Chapter Ten: Idiot

I had no idea what was going on. Yasuhara was dismissed by Lin after he came after a few minutes later of hearing the news. My world was dark, so dark.

"Mai?" I heard somewhere. I lifted my dazed eyes to see Madoka with red eyes, as Lin pats her back.

"Oh God, Noll." She moans, burying her head in her shoulder. Lin eyes are beyond red. His arm safely wraps.

"How. How did it happen?" I asked Lin.

"The minor that was in charge of the explosive, fell asleep, one of the other minors explained to us. Noll was not lucky enough to escape it."

"Have you searched for his body?"

"Some bodies are terrible dismantled; as well, some are burnt to a crisp. We believe Noll is one of them." Lin lowers his head, trembling harshly.

"How's Housho?" I asked.

"He's okay; he was late last night, so he was lucky." Lin explains. I nodded, as I start to move away from them.

"Mai?" I heard Madoka ask. I shook my head.

"I need fresh air, I'm sorry for your loss." My voice turns thick. I couldn't be in the cottage. I didn't know how to console them. Don't even know what to do with me.

Snow follows me out, as I ran towards the stream. I cover my mouth, when I finally reach the stream.

"Why?" I gasp out, hearing Snow whimpers on my side. I sniff, tears falling down my cheeks. I fall on my knees, and ball myself. Crying harder.

"Why? Why did he leave me? He has promised me to come back. Noll." I yelled, no words can describe how I feel right now. Its worse from what my father told me, worse than what my stepmother has done to me.

"Oh God, why? Why did he leave me? He broke his promise. Noll, please come back to me. I... I love you." Realization hitting me hard. My eyes widen, as I held my chest, feeling my heart breaking.

"I love him, I'm in love with Noll, and it took me his death, so I can realize it? This is not fair. It's harder than ever. Is this the feeling Madoka was talking about; which she can't live without Lin? Cause a part of me, just died with Noll. I want him back." My heart broke even more.

I don't know how long I was there or how long I cried, but all I did cry myself to sleep…

…

It's been two weeks since that horrible news. Two weeks without Noll. Lin is recovering slowly. Madoka became so dress, that Lin had to take her out a few times, just to cheer her up. I on the other hand.

I was destroyed completely. My days became not dull, but lifeless. I felt no life in me.

Walking in the forest, with a basket in hand, Snow barks at my side. I hiccupped, as I wipe my eyes.

"I can't stop crying Snow. I feel like my heart it's been ripped into two. I never thought the death of Noll would affect me like this. I never knew how much I love him." I admit,

I lifted my gaze up, to see that blasted Raven looking down at me.

"I'm not in the mood. My heart is ripped into two. I lost someone very important to me. My first friend, that always protected me, even though he treated me coldly." I lower my head, and my tears won't stop.

"I feel dead inside, already." Shaking my head, I started to head deeper into the woods, not sure why. I just needed some fresh air. Get away from everything.

"Snow, what do I do now? Tell me my friend, everyone that I love, always leaves me."

Snow doesn't even bark, she lowers her face, but then stops in her tracks and lifts her head. I wipe my eyes and look up, to see a strange woman standing in front of me.

"My dear, can you help this old lady, I can't carry these fruits, they are too heavy for me," she asks. Notice her hair is short, and wild, like straws. Her eyes are dark, and wrinkle around her temples. Wearing an old dress, and very long ugly hands. I nodded at her.

"Oh yes, I will. Sorry." I move towards her side and grasp the bag. The older woman smiles at me gently.

"Thank you, dear. These old bones aren't as strong as they use to." I nodded at her, Snow comes up to the elder, but she starts to show her fangs at her.

"Snow, don't be rude." I hissed. The elder glance up at me.

"Is okay, animals never liked me. Why, may I ask, are you crying your pure heart out?" she suddenly asks. I paused, looking down at the ground.

"I lost someone very dear to me. I miss him terribly."

"A lover?" My cheek flushes at her words.

"No, a good friend of mine." She suddenly tsks, while we cross a small bridge.

"Doesn't look like a good friend. A woman will never cry like that. My house is right down this hill. Tell me; are you in love with him?"

"No," I lied, for a reason, this felt to personnel to tell her.

"I see, and then don't cry. Everyone passes away. I believe you can see him again, in the afterlife." I nodded at her, as we went down the hill. In doing so, my eyes out the sight of her cottage. Is similar to Madoka, but smaller.

"Wow, your cottage looks cute," I whispered, the older woman smiles, and a twinkle passes her eyes.

"Thank you so much young one. Here, as a gift, take this big juicy red apple." She takes the bag out of my hands and reaches inside. Then she takes out a big juicy apple.

"This will help with the pain, just a little." My eyes landed on the red apple. Once again, that strange pull filled me. Snow starts to bark frantically. I smiled at her and took the apple.

