Disclaimer: I do NOT own Ghost Hunt nor MaixNaru :(
Chapter 22: New Case?
Mai pov
I couldn't wrap my mind around this, how is it that the pictures that Naru took secretly of me in the first two timelines are not erased, but still install on his cellphone? That makes no sense whatsoever.
All my joy for today, for being this close and intimate with this version of Naru feels like a dream and I wouldn't change it for the world.
"This makes no sense whatsoever," Naru mumbled to himself as he was in deep thought while helping me sit on top of the bed after eating our dinner. I slowly realized that he took me to his room instead of the guest room. I move my hand to press it against his arm, taking him out of his deep thought and lowering his gaze to look at me.
"Yes?"
"Am I supposed to sleep here today?" I question him. He blinks confused by my sudden question and looks around realizing what I meant.
"I didn't even realize, oh." he sits down next to me running his fingers through his hair looking rather bothered. I move my hand and place it on his arm, causing him to look at me.
"It bothers you that much?" I question him. He gives me a strange look, but shook his head.
"I want to remember everything Mai, it's driving me bonkers, I hate not being in control," he admits to me.
I grab his hand and place it on my lap, patting it gently.
"I know, and Gene hasn't appeared since the first timeline. I wish to know what's going on. I don't want to time loop again. I wish you can remember everything as well." I admit to him as he locks eyes with mine.
"What should we do? We tried to go back to the crime scene, but I can't do it, I get a panic attack. I have nothing to go on." I admit to him. Naru thins out his lips, trying to think of a way.
"We'll continue to try Mai, we'll figure a loophole around that," he said to me. I licked my lips as I lean my head on his shoulder as the image of Naru being hit ran through my head.
"I don't want to see you get hurt Naru, that was horrifying," I admit. Naru moves his hand away from mine and wraps it around my shoulder to rub it gently.
"We'll figure this out, this is like any other case we encountered." He said, not sure whether to comfort him or me as I grab his hand and I snuggled closer to him.
Then why do I feel there's more to this and it's scary?
"Mai, you should go and sleep, you had a long day," Naru stated as he stood up.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"I have to send these pictures to Lin, even though I don't want to, but we have evidence and speak to him about something," he explains.
"Don't take too long," my voice shook, as he bends down and kisses the top of my head.
"I won't. I'll be right back," he assures me. My heart clenched as this disturbing feeling overshadow me.
"Alright," I told him, as he gave me a tender but worried look. I watch him leave the room getting his phone out as I gently lay down on his bed, grabbing his pillow, trying to push this feeling away. Closing my eyes, I can smell his aroma, which brought me comfort.
"Why does my heart hurt so much, what's wrong with me?"
…..
...
...
Dream:
I stood in front of Naru's office, not sure how, but's cold that I have to rub my arms looking around. It's mid-afternoon, almost winter as there are no leaves in the trees.
"Hello?" I called out at first this eerie feeling passed through me causing me to shiver. Swallowing hard, I turned only to bump into someone's chest. I pull back to see two soft blue eyes looking down a
"Naru…. Wait, Gene?" I asked. He tilts his head but doesn't say a word. My heart becomes relieved as I wrap my arms around Gene, giving him a soft hug.
"Gene, I missed you so much, but I have so many questions, do you know what's happening? Why is your brother and I repeat the same timeline? I don't get it." I asked, but I was surprised when he wraps his arms around me, giving me a soft hug.
"Gene?" I question, yet I couldn't resist and hug him right back.
"I'm so happy to see you," I told him. Gene pulls back and slips his cold hand on mine and began to walk me down the street.
"Are you going to show me something?" I asked him. He nods while I tighten my hold on him. As we walk, the scenery around me began to change, instead of being in the street, we ended up in the hospital hallway, the same one that Naru and I were in earlier.
I can spot some orange seats against the walls, while I can hear a doctor call out for something, I turned to my right and I can see a wheel bed being rushed down the hallway. It's being pulled by a few nurses and a doctor, attending to someone.
I can hear a child in the background crying hard.
"It's fine, your mama is going to be fine." I heard a familiar voice. I lift my gaze to see Lin holding a child in his arms, trying to console the child as he rushed his steps trying to keep up with the doctors.
Gene pulls me back, and at that moment, the bed pass by me, and to my horror, I see myself laying on it with my dress soaked in blood and I am pregnant, I have a big stomach. I took notice I was holding someone's hand, yet there was no one there.
"I.. Love you as well, after all these years... I never stop loving you." I heard myself say. My heart tears up causing me to grasp my chest when I realize I'm talking to no one.
"Where's Naru?" I asked Gene.
