Disclaimer: I do NOT own Ghost Hunt
Chapter Thirty-one: Through the Looking Glass
Naru pov
The past five days after my declaration of breaking it off was hell for me and I deeply regret it. The first day was barely passable as each day that went was harder and harder to take, to the point of going crazy, that I lost sleep for it. If she's not next to me sleeping, I can't sleep since my body has grown accustomed to her body next to me.
I slept a few feet away from the treehouse to keep an eye on her just in case something happened, well that's what I told myself, but in reality, I just wanted to be as near her as possible.
"Come to me!" I heard in a distance causing my heart to quiver, the first time I heard it was three days ago when I was working on our boat trying to distract my mind. I stop for a brief second to see if Mai was around the area, but wasn't at all.
"Strange, I swore I just heard her." I scratched my head but returned to work on the boat.
After I went to take a break, I stretched my body and headed for the bathing post, I passed our home and I stop to look up to see if I can spot Mai, but I didn't see any movement or heard anything. I tighten my grip to fight off the temptation to go to her.
So I went towards the bathing post, rather forced myself to move away, and headed there as soon as I reach there, I went still to spot Mai sitting on the edge of the water, bathing. I licked my lips as I watch her move her long hair and drape it over her shoulder, showing me her bareback.
"Mai!" I whispered as this deep ache claimed me wanting to go up to her. She stops her movements and turns around only for me to rapidly move to the side and hide behind a tree. Mai frowns in disappointment and turns again. I place my hand on my chest trying to calm it down since it was racing so much.
"Naru, how much longer do you need?" I heard her ask causing me to peek around the tree to see her looking up at the sky.
"Just forget about me, even though I clearly can't forget about you, but you can," I answered as I watch her rub her arms.
"I wish Ayako was here, she would help me. I don't know how to deal with this, this is the first time Naru leaves me alone for this long while of an argument, I get it, but three days is already feeling like a lifetime," she told herself. I drop my eyes to the ground feeling guilt once again.
"So hurry Naru and come to me," she whispers as she stood up to turn around. I rose my gaze to see her, and I felt my chest tighten as I soaked her in, as I stare at her with such longing, love, and ache to go to her.
No matter how many times I have seen her naked, it just amazes me how small and beautiful she is. Mai, I love you so much it drives me crazy. I never thought that I could be this crazy for a woman that has every domination over me.
I watch her grab the white towel that the man gave her and wraps it around her. I turned back when I see Ayame floating in front of me. I jump back a bit surprised by her sudden appearance.
"You wish to go to her, why don't you? She after all your wife," she asks me, but I shook my head at her.
"I want to break up with her, can you unbind us?" I asked her. Ayame stares at me for a second then looks behind me to see Mai.
"That I can not do, you two are bound until death."
Why does that make me at ease? Is not what I wanted to hear, but my heart is at ease and happy to hear it. I'm bound to her
"Why not? Why am I her guardian? This makes no sense to me, I have tried to figure it out for years now, but I can't come up with an answer." I told her.
"Everything comes with an explanation, so don't you worry about that for now, you have bigger problems ahead with your wife. I came to warn you," she explains to me.
"Warn me of what?" now feeling worried by her words.
"Don't leave Mai alone as she will need you more than ever and protect her as your mission will become darker and more life threaten. Secrets are bound to come out."
"Great, like we don't have more in our plates," I said dryly causing her to smile at me.
"In the end, it will be worth it, your brother is watching you two so be at ease." the mention of my brother cause my heart to leap as I look at her.
"He probably laughing at the situation calling me stubborn and an idiot," I said a bit bitterly. Ayame gave me a soft stare and shook her head.
"He worries, and prays for you and your wife's safety," she explains which made me feel a bit more at ease.
"Just let him know that if he doesn't come to me once, he has hell to pay." I simply told her. She nods at me as her gaze went back to Mai.
"Your wife has fallen asleep, you should bring her in, the raining season here, also when she calls for you listen." with that Ayame disappears from my sight.
She calls me I should listen? What does that mean? I just hope I can protect her, great she made me more worried than I am.
I turned to see Mai sitting against a rock with her legs tucked under her sleeping. I went up to her and bend down to brush her hair behind her ear.
"What am I going to do with you? You know is dangerous sleeping here without me." I bumbled as I hoist her up in my arms. Mai snuggles against my chest as I began to walk her towards our home.
After a few minutes, I manage to get us to the second floor of the treehouse and place her down on the ground. She groans stretching her body. I smiled gently as this ache pierced into my heart.
"I'm going to miss this," I whispered as I leaned down and place a small kiss on her forehead. She subconsciously smiles at my gesture as I stood up.
