hioo
quite the dramatic cliffhanger from last chapter right? and yeap most of you know where am going but will try to do it in a way that is not that cliche xD
anyway, I took notice that I first started this story back at 2018, time really passed... 3 years already, wow. thank you for motivating me on writing the acclaimed "next chapter" every time I updated a chapter.
Don't forget to read the original from the author! I'm really jumping, mixing and eating a lot. Ono really did a great job with details, she deserves the support.
on with the story
"..."
"hello?" a woman with a kind voice asked.
Bright light illuminated the scenery for a moment as the woman's voice paused.
" -ah yes doctor. It's me, remember what I told you about my daughter Mai? yeah... it happened again, is this normal?"
Naru tried to focus on the woman's voice. He knew this wasn't a dream as it felt similar to when he used psychometry.
"I tried to keep an eye on her and... I really think she inherited her father's luck"
Naru blinked twice, this was Mai's and Gene's ability...He realized that he was watching an event from the past and that he was astral projecting himself in it. His mind that woke up completely was quickly making up hypothesis and the like but the voice brought his attention back to her.
"well... um today was her birthday, she just turned 12... and while she blew off her candle, she wished out loud for a week's worth of ice cream. No later than a minute an ice cream truck hit our mail box and as compensation he gave us a week worth of ice cream! that can't be a coincidence!"
Naru raised an eyebrow to the unexpected story he heard. The woman on the phone resembled Mai but her hair was dyed blonde and she looked way older...
'Could it be... Mai's mother?'
"yes, I will take her next week. I will make her believe that I have a cold and that I need her help for carrying my stuff in the hospital. Yes, yes. I will make sure she isn't stressed... what type of test will you do to her?"
Naru frowned, he walked closer to the place where the woman on the phone was leaning on.
'Gellerini research' was written on the business card prior the phone's number. His face instantly turned skeptical.
"excuse me... pardon me for asking, but that test sounds quite similar to electroconvulsive therapy. Will my daughter be alright? Having luck isn't exactly bad..."
'...did I heard that right?'
Naru's entire self stiffened... his surroundings wrapped and darkness covered his vision.
'wait-' he called out but stopped himself from talking further. A sound was coming his way.
splash *
they were loud steps on water and were coming towards his direction...
"Eugene?" his twin appeared right in front of him, causing him to utter his name out loud.
Gene raised his hand and placed it on Naru's forehead. He didn't say a word at all but simply did things quietly.
Naru tried to question his action but couldn't speak, Gene instantly pushed him backwards. His serious expression was the last thing he remembered prior loosing consciousness.
gasp*
Naru quickly sat down. The sound of a heart monitor machine at his right was annoyingly beating fast but his attention quickly focused on the person in front of him.
"calm down"
Lin placed his hands on Naru's shoulders.
breathing heavily, the boy quickly composed himself and inquired on the situation...
"what happened? where's Mai?"
"I knocked you out when you lost control... she's under Matsuzaki-san's care on the Yoshimi residence"
"I see... good" the teen replied with a bitter expression.
"...did you know?" Lin cautiously asked.
Naru raised an eyebrow to elaborate.
Seeing that, the chinese man hesitated slightly prior opening his mouth
"...she was used in a similar matter to a lab rat"
The black haired teen's eyes darkened prior closing.
"did she elaborate?" his voice was emotionless but Lin knew Naru was trying to control himself.
"with her current condition that was nearly impossible"
"tch... no, I didn't know... but I saw a past event... I used Mai's post cognition ability and saw her mother talking, she faked being ill to take Mai to the hospital. I don't know what exactly happened there. Gene interrupted"
"...why?"
"I would like to know that as well"
Lin sighed, that would mean they would need to wait until Mai recovered and she was ready to talk about it.
"I see"
standing up, the chinese man quickly went to ask for a doctor to have an update on Naru's condition.
being alone Naru took noticed that the bond remained hot...
he closed his eyes and sighed, a small headache was present.
in the process he recalled what he thought about Mai back at Vurado's mansion.
