A disclaimer: I Don't own Ghost Hunt
Chapter Fifty-Eight: Dance?
Naru Pov
Placing Mai on top of our bed, I rapidly went to get water and hurried to get back to her. Sitting down at the edge of the bed, I place my hand on her cheek and pat it gently.
"Mai, wake up," I whispered to her, Mai doesn't respond on the first try, but a few more, she finally stirs, moaning a bit as she slowly opens her eyes to look at me. I move myself to sit right by her head.
"Here, drink some water, I told her while I help her sit up, and leaned her against my chest. Then I place the edge of the cup against her lips. Slowly I help her drink, and she swallows it. Then I lowered the cup placing it to my side of the floor. Mai rubs the sleep out of her eyes as I turned back to rub her back gently.
"Naru, what happened?" she asks me looking a bit daze as she moves away from me, