Disclaimer: I do Not own Ghost hunt or MaixNaru. :(
Chapter 14: Tango?
Mai Pov
(An Hour before the kidnapping of the shadow.)
"Stupid medicine." I shook my head as I felt lightheaded.
I somewhat lied to Naru, he's too worried and I don't like it when he is. To be honest, I want to throw up and my energy is almost gone from me. I don't know what type of medication Dr. Hina gave me, but is worse than what Dr. Yung gives.
I turned to face on my right where normally Naru would sleep, and run my hand through his side, missing him terribly and his warmth.
Almost two weeks and now I can't sleep without him next to me? Is this normal? Closing my eyes, feeling my world almost leaving me, I heard the door close behind me.
"So, want to catch up?" I heard Masako speak, feeling her sit on the edge of the bed and dip down.
Not really, I'm too tired, how about tomorrow?
I slowly turned and sat up watching her put on lotion on her hands.
"Sure, it's been some time, how is life, for you?" I questioned her as I leaned against the baseboard of the bed.
"Great, same old, filming different things and getting a big following on YouTube and Instagram. Also, I graduated last year, so college is going great," she said happily.
Oh, right, she had a head start, I don't know how she does it, she's almost as smart as Naru.
"That's good news, and your skin has gotten more beautiful, you know that," I complimented as she blushes at my comment.
"It is?" she touches her cheeks causing me to nod.
"It's glowing." I teased causing us to giggle.
"How about you? What have you been up to?" She asks, placing her leg on top of the mattress, looking excited.
"Oh, I'm about to graduate soon, so school work has been more about studying and doing some work here and there, so I got more free time. Besides that, I've been fine now came back to work with Mr. Stick in the mud." I teased causing her to giggle out more.
"He hasn't changed at all, still as cold, but so open with you," she said to me.
"Ah, well you know she rejected me last year, so might as well move on, but you think so?" I questioned her.
I squint my eyes when I began to see Masako doubled.
Oh no, I hope I don't pass out.
"Yes, but you think I might have a chance? I mean…. You have a boyfriend now so you being an obstacle shouldn't be a problem anymore." I froze at her words looking at her.
"B… boyfriend?" I question her.
"Yes, that cute boy you were with a month ago, I saw him with you," she said. I went still to slowly move in front of her.
"Which cute boy you saw me with?" I was now confused.
"The man with short dark brown hair, tall, and cute cheekbones," she said. I froze at his description.
"You saw me with him? When?" I felt my heart beating hard against my ribs.
"Oh, I was around your neighborhood since Lin called me up, so I went to get something to munch on, at the convenience store, and I spot you are going with a young man in the alleyway, I went after you, but I saw him hovering over you, so I put two in two together. He must be one hell of a kisser," she giggles, but my face drains.
"What makes you think we were making out?" I question her, she stops giggling and looks at me.
"It was obvious, he even pinned you against the wall, I was about to go in, but decided against it. I got very happy knowing that you moved on, and now I have a chance with Naru." she blushes as my stomach knots.
She could have gone and saved me.
I fist my hand and swallowed hard.
"Why didn't you go in and stop it?" I question her, she looks at me a bit startled.
"Huh? Why would I do that?" she looks confused.
"You think I'm that confident to be in an alleyway with a boy I just met to make out?" My voice is becoming thick tears welling up behind my eyes.
"Well, if you two are in love. To be honest, I got a tiny bit jealous," she suddenly said. I lift my gaze and couldn't believe what I'm hearing.
"What? Wait, why?" I was now shaking.
"I respect you Mai and I see you as my friend, but I do like Noll, and we dated a few times. I…. Think I got jealous of the fact that you could move on so fast and I haven't," she admits to me, and my mind is trying to progress this.
"You blackmailed him, but why didn't you come in, or take that picture and sent it to Naru?" I slowly stood up, feeling my stomach about to leave me.
"Wait, that's a bit harsh to say coming from you," I turned to look at her since she stood up again.
Well, it would have saved me, I wouldn't have that man tried to force himself on me and I wouldn't have run away and had that accident. She could have saved me if she decided to do so.
"Then why didn't you go in there and interrupted us Masako-chan?" I demanded.
"You two look like you're having some fun, so I left," she said as I felt tears threatening to spill.
"Then you have taken that picture and hurt Naru, I don't care, but you should have done something." I gasped out feeling my throw-up going up, not sure what happened, but the next thing I knew Masako's hand slap me across my cheek.
