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Chapter Five: Clue
Mai POV
"I have a question." I simply asked, sitting on a large rock, facing the treehouse, watching the woman floating in front of me.
It looks like she's dancing beautifully under the moonlight. The woman stops her somewhat dancing, and turns to stare at me.
"Yes?" She whispers, yet her lips don't move, something which I found strange above all things. Nervously rubbing my hands the woman smiles at me kindly.
"Why are you here? Were you the one who brought us here?" The woman's eyes seem to sadden at my question, her gaze lifted, towards the tree, then back at me.
"Many things in this so-called earth are unexplained, even to the dead. I don't have memories of my past, all I know that he wants to hurt you two, to be freed.."
Placing my legs down, I stood and began to move towards her, but she seems to hesitate, taking a huge step back from me.
"Don't leave, or not, I will lose what I have. I am here to help you. I'm here to replace Gene for now." I stood still at her sudden words, at the mention of Gene.
"Now you mention him? Why... Where is he, how do you know him?" My heart started to hammer, getting worried.
The woman gave me a deeply sad look before she points behind me. Taking notice, that she has no gloves on. I arched a brow, confused about that.
"He can't enter here. That man has forbidden any good or anything he can't control to enter this Timeless Island. So, Gene is forbidden to enter. Ten, you shall be free.."
I need to tell Naru, about that. That explains, a lot. Why he's not here to help us.
I felt a weight off my shoulders, to know, that he's not in trouble or anything. Naru would love to hear that as well.
"What does that mean? Gene mentioned the same." I asked, trying to get more information from her.
"Ten, you shall be free, nothing more and nothing less. Just endure. Time has no limit here. Just keep that in mind." Nodding at her explanation but in reality not understanding the true meaning behind it. Yet, I respected her will, since she's limited, from what I can gather, so I cleared my throat, intertwining my fingers together.
"If you don't mind, who left the gloves on top of the bed back in the ship last week?" I asked, biting my lower lip.
The woman lifted her gaze once again, towards the treehouse, her eyes seem lost, as though she's trying to remember something from the past.
"Soon you'll know." she simply replies while bowing down.
"Wait, don't go. I have so many questions, who's He? Is he the same guy, the wolf? Does he control the souls? What?" I ran my mouth so fast, that the woman just stares at me, then she points at the tree once again.
"Pure love can be sensed. Many will want it. Is more powerful than the man. It can be the key. Just be careful.. I'll try to help you as much as possible. Go to the east side of the island, there, you'll and your soul mate, will find a clue. Eye for an Eye, and a tooth for a tooth." I arched a brow at her sudden words, not understanding it.
"Okay, clue, but what soulmate?" I questioned her. She smiles at me once again, placing her hands gently on her chest, where her heart, err, her heart should be.
"Pure love, is sensational, be strong. I will visit soon." and with that she disappears, leaving me alone in my dream.
"Pure love? Soulmate? Please, whom are you talking about? And what clue? Eye for an Eye, and a tooth for a tooth? Hey, I forgot to ask your name." I added, desperate, then sudden loneliness hit me hard.
"Hello? Don't just leave me alone. Hello? Wake me up, or something," Now fear started to creep down, when a sudden chill ran down my spine.
Then everything turns dark around my surroundings.
####
There's a saying, never let fear win over you, or something in those lines. I have no idea if I'm doing a good job on it, but for sure, since those ghosts surrounded the treehouse, I haven't been able to sleep, until last night, when I dreamed about the woman.
The hotness inside of the treehouse seems to be endless, luckily the breeze of the storm somewhat helps cool off the inside.
I feel feverish. Not as much to feel sick, but my skin seems to heat up with the hotness.
"Naru," I groaned, lifting myself from my small adobe, to stare at him.
He sits across me, reading some of the books he found a few days ago. He places down the book and lifted his right brow.
"I don't feel too good," I admit, while I rub my arm. Naru without a word, lowers the book placing it at his side, and stands up.
"What do you feel?" he asks, moving towards my side, sitting down on the edge. I gulped, lifting my legs and wrap my arms around them.
"My skin feels hot. I mean, I don't feel sick as though I want to throw up or anything, just my skin. Feels very feverish." I admitted.
Pressing my palm against my forehead, to feel it hot.
