Disclaimer: I Don't own anything

Chapter Six: What is Love?

Mai POV

It's been three weeks since we became stranded on this island.

Three weeks, without human contact, and the hauntings died down for a bit which I was grateful about. We have been exploring the island, little by little, and mapping it out so we won't be lost.

"You know, I had a strange dream," I admit, watching Naru pace side by side in front of me, while I sat on the floor inside the treehouse, holding into a diary which I found in the stack of books a few days ago. The owner of this diary is named Ayame.

"Dream?" Naru stops in his tracks to look down at me, knowing he wants the details.

"Oh, not that type of dream." I wave my hand, Naru arched a brow, but then returns at his pacing.

"You don't want to hear it?" I question him. He stops again and looks at me.

"Will it help us?" He asks. I shook my head looking at the floor.

"I don't know, but it has nothing to do with the ghosts or that woman, but it was strange," I admit. I felt Naru sit in front of me, capturing my attention. I lift my gaze to see his icy blue eyes looking at me as though he's ready to hear it. I nervously rub my fingers, looking down again.

"I don't remember it as much, as I do when it has to do with a case. This dream. Seemed peaceful. Loving.." I started to explain.

"Does it has to do with the other's past life?"

"Not sure. Felt like me, well I'm not sure though. There was this man sitting on the ground with her. He seems to love the girl a lot and they had a child, not sure if it's a boy or a girl, it was muddy to see clearly their faces, but maybe is the same child I saw in the vision?" I shrugged.

"Okay, why is it strange?" he asks lifting his right leg. I blushed, tighten the hold of the book.

"That's the thing. It didn't feel like it was them. Some other people, but a little younger than the guy I saw, yet older than us. About eight years, not sure how to explain it. I couldn't see their faces. It was a small flash... Yet, they were happy and content in this very island." I shrugged.

"Happy?"

"Yes and very much in love. Like um. For many years. I could feel it. It was a type of love that went through a lot but at the end of the day. They always know, they have each other no matter what." I explained, Naru simply blinks at me.

"Anything else?"

"Well, the woman that was caressing her husband's hair while she watches him hold their baby, then she turned to face me, I couldn't make out her face, but she had long hair, I can feel her smile and said something to me," I told him.

"What?" Naru asks, getting curious. I blushed harder, not sure why and rub my palm against my leg.

"She said it's worth the journey and sacrifices, just hold on. Then she turns back to her husband as I watch him lift his gaze smiling so sweet to her and she leans down to kiss his lips making him return it, then he mouthed something to her, but I couldn't hear it. He suddenly turns to look at me and I swear I saw him smile at me so sweetly causing my heart to jump. Then the baby in his arms began to squirm. That's when my heart felt heavy and I ended up crying. It was so sweet and loving. I don't know why, but it gave me strength." I added while pressing my hand on my chest feeling my heart race.

That man looks familiar to me though. He looks handsome, but I couldn't see who it was or that girl. Yet I can feel it, the love of both of them, it was so strong, so pure.

Naru captures his chin, in deep thought.

"It can be the other couple. Since you did mention that there's a baby in the past, but her words seem off though. 'Worth the journey and sacrifices, just hold on?' What does that mean?" he wonders. I licked my lower lip, feeling my heart jump a little.

"I don't know, but I admit it felt good to have a sweet dream that made me feel secure. I can sense that the man loved the woman, as well she did to him. Since they were the only ones on the island. That's romantic.." I lifted my legs, wrapping my arms around it.

Naru just stares at me.

"Love? What is love for you?" Naru asks out of the blue. I stare at him, not believing he just asked that, but either way I just shrugged.

"Love is different for people. There's a parent's love, a friend's love, and there's children's love. There are many forms of love." I paused, noticing that his blue eyes intensified, as I explained.

"For you?" he simply asks. I just stare at him surprised by his question.

Okay? Why does he want to know?

"Why do you want to know?" I asked him.

"Just curious. It can help since you have been having this strange vision and such." He shrugs. I didn't believe him, but either way.

"Err... Well. Answer me this first... How do you preside love?" I asked him. Naru blankly blinks at me but shrugs his shoulders.

"I love my parents, I do admit that. I don't show it as much as I should. Besides that, I don't love anyone else." I just stare at him, digesting his words.

