sleeve dress, that reach her feet.
"I'm glad Ms. Hara dress fits you," I told her. She lifts her gaze and nods at me. She takes the spoon and takes a bite of her soup, that I prepared her while she was bathing earlier.
Her eyes widen.
"Is it good?" I asked her. She nods rapidly.
"Good,' you know this is the first time we eat together." I told her. She stops eating and looks up at me. Her eyes widen, and then she smiled as though I just told her that she became the queen of England or something. I smiled gently, watching her eyes sparkle at my words.
'So she doesn't know about intimacy between a woman and a man? Good, I don't want to explain it to her either. Is embarrassing explaining it to a girl, especially a girl like her, that her mind is too pure. Either way, she does have a body of a woman, so sooner or later, she.. Stop thinking about it.' but for a reason, I like the feeling of her on top of me, she really for that brief second, felt like a woman to me. I shivered, from the memory of her movement, and how good that felt.
While we ate, she suddenly stops her movements and glance at me. Her cheeks turn red, and she crawls up towards me.
"What?" I asked her. She moves her hand and touch my mouth. My heart stops, her innocent eyes sparkles, as she moves and looks at her finger. It was a piece of rice. I cleared my throat.
"Thanks." I told her. She suddenly eats the rice and turns her eyes fix on my lips.
'Oh no, here we go again.'
"Yes, they are called lips, same as yours, can we go back to…" but she ignores me and moves her body closer. Her fingers tracing my lips. My breath caught. Then her eyes roam my nose and cheeks. Then she moves to touch my eyebrows, and ears. Her touches once again cause me to feel weird.
"Same feature, nothing different, the only difference, your lips are plump," I told her, without realizing it, I place my hand up and press my thumb on her lips.
'Soft, warm, I want to see if it tastes as good as they feel,' my mind went dark. My heart pumping even faster. She shivers, but doesn't move away from me.
'Is that normal?' I can tell she asked me. I nodded,
"Very normal, trust me," I told her. She nods at me, understanding. She takes my hand, and press it on her cheek, fluttering her eyes close.
Suddenly she presses her cheek on mine and wraps her arms around my shoulders. I felt her body shake.
"Angel?" I called out. She hiccups, looking back at me. Fresh tears roll down her eyes. Smiling at me, she cups my cheeks, pressing her forehead against mine.
"I missed you as well," I told her while she nods at me, saying the same thing. I smiled as well.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Angel," I whispered to her, she nods, as I closed my eyes, enjoying her warmth.
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Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Hunt or Phantom of the Opera.
