Disclaimer: I Don't own Ghost Hunt at all
Chapter Eighteen: Hope
Naru POV
Seven years ago:
I was reading a thick book about hell and demons fluences us, my father bought it for me not so long ago. As I sat in my room near the window as the rays of the sunlight are my source of light with a hot cup of tea which was steaming on top of my small round table at arms reach of my right.
My room is rather comfortable, simple, with one bed, white walls, and the incense of herbal tea, rather tidy since I hate having a mess.
"Noll!" I heard when the door slams open abruptly and the light in my room turns one making me wince from the brightness, hurting my eyes; I lower the book to see Gene hoping on top of my bed, with a big smile on his face.
"Well, that goes my reading," I mumbled, placing the book on top of a round table and cross my arms to stare at my overjoyed older brother.
"Yes, Gene?" I arched a brow crossing my arms. Gene is knitting his brows together, placing his chin on the flat of his palms.
"Come on Noll, you're only fourteen, lighten up a little. I just came to ask if you want to go out." he shrugs while batting his puppy eyes at me.
"Not in the mood to play," I told him getting up from my chair, and sat next to my brother, and turn to look at him.
"Why? Come on." he uses his free hand to poke my arm.
"I have a headache," I told him the truth, for a reason lately I have been having them. Not sure why though.
"Again?" he moves to sit next to me. At times, when I see Gene, I feel like I see my reflection, but with a different personality, but to be honest, at the same time I feel at ease, I do love my brother.
"Yes."
"Have you been using your powers?" He asks noticing that his blue eye passes concern. I shook my head, looking down on my lap.
"No. But you have last night I heard you scream." I felt very bad for him. He keeps having dreams even if we aren't in a case.
"I'm so used to it, is like a part of me at this point." he frowns, slumping his shoulders looking down at his hands as though he was trying to avoid something.
"What's wrong?"
"I was invited to go to Japan in a few months." He explains, I leaned back on my bed placing my arms behind my head.
"Good."
"Not good, I want you to come." he imitates me as we both look at the ceiling.
"Hmm, You know I'm not up to traveling." I shrugged.
Gene turns his head and stares at me.
"I have a very bad feeling. I haven't told mom or dad. Frankly, I'm scared." he admits. I turn my head to stare at him. I can tell his blue eyes seems a little sad for some odd reason.
"Maybe because you're going on your own for the first time," I suggested.
"How do you know that?" He knitted his brows in confusion.
"You just asked me to go with you, so is obvious father and mother aren't going." Gene pouts turning his gaze back at the ceiling.
"I have been having a dream. A strange dream lately." he changes the subject.
"Hmm?" I pushed on.
"In my dream, I keep seeing this younger girl. Very pretty girl. She has short brown hair very short, and white skin, with the most reddish-brown eyes I have ever seen." he explains.
"Means you want a girlfriend." I teased him feeling Gene hit my arm.
"Not like that. It's just..." he went silent while I felt him move of position and he leans on his forearm, looking down at me I turned my gaze to look up at him and rose a brow.
"Well?"
"Well, is hard to explain. She seems very important to me and you. She keeps saying something to me."
"What's that?" I was now curious about this information. Gene is sensitive clairvoyance so he knows what he's saying. I learn to never doubt him. Not even a second.
"She keeps yelling. She told me that she'll find me soon and that she'll take care of Naru for me." I blinked confused by his words.
"Naru? Who's that? Wait, is familiar with my nickname, Noll, is in Japanese?" I sat up to look at his face.
Gene shrugs, lifting himself.
"But look for you? Odd to say that, you're right there" I told him, not having a good feeling about the girl's words. Gene shrugs at me.
"I have no idea what she meant by that. She just said she'll take care of him for me. That she'll help him find me. I think for some odd reason we are bound. Maybe she has the same gift as me?"
"That could be, not everyone has the same gift, we'll have to see how it goes then." for a reason a deep weird feeling pulse in my heart. Gene moves his body towards me and shrugged my shoulder and pouts at me.