'I don't know anything about her, she's a mystery'
...
"hello Lin-san?" yes, no fever. mmm, the last time her body emitted light was more than 5hours ago. The bond really played its part on her condition. No, no signs of her waking up any time soon. How's Naru?"
Ayako shook the thermometer as she gave her report to Lin.
"ah that's great, thanks for the update. mmm? sure, we will go visit once she wakes up"
the miko quickly took the address and hung up with a "see you soon"
"how's Shibuya-san?" with his funny accent John inquired
"he just woke up, the same verdict as before overwork and anemia"
the blond haired exorcist nodded "if that's the case then it's just a matter of time for Mai-san to wake up"
"yeah, but you and that perv monk should take it easy. those shouldn't be overlooked"
Both John and Bou-san had their injuries weaved together (according to Bou-san's words). Bou-san just finished having his stitches removed yesterday and John the day prior yesterday.
"will do mate, thank you" John smiled as he watched how the equipment was already in boxes, ready to be loaded on the van.
Bou-san was sleeping after monitoring the entire night for any signs of activity. They could safely confirm that the case was over so they took the liberty of storing them.
Masako handled everyone a cup of tea and sighed while taking a look at Mai's hair. The fox ears still appeared whenever Mai felt pain
...
"Mai?"
"..."
The brunette slowly opened her eyes to the ceiling.
"are you alright Mai?" Masako asked again.
silent tears dropped from her dead like eyes...
Ayako guided Mai's limp body into a hug, she caressed her head and mumbled that everything was okay, that she could rest as much as she wanted.
reassured Mai closed her eyes and continued to sleep.
3 hours later Mai woke up.
"Ayako..." she called
"Mai! what's wrong? does it hurt anywhere? can you hear me?"
"yes but... I'm hungry" she begged nearly in a whisper
"seriously" Ayako puffed but smiled and nodded to the similar smiling girl that was wearing a kimono dress.
Masako nodded back. She quickly went to the kitchen and brought a warm soup for Mai
in the meantime Ayako checked the brunette's condition
"eat slowly... are you feeling alright?"
The doll like girl assisted Mai to a sitting position and gave her the bowl.
Mai nodded and slowly ate her food, by the time she was over her senses had completely returned.
setting her plate down she took a look at the bond. it was cold and it was pulsating, which Mai could interpret as Naru being annoyed.
"where's Naru?"
"he was taken to the hospital, he had a slight case of anemia and overwork" Ayako repeated her report to Mai
"we were told to go there, right?" Mai made a bitter smile.
"we can take our time, is not like they will discharge him right away" the miko puffed and Masako nodded.
"I doubt that, Naru is annoyed. We should get going"
"...but what about you? you hate hospitals right?"
"... yeah, but I'm not going there to get tested... I'm not alone either... I can manage to an extent..."
Ayako sighed and brushed her face with both hands
"I will remain by your side at all times"
"thank you"
the brunette girl was glad that the miko didn't question her further into her past. She knew they were all curious but now was not the time.
...
Mai leaned on Ayako as they made it to Naru's room, once again his name plate was missing.
knock knock*
"come in" Lin's voice answered. A blob quickly snuggled Mai as soon as she neared the door.
"yo! how you doing Naru-bou?"
"please excuse us" Synching the miko, John, Yasuhara, Masako and Mai said as they entered Naru's room. Yasuhara was actually discharged that moment, he had broken a few ribs and had to stay on the hospital until then.
Naru simply rolled his eyes to them and went back to his book. Already used to this, everyone made themselves at home.
Ayako lowered a paper bag onto the locker.
"I bought a melon. Do you want to eat it?"
"I don't want it."
"Eat it. You lack strength as it is."
Naru made a disgusted face with all his might, but didn't say anything in particular. Ayako, who held the trump card, was strong. As Naru started to make a sarcastic remark, he put his hand against his throat and coughed deliberately.
'ha!, he's good' Mai made a note to herself as she watched this over.
