Disclaimer: Don't own Ghost Hunt
Chapter Twenty-Two: Familiar?
Mai POV
"Our love will only grow, and become stronger than anything that I have ever experienced, but it all takes time and effort. This is our true beginning, of our long journey on this island and a lifetime. I wouldn't change not one thing because I have learned, that I was right. I wouldn't change Naru for any other man in this world. He's my home and my other half. He's my everything. You'll see why as we continue with our journey... He's my life, my family, the man that loves me beyond what I ever can imagine. I belong to him, and he belongs to me."
...
I blushed madly, as I hid my face behind the diary, trying very hard to concentrate on the words.
Ayame came to me last night in my dream just a simple massage. To look again in the diary, that I have missed something.
So Naru has me on diary duty. It's been a month since we confess. To tell you the truth, even if we have confessed, nothing big happened. We just talk a lot and try to solve the mystery. That's all.
I know Naru isn't a romantic type, but... I wish he could try something other than just sitting almost all day at the corner and read. Is twice as worse as having him in his office.
I kept staring at him, tracing him with my eyes...
We stand in a relationship, from now on, your wife and my woman.
His words still echo in my heart, causing me to shiver in delight, feeling my tummy fill with butterflies.
For a man to say that to a woman, especially someone like Naru, is like saying, I'll give you the moon and the stars. At that moment in life, he made me feel loved, treasured, and above all things loved. I felt his love.
It feels unreal though. I was so prepared for heartbreak, to never to see him again. Not this. Now I have no idea how to act on it. Naru hasn't even made a move as well.
"Do I have something in my face?" Naru's voice echoed down at me, taking me off out of my thoughts. My face warms up while I cover it with the diary.
"N..no.." my voice thinned out and trembles at the same time. I flinch at my slip-up, trying hard to avoid him. Then I heard nothing from him. Peaking over Naru, he was back to his reading. I licked my lips and started to feel my heart race once again.
How do I approach him? It was easier back then, cause we haven't admitted it.
I started to shuffle my feet, trying to come up with an idea. Then my eyes landed on his feet, and I gave him a soft smile.
At least his ankle is better, his foot is back to almost normal and his chest as well, but he still feels discomfort from time to time. The herbs did wonders for him, as well as for me. My legs are returning to normal. Those herbs are great. The nightmares have subdued to, which is a blessing to me. Also, my chin and elbow has finally healed, so that' a double whammy for the both of us, I'm just terrified that I can lose Naru once again, I still get nightmare from that. I haven't told Naru, but I'm petrified that Naru would leave again. Five months without him was hell for me.
I smiled loveling, not noticing that Naru is staring at me with a curious look.
"See anything interesting with my foot?" he spoke, causing my heart to jump. I rose the diary to cover my face.
"I was thinking that your ankle healed fast."
"That's because I had you nag me all day and night to stay out of my ankle." he simply stated, making me pout at his sharp remark.
"Hey! I didn't nag you... I was trying to be helpful, if it wasn't for me, that foot of yours would have been a permanent tennis ball.." I lowered my diary, to give him a stern look, but I gasp, to see Naru move very close to me. I hiccupped covering my mouth as my cheeks felt like is going to explode from the massive blush.
"Freaking ninja you are Naru." I muffled a statement not removing my hand from my mouth. Naru's eyes scan mine, as he sits flatly on the ground.
"I rather run as a ghost hunter, is more in my field of work, sorry to burst your bubble." he simply says as he kept looking at me. I scooted a little away from him and lifted the diary once again to cover my face.
Ever since that day, I can't see Naru straight in the face. I have accepted the fact that he loves me, yet, at times it feels unrealistic. I don't have an idea how to act around him.
Naru moves his hand and snatches the diary out of my hands, causing me to look at him annoyed.
"Hey." I move forward to snatch the book out of his hand, but in doing so, I twisted my leg, making me land on top of him, well not on top of him, but in his chest.
"If I knew falling for me was this easy, I should have tried snatching the book earlier." he teased me with a cocky tone, noticing that his eyes are a little light today. I move away from him and hiccuped again.
"Don't mess with me, Naru... I'm trying to find that clue. Please." I begged,
"Are you really?" his voice is monotone, as he glances at the diary, and arched a brow.
"Since when do you read backward?" he points out, lifting the diary and points at it. I turned to gaze at it and saw what he meant. It was turned upside down.
"Err, I was trying a new way of reading?" okay lame, that was a very lame excuse. I mentally groaned, lowering my hand.
"Backwards? Unless you want to learn pig-Latin, this isn't going to help you," he murmurs turning the book back to normal and started to flip through the pages. I frowned, wrapping my arms around my legs, watching him.
Darn his keen eyes.
I scoot closer while he kept his eyes on the pages. Gulping hard, moving my hand, I was trying to reach for his hand, but he lifts his gaze and startles me.
"I..." He paused, as I yanked my hand away, and move backward. He arched a brow in confusion at my actions. I nervously laugh.
"I just saw a fly, just shooing it away," I wave my hand, turning my body away from him and cover my eyes.
Fly? Really? Good God Mai, he's your husband, not a stranger. Get the courage, it's been a month, but I have no idea how to interact with him now. This is different now, maybe I need his permission to take his hand? Or what? I have no idea how being in a relationship works and Naru isn't helping out.