Naru surprises me when he takes a hold of my hand in a gentle matter and presses his index and middle finger, where my pulse is at.
"It seems fine," he whispers, lifting his blue eyes, he presses his big hand on my forehead, making my cheeks redden.
"You feel a little warmer than normal.." He says while lowering his hand down. I adjusted myself, to face him.
"What do I do? We don't have medicine or anything." I felt a little nervous about this. I mean, we live on an isolated island and there's no medicine anywhere.
We can make herbs for medicines, but we don't know what type, until Naru knows, what's what... Naru stood.
"There are herbs around the island that are quite useful for medicine. How do you think people back in the day lived off when pills didn't exist." He seems to read my mind, once again. So I just blink at him blankly, getting a little annoyed at his sudden cockiness.
"I have studied, and have met people that use herbs for medicine, it just... I mean. There's a storm right now... And.." I don't know how to place it in words, that I began to grow nervous.
Naru turned his gaze down, giving me a stern look, causing me to close my mouth.
"It's just a night fever, or hay fever most likely. Sometimes, it' duo to the change of environment." he turns around, heading downstairs.
"Where are you going?"
"I'll be back." he just simply says. Taking a hold of my blanket, I wrap it around my midsection, trying to cover myself as much as possible. I still feel uncomfortable and I can't wait to take a bath.
Leaning my head against the wall of the treehouse. Closing my eyes, a sudden image popped into my mind.
I was back at the office, behind my desk, watching Bou-san and Ayako bickering while John nervously watches. Then Lin is calmly typing away, while Yasuhara talked to him. Last and not least, Masako is trying to flirt with Naru while he ignores her.
I miss that terribly. Touching my chest, from the aching pain, a yelp escapes from my lips, when I felt something wet on my forehead.
Snapping my eyes open, Naru sat on the edge with a half-cut wet blanket, with a small basket in hand.
"Naru?"
"This will help you cool down since we can't go out yet.." Naru moves the blanket and presses it against my forehead.
I suddenly gulped heavily, reaching up, I wanted to touch the blanket, but instead, I ended up touching his hand. My eyes widen, as my heart jumps.
"Sorry." nervously I lowered my head,
"For what? Just hold this in place, and wash with the cold water. It will reduce. Then sleep. Hopefully, for tomorrow, you'll get better." He said.
Lifting my gaze our eyes lock, feeling the atmosphere thickens, as my breath heightens. Not sure why, but my body felt hotter, just having him this close to me.
My hands started to tremble a lot. Not noticing that his hands are too since he hid them from me.
"T... Thanks," my voice cracked. Naru just nods and stood up heading back towards his books. I glance back at him, remembering the woman's words.
Pure love? I don't see it. I wonder whom pure love is she talking about? Since Naru will never see me as anything else but an assistant. Okay, I'm getting depressed, and repetitive. What clue will we find, when we head that way? I hope something not gruesome, or scary. At least the good news about this, even Naru will find it as well, about his older brother being alright.
I didn't realize that I was staring at Naru longer than normal.
"Don't stay up too late.." I told him. Naru lifted his gaze and just nods. I just rolled my eyes at him.
It's official, I'm stuck with the only person in this world. (Besides Lin) that only talks when is, necessarily, than actually having small talks. Lucky me, I will surely not bored myself to death.
I mentally groaned, starting to wash with the blanket.
O.o
"At least the storm didn't do anything to harm the treehouse," I spoke the next day after the storm broke. Yet... It hasn't left any major catastrophe behind. Which is very odd, it was harsh these few nights.
"Are you sure you feel better?" Naru asks, for the second time today, since we got up, I have felt better, my mini fever broke, and Naru trick did wonder.
Naru asked me this morning, I just told him I felt better than ever. He just nodded, yet he didn't seem to convince.
"Yes dad, I do... Your trick work... Thank you so much.." I felt myself smiling at him brightly.
Naru stares at me, but then bends down towards my level taken me back.
He takes a hold of my chin, he stares into my eyes while checking if I'm doing fine. I fist my hand once again, feeling my heart hammering at this point.
These little moments, I try not to fall for this, he just checking, anyone could have done the same, but.. he's different, he makes my heart go crazy.
Then he straightens up, placing his palm on my forehead once again, my cheeks flames up, feeling my heart just skipping at this point. I swallowed hard looking away from him.
"Seems the temperature dropped. I'm satisfied," he said in a robotic tone. I stare at him, trying to snap out of it.
"Wow, you just sounded robotic." I rolled my eyes at him. Naru gave me a strange look, but I took notice, that he didn't lower his hand.
Which I didn't mind at all.
"We should see if the pathway for our water source is blocked off, we're running low on food and water." Naru simply states. I nodded at him.
"Well, at least using the bathroom will be easier than just waiting for the storm to calm down and come out to use it," I grumble under my breath.
Naru stares at me for a brief moment then as though something burnt him, he removes his hand away from my forehead. Again he did it as though he just touched fire or something. Like before it pained me. Shrugging it off, I turned towards the trees.
Then the events of a few nights ago came back to me. My eyes widen slightly while I shook a little.
"They were floating there with those white eyes just waiting for something. The fact that they were on fire terrifies me. Did Naru catch that?" I rubbed my arms, tightening my hold on my clean clothes, which I couldn't wait to change.
I have no idea, how, but Naru had been already ahead of me, heading for the trees. I blinked staring at him with disbelief.
He has to be a ninja, how the heck didn't I hear him?
"Yes... And I was thinking," Naru breaks his silence, while I cached up to him.
"Hmm?
"About the events three nights ago.." he stated. I shivered once again but nodded my head.
"I remember, what about?"
"Maybe, there's a theory, in our field, that magnetic waves can make a ghost stronger and since that night was the worst part and the storm were none stop, it might have power up the spirits of this island. That's why they surrounded the treehouse."
I look down at the ground feeling my heart thump hard from fear.
It makes sense, and the thunder that night was horrible.
"It does make sense, I read it once in a book, last year which Housho let me borrow."
"So that means, that the next storm we might encounter more spirits." He added, causing me to shiver in fright.
"I wish not. When I was..." I stopped when Naru took a hold of my arm pulling me back causing me to gasp in fright.
"Eh? What happened?"
"Snake," Naru whispers, pointing down, about four feet away from me.. Gulping hard, I took a hold of his arm, tighten my hold.
"Is it poisonous?" I asked, noticing it's a red, yellow, and black stripe snake. Naru shook his head.
"No, they're called Scarlet Kingsnake, which is odd to see it in this place, either way, just avoid any snake. I have no idea if there are even poisonous ones here, if they are, then we are screwed," he admits. I stare up at him.
"You read that in a book didn't you?"
"No, actually I have seen one when I went up to the states.." He mumbles, walking past it. I did the same, watching the snake creature crawl away.
"Oh, cool... Hey, I have an idea... Can we explore more or can we go up to shore, it has been a while since we went." And how to add that the ghost gave me an assignment? I'll tell him later when we make sure there are no places that are flooded.
"After we restock."
"Alright."
"You're still scared aren't you," he asks me out of the blue, surprising me.
"Beyond what you know. I miss home. I miss our friends. At least, I don't have any relatives worrying about me, unlike you. I have to say, that your mother and father are going crazy looking for you."
Naru stops in his tracks, looking down at me, but doesn't' comment.
"Naru?" I asked, getting a little worried from his silence, then he shakes his head.
"They lost one child, I think they can survive another one missing." he coldly stated, causing my eyes to widen.
"Are you serious, no scratch that, don't you even have a heart?" I wave my hands in front of me, not believing it.
"I have a heart if not I wouldn't be here looking at you." he simply replies.
"That's not what I meant... I mean... You know what I meant. How can you just say that so coldly? They are your parents, adopted or not. They lost a child a few years back, you're the only thing that keeps them sane. They love you." I felt so emotional about his cold response. How dare he say that.
"Why are you overthinking this. It's true, I'm not dead, and they can endure it until they find us. I know they have lost a child and please don't lecture..." but I growled at him.
"No... That's not what I meant You and I know that you're not dead. But they don't. How the hell do you expect them to know? They probably are going through hell right now, just when they did with Gene. Don't just say those things.." I felt tears running my cheeks, hiccuping.
"Why are you so worked up? I know all that, I just don't want to think about it... And you shouldn't..." I couldn't take it, a big scream escapes my mouth.
"BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE PARENTS, AND YOU DO. SO APPRECIATE IT!" I yelled heaving hard. Naru stares at me, with wide eyes, yet not enough to see it myself, since I was now crying hard covering my eyes with my arm.
"You have no idea how much I want my parents back, or have been adopted or something like that. I have forgotten how is to have someone at home to wait for me or to worry. You have that. You act like you don't care at all. Ever since I met you. You only wear that cold mask. Like you don't care at all. I know you do, but don't hide it. It's not fair, I'm jealous. Dreadfully jealous of you, cause you do have one thing I desire most... And it's not the fame or fortune, I don't care about that, all I envy of you is the family.." I cover my eyes with my arm, crying harder.
Naru stares at me with wide eyes as though he doesn't know what to say. Lowering my arm, gulping, and sniffing, I didn't dare to look up at his eyes.
"I just want a family. Even if I already do, I want my own. I want to love a man and get married and have many children. So if anything happens to me or my husband, at least our children wouldn't be so alone. Sleep alone, wake up alone. So don't come up to me, putting that mask on, just because you lost your brother. At least you have a family. I know your pain because I constantly live it myself..." I felt drained already.
"So, please don't say harsh words like that." this time my voice turns soft, and this time, I lift my gaze to stare at his eyes.
"Then what do you want me to say?" he asks in a low soft tone. I took a hold of his hand even though my heart is beating hard, I place it on my left cheek crying softly this time. Naru's eyes widen.
"Just say... That there's still hope, and that my parents will see me soon, even if it pains them, they love me as much as I love them. I know they will hurt but when they see me alive and tell them what happened, we can hug and give them closure." I whispered. Naru moves his fingers brush against my skin not noticing that I closed my eyes, leaning into his touch.
He such a pain sometimes, I'm sure he just worried as well but doesn't know how to express it.
"Mai," he whispers so low, that I barely heard it. Opening my eyes, I gasped out.
"You don't have to put that wall up around me. I know you didn't mean to say those harsh words. I know how much you miss them. Just say that you have hope, as they do.." I move forward, cupping his cheek. Our eyes connect, feeling as though he can see right through me with his piercing blue eyes as I can almost see his real self.
I can see Naru looking scared and lost which is a rare sight, but it broke my heart. A sudden yearn to hug him wash over me. I felt Naru as a child right now, a vulnerable child which needed to be hugged.
"Or don't say anything that will hurt." I finished removing my hand so he won't feel awkward. Naru kept staring at me, slowly walking forward causing me to become startled, looking around to find a way to run away, but his hand on my cheek stopped me so all I can do is walk backward.
Yet, I felt this as an intimate dance, as we kept going back. His eyes become more fierce with a strange emotion I never seen on him, causing my legs to feel like jello, my heart racing even more.
What is he doing? Before I could say a word, I felt a tree behind me, stopping my movement, since I became pinned against it.
He leans down to my level, our noses barely touching, our breaths mingle, causing me to swallow hard.
I felt his thumb gently caressing my cheek. I half-closed my eyes, leaning into his gentle touch, making my whole body feel like it's warming up in a good way, I can't put it in words, but it felt wonderful.
He traces his fingertips gently down to my lips, and caresses them, making my breath catch, my whole body going haywire at this point, that I parted my lips a bit.
"Mai," He whispers in this deep low voice of wanting while he gets closer, I open my eyes to see him getting closer to me tilting his head to the side, half closing his eyes as though he wants to ki... No, he wants to kiss me? My palms become sweaty, as I press my hand against the bark.
Why? I... I can't think.
Let just say our spell became broken because I jumped in fright from a bird which decided to sing right behind us startled us.
Naru cleared his throat removing his hand as though he was brought back to reality. A blush appears on my cheeks while I took a huge step to the side and pretended that nothing happened. I try my best to calm my whole body.
Calm down, just calm down.
"Just don't say that... I hope your parents find you soon." I bowed down while wiping my eyes.
"I'm hungry," I heard him mumble while he shook his head, turning away from me and walks towards the path. I straighten up, to stare at him blankly not believing what he just said.
After all that, he just says, he's hungry? What the?
I grunted in frustration, not even noticing how flustered Naru is.
O.o
"Oh, fresh clothes, I'm so happy that the stream didn't overflow or anything." we started to walk down the shore, feeling the hot sun on my skin.
Naru stares at the ocean, in deep thought.
