Chapter Ten: City of Water
Mai pov
"If you're afraid, start singing Twinkle, twinkle little star." I started to draw the star on the glass while Noll's eyes trace my face.
"Why?"
"My mama told me, that papa use to sing it to her when she used to get scared, and to me, when I was very little, before I met you."
"Do you know anything about your papa?" he asks. I shook my head.
"Mama said he was the nice man, and he loved me and mama very much. Do you remember your papa?" I asked him.
"He uses to buy us ice cream a lot. He uses to let me ride on his shoulders." He admits. My eyes widen, finally getting something out of him, after six years of knowing him.
"Do you remember his name? Or how he looks like?"
"No." his eyes drop. I move closer, spreading my fingers.
"I am sorry Noll. I wish I could help." I whispered to him. Noll lifts his gaze and shakes his head.
"Mai, can I ask something of you?" he asks. I nodded at him.
"Yes, what is it?" I asked him. Noll's cheeks started to turn red, and he starts to look anywhere but me.
"Noll?"
"Can you promise me something?" I nodded at him.
"Of course, what?"
"Can you."
…..
Did I start to swim towards where? I don't know, all I knew I had to move my body, to survive. I manage to get rid of the ghosts, by saying the nine cuts about two times. I kept swimming up towards the surface.
'Please, Naru is okay, be okay." I kept swimming and praying at the same time. Finally reaching the surface, I kept on swimming, feeling my own breath running out. Now panicking, I look up, and I saw a hand. Hope reaches my heart, and I started to swim towards it. Finally grasping it, the hand pulls me up. I breathed out, as the hand pulls me out of the bloody waters.
"Naru!" I cough out, looking up, at first my vision is blurry, but when I recover it I don't see Naru, but Gene. Small Gene with Housho.
"Star, Star." I heard Gene with a panicked voice. I wipe my face, to look up. Housho bends on his knees and pats my shoulder.
"Are you okay?" he asks worriedly. I shake my head and look up.
"Yes, where's Naru? Why are you here?" I asked,
"We don't know where the King is. Gene insisted on coming. He had a bad feeling." Gene nods at Housho words and came to give me a bone crushing hug. I hugged him back.
"I'm glad to see you. You have been a good boy?" I asked him, brushing his hair behind his small ears. Gene nods at me.
"I have, and I missed you like crazy. Come, we need to find Naru." Housho reaches out to help me, but my eyes widen, and I manage to stand up without his help.
"Thank you so much for saving me, to the both of you," I told him, looking up at Housho. Housho frowns at me, but nods. Now walking towards our right, I started to look everywhere, desperate to find Naru.
"How did you find me?" I asked Housho while I bend to pick up Gene in my arms. Gene leans his head on my shoulder.
"I felt you Star." Gene spoke instead of Housho. I look down at him, squinted my eyes.
"You did? How?" Gene places his small hand on his chest, where his heart lies, and his cheeks turn a light pink.
'The vision, Naru was blushing like that. So much alike.' I thought as the memory warmed my heart.
"I could," was his only answer. I frowned, bouncing him back since he started to slip down.
"Odd, I wonder why? But can you feel Naru?" I felt so worried and anxious.
"No, I'm sorry," I grip Gene harder, feeling my heart thump harder.
'We need to find him.' I thought this overwhelming feeling filled me.
"Do you know where are we going?" Housho asks, moving towards my side. I shook my head and stop my tracks.
"No. I know Naru got out of the situation, he's strong, we can't separate, he's a wanted fugitive, and we can't let him alone. I…." my mind started to race with all bad, though.
"Calm down, our King can survive; we'll run into each other sooner or later." Housho seems to calm for my own liking. I bit my lower lip, looking at the afternoon sky.
"Then let's go to the city of water since we are heading that way," I told them. Housho nods, as Gene agrees the same….
"Then let's go, is our only bet."
…
About two hours later of walking. Finally reaching the end of the blasted forest, we came across a wall. A concrete wall, that seems to block our only way.