"Mai?" I heard behind me. I sucked in a big breath and gave him a fake smile as I turned around to face him.
"Yes?" I felt very awkward now, as he lifts the diary in front of me. Showing me a page.
"I think we should read this page." he simply stated. I blinked, lifting my hands, and took the book, to place it down.
"I have read it before, she only talks about how she is getting used to the island, and meeting people from the ship, why this one in particular?" I asked, lifting my gaze. Naru shrugs, sitting next to me, and points at the edge of the paper... I squinted my eyes, lifting the book.
"What exactly am I looking at?" I asked, turning my gaze towards him. My eyes widen, to take notice of how close he was, that I started to hiccup once again.
Okay, this is ridiculous, every time he's near me, I get the hiccups. Why now?
He turns his gaze back at me and stares.
"Do you need some water?" he asks. I shook my head, lowering my head, feeling my hands shake.
"I'm okay, just...Just tell me." I told him right after I hiccupped again.
He nods very slowly but turns his gaze back towards the book.
"Tilt it over, and you'll find it," he suggested. So I did what he told me.. Scanning the old paper, about a minute or so, I finally took notice.
"It's ripped," I gasped out, running my finger through the little bumps on the side.
"How come I didn't notice this before?" I turned, as Naru shrugs.
"Your tiny mind isn't capable to register many things at the same time," was his normal answer, as I felt a vain pop from anger.
"Jerk.." I growled, standing up heading downstairs.
"Where are you going?" I heard Naru ask behind me. I stopped in my tracks to turn towards him.
"Somewhere away from you, so my tiny brain won't be capable to register your sharp tongue." I hissed stomping away while Naru rolled his eyes at me, but suppressed a smirk. In doing so, a sudden chill ran down my spine. Lifting my gaze to look around, the diary on my hand began to shake.
"Ne Naru, the diary.." I turned around, but Naru was gone and I found myself in the middle of the treehouse, hearing a loud cry of a woman.
Turning my gaze my sight landed on John, as he held onto his wife. in front of the door.
"It's okay.." he whispers, soothing her back. Ayame holds into her husband, as she cries in his chest.
"I can't take it. So many poor souls. I just can't." she blurts out, as John sits on the ground and lays his wife between his legs, wrapping it around her, as he cradles her. I felt my heart warm-up at the scene.
Then I felt the diary starting to vibrate in my hand once again, as though it was a cell phone on vibrate, it swung me up and began to pull me towards the upstairs.
"What the?" I pass the two couples and headed towards the second floor. (Without killing myself in the progress, the pull is very strong in this diary) Making it, the diary pulls me in front of the mirror. That is located on the wall, hanged actually, above an old table. I took a step forward, and touch the glass,
"Wait, isn't this the same mirror that we have?" I trace the mirror, noticing the same size and everything, even the patterns.
"So you belong Ayame's?" the diary violently pulls me towards my right, in doing so, it was going so fast, that I hit myself against the wall, causing me to groan in agony.
"Ouch, diary, be careful." I scolded rubbing my nose once again. The book in my hand started to hit the wall countless times, as though it wanted to go through. (Just imagine me smacking the diary against the wall, but instead, it's the book doing it.)
"Ayame, please calm down, I'll prepare you some tea, and.." I heard downstairs. I turned my gaze, and watch John help Ayame stand up, and picked her up in his arms. I blushed at the sight, reminding me that Naru does the same. He takes Ayame up the stairs, as the book turns me around, and pulls me towards him.
"What are you doing now?" I grumbled, tumbling over towards John. John places Ayame down on their bed, and wipe her tears.
"I'll be right back." and with that, he went downstairs. The diary pulls me to follow him. As I follow him or rather force too, a soft knock is heard at the door. John stops at his tracks, retreating, he goes and opens the door, and I saw him go rigid to whoever is in front of him.
Who's that?
I started to hear him whisper. So I move closer, to get a better look, suddenly the book started to raddled even more violently.
"No. I told you, I won't hand you over my wife, tell Alack and Isac that. Go please." I heard John say...
I move behind him and got into my tiptoes, to look over his shoulder. My eyes widen, as the simple image of a middle-aged man stood in front... It wasn't Alack nor Isac, it was a normal man, with dark curly brown hair, his eyes are just green, and his face is very masculine, chubby, and a long nose. He looks Japanese, mixes with something else, I can't tell.
"Who's that?" I murmured, but on doing so, the man with green eyes turned towards me, as though he can see me.
"If you won't let me in, she'll do." and before John could ask what he meant, The guy stretched his arm up, and a gust of wind passes through me, causing me to cover my face with my arms, feeling my dress move and my hair, it was so powerful, that I flew across the room, hitting against the wall behind me.
"Ugh," I groaned, rubbing my back, as I glance up, John was staring at me with Ayame.
"HELP US!" both yell at the same time, and then I screamed as the fire began to consume me once again.
...
...
"Mai, wake up, there's no fire." I heard, as I started to move my legs rapidly, my heart racing. Snapping out of my vision, Naru sat next to me, holding onto my shoulder. I glance down at my legs, as the pain came back... I felt tears rolling down my cheeks my heart racing.
