Happy Memorial Day everyone!
Here you go! I hope you enjoy this chapter. I'm really sorry for the late update. I was with my friend all weekend. I didn't have time to type it up.
Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt
Chapter 14: Remember
"Mai!" both Naru and Damien cried, running to catch her before she hit the floor. She folded easily into Naru's arms, fitting perfectly into his arms. Damien eyed him jealously before snapping back to reality. His best friend just fainted from what he supposed was lack of oxygen. "W-What's wrong with her?" he asked, his voice nearly cracking.
"I don't know," Naru admitted unwillingly, smoothing hair from her face and watching her intently. Her chest rose and fell shallowly and unevenly. His eyes were filled with worry as he tried to figure out the problem, even risking reaching out with his own power to stroke hers. It instantly recoiled from the darkness that surrounded it and her mind.
His eyes widened in horror. They shot to Gene who lay slumped against the table, his own breath coming unevenly. Naru shot out a hand and grabbed his brother's arm, shooting his power towards Gene's.
Gene's power, luckily, wasn't in such bad shape. It had already punched holes in the darkness that attempted to confine it, tightening its dark tendrils around the white ball of energy. Both struggled for dominance, shaking and vibrating in an effort to overcome the other.
Naru breathed a sigh of relief, pulling his hand back to cup Mai's cheek. He let his power reach out again, feeling it resist against his urge to reach hers. He closed his eyes, scrunching them closed. "Mai, don't allow him take you. Don't disappear. You're strong. You're strong," he thought, but didn't realize he whispered it outside.
The others glanced at each other at his words. Worry still shone in all of their eyes, but they knew this wasn't the place to be. Lin took over before Naru realized they'd actually heard him. "Masako, Ayako, Monk, go find John. If he'd still possessed, attempt to exercise him. The rest of you, help me carry Gene out to the car."
They didn't question his orders, jumping to their feet the moment they were given. Jessica, Damien and Yasu hurried over to Gene, each grabbing one of his legs and arms. Lin grabbed the last arm and they hauled him out of the room closely followed by everyone else leaving Naru and an unconscious Mai.
Naru laid Mai gently in a chair and sat down beside her to watch over her.
…..
I stared around at the darkness of my usual dream world. It wasn't completely usual though. It held a sinister feel I never felt hear. Why was I here anyway? I was never pulled into the world in such an… unnatural way. Something was very wrong, and I wanted to know what it was.
"Hello? Is anyone here? Gene?" I called out hoping either the ghost or Gene would appear. I really hoped it was the latter though.
When no one turned up I sighed. I looked around and ran a hand through my short hair. "I wonder if everyone is alright. I wonder what they're doing," I wondered aloud, beginning to walk since I had nothing to do stuck in this world anyway.
I let my mind wander. I jumped from Damien and Jessica, to John and Alice, and so on, touch on every member of our team. Last but not least I ended on the twins. My boyfriend and his brother. I was confused, not emotionally like I used to be, but my Masako's words. What did she mean by Naru wasn't the only one on the team with romantic feelings for me? And why did my mind immediately jump to Gene at that? Was it because he's Naru's brother and looks like him? Or maybe because I sometimes feel him watching me?
Sighing in frustration, I didn't hear the running footsteps heading straight towards me. I let out an ear piercing screech when a solid hand landed on my shoulder. I swung around, ready to attack, and instead, blushed in embarrassment. "Holy cow Gene, you scared the crap out of me," I said, attempting to cover up the fact that I'd just been thinking of him and his brother. That's when I noticed his expression. "What's the matter?"
Gene was flushed and fear hung heavy in his blue eyes. He breathed heavily as if it were painful to take in breath. Sure he'd been running, but both he and Naru had amazing stamina. A little run wouldn't have done that to him.
My heart began to thump with worry. "Are you alright? Did something happen? Are you sick?" I asked, sounding like a mother duck as I reached out a hand for his forehead.
He flinched away from my touch like a beaten dog. I let my hand drop back to my side.
Gene rung his hands nervously, his eyes darting this way and that. Gene was always the level-headed, calm one of our group. It felt wrong for his to be so nervous. "Mai, listen to me," he said quickly, his eyes focusing on me, "You have to stay away from me for the rest of this case. I'm trying to fight him, but I don't know how much longer I can hold out. You and the other girls have to stay together or just stay away from the school all together. Yeah, that'd be better." He began muttering under his breath to himself, his eyes straying from me.
"Gene!" I called, snapping him back to what he'd been telling me. He was acting like a recovering crack addict, and it kind of scared me.
"Right," he murmured, fidgeting again, "Stay away from me. Keep Alice away from John, and Masako and Ayako have to be careful around Monk and Yasu, and you, you have to stay away from me. You have to be careful around Naru. I'm not sure what the ghost is planning. He's expanding his horizon of victims and vessels. They're looking for people with power. So don't go anywhere alone. Definitely don't go to the bathroom by yourself." He giggled crazily before continuing. "Please, be careful, very careful. Please."
He eyes darted over his shoulder, growing even wider than they already were. "Remember what I've told you. Tell everyone else as soon as possible. I'll try to help you stay out of his grasp, but I don't know how much help I'll be. Be careful." He swooped down with his last words and pressed his mouth to mine.
I stood there frozen with shock. My eyes grew wide. My mind reeled. I had no idea I to respond to a kiss from someone else. Should I push him away? But I didn't want to hurt him. Should I just stand there? But that felt like a betrayal to Naru.
My mind didn't have to decide because Gene broke the kiss only seconds later. "I'm sorry," he whispered to me before turning and running back in the direction he'd come. He was quickly swallowed up by the darkness. I slumped to the ground, my cheeks rose red and my mouth hanging open.
…..
I woke with a gasp. Darkness pressed in on my eyes and my chest throbbed painfully with every beat of my heart. Was I still in the dream realm? I let out a groan as I tried to stand up from where I was sitting. My hand sunk into material and thin cushion. Obviously I wasn't in the other world anymore.
"Naru?" I called, reaching out with my hands to steady myself, "Naru? Are you in here?"
"Right here," whispered that soothingly familiar voice from just in front of me. Though a little sleepy, it was obvious who the person was.
"Naru!" I cried, falling into the place I thought he was standing. I was lucky and fell right into his open arms. I snuggled into his chest, inhaling his scent. His warmth soothed me, and I allowed myself to relax even with the pain centered in the middle of my chest.
"What happened? Are you alright?" he asked, taking my face in his hands.
I shook my head. "I don't know what happened, but I did see Gene," I told him and proceeded to explain what had happened.
Naru was silent for a few moments. "Alright. We need to contact everyone and have them meet us at your place. Do you feel up to making a few phone calls?" he asked wrapping a secure are around my waist.
I nodded.
Well, there you go. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I don't know when the next chapter will be up. Possibly Wednesday because I probably won't study for my finals xD those are Thursday and Friday. Review please!
P.S. ~There might be two new Legend of Korra fanfics headed your way soon
P.S.S. ~Happy Memorial Day everyone! Again :D