"Do you know, what it feels to, like someone? Wait, you don't love Lin?" I'm trying to understand his point of view.

"Lin is like my mentor and I like him as a close friend. Like? As you said, you like me?" His words cause my heart to stop for a brief second as though a knife pierced through.

"You can say that.. Remember, you rejected me, saying I love Gene." I shrugged, trying to not feel the pain, that seemed to reopen.

Damn. I shouldn't have started this conversation.

"I never said you love him. I just simply stated, Me or Gene. That's all.,. So what's the difference between love and like?" He asks. I stare at him.

Wait, so he doesn't understand completely what I meant? Or am I reading this wrong?

"Are you sure, you're a genius?"

"Mai. Just answer the question," he growls a little, but notice that he wants to know.

"Well... Liking someone is different from loving someone. Is different for a lot of people. For me, my heart starts to race and I feel very nervous around that person. I always want to see him and always want to make him happy. Even if we do fight.."

"And love? What is the difference? I'm only asking, cause I have never loved anyone before." He shrugs. I gulped, placing my hand on my chest, feeling my heart race, not daring to look at him.

"It's almost the same as like but is doubled. You feel comfortable around each other. You are open to them making the other half your bested friend. You want to place yourself las, and place them first. You want to spend with each other the rest of your life. Also, you want to have a family, so that love can continue. You want to get more intimate with each other desiring each other, and only each other. Do lots of things together, and rely on each other, he becomes my source of life, and I hope I can be the same for him." l

I try my best to describe what is love, as I lift my gaze, Naru is staring at me with that same look he gave me last time when pinned me against the tree. My heart began to race once again.

"Do you feel at ease with him? And want to protect him no matter what?" He adds. I nodded softly.

"Yes.."

"Have you fallen in love with anyone before?" he asks, moving his arms, placing his palm firmly on the ground. I gulped heavily, nodding my head.

With you Naru. I love you. Now that we spend more time like this, is clear as day, I'm crazy for you.

Oh, how I wish to tell him this.

I tried to forget him, for the past year, and yet... My heart doesn't let me. So I gulped heavily once again, holding in my cry. I need to be strong.

"Yes," I admitted. Naru rose a brow, noticing that his blue eyes narrow as though irritation pass through him.

"Who?"

"No one you know... Someone far better than you." I bitterly told him, feeling a little angry at him that if I told him, he'll shrug me off. I can't admit I do love him. It will ruin the friendship, we are building, and it will be very awkward. Naru frowns, lifting his gaze above me, staring out the window.

"That's good. Hopefully, when we do leave this place, you can tell him.." he grumbles under his breath as he stood. My hand started to tremble.

Why did I fell in love with a man like this?

"Hey... What about you.." I raise my arm changing the subject a bit. Naru stops in his tracks and turns to look at me.

"You just gave me an idea. Not a hundred percent. I will tell you when my feelings are sorted out." he explains, then he goes up the stairs. My whole body turns cold.

I lifted the diary to cover my face and let my tears roll down my cheeks, as I covered my mouth, to not make noise.

He likes someone else.., Masako? Why does it hurt so much? He admitted he doesn't love anyone, but he likes someone.

I silently cried, wanting the earth to eat me up.

O.o

That same night, I haven't spoken to Naru, but I did keep reading the diary.

"It's been six months since we became stranded on this island. So strange it is. Time here feels like it stopped, and I can tell the months, and the days. I met this man, he's a doctor, he's an escort of the captainship. He was the one the discovered this treehouse. Strange very strange indeed. I have to keep looking into it. I just want to go home, and see my family." I read closing the book.

I stood stretching my aching legs, but my eyes felt so swollen from the crying that I had to rub them.

I shouldn't cry anymore. I have no idea how many tears I have shed for him. He doesn't even care.

Patting my cheeks, I look back at the diary to get my mind distracted.

Six months. I wonder, if this Ayame, is the same girl from my dreams? The mother of the baby and wife?

I wondered while I headed for the second floor, to get some shut-eye.

Upon reaching the second floor. I found Naru sitting in his regular spot sitting against the wall, sleeping in a deep slumber, his book on the side of him.