"I'm bored, there's nothing to do. Let's go do something. Just drink some pills for your headache. Please!" he takes a hold of my arm and swung it like a child. I stare at him with a stoic look.
"You're the big brother, why are you acting as though I am?" I question as I bit my lips to not laugh at his childish antics.
Gene chuckles, lifting his hand, and ruffle my hair, causing me to flinch, but he looks very serious as he told me.
"Cause your my little brother and you're too uptight. It's my responsibility to lighten you up. Or not, you will never even get married." I just rolled my eyes at him.
"Have you seen how many girls flirt with us?"
"Flirt is one thing, knowing the real you is a different point of view. I know there's going to be one girl that will overlook your looks, and see the real you and knows how to live with it. I know you will love her back. I just have that gut feeling. I have lived with you since our mother's stomach. So I know you too well, that's so freaking creepy." he shivered at the mention.
"You're so hilarious," I replied dryly.
I took a breath, even though Gene and I are different, I am very attached to Gene. Yes at times we argue, and such like normal brothers, but not to the point of hating each other. We always do everything together, even mess with our mom, by switching our names, since sometimes she gets confused. My father, well, he already knows us a little too well. So we try to avoid that game with him, but we do pull pranks on him from time to time.
I love Gene, he's my best friend in this world and my only blood relative that I have in this world.
"Fine. What do you want to go?" I move around my bed as I heard Gene go "Yes!" He celebrated as he lifts his right leg and pulled his arm back with a fisted hand.
I smiled at that, but I rubbed my neck.
Naru? Wonder why did that girl say that to him? Does it have to do with the bad feeling that Gene is having?
My mind began to work until I felt my brother pouncing on top of me, causing me to rub my arm in pain as he swings his arm around my shoulders and gives me a big smile causing me to smile back at him.
"You choose anywhere to go." he laughs, as we headed out. I nodded, but now, my heartfelt unease.
"Let's go to the lake Gene, let's go for a swim, it's been so long since we last time we went," I told him. He nods at me, as he forces a kiss on my cheek causing me to cringe. Gene laughs and looks at the door before heading out he held me tighter.
"Noll, truly, if anything happens, I want to tell you, I love you my little brother and I will always look over you," he said. I rolled my eyes at him once again as I wrap my arm around his neck and pushed him down and rub his head in a playful matter.
"You talk too much," Gene began to tackle me to get out of the situation and for the first time in a few months, we both began to play around, knowing that this was our normal time when we spent time together.
Please let this bad feeling be just my imagination, I don't want anything bad to happen to Eugene.
–-
–-
–-
I awoke with sweat covering me from head to toe. I rubbed my eyes as I sat up, and took in a big breath.
Lowering my hands I look up to see myself inside of an old run-down hut. Nothing, in particular, popped out, since there was nothing.
I took a hold of my chest as soon as pain pulsed in me.
Why did I dream of Gene? Wait so Mai and Gene met before. Weird I remember that.
I just shrugged it off, since there's one more important question that seems to come into my mind.
"What the hell happened?" I gasped out trying to remember what happened. Looking around, the hut looks old and empty. The lack of the brown color, almost into a fade, and a little light from the crack of the door.
"I wish I can bring you some water." I heard a timid woman's voice. I turned around, to see a young girl in her early twenties.
Short black hair up to her ears, her eyes seem to be a deep brown, with somewhat light skin, wearing a white dress.
"Who are you? What happened?" I felt my voice crack and dry. I rubbed my forehead, trying hard to remember what happened. The girl moves towards me, kneeling next to me causing me to inch myself back. She blinks rapidly at me as though she was fascinated by me or something.
"You were attacked by Alack,"she explains.
"I was?" I turned to face the girl. She nods, sadness passes through her eyes placing her hands on her lap.
"Don't you remember Oliver or should I call you Shibuya-kun or Noll?" she asks, causing me to blink.
"How do you know my name? And Naru is just fine."