"Wow, it's huge. There's no way around it." I murmured, turning around, my eyes widen to see the forest that we stood in disappearing before my very own eyes. Another concrete wall stood there already, trapping us in a box, for a reason I felt like we were test lab rats or something. I move up, touching the concrete wall, to see if my hand can phase right through it like Naru did with the boulder two days ago. Nothing. Hard as a rock.
"Oi, what happen to the forest?" I asked Housho. Housho shrugs, touching the wall.
"It happens, things move around. The King ways of protecting us from the Shinigami's," Gene held my hand tighter while Housho explains.
"He really loves to play mind games," I whispered to myself, looking around, to find anything.
"I don't like this. I want Naru star. I miss him." he cries, I pat his small hand.
"I know, me too. I." But Gene blinked, looking up at me.
"Star, I took notice of something. Did you remember him?" he asks. I blinked, and bend down, smiling at him.
"I did. He was my best friend from childhood. Something went wrong and I have forgotten him."
"So you do remember." He said excited, wrapping his arms around me, giving me a tight hug. I giggled, holding him hard.
"I don't know why you are so happy, but yes, I do. Those feelings for him never left me. He's the same old Naru." I told him. Gene took a step back and smiled at me, and then he cups my cheeks with his small hands.
"Star, I love you." He kisses my cheek, causing my eyes to widen.
"Well, err, thanks. I care about you as well." I had no idea how to react to that confession, but since he's a small child, I didn't mind.
"You are surely going to grow up as a heart breaker, but thank you let's look for Naru" Gene tilted his head in an innocent way but doesn't say anything.
I stood up, but only to wince, since my legs fell asleep.
"Now what do we do? The last city, we went through some boulder, and to the forest we went down. Now we are trapped." I told Housho.
"There should be some secret way, or something." Housho murmurs, moving about, touching more the walls. I licked my lips, looking up at the walls.
"We can't jump over it, it's too tall,"
I turned to see if I can find a way out. I need to find him. I feel unease.
"Can you go back? I don't know send Lin or Madoka to help us? Or Ayako?" I asked. Housho looks down at Gene. Gene eyes wide and snap his fingers.
"Good idea, we'll return soon." And with that, Housho and Gene disappear from my sight, leaving me alone.
"I wish I can go with them, but is too dangerous." I murmured, rubbing my arms, walking up towards the wall.
I look around the four corners, and I started to feel uneasy now.
"Please hurry." about half an hour later no one came. I hated mazes, oh how I hated them. I leaned myself against the wall, in doing so, the wall suddenly opens, making me fall backward. I yelp in surprise and fall down on the ground. The wall closes and I rub my behind.
"No, please don't close." I move rapidly to bang against the solid wall. I sigh, after a few minutes; the wall wouldn't budge at all.
Now alone, truly alone, I started to look around my surroundings.
"What do I do? I don't know my way around, I shouldn't have suggested to them to leave me alone." I scolded myself. I found myself in another open area, a largely filled base area. In the middle, there was a fountain. Around rice bowl like a fountain, with water spitting forward.
"Okay? This looks like a yard. Now I know I'm not near my destination." I groaned. Walking forward, a sudden shuffle is heard on my right. I stop in my tracks and turned my gaze to see a small creature. Looks like a gremlin type of creature.
"Excuse me?" I move forward, to see its pointy ears perk up, wearing a strange cone red hat, with green clothes. I cleared my throat.
"Excuse me, do you know where is the city of water is?" I asked politely this time. The gremlin stops whatever he was doing and turns towards me. His eyes are a bit small and dark. I shivered from its sudden look.
"Do, do, do I look like a guided tour?" It said in a squeaky voice. I shook my head.
"No, I am lost, I need help," I told him. The gremlin lowers a tree trunk and smiles at me, showing me of his sharp yellow teeth.
"Are, are, are you the Kings mate? I can smell him on you. Wait, wait, wait, you are fugitives, ah, I can hand you over, dead." He smirks, moving its small body towards me. My heart stops.