I turned to look at him, but now I wasn't in the hallway, but in a cold place, and I knew this place as I can see silver doors in a square shape, with a latch on them. My heart drops into my stomach.
"This is the morgue." I was afraid to even ask feeling my throat become dry.
Gene grabs my hand and turns me, to point in front of me a bed that is occupied, with a white sheet on top.
My hands began to tremble violently. Gene frowns, as he takes a few steps forward and grabs the sheets pulling the covers away. I stare in pure horror at the image in front of me. My legs became weak, and I almost fell backward, but Gene rushes to my side and wrapped his arms around me so I won't fall back.
I didn't even thank him since I was in shock, but he was kind enough to guide me toward the corpse. With pure trembling hands, I extend my hand out as tears began to run down my cheeks.
In front of me is Naru's lifeless body, pale and motionless.
This is a nightmare, please someone wake me up.
"N... Naru, don't mess with me please, um, I'm upstairs waiting for you…. Our babies are waiting for their father as well." I grab his cold hand. He was filled with scars, not even stitched up, just open fresh wounds.
"My... love," my voice quivered as I press my hand on his cold cheek.
"Wake up… please… For us… For me. I need you… I'm not done living my life with you, didn't we say we'll grow up old together, you're only twenty-eight Naru. We are still not even in our thirties, and we still have so much to do… I love you Naru. I can't live without you." I let out an agonizing cry, my heart breaking into two. The pain is like I'm reliving the loss of my parents, but twice as worse.
Gene frowns, watching me grieve over his brother's death, I turned to him, and with shaky hands, I grab his cold hands.
"H... He saved our lives, it was my fault. I should have kept an eye on our child. I shouldn't have let go of his hand that day…. This is my fault. Can... Can I save him?" I pleaded to his big brother. Gene just kept looking at me with sad eyes, but doesn't even answer me at all.
I let go of his hands, not believing this and I turned to face my husband. I lay my head on his cold chest, not caring at all that he was dead. The once warm chest that I love so much is now cold to the touch and stiff.
"Naru! Please come back…. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." I felt such guilt and sorrow tearing me apart. I lift my gaze, as my tears fall on top of him, and I cup his cheek, not sure but I press my lips on his cold ones.
"I promise, I will love you until my last breath Naru. Kisses included. So many that you may become sick of it, but I won't. I'll take good care of you, I promise, but right now, a piece of me just died with you Naru. I... I don't know how to progress this."
Gene pulls me back, separating me from my husband.
"No, please, I can't leave him alone." I cried out, trying to shrug him away, I was hysterical at this point, wanting to go to him.
Gene wraps his arms around me, trying to comfort me as I shook my head.
"No, please, Gene, I need to save him, is this why we are doing the time loop?" I asked, crying like a mad woman.
He nods in response.
"So I can change this future?" I asked him. He nods again as he turns to his right, the scenery change again and this time I can see something, Amy, I see Amy with Masako talking to each other, from what I can see we are near the place where I had my accident. Up the hill, I can see a black shadow near Amy-chan.
So they were there during my accident?
I hiccupped, not understanding this at all.
Gene turns to me, with those sad eyes again, while it dawns on me why he held me earlier.
"Answer me these two questions Gene," I asked, trying to calm myself, even though inside I'm dying. He rose a brow so I can continue.
"That's my Naru, he's dead right now? I mean in the future? Or present whatever that was." Gene nods at me as I fist my hands feeling my heart hammering hard against my ribs as more tear rolls down my cheeks.
"Then is Naru and I time traveling at the same time?" I questioned him. Gene went still, and before he could answer me, everything went dark.
…..
….
...
I awoke brutally, tears running down my cheeks, my body shivering sweat covering my whole body. The dream was real, I can feel Naru's cold touch, his lifeless body.
I press my hand against my chest, letting an agonizing cry, pierced into my soul.
He died trying to protect us. My Naru.
"Mai?" Naru calls out as he was startled by my cry. I didn't even progress that Naru was there, all I can think of is what I have witnessed.
I can feel someone sitting next to me.
"What did you dream to have you in this state?" Naru sounded so concerned.
"Naru, it hurts…. It hurts so much…." I cried out as I balled up my shirt. I can feel my heart tearing apart, a piece of me has died with him.
"What hurt you?" he asks so worried and confused by my reaction. I leaned forward, pushing my hand deeper into my chest as this terrible ache ate me alive.
"My love, I'm so sorry!" I cried out as I began to breathe hard.
"Mai, calm down, please." Naru's voice is in desperation as he takes me into his arms and held me trying to somehow calm me down. Yet I wasn't progressing at all.