Ayako rolled her eyes, then diligently went off to do things like make tea and put the melon in the refrigerator.
monk asked Yasuhara.
"Are you going home now?"
Yasuhara shook his head in denial.
"Although I came here with considerable trouble, it would be boring. Even if I return to Okinawa after this, I can't work and it's boring to stay at home during summer vacation."
"It turned into an awful summer vacation." John made a troubled smile
"Well, thrilling summer vacations are the most interesting."
"Interesting?"
"Oh, yes. Because it's the end of it when you brag about being a part-timer at a resort hotel once during a party. In this regard, I can brag about participating in evil spirit purification and honorable injuries of battle until I become an old man."
"This feat of arms will be forever handed down. Uh-huh." monk clapped
With the exception of Lin and Naru, all of them laughed at Yasuhara, who was nodding to himself.
"That's why,"
Yasuhara said and pulled out a small book.
"What is it?"
"A Tourist map. Let's go out to play."
"Strenuous activities are forbidden, Yasuhara-san." Ayako called out from the back
'that's because his ribs are broken... should I heal him?' Mai asked herself
"It's fine. Because if I get tired, Takigawa-san will carry me."
'okay, nope, he's fine!' Mai smiled
Bou-san cried out.
"Hey, hey! No way!"
"Well, it was difficult getting to Noto from Okinawa."
"well you said it was interesting" monk smirked
Yasuhara feigned a faltering shocked pose.
"That's awful! I flew here for Norio!"
"and? did you hit your head? the monk asked right away
"You treat your noble love harshly."
"Hey, you!"
Yasuhara put both his hands to his chest.
"I think I'm in love. Look, I feel such pain in my chest."
"Hey!"
"It seems to have tightened, and moreover, it's unbearably itchy."
'...itchy? it's that how love feels like?' the brunette questioned it internally.
she watched Masako and John blushing
"On top of that, it's sweaty… maybe that's because of the corset."
'It's because of the corset?' Mai leaned her head in wonder, she turned to look at her boss
Naru stared at them, who were laughing loudly, with a look of amazement.
the bond pulsated as if to inquire on the conversation but Mai couldn't pinpoint what exactly was he inquiring, was he confused on the corset part? or the love part?
his eyes landed on her, she was about to blush when a doctor lab coat catched her attention by a corner of her eyes.
instantly her body stiffed and in search of comfort she instantly hid behind the closet person to her.
it was Lin. Her shaking hands grabbed the back of his shirt.
"..."
"..."
a brief silence was interrupted by Ayako's voice.
"any news on when will you be discharged?"
"...today" Naru narrowed his eyes to Lin.
Unknowingly to everyone else, Lin's shiki were snuggling Mai, they were making small comforting noises and cute gestures to distract her. Naru couldn't see them but he felt through the bond Mai calming down.
"really?" the miko asked sceptically
"that's right, I asked to be discharged"
Naru was hospitalized for 6 days and Lin as a matter of fact stayed behind to protect him
"mmmm you look quite pale but if Lin-san agreed then I guess you're doing way better than you look" the red haired woman nodded in understanding.
they continued to make light conversations until Mai had recovered herself to let go of Lin.
At a time like this everyone was like a temporarily put together family.
'Bou-san was the father, Ayako was the mother, Lin is the picky grandfather with kind pets. The broadminded eldest son and the steady, reliable second son are John and Yasuhara. The carefree and precocious daughters are me and Masako. And Naru is the willful youngest son (although he is slightly older than me). Look, it's really very suiting.' Mai thought to herself already forgetting that they were in a hospital.
smiling slightly, the brunette went and snuggled on Ayako's warm hug as soon as she stepped away from Lin's back.
"the equipment was packed and loaded up. Once we return to the Yoshimi residence we can depart after checking things up" Bou-san informed them as he messed with Mai's hair in an attempt to hide her fox like ears.
Nodding Naru closed the book he was trying to read and grabbed his clothes to change on the adjacent bathroom.