"Err, well let's not be hasty, shall we? Killing me won't do any good. The King will be mad." I prayed for my lie to set in.
"Why, why, why would I care?"
"Well, I'm his mate, and if you kill me, he'll be very mad, and he can destroy this place. Remember his word is his rules in this place." I told him. The gremlin seems to consider my words. I felt a sweat running down my temple, feeling my hands shake.
"Nope, nope, nope, I don't care."
Then it started to run towards me. I turned to start running, around the fountain, since there was nowhere to run.
"Oh man. This is scary," I shout, running faster, but then I stop and turned stretching my hands out.
"Stop. I will um." I had no idea what to do. The gremlin stop, but then a sneaky smile passes his lips.
"This is not fun, not fun, and not fun. I want it to be. Here, this is better, Twiddle, Twiddle come here." I heard him speak. Suddenly another gremlin pops next to him, now looking exactly like him, but the colors are the opposite. Green hat and red clothes.
"Brother, look what I found, the King's mate. She's here in our own domain. The City of Water." He claps. My eyes widen, to look around.
"This is the city of water? I thought to see I don't know water. Not a fountain." I gasp out; the gremlin gave me a strange look but shook his head.
"We should make it fun." the green hated one suggested, snapping his fingers, suddenly the ground under me disappear, and a large emptiness appear under my feet, and the only thing that held me was a small mound of ground.
"Oh God, what are you trying to do?" I gasp out, looking at them. They stood on the last binds on the ground, near the fountain, looking like they're having a blast. I shivered at their demonic stare at me.
"We can collect your body and show it to our new King. Our new King." They said infusion. I licked my lips, and my body started to shake.
"No, don't collect anything. I." I paused, when the ground started to disappear slowly.
"Hey, hey, I know a secret, a big secret." I lied through my teeth, now desperate. That stops the ground from disappearing.
"What?" now getting their attention. I hammer my brain.
"I need to write it down, if I say it out loud, anyone can hear, and it wouldn't be a secret any longer, would it?" oh God, I hope this help a lot.
"Ah, will it benefit us?"
"Yes, very much." I lied again. Both brothers look at each other and nodded. Then a small table with a quill with ink and paper appear in front of me. I look down.
"Hurry, if it's a good secret we spare your life." Both said again. I nodded, and took the quill and dipped it in the ink.
'Okay, okay, think, I don't know.' I felt tears gathering in my eyes. I feel so desperate. I started to write.
'The secret is that there's no secret in life, you must live by your own set of rules, and don't do evil.' This will definitely going to get me killed.
"Well hurry up, we haven't all day, all day, all day."
"I am almost done, give me a minute." I sigh.
"Also, this is a lie. Sorry." I added. Oh well if this is the end of me, must as well go the honorable way. I was about to say something else when I heard a voice, that cause me to stop in my tracks.
"Mai!" I felt my heart jump, as I look up, to see Naru heaving hard, standing on the edge of the opening. A brown door? My eyes widen as relief washes over me.
"Naru!" I smiled with pure happiness. Naru glances up at me and stretches out his arms.
"Jump." He shouts.
"Is the King, damn it." I heard the gremlins curses as I look around to find a way to get to him. Then I had no choice. Without a second, though, I jump on top of the small table.
"Naru!" I yell with happiness while I jump towards him. Naru shakes his head and stretches his body forward to grasp me. His arms circle around my waist, and my own arms around his neck.
"You're alive." I gasp out, holding him tighter. Naru breathed out,
"You too." He whispers, closing his eyes with a relief look. Separating, he turns towards the gremlins, but in doing so both disappear from sight. Then Naru pulls me back, and for a reason, we found ourselves in a large office building. I blinked, confused.
"Wait, how did we get here? I thought we were in a garden or something with a fountain."
"Remember not everything what."
"What it seems in the labyrinth, I know, I know, it's just overwhelming and."
"There they are, get them!" I heard behind us. The gremlin voice. We turn to see the men in cloak running towards us.