"I just know. You live with your wife Mai, everyone knows." she paused, looking up at me. The mention of Mai's name, cause my heart to jump painfully.
"Right, I was looking for herbs. I need to go." I started to get up, only to flinch in pain. The girl took a hold of my arm, causing me to shiver at her touch.
She's a ghost. the first thought popped into my head. She moves her hand away.
"My name is Kyoko Matzura. I found you near the village five months ago, in a very bad condition, almost the verge of death, you fell from a cliff." she explains, my body froze at the mention of five months.
"Five months?" I groaned, covering my face with my hand.
Oh no, Mai has to think I have died or just left her. I don't remember much of falling from a cliff.
Guilt begins to plague me, I just couldn't believe this at all. Kyoko nods gently, looking up at me.
"Our chief has been taking care of you. You can't see him any longer, since Isac didn't want any more interactions. I was left behind. You were looking for the herbs. I can show you."
I nodded softly, getting up, I only wobble down taking a hold of my wall to get support.
"Or you can just wait until you regain your energy," she suggested. I shook my head.
"No. Mai has been waiting for me for a long time now. She's probably crying cause she might think I have died." I told her, for a reason, my heart feels unease, to unease, similar to what I felt when Gene left to Japan.
Knowing her too well, she's probably sick and worried about me. Leaving Mai alone these long five months is a very long time. Already a week without her by myself drove me crazy, I can't imagine five months.
"You love her that much?" Kyoko tells me, floating up to me. I blinked looking straight at her.
"Love her? What made you jump to that conclusion?" Kyoko crosses her arms and shrugs at me.
"I might look very young, but I'm not. I have been alive almost a hundred years ago. You're just a child in my eyes. Plus, is so obvious. Your priority was her, not yourself. And..." she paused, biting her pale lips.
"And?" I pursue. She covers her mouth with her hand as a giggle passes her lips. I will never understand women at all. Why they giggle at things like that?
"You kept calling out for her, while you were sleeping. Oh Mai, come back to me," she spins, causing me to have a vein pop out in irritation.
"Now, that's just plain stupid. I don't call out for no one." I move towards the door, only for Kyoko to take a hold of my arm causing me to shiver from her touch.
"I'm not joking. You were calling out for her. You even said you love her. You were having a nightmare, I think. Then you called out for Gene. Your brother right." her words cause me to stop and turned towards her.
"I was calling for Gene?"
"Yes. Not much. Just his name, but then went back to Mai. You were saying to not die. Don't leave me, as Gene did. That's it. And that's where you said you love her. You love her with all your heart and soul."she explains. I stare at her as though she just grew a second head.
"I need to go," but then, something linked in.
"Kyoko-chan," I whispered, turning once again to face her. She was frowning at me, shaking her head in disappointment.
"Poor lost puppy. Having love staring at your face, and you are just too blinded by your ego to see it." she tsk.
"Forget that. I have a question." she turns her gaze at me.
"Depends, if I can answer it."She shrugs.
"It doesn't matter if you answer or not. I just want to know, do you remember how you died? Or the village?" Now, I saw her go stiff.
"I don't remember it too well. I just know, there was a fire. Big fire. That's all."her expression turned very rigid and beyond sadness. I even felt bad for asking it.
"Thanks for your help. I need to get back." I turned opening the door.
"Wait, don't forget that," I heard behind me. Turning around, Kyoko was pointing at her right. Following her finger, I spot my bag next to the wall, near the door.
"The bag," I whispered, going for it, I bend down, only to wince even more. I touch my chest, feeling an odd burning sting sensation. Either way, I took the bag and went outside only to wince from the powerful sun rays which hurt my eyes. So I shield my eyes with my hand and look down at the ground.
"It's hot today, I wonder how Mai is holding. I'm sorry Mai." I whispered to myself, aching to go back to her.
After using the bathroom, (Behind a tree,) and washing as best as I could.
Around me, seems like an old village. A very old village. Just like before, run-down, and so broken down. Falling pieces on the ground, and rotten wood.