"he really wanted to leave huh?" Yasuhara commented. Taking a peek at Mai, a small smirk wanted to form but he prevented it from being noticeable. He didn't want Naru to know that he noticed it was due to Mai.
...
Hitting the road, Mai got a feeling that she should travel with Bou-san, her boss kept glancing at her direction as if trying to inquire something but he seemed to be putting it aside for later. Masako instantly grabbed the opportunity and went to Naru's van.
"are you giving Masako the advantage for this trip?"
"at this rate she will steal him from you"
the miko and monk teased
the bond went cold once Masako entered the van.
"well since Naru is moody I don't think she can. At least not today"
"ah you're right" Both of them agreed
they quickly got into the car as Lin had already started the van. with a quick good bye to the Yoshimi family the peaceful trip started.
...
"woah... I wonder what happened, Naru quickly ran out of the van" Monk's surprised voice woke Mai up.
she took notice that the bond was constantly shaking.
the brunette turned her sight to her boss, somehow she got a bad premonition... as quickly as Bou-san's car stopped, she got out.
Naru stood by the railing. The sound she heard back when he bend the spoon was back, this time it was louder...
Below them was a relatively large lake; or rather than calling it a lake, it should be a reservoir; in the distance Mai could see the concrete dyke.
Lin hurried down from the car and ran to Naru's side.
"What's up?"
There was no answer, it was as if their voices could not reach Naru's ears.
The black haired teen stood there as if he was confirming something, Naru opened his eyes wide and looked at the scenery in front of him.
"Mai..." Gene's sad voice echoed in the young brunette head.
"...huh? wh- ack" Mai fell to her knees..
"Mai?" Masako called rushing quickly to her side, Ayako instantly followed her.
"what's wrong? where does it hurt? Mai?"
Mai's eyes widened she rolled to her back disregarding the people around her.
She clenched her chest and stomach and cried out in pain.
Lin quickly turned to her and then back to Naru, his brows furrowed.
" – Finally – I've finally found it – " The black haired teen muttered as he clenched the rail.
"...wait... Is this the place?" Lin staggered... his eyes soon widened as thoughts organized in his head "sh*t"
the chinese man quickly turned around, Mai was re-living Gene's death.
With quick movements Lin quickly drew a symbol on Mai's forehead. The brunette was unable to breath. It looked like she was drowning. Her tears prevented her from seeing past her vision... all she could see was a car parking to her left after it had hit her and then the person who did it, put her inside a bag and then threw her onto the lake
She thought she would really die this time. Drowning was not something that could be healed.
"ah-"
air rushed through her lungs. Her nightmare of a vision quickly ended with a flash of red. The sudden sensation of her forehead with hot traces in it brought her back to reality
she quickly leaned to her right and threw up, all the water that got into her lungs.
what greeted her vision was the concerning gazes of the people around her
Naru on the rail was looking at her with the most surprised expression he had ever done, mixed in with guilt.
Mai grimaced, she turned to her side. With shaking hands she removed both Ayako and Masako's hands from her arms. they reluctantly let her go but her expressionless face refrained them from holding her again.
"you died that way"
Mai watched what other people even Masako couldn't... they could only see an empty place.
"... I see... No, am fine. don't apologize"
"Mai, who are you-?" Ayako began but Masako stopped her, she felt the presence even if she couldn't see it.
"that's her spirit guide"
" is that so..." a bitter smile settled in the miko's lips.
sighing Mai turned to face her boss.
"If this was your goal, does that mean you're closing the office?"
"... that's right. If you understand, you need to go back"
she turned to look back at Gene
"you heard him, am pretty sure that means am fired..." Mai began but instantly stiffened "eh? what do you mean?"
a scared like expression settled in her face
"what have you done! without my consent? what the heck do you mean with that? you have no right to decide that!"
"Mai?"
Masako called as she held her storming friend from standing up.