"How dare you say that, I know you two aren't on good terms, but hurting Noll's feelings like that I will never play around. Leave Mai!" she throws me out. I swallowed hard and turn to look at her trying hard to not cry.
"Sometimes is not what it seems Madoka-chan, I hope you understand that."
I rushed out of my room, headed for the bathroom, to throw up inside the toilet.
Lifting my head, gasping hard, I began to cry, now regretting my words.
I shouldn't have said that but…. Why are these things are happening to me? What did I do? It's not her fault either, she didn't know.
….
...
...
(Present Time after kidnapping,)
I tried my hardest, trying to comprehend the situation right now, my nails digging into the soil, trying to stop the dragging while my right leg is suspended up as the shadow dragged me down to the woods. My palms became bloody and fear consumed me.
It stopped raining, but everything is wet around me and it was raining hard.
I closed my eyes to begin to do the nine cuts that Ayako -chan showed me, but it's been so long since I have last done it, so I'm praying deep in me that it works.
"Rin-Pyou-Tou-Sha-Kai-Jin-Retsu-Zai-Zen." I turned and it did nothing, instead, it pissed off the ghost and he violently thrusts me, hurting my back even more. I let out an agonizing cry when the instincts of surviving kicked in and I tried again, this time concentrating, even more, I began to do my nine cuts once again.
"Rin-Pyou-Tou-Sha-Kai-Jin-Retsu-Zai-Zen." there I can feel energy escape me and the shadow guy lets go of me dropping my foot.
Ignoring my pain I stood up and began to run away from the ghost guy, heaving hard.
I need to find a place to hide until Naru finds me. I stopped heaving hard, I spot a large tree trunk a few feet away from me, so I rushed to it, now getting scrapped due to the fact I lost my slippers back there. I finally reach it and leaned against the tree breathing so hard, that my throat felt on fire.
Swallowing hard, I can hear movement behind me.
"Come out, come out!" his voice is dark, almost demonic sounding, but all I knew is that I had to run away and find safety.
Looking around with the little light I had, it was so hard to tell what is in front of me, but I think this place is very familiar to me.
I can feel the ghost coming closer to me, so I began to run once again when I stop to see the woman with white hair appear in front of me causing me to stop in my tracks.
"Please help me!" I begged her as she gave me a sad frown and shakes her head. I felt my heart, which is beating so hard, drop to my stomach when suddenly my eyes widen to feel a cold hand wrap around my mouth pulling me into a cold chest. My eyes widen in pure fear as he leans into my ear.
"You see her? I didn't touch her, but he did…. I didn't kill her, I loved her too much. See," he turns me around and my eyes watch the sky turn into daytime, and a tall man is in front of me, with broad shoulders, his hair is long with a ponytail, but he didn't look young, almost middle age or about. I couldn't see his face, but he was putting gasoline on something since he held a can and the gasoline smell penetrated my nose.
"See, what she went through."
I found myself on the ground, that man over me while he drenched me in gasoline. I could barely see anything or move, but I can see his shadow body hovering over mine, and feel every pain she is in.
"It wouldn't have come to this if you only listen to me. I didn't know, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to kill you, but you drove me crazy…. No one wanted you, but I did, but you didn't. I warned him to not go with Erity, if he listens to me, then you wouldn't be in this predicament."
I can feel disgust and anguish in this body, as though he did something to this girl, more than just killing her. I can feel hurt all over my body, and among other places. I let a tear run down my cheeks as the man stood up and takes out his lighter and rolls it to ignite the fire.
Naru, I'm not going to see you again. I'm going to die again and I won't see you again. No, he'll be sad right? he already lost his brother, but will he be sad if he lost me too? But it hurts, that I won't see him.
"Don't worry Emica this is between us," and he throws the lighter my way, my heart stops as this agonizing pain scorched my body…
"AHHH!"
…...
...
...
I jump out of the scene, violently shaking as I look up to see the woman crying towards me. I fall to my knees, feeling dirty, feeling hatred and so much hurt. I lift my gaze to see the shadow that took me, take Emica's hand, and held it gently.
"Give us justice please…." and both of them left, leaving me alone on the cold, wet ground as the rain picked up again drenching me to the core.
My body aching, and even though I didn't feel Emica's pain, her flesh burning, or the disgusting thing he did to her, I can vividly remember it.
I have no idea how long I lay on the ground motionless, but I was scared to move.
"MAI!" I heard my name being called out from my far right.
Someone is calling out for me.
"He came for you, go to your right." I heard a woman's voice whisper into my ear. I open my eyes to see the sun slowly coming into view in the dark skies, but not yet sunrise.
Slowly I stood up, not sure how, but I manage to use a bark tree for support and leaned against it, breaking a cold sweat. I can feel drenched with mud, and cold, and my body was trembling.
"I'm here," My voice is so weak that it cracked, opening my eyes, I look around and on my left, I took notice that I'm facing the same blocked cave that Naru and I found earlier this week.
So he killed her here, but… how did her body get into the cave?
"Mai!" I turn to my right to see Naru heaving hard with a flashlight at hand.
He came for me. I felt this relief washing over me.
"Naru!" I gasped out as he runs towards me, so drenched like last time. I somehow did the same, almost numb to pain, and slam myself into him, as he wraps his arms around me. I can feel him kiss the side of my head, rubbing my back.
"Mai," he said in relief holding me tight, feeling his heart running so fast as I trembled in his arms and let out a loud cry of pure agony as the memories resurface in my mind.
"Mai?" he looks so worried about me.
"Naru," I heard behind him, Naru turns to look I think it was John's voice.
"I found Mai, but she's not in a good condition, I'm taking her to the clinic." I heard Naru speak.
"Oh, thank God, then let's go," he said, Naru nods and looks down at me.
"Mai, don't worry you're going to be fine," he tells me. I raise my gaze and stare at him.
"He violated her, he burnt her. He… hit her… he killed her….. He is a monster. He…. I felt it… I felt the flames. I….. I felt her pain, her disgust, and….. It was horrible." I was losing my mind at this point.
Naru's eyes narrow.
"Mai, it's all in the past…. I know it's not easy, but don't think about it," he tells me as he cups my cheeks, as the tears kept going down my cheeks.
"I…. want to get her justice…. He's a monster…. He…. He didn't care about her at all… Naru… I feel dirty…. She felt hopeless and dirty. I…. Hate it." I took a hold of his hand, but he winces catching my attention. I took his hand once again and with the rain, I can see blood running down his hand. My heart clenched, hating that Naru got hurt.
"You're bleeding," I cried out more since I was a mess, Naru wrap his arm around me and pulls me close, making my heart skip a beat.
He's right, but... I need to confirm this, I need to forget, I have only been with Naru, at least with the kissing and touching, which my body loves. I love him.
"Naru," I barely spoke, causing him to look down at me, and I cup his cheeks and press my cold lips on his, his brows shoot up as I closed my eyes and began to move my lips against his, but he pulls back looking at me as I opened my eyes to look at him, half disappointed that he stopped our kiss. His eyes become dark, almost
"Sorry, I... I had to..." but Naru pulls me into his embrace and claimed my lips, giving me a deep, powerful kiss, almost devouring me as our bodies molded together while the rain kept drenching us. I run my hand up to the collar of his jacket and pulled him closer. As this new sensation overcame me, the whole feel of anguish, hurt, and disgust, was replaced with love, love, and being treasured on so many levels.
Naru's kiss was gentle but rough, desperate, but longing, yet I can feel his love for me. He was driving me crazy, feeling his hand rub my back, my knees turning weak by the second.
Slowly pulling back, Naru began to kiss my cheek multiple times, causing me to lean into him closing my eyes as I place my hand on his cheek, breathing hard. I can feel happy and alive, above all loved.
"H... How do you feel now?" He asks breathlessly, I felt so light head, but my heart was feeling as though is about to explode with this love.
"Naru…. I… am… in love with you, I love you so much, I thought I would never see you again." I said in one shot, but before he could answer me, everything went dark and my body goes down.
"MAI!"
…..
...
...
It was fuzzy, to be honest, all I remember is being escorted out of the van to a room, and sleep a lot, and being in pain. My hands hurt a lot and I barely could move for the last three days, until this morning when I felt better.
Naru hasn't left my side only when he has to change and go use the bathroom, so Lin has been updating everything. Masako has been avoiding me for some time and I don't blame her, I have no idea how to confront her, but I need to apologize to her. Luckily everyone in the hut has been protecting Masako-chan, so we are at ease with that.
My palms are badly scrapped, so I can't use my hands like that. So far the nurse has been helping me bathe and change my clothes.
"Good news!" Naru spoke while he enters my room with a black bag at hand.
I couldn't help but stretch my arms for him as a little kid, feeling excited to see him.
"You brought me food," I teased causing him to look at me.