"Where can I find the herbs..." I paused, when a powerful pain hits my head, causing me to groan, I took hold of my head as I leaned against a tree so I won't fall.
I began to get flashes of what happened to me.
...
..
Five months ago:
I found myself going up a hill, (There's sure a lot of them on this island) a week later after I left the treehouse.
Stopping for a brief second, I took the book out of my bag and opened it to the page I booked marked.
"He mentions that there's a very large hill fill with sunflowers, up North. I still haven't spotted any." I murmured under my breath, looking up.
Placing back the book, I headed out, trying to cover much ground as I could. I have no idea how much distance I had with the treehouse, but it seems more than enough, to take another week's worth a trip.
I lost count two days ago.
I hope Mai is okay. It was hard enough leaving her alone, with her condition.
"Aren't you missing your little wife at home?" I heard behind me. Stopping in my tracks, I turned around to see Alack on his horse, looking down at me with his bloody eyes. I just mentally groaned, after a while, you get used to it, but not as much, it still freaks me out with his eyes though.
"None of your business, do what you want to do." I challenge back, knowing very well that I was digging my grave, but it's not the first time.
"Oh, impatient are we? It's unfair. I wanted to kill you in front of your loving wife. Either way. I need your powers, you're the most powerful guardian I ever met." and before I could even think, Alack rose his ghost hand and a fireball appears in his hand, and my eyes narrow at that.
"It's a trick I picked up long ago. Just a fusion of all my energy together, I can make this exquisite display. I love this body, way better than my old human."he then throws the ball, straight at me, acting quickly, I move to the side, falling towards my right.
"Don't move, I want to kill you right now!" He wails, throwing another and another fireball without stopping. I dodge most of it, even hiding behind a tree, heaving hard.
"How do I escape this? I can use my pk, but that will drain me too much." I mentally groaned, looking around to find any escape.
Mai told me to use my brain.
Without hesitation, I began to run forward as more fireballs are thrown to my right and left.
Apparently, it wasn't my day or something like that, as a dead-end seems to appear in front of me. A thick climbing wall.
"Damn!" I hissed, stopping in my tracks, to look up. Turning around, Alack was now in front of me, staring at me with a fireball at hand.
Think, think.
I chanted in my head. Then an idea popped into my head.
"What do you me guardian?" I began to distract him, as I began to charge up for my Pk.
Alack tilts his ghostly neck and lets out a big laugh.
"Don't you know? You're your wife's stray dog, you're her guardian." he spat out angrily. I stare at him confused by his words.
What does he mean by that? What guardian?
"Alright, then you want me, then get me, but don't lie, I'm just her husband not a guardian," I whispered, lowering my hand, starting to feel my Pk spark around my hand.
Just don't use too much need my strength.
"It's up to you to believe or not, it doesn't matter to me since you're going to die now!" he yells, throwing the fireball straight at me, and at that precise moment, I lifted my hand and released a small percentage of my Pk not towards him, but the fireball itself, causing a big explosion, making a powerful wind causing my body to fly off with the explosion.
I felt something hit my chest as I hit against the wall so hard that I hit the back of my head. I slid down an aching feeling passes through me.
Alack disappeared, the pain in my chest started to get to me harder and harder.
"Ahh!" I groaned in pain taking a hold of my chest, it feels like it's cooking inside.
My sight began to go, everything becoming blurry. In doing so, two pairs of white pale legs appear in front of me.
"My son, you have done good, you are worthy to be her guardian. Now rest. Don't worry. I'll watch over my daughter for you." I heard a woman's voice. I lifted my gaze, with dazed eyes, I couldn't make up the face, it was too blurry, the only thing I could see was long brown hair. Reminds of...
"Mai," her name comes out of me so automatically. I stretch my hand out wanting to go to her. She bends down to cup my cheek.
"I'm sorry, you won't be seeing her for a long time." and with that, everything fades on me.