"Gene, how can you do this to me, I can't lose Naru. Please, show me anything, anything that can help me…. He can't be dead, he loves me so much and his children, he needs so much to live. I love him so deeply, isn't that enough? I promise to protect him even more, but please… Tell me how can I save him." I begged him, as Naru went rigid.
"Please, Gene! I can't... And I can't even be there with him." I was hyperventilating getting lightheaded as though my world is about to pass out.
Naru takes notice, as he forces his hands on my arms and lifts me, forcing me to look at him.
"Listen to me Mai, I'm alive, next to you. See," He presses his hand on my cheek, feeling his warm hand radiate through me,
"I'm right now with you, right now I'm your husband Oliver, what you saw was the future, not now. We will fix it okay, so breathe Mai, breath for me," he asks me to try to calm me down as he moves his hand to wipe my tears away. I stare at him with a blank expression, crying harder.
"Naru?" I barely said, while his touch begins to bring me back to reality. With still shaking hands, I move my hands to touch his warm cheek, his neck, which I can feel so much alive.
"Yes, I'm alive Mai," he assures me while rubbing my arms. I let fresh tears run down my cheeks.
"My Naru," I barely whispered, causing Naru to nod at me.
"I'm your Naru," he said as fresh tears rolled down my eyes. I gasped out, touching his face, his arms, and his shoulders. They move and felt soft and stern.
"You're warm, you're so warm," I said as I sat on my knees, and without warning I press my lips to his, kissing him deeply, feeling his warm lips on mine. I kissed him deeply, showing him my love for him, as Naru kissed me back with the same deep passion, leaving me feeling almost like a drunk stage with his kiss, while he runs his big hands on my back, kissing me the same aching way.
I pulled back, breathing hard, as he looks up at me.
"See, I'm alive," He assures me.
"You're alive, My Naru is alive," I said while I move my hands and began to unbutton his shirt. He looks down, arching a brow, but doesn't stop me.
He's not dead, he's alive with me right now. I can feel him. I somehow manage to unbutton it all way down and took off his pajama shirt, while we don't break from our heated kiss. Pulling back, breathing rather hard, I began to caress his shoulders, feeling his warmth.
Our eyes locked, and without a word, I lean down to kiss his shoulder gently, feeling his warmth as I felt his breath unevenly. I slowly gave him kisses across his chest, feeling his fingers brush against my hair.
I lay tender kisses where his heart lies, feeling it hammering against his ribs as I lift my gaze, and Naru and I kept looking at each other.
Then he leans forward and captures my lips, kissing me deeply, so powerful, that it shook me to my core, his hot lips trailing down my jaw, down to my neck, to my chest as I wrap my arm around his head, breathing hard, and loving this too much as I close my eyes. Slowly he lays me on my back so I can lay on the mattress and continues to kiss me as I did the same, feeling in heaven.
His hands touched me as most intimate as they can get, but with such respect, arching my body closer to his. I caress his chest, his arms, and his face, as I mold my body with his. I can't describe the sensations, but all I can say is my body was sensitive and alive from his intimate touches. Wanting more from him.
He's here with me right now, not dead, oh Lord, how can I not live without his kisses? His touches? His love for me? Or how he takes care of me? I know no one will ever love me this way as he does, he's my family that I treasure so much.
I have no clue how long we kept kissing and touching each other, but it felt too short for my liking, as he pulls back heaving hard, looking at me. I slowly open my eyes as I stare at his. His gaze made my heart skip a beat making me realize that he truly loves me, seeing his eyes so warm and full of love. He meant every word he told me, along with his actions.
I couldn't hold back my emotions as fresh tears roll down my cheeks.
"I love you Naru, I love you so much." I wrap my arms around him, pulling him down as he lays on top of me, loving his weight on me as he closed his eyes, holding me back, trying to not hurt my back
"I'm not dead Mai, I'm here alive with you and I will protect you."
….
…..
…..
"We have to get up you know," Naru said as I lay on top of his naked torso, not stopping on caressing him or kissing him. I had somehow fallen asleep for a few hours, but when I awoke, I held Naru, until he awoke, and that's how we are right now.
"I know," I whispered, lifting my gaze to look at him. Naru lifts his hand to caress my hair.
"Mai, I have never seen you react that way before, even when you experienced your first horrific vision two years ago. Was I dead?" he asks me as I timidly nodded.
"Gene showed me more memories, I was being rushed to the ER, Lin was there holding our child trying to console him and I was pregnant. I had a big stomach, but so much blood coming out." I swallowed hard since it was so hard to speak.
"Pregnant? We had a child?" He asks, causing me to nod at him.