"That is called exciting news Mai, not good news," he teased back, causing me to roll my eyes.
"Then give me excitement over here," I said seriously.
He's been so sweet, but when the others come to visit, he becomes his old self, which I understand.
"What is it?" I asked as he came up to me, and placed a bag on top of the seat that is near my bed. Naru sits on the edge of my bed causing and he scoops me into his arms, rubbing my back as I held him tightly.
"You can come back home tomorrow morning," he said as I nodded in happiness.
"Great, no more doing nothing," I said happily, not taking notice of the worried look he gave me since I lowered my gaze for a second to look at my bandaged hands.
"Missed me?" he asks, causing me to nod, looking back at him and kissing his cheek.
"I always miss you Naru, always," I said as Naru smiles, his eyes becoming so tender instead of icy, and leans forward to kiss my forehead causing me to blush as my heart fluttered.
"Well, I can come back tomorrow," he stated as I grab his injured hand with my good hand and inspect his patched hand, he had to get seven stitches. I rose it and kissed it gently, well on top of the bandage of course.
"Alright, just don't cry to me if you miss me," I teased, not sure why I felt giddy today with him, causing him to roll his eyes.
"Here I wanted you to miss me more," he admits causing me to look at him.
"Then come tomorrow and I'll let you know," I pointed behind him, but he kisses my cheek.
"Can you bear it?" he asks, causing me to shake my head, then I let out a loud giggle.
"Why are you laughing?" Naru asks, feeling him brush my hair behind my ear, as I lift my gaze at him.
"Because we are turning corny,"
"Oh?" he rose a brow now looking concerned as he lowers his hand.
"Is that a bad thing?" he asks, causing me to lower my hands and leaned forward to kiss the tip of his nose.
"For others, it might be, but for me, no, I like it, I like it very much," I admit watching him relax a bit.
"Never thought our relationship would be labeled as corny," he shakes his head causing me to frown.
"Is that a bad thing?" I repeated the question back to him, causing him to shake his head.
"I find it fun, to be honest," he admits, as I tilt my head.
"You do?"
"Yes, it's different,"
"How is it different?" I asked him now a bit confused as he grabs my hands and held them gently.
"It's different because I know you too well, it has a sense of pureness instead of lustful, and I can be myself." he simply replies.
Pureness? Well lustful? So far all I want to do is to kiss him and hold him and be there for him. I... Oh no, I haven't thought of that, it's too early for us. Plus, he hasn't told me he loved me, and I want to marry him by going down the aisle first. It is as romantic as the books and shows show. Wonder if John can marry us like that.
My face shoots up from the thought causing Naru to furry his brows together and then stand up.
"What in the world are you thinking of?" he asks me as I cover my face with my hands.
"Nothing." My voice becomes high-pitched.
"Sure, I believe that." he goes up to the bag he placed down, and opens it when the door in front of me opens up and Lin enters with a small bag at hand.
Naru bought more things?
"Lin-san," I smiled at him, causing him to bow at me.
"Here you go Noll, some soap and toothpaste, and I have great news."
"Is it national good news today?" I said, causing Naru to look at me and arched a brow as Lin does the same.
"Don't know, but I wanted to update you that the window got fixed again," he explains.
"Window? What broken window?" I asked, confused.
"That night Naru broke the front window since the shadow locked all doors and there was no way out," he explains. I look at Naru as he stops messing with the bag to keep looking at Lin, not happy that he told me.
My heart clenched at the thought.
"He was that worried?" I question Lin, as I turned back to him.
"You should have seen him, even though he didn't speak a word, he was beyond worried, didn't even care about his hand." Lin shakes his head after he explained and I felt my heart flutter even more, as this warm feeling passes through my body. I press my hand on my chest, trying to calm down my heart.
I can't even imagine it, but... He would go to that length to protect me, I... I'm so stupid for doubting it for a brief second.
"That's why you got that cut, you aren't going to do that again," I scolded.
"Well, last time I checked, I'm your boss,"
"And last time I check I'm your wife, my words go beyond yours in this case." I scolded him while he just give me a dark look of annoyance making Lin chuckle.
"Can't argue with that," Lin said. I giggled, taking Naru's fingers and swinging his arm gently. He turns to look at me, but his gaze softened.
"Leave him be, so how are the others, they haven't come yesterday or today?" I asked Lin-san.
"They are fine, they miss you, but they have been working hard on the case," Lin said as he places the bag on top of the chair next to where Naru left him.