"It's okay, it's over," he whispers, as I turned my gaze and without a doubt in my mind, I wrap my arms around him, burying my face in his chest.
"There's... There's another man.." I hiccupped, trying to control myself. Naru soothes my back and moves to sit on the ground, so I can get more comfortable.
"Another man?" he seems surprised. I nodded, wiping my cheeks and eyes, I look up at him.
"He has green eyes and curly brown hair. Middle age man. He saw me." Naru remains quiet, as though he's trying to register what I'm saying.
"Odd, it hasn't been no mention of another male in this," he whispered.
"How are your legs?" he asks, looking down at me while I follow his gaze and frowned.
"They burn.." I told him. Naru adjusts me so I can get more comfortable and then stands up, heading upstairs. I tried to calm down and took the diary. Opening it, I flipped it back towards the torn page.
Maybe that man ripped the page? Why? I questioned, tracing it with my fingers, but as I trace the page I felt a bump in between the pages. Which I never felt before.
This is new.
Naru returns with the bowl at hand and sits in front of me. Without hesitating, I started to flip the pages while Naru pounds the herbs together. After a few minutes, I lifted my head.
"Ne, Naru," I spoke, to watch him spread the herbs on my legs. I felt my heart jumps at his touch. Naru glanced up while I felt my heart going faster and faster as our eyes connect. He has this strange look in his blue eyes.
This is the first time in a month he put in the herbs... I miss his touch.
"Yes?" He asks while I kept staring at him, losing train of thought. I wanted to hug him.
"Hello Mai?" he waves his hand in front of my face, snapping me out of my thoughts. I shook my head, clearing my throat.
"What?" I asked as he gave me an odd look.
"Stop admiring me, and tell me what you wanted to say." He simply tells me as he returns to his job. I blinked, as a blush passes my cheeks.
"I wasn't admiring you Naru. I was just thinking about how my legs hurt less now and I wanted to thank you.." I fibbed, he stopped his movements and glance up at me once again.
"Really!" it wasn't even a question as he stated... Shaking my head, trying to get rid of my blush, I stretched my arms.
"There's something bumpy here, but I can't seem to find it," I told him, Naru finished placing the herbs on my legs and stood to head upstairs.
I place the diary on my lap and waited for him to come back. After a few minutes, he returned and sits next to me, taking the diary.
"From the ripped page, you can feel it." Naru nods, and finds the ripped page, and traces his finger on the edge.
"I can." he agrees, so he does the same and he begins to flip the pages very fast.
Then he closes the book and turns it around, touching the rough edges, his eyes widen.
"There's something here in the spine," he mumbles he stood up and headed up once again. I place my fingers on top of the book and trace it. It felt bumpy and thicker.
"How did you find it so fast?" I spoke a little louder, hearing Naru moves upstairs.
"It's common sense Mai." was his response.
"Common sense nothing." I rolled my eyes at him causing him to shrug while he walks up to me.
What exactly did you hide here, Ayame?
Naru returns and sits next to me. He has the knife at hand and starts to slowly cut the spine of the book being careful.
"You think that's a good idea?" I questioned looking up at him. Naru shrugs.
"Unless you have another idea, I'm open to it," I tighten my lips and shook my head. He makes a perfect cut around it and rips the spine. Inside an old small faded gold strange pent lock key. Naru lifts it to stare at it.
"Um... This is new."
"What do you suppose this open?" I question, Naru places down the key on the ground and crosses his arms to stare at it.
"Don't know, but it can be anything at this point." I stood up, taking the diary, and turned my gaze towards the window, to see the sun starting to set down.
Wow, today went fast.
"In the vision did anything, in particular, felt off? Besides the strange man?" he asks me. I glance at the diary and nodded.
"The diary, it was pulling me.." I told him, Naru glance at me and I stretched out my hand for him to take.
"I'll show you." I wiggled my fingers as a smile passes my lips. He stares at my hand but takes it, (After grabbing the key of course, and place it in his pockets,) and I hoist him up, but I grunted.
"For a skinny guy, you sure weigh a lot," I mumbled as we continue to hold hands and I guided him upstairs.
He remains quiet looking at our join hands... Reaching the second floor, I stood him in front of the mirror.
"That, and that. The diary was very insistent on those two." I pointed at the mirror, then turned to face the wall in my right.. Naru moves forward, touching the mirror, then at the wall.
"The diary showed you this?" he turns to face me. I nodded, looking down, and then I took notice that we were still holding hands. My cheeks warm up, liking the feeling. I haven't held his hand for a long while now.
"Well, now that I think about it, it's creepy, but it pulled me towards it, but the strange part, the book was pounding on the wall a lot," I explained. Naru lets go of my hand as he walks up towards the wall, capturing his chin with his hand staring at the wall in deep thought. I frowned, looking at my hand.
That didn't last long.
I sadly thought moving behind him and glance over his shoulder just watching. He fists his hand and began to knock on the wall. He ran across the room as I move a little, so I won't trip with the books.
"Found anything?"
"No, just a simple wall. It's not hallow or anything... No secret door," he answers me.
I was about to walk towards him, but in doing so, I felt a book behind me, and before I could catch myself, I fell backward. Naru turns around, but it was too late, I landed on my behind painfully, causing me to groan.