End of Memory:
"So that's what happened," I turned around, only to be startled by Kyoko's presents, she's hovering over me, looking down.
"Did you remember?"she asks, tilting her head.
"You didn't find me. It was some other woman and I didn't fall from a cliff, Alack did attack me." I told her. Kyoko frowns at me.
"I did. I found you unconscious down in our village. Chief and Ayame helped me to bring you up here. Chief is more powerful, so he fed you and took care of you. Ayame watched over you at night." she explains.
"Then who was that woman with brown hair? Also, who is chief?" I asked, for a reason, something doesn't make sense, what? I have no idea.
"Brown hair?"
"Yes, she mentioned that Mai is her daughter," I remember from the cave and what she told me before I went unconscious.
"Your wife's mother? There's no one. I can assure you that." she tells me, she looks very serious at the statement.
"Then who was she?" I mumbled, turning around aching once again.
"I don't know, but look, in reality from here to the treehouse is only a week's worth of a trip. Not five months. You were very injured. Gather the herbs, and you can go today if you want. I can keep you company, but when we pass the cliff, I can't go any longer. I just plead you, help us. Your wife is the only one that can free us completely. Oh, Chief, he's our Chief, that's all."
"Why is that. Why Mai?" I asked, not understanding this at all. I know Mai is similar to Gene, she helped me in a lot of cases in the past. Kyoko floated staring at me, with a somewhat weird expression.
"You don't know?"she moves around me, err floats around, staring at the huts.
"No, what?"
"She is powerful Clairvoyance, a very powerful one. She has the power to set free many powerful souls trapped in this realm, so we can go to the light. When we see her, we see a light around her. But is so bright, we don't dare to enter unless she permits us to, call it a gift. Your just her guardian that has to protect her. You never thought why you two were meant to meet?"
"We just met in her high school about four years now, I was just doing my job, and she broke my equipment and hurt Lin, also what does it mean to be her guardian?" I asked confused.
She shook her head, turning to face me.
Yet, for a reason, I found myself intrigued by her. Not sure why? Maybe because she sees through my mask? Or is it more?
I added in my head.
"No, From what Ayame told me you two are soul mates, You are her protector, her guardian. Haven't you questioned yourself why you always save her? Always there when she's in trouble? You thought it's because she's a klutz, getting in trouble. No, because evil forces want her dead. That's why Isac and Alack are hell bend to get her. She is the one that can save us. You're the only one that can always protect her. No matter what happens, even your own life. That's why you fell in love with her cause everything is meant to be. That's why God permitted to marry you two. He knows things and knows what's right and wrong. He has blessed you two to be one." She added, moving along.
This is too much information at once to handle, I'm her guardian? What the hell?
For a reason, this feels oddly familiar conversation I had years ago, with Gene.
"Stop saying I love her and I'm her bodyguard?" yet, why... Why everything she's saying doesn't seem crazy to me.
She keeps mentioning I love her. I just know right now, I miss her terribly. It's worse when I went to England. For a reason, my heartaches.
"It's so obvious you are, men are so clueless at times. I don't know what's a bodyguard, but you're her protector, her guardian, it's your job to protect her at all times. Weird, that no one told you this before." she shrugs.
It is. I need to tell Mai about this.
"Well, this is news to me," I told her. Kyoko suddenly pats my shoulder causing me to shiver at the contact.
"I know pretty boy, I know, but it's the truth. We all knew this before you two came into the island, so protect that woman with your life, not only because she has to save us because if you lose her, you'll lose yourself." With that, she didn't touch the subject.
End of Memory:
...
...
I couldn't wrap my head around what I just learned.
Kyoko is nice enough to show me the way towards the herbs, which wasn't far. Well, she did offer, and I had no time to be prideful to just flat out reject her.
Only about twenty minutes away from the old village. As Dr. John wrote, there are so many sunflowers in a long straight line almost covering the whole field, looking like a better version of a cornfield.