"I have to go back and I will pick you up around ten in the morning tomorrow," Lin said, I nodded as Naru turns to look at him.
"Have a good trip back Lin-san," I told him, he nods and he waves goodbye to Naru. After leaving, Naru resumed with whatever he was going to take out of the bag. I eyed it closely.
"What did you bring me?" I felt excited.
"What makes you think is for you?" he asks seriously as he takes out a bowl with a lid on and a blue thermos. I frowned and slowly leaned back on my bed.
"Well I'm a patient, and all I had is clinic food. I'm surprised that they had kept me here for this long. Normally we have to go to the hospital."
"That's because this is an emergency room, they only have two for dire situations. Since the roads were once again blocked due to the storm that night, they had no choice but to keep you. Oh, I got a call earlier today," he said, as he places the bowl on top of my roll table along with the thermos.
I can smell the aroma vaping out, causing my stomach to growl. Naru rose a brow, but kept it to himself, as he takes out a spoon.
"Oh, who?" I asked him as I kept my eye on his food.
"Yasuhara, he's going to join us," he said to me as he sits next to me, pulling the table closer to me.
"Really? I miss him a lot, oh this is so good news, and what about Ayako-chan?" I asked him.
"She'll be coming soon, she had a family emergency that's why she couldn't come. About Miss. Hara." He stops when he gets rid of the lid, and I look forward to seeing rice with curry. I licked my lips, aching to eat that. Yet his last words made me look up at him.
"Oh no, did you scold her? Please don't, it's my fault I shouldn't have said that to her. To be honest Naru," I watch as he takes the spoon and plays around with the food a bit, and scoops it up, my eyes looking at the food while I licked my lips. Yet, I watch him take a bite out of the food and began to chew. I pout, not like this.
"Do you think I'll scold her?" he questions me after he swallows, and then he takes another scoop, my eyes following the food, as my stomach growled again.
"You're blunt Naru, yes, you would, but I told you it was my fault. Plus, I wasn't feeling too well, the medication was messing with me so I was so sensitive that day. I'm sorry, I lied to you, and I know I have to apologize to Masako-chan for pushing it." I told him honestly as he froze on the spot to look at me.
"I see," he simply said as he ends up taking another bite out of the food. I slump my shoulders, giving up.
Well, then I think he's teasing me right?
"You're a jerk,"
"I am?" He asks nonchalantly, as he places his spoon down and grabs the thermos, and opens it, to blow on it to take a sip.
"You're eating in front of me and I'm starving," I told him.
"I told you is not for you, I was honest, and didn't you eat breakfast?"
"That wasn't breakfast, it was a mushy soup with bad milk. I know they are a small clinic, but at least they can do is update or make good food with the little they have. I've done it when I had barely anything in the fridge." I sigh, now feeling bad, but Naru lifts his hand to grab the spoon and scoops it up.
I watch as he takes it to his lips to take another bite, but then pulls away and hovers it in front of my lips.
"My hand is falling asleep Mai," he said as I blinked a bit surprised, but I opened my mouth and he sticks the spoon in. I took a bite, and he pulls the spoon out, and I began to chew. My eyes widen at how good this taste.
"Hmm, where did you buy this at?" I said peaking at the food, as Naru went to get more.
"Chew first Mai," he said as he lifts the spoon, I swallowed and again he feeds me.
"I made it earlier today," he said to me. I froze, looking at him.
"Wait, how and you know how to cook?" I asked surprised.
"I borrowed the downstairs kitchen and taught them how to upgrade their cooking. Also, I told you last time when you were cooking that I know how to cook, Ma had Gene and I take cooking classes when we were younger," he said as I took another bite, loving each bite.
Oh, right, he did, stupid medication, had me woozy that day. Oh, he was so sweet, he taught them how to cook different things. That means he knew I didn't like the food even though I didn't complain until now. He opened up again, so He and his big brother took a cooking class.
I almost fangirled at the imagination of Gene and Naru together with cute aprons together ready to cook.
"How adorable," I squealed, taking his hand and squeezing it gently.
I wrap my hand around his and held it tightly
"Mai?" he questions my odd behavior as I move my eyes towards him.
"I like it when you open up the small things you did with Gene, it makes you feel warmer and more intimate, and I'm honored that you trust me enough to tell me these things, it means so much for me since I love Gene as my big brother," I honestly told him, feeling my tummy with butterflies. Yet his gaze made me shut my mouth, not liking his stare.
