Chapter Nine: Bloody Forest

Mai pov

"I don't see any blood at all. How come is it called the bloody Forest?" I asked Naru while we walked down a long dirt path. This side is different from the other side of the forest we were yesterday. It doesn't look like a labyrinth.

"You will see why soon. I hope not," Answered Naru while we went down the steep hill.

I rub my arms together, looking back to see John cottage disappearing from sight.

'I wish I could have thanked John again, but what would I do what the information he gave me last night? I can't even look at Naru straight at his eyes.' I thought sadly.

"How's your wound?" I asked, not sure how to strike a conversation with him. Naru shrugs at me.

"Fine, aren't I alive?" I sigh at his response.

We now kept silence, walking deeper into the forest. That silence started to itch.

"Hey, is my turn to ask two questions," I told him. Even though I can't look at his eyes, the itch of knowing him more bother me like no other. Naru nods gently but kept on walking, in a straight path.

"If most of you are Goblins, how come you don't have pointy ears, or short, with big feet or something?" I asked. Naru suddenly stops in his tracks and turn to face me. I stop as well and look at his cold expression.

"Is that how human see us as?" I nodded at him, but then my eyes widen.

"Well from the fantasy stories, which shows a Goblin would always show themselves as, not looking human enough. I mean, I don't know, I always wanted to ask that, when I ten. I researched in the library to learn more about your kind, and I just remember it this morning. If it doesn't bother you to answer me,"

"We appear to humans as they want to see us. If they want to see us as creatures of that magnitude, that's how they will see us as." I knitted my brows together, trying to comprehend his words.

"So it depends on the person how they see the Goblins as when they first lay eyes on your kind? Interesting. Then why did I see you as a normal child? When we first met?"

"Because you were five, you didn't know nothing about the supernatural, so you didn't have a clue how we actually look like. So in your eyes, we all look normal."

"Then how do you really look like?"

"That's enough for today. Tomorrow is my turn." He whispers, making me frown at his words.

'How does he really look like?' I thought, as we stop at a large old rotting tree, barely no leaves, and the branches wilted down. The tree itself looks like it has a face, a sad expression, its mouth is wide open, and its eyes are two gaping holes, with such pain. My heart thumps oddly.

"It feels like it has a life of its own." I move closer stretching my arm out. For a reason, I felt compelled to soothe it.

"Poor thing, I want to."

"Poor thing nothing, don't touch it." Naru suddenly snatches my hand out and moves to cover me. The old tree moves its mouth.

"Oh King, and all I wanted is to be soothed, by a lovely female." I heard a deep scratch old man voice. I titled over to see the tree talking.

"Oh, this is a little too much. Since when this became Alice in the wonderland mix with the wizard of Oz? Even a tree knows you. Wow." I snapped, Naru turns to stare at me, with a confused look on his face.

"I'll explain later, talking trees? Really?" I sigh; the tree seems to move his hollow eyes towards me. I shivered by its creepy matter.

"Is normal, this is the forest of blood for a reason. Now, where's the path to go to the city of water?" Naru asks.

"Down this road, then take a right." The tree told us. Naru seems to go a bit rigid.

"Thank you." I bow, the tree eyes moves once again towards me, and for a reason a smile broke on his face. I think.

"Young woman, may I ask a question before you leave." He suddenly says. I nodded, but for a reason Naru went even stiffer.

"Yes?"

"Do you have any fears?" he suddenly asks. I blinked, surprised by his words.

"Fears? Err, a couple why?" I asked him. The tree turns his gaze towards Naru.

"I bet you as well have fears don't you King?" Naru doesn't even bother to answer; he simply started to walk around the tree and left us.

"One word of advice; Not even the closest person you are with is the safest. This forest has its name for a reason. Good luck. And thank you."

"Huh? For?"

"For trying to soothe my heaviness. I would have eaten your hand, but when he stopped you, I could for a reasoning sense your purity. Thank you again." Then it closed itself, steadying himself once again. I frowned, and I shook my head.