Bending down in front of him, I stretched my fingers and gently brush his bangs out of his eyes

"Naru, go and sleep in your bed. You're going to get a cramp." I nudged his shoulder. Naru flutters his eyes open then he rubs them.

"I dozed off. I found a way to find east," he tells me, as a yawn escapes his lips.

I gave him a soft smile, placing my weight on the heel of my feet. Wrapping my arms around my knees.

"You did? How?"

"At first, I wanted to use a needle. And since we haven't found one. We can use the sun.." My eyes widen.

"Of course, the sun. It can direct us in the right way and I think, Ayame, is the doctor's wife." I added. Naru moves forward, getting a little too close to me, making my heart jump.

"Ne?"

"What have you found out?" he asks.

"Nothing much. She's from Japan and she set sail to go to the States and the ship crashed, leading them here.. She met the doctor, which he's American.." I shrugged.

"Alright, let's go and sleep, we have to get extra early before the sun goes up so we can see where is the east." his eyes linger a little longer than normal as he tells me, at this point, my heart is hammering against my ribs.

"Naru.." My voice came out in a whisper, not noticing that Naru is gulping heavily as well. His hands start to tremble as well. Yet, he hides them from me once again.

"How does he treat you?" his question caught me off guard. I blink, trying to register what he just asked.

"Who? What?" I asked, bewildered. Naru moves slightly closer to me, my breath hitched, feeling his soft breath brush against my heated skin.

"The man, you love.." he whispers. I stare at him, not sure how to answer him. My heart, and my mind screaming pure torture, and heartbreak.

"He's good when he wants to be. I can say, he's there for me when I'm in trouble. He doesn't know that I love him.." I told him giving him small hints.

Naru lowers his eyes, I just thought that he just glanced at the ground. His eyes landed on my lips for a brief second, then raise them once again.

"Is he handsome? Or does he knows that you attract so many dangers?" he asks, noticing that his voice turns deeper, almost quivering in a way.

I gulped, moving forward, getting closer to him. That spell came over us once again. Is different here, than we are in Japan.. It's like, here' my feelings are twice as noticeable.

I can feel more it's more heightened. This man in front of me makes me feel so nervous, and yet, this unknown feeling. A new one, that I have never felt before washed over me.

"Yes, he does and doesn't mind, and what do looks have to do with anything? I met lots of handsome men, and none attracts me like that." I asked.

Naru lifted his arm, placing his hand on my arm sending electricity down my spine, from his simple blissful touch. Naru eyes narrow, feeling the same.

"Nothing. I was just wondering to see if he doesn't beat me.." he arched a brow, giving me a crooked smile which made it to his blue eyes causing me to gasp.

That same feeling I had before, when I first saw him smile, two years ago. Happiness, and when I learned that I had a crush on him and the second one is irritation. Once again, this man and his looks.

"Not all men are like you. He's simple. He's the total opposite side of you. He's kind and doesn't treat me as though I don't worth anything, that is not an assistant that is only good to make tea's, and solve mysteries. He's very considerate of my feelings. Also... He appreciates me. Unlike you." I told him wishing that was true.

His eyes narrow.

"Appreciate? You think I don't appreciate you?" His voice sounds thin and not believing this. I gulped, knowing very well that I just hit a nerve point. Yet. I didn't shy away. No. He has to hear this.

"Did I stutter? I don't feel appreciated by you. Not once have you said thank you to me. You treat me as though, I'm just a doormat. That's why I let go of you. I stopped liking you when you coldly rejected me." I bare out my soul

Another part of me felt lighter. I think I just wanted to get back at him.

Part of it is true, but the other half is not. I'm weak. I still love you. Like you. God, please help me. He was never meant for me.

My inner self cried out. Naru gave me one last look, before letting me go.

"Interesting, you think that. How in the world can you read, what I think. Last time I checked, there's no such thing as mind-reading at least, what I know of. You clearly understand, what I have thought about you all these years." I have no idea if he was being sarcastic, or being serious, all I knew, I felt my tears prickling on the corner of my eye.

"Oh, as you said, I'm a mind reader. Come on, it's completely obvious. You have more feelings for Masako, that's me. You dated her.." I snapped, then my eyes widen, closing my mouth.

"That's because she was blackmailing me and nothing happened between us... Why am I even explaining things to you? You know me better than that Mai."