"What are you thinking about?" I asked.
"About tea. I miss it terribly. I was reading in the book, that there are some herbs that it can be made as tea.." he seems happy about that, noticing that his blue eyes lighten up a little. I couldn't help but smile at this small gesture of his, like the simple things which make him happy. It makes me happy as well.
"If we search for it, you think, I can make it?" Naru doesn't even hesitate in answering me.
"Of course, I even know where to look for the suds plants, and other plants to make medicine. That book is very insightful on things. Old, but good survivor book." he praises.
"Oh, you were that bored, you read the whole book in three days?"
"Actually, in two. Whoever that John guy was, he was a doctor. Since he left a lot of notes in the book."
"You deduced that from some few notes?"
"Yes, in your terms, he uses big fancy words, plus, in the ending of each chapter, he signs, Dr. John," he shrugs at a matter of fact while I felt a sweat drop on my side.
"Well, thank you for summarizing it in words on which I can understand, fancy pants. Do you think that we can read the book I found two nights ago, the English one, today? I mean is in English, and I don't understand a hair of it."
"Want me to teach you?" I stare at Naru once again as though he just said something unlike him.
Did he just offer to teach me?
Naru just waited for my response as I stare at him as though he grew a second head. I rose my hand up to stop him from saying anything else as my mind try to progress his words.
"Wait. I just thought I heard you offer to teach me. I'm sorry, I must have been in the sun far too long. My head is frying. Can you repeat what you said?"
Naru rolls his eyes at me and gave me one of his cold looks.
"I'm serious." he coldly states. I nervously rub my arm and nodded.
"Okay, okay, it just a shock to me. If you don't mind."
"It's not like I have to go anywhere or have anything to do." he shrugs, placing his hand inside of his original pants pockets. Even though we don't have soap, before the storm, I manage to wash our clothes at best.
"Okay.." not sure if I like that idea. I know how much he taunts me, and at my studies. I turned to face the ocean, looking past the horizon, I felt the gentle breeze cooling me a bit.
"Promise me that you won't make fun of me or something like that?"
"I can't make any promises, I do fear the lack of patients I will have though." he bluntly tells me.
Frowning at him I glanced down, wiggling my toes in the sand.
"You know, I was wondering about the other night when we saw all those spirits surrounding us."
"I was too, there are too many souls out there. The howling though, even though you said it sounded like a wolf, from my point of view, it sounds more like a human." Naru words cause me to shiver, rubbing my arms.
"Is that so... It's scary to think about. Wonder why they surrounded us.." Lifting my gaze towards the forest, my heart started to pound, just from the thought of many souls living among us. I mean sure we have solved dark cases, but not that includes this many souls in one shot. And yet, a part of me, pities them, from not moving on. I felt very sad about that.
"Then, what do we do? We don't have the others, and we can't possibly do exercise on each one. We're not that powerful."
Glancing up, Naru seems to be watching the forest as well, his eyes darting.
"We just have to find the main source, the root."
"Oh... The root of all problems. Wow, this seems like a very bad movie. So, where do you think it is?"
The sudden wind picks up, causing my hair to tussle around, so I had to fiddle with it using my hands.
"You haven't dreamed it yet, but my gut tells me is up towards the mountains or the treehouse itself. One of the two."
"Err, I had a dream.." I finally told him. Naru lowers his gaze, giving me a strange look.
"And now you tell me? What about?" So I started to explain to him, including the gloves, and the whole, go to the east side of the island for the clue.
Naru remained quiet for a few minutes in deep thought before he answers me.
"The gloves don't belong to her. Strange then, it must be someone else, it has to be someone maybe the boat I saw before going in to rescue you?" Naru concludes, causing me to look up at him as though he was something.
"You came to that conclusion, so fast! Wait what boat?" I asked him.
"After working in our field, it becomes second nature, and before I saved you, I saw a boat rowing towards the ship, it had four people on it, but I couldn't see who it was though. I thought it was strange since the storm was happening," he explains.
"Oh, strange. I hope Lin saved them," I said, causing Naru, to nod in agreement.
"So, along the way of this case, these gloves will become something, important later on." he shrugs. With a few minutes of silence, I gulped, looking up once again.
"So, do you know where is the Eastside?" I asked. He steps forward, looking all around us.