"Ouch..." I rubbed myself, looking up catching Naru staring at me, with a smudge on his lips. Trying to contain his laughter.
"Hey... Don't laugh, help me up," I raise my hand and Naru walks up to me takes my hand, and pulls me up, but a little too hard, that I smash myself against Naru's chest once again. My eyes widen, feeling my heart leap.
"Err Naru?" I hiccupped looking up at him, he lets go a bit too fast and cleared his throat. He turns his gaze back towards the wall and crosses his arms.
"I'm glad that you find me falling, amusing," I grumbled under my breath, looking down at the ground, feeling very embarrassed.
How embarrassing.
Lifting my head, but on doing so I took notice of something off, behind Naru legs... I never took notice before.
"What's this," I mumble, bending down on my knees, moving next to Naru patting his leg.
"Mai?" he looks down, arching a brow at my sudden action. I just kept staring at a strange-looking odd shape.
"Move your leg, and get down here," I told him so he does. He gets down on his knees and gets close to me. He has an arched brow looking a bit curious.
"What are we looking at?"
"Look at that." I pointed in front of us. Naru follows my finger and tilts his head towards the side as he spots what I'm talking about.
Reaching out his hand and places it on the wall, and run his finger through.
"Is that a door?" I questioned, noticing how is different from the wall itself.
It has four uneven lines, as though someone carved it out.
Naru straightens up and takes the knife out of the back of the waistband of his pants, and places the tip in the crack, and starts to jiggle it.
"I wonder if Ayame did that, or John?" I murmured. Naru turns his gaze at me.
"Maybe Ayame. Men don't usually have to hide things, unless is money or paperwork, at least in their period," he suggested, turning back around, he continues to fidget with the crack, until it slight pops out, but then as he puts his fingers on the edge, he began to struggle since it was tightly shut.
"It's tight shut. Is not even budging." Naru sighed wiping his forehead since he began to sweat and it's hot as it is in the treehouse.
"Want me to find anything that can help?" I offered, Naru turns his gaze back towards our room, and search around.
"I can get it." He finally says, turning back and struggles with it, for the next ten minutes.
Men, offer help and they plain out refused cause of their pride.
I sat down, and watch him sweat a lot, I cross my arms and arched a brow not sure why I found this amusing.
"Want some water?" I offer. Naru nods turning to give me a fast glance then he returns to work. I stood and headed to get it and something extra. Upon returning, I sat right back down and nudge his shoulder.
Naru stops his struggling and grabs the cup and drinks the water. He returns the empty cup and I place it to the side of me. Then I scoot closer to him watching him return to work.
"Can you look at me?" I asked causing him to do so,
"Yes?" he asks. I took the wet cloth (Which I held in my hand) and with my free hand grasp his chin. He tilts his head up as I began to wipe the sweat away from his forehead and down to his neck. He stares at me with a soft and a bit shocked look as I concentrated on the job at hand. Then I felt him relax as his look turns deeper.
"It's hot enough, I don't want you to get a heat stroke, your not a hundred percent yet Naru," I told him as I stopped my movement and stare at him. I felt my heart slowly speeding up as he kept staring at me.
"Just don't overdo it okay." I whispered as I remove my hand from his chin and brush his bangs away from his wet forehead. I took notice his cheeks are turning red, but clears his throat and returns to work. I smiled timidly since he didn't reject me or complained.
"Thanks," I heard him say causing me to look up at him and smile which his thanks meant so much to me.
I leaned my head against the wall and stared at him as he continues to struggle to open the hidden door.
"Careful with that, I don't want you to cut yourself," I told him, watching as the knife slides out countless times, causing me to have a mini heart attack from it.
"Yes, Mother," Naru said dryly but continues to work.
"I'm just worried," I whispered, but he ignores me.
I took out my tongue at him, and he stops his movement to raise his head but doesn't turn to look at me.
"One of these days Mai. I will do something to that tongue of yours," he warns me.
I slipped my tongue back, and stare at him.
How the heck did he even know? He has his back face towards me. This man always knows what I'm either thinking or feeling or doing. Strange indeed.
"I didn't take out my tongue, I was wondering what wonders this secret door has," I mumbled to myself, closing my eyes. Breathing easily, as I started to zone out.
"Let's believe that, and I was born yesterday," I heard him. I giggled at his remark.
"If you did, I wouldn't have met you... Nor would have become your wife." I smiled, feeling my heart warm up. Naru stops his struggling and glances back at me. He gives me a soft, honest smile which reached his blue eyes making my heart skip a beat.
He does have a beautiful smile when he lets go and means it. It makes his eyes sparkle.
I couldn't help but too return the smile.
...
...
I have no idea how long I zone out, but I felt is a warm hand on my forehead causing me to open my eyes. I stare at some blue ones. Then it registers that Naru is very close to me, looking straight at me. My eyes widen, as a hiccup escapes my lips.
Why was he doing that?
"Mai?" Naru frowns while I cover my mouth once again since another hiccup escapes me, feeling my heart race. One thing admitting your feelings, another getting used to it.
"What happened?" I hiccupped again, while he shrugs nonchalantly, pointing at his right with the knife.
"I got it open." he simply says as I turned my gaze towards it. The wall is halfway open, as I saw dust coming out of it. I felt excited that without thinking I cup his cheeks and rubbed them gently.