"Screw you! go, stay away! I don't want to see you agai- ugh... you- you still dare- ack"
"Taniyama-san?" Lin blinked, his ink was instantly erased from her forehead
Mai slumped, her trance like state was on. She dumbly ignored everything around her.
Naru felt a sudden coldness rush through the bond it was expanding rapidly.
Jerking from the rail he quickly went to grab Mai's hands and glared at the empty spot where Mai had screamed at.
"you crossed the line" his voice was emotionless but was strong in tone
Saying that, he skillfully sent an electric current through his hands and Mai gasped as she was brought back.
" Naru, don't let him do it. I can't, not again"
"I don't know what he is doing but I won't let him. so tell me what did he do?"
"He is using my manipulation ability... he wants to make it grow stronger so that our bond increases"
"huh?' Naru's pale complexion couldn't comprehend what she meant
"it's the same purpose... back then the doctor tried to increase my ability, he... he used drugs and tried to make me heal patients with incurable diseases, most of them died"
"... doctor? drugs? is that the reason you hate hospitals?" Naru picked information to clarify what he was hearing. Everyone else remained silent with both shocked and grimacing expressions on..
Mai nodded
"My mother had a cold, I was young... I wished hard to speed her recovery but the doctor saw me. afterwards the doctor tried to use drugs on my mother and I couldn't speed enough her recovery so he tested me and did various experiments. He wanted me to become stronger and I even went through electric sessions... When I was about to be electrocuted, I suddenly had a bad feeling so I wished hard that I could heal no matter what happened and as a result..."
"you got your manipulation ability" Naru complement, he brought a hand to his hair
"... I just want to... to-"
Mai slumped without finishing her sentence, she was exhausted, she just got out of a vision in her weakened state, it was natural to faint. She hadn't recovered from the last case.
"Lin, create a ward against him" Naru ordered
"understood" The chinese man had a complicated expression on, but he answered instantly
"I will hear what you have to say later. Don't think this is over" he called back to the empty space before moving to pick Mai up.
Naru carried Mai to the van, he was feeling bitter. Even after finding his long lost twin he couldn't help but feel there was something he was overlooking. 'why does Gene want to make Mai's ability stronger?'
Taking a pill from his jacket he drank it down in attempt to relief the sudden headache.
...
"why are you coming with a case after your trip to buy supplies?" Naru glared at the monk
"if this is our last time together better be worth it with a case to remember, don't ya think?"
"no"
"... would you change your mind if I told you that they would allow permission to search the lake if we take it?"
Naru halted from his retreat and turned to meet his eyes.
"why would you-"
"whatever is down there is important to you and it concerns Ojou-chan. Don't think much about it." he shrugged.
"is not like we have anything else to do either, we will help with what we do best" Ayako followed up.
"we will support you mate" John nodded
Lin gave a small rare smile and pulled out his phone at Naru's nodding gesture.
"... thank you" Naru whispered slightly but John, monk and Ayako heard him.
they all smiled as they watched him go towards the person requesting the case.
Masako turned from her spot next to Mai and inquired with Yasuhara whom was resting on the front seat of the van in an attempted to recover from his painful ribs.
"Do you know anything about this place?"
the teen smiled as he repositioned his glasses.
"nope but I can find out" he winked at her and instantly took out his phone
...
"is this a dream?"
Mai's eyes squinted at the brightness surrounding her.
Blinking she noticed she was in the middle of a forest facing the lake, she leaned into a tree. Suddenly feeling sad
"I'm sorry"
Gene's voice came from the other side of the tree
"is that all you will say?" Mai smiled sadly.
she looked down and both of her hands began to disappear. As if she was evaporating into the light
'I guess it's better this way'
:3
way different than the manga and novel xD
I know Mai's past wasn't detailed much, don't worry I have more to come.
see you soon!
special thanks to:
-DragonWarrior318
-distant33
-Chronos39
-Natasha Ocampo
-Jira03
-kallen21
-jillian malfoy
-Damaged Forest Spirit
-Chibi-Umaru
-CaitHawke4ever