CHAPTER 12: Sidestories 3: To Protect

TO EVERYONE: Thanks for reading and writing reviews.

DISCLAIMER: I.D.N.O.G.H

Tired…so tired…anyway, please read on while I get…a …quick …zzZZZZZZZZZZZZ…..

The red-haired little girl in a peach-colored dress watched as the male nurses wheeled out a woman in her mid-20. 'They' had told her that the woman would die that day and every time 'they' would tell something like that, she would stand at the patient's door until they're wheeled out of the room.

"Ayako-chan, let's go," the woman in a doctor's coat took her hand and led her out. As she passed by, she can hear the other nurses' gossip with each other.

"You've seen that?"

"Yeah I did. Every time the directors' daughter stands outside a patient's room, that patient would die after some time! Maybe she's a shinigami?"

"Hush! You'll be in trouble if they'll hear you!"

Ayako gripped her mother's hand tightly and as soon as they're alone she said out loud, "I'm not a shinigami! I'm a priestess!"

"I know, I know," her mom reassured her and smiled. "You're just like your grandmother. But I tell you this, Ayako-chan. I will not forbid you to talk to those who reside in that tree but I will ask you to stop telling us if a patient would die or stand outside of their rooms. Some people don't like what you're doing and others still don't accept anything that is related to the supernatural."

"But—

"No more buts! Now, why don't you go to your old friends? I still have something to say to your father before we go home."

"Yes mother," Ayako obediently and happily did what her mother told her. She ran through the hallways but abruptly stopped when she saw an old man staring outside the window when she passed an opened room.

"Why, if it isn't the little shinigami girl," the old man smiled had said it nicely but since it is Ayako, she had heard it in a different way.

"I'm not a shinigami!" she yelled as she charged inside the old man's room. "I demand you to take it back." She stomped her right foot while her hands are on her hips.

The old man chuckled from the sight. "My, my, you're a feisty little girl."

"I'm not a shinigami," Ayako said in a lower voice then putting on a pout.

"Ah, that's too bad then." The old man said as he gazed outside his window again. "I really thought I was going to die now."

Ayako tilted her head. "You wanted to die? Why?"

A light smile tinted the old man's lips. "I wanted to see my wife again."

"I'm sorry," she weakly apologized as she bowed her head lightly. She doesn't even know why she's apologizing in the first place.

The old man just laughed. "Don't worry about it. I guess I just miss her so badly, that's why I'm saying such things. I had always been in love with her for a very long time… Can you promise me something?"

"What is it?" Little Ayako climbed towards the edge of the old man's bed and sat down.

"When I'm about to die, can you wait outside my door just like what you do with those other patients?"

"Eeeh? B-But, my mommy said—

"I know it's too much to ask but, I think what you've been doing all this time is a pretty sweet and caring act." He smiled at the little red-haired girl. "Knowing that someone is waiting for you even in the afterlife and making sure that you passed on to a better place is a reassuring and calming thing but, you don't have to do it if you don't want to."

"I'll do it!" Ayako said with a determined expression.

"Thank you so much. You're such a nice little shinigami."

Ayako pouted. "I'm not a shinigami!"

The man laughed whole-heartedly. "Then what are you?" He continued to tease her.

"I'm a priestess!"

"My, my, my, that would be a tiring job when you grow up. There are a lot of spirits, and not all of them are nice."

"I know. That's why I'll do my best to purify them so they can move on in peace. Also, I'll become a doctor, too!" Ayako said cheerily. "So that i can help; not just spirits but also human beings."

The old man smiled. "I'm sure when you work hard enough; your dreams will come true."

"Yup! I will do my best to protect the persons I care about."

(TT-TT)

"Protect the persons I care about huh?" Ayako said while she slowly put down the picture frame of the old man and her. It was taken the day before the tree spirits had said to her that the old man was about to die. They had become friends and even though it hurts that he died, she was still happy because she knew he's with his wife now.

She gulped down the remaining whiskey in her glass as she stared nonchalantly at the horizon from her veranda. It hurts her too much though. She hadn't done a single thing to help Mai even though she had said before that she would do her best to protect the persons she holds dear.

"Reality is such a bitch", Ayako wearily chuckled. "But, I won't give up though. Until we haven't found Mai, I won't give up that easily."