"Yes, but then Gene rudely showed me the morgue and your body. You were lifeless, and it was real. I touch you, you were..." but my heart began to hurt once again Naru lifts himself and kisses my lips gently.
"It's fine, you don't have to go into details. I get it. Mai, I apologize for causing so much pain. I never thought of seeing you like this because of what you witnessed."
"No, don't, it's not your fault, it's mine, if I didn't let go of our child's hand, then nothing like this would have happened. It's my fault and..." I was trembling once again, but Naru shook his head as he leans down and began to caress my cheek with his nose, sending me shivers down my spine, as I closed my eyes, leaning into him.
Then he pulls out and places his hands on my shoulders, causing me to look at him.
"Naru?"
"Listen to me, we all humans tend to make mistakes, I'm sure there's a logical explanation for why you let go of our child's hand. Knowing you, you will protect him until your last breath. I'm sure something happened in the small time frame. As you explain to me, he told you that he saw a woman calling out for him, right?" I nodded at his question.
"Then I'm sure it's linked to what's happening now. So in the future, we'll have our babies, don't doubt that Mai, and we'll figure out so we can have a different outcome. I will protect you, but listen well, I will be smarter, I can't stand seeing you like this Mai. I didn't realize how much of an impact I had on you." He admits.
"You have a way of keeping me by your side, I wasn't joking Naru, I desire and burn for you in the deepest depths of my soul. I don't ever think I can love anyone the way I love you." I told him. Naru stares into my eyes, letting my words sink in, then wraps his arms around me holding me tight.
"I don't want anyone else to love me that way but you, as my soul burns and aches for you as well Mai. I may not remember the timelines, but I know this love I have for you is deeper than anything I experience in this world, not even death can tear it apart." Making my heart melt by his words.
I held him tightly, burying my face in his chest and I couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny?" he asks me as I lift my gaze and kiss lips, and began to caress his cheek with my fingertips, while I felt Naru tracing his fingers on my arm.
"We surely are a corny couple and I love it."
...
...
...
"Mai, I know we have a long talk this morning, but please, we need to go," Naru said as I have my arms around him, holding him as though I would lose him at any moment I let him go.
"What if you disappear?" I pout at him looking up at him.
Naru felt a sweat drop behind his head so he wraps his arm around me and rub my back gently.
"I'm real Mai, didn't we make that clear last night and this morning?" he asks me. I blushed hard as my body heats up from the memory of how great it felt to feel his big body over mine as he kissed and touch me aching for more.
Naru tilts his head and then flickers my forehead, causing me to wrinkle it.
"Hey," I complain, making him chuckle.
"Hold your mind, but..." he chuckles and it died down while he leans down and my breath caught as his voice drops.
"How much I love to make love to you, we aren't ready Mai, we have too much to deal with and your back won't handle it. Don't worry, if we have two children, that means it will happen shortly," he whispers, causing me to fist my hand on his shirt, feeling his hand seductively run down my spine. My breathing hitched, as I turn my gaze to look at him with an ache in my veins for him. Yet, I couldn't help but blush, covering my face with my hands.
"Since when are you this straightforward?" I felt giddy causing him to chuckle, blushing as well.
"Since we are from the future, with teenage hormones," he said seriously causing me to burst out laughing.
"Ah, so the brilliant Oliver has desires," I teased as I run my hands down his chest causing him to nod.
"Of course, I'm made of flesh and bones Mai, I'm not made of stone. I do desire, but I do desire you in every sense of the way, and loving you is part of it," he said seriously as I smiled at him sweetly.
"Me too," I said to him as Naru slips his hand on mine, and leans down to kiss my forehead tenderly, making my heart flutter.
"So, how do we begin this? I have no clue."
"Right now we'll head back to the office, Lin will meet us there. There has to be something that we are missing," he said. I nodded at him as I tiptoed and lean my cheek against his, closing my eyes, to show my affection.
"Alright," I said while Naru leans against me.
"Now can I go? I do have work to take care of," he asks, causing me to shake my head.
"Can't we have Lin come over? and what's the point we might time loop again," I told him. He sighs when suddenly presses his hand on my sides and tickles me, causing me to burst out laughing.
"Nar… Naru! You jerk!" I giggled as he smiles at victory.
"See, I like it when you're happier, and what if this is the last time loop? Then I'll be way behind at work," he stated. I squint my eyes, but he makes a point.
"Alright, then we shall go. Um… Then let's change the subject. I was meaning to ask you," I began as we went to get our things to head out.
"What?" he asks while he helps me put on my jacket.
"The first timeline you told me about you being depressed, but… I never knew you became ill. Why is that?" I asked to consider while I turned to help Naru to put on his black jacket.