"Not again." I gasp out, now running towards our right. Heading for some stairs. Naru went further, as I went a little far behind. Now reaching the first floor, we turn our left, and there a fairy came out of an elevator. Naru slides to stop and push his body to go inside. He stretches his arm, to grasp my hand, and pulls me in. Rapidly he closes the elevator door, watching right in time the cloak goblins hit the doors.
I breathed out, trying to control my breath.
"How. How did you find me? I was looking for you with Gene and Housho." I breathed out. Naru leaned against the wall, breathing unevenly.
"Gene found me and told me that you went missing. They told me that you thought you can find me in the city of water. So I cheated and used my magic to reach you faster." I look up at him.
"You can't use magic, I thought you said that."
"Well, either way we still got caught." I sighed and turned my gaze to take notice that we are heading up.
"Why are we heading for the top?" I asked him.
"Do you have any other plans?"
"No, I." but then I shook my head, as I move to look up at him.
"Did you get hurt?" I asked in a gentle tone, now remembering what happen earlier. Naru shook his head.
"That blasted ghost tried to drown me, but I manage. Gene told me that Housho pulled you out."
"Yes, and you? How did you manage to leave?"
"I simply destroyed them and swam up, only to end up in the Forest of the Beast, the damn beast found me and chased me. Luckily John helped me." I breathed out, without noticing I lean my forehead against his chest.
"Thank God, I was so worried. You did come after me after all." I felt Naru go still, then before he could say anything a ding is heard, indicating that we reach our last floor. Opening the doors, I turned to see another floor. Heading out, the room is shaped like an oval, pale white as well three oval openings. Naru headed towards the opening, and I follow him.
I gasp out to see that we were on the roof with no railings. I gasp out, looking up at him.
"What do we do?" before he could answer, I suddenly heard a strange noise, men in boots? I turned to see the dark cloak men running towards us.
"Naru!" I gasp out. I then cover my ears to hear a gunshot fired.
"Oi, the stupid guns are back." I yelp, Naru looks around, and then he takes my hand and started to run towards the right of the roof.
Naru stops at the edge of the roof and turns to face the cloak, men.
"No, Naru I won't be jumping a roof, the cliff was enough." I gasp out.
"Do you have another idea? Right now I'm open for any brilliant idea."
"Can't you fly?" Naru turn his gaze at me and gave me a, 'Are you crazy,' Look.
"Do I look like a fairy to you?"
"I was suggesting. You have magic, I don't know; grow some wings if you have to." I snap back at him. Naru ignores me and wraps his arms around me. I arched a brow.
"What are you." but my words are cut off.
"Fine, we will fly." He murmurs, and we jump, my eyes widen as a scream escapes my lips. My heart thumps wildly, as I held Naru harder against me, covering me from the impact of the fierce winds.
"Ahhhhhh!" I screamed, this time, instead of hitting concrete we ended up going down into the water. I open my eyes, to see Naru swimming back up, holding me tighter. I start moving my legs to help him. Finally reaching the surface, I breathed out and look up. To see how tall the building is. Let me tell you, it's freaking tall.
"This could have killed us. That attitude towards the water is like hitting concrete itself." I protested. Naru ignores me and started to swim towards the edge. I follow suit. Finally reaching land. Naru helps me to get out. I flop down on the ground facing upside up, breathing hard. Drenched from head to toe. The sun already on the horizon, ready to go down.
"I'm so tired." I murmured, turning to see Naru already up, walking away from me. I turned, now my body aching. I manage to get up, and head towards Naru.
"Naru are you okay?" I gasp out, Naru stop in front of me, and then his eyes narrow.
"Fine. Come." He moves swiftly. Suddenly my muscles started to scream at me, to not move one muscle. Ignoring it, I pushed on until we stood in front of a strange large box. A simple wooden brown box.
"What is this?" I asked him.
"Our salvation for tonight." With that, he goes around the box. I sigh and shook my head.
'This is stressful.'
….