(TT_TT)

The pink-haired high school girl with teary eyes stared up at the sky. Thoughts like, 'If I had only listened. If I had not been stubborn', this wouldn't had happened. Things wouldn't get so scary and frightening.

She had been reared from a family of ghost hunters, of which she had not been proud of. For her it isn't cool like other people would say. For her it's painful, always living a life of constant teasing and bullying of other kids of her age. But it had taken four precious lives for her to know that her family's profession is also something to be proud of.

Two days ago, a client came to their house in seek of assistance. The client's summer house was being haunted and a lot of people had already died. Of course, her family had agreed to help. She didn't want to go but their other family members were on a business somewhere else and they need all the help they can get which means bringing her with them.

They were five of them who went; her, her father, mother, uncle and cousin. That night, when they were preparing the things they would need, her mother had ordered her to pack more protective charms as usual because her mother had a feeling that what's haunting the summer house is very dangerous. But did she listen? NO. Because she was somewhat rebelling, she had only packed a few. And because of her stubbornness, only she had survived of that mission.

"Madoka, you need to stop blaming yourself," an old soothing voice said.

"Because it was really my fault, that's why I'm blaming myself baa-chan."

"You need to let go, child. Blaming yourself won't get you far. You'll only find yourself stuck in the past."

"Why don't you get mad at me?!" Madoka yelled. "Instead of lashing at me because I caused their deaths, all of you are being nice to me! Is this your way of making me feel guilty? Well, it's working!"

"That's not true dear. You know that's true," her grandmother soothingly said as arms wrapped around her. "Because we understand the pain you're going through. In our line of work, one single mistake can cause a life. What you're feeling right now, was the same thing I felt when your grandpa died."

"Huh? What do you mean baa-chan?" she asked as she wiped her tears away. "I taught oji-chan died from a heart attack?"

"Well, that information was conjured up by the policemen. As if my husband would die that way! He's very healthy and masculine at that."

Madoka can't help but smile. Even though she's feeling sad and angry at herself at the moment, just talking with her grandmother lifts her spirit up.

"I think you were in summer camp when that incident happened. We received a distress call from a client and knowing your grandfather, even though it's dangerous, he doesn't let any opportunity passed by. And being the stubborn person that I am even though I'm getting old and weak on my knees, insisted to come."

She watched as her grandmother paused for a moment. "Even to this day, I sometimes still blame myself for his death. If I hadn't insisted to come, he wouldn't have to protect me. I guess you could say this is human nature. We blame ourselves if a person close to us dies in front of us or not being able to help even if they're already struggling.

It took me a long time to recover, but without you, your parents, cousins, aunts and uncles, I wouldn't have the strength to move on. Life doesn't only give you roses but also thorns. Find the reason to move on and I assure you, you're not just going to get stronger but also, you'll be able to take on the pain."

Tears started to flow down with her grandmother's comforting words. She took a letter from her pocket and handed it.

"My, this is such a good opportunity. But isn't it too far? Even if it's the renowned Dr. Davis, it's still all the way to England."

"This is my resolve baa-chan. Even if it's too far away, I will accept Davis-san's offer. Even without PK, he had offered me to study under his tutelage. I will get stronger. I won't let anyone get hurt under my care. I'll protect everyone dear to me."

(TT-TT)

"Baa-chan, I hope you're listening." Madoka said as she sat down beside her grandmother's grave alongside her parents and other relatives' graves. "I did get stronger. But I guess it wasn't enough."

She chuckled as tears streams down her cheeks. "It hurts too much. Just when I had decided that no one will get hurt under my care I… I…"

Just when she finally gives up, a soft wind touched her cheeks. She smiled, even though tears continued to flow, and put her hands up in the air. "Yosh! Time to investigate. There's no way I give up that easily!"

(-_-)/

Waahhh!I'm sorry it took me a long time to update my story. I was very busy. I don't know if having tonsillitis is a good thing, but at least I had the time to update. I'm 100% sure there are many errors since I won't be having another free time to edit it. Oh, and sorry if this story is kinda rushed. So, my kawaii readers please review. If you have any questions just ask. I'll take time to answer them. And nope, I won't be answering the question if Mai is still alive. You have to wait patiently, ne? *wink*

Sayonara my lovelies! I need to rest now.