Beyond the sunflowers, I can spot green and brown patches of herbs growing out. Kyoko showed me which one is the right one. So I gather many of them placing them inside of the bag so I don't have to go back here for a while.
Kyoko float up to me clearing her throat grabbing my attention.
I lift my gaze to see her.
"Right, I forgot to tell you, Chief's place an old bowl in your bag, he told me to tell you to smash the herbs together and mix it with water from the stream behind the treehouse. That's all. She has to wear the medicine for a whole day. Do it for a whole week. It should start healing her. That doesn't guarantee that she'll keep getting burnt, but it will ease her, but continue to use it when she keeps getting burn so her skin won't break."
I stood up and bow slightly at her.
"Thank you for everything Kyoko, and tell your Chief thank you as well. If it wasn't for you two, I wouldn't have made it, along with Ayame." I told her with sincerity. She smiles at me and nods.
"Just remember to be truthful to yourself Naru, you won't get to experience true love like that ever again. Mai loves you truly loves you with all her heart." with that Kyoko disappears.
Yeah right, she doesn't love me or do I. Right? I wonder what she's doing right now? Is she hurting or how much she kept waiting for me. Or did she give up hope?
...
...
"Are you thinking about her?" Kyoko chirps behind me causing me to jump in fright. I jump slightly from the scare and turn to face her.
"I thought you left, you sure a busybody," I said to her as I continue to walk away from the field heading for the village as I rub my chest which is still uncomfortable.
"I thought you missed me. Hey, is not me with that scroll expression." she pouts crossing her arms in front of her chest. I just plainly ignored her, moving towards my destination.
"I just want to return; Mai is a very sensitive person, sick and worried about me, so, show me the way back and stop butting in." I felt irritated, cause all I wanted is to return to her.
"Don't worry lover boy, she's alright."she teased, patting my back, but that didn't give me any relief, I hope she is right because my heart doesn't agree with that.
I hope she's right. Something in me feels off and I don't like it.
That's how it went for the rest of the week which was so painful to endure. At least Kyoko kept me company with my travel, but it wasn't the same. I'm going mad just missing Mai.
...
...
"Well, this is the end of my road. You'll reach her tomorrow afternoon. It was a pleasure to meet you Naru. Please do, and come by next time bring Mai. I have something to tell her." she explains, floating above me. I nodded, turning around.
"Remember Oliver. Bring her later on. I need to tell her something important. Don't forget it."she yells, while I kept on walking. I just move my hand and wave it.
"Fine," at least I own her that much. Touching my aching chest. I realize, how hard is to breathe at times. I have no idea how hard the explosion affected me, but I can tell it was enough to affect my breathing.
About mid-afternoon, watching some of the leaves fall on the ground, avoiding some wild boars, snakes, and watching some monkeys swing by. For a reason, my own heart leaps painfully. I came to a complete stop placing my hand on my chest. I glance up, to look at a small rabbit that appears in front of me.
"Why do I feel uncomfortable? It's not the pain from earlier." I mumbled rubbing my chest even more. Something in me told me something was wrong.
It's like I feel, Mai is in danger? I felt it before, but not this powerful.
"Hold on Mai, I'm coming," I murmured, under my breath, moving my legs as fast as I could, but on doing so, a rustle is heard behind me.
I stopped in my tracks, looking back. I see nothing, but a rabbit appears in front.
"Okay?" I turned around, in doing so, I came face to face with the big bad wolf.
"Miss me?"
"Not really, so now i's your turn?" I told him, taking a step back. The wolf growls at me, moving forward.
"I want to try something, hopefully, it will help that wench, give up that silly faith of hers." he snarls, I felt anger building up.
"Leave her alone. If you want me, then go ahead. Just don't you dare touch a single hair on her." I threatened, for a reason, that sounded a very bad line to say. I just didn't care. I'm sick and tired of these characters. They always threaten and don't act. Well, not act, since I got hurt as well for Mai.
"Spicy guardian you are. Fine. I'll send her a massage. That you had died."