Then he stops, looking down at me.
"Not yet... Without a compass, it's hard to tell. Then, eye for an eye, tooth, for a tooth. Interesting keen words." he seems intrigued by the mystery.
At least, I won't be nudging my head, for that clue... Naru is good at this.
"Then what do we do?"
"Nothing, just yet, we need more evidence and information, and now that we have our first clue, we can visit tomorrow or map it out. It's going to take time since we don't know our way around the island. I'll just have to come up with a plan to look for East. We don't want to get lost and hopefully, it will help us see what happen to the other people that stood on this island before us."
Rubbing my forehead, I turned around, heading for the edge of the water, feeling it wetting my feet, I shivered from the cold.
"Sounds like a plan. You know, last week, when I said let me pretend that I'm on vacation?"
"Yes? And you got your wish." Naru crosses his arms, watching me play with the water with my feet.
"Well, let's take it, since we are working and we are stranded, we have no idea how long will it take the others to find us, so might as well enjoy it as much as possible."
"That doesn't mean we..."
"I know, slack off. We won't since they won't leave us alone, they need our help. Then, can we take this as a half work and half vacation? It's free." I intertwine my fingers in a pleading way, giving him the best puppy eyes I can muster. Naru just stares at me, shaking his head.
"Until we get rescued and those puppy eyes of yours aren't going to work. You are not allowed to ask for vacation, till next year.." he demands.
"Yes sir," I did a victory sign, turning to face the horizon. Then I heard a small splash on my side.
"Naru?" I turned to face him, places his hands inside of his pockets, once again, and stares at the horizon.
"Here's your first lesson," He whispers, taking notice that he was standing a little too close to me watching as the sun rays made his hair shine since he's tall, a shadow cast over him, making him look mystical, just like in a manga, or something.
I gulped, feeling my cheeks and my heart hammer.
"Damn you for looking good in anything, even the sun agrees with you," I said out loud, causing me to cover my mouth while flinching.
"Huh?" Naru lowers his head, arching a brow.
"Nothing, just nothing, so what's the first lesson?" I nervously asked, rubbing my hands.
Naru stares at me as though he didn't believe me, but doesn't comment on it. He has just returned his gaze up towards the horizon, crossing his arms.
"Sure, let's go with that.." he whispers, not noticing a sly smirk passing his lips.
Naru POV
My words, seemed harsh when I told her about my parents, I didn't mean to say it in those words or anything in those lines. I didn't mean it at all. She doesn't know, how tormenting it is for me to even think about it.
I know, how they might feel right now. Mai just doesn't understand that. Even the slightest ease of letting go can break me. Not sure how it will affect me, but a fear that I won't admit. So I have to place this mask on to hide it. I don't want to think of how my parents are sick and worried about me. Not even for a second. I just want to think that they will find us.
Yet, Mai manages to see right through me. She knew that I'm just putting on a face, but her words fit her perfectly she the opposite of me.
I'm not good with words like that. So I just let Mai be my speaker. From what I wanted to say, she'll say it for me. From everyone I have met over my twenty years, Mai seems to be the only person, closer to my real self, than anyone.
I didn't know how much loneliness she felt. Never, even for a second thought about her inner feelings, of how she felt. I tend to forget, not only I lost someone close, but she as well. I have my parents, she has no one. I feel like a prick. I have no idea, how to comfort her. Since I don't know how to comfort myself. I'll try to work on that.
"There." I pointed out towards my right, while we sat on the edge of the rocks, with a book on hand. Mai squinted her eyes, trying to figure out what I'm pointing at. W
"It's just... Wait, is that a whale?" Mai gasps out, watching the huge fins rise from the surface of the ocean. We sat on the flat surface of the rocks which over peaks the ocean.
"No, it's a shark... Is shark season or something." I whispered, watching a couple of dozen of white sharks circling, in the far right of the ocean. I move my head, but my sight landed on Mai's bare feet. She just swings them as though she was a little child, not a care in the world. I felt odd about that wishing I can be that at ease.
I have to admit, is quite peaceful, not worrying about work or anything, it feels if I dare to say it... Nice.
"How would you know that?"
"I don't, but is common sense, if there's many of them over there." I pointed at my right side. Mai follows, then her eyes widen to see a few dozen swimming near the coast of the ocean.