Nothing happened, I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry Naru. I felt a bit of guilt tingling in my heart.

He stood, feeling the atmosphere become too thick for my liking. I just look at him, watching him walk around me.

"Sleep. We have a long day tomorrow. Next time, don't assume things. Just because I do things, doesn't mean I feel them at all." I blinked at him, trying to comprehend his words.

Without a word, I turned around, heading for my bed. Letting the tears slip down my cheeks. Getting on my adobe, I went under the covers, trying hard to not cry.

I heard Naru, shuffle in the background, then I heard him lay down. Clinching into my blanket.

I feel relief and guilt. What's wrong with me?

So I took all the courage I could muster and spoke.

"I'm sorry for jumping in conclusion. At times I feel as though you don't appreciate me. I know I'm not the greatest. Can I least have a thank you or something? That would make me happy." I told him, trying to ease the mood. Naru remained quiet, for a long time. I just wiped my face, looking at the wall.

"I have this odd feeling." He started, I wanted to turn to face him, but I stopped myself from doing it.

"Huh? What feeling?"

"Like I said earlier. I am trying to sort something out. Since I don't have work to worry about right now. I have many things to think about. Just give me time. We need to keep everything in peace."

"Okay, I respect that. I just told you what I feel, that's all.." I hiccuped a little. Then I heard Naru sigh.

"I asked because I have never been in love. To tell you the truth, I'm not good with my feelings or rather explain them. I'm not like you. I have issues. I have to admit I do have a girl in mind." this time Naru turns to face me, just watching me while his eyes soften, while my own heart leaped painfully.

"Oh, you do?" I asked him, taking notice my voice is thick.

"Hmm... I'm not sure how to express it. I just know that she won't leave my minNaru'snd Mai.." he whispers my name, causing my heart to tremble, of how soft his tone is as he called out my name.

"Yes?" I gulped.

"For the record, I never took you for granted, after I got to know you more and more. So be at ease in that, I'm not a person to take other people for granted." My eyes widen at his confession.

I turned to face him, but it was too late, he was already facing his back towards me, with closed eyes. I gulped, yearning to go up to him, and wrap my arms around him.

"Thank you, and about that girl. Naru are you awake?"

"Hmm." He answers.

"About that girl, do I know her?" for a reason, I wanted to know even though it's a scary question. Naru turns his head and opens his right eye, to stare at me. I cover my face with my blanket, afraid to look at him.

"I'm sure you do, she's the most... How can I put it? Nicest and sweetest person you can ever meet. She touches a lot of peoples' hearts and goes off her way to help anyone or any stranger. She's very adorable and very warm." I have met many girls like that. Yet whom? My heart hurts. It feels like it's being ripped into two.

It can be one of our past clients or something in those lines.

"Oh? Well, she must be special to you, if you think that way of her." I told him. Naru nods gently.

"Special is the right word," he murmurs under his breath.

"Oh. Okay... If anything. I can help... Good night." I turned around, never notice that my voice became that thick. Naru gave me one last look, yet, a hurt expression passes in his eyes.

"Special is the right word that fits you perfectly, Mai," he whispers so small, that I didn't catch it.

0.0

"That's the most beautiful sunrise I have seen, but are you sure this is the east?" I asked for the hundredth time, the next day, early in the morning, the sun just rising, and I have to admit, it was blissful to watch the sunrise with Naru. It felt peaceful, we watched it from the beach, to be honest, we got up earlier than normal since we don't have a sense of time at what time the sun will rise.

Since we have gotten up, Naru and me, have just talked about our trip and packing just in case. We avoided speaking of last night's conversation.

I wonder who's that girl that is in Naru's mind? Now it's bothering me. It shouldn't. It shouldn't.

Naru lifted his gaze at the morning sky, with a large plain paper with some black charcoal at hand and since we found some dark brown bags inside the trunks last week, we use them to carry things.

"Yes, I'm sure. The sun is pointing at the east over the horizon of the ocean, so we follow the sun." He points at his right side away from the stream.

"I'm not sure about this. This is going to be the first time that we leave our house. I mean treehouse. What if the others find us, while we are searching for this clue. We don't even know what exactly is that clue or where to head." I admit while moving a little closer to him.