"I just had a conversation with a tree. What else? The sun?" I shook my head and took notice that Naru was ahead of me.

"Oi Naru, wait for me." I rushed my steps to reach him.

"It's getting creepier, do the rest of the trees can talk? I feel like there are staring at us." I move closer to Naru, feeling my heart tremble in fear. Naru looks down at me.

"No. only the elder tree."

"Oh, what did it mean about our fears?"

"I hope nothing." Naru seems on edge since we went deeper. I bite my lower lip.

"If something happens, or we get separated, will you look for me?" I asked him. Naru turns his gaze back up, and shrugs.

"I have no other choice do I?" I felt a vain pop, but I nodded.

'I wish he could say yes, that he would save me because I'm his friend.'

I stop shaking my head.

'John I wish you were wrong. I didn't know. I am sorry Naru.'

I thought, shaking my thoughts from last night. I rub my chest, as a strange bad feeling seems to surface in my heart.

"Naru, I don't feel too well, I." I stop in my tracks when a thick fog started to surround us.

"Where is this fog is coming from?" I asked Naru. Naru moves closer to me, and from what I can see, black figures appear in front of us, in a shadowy way.

"Naru, who are they? Are they the same people I mean Goblins from Yasuhara?"

"Who?" Naru asks, looking down at me.

"Those, they are right there." I pointed.

"I don't see anyone. I only see is fog, thick fog at that."

"Well, I see cloak men standing there watching us." Naru looks everywhere.

"This is the part of the bloody forest I don't like. They are your fears. You must overcome them."

"What about yours? Can you see them?" I asked, automatically wrapping my hand around his arm. Naru didn't say anything, but nods.

"You do?"

"Yes, and it standing right in front of me." I look up at his eyes, they seem cold, but something else. Fear since they seem to move a bit abnormally.

"Oh what is it?" but before I could get an answer, something seems to wrap around my ankle. I look down, and fear shot through me.

"Not again." I gasp out, to see a pool of blood surrounds us, and a clammy white hand holding tighter around my ankle.

"Damn it, not again," I shout, feeling it's pulling me down,

"No Mai!" I heard someone shout, as I splash down into the now deep pool of blood. My breath is cut short, opening my eyes, the white faceless spirit hovers above me. A yelp escapes my lips, watching some blood bubbles come out instead of my voice.

'Not again, not again.' My heart raced with fear, without thinking instincts is more the word; I started to swim upwards, only to feel the ghost wrap its clammy arms around my waist. I look down, starting to shake it off.

'I need air, I need to escape.' I thought, struggling and wrestling with my life. Looking up, I could make out a figure. I think is Naru.

'Naru! I need your help. I.'

I was cut short when I felt another arm around me.

'If I could speak, I could have done the nine cuts. (Kuji-in) I thought, and then my strength started to leave me…

'No I won't die here. Not like this. Oh God, what do I do?' looking down, the one ghost multiplied by four.

Closing my eyes, I started to chant the nine cuts. I am desperate this time.

'Rin-Pyou-Tou-Sha-Kai-Jin-Retsu-Zai-Zen.' Opening my eyes, a light source appears around me, and suddenly a piercing agonizing screams echo around me, now set free, I start to swim upwards, only to see a hand. Without hesitation, I grab and it pulls me out. I breathed out, coughing out the blood out.

"That was scary." I cough out, looking up to see Naru bending down, looking down at me.

"I really need to thank Ayako and Lin for teaching me that." I cough more. I move, to look at Naru. He seems paler than the normal.

"What was that? I mean a pool of blood, feels like an old case I had years ago. I almost died because of the darn ghost. I.." I shivered, trying to forget it. Naru frowns at me, looking up.

"Is not over yet." He whispers, as I look around the dark figures are gone. I stood up, only to feel my legs go weak. I buckled down, but Naru wrap his arm around my waist to steady me. I look up at him with wide eyes.