"Thank you. I'll eat it after my brunch. Take care, God bless." I wave at her. The older woman nods at me, and turns to head for the cottage. I smiled gently at her, as I turned to head back.

"At least, I got an apple in return," I whispered to Snow, but Snow kept growling at the old lady.
…

I sat in front of the stream. Already finish with my brunch. I sigh, as Snow ate her food next to me.

"Noll, if you were here, what would you be doing today?" I whispered, rubbing my arms. Shaking my head, I turned to grasp the apple and I lick my lips.

"If not apple pie, might as well enjoy this apple," I whispered, looking at the juicy red apple. I took a bite out of it and chewed it down.

"Hmm, that's good," I said out loud, and Snow starts to whimper in distress. I look down at her.

"What's wrong my friend. Is just an apple. It's not going to kill me." I told her. Snow shakes her head, bouncing on my lap, and snatches the apple out of my hands. It lands on the ground and rolled towards the water.

"Snow! What a waste of a good apple. It tasted good too." I sigh, but grasp Snow in my arms, and look at her in her eyes.

"Bad dog, don't, don't do that again. I have lost so many things already. Don't take away my small gifts that people give me." I move Snow closer and held her tight.

"You're my only friend I have. You have been with me for years. I love you Snow." I start to cry even harder, as I lifted my legs up.

"I want Noll back." I rock Snow in my arms, burying my face in her neck…

….

My body started to feel weird, ever since the afternoon. Everything feels uneven.

"Mai? Are you okay?" I heard someone say. I lifted my gaze, to see Madoka looking down at me with concern look in her eyes. I shook my head.

"Yeah, just tired. Need a little nap, and then I'll be good." I told her, as I stood up, suddenly my body started to heat up.

"Bath is more like the word. I'm going to take a bath, Since Lin is out, and I can bathe here." Madoka nods, as she stands up.

"I'll go ahead and sleep then. I haven't been sleeping well, since the accident." I nodded at her, watching her go up.

"Poor Madoka, she has to be devastated." I frowned, as I turned to start my hot bath.

…

I lay in the tub, using a metal jar, to pour the hot water over my body, rinsing out the soap. I look down at Snow.

"I don't feel well Snow. Maybe because I haven't been eating well, or sleeping. " I whispered to her. Snow glance at me with a wary look in her eyes.

"I'm tired as well. I doubt I have any strength to keep going." Snow lies on top of her paws, looking up at me with a sad look. I place the jar down, on the floor and dunk myself all in.

'Please God, send me back Noll. I promise to never leave him. I promise.' I prayed in my head, hoping it can be heard. Then again, he's dead. He won't come back to me. I felt my heart tighten.

Inside the water, a sudden noise causes my body to go rigid. Sounds like the door slams open…

'Oh no.' I thought, as I rose myself up from the tub. I look around the dark room.

"Lin?" oh God, this is not good. I look down and wipe my face, to see Snow out of sight.

"Snow, oh God, please help me." I immediately stood up; panic reaches down to my own core. Turning around, to grasp my towel, the footsteps start to become rapid. My hands are shaking terribly; I turned my gaze towards the towel, and almost reaching for the towel, the footstep stop. My eyes widen in pure fear, as a sudden presence filled the room, and Snow kept barking in a happy tune.

I couldn't move; embarrassment reaches into my core, as I slowly made my way towards Lin.

"Please turn away. Madoka is upstairs. I'm sorry, please go away." I cried out, but the presence of him won't leave. I finally reach towards my target.

The moment, when you think you lost someone or something, you appreciate it more than ever, when you get it back, you feel like you can never let it go. I am witness to that. God, he heard my prayers.

My heart thumps so hard, that I thought it almost left me. I lower my hand, as I stare at him.

My body starts to shake. My heart pounding hard, not believing this at all. Our eyes are locked, and that sensation filled me again. The unknown word to it, that I call it, love.

"Noll?" his name came out as a whisper from my lips. Noll stood there in front of me, noticing how clean he looks, wearing a long black shirt, and a pair of pants. His blue eyes lock with mine.

"Noll, am I dreaming this?" I asked; he places Snow down, not noticing that he had her in his arms. I move, making the water splash under me. Noll slowly made his way towards me. I couldn't move anymore. Our eyes never left each other. I ached for him to reach me.

"No." his voice is thick, and powerful, that my whole being shook once again. Finally, he reaches up to me. I move my wet hand, and shakily touch his warm cheek. No words are spoken again. I kept staring at his blue eyes, which I can get myself lost in. Noll lowers his arm, wrapping it around my bare waist. I shook of how good that felt.

'He's alive.' I move my hand, to trace his lips. I gently shook as Noll lower his face, and I close my eyes.

"Noll." I whispered his name.