"So we did talk about it?" he said, turning one last time, he was checking if he has everything on him, and satisfied he does, he opens the front door.
"Of course, we were having a moment. Will you tell me?" I asked him as I stepped out and he turns to lock the door of his home.
"Do you wish to hear it?" He asks me while he turns to look at me. I wrap my arm around his and nod.
"Enlighten me," I said as we began to walk towards the office. Naru rose a brow, giving me, a 'Seriously?' Look.
"Hmm, what did my mother tell you about me in the last timeline?" he asks me. I was taken aback by his words, but I thought back.
"Well, it's more your father, this is his words, "Don't let his cold stance fool you, he's a very sweet and tender-hearted boy and protects anything that he feels like it needs to be protected and is straightforward when he has to." I quoted him.
Naru looks very surprised by his words causing him to blankly stare in front of him.
"Is something the matter?" I asked.
"It's rare that my father speaks like that about me. I must have been very surprised by his words and you must have left a big impact on him. I can give him some sense of that. Mai, I don't normally express myself as I should as you know. I know we have to learn a lot about each other." he began as I looked at him with tender eyes, just engraving his stance in my heart, trying to erase what I witnessed last night.
"Yeah, I know," I told him.
"I will only say this once…. I never thought of falling in love or having a romance, that's the last thing ever, but since I met you, you have turned my life upside down. All I wanted is to find Gene and that's all and bury myself in work and move on until the day I die. I don't care for people's opinions of me, but I highly value people who put effort into their work. I value family Mai, you have no idea how much I value it. I'm loyal, yet I can manipulate when I need it for my plans." He stated, causing me to give him a straight-looking face.
"Oh trust me I know, and lie," I added, as I gave him a roll of the eyes causing him to clear his throat.
"You're the only one that saw right through me, in some certain levels, I'm still impressed, to be honest."
"Is that a compliment?" I asked him as we stopped at an intersection once again. I went rigid as I closed my eyes at the fact that I can almost feel the car hitting me. My body began to shake, making I fist my hands, as my heart beat wildly against my ribs.
Naru takes notice of my stance and frowns. I can feel him go behind me and covers my eyes with his palm.
"Just trust me," he whispered into my ear. I opened my eyes to meet with darkness, and my heart calms down, as the memory came into play, and I couldn't help but smile at this.
"I do, you did this last time," I told him, causing him to give me a strange look.
"I see, then," he said seriously causing me to giggle. I felt his arm wrap around me, and I couldn't help it, I lean into him, almost wanting to melt into him. Naru felt it, and he presses his body closer to me, caressing my stomach and making my body tingly.
"Let's go," he whispers, and he began to guide me.
"Take it as you think Mai about your question earlier," he whispers into my ear, making me shiver with delight feeling his hot breath brush against my skin.
I wish I can remember our moments if we are really from the future. I only remember that moment. I wonder how was our relationship? Is it strong now or rocky? Yet, I could feel the love I have for him, still burning in my heart.
"Mean," I answered him as we stop and he removes his hand. I opened my eyes and turn, but I couldn't help but tiptoe pressing my hand on his cheek and leaning forward to kiss his lips.
I love that now I can kiss him whenever I want. This is heaven to me, I can't get enough of him.
I saw Naru swallow hard, as he leans his cheek against mine causing me to gasp at the contact.
"Mai, the point I was trying to say, is once I love something, I won't let go. I won't have anyone else but you until the day I die."
….
….
…
"I love these," I said as peeled the skin off from the tangerines that Lin brought along with apples and grapes. We sat in the main lobby of the office.
"So this part of being in the office is new? Mai?" Lin asks as he sits across us. Naru and I sat by each other.
"Yes, we never returned to the office, the first timeline as I told you yesterday was Mr. Arata and the village, and the second was in Naru's home. This time is here. From changing our decisions we manage to get different results, even meeting with my schoolmate, Amy-chan." I said as I place the peel of the tangerine inside the bag, so I won't make a mess.
"That's interesting, and I have looked over the pictures of what Noll sent me last night, it's very interesting, it gives back up to what you have said," Lin said to himself as he thought about my words.
"Also, I got new information that I like to add as well, I need to talk to Masako-chan. There's more to her side than she let on." I thought back from the small memory Gene let me see.
"Miss. Hara?" Naru asks. I nodded, ripping the tangerine in half, and handed it over to Naru knowing that he wouldn't eat it from me since Lin is present, but to my surprise, Naru hands me over half an apple he peel.
Both of us look at each other, and then I couldn't suppress it and let out a giggle causing him to suppress a smirk as we grab each other half-cut fruit and began to eat it.