I was surprised, very surprised to see how big the box is. The entrance is at the rear end, a small opening cut out. Naru had to hunch over while I just lower my head to entering. As soon we entered, the hole was gone, trapping us inside. I gasp out, to see an actual bed, and a fire already made. I automatically went towards the fire, to get warmth.
"Wow. This is awesome." I smiled, rubbing my hands.
"My body hurts, does yours?" I asked Naru. Naru sits next to me and stretches his arms out to feel the warmth of the fire as well.
"No." for a reason, I feel like he's lying,
"Liar," I murmured, knowing that he heard me. He didn't comment on it, though,
I bit my lower lip.
"Thank you for saving me, and for this place."
"Not my place it's Johns. I asked him to place it near us after I saved you." He replies. I lower my head.
"How did he know we would land here?" I asked him. Naru slightly moves his head, as I watch the flames reflex from his eyes, for a reason, the flames seem like they're dancing in his eyes. My heart jumps at it.
'His eyes are so blue, darker for a reason. I can get lost in them. I have never seen such depth in such eyes. Not even Gene has that, and they are so alike. I doubt I can anyone with those types of eyes.' I thought as I licked my lips, feeling my heart thump harder than before.
'His eyes always fascinated me since I met him. They are unique in a way. 'I breathed a bit harder.
"He knows things, far much better than most of us." Was his reply. I didn't get it but shook my head.
"Oh, okay." For a reason, Naru seems very uptight. I didn't like it.
"Today was an eventful day. My body hurts." I told him. Naru still didn't' say anything. I shivered from the sudden cold breeze that brush against us. Then a sneeze escapes me, making me turn my head towards the side, so I won't sneeze on top of Naru. It came unexpectedly. Naru turns to stare at me. He snaps his fingers, and a pair of warm pants and shirt appears in his hand.
"Oi, no magic, you used too much today, look what happen. I." But Naru eyes seem to become sharper and swung his hand towards me.
"Change into this. You have been swimming a lot today. "I look up at him; I nodded and took the clothes. Now moving away from him, I look around to find a way to get dressed. I huff, feeling my hands started to shake.
'Why isn't he doing anything? He seems so isolated? Is he mad at me? About the whole getting married thing? I didn't want it either. I... I don't' know. I was so worried for him. I thought I would never see him again. That was a scary thought. I don't want to live that life again. Or does he not care about me?' A sudden gasp escapes my lips, as I cover my mouth, trying not to cry. I shouldn't cry. Not for him.
It was fruitless. Everything from the beginning came into me. From the moment, I met Naru until I met him again almost three weeks ago. Everything we went through. It was a cruel joke that destiny threw at us. How can I forget about him? How can I just live my life normal, while he does this? Pressure to do so many things, and never ask anything in return? Now the events of this last past few weeks have been too much for me as well. We almost died a couple of times, I almost lost him again.
"Is not fair." I gasp out, now crying harder. Naru lifts his gaze and turns to face me. I kneeled grasping my chest, all this emotion burst like a bubble.
"Oi, why are you crying for?" Naru rushed to my side, he kneels down, and my eyes scan his.
"Naru, it hurts. It hurts so badly." Naru frowns, looking everywhere, trying to see where I was hurting.
"Where did you get hurt?" he gently asks, but his tone sounded concerned a thick layer of it. I shook my head and move my hand to pound my chest.
"Here hurts Naru. My heart hurts." I admitted. Naru stares at me with narrow eyes.
"Your heart?"
"Yes... I thought I almost lost you. I thought I almost died. This place is a death trap. Naru." I get on my knees.
"Sorry, this is one the reasons why I didn't want you to come here in the first place when you kept asking me when we were younger." I stare at him.
"I asked you that?" Naru nods at me. I licked my wet lips, tasting the sea water. I wipe my cheeks.
"I remember the song, twinkle little star," I whispered to him. Naru doesn't say anything to me, but moves his arms. Our eyes locked. A sudden pulse reached in me, as fresh tears run down my cheeks. Naru suddenly reaches out to grasp my dress.
"You have? Good," he whispers, but he doesn't say anything else.