"I'm so glad I have a big strong man in my life." I mocked him, with a small smile, watching his eyes narrow.
"Is that an insult?"
"Take as you want." I shrugged while I let go of him and move back.
I felt Naru take my arm and pulls me towards him causing me to gasped as our faces came inches apart.
"Mai," he whispered in a low deep tone while he moves his hand and places it on my shoulder... I began to get an attack of hiccups while he inches closer. I tried very hard to contain my hiccups, as he moves closer.
Please... Kiss me. Please.
"Spider," he whispers, causing me to arch a brow at his sudden words as he moves his hand and snatches something out of my right shoulder.
"Huh?"
"You had a spider in your shoulder," he whispers, lifting his hand and opens his hand. I follow suit and my eyes widen to see a small brown spider walking in his palm. I groaned with a deep blush, moving away from him.
"I thought you were going to kiss me," I murmured, but I think I said it a little too loud since Naru caught my arm causing me to look back at him, my hiccups are already gone from the fright he gave me.
"Kiss you?" he asks.
My eyes widen but then flinched, shrugging my shoulder.
"I didn't say kiss, I had said, that I think we should see what's
inside." I nervously told him. Naru pulls me back gently, and I glance up.
"Mai!" His voice is low and seductive as his eyes trace my face landing on my lips. I shivered from that, shaking my head.
"Nothing, just forget it.." and before he could get a word out of it, I bolted out from his grasp and went towards the opening of the door, sticking my hand in, Naru took a hold of my arm after he reached me. I turned to look at him as he gave me a serious look.
"Hey, don't do that, we don't know what type of insect or animal had died in there, or still alive that can bite you," Naru growls out. I just rolled my eyes at him.
"I'm not afraid of those, the spider on my shoulder didn't frighten me. Err, about alive ones that can bite, yeah that scares me, but I'm sure there's nothing." I shrugged, moving my hand, all I could feel is space, until I scoot closer to the opening.
Naru pinches the bridge of his nose looking very stress with my actions.
"Stubborn, if it scares you, why do you keep touching?" he asks me. I turn to look at him.
"Because it would have bitten me when I first place my hand in." I logically told him. He shook his head.
"I'm done with you." He said in a disappointed tone causing me to roll my eyes at him.
When I move my hand towards the right, felt something hard at the edge of the wall.
"I think I found something," I told him. Moving closer than ever, I use my fingers to grasp it after a few tries, I finally grasp the edge and pull it out, in doing so, my hand came out with cobwebs, and a few insects crawling on top of my arm.
"Eww," I squirm, shrugging it off from my hand. Naru takes a hold of my arm and began to patiently remove the cobwebs from my arm, scattering away from the bugs.
"Great now we have to inspect our beds before sleeping," I said as he lifts his gaze up at me.
"You're lucky they didn't bite you, we don't know which one is poisonous," he said, as I felt his fingers dust my arm down to my fingers. I licked my lower lip and nodded.
"Thanks, I'm sorry, you're right," I said since he is right, I could have been poison as he nods as returns my arm. I rub it and I watch him hunch next to me to take out the box since I left it halfway in the entrance then sit next to me.
"Just be careful next time think before you act Mai, we are by ourselves and medical help is impossible if something happens to us." he reminds me. I nodded at him a bit shyly watching him place the silver box which is a normal size box on top of his lap.
"It has a pent lock, want to try the magic key we found?" I asked while I move to touch the fancy silver box. Looking at it carefully, it looks familiar to the mirror itself, almost the same designs. Naru lifts his waist to stick his hand inside of his pockets and takes the key out.
Turning forward, he bends down, to stick the key inside the lock and twist it, on doing so, I heard it click.
"Tada, it's open," I clapped causing Naru, to turn back at me looking at me with a confused look.
"It's opened," I clapped excitedly... Naru tilts his head towards me, giving me a confused look.
"Why are you so happy about that?"
"Why not, is like a mystery game, everything seems to be slowly intertwining. I like it. When we return home and when we have grandchildren, we can tell them about our epic adventure." I chimed, as he just shook his head.
"You live too much in your fantasy world."
"No, I don't." I defended as my cheeks grew warm, wrapping my arms around my tummy, and smiled.
One day, I'll have Naru children. I can feel that I will love them more than anything... Above all things, they will be Naru's children. If Naru will even start to even hold my hand. If we can get that far at least.
"Our grandchildren won't even have time to hear old folk tales," he murmurs.
"Yes, they will. It has everything, adventure, mystery, suspense, and above all things, romance." I giggled, feeling like that our story is from some sort of fantasy book.
"That will be the girls since you girls like the mushy parts, then.."
"No, it will be the boys as well. They will like to hear how their grandfather saves their grandmother. How he fought the ghosts and such, I know there's more to come, so it will be epic.." for a reason, a sudden bad feeling filled my heart... I rubbed my chest.
Not again.
"Fine... Both girls and the boys can hear it, but I'm telling the adventure part, I don't do romance.." he agrees, as I stare at him...
'Wait..." it dawns on me as I stare at him very surprised.
He's talking about grandchildren here. That means...
I once again wrap my arms around my stomach and smile.