Naru lowers his gaze and looks straight ahead of us.

"We must try. I doubt we will miss anything since it's been almost a month since we came to this island. Like you said time seems off here. I doubt we'll be rescued any time soon until we find this ghost, and put a stop to him." He simply said.

"That makes sense, then let's go.." I chimed causing Naru, to nod and we started to head out.

For the next few hours, we adventure out into the unknown on the island.

Naru POV

"Look, it looks so beautiful. Breathtaking." Mai gasped out, while we reach the edge of a narrow road, that overlooks the stream, upper head. It's filled with overgrown trees and green scenery.

I have to admit, she's right. The colors are so vivid. It's beyond anything I have seen before, almost like a fantasy show. I watch some tropical birds fly by, while a few wild boars drank from the stream.

"There are more monkeys, and is that heard of boars?"

Mai gasped out, pointing at the right side.

"It is. We need to be careful, that means there's more of them nearby. I think where we are living now is less dangerous, than this part of the island. Since we haven't encountered them in this pack. The more we walk deeper into the island, we spot more and more.." I explained. Mai turns her gaze towards me, watching as the sun reflex from her eyes.

I felt nervous for some odd reason as last night's conversation came into my mind.

She thought I don't appreciate her.

I have to admit, there's time I took advantage of her. All because I had a purpose, but that doesn't mean I didn't appreciate her. No, I don't feel like that. Not even when I met her. I was mad at her, yes, but I'm not that low. I know how to appreciate people. That's why I taunt her, so she can push herself to get better. Also, it was fun.

Then again I lost her. She admitted she fell in love with someone else. Is that the same guy that broke her heart? Why do my heartaches? Why does it hurt to think about it? Doesn't she know, that it hurts? I'm not sure how to place this feeling, but I didn't like it. I don't like the fact that she fell for another man. If I ever see him I have to kill him or break his face.

That seems like a good idea. No one is allowed to touch Mai unless is me.

I stopped in my tracks, trying to recollect my thoughts.

Since when did I become possessive over her? I mean.. I'm not sure if I love her, yesterday conversation confirmed that. I don't like her, nor love her. I just find her special. Too special to me, that I don't like it at all. I don't like to be attached myself to people. Yet, this girl has my mind in fritz.

When I have gotten close to her last night. The urge to kiss her hit me hard when my eyes landed on her plump lips last night. To prove that she wouldn't affect me at all. Yet again a small part of me just wanted to taste her to feel her and to have her in my arms and be the first man ever to kiss her, before that bastard ever have the chance. I want to be the first man in her life, and the last.

What the hell is wrong with me?

"Naru," Mai snaps me out of my dark thoughts as she grabs my hand to point in front of us.

Looking ahead, I saw another narrow path of a fork road. I heard Mai groan. I wanted to get this over with. I'm not conferrable, on sleeping on the ground of unknown territory.

"Now, which way?" Mai whispers moving forward. I went with her, crossing my arms.

"Didn't she gave you a clue? We can't split up, since we have no idea." I concluded.

Mai touches her chin with her index finger, thinking then claps catching me by surprise by her attitude.

"Eye, for an Eye, and a Tooth for a Tooth," Mai told me.

I stare at the fork road, trying to find anything.

"Maybe that is the clue.." Mai lifted her gaze, then her eyes widen.

"Oh. I forgot to mention. I just remembered, I forgot to tell you the most important part." she snaps her fingers, but I did notice that sadness pass her eyes.

"What?"

"Gene. He can't be on this island. That Lady told me that he's forbidden." she explains.

I mentally groaned.

"Again, you tell me this now, since it's been some time?" I felt agitated by that.. Mai frowns, lowering her head down as a little child ashamed.

"Sorry. I forgot, but it felt like it was erased or something.. I just remembered, because of the clue. You know, the more we spend here the more it gets hard to remember things I mean from.." I cleared my throat, making Mai, stop in mid-sentence.

"From our regular lives.." I finished for her.

"Exactly. I can remember everyone. Yet, the life we live is slowly disappearing from my memory. The constant stress, and going to school and work, seem to diminish in my mind. Like is all worthless now yet is not. It like numbed out." she explains.

"I feel the same," I admitted, now that I think of it, is like my memories back in Japan is just a distant dream, even in England.

"We'll figure that later. So.. Eye for an Eye, and a tooth for a tooth.." I murmured under my breath, squinting my eyes to see if anything can help us. On the fork road, each is identical. Trees, and dirt road. Then Mai gasps pointed in her right side.

"Look Naru. Doesn't that look like a tooth?" Mai asks, taking a small step in front of me. Moving behind her, I tilted forward, to see a tree, that looks more like the shape of a tooth. Then Mai gasps in horror, when she takes a huge step backward, only to slam against my chest.

"What?" I lower my gaze, since I'm way taller than her, I had a perfect view of the top of her head. Mai lifted her gaze to look at me with frantic eyes, and fear.

"Eye." she only said. Raising my gaze, I look around, to find nothing, but Mai takes a hold of my arm, feeling her shake.

"Animal eye.." she whispers. Pointing at the ground, a few feet away from us. I follow her finger, only to see a corpse of a Boar lying down on the right side, not in the road though. I saw one of his eyes laying on the ground, next to the tooth-looking tree.

"I think we found our destination." I simply told her, going around her, moving towards the road, Mai moves closer to me, to look at the discomposing body while some flies flying around the dead boar's head.

I just ignore the fact. Mai covers her mouth and nose with her small hand since it was giving off an awful smell.

"Poor, Boar! I wonder who did this. The eyes, though. It looked like someone ripped them apart." She whispers, taking a hold of my arm once again.

"Maybe some other animal. I would say that the boar died of natural causes" I pointed out.

"Aren't you grossed out, or concern?" Mai asks.

"Of course I am. Whoever did this, can come after us and gross-out, no I have seen worse.." I shrugged, and one is seeing my brother dying. I shivered a little when Mai felt that.

"Naru," she whispers so low, that I barely heard her.

"Are you?" I asked, trying to change the subject, and trying to get my mind out of things. Mai lifts her gaze, arching a brow.

"Are you what?" she asks confused.

"Grossed out." I finished.

"Yes. Yet. I feel pity for it. What a terrible way to die." she tightens her hold on me, while we finally passed the boar itself.

"So the ghost lady knew about the boar. That's why she said that. Now, for that clue.." Mai whispers, looking around the trees, to see if she can find anything.

Then silence came over us.

About two hours later, we kept on walking down the path (of course taking breaks here and there,) taking notice that that the sky began to get dimmer and dimmer while I spotted the ending of the trail. So we went through it, to pass a few rocks and around a large log, that is in the middle of the road.

"Is it getting dark? I mean, we've been walking about three hours or so, it's barely the afternoon." Mai moves closer to me, breaking the silence. I stopped in my tracks, making her bounce back a little.

"Huh?" She glances up. I lifted my hand to point in front of me.

"I think I found that clue," I whispered, Mai, follows my finger then a gasp escapes her lips. In the middle of the forest, far from where we are, there's an open field, large enough to be a farm. Well mowed, as though someone mowed the lawn this morning, with a large circle in the middle.

"What the?" Mai steps forward, while I follow. Looking around, I took notice that the mountains are closer than normal.

"This is weird. Look Naru." she points at her right.

"The ocean. It overlooks the ocean." I mentioned after following Mai's finger., The ocean can be seen near the mountains, as you can see the drop, that spread more than normal. Mai shivered, rubbing her arms.

"I don't like it here. I don't get it. It feels so dark... Very dark." Mai whispers, I felt a little abnormal myself. Then again, I have to get to the bottom of this.

"Let's explore a little, before heading back," I suggested, moving towards the middle of the field. Mai follows me but surprises me when she grabs a hold of my hand. Her hand felt cold to the touch.

I look down at her, arching a brow, but didn't say anything to her, but held her hand tightly.

So we kept moving, heading for the middle of the field. Looking at the open field.

Mai glances down while tugging on my arm to capture my attention.

"Something is wrong. This is too perfect or something.. What did the lady want us to find? What clue?" she asks, but her eyes don't disconnect from the ground itself.

"Maybe someone lived here. Look." I pointed to my right, to see a collapsed house made out of wood, all on the floor. Mai follows, then she gasps, covering her mouth.

"Mai?" I asked. Mai doesn't answer me, but lets go of my hand and begin to walk towards the house. I just remained quiet and followed Mai.