"Sorry, I didn't want to stir any ailments, but that's how I feel Naru," I lowered my gaze as Naru rolled his eyes at me, and rose his hands to grab my cheek and pinch it gently, causing me to look up at him a bit surprised by this and confused since he was just giving me a cold stare.
"Darn, I missed my chance on scolding you," he playfully said, as he lowered his hand to spoon-feed me once again.
I was a bit shocked by his teasing voice.
"You're not mad?" I questioned him.
"I'll punish you later, " he simply said while he hands me the thermos.
"Hmm, then okay, while is not my paycheck," I told him, causing him to shrug at me.
"Let's see," I'm not sure if he was teasing me or not, but I felt a sweat drop.
Yeah, he would do that.
I took it and drank it, but I was surprised it wasn't tea, but warm milk.
"Warm milk?" I question him, looking down.
"Your back is not in great condition after that attack Mai. Dr. Hani told me that drinking milk will help you with your bones," he explained, as I frowned at him.
"Oh. Well my back is stiff that is for sure and it hurts more since she switched my medication, but at least I don't feel weaker or want to throw up. I can't win either or, wait, did the others know?" I questioned, feeling worried.
"No, I'm not going to blab about your condition until you give permission Mai." He said lowering his gaze towards my lips.
"Thank you, same here, I won't say anything." I smiled, feeling touched by this when suddenly Naru inches closer to me. My heart began to beat fast against my ribs, as I grab a handful of my blanket.
I confessed to him, but he hasn't told me anything back, well I've been sleeping a lot, so that is maybe why.
Yet, I'm afraid I messed something up, but I couldn't control myself. He made me forget, but I get nightmares now, endless cycle this has been.
"Naru… I…" but I was cut off when Naru leans forward and my eyes were wide when he pressed his lips on mine sucking the top of my lip and sending chills down my spine. I subconsciously closed my eyes, kissing him back, smiling in between, loving this too much. I run my hands up his shoulders towards the back of his head, running my fingers through his soft hair.
I began to see stars once again, feeling as though I could float, never thought that Naru can make me feel so good, is almost indescribable this newfound feeling. He pulls back, licking his lips as I opened my eyes, still wanting to kiss him as both of us breathed a bit heavily.
I hiccuped once again, feeling my cheeks turning hot.
"Why…. Why did you kiss me?" I asked shyly as he smirks, but his cheeks turn pink as well.
"You had milk on your upper lip," he simply said, causing me to look at him not believing this.
So he kissed me because I had a milk mustache. I'm not sure if I should feel happy or not.
"Oh, thank you… Um… about what I told you that day…" I began feeling nervous now that I lowered my head.
"That you love me," he said bluntly. I raise my gaze, giving him a startled look at how easily he said it.
"I… I mean it. I realized that I never stop liking you. Yet after I married you and spent time with each other, I realized that I am in love with you, my feelings never died. I'm not sure if it's too fast or is it normal… But we have known each other for two years now, and we know our habits and our backgrounds and we still need to learn a lot more from each other. So is not like I'm falling in love with a stranger." I felt as though my nervousness grew by the second as Naru kept staring at me, not just staring, but with this intense stare that he could see right into my soul once again.
He's hard to figure out, is he going to reject me once again? Oh did I mess it up? Is he disgusted by me?
I could feel my heart pounding hard against my ribs because of how nervous I felt around him.
Minutes ticked by and he just kept staring at me, now my palms sweating, that I have to rub them against the sheets to get rid of it.
"Naru, say something," I finally snap at him. He came very close to me, our faces inches apart, feeling my heart beat with anticipation, but I learned a bit back swallowing hard.
Please say you love me as well, don't reject me like last time. Or I can do a like-me, that's better than being flat-out rejected like last time.
"Mai I Lo..." but he was cut off when the door opens and Naru's eyes narrowed and turn behind him and I groaned throwing myself back and covering my face with my hands.
"Am I interrupting something?" Lin asks a bit startled.
I can't believe this.
"Why no, it is not the first time you did," Naru grunted in frustration.
"Why!" I grunted in frustration and pain shot through me since I forgot about my back pain. I let out a small cry as Naru turns to me and frowns.
"Why are you back?" Naru asks, clearly you can hear the annoyance in his tone.
"Well sunshine, I was halfway driving when I remember I left my phone inside of the bag, I apologize for whatever moments you were having," Lin explains as he goes up to the bags and searches inside.