With that I headed downstairs, only to miss Mai opening her eyes. She rubs them and stood up looking around a bit disoriented, but then ran as fast as she could towards my direction.
"Naru?" she calls out as I went down the stairs not taking notice that Mai caught me. She frowns and leans her head against the wall with longing as she watches me. I stopped feeling a strange sensation as I turned around only to miss Mai turning around heading in.
To be honest, I wouldn't change what happen between us in those five days of separation. The separation made me reflect, made me realize, made me understand that I can't live without her. Without Mai by my side, I felt empty, with a lack of joy, nothing worth getting up for. These five days made me realize and reflect that I love her more than I ever did in the past and for me, that was a scary thought because it means I can't let her go as easily as I wanted it.
Yet, I have never been so thankful in my life that she chooses to wait and be with me denying my stupid request. The thought of her going with another man killed me profoundly, the thought of her leaving me felt like a knife just ripped my heart into two.
The fact that she loves me this deeply is scary and wonderful at the same time. If we can't fight off our feelings, might as well live by them, the more we deny the worse we harm each other. It's clear factor Mai or I can't live without each other, we might not be the perfect couple in this world, (Who is?) but we are perfect for each other with all faults.
I never thought in my wildest dream someone would love me the way she does and I wouldn't change it for the world. I'm crazy for her to the point of no return and these five days made me realize there's no way in this world that I would love no other woman the way I love her.
Mai Pov
Dream:
"Tun! Tun! Tun! Tun!" I heard at a distance, sounding like a rhythm tap of a finger on the glass. A cold chill ran down my spine while I found myself on the first floor of the treehouse and its very dark.
The only light source that illuminates the room is a simple candle on a simple flat wooden table on my right. (Which wasn't there before.)
"Okay, that's new, err, hello?" I called out, looking around to see if I could spot someone, but I began to hear an eerie humming. I swallowed hard as the hairs of my arm stood.
"Creepy, creepy." I rubbed my arms, when the humming began to sing in a familiar voice I heard before.
Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass.
I turned towards the woman's voice which is on my left side. An old fashion brown rocker chair appears from nowhere stood in the middle of the room as the woman with long hair faces her back at me sitting on the chair and rocking it while she kept repeating the song. I gulped heavily, feeling my handshakes.
Scary, oh how I wish I can see the souls in the fire.
Slowly I made my way towards her each step was agonizing, feeling my heart beating faster and faster in pure fear.
The woman's voice started to become deeper and more terrifying than ever.
Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass.
"Excuse me…. ma'am?" I asked noticing my voice breaking in fear as I finally reached her. She stops her rocking and then she turns around to face me causing me to jump back.
I bit my lower lip, feeling my heart hammer hard against my ribs.
She has a white ripped old veil covering her head, but she continued to sing that creepy song.
"Err... Why am I here?" I gave it shot even though my instincts told me not to. The woman lifts her head, tilting her head towards the right, stopping her singing.
"I'll save you from the big bad wolf." she gently tells me, causing me to take a step back as her tone.
"Big bad wolf?" I repeated, thinking of Isac.
She suddenly stood up at an inhuman speed and gets up to my face. I jump more back scared to death at this point.
She's scary, scarier than Isac and Alack combined is like the ring girl but worse.
"That man, he doesn't love you, he lusts after you. He wants to hurt my baby, but I won't let him. I will protect your innocence... Mama is here to protect you."
"You mean my husband? Oliver? No, he won't harm me and you have the wrong girl. I'm not your daughter." I told her and it was the wrong thing to say.
The woman lifts her skinny hand almost skeleton-like to see blood dripping down to the wooden floor. My eyes widen in shock as it dawns on me.
Is she the woman I saw five years ago in the cave? the woman moves her head rapidly as she opens her mouth.
"WRONG! HE WANTS TO HARM YOU!" she screams in this demonic voice causing me almost to pee on myself while her voice suddenly turns a bit tender.
"So my daughter, I will save you from him. No one hurts my Daughter." she takes a hold of my wrist, as I shivered in fear.
"Please let go," I begged her trying to struggle out of her grip.
The woman uses her free hand and lifts her veil and came face to face with me. A blood-curling scream gets stuck in my throat as I see blood bleeding out from her eyes sockets as her skin is pale yellowing, and decaying, and the worse part she looks like my own mother.
"Come my little one, come to mama's bosom, I will protect you," she reaches out to grab me with a wicked smile as finally the scream I built up escapes me.
"AHH!"
"Mama will always protect you."
...
...
I jolted out of my dream, but on doing so, I felt a hand around my neck trying to choke me again.
I started to gasp for air as I took a hold of the blankets.
"No! Naru!" I called out but barely audible, turning my gaze towards him. Naru was looking at the mirror looking in deep thought. I extend my arm for him as I felt a tear roll down my eyes as the pressure around my neck tightens causing me to gasp for air.
Naru, turn, please help me.
Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass.
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass
I grasp the blanket, looking up. The woman floats above me with a deep dark expression in her eyes as blood continues to flow down.
She looks like my mother, why?
"I will not let no harm come to you my child,"she tells me giving me a strange look, and the hands around my neck lifted. I began to cough violently trying to regain my breath catching Naru's attention.
"Naru!" I manage to somewhat scream, grabbing my neck once again as the hands return. Naru came up to me and his eyes narrow horrified at what he's seeing.
"Do the nine cuts Mai," Naru shouts.
Right, I forgot. I closed my eyes to concentrate and I began to chant, but the woman tightens her hold around my neck.
"No.." I heard the woman shout and before I could finish my chant, the hands around my neck loosen up and I heard a grunt. Turning, Naru is lifted against the wall, holding onto his neck explaining why he couldn't help me. She already has taken a hold of Naru.
"N... Naru.." I coughed violently as my heart pained at the scene.
"Let him go.." I pleaded as she turns her dead face towards me.
"I trusted him... He must die for hurting my daughter." she rapidly goes to Naru, face to face and his eyes widen.
Struggling, I manage to stumble out of my bed, falling into the ground since my body felt weak.
Concentrate Mai. I told myself as I weakly stood up and prepared myself.
"Rin, Pyou, Tou, Sha, Ka, Djin, Retsu, Zai, Zen," I did the gestures feeling my energy flow through me, and then it flows out of me, heading straight at her.
I opened my eyes the woman disappears dropping Naru on the floor causing him to grunt as my energy flow disappears.
"Naru!" I began to run towards him as he rubs his neck and looks up at me and his eyes narrow when I felt an arm around my waist stopping me in my tracks.
"No, don't go to him, don't try to hurt Mama. It's a sin.." I heard behind me sending tremors of fear down my spine.
Naru stood up as I stare at him with wide eyes.
"Don't move." I mouthed him. He nods in understanding. The hold on my waist tightens, then she takes hold of my hair and yanks it painfully causing me to grunt in pain.
"Mama is disappointed with you Mai, why do you want to protect a mutt that only wants to harm you. Don't you see, I want to protect you, after all, you're my precious daughter." I shook my head not daring to look at her but kept my eyes on Naru.
"Protect me? You're trying to kill us and I told you Naru isn't going to harm me and I'm not your daughter!" I told her in pure anger and once again the wrong thing to do.
"Didn't I told you to not hurt your mother? He is nothing, he just wants to take my daughter's innocence, I won't allow that. I won't allow any man to harm my daughter!" she screams into my ear and before I could or Naru do anything the ghost woman pulls me so hard, that I went across the room landing painfully against the wall. I gasp as I dropped to the ground and weakly lifted myself, and before I could do anything again the woman grabs my hair and began to pull me across the room as I took hold of my hair with pain plaster in my face.
"Stop it," I cried out as she finally stopped and looks at me.
"No, until you show me respect, I need to discipline my daughter," she said, and the next thing I knew I felt my body being thrown upwards as I look at the floor with wide eyes and my body hits the rooftop so hard, and then she lets go of me and I fall rapidly down.
"MAI!" Naru yells as I fall painfully to the ground.
I began to breathe hollowed trying to not blackout as I shook my head and slowly lifted my head. I couldn't move as everything hurts.
I glance up to see Naru watching, trying to come up with a solution, he looks horrified and so worried with a mix of anger, I just shook my head to tell him to stay still. He shook his head with desperation.
She wants to kill you Naru, just give me a chance to protect you.
"Now, let us do this again, let me take care of that mutt," she asks of me sweetly after she kneels and lowers her head to look at me. I shook my head.
"No, you can't touch a hair on him, please leave us alone." I pleaded while disappointment is written all over her face.
The woman became mad that she lifts her arm and pushed Naru against the wall causing me to hear him grunt in pain and I look up.
"NO!" I shout as I weakly crawled myself towards Naru.
"Leave him, he is nothing!" The woman screams at me as I continued to crawl until I finally reached Naru.
"Mai, don't!" Naru pleads as I grabbed Naru's wet pants since he didn't have the chance to change earlier from the storm. I pulled myself up aching each movement I made. Then I stood in front of Naru and place each hand of mine on the side of Naru, to cover him with my body. Naru looks at me as I look at him, with his eyes he told me to not do this, he'll take care of it, since I can feel is pk spiking up. I shook my head.