"Yes, Miss. Hara was witness to what happened to me, at this point she thinks I was making out with that boy, so we need to clear that up again. Maybe she'll tell us how she knows Amy-chan, I forgot to mention that Gene showed me that she was with Amy-chan." I suggested.
"Do you think she is the link to all of this?" Lin asks me.
"She's the only lead we have so far, someone poured animal blood on me, then someone appear in my apartment to kill me but went after Naru instead of leaving. Then I get hit by a car? It's obvious this is a crime of revenge or passion," I said as I grabbed Naru by his hand and squeezed it, relieving some tension I was gathering from the memories.
"How deep is a woman's jealousy?" Naru asks, leaning back on the couch and crossing his arms after he lets go of my hand.
"Um… depends on the girl, but mostly pretty deep, maybe similar to a man's jealousy?" I said as Lin clears his throat making us turn to him. Lin grabs two tangerines, and an apple and places them together on top of the coffee table.
"Let's say this apple is the boy, and these two represent you and that girl." he began. I nodded as Naru arched a brow.
"Alright," Naru nods in agreement.
"So the apple, and the first tangerines, I apologize Mai, but I have to do this," he said causing me to nod at him.
"I understand," I said, causing him to nod so he can continue. Naru scoots closer to me and without Lin noticing, I felt him rub my back causing me to feel more at ease.
"Then, let say this cup is the car is heading for you two. So my theory is that the child let go of your hand after this woman called him out towards her, maybe luring him with something, and the driver of the car was an accomplice and when he/she saw you going after your child, it took the opportunity to rush towards you. Noll saw it and drop whatever he was doing, or he was simply heading for you two and ran after you to save your life. Thus, activating the time loop after his death or when you passed out either or. My question is why go back, far back to your teenage years, it should theoretically go back to the beginning of that day, not years ago?" Lin questions.
Naru took that to heart as well.
That makes sense, but I still feel so guilty, it's a horrible feeling.
"Can you give me the new information you gathered?" Lin asks me.
"Um, yeah, well, um..." I swallowed hard, trying to muster up the courage to tell it, but every word that came out of my mouth was painful.
I lowered my gaze and took a big breath while I wipe the tears that came out.
Naru pulls me into his arms as I cry, grabbing his shirt.
"I'm fine Mai, we'll stop it from happening, don't worry." Naru rubs my back as he kisses the top of my head trying to give me comfort. I pull up to look at him, with yearning and longing. Naru has compassion and pure concern for me, aching to make me feel better.
I kiss his cheek and lean my head on his shoulder.
"Anything else? I'm sorry Mai," Lin asks, causing me to bury my face in the crook of my husband's neck, feeling his warmth once again.
"You were holding our child, trying to console him. You watch as I was being taken to the E.R." I added.
"That's all?" Lin questioned once more.
"That's about it," I admit to him.
"I'm not sure if this helps, but from what Mai has told me, I think I had a memory myself in the first timeline, during the second timeline after placing my wedding ring on. I don't get why I don't remember this time around, but Mai does. I was meaning to ask you, Lin, where exactly did those wedding rings appear? Did you buy them or it magically appeared?" Naru asks him. I pull back to stare at Lin after I calmed down a bit from reliving the memories.
Lin lowers his gaze, crossing his arms in front of his torso trying to think back.
"Madoka did say something strange when she came to sign the papers two days ago," Naru added, this time I look at him a bit startled.
"I never get to see her, she always leaves, what did she say?" I question him.
" 'Early huh Noll?' That's what she said to me after she signed the papers." Naru explains. I knitted my brows together now confused by this.
"Early hun Noll?" I repeated as Lin lift his gaze.
"Now I remember, a month ago, before your accident, you know the local jewelry shop near your parent's home, what's it called…" Lin went quiet trying to remember when Naru interjected.
"Goldsmith's, my mother loves that store,"
"Yes that one, well Madoka and your mother have been going to that place a bit more than normal while you went to visit your brother's grave. I never questioned it. So you have to give a call to your mother or Madoka. Maybe one of them bought it and place it in your jacket." Lin took a big leap of faith in guessing. I turn to look at Narus' eyes.
Maybe she does know something, can you call her? I pleaded to him with my eyes as Naru slightly nod.
I will. He assures me.
"Get her on the phone," Naru asks Lin. Lin sighs, but nodded in obedience, and takes out his phone, but stops when he looks straight at me.
"Mai, before we do this, I have done some research and… give me a moment," he place his phone on top of the table and stood up. We watch him head for his office down the hallway, leaving Naru and me alone for a brief moment.