"Sorry Lin-san, Naru isn't mad at you," I said, causing Naru to sigh.
"Yes," he simply said as he stands up and goes up to me.
"I know, if he was, trust me, I would know," Lin assured me, making me sigh in relief, looking up at my husband.
He places his hand on my lower back and began to rub it causing me to relax. He was staring at Lin, but it didn't look like he was really mad at him, but a bit annoyed that he disturbed us. Knowing Naru he can't be mad at him for too long.
"Oh, Mai and Noll, I forgot to tell you both since Noll had me running to do errands earlier." Lin began.
"Yes?" I question as he goes up to me.
"I gave the information to Yasuhara and he sent me a report an hour ago. The only Emica reported one that use to live in the village, was a twenty-two-year-old woman, that went missing around the same time that the Jane Doe body was found, but no one could have confirmed it. She was born in 1972 and lived with her parents, but her parents died in a car accident when she was eighteen. There's little about her, but from what Yasuhara researched, she use to be a normal girl until the accident, then her background vanished. As for Erity, well as Officer Stan told you, is all true. Nothing much on her either, only that she had a fiance, they were madly in love with each other. Oh, and we are currently trying to figure out more about the fiancee."
Lin explains.
"Thanks, but are Emica and Erity sisters?" I questioned him.
"Not that I know of, both didn't have any relatives," he answers me.
Weird, both kind of look the same, so they can't be twins then.
"I'm sure is the same person, that monster burnt, I felt it, felt her fear, her pain, what he did to her, and her last moments." I trembled from the memories, as I wrap my arms around my head, lifting my legs.
"Mai, I'm sorry, I…" Lin looks worried, but Naru turns to look at him.
"I'll handle her, thank you, Lin, you may go back." Naru orders, Lin nods as I closed my eyes as the memories came back to me, feeling the fire ignite in me, that my body automatically jolted.
"Mai!" Naru wraps his arms around me trying to calm down as tears began to roll down my cheeks.
"It's alright, it's alright." Naru rubs my back, as I held onto his shirt, pulling him tightly.
"It's fine Mai, its' fine," he whispers, but I shook my head.
"No is not, not until we get her justice."
…..
...
...
After Lin left, nothing happened since then, Naru rubbed my back and I fell into a deep slumber and woke up the next day only to have Dr. Hani guides us to a room on the first floor, a bit in the back rooms.
"Tango?"
"Yes, tango, it will help you with your back and do basic, remember this basic movement in your back. Since I had time to study your condition, it's concluded that your bones are healthy, but you have a simulation of a victim of a fracture back, but your back does swell up. Thus, it becomes so painful for you to even walk at times." Doctor Hani stated.
"Yes," I said as we stood in a small empty room, with a few pieces of types of equipment for therapy.
I like this place, but it needs an upgrade or to make this place bigger, the people here are so nice and know what they are doing.
"So I will teach you two some moves, and more for Shibuya since he will be supporting you, so you can release some of the pain," she said. I turn to my right to see Naru rolling up his sleeves, and my heart began to run wild of how handsome he looks, he has changed a lot, he looks more mature for a nineteen-year-old.
I swallowed hard as I looked down at myself, I'm wearing a light blue dress that Dr. Hani picked out for me since I'm leaving in two hours. My hair is wavy and I was wearing a small amount of lip gloss.
"But tango?" I asked, she shrugs at me.
"I'm a romantic and trust me it will help, and since you got a young husband by your side, it will work out, tell me, Shibuya, have you taken a dancing lesson before?" she asks him, he turns to look at her.
"I have, for a year," he said, I blink surprised at that.
"Isn't there anything you haven't done?" I question him, causing him to look at me and he shrugs.
"Learning is part of life, isn't it?" he simply said to me.
"Great, so have you done the tango?" she asks.
"I picked it up along the course," he stated.
"That's so great so I can just do a refresher for you and you can guide Mai a bit more."
"I can," he said as he rolls his shoulders and walks up to me. I felt super nervous as Dr. Hani claps her hands.
"Then, one..." but her words are cut off when her cell phone rang interrupting the lesson. She takes it out of her white coat breast pocket and her eyes narrow.
"I have an emergency, Shibuya, I will leave it to you then, I'll come back later to check, the radio is by the door " we both nodded at her and we watch her leave.
Naru grabs my hand and guides me towards the door and he messes with the radio until the music began to play, a piece of swaying music, that sounds old fashion, but good to bad I couldn't understand it since it's in English.