'He wants children with me?' my chest warms up, feeling happy. I move closer to him, placing my head on top of his shoulder, as my eyes soften. Naru rose his head and looks side down to look at me.
"Mai?"
"I'll tell them the romance part... I will tell them, even though his grandpa is a very insensitive man, he's had his humor and beautiful side, that he doesn't show to anyone.. I will tell them, how much he makes me re-fall in love with him, no matter what happens." I blushed deeply, burying my face in his shoulder.
Naru didn't know how to react to that. So he just says what is natural.
"That's too soft and girly..." he murmurs, as his cheeks turn red. He turns his head, as a surprise smile passes his lips, so I won't catch.
"Hey, I am a girl.. It's not soft or girly.."
"Just makeup whatever you feel comfortable..." I puff out my cheeks and rubbed my forehead on his shoulder.
"Mean... Just plain mean."
"Not mean; just the truth. So far, there wasn't any romance, from my point of view, event anything you want... I won't stop you.." he declares.
"Fine.. Then I will." I suppress a laughter
"Are we going to talk about grandchildren all day, or see what's inside of the box?" he changes the subject. I cleared my throat, and move away from him.
I don't think he realizes that he was comfortable enough to talk about our future, which means to me that he wants to have children with me in the future. Oh, Naru, you truly are sweet deep in there and you know how much family means to me.
"Box, right!" I scooted closer to the box, as he opens it... Both of us move our heads to look down. Inside the box, was a piece of paper, and an old picture, black and white.
"That's all? I thought it was something more," I scratched my head as Naru shrugged at me.
"Could be their treasure," he said as he places his hand inside the box and grabs the items.
He hands me the paper and I took it, sitting back, I flipped the paper, noticing that it has though been ripped on the side edges.
Naru glances at the photo, and frowns, turning it to show it to me.
"It's Ayame and John, with their child," he mentions.
I glance at it, Ayame is wearing a long dress, which looks familiar to me and she sits on the rocks, next to her husband, which he's wearing one of the clothes that wear. The baby girl sits in between them smiling up at her parents. A cute baby, bold and chubby as it looks like she was clapping.
"Okay, they had a camera then," I said, but as I inspect the picture, I felt as though I have seen this picture.
"You know what.." I stopped, giving a deeper look at the picture.
"What?" he moves his hand down, so now both of us are seeing the old black and white picture.
"I think I have seen this picture before," I admitted, looking up at Naru.
"You have?"
"I can't remember where, but it looks familiar to me. You know, when you have a moment of deja vu... As though you saw it before, but you can't pint point where exactly." I told him. Naru nods, looking at the paper in my hand.
"You'll remember it if it's time, just read that." Lifting the paper, I squinted and started to read.
"I have met this strange man... He said his name is Hiroshi... He was in the ship with us, when it landed on this strange island. The strange thing is that I don't remember ever seeing his name on the guest list. Strange, indeed. He is a middle-aged man and he makes me feel afraid. There's something weird when he watches me..."
I finished reading, turning my gaze at Naru.
"That's all... The other part is torn.." I felt sad because of that... Naru captures his chin once again, leaning back.
"Hiroshi? He could the man you just in the vision." Naru declares causing me to cross my arm and nod seriously in agreement.
"It could be. She described what I saw." I admit to him.
"Who is he? Why did he want to give Ayame to the wonder twins? What did he gain from that?" Naru whispers as I giggled at his last statement.
"Wonder twins. Good one." I started standing up.
"The important question is, why in the world did anyone ripped this, and place the picture inside that box. What is it so important, that it needed to be hidden? Why there's another missing piece as well."
Naru question, standing up himself. I just shrug.
"I don't know. It can be various things. Like, revenge or he wanted Ayame for himself. Crazy stalker or he made a deal with the wonder twins?" I mumbled heading downstairs. Naru follows me.
"Maybe," I heard Naru mumble under his breath, but I knew he wasn't satisfied with my answer.
Turning towards the window as soon as I reach the first floor, I stop on my tracks, feeling an eerie feeling going down my spine.
"It can be it... Wish Yasuhara or Lin would be here. They could gather more facts for me." he admits behind me, as I lift my gaze towards the window. My eyes widen and fear shoots right through me.
"Ahh!" I screamed, closing my eyes, turning around as my body shook.
"What happened?" Naru asks concerned, as I felt his hand on my shoulder. I nervously turn my arm and pointed at the window.
"There's someone outside." I gasped out, feeling my heart race... Naru moves and stands in front of the window and checks if he spots anyone, but he doesn't.
"There's no one," he tells me. I move my arm down and turned around, and I gasped, covering my mouth, my heart beating harder and harder.
Right behind Naru floating outside the window, a man with a disfigured face, with one dark eye, and the other red with no nose and thin lips. His skin half burnt and the other not with long wild curly hair.
He's smiling at me, as he stares deeply, as though it was lustily, or something like that.
I move backward, as he moves his hand and waves it as though he's saying hi to someone. I felt petrified right now.
"Hi Deary… I miss you... Now that you back. I want you... And Isac nor Alack will take you away from me, my bride, not even your guardian can save you." he yells, causing me to drop to my knees gasping for air, feeling my lungs were set on fire.
"Damn it." I heard Naru run toward me.