"Ha, you are talking, but no bite." for a reason, that pun made so much sense. Isaac darkly chuckled and moves his hind legs forward, and jumps on top of me. Now plaster on the ground, with an overgrown wolf on top of me, he started to bark hard and went down to bite me.
I immediately use my leg and push him out of me. Heaving hard, I get up on my legs, turning to face my opponent.
"At least your brother has some firepower, you only have a bite." I teased, wanting to strangle him. Isac without a word spins his body and using his tail, hits me on my stomach, causing me to fly across, and hit a tree. I gasped out, as the pain in my chest doubled in pain while my breath is knocked out of me.
"Now, I will end you. At least I don't have to wait for ten, for your soul."and with that, he runs towards me. I stood up, only to wince, my foot hurts.
Did I twist my ankle? I move forward, only to feel the pain once again.
I think when he swung me, my feet twisted in the wrong way. Damn.
Without hesitation, I dodge his assault and turned towards him, again ready to use my pk. Isac bit out a bitter laugh, moving his tail up and down.
"Now, now, don't get a little hasty. You're tougher than I thought. I think that's all for today. I'll say hello to your wife. See you."and with that, he disappears. I stare where he just disappears.
"This is just so low. What did he gain just threaten me? Nothing. Why in the world would he tell me these things, if..." then my eyes narrow, as his words sink.
"Clever bastard. He just wanted to test my skills' himself." without hesitation, I started to walk, no limp as fast I could even though my whole foot hurts like hell and it's throbbing tremendously.
"Either way, one of these days, I'm going to lose my life or those bastards will re-die in my hands." and with that, I kept going.
Another thought came into my mind. I glance up at the trees, remembering Mai's words.
I will have faith and hope for the both of us,
She told me once, which seems so long ago, but only months in reality. I took in a big breath, having that in mind and heart, I started to walk once again ignoring my pains.
Don't give up Mai. I'll be there soon. Just keep having faith and hope for both of us.
...
...
I finally reached the stream the next day. I felt exhausted and wiped out. My foot wasn't doing any good at this point.
I only had four hours of sleep. I was hungry and tired. I sat down on the edge of the stream, cupping my hands to gather water. I drank some water, and wipe my face, relieving me some.
Moving to the side. I remove my shoes and glance down at my now very swollen ankle it's black and blue.
"At least the bone didn't break." I felt relief. I lean my chin on top of my bent knee, looking at the crystal water, seeing somewhat my reflection, but I look like hell. So I try my best to fix myself by wetting my hair and brushing it to the side.
I lift my gaze and took in a big breath.
I can make this, just a few more minutes than you will see her. Just hold on, you can do this.
Then I heard a splash a few feet away from me.
I turned my gaze to see a small body, wearing a white old dress, mid-high towards her knees. Her legs seem so cracked and chipped, she was kneeling wiping her face. She lifts her head, looking around, but frowns.
Mai! I'm here, turn this way, please. I slowly stood up and began to limp my way feeling my whole being come back alive.
I felt my eyes water up, never in my life was I so happy to see Mai as I did right now. She's okay, she's alive and only a few feet away from me.
I watch her stand up, she looks lifeless. I see dirt all over her. Her very long hair is messy. My heart aches at the sight of her, but it beat hard and strong for her.
"Mai, turn around," I whispered, hoping she can.
She stops midway watching her body shake. Then she continues to walk.
"Mai turn around." I pleaded once again, if she wasn't going to turn I will forget that my body aches, I would have to run towards her.
Can't you feel me? my heart shouts, feeling as though for the first time in months or whatever time, I felt full, I found my home.
I watch Mai stop again and turns around and our eyes locked and fresh tears escape her eyes, running down her pale cheeks. I press my hand against my chest as this new emotion surfaces in my heart and I couldn't name it.
"Faith, I should always keep my faith." I heard her say as she smiles at me causing me to return the smile.
My heart hammering hard against my rib cage as I realized, Mai is more than just a special person, she has become my home.
"You gave me hope to come back to you."
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