"Thanks." My voice cracked while I watch him turn his gaze towards the trees. I look down at myself, and I wasn't drenched in blood. No, I am dry to the bone. I raised a brow when I heard a strange noise. Like a car engine.

"Did you hear that?" I asked Naru. Naru turns and shook his head.

"What?" I sighed again.

"Not again." I turned towards the noise. This time the scenery of the trees disappears, and I was in a street, a familiar street. There was a tree, a large tree with Sakura.

"This is familiar to me." I thought out loud.

"What do you see?" Naru asks, moving closer to me. I shrugged at him.

"A Street, in Japan," I admit. Suddenly the blue sky started to turn dark, and blood started to rain down. I look up and frowned.

"It's raining blood," I told him. Naru nods,

"You really can't see this?"

"No. I only see trees. When you disappeared, my own fear disappeared as well.."

"Disappeared? I saw your hand reaching out for me when I was in a pool of water."

"I see, I stretched my hand down into the ground. Then felt your hand grasp mine. It was just a feeling." I didn't know what to say to him. Turning back to the street, two young boys around five years old walk hand in hand, eating ice cream. Both look exactly alike, but the one in the right has his face blurred out. The other one looks almost like Gene, not my boss Gene but the one in the castle.

"Gene?" I gasp out, taking a step forward. There a dark figure appears on the other side of the street.

"What do you see?" Naru asks me, I didn't say anything, as the boy stop and turns to cross the street.

"Come, mama shouldn't be far." Gene spoke, as the other boy nodded his face. While both across the street, my heart stops.

"No, No, go back, go back." I move my body, running towards the young boys. Both of the boys look up at me, then I heard a screech of a car, I turned to see a dark car coming closer to the boys.

"No! Is dangerous!" I screamed. Running faster. The car seems to go faster, but the time I reach the children, the car speed, and I stop, looking at the car with dear eyes.

"NO!" I shout, feeling my heart hammer. Instead of hitting me, it goes right through me, like a ghost car. I shivered from the cold impact. I breathed out and turned, to see one of the boys lying down on the floor with blood coming out of his head. His small body is not moving.

"No. No." I move rapidly, with shaky hands, I hesitated on what to do. The boy moves his injured head.

"BROTHER!" The other boy shouts. I turned to see his brother standing on the other side of the street, a large cloak man stood there, staring at me.

"OL.." but the young boy voice is muffled as the man covers his mouth. The injured boy lifts his body in a struggle. I felt tears already falling down, and my throat felt tight.

"EUGENE!" he screams, as the image of the brother and the man disappears. I look down at the broken boy..

"I need help. Someone help." I look around, forgetting that this was a strange vision or whatever. Forgetting that Naru was watching me, forgetting that this was not Japan or my hometown but the labyrinth.

"Oh God, okay, don't move, please don't move." I felt panic, despair for this child. It's killing me. Even though I couldn't see his face. The boy moans, as though he could look straight at me.

"I'll find help. Okay. I.." I couldn't' speak. I was shaking, I stood up, looking around, to find anyone to help.

"Anyone?" I shout, then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned with hope in my eyes.

"I need…" but I stop, to realize Naru is looking straight at me. His eyes seem concerned, and something else.

"Naru, we need to help that child. Oh, God. He's dying. I can't leave him be." I turned around, but to my surprise he was gone. The child was gone.

"No, he was here. Hello?"

"There was no one here Mai. It was a fear a past memory. You saw someone fear." He admits, placing his hand on my shoulder. I look up at him with a cloudy vision.

"No, it was real, no vision. The boy, he's injured. We need to help him if we don't he'll die." I started to tremble. For a reason, that impacted me. I shouldn't be this affected, right?

"Calm down." Naru voice turns very gentle. I hiccupped. Then I heard a dark chuckle behind us. I turned to see the same dark man. He has his face covered, and points at me.

"You think you can save him, then think again. He's mine, and the rest of him shall be mine." Then the dark cloak man disappears. I suddenly felt light headed.

"You saw him?" I asked Naru.

"This time I did." Naru finally assures me. I felt everything spinning..