"Wow, I'm surprised that we have a good view of the ocean from this point. I'm glad you decided to come back up here to inspect the premises. Anything else? You know, it's strange." she paused, biting her lower lip.
"Strange?"
"Yes, strange, the storm, it didn't destroy anything out of the ordinary, no floods. No trees laying on the ground, just some branches, that's all." Mai paused, taking in a big breath.
"It just attracted those souls, then it lasted for three days. Luckily we stocked up pretty good and when it was not raining, we manage to go to the bathroom. That might explain, why I had that fever." Mai explains.
Mai looking up at me then looks up at the sky. The sudden memory of that night came back to me.
####
Last Night:
Placing my book down, I lifted my gaze, to see Mai shivering in her sleep. Then I glanced down at my hand, where she touched earlier, just staring at it.
Why did I tremble, when she touched my hand. That never happened before?' I thought, frowning at the situation.
I never trembled. Just the simple touch of hers, made me tremble. So I hid it from her, but was I about to kiss her? I lost all reason when I pinned her against the tree and felt her soft skin. Her words pained me and I wanted to show her it was okay. I.. I'm an idiot.
She's making me feel strange things. Even more now than in the past. Why did she lean into my touch?
So I stood, moving towards her. Sitting on the edge, watching her body tremble. I picked up the fallen half tore blanket, and re-wet it from the bucket then rinsed it out.
"There's not a day, I can go at worry.. Ever since I met you. You have been my constant headache, and yet.." I paused, placing the blanket on her forehead.
"And yet... I have no idea, why you're a big mystery to me. The mystery of why I feel at ease when I'm around you and don't have to place a mask." I whispered.
Suddenly, Mai grabs my hand by surprise and flutters her eyes open.
"Mama," she barely whispers, noticing that her eyes are a little clouded. I stood still.
"I'm..." I started, but Mai groans moving forward, dropping my hand.
"Mama... I missed you.." she whimpers. Then it dawns on me. She's hallucinating. Affect from the fever. I just kept quiet watching as the tears now flow down her eyes, down her cheeks.
"Mama... I want to tell you many things that happened to me. How lonely I feel since you died. Funny how I can see ghosts, I can't see you." she hiccups, moving closer to me.
"I met a guy. Two years ago. He's ignorant and thinks too much of himself and projects coldness. Yet, he gave me a job and a family. My friends are my family. They help fill the void. You know even though this man isn't the best in the world. He is not that bad. He lost someone as well, someone close to him." I glanced down, while Mai glances up at me. Her eyes turning red from the unshed tears that gather in her eyes.
"He has... His brother.." I answered. Mai nodded, wiping her cheeks now that her tears rolled down. Then she takes a hold of my arm, wrapping it around with her hand. I relaxed a bit, as she leans her head against it.
"Yes... I have dreams about him. I thought he was Naru, my boss. I call him that, Narcissist for short. Either way. I just wanted to tell you." she paused, leaning her head on my shoulder.
"What? I played along with her.
"I don't hate him, I feel sorry for him, I do.." She whispers, making my eyes widen a little.
"You feel sorry for him?" I asked, now wanting to know the real reason. Then Mai shakes her head, now hiccupping.
"It hurts, my heart still hurts. No one knows, but. How can you fix a broken heart? Even though I tried to move on... Mama, I miss you... I wish you were here with me. Are you okay? Are you in heaven? How can I move on? If I'm shattered. Even if I place a happy face. I still ache so much from the inside.." she gave a little thump on her chest.
"I'm okay, no need to worry, I'm at peace watching over you. Why do you ache? Time heals all." which is true.. Even though I ache from my own brother's death. The pain isn't as bearable as it was in the beginning. Yet... It still hurts.
"Time... That's hard to say. I still ache, because you are gone. I have no one. I ache because he thinks, that I..." she paused, taking a big breath.
He? Who is he? She did admit, she never had kissed a guy, did she dated someone, while I was in England last year?
Okay, why do I feel uncomfortable?
"I'm happy that I got to see you. I'm very tired Mama... Sleepy." she yawns, surprising me once again, she moves down, placing her head on my lap.
I felt a huge lump on my throat, as she snuggled.