Mai seems as though she's looking at something that I can't see, just like back in the treehouse. Her eyes clouded, when she turns around, she began to walk making me move to the side so she won't collide with me. I just followed her, to make sure she won't get in trouble.

"Who are you?" she questions in front of her.

Her powers are growing.

Then Mai yelp, taking a step back.

"No... Please!" She begs, then she covers her ears. With tears now running down her eyes.

My heart jumps in pure worry.

"Mai!" I called out, but it falls into deaf ears.

"Please, stop it. Don't harm them." She begs, getting on her knees, pleading. I bend down, taking a hold of her arm.

"Mai, snap out of it." I was now getting desperate.

Mai then surprises me, when a gush of cold air that seems to come from nowhere and went through us, but it was so powerful, that it made Mai's body be jerked back so violently, that she lands on the side of the ruined house.

"No, Mai!" running towards her. She hissed in pain, rubbing the back of her head, looking up as I slid into my knees, coming up to her.

I took a hold of her cheeks, causing her to look at me.

"Mai, snap out of it! Just look at me.." I urged her, as I use the back of my knuckles to caress her right cheek, trying to soothe her, to get her back to me.

Mai lifted her red eyes, do to the cries and finally her eyes return to her normal brown ones, finally looking at me.

"Ne, Naru.." her voice is soft-spoken, as she looks so happy to see me. She moves her bloody hand up, only to have her eyes close, and faint on my arms.

I sigh out of relief, that's she's back and not screaming, but she's hurt though. I didn't like that.

"What did you see?" I whispered to her while I place my arm under her legs, and the other on her back, and picked her up in my arms. Adjusting Mai... I turned to face the plain field and for a brief second, I saw a woman appear in front of us.

"Protect your soulmate, Oliver. I tried to block him before he hurt her. He won't stop until he gets what he wants. He wants both of you so he can finally be free. For your next Clue. Head for the West. The heart of a lion is stronger than a heart of a human." she said while looking down at Mai, then she smiles kindly at us.

"Soulmate? I mean, you're the lady that helps Mai, aren't you? Are you Ayame?" I guessed since she's helping her. Not the time to question her about this soulmate thing she speaks of.

"So rare now in days. Your brother was right. Ten and you shall be freed. Just hold on, it's going to be a long journey for both of you. I will try my best to help you two." she said avoiding my question, moving forward, now standing in front of me, the lady raises her transparent hand and cupped my cheek.

A cold sensation ran down my spine.

"Who are you?" I asked her, the woman's eyes soften.

"She would be about your age if I was alive. I wonder if she was ever happy? Was able to make a life." her eyes radiate pain at the mention.

"Your daughter?" I took a guess. The woman lowers her hand from my cheek and touches Mai's hair.

"I don't remember as much as I love to, Yet, she never left my mind. Mai reminds me so much of her." then she lifts her sight at me once again.

"Long difficult road is headed for you two. Just remember to stay close to each other and overcome it together. You two are the key to defeat him. Just don't let him trespass.." and with that, she disappears into the wind.

"Be blessed, my children." I heard her whisper into the air, as I glance down at Mai.

I wonder if we will ever leave this island, even after we solve this case?

Looking down at Mai's sleeping form, she snuggles on my chest. I felt my heart thump hard, but I shrugged it off and went around the logs, trying to leave this place as fast as I can.

Little did I know the wolf ghost stood in the middle of the plain fields, just watching us, as a dark aura surrounds him. He smirks at us as the lady appears next to him.

"You did good!" he tells her, lifting his head to see the lady.

She glances down at the wolf and gave him a dark unwanted look.

"They will stop you." she sneers. The wolf bickers of a laugh, and wave his tail.

"I have heard that story many times Ayame, it just a boring fairy tale, if they couldn't do it, what makes you think they can? Please do tell me a new one. That child, she just felt a little of my power. Now. Get rid of that damn charm in the treehouse, so I can go in." he demands. Ayame looks straight at where we were walking as a frown passes her lips.

"Then what fun would it be?" she simply told him causing the wolf to snort at her and just walks away as Ayame looks straight at us.

They are the only ones that can free us, and defeat you. They are different from the others. she thought and disappears into thin air.

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