No, Naru, you can't, you're hurt, you're bleeding and I just got you back.
"Trust me," I mouthed at him. He looks very annoyed and worried, I leaned forward and kiss his cheek.
"I'll protect you," I whispered feeling Naru leaning his cheek against mine giving me support.
"Mai, don't, don't protect him."
I had to think of something fast, but what does a mother do to drop anything they are doing?
A call of a child.
"Mama, I'm hurt, please help." I began to cry hard lowering my head as Naru arched a brow looking confused.
"Mai? Where? Where are you hurt?" she calls out worriedly feeling her right behind me.
"Mama! I'm hurt, I scraped my knee!" I made up even though every part of me hurts so much, I can barely move after what she did to me.
I lift my gaze when I felt her cold arms drape around me and a shiver ran down my spine. Naru shook his head as I cringed hard.
"My poor girl, come with me, I'll take care of it."
"I will, but promise me you won't harm my husband," I bargain feeling her grow stiff.
"He can't be near you, I need to protect you." she insisted so I shook my head.
"Mama, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be a bad daughter, but I love him you know that? Don't you want your daughter to be happy?" I question her.
"Of course I do, but he wants to harm, he only lusts for you." She said. I shook my head.
"It's okay if he does, he's my husband and he doesn't lust over me, he just loves me so much that he wants to show me. I want him to want me, it's normal for a married couple and healthy, I desire the same, I desire him the same way because I love him." I told her feeling my cheeks burning so hot, I think steam will escape through my ears.
Naru just stares at me with a strange look but doesn't say a word.
"But I don't want him, he's not right for you." She said, I shook my head as I turned around after she lets go of me, which was the best feeling I ever felt.
"I'm okay mama, I don't want anyone else but him. I'm sorry." I cried out wrapping my arms around her. My heart for a reason seems to calm down.
I began to cry harder, as she rubs my back and started to sing me that creepy song.
Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass.
I began to feel myself being spun by her while being levitated up in the air while she sings to me, I move away from her, and her clammy cold hands cup my cheeks making me shiver.
Hush, my little child, don't say a word
Naru watches amazed at the scene while I stare at her, feeling a creep out, I cleared my throat.
"So you won't harm Oliver? Right Mama? You won't the man your daughter loves right?" I pleaded with her.
"She'll protect you from the big bad wolf. He won't harm you no more." she must hate Naru that much she's not budging at all.
I turn my head to look down, Naru stares at us, still plaster on the wall, not able to move at all.
"No... He's not bad, he's very good. He just very shy, and doesn't know how to express himself." I told her. The woman turns towards Naru, baring her eyes on him, then her voice turns again demonic sounding as she points at him making his body be pressed even more painfully on the wall taking his breath as though she's punching him in his gut.
No, please don't. My stomach twisted at the scene and I felt tears running down my eyes.
"No, I have seen the many tears you shed for him, the many times he wounded your heart. I have seen him almost kill you. He does not deserve my daughter he harms you this much."
Naru let those words sink in as he stares at me.
"I admit I did cry because we didn't know we loved each other in the past, we thought we were talking about someone else, but last time it wasn't' him, it was Isac who made him do that. Please spear him. He won't harm me, I love him and he loves me so much, we aren't perfect so we will get into arguments, but we always make up, it's normal for any couple." I tried to convince her.
The woman floated me down and placed me down on the ground and turns towards Naru.
"Promise me dirty wolf that you will never harm her. Ever." her voice echoed the treehouse. Naru nods looking at her seriously.
"I promise, I will never harm her; she's my world the woman I love, that I swear in my man's of honor," he explains to her making my heart jump weirdly, but it felt so beautiful to hear him say those words which made my very soul be touched in a way I can't describe.
The woman floated swiftly towards his face, Naru stares at the woman dead in her eyes, not even a speck of fear is shown.
Her eyes scanning his to see if he's lying.
"You're telling the truth... You'll love her until your very last breath, very good. I don't want anything bad to happen to her after all she's my precious daughter." then she lets him go.
Naru gasp for air holding into his chest as I limp myself up to him and took a hold of his shoulders.
"Are you okay?" I hiccupped looking for any wounds.
"Fine, but you? You're hurt," he whispers so that woman won't hear us as he began to chuck on me, touching me everywhere to see any wounds. I shook my head.
"Just going to be bruised, but I didn't break anything, I assure you." I cup his cheek and run my thumb across his cheek. He didn't like my response, but he kisses my forehead making my heart flutter.