"What do you think about us being married?" I asked him. Naru still didn't say anything but started to pull up my dress, my heart started to quicken. I should push him, right? I wiped my cheeks, as that heavy guilt started to leave me, watching Naru expression change. It wasn't cold nor lustful, it was something else. It's soft and oh caring? He looks worried at the same time, but his cheeks seem to turn red..
'Does he want me to comfort me?'
"Is not what I wanted." He finally said as I move a bit back for him to get rid of my dress. He throws it to the side. Now with my underwear. I cover my breasts with my arm, even though I have my bra on. Naru eyes roam my body. My whole being shivered simply from his stare is like he's touching me for some odd reason. I started to feel shy. I suddenly move forward, and grasp his soaked jacket, started to remove it from him. I bounce closer to him, but I suddenly moaned, when I can almost feel his skin almost touching mine. He removes his jacket, and I move down to unbuckle his pants. Our eyes lock again.
"Me either. I want to marry because I love that person. I want to be loved. I never had a boyfriend in my life, sad right? I'm heading for my mid-twenties and never had a boyfriend, nor did I ever hold a hand of any male. If I told you why, you never believe me, but in this world, you might." I told him, but stop from removing his pants. He moves his hand, to trace my neck. I swallow hard, moving my head to the side, and flutter my eyes close. Like last time, I can almost feel his touch. My body ached, oh how much it ached this time.
My cheeks started to get hotter.
"I never touched a woman before, so we are even." He whispered.
"I know it's because your kind only mates with one woman for the rest of your lives. I think is romantic to be that loyal, I wish most men were like that in my world. I thought you would fall in love with one by now." His hand moves up to my lips again. Opening my eyes, I move my hand, and with courage, I trace his jaw line. It looks so strong and very masculine. For a reason, I felt small, compare to him.
"Hmm." Naru only answers me.
"So what do we do?" I asked him. Naru shrugs, as I move my hand to trace his neck, down to his broad shoulders. My breath started to go faster, making my chest rise even more.
"I don't know." He admits as I move closer. I move my hand, but in doing so, somehow we got closer. Our chest barely touching again. My chest tightens, and a warm feeling started to fill me from my chest, going down. I licked my lips. I can feel Naru breath becoming uneven. His eyes turning darker and clouded. If I would move closer, I could feel his warm strong chest press against my breasts, and I wouldn't mind at all, to feel that. I could have wrapped my arms around him. I could just ask him to do whatever he wanted to me, to only feel his warmth, his touch, that I ached since I was a kid, but not as a kid this time, but as his woman….
'Wait his woman? What?' My mind betrayed me.
"You don't love me, nor do I love you. So we just keep being friends, right?" I asked him. Naru nods, as I closed my eyes, almost pressing my cheek against his, almost, and then Naru lower his hand, to wrap it around, a sudden gasp escapes my lips, of his sudden brush, just a simple light brush against my skin, but it was fire to me. I could have sworn I heard Naru moan. Then to my surprise, he undid my bra. My eyes snap open, as it falls down. I took a hold of them, and then Naru moves and places my shirt on. I blinked, watching him move away from me.
I stared, watching Naru go up to the fire and summon a new jacket. I turned around, feeling my whole body on fire, and my face turning redder by the second. Everything I felt earlier, that dread and heaviness was gone, it became replaced by this new found feeling, but is not new at the same time. I can't name it. All I knew, when I glanced at his eyes, everything seems like is going to be alright.
"Hurry up; we need to head out early. Don't worry about us being married. It won't affect anything. After this, I make sure you head back to your home." I manage to get dressed, but my body felt hotter, as what took place kept popping into my mind. He turned something in me, which I never felt before. I frowned at his words.
'What makes you think, I want to leave you? Then again, I do have friends waiting for me,'
I felt against that same crossway once again.
"What would happen if I can't go back?" I asked him. Naru lifts his gaze up and stared at the night sky.
"I will take care of you."
Well, hope that was good :)
A disclaimer: I Don't own Ghost Hunt.