I began to bounce my leg, flickering my nails, anxious about this.
What does Madoka know? Has she timed travel or she has memories? Or is she just saying things?
"Mai," Naru calls out for me, taking me out of my deep thought. Lifting my gaze Naru surprises me when he leans down and kisses deeply on my lips before I could 9register anything.
Separating from me, I blinked, licking my lips as my face shot up, almost feeling steam coming out of my ears on which I cover my face with my hands.
"What was that for?" I timidly asked, causing him to wrap his arms around me and held me carefully in his arms as though he was afraid.
"Just because," he simply said in a mellow voice, this hug felt different, almost as though he was... My eyes narrow at the realization.
He must be afraid, oh no, this must be hard on him as well.
"I'm sorry Naru, I didn't… I don't realize that it affected you as well." I assured him. He shook his head.
"You witnessed it, Mai, I have no memories of it, but I would be lying if I say it doesn't bother me," he admits dropping his gaze.
"It must be scary to know…." I began, but he shook his head and cupped my cheeks.
"Is not about my death, I'm scared of, but leaving you alone Mai. That scares me the most," he admits touching me deeply.
I wrap my arms around his midsection and hunched down to bury myself into his warm chest.
"Then we'll stop this, I know we both need to die at some point, but let it be when we get old," I told him.
"Then until we grow old," he agrees, holding to each other afraid that if we let go of each other one of us will disappear.
"Naru, when our time loops again, and one of us forgets about this..." I began and Naru chuckles, holding me closer.
"You have my permission, if I lose my memories again, kiss me first. I would be in shock, but at least it will let me know something was going on," he said to me.
"What my kisses give you that much impact?" I question him, as he looks down at me.
"You have no idea." He said with those deep eyes, which touch my inner soul. I felt my heart skip a beat and I smiled at him.
"Same, if this time I lose my memories, just come up to me and kiss me. I probably slap you or run away, but I know something is wrong, and let's continue to tell each other everything. I apologize in advance if I do slap you," I told him with a small ironic giggle and he nods in agreement. He presses his forehead against mine closing his eyes as I did the same.
"Who would have thought in two days, I would be wrapped in this strange romance, I would never let my guard down like this, but I can't help it, the emotions are too powerful, like I can feel my other two timelines emerge infusing the feelings in me, which I can't seem to ignore you even if I wish to," he admits to me.
"That's how I felt in the second timeline."
"I printed out a draft, I hope, is useful," Lin stated as he comes down to us, holding a few papers at hand, but the rose his gaze to raise a brow to see our position, but doesn't comment on it.
"What type of draft?" Naru asks as he rubs my arm to indicate to let him go. I lift my gaze and nodded.
"A timeline draft, from everything that Mai has told us, I even updated it a few minutes ago from what you told me also I added the pictures." He said as he hunch over to hand it over to Naru.
"You did this for us?" I felt touched by this gesture as Naru leans closer to me to show me as well the papers. He has a diagram with lines connecting or breaking apart.
"Thank you, you nailed it Lin-san." I praised him.
"Check if I missed something," he stated as he grabs his phone and sits back.
"Is this right Mai?" Naru asks me, handing it over to me. I took it and began to examine Lin's work.
He wrote down our names and pacific times where we were during our first and second timelines without missing anything including this one. I notice something in particular that grabbed my attention. Almost shades of lines that somehow connects to the second and third-time line.
"What are these fine lines?" I pointed out placing the papers on the table, as I move to point out, I wince at the fact my lower back began to hurt me again.
"Mai?" Naru takes notice, causing me to shake my head.
"I'm fine. Um…these lines," I pointed out at Lin. He hunches forward and sees what I mean.
"That? That's the small connections to the timelines because I took notice that with every change of direction you two make, it gets you closer to remembering, but it becomes shaded but still connects.." he stated.
"Connections," Naru murmurs to himself as I rose a brow trying to figure this one out, but then I snap my fingers and look at Lin.
"True, also the ghost with white eyes, I remember she got super frustrated with us after we confessed," I finally remember causing Naru and Lin to look at me.
"Huh?"
"In the first timeline, when Naru confessed to me it was in the hotel, she appeared, and in the second timeline I confessed, but she didn't come out, but later and she was mad…" I admit to him. Lin was now intrigued by this new information.
"Is that so?" he said to himself as I nodded at him.
"Is that the trigger? If you confess your love, she will send you back?" Lin suggested. I went dumbfounded as Naru cross his arms across his chest now considering this.
"That could be the trigger, so Naru can't say I love you then?" I gasped out, not believing this at all.
"That could be the case in theory, but if is true, we can use it to our advantage," Lin said to us, Naru and I gave him a confused look.