"That's beautiful," I said as Naru turns and walks.
"It is," he agrees, as he stands now in front of me.
I took a breath as Naru grabs my hand and place it over his and wrap his other arm around my waist, as I placed my hand on his shoulder.
"So you know?" he asks,
"I have seen people dance before, so I know more or less, but be warned, I will step on your toes," I said as Naru nods.
"Trust me, I know, just keep your eyes on me, and feel my body okay," he said causing me to swallow hard. I nodded and kept my eyes on him as he began to move, and I follow along.
His big hand rubs my back gently and I leaned my head on his shoulder, going back and forth, at times I step on his shoes, but he just shook it off, and continue to help me.
"I don't think this is tango," I giggled, feeling his shrug at me, now feeling more relaxed, after some time.
"Don't care," he simply said as he kept me in his arms, gently going back and forth with the beat of the music. Then he grabs my hand and pulls me back gently and I stretched out, and he pulls me back into his embrace.
I don't know why, but this feels like heaven, dancing with him, feeling his body close to me, holding me so intimately. I lifted my gaze as we kept dancing, so smitten by him, that I had a smile on my lips.
"Did that hurt you?" He asks me. I shook my head when he leans down and press his lips on mine, giving me a chaste kiss and making me smile, even more, returning the small kiss.
"Feels nice, to be honest," I admit as he spun me around, facing my back towards him. He wraps his arms around me, holding my hands and we sway back and forth as I closed my eyes, leaning into him. Naru leans down and kisses my shoulder since my dress is a spaghetti strap dress once again. It doesn't show a lot of skin, but enough, and I shivered, melting into him, as he closed his eyes, leaning his head against mine.
"How did you learn to do this?" I asked him, feeling his soft breathing against my skin.
"Madoka taught Gene and me," he admits to me, causing me to open my eyes, and turn my head to look at him as the music began to die down.
"You two did everything together?" I smiled, loving this again.
"About, but we had our own interest, so not all the time," he admits to me. I turn my head and kiss his cheek.
"That's good to know, have you never danced with any girl? Or Gene?" I asked, and he nods at me.
"Gene is more the lady man, so of course, and I have," I frowned at his honestly, but he lifts my arm and twirled me around causing me to go back to his embrace, placing my hands on his broad chest feeling his hands on my stomach, rubbing it gently. I lift my gaze, getting lost in him, my eyes just focusing on him.
"I'm sure they are better than me," I said as he shakes his head.
"They are way better dancers than you Mai, that is true, but..." he takes my hand and lifts it to press a small kiss on the top of my hand, and bows a bit, driving my heart crazy.
"But is all professional dancing and learning, but with you, is different," he said as he lifts his gaze. My heart pounding harder and harder, as his eyes looked deep at me again, searching for my soul.
"How am... I different?" I questioned him feeling lightheaded and nervous.
Is he going to confess now? Please, God, please, no interruptions.
"I can be freer without restricting myself, and..." he paused, swallowing hard.
"And?" I pushed, feeling my heart now hammering against my ribs, while my palms fist his shirt, from the anticipation once again.
"I want to tell you, that I'm madly in lo..."
"There you two are," we heard Lin-san causing our eyes to widen and Naru lets go of me, I threw my arms up as Naru lowers his head.
"SERIOUSLY!" we both said at the same time as we both turn to see Lin and Bou-san enter the room. Naru and I had a sweat drop behind our heads as to how ridiculous this is. Yet the worried look on Bou-san and Lin caused us to go back to business mode.
Naru and I turned to look at each other,
'Something happened,' both of us said at the same time as Naru came up to me, placing his hand around my back, he guides me towards the other.
"What happened?" Naru asks as I nodded, feeling worried.
"The Chief..."
"What about the chief?" Naru and I said in unison.
"Well, he's here and wants to talk to you Noll, he's pissed about the fact that Miss. Hara is here and..."
"And?" Naru pushed.
"Those men that attacked us two weeks ago, well," Lin hesitated as I sigh in frustration.
"Come on, out with it," I said and Bou-san spoke this time.
"If you return to the village Mai, they threaten to get rid of you, they have forbidden you to return."
AN: Thank you for the lovely reviews. :)... Poor Naru, he keeps getting interrupted. I hope everyone can feel their love, their playfulness, and their longing for each other while keeping them in character. I always thought Naru would be sweet towards Mai, he is playful with her in the manga when they have a moment, but doesn't fully let go cuz he is restricted by obvious things.