"Good, Naru?"

"Hmm?"

"Catch me," and before he can ask what I mean, everything around me went dark.


Naru pov

I sigh, walking deeper into the forest, finally reaching its end. I felt Mai snuggle more into my back.

"She looks comfortable, but sad. What did she see?" John asks as he walks next to me. I shrugged.

"Not sure. Why are you here?" I asked, about five minutes ago, he just popped next to me.

"Guiding you. What else? These are my Forrest if you have forgotten. Did you get to see your fears?" he asks.

"No, they disappear before I could see anything. She got the most impact." I explained. John crosses his arms, as a wide grin appears on his lips.

"Things aren't what they mostly are. Has she told you?"

"No, she only told me of a street from her world. She didn't explain much, oh a boy, a boy was injured." I told him.

"That's not what I mean. I have seen what she saw, but what I mean, if she has told you what I told her." He started.

"What did you tell her?" I questioned him. John shook his head.

"I told you I found the queen. It's her say, remember to ask her. It's going to be dark soon. If you keep this path, you will find a box, inside the box, I place a protective barrier, and no henchman of Yasuhara can find you two. When you reach the city of water, go to the south, and keep going. Soon you too will reach the center of the labyrinth."

"I know where it is, remember I was the one that made this place." I sigh, getting a headache already. John nods.

"I'm just worried for the both of you. Also, you should go and visit Gene, Lin explained that she gave you a name with the child."

"She has, why?"

"You know what that means." He seems a little too happy.

"Not really. She just gave me a name, that's all. I have forgotten my real name long ago, and.." but John shakes his head.

"That means a lot, I'll see you later." John bows, and disappears from my sight. I shook my head, as I felt Mai wrap her small arm around my neck. I lower my head and stare at the ground, adjusting her. At least she wore a long dress, which can cover her legs. No, skin contact.

"Naru!" I heard my name. I lifted my gaze and turned my gaze.

"Hmm? Are you awake?" I asked, but no answer. She held me tighter. I swallowed deeply, to feel her warm arm press against my neck.

'This feels very weird. She feels soft, very soft.' I thought, enjoying her body on my back. Luckily because of my jacket, I couldn't' feel her breasts, which was a good thing.

"I wanted to help you.. I really did. I'm glad to have you back." She whispers into my ear. I frowned, lifting my gaze up.

"I hope you are sleeping," I mumbled.

"Warm." I heard her murmured, my heart skipped a beat at her sudden words. I licked my lips, remembering last night. I lost everything when I started to trace her. I couldn't think straight. Then again, I could feel her at the same time. Like when we talked through the mirror, but more powerful.

Sudden Mai jerks on my back.

"Mai?"

"Naru?" she question. I lower myself, but she doesn't get off. I lifted my gaze, to see her holding me tighter.

"What's wrong?" I asked, feeling her shake.

"No, don't.. I know this goes against your rules.. Please.. Please let me stay a little longer. I'm scared." Her voice is thick.

"Then what do you give me if I do this?" I asked her. Mai bites her lower lip and stares at the ground.

"Anything you want." She offers.

"Then what did John tell you last night?" I felt her small body go still.

"How did you know?" she asks surprised.

"Let say a birdie told me, what did he said?"

"Nothing, nothing at all." She lies. I lifted myself up once again and tighten my grip around her legs. Mai gasps in surprise.

"Tell me, or I will drop you." I threaten.

"You will not." She didn't seem too sure, as she holds me tighter. I chuckled darkly.

"Try me." Mai went silent again, and I can feel her forehead on my back.

"He told me something, and I overheard your conversation with Madoka and Lin." I stop in my tracks.

"How?"


Mai pov

"I wonder where Naru is. He's not well yet." I sighed, moving towards the door, in doing so, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I jumped, turning to see John smiling at me.

"Oi, you scared me." his smile drops and shakes his head.

"Sorry, didn't mean to. Looking for your mate?" he asks. I blushed at his words.

"Naru isn't my mate, or whatever. He's my best friend. I.." But something passes John's eyes. He moves swiftly and opens the door.

"Come here, and hear what Madoka has to say.." I arched a brow, looking up at him.

"I don't want to pry and.."

"Is not prying, is learning about your mate past." John moves his hands, and suddenly I could hear their voices, as though they are right next to me. Crystal clear.

"He's not my mate, but that's amazing. How are you doing this?" I gasp out.

"I'm connecting us to the earth right now, now listen." he explains, as I close my eyes to listen.

"My King, she's not just a human girl for you. She's the girl that gave you life back then. Don't you remember that I use to help you, so you can sneak into the king's quarters and use the magic mirror? Even if it was forbidden?" Your eyes would always speak up when it was time to speak with her? You were a lost soul before you met her. My King. It was tearing me apart Now that she knows, is a bit better." Madoka explains. Then I heard that she used magic if she finishes the spell or something like that, I can have my memories wipe out. Either way, I have my eyes wide, turning to face John.

"I didn't know that. Was his childhood that bad?" my heart clenched. John nods at me.

"Very. We don't know what happened before he came into the castle. When he entered, there was a King, a ruthless King that used to beat him up without mercy."

I gasp, as my heart ached.

'Oh God, I didn't know that. Poor Naru.' my throat thickens.

"Is the same King painting that I saw in the ceiling, where Naru has his people safe?" I asked him.

"No, he's a different King. There were two Kings before him. The last King was very kind to him and to us. Like a father. He died, well that is another story, and Naru shall tell you. I have to tell you something." He paused, moving towards the door.

"What?" I asked him.

"When you met the king for the first time. Did you see that red string?" I lower my gaze to look at my chest.

"Oh Yes.. I did. The strange thing is that Naru told me something before that, but I couldn't' remember what he said. It was like it was mute out." I told him.

"Interesting. When I tried to heal him. I couldn't. There's something wrong with him. I can't tell what it is, so I had to use you."

"What do you mean use me? What is wrong with him?" I felt panic at his sudden words.

"Something is missing in him. So I use that red string to heal him."

"Exactly what is that red string?"

"The string of fate, or other words, the string where your true love lies." My whole body froze at his words.

"True love? He's not my true love. Yes, I love him like a brother, but that's all. I.."

"In order to save him, I tie your soul with his. You two are bonded by spirit." I blinked, trying to swallow his words.

"What do you mean bonded by spirit?"

"In this world, or maybe in your world, I married both of you. Marriage of the soul. You two are one now. He's part of you as you are part of him. In order to heal him, if he hadn't had this dilemma, I wouldn't have done it. He would have healed by his own. In order for me to heal, I need to use the inner soul of a person, to heal them. The will of living, in other words. Since you were desperate enough for him to heal, I used yours." No words came out of my mouth as I heard John speak.

..

...

"So you're telling me, you married us?"

"Yes. My apologies for that." John bows..

"I'm married. I'm married to my best friend. I.."

"It's up to you if you want to say anything." With that, he leaves me alone. About thirty seconds, after my head thought over John words. I turned and open the door slowly, to see Naru now standing next to John. I grasp the door, watching Naru speak.

"That's my life just went to hell. All I wanted is to go and get the Shinigami out." I heard his voice with sadness. I frowned, feeling my heart beating harder.

John started to speak about me. For a reason, my heart started to race. I stare at Naru, as I heard him say.

"She's strong but not for a mate. She is a human, she will fall for someone back in her own world. Men in her world seem to like her a lot." For a reason that didn't sit right with me.

'I don't know what to feel about this. I see Naru as my best friend. That I want to learn more about. He makes me feel warm and safe, even as kids. I want to hold him and protect him as well. Now more than ever.'

"I see, does that make you feel uncomfortable?" John suddenly asks. I saw Naru back go still, then he sighs. .

"No, why? I don't care." The rest of his words seem to die off, gripping more into the door.

'Right. Why would he care, he just sees me as a saving grace for his people. He doesn't see me as a friend any longer. I don't blame him. '

Then John's eyes caught my own eyes. I blushed from embarrassment from being caught. He smirks at me and turned to face Naru.

"Two things I need to warn you," John stated. I blinked.

"What is that?" Naru asks, making John chuckle.

"Don't lose hope. From everything, your happiness will come. At times, you must lose some to gain some." I heard that before, I think Ayako told me that saying after Gene rejected me..

"Yeah? Then what is the second one?" Naru asks again, this time, I sense an irritation in his tone. I frowned, about to close the door, John words made me stop.

"Let just say, we found our new Queen." Naru looked confused, remembering John words earlier.

'Right. Is not a dream, he married us. How will he take it? I'm sorry Naru. I didn't know. I wouldn't have done it if I knew. Then again, you were dying. I didn't want to lose you.' I felt like I was caught between a crossfire. I am not sure how to feel about this.

"Huh? What Queen?" Naru asks, confused. John shrugs and started to walk away.

"You will soon see what I mean. Good night my friend." I closed the door and rushed towards the bed. I faced the wall, feeling fresh tears running down my face.

'I don't know what to do. I didn't even know that you would be excited to see me when you were little, I didn't know you were being abused by the king. I didn't know how much you hurt. Oh, Naru. How can I help you? I'm sorry.' I felt guilt plague me.

I heard Naru soft steps coming in. He sits down on the floor, as a strange emotion filled my heart. I turned around to see Naru head tilted down, with his leg up. I stretched out my hand aching to run my fingers through his hair. More tears filled my eyes.

"Naru, I didn't know," I whispered out, feeling so guilty and so confused at the same time.

..O..O...

"So he told you about my past?" Naru snaps me out of my memories of last night and I nodded.

"Yes, at least part of it. I'm sorry, I didn't know." I lay my cheek on the broad of his shoulder blades. Even though I can feel his jacket. I feel his warmth. Then again, I can feel him tense up.

'Is he worried? That I know.. I wish I can read his mind. To know how he feels. I want to soothe him.'

"Another thing." I didn't want to say anything, but what's the use to cover it up?

"What?"

"You can put me down now." I couldn't even do it while I rode his back. Didn't seem right. Naru placed me down, and I adjusted my red dress.

"What is it?" he seems edgy. I was now nervous.

"John told me something. He told me that." I paused, Naru waited, as the fog started to surround us once again.

"Well, spit it out?" he seems to become impatient. I started to flick on my nails.

"He told me that we are married. He married us, in other words I'm your wife, and your my husband." I said rapidly. I look up to see Naru face go frozen in shock if that was possible.

"Naru?" I wave my hand, but then before my own eyes, two pale hands wrap around Naru mouth and mid waist.

"Naru!" I shout, and he looks down, his eyes widen, and before I could do anything, he was pushed down, disappearing into the pool of blood that formed around us.

I bend on my knees, and the pool of blood turns into a glass.

"Naru!" I shout pounding into the glass. Naru opens his eyes and looks up at me, and touches the glass as well. Then I suddenly felt a pull on my legs. I look up to see those same ghost things. This time there was blood, but blood floated above me. My eyes widen in fear, as I get pulled up, and I go into the bloody water. The water itself turns into a glass, trapping me this time. I press me and on the glass, and look up, to see Naru looking straight at me. Now both of us trapped, I above, and he on the ground, for a reason, the glass seems to join together with no way out. Our hands, press against the glass, as we were kids once again. Our eyes locks, then Naru eyes widen in fear, as I felt an arm around my waist, and I see an arm around his waist. At the same time, we get pulled apart, separating us...

'No, not again, please, I just remember him. No, I don't want to be separated from him again..' My heart panics, as we get pulled farther and farther away...

'Naru!'


Thanks for the reviews; I hope everyone is enjoying my story..: ) Poor Mai and Naru. Also, I have a tendency of Marrying them off, Is fun.. I can manipulate them even more. : )

A disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Hunt.