"I.. Can't breath." I gasped out, heaving very hard pounding my chest. I felt Naru rub my back looking around to find something that could help me, but as soon as I look up, the man was gone and the chest in my pain was gone as well. Heaving hard, I fall to my knees trying to calm myself down.
Naru bends down taking a hold of my shoulder as I look up at him. Without a word, he once again picks me up in his arms and leads me towards my bed.
Sitting me down, I kept gasping for air as he sits in front of me.
"What happened?"
"Man, that man was outside. He said I was his bride, that I came back, what the hell is going on? He said not even my guardian can save me." I cried, feeling myself shake forcefully.
Naru groans, rubbing his forehead in frustration.
"I think it's time to visit Kyoko. She might help us just a little and try to find the other piece of paper. It can help. One thing I'm sure, that new character, might have done something to Ayame and John.." he seems certain. I licked my dry lips, as I wiped my cheeks.
"I feel so sorry for them.. I'm afraid.. There was something in his eyes when he was staring at me. I didn't like it at all. It was scary Naru, it was scarier than Alack's." I whimper.
I leaned down on my bed, grabbing a fist full of my blanket, feeling my hands shake. Naru frowns, as I shut my eyes.
"Naru... We're going to encounter that character again, aren't we?" my voice seems thick, feeling my heart race. I didn't hear Naru at all. I lift my head and opened my eyes in doing so, Naru is hovering over me, just staring at me.
'Just when I was in the hospital three years ago.' I blushed hard.
"Naru?" I gasped out, placing the blanket over my nose and mouth.
"Move over," he orders. I arched a brow in confusion, but do what he asks of me. I move closer towards the wall as he lays down, placing the veil down. I felt my heart hammering.
"What are you doing?" I timidly asked. He lay his head on the flat of his palm and stares at me.
"Playing, what you think? Just sleep." was all he said. I breathed out.
"Moody much?" I grumpily told him, then I turned to face him completely.
"You haven't answered my question.."
"Why would you even ask that, if you know the answer. I'll try my best to keep him away from you," he whispers. I nodded, as a hiccup escapes once again.
"Who's Kyoko?" I asked him. He lowers his hand, and places his head on his arm, closing his eyes.
"The beautiful woman I told you about," he explains. I felt my heart jump rather painfully.
"I never heard you say that word to no one before. Why is she beautiful?"
"Cause she is."
"You know you're talking to your wife right?" I groaned, noticing that Naru inches himself closer to me.
"I know."
"Don't you think I'm beautiful?" I asked, hey, might as well. He opens his eyes and stares at me. Then close his eyes once again.
"No."
"Meany."
"No, truthful."
I groaned, covering my face with the blanket, and felt very sad about this.
He doesn't find me attractive. That lady does.
"Does that bother you?" He suddenly asks. I nodded.
"Why?"
"You know why. I told you before. Then go with that beautiful woman.." I spat at him angrily. Then my eyes widen when I felt his arm around my waist.
"Then if I do that, then whom will I bother? She isn't as much fun, as you are."
"I'm not a plaything," I complained, feeling Naru move closer, feeling his chin on top of myMamad. I felt my heart race once again.
Removing the blanket, gasping for fresh air. Naru moves and looks down at me.
"Not a plaything, but an entertaining assistant you are," he mumbles.
I thinned out my lips, ignoring his statement.
"Why do you keep calling her a beautiful woman?" I finally asked him. He pushes me against his chest, and places his leg around my waist, and draws me close to
"Cause she is. There's one thing I don't like about her, though."
"Is there?" I arched a brow, moving to see him.
"There is."
"What?"
"She tends to ask too many personal questions. Annoying me to no end. She's no good for me." I stare at him, with wide eyes.
"Then what about me? What do you find annoying?" Naru glances down at me and then closes his eyes.
"You tend to talk a lot." was his answer, as he places his chin on top of my head, breathing evenly. I pouted.
"No, I don't. Wait, there's no difference between her and me."
"Yes, you do. And the difference is that I can tolerate you already. It's like my immune system made a barrier around you, so I can tolerate it. We have a lot to travel tomorrow. Can we sleep?" he asks.
I nodded, wrapping my arm around him.
"Wow, how romantic, comparing me like a disease, hey, you did that last month." I shrug his shoulder, hearing him chuckle a little.
"Cause you are. I doubt there's no cure... So I learned to accept it." he shrugs. I had no idea how to take that as.
"Wow, so romantic on your part."
"I know it is." he agrees. I rolled my eyes at him.
"Naru, can I say something embarrassing," I whispered changing the subject, hiding my face in his chest. He opens his eyes and looks down at me.
"Depends."
"Depends?"
"That it will cause you to hiccup again," he stated. I groaned.
"Wait, how did you know?" I asked,
"Easy... I am a good observer." he only answers.
"No, it won't. I wanted to say it for a while, but... But I was too afraid. Now that we are like this, I can say it, without looking at your face."
"Is that embarrassing?"
"Yes."
"Fine..." he breathed out, I nodded feeling him move away from me. I glance up, to stare at his eyes. I bit my lower lip, and cover my face with my hands.
"Well?"
"Give me a minute, I'm building up courage," I told him the truth as I felt Naru's fingers run through my hair as his eyes soften just watching me.