"Mama... Good night, I love you." she closed her eyes, taking a hold of my hand, and places it on her right cheek not before kissing it. I just glance down, not knowing what to do. For the remainder of the night, Mai slept on my lap, while I just place the wet blanket on her forehead, watching as her shivering die down.
I time to time brush my fingers through her hair, watching her cheeks puff out, not noticing that my eyes soften, just feeling at peace watching her sleep.
For a reason, this felt peaceful, right and above all things, one of the unexplained experiences I have ever experienced with a girl.
Before I moved her towards her bed. I leaned down, and tug a loose hair behind her ear, and whispered.
"Mai.." then I told her what I feel, feeling Mai move slightly, and flutters her eyes open for one last time.
"Mama... I'm happy, to hear that." she smiles, and then my eyes widen when she moves up and kisses my right cheek very tenderly.
Making my heart jump in a blissful matter.
"That's good to hear," she whispers, then went back to sleep. I just lifted my hand on my cheek that she just kissed, and frowned.
"I just hope you don't remember it."
###
End of Memory:
"They could have caused the storm. Anything in the supernatural world is possible, we have seen that many times." I concluded, snapping out of my memory. At least she doesn't remember it, and that's a relief.
I felt Mai shiver at the mention.
"Scary! I wonder why though? If their goal to scare us, well, they did a pretty good darn job.." she admits.
"About the man you saw that night," I began, to see if I can conclude. Mai lifted her gaze, to look straight at me.
"Yes?"
"Besides, what you told me the other night, anything else, that seems strange?"
Mai gave me a questioning look but then shook her head, looking again beyond the horizon.
"Nothing, in particular, he said that he doesn't know why his wife loves him and had his child. And also..." Mai paused, when she turns her head, causing her to gasp out.
"Mai?"
"Err, nothing, I thought I felt someone behind us," she admits. Turning around, I didn't see anything, but for a reason, I had a bad feeling that we are being watched in the shadows.
"I think it's time to go, it's getting late already," standing up, Mai glances out towards the horizon once again.
"Right," Mai lifts herself, turning around, so we started to head down. Slowly the more we climb down the rocks, the eerie feeling seems to lighten. I felt myself shivering just slightly from the sudden breezy cold.
"Okay, ignoring the fact, that it's gotten colder, how are we going to find East?" I can tell Mai just wanted to get rid of this uneasy feeling which I'm having myself.
"I thought of a way, I just need to look inside the house, to see if I can find it or not. I have to look more into the books." I shrugged, really wanted to know, what's the first clue. What can help us, to free these souls, and let us get out of here?
Mai stops in her tracks, rubbing her arms. Ever since we became stranded, in this God-forsaken land, Mai has been doing that lately.
She lifts her head, to look up at the trees.
"Ne, Naru.." she whispers, taking a hold of my hand, taking notice that's she shivering.
I didn't reject her. I just simply grasp it, making her eyes widen, yet, she tightens the hold. Her hand seems so small compare to mine, and warm. Very warm and soft. It was meant to fit perfectly with my hand. Which is odd.
"Yes?"
"Promise me if anything happens, you won't leave me alone on this island. Please, don't ever leave my side. You're the only person I have right now. And... I have this terrible feeling... That.." she stops talking taken noticing that her voice trembles were violent that she couldn't form words. I glanced down, making my heart jump uncomfortable, from her words.
"That you'll leave me. I don't know... I'm scared." she finishes it. With tears rolling down. My heart clenched.
"I won't leave you, Mai, remember something, you're the only one I have right now as well, and you can't leave me either," I admit to her, since is the truth.
Her eyes widen in surprise by my words but nods while wiping her cheeks but then gave me a shaky laugh as she tightens her hold on my hand.
"It's weird, to hear those words from you. Yet. I understand perfectly. Living here, alone is scary, and can make anyone go crazy. It just I have this strange feeling and it's making my heart quaver. I can't afford to lose you at all."
I tighten my grip on Mai's hand in return at least transmit her comfort, as she did earlier to me.
"I hope your wrong Mai. I am hoping you are wrong.." I admit to her, knowing very well that she might be right. Mai gave me a long look and nods.
"I hope so too... I won't leave your side.." without thinking, I cup her cheek with my free hand and caress her cheek gently causing her to lean into my touch once again fluttering her eyes close.
Why do I want you always to be by my side? For the rest of my life?