"What have you done to me?" he whispers, as I felt his hand roam my bare back. I moaned, and my lips parted. Then his warm hands trace down my waist up to my curves, to my side. I took a hold of his sleeve.

'Please, I beg you, keep touching me.' I thought, but I couldn't say it, it was too embarrassing.

"I don't know. You're alive, Thank God. Noll." I whisper his name, as I open my eyes, to see that he gave me a profound look. It was deep, very deep, that it made me shake to the core.

"Mai!" he whispers, cupping my cheek, running his hand down to my junction of my neck. I miss his touch. The only touch that I don't feel disgusted, but alive.

"I love you." Those words came out of my lips, but it didn't register in my brain. I felt Noll go still, so still that I thought he wasn't' there.

Then when it did, my eyes widen, as realization dawns on me. My heart told him, how I feel about him, I love everything about him.

Noll looks down at me, as he finally relaxes… He suddenly lower his head and press his lips on my forehead.

"Get dressed." He whispers as he moves back. I lower my hands, my heart thumping hard.

"Noll, don't go. Please." I begged, he stops and turns to stare at me.

"We'll talk in a few."

..

I stare at him, he stares at me. I couldn't believe I just told him that I love him, or he's here with me. We stood under the light, as the moon shines brightly on us. Next to the stream. I felt so shy right now.

"What happen? How are you here?" Noll takes a breath.

"I manage to survive,"

"But they couldn't find your body. They thought." he shakes his head, moving closer to me. Placing his hand on my cheek.

"I'm hard to kill. I assure you that." He whispers as I press my hand on his, leaning on his touch.

'So warm.'

"Then why you took so long?"

"I was unconscious for a bit, someone saved me."

"You're not hurt are you? You didn't break anything?" I asked, as I run my hand down his arm, to see, to make myself believe he's alive. Noll nods at me.

"I am okay, just scratches." He admits.

"Thank God, you're okay. I. I was so broken. I couldn't stop crying. My heart hurts so much. Right now, I feel like I'm dreaming. I never. I never thought, losing you would hurt me so much. You are my first friend." he closes his eyes and places his forehead on mine.

"I missed you so much Noll. Did you miss me?" I asked, closing my eyes, and rub my forehead against his.

"You made me an idiot." He whispers; I raised a brow, confused by his words.

"That doesn't answer my question. A month and two weeks are so long Noll. I never missed anyone so much in my life, not even my father." I whispered.

"I want us to go to the church tomorrow." He suddenly states. I open my eyes, to look up at him.

"Why?"

"For the queen." He tells me. I frowned, but nodded at him.

"Right, for her." I cup both of his cheeks and run my thumbs over his cheeks.

"You didn't miss me for just one second? I know you're a heart breaker, I know you hate women, and for the chances for you to feel the same for me, the chances are little to nothing." My heart broke at that. Noll stares at me, and then he moves to bend down.

"You're hot Mai." He whispers as he presses his big hand on my neck. I shivered, as I fluttered my eyes.

"I haven't been eating or sleeping well," I admit as I leaned on his shoulder.

"Answer me Noll. Am I the only one that feels this strong emotion? I know I'm a princess, but I don't want to be. I want to be just a simple woman that falls in love. I love you. I finally understand why you are poisonous to me. My heart knew it all this time, but my brain never understood it. Is so new to me. I'm afraid as well. You make me feel so weird at many levels. I should be afraid of you, but I can't get away from you." I whispered to him, as my breath hitched.

"You have turned me into an idiot," was all he said, as he wraps his arm around me.

"Why you keep saying that. Why are you an idiot?" I asked him. Noll smirks at me, as he suddenly takes a hold of my chin.

"Just am. Mai, you are my nightmare without words." He moves his head, as he presses his lips on my cheek. I groaned, fluttering my eyes close.

"Nightmare? Why?" he chuckles, as he moves, and presses his lips on my other side of my cheek. Then he pins me against him. I inhaled his scent, mix with pines and mining. I didn't mind, is earthy.

"You just are. Mai, I have thought over your question." He whispers as I look up at him.

"What question?"

"I accept." He whispers, as he ran his hand down my hip, and squeezed it. I moaned, leaning my head on his chest.

"What?" I was lost, and he's not making it any easier for me to remember. He breathes out, as he whispers into my ear.

"I accept to become yours." My heart flutters, as I look up at him, with wide eyes.

"You do, why?" I asked, not believing this. He chuckles, as he leans forward and feathery brush his lips against mine. I lick my lips, aching to kiss him. He wraps his arm around me and held me tight, as I wrap my arms around him, and held him tight.. His next words, made me stronger than ever. I finally had someone, someone to trust in… I wouldn't change it for the world.

..

...

"I'm an idiot because I fell in love with you."

A disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Hunt or Snow white.

Thanks for the reviews, hope i redeem myself, and Naru will explain later what really happen..