"I didn't dare to say this, but from what I have learned in this field of work, life is too short, we need to grasp the opportunity that God gives us. So here goes nothing." I lower my hands, and felt my whole face blush.
"I...I want you as my husband, and as my man." I gasped out, lowering my head down as Naru stares at me.
"I'm not good at this. I never had a boyfriend. So I don't know exactly how to act around a guy. I know the past month, was very awkward, but I want it to change... Step by step... No rush, like you said. I like how we are slowly getting used to it, but I would like to speak up more gaining courage day by day. You're my husband, not a stranger and I have known you for four years now, that's a long time now. Everything I have is yours, and hopefully, everything you have is mine. I mean things like work and thoughts and such, like depending on each other and supporting each other and I don't mean money. And.." Naru stops me when he snakes his arm around my waist and pins me against him once again.
"I get it." he simply says. I felt tears running down my cheeks, as I glance up.
"Thank you... I know I'm not good at this. This is new, and..." He breathed out, as he moves, and kisses my forehead.
"Don't cry... I'm learning as well. Remember, you're not the only one that hasn't had a partner. So.. We'll just keep pushing it until we get so used to it, that it comes naturally to us. The best part of this in a sense we don't have anyone to direct us of how to do this, we just see what fits best for us, since we are family now." he whispers to me. I smiled, wrapping my arm around him.
"Yes, you are, you are my family now a special one at that. Then I will protect you Naru. Okay. Just like you protect me. We can grow slowly together. I know you're smarter than me, but in this part, we can learn together." Naru remains quiet while I just snuggle into his chest, as I felt his heart once again beat hard.
"Sleep... I'm not kidding when I say is a full long week of hiking," he grumbles, closing his eyes falling into a deep slumber. I nodded, falling asleep as well.
Then I snapped my eyes open, as something dawns on me.
Wait... Beautiful woman?
"Ne Naru." I move to shrug his shoulder, he groans as he places his hand over his eyes and rubs them.
"What?" he snaps, opening his eyes after he lowers his hand. I frowned, lowering my head.
"Sorry. I just wanted to say thank you so much." I wrap my arm around his back and give him a tight squeeze. He seems startled by my sudden action.
Naru suddenly kisses my forehead and groans as he closed his eyes and snuggles closer to me.
I like his random kisses on my forehead, doesn't he know how much it affects me? I felt my heart warm up at his caring gesture of his kisses, which are the best.
"Hmm, can we sleep woman?" he complains. I nodded, moving my head forward I shyly kiss his cheek, making his cheeks grow warm. I didn't take notice, cause it's already dark.
"Sweet dreams." I smiled sweetly at him, giving him a love-struck look as I stare at shadow features while he falls back to sleep.
I smile, as a tear slip down my cheeks. Then an eerie feeling filled me once again.
"I have a bad feeling, and I don't like it. I'm getting sick and tire of having this feeling because something does always happen." I whispered to myself, as I felt my heart unease once again. I glance up at Naru's sleeping form and gave him a sad smile.
"Thank you for distracting my mind, with the beautiful woman story... It worked for a little while. Too bad, it won't work forever." I mumbled to myself, as I closed my eyes, and tighten my grip on Naru.
He seems to be half asleep, feeling him push me closer to him.
Thank you God... For bringing me the most brilliant and caring man in my life. Please protect us, and we can stay together forever. Is all I ask of you. I hope mama and papa are happy about the man I married.
And how right I was... That bad feeling was going to be one of my most unpleasant and the worst days of my life. All I have to say, that Naru will always be part of my life, until the day I die.
"Tik Tok. Tik Tok... It's almost One.. Tik Tok, tik Tok... Soon he'll die, and she'll be my woman."Hiroshi gasped out as Ayame frowns at him, floating in front of our treehouse.
"Isac and Alack won't be pleased." She tells him. Hiroshi turns his gaze at her, as his eyes turned sinister.
"I won't let her get away again. She's my soulmate. She'll be mine." he growls out at Ayame, as she shook her head.
"One is almost up, then there's nine the ship appeared again. That means is faster than ever. You know she's our only hope, if you kill her husband, she won't set you free."
"Don't care anymore, she came back." Hiroshi ran his hand through his lips making a slurping noise. Ayame frowns.
"They will discover who you are sooner or later. They will put justice for us. You are a betrayer Hiroshi. You shall be punished for your human actions. Let's go, before Alack comes. Isac is looking for you, you filthy dog." Ayame insulted, floating away from the treehouse, as Hiroshi gave it one last look.
"Mai will be mine. My woman, and not his. No matter what he'll die, and Isac and Alack won't get her, not to be set free.." and with that, he disappears into thin air, as the moonlight shines over the treehouse, casting a shadowy glow, two red eyes appear on top of the trees, and a low sinister growl is echoed down the forest.
A thunder casts over the background when I heard.
"Nine, and I shall be set free..."
Thank you for the lovely reviews. I love to read that you'll are patiently waiting for a new update or loving the changes, and yes I wanted them to be freer spirited in a way of their relationship because they have known each other for so long and they already use to each other, so I wanted to add extra scenes for them to be more romantic with each other with small actions, but still keep them in characters *which I hope I'm doing alright so far, without breaking them.* I love them too as the writer.
God bless all.