"How can we use this to our advantage?" Naru questions his mentor.
"We can use it so you too can learn new things and connect the dots cause is the only way you two are regaining your lost memories and we can find the person behind everything, also if anything happens, you can restart and make different decisions on it to push you closer to the truth," Lin explains.
"But if she hates us admitting our confessions, why sent us back to where we get married? It's a sacrament and strong bond and it goes against her narrative." I told him.
"I think that's the clue right there, I don't know what, but I think she doesn't want us to confess, but doesn't care if we get affectionate or anything if not we would have gone through five million more loops at this point," Naru stated. I couldn't help but blush at his statement, but I couldn't help but grab his warm hand and held it gently.
I will never forget the touch of his cold hands, so it will be a reminder that these hands are alive and warm next to me so I don't care how many times we have to go through this until I save him and our baby. I lift his hand and press it against my cheek, just to remind myself. Naru gave me a strange look but doesn't remove his hand.
"Madoka, finally," Lin said capturing our attention, as he places it on speaker and puts his phone on the coffee table.
"Well, sweet love, nice to hear from you too, wait, why are you speaking Japanese?" she mocks in a sweet loving way causing Lin to roll his eyes at her.
"I'm not calling for that and I have a reason. I'm calling on behalf of Noll, you're in speaker," he tells her.
"Noll? Well, he knows English, boy, what are you planning now," she scolds him as I felt Naru tighten his hand on me after I placed his hand down.
"I'm not planning anything, we need your help, Mai is with us," Naru stated, causing Madoka to go silent on the other side of the phone.
I scoot closer to the table.
"Hi Madoka-chan, I miss you a lot and we have lots to catch up on. Um, but right now we need your help. Can you help us?" I asked her. Madoka won't speak at all.
"Hello? Madoka?" Lin questions, when she hangs up the phone. We all were taken aback by her sudden bold move.
"Um…. What just happened?" I scratched my head so confused by this situation when Naru takes Lin's phone and redials.
Nothing, she wouldn't pick up at all. I couldn't believe this as I threw myself back, forgetting about my back, I let out a cry, covering my face.
"Mai?" Naru turns to look at me, while I shook my hand.
"I'm fine, um, then let's talk to Masako-chan," I lowered my hands turning to look at my husband. He looks frustrated and angered by this. I move closer to him and rub my hand on his arm.
"I know this is frustrating, but we can do…." but my words are cut off when the phone rings capturing our attention. Lin grabs it and answers the phone to put it on speaker once again.
"I apologize for the call dropping, I was driving through a tunnel and the connection isn't that great over here. So how may I help?" she asked as I began to feel nervous.
"What did you mean 'Early huh Noll?' two days ago when you came to sign the marriage papers?" Naru went straight to the question.
"I just meant by you're getting married at an early age, is it supposed to be more to that?" Madoka said
"Why do I feel that there's more to your words, you know I hate beating around the bush, tell me a simple yes or no, do you know anything about the time loop?" Naru went straight to business, with his cold voice, his eyes turning cold once again.
There was silence on the other side of the phone, but before Madoka could answer us, we heard a knock on the front door of the office.
"I'll get it," I said not sure if I wanted to hear the answer, but Naru grabs my arm to keep me seated.
"Madoka," Naru almost hissed through his teeth from the uncomfortable silence she was giving.
"I highly recommend you take the new case of that person, I will guarantee you that it will answer a lot of questions. Also Mai, I'm so sorry." With that, she hangs up. I blinked, confused at the knocking behind us.
Naru helps me stand up from the couch and we went to open the front door as Lin followed us. I was taken aback as we spot Amy-chan looking startled by seeing us there as we are as well.
"Amy-chan?" I question her when my lower back bursts out in pain as though someone is burning or something, but I held it in, biting the inside of my cheek.
"Oh, you're here, I wasn't expecting you two, but I need help," she said to us.
"What type of help," Naru questions, as Amy takes a breath.
"I don't believe in ghosts, but I heard this place is good at catching ghosts or whatever. Um... Please, Mai-chan help." She reaches out to grab my arm, and my heart leaps out of my chest as I see the ghost with white eyes standing behind her, just maliciously smirking at us.
"SOMETIMES THINGS AREN'T WHAT THEY SEEM, ISN'T IT MAI? She will find you!" I burst out crying when the pain burst out causing my legs to grow numb and I fall to the ground before Naru could register what was happening to me.
"Mai!"
Au: Well, I hope you like the twist, I became emotional while writing this chapter,I hope I did well in Mai's reaction. Thanks for the reviews, follows, and favorites. :).