"Leave it to me then, it's my turn to protect you," he whispers. I nodded as he waves his hand, turning towards the woman while he places me behind him.
"How are you able to come into our treehouse?" He asks. I blinked, surprised by his question, that's a good question.
The woman chuckles darkly, turning towards the mirror.
"I want is for my daughter to be safe. It's time for Alice to walk through the looking glass. Come," she extended her arm out for me to take ignoring Narus' question. I just stare at her bloody arm then at Naru. He shook his head to say no.
"I'm not leaving with you, I have to stay with my husband," I told her honestly. The woman's eyes become hollow and evil-looking as a sudden cold gust of wind passes by us.
I shivered from the impact while Naru takes my hand and held it tightly.
"Is not what you want, you have to listen to your mother. You have to and you will, you may take your husband. He has much to learn. Come.." she compromises and before we could answer her, she walks right through the mirror.
I stare at Naru with wide eyes.
"That may explain the floating mirror, this isn't Alice in wonderland, or looking glass," I mumbled as Naru nods in agreement.
I took in a big breath, rolling my aching shoulders.
"So, now you are Alice," Naru told me.
"I won't say anything, cause last time it caused us trouble." I shivered from the memory.
"I'm already banged up as it is" I mumbled, Naru turned his gaze at me guilt plaguing his eyes. I didn't even catch it since my eyes are attached to the mirror itself.
"I don't' even know how to get there, I can barely walk," I admit, Naru bends down as I look down at him.
"Ne, Naru?"
"Mai," he pats his shoulder causing me to shake my head and began to argue with him.
"You're hurt and.." but he stops me by saying.
"You're hurt worse than I, just humor me,"
I slump my shoulders not wanting to do this, but Naru takes a hold of my arm and pulls me gently down to his shoulders, and hoists me up on his back. I wrap my arms around his shoulders, his hands are holding my legs as he straightens up.
"Naru?"
"I'm fine," he assures me. I press my forehead against the back of his head, feeling a tear roll down my cheek.
"I'm sorry," I told him with regret and I felt him rub my leg to comfort me.
"Don't think of it too much Mai, let just do this, we'll deal with it later," he tells me. I kiss the back of his head and nodded.
"Okay, are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm better of than you at the moment Mai, don't worry about me." with that he began to walk towards the mirror.
"If you say so, I'll humor you for now, but what do you think we have to go through the mirror?" I asked him. Naru shrugs as he stood in front of the mirror.
"Maybe that's the reason the diary was pointing at the mirror before, it wasn't something physical, but spiritual. In some cultures, they cover the mirrors after a person's death. They think that their souls can be trapped in the mirrors." He explains.
"I remember that, it was one of your studies," I told him, then something dawns on me.
"Oh... That makes so much sense now." I groaned as I felt Naru hoisting me up since I was beginning to dip down.
"It's up to you, do you wish to go?" He simply says.
"To keep her at bay, let's do it. Maybe we learn something from this island even though I don't want to." I admit. Naru doesn't say anything as I hunch over his shoulder and kiss his cheek again.
"Thank you for trusting me, I was so scared that she would have killed you," I told him. He turns his gaze and stares at me as he nods at me, without saying a word.
"I love you with all my heart so no matter what happens, I will always love you," I told him making his eyes soften as he arched his head and kisses my lips causing me to return it with delight.
I love his kisses, I can't get enough and they give me life.
"Me to Mai, you're my life, and I will protect you." he simply replies making my whole body warm up in such a beautiful way as he rubs his forehead against my head in a loving way causing my heart to pound hard against my chest. He then straightens up and looks at the mirror once again. I hugged him tightly feeling worried about this.
"Then we go just like that?"
"Don't know... The supernatural world works mysteriously." He mumbles stretching his arm and touches the surface of the mirror. His eyes widen as his body drops down making me fall with him.
"No, no, no, Naru?" I gasped out as I remove myself from him ignoring my pains and turned him over, he doesn't look hurt, but my hands began to shake.
"Naru, wake up my love!" I begged as I pat his cheek gently, but no response, then I heard a knock in the mirror. I turned my head to see my reflection and next to me is Naru looking at me and he says something but I couldn't hear him at all so he frowns.
"Naru?" I limped forward and press my hand on the glass in doing so, a sudden weird sensation passes through my body.
I drop landing on top of Naru's chest and everything turns dark.
Thanks for the reviews and thank you Jjmmr for begin a loyal reader and giving me support, your words mean a lot, and for the others who read this crazy ride. :) makes me happy to know I have supportive readers and all of your kind words make me happy to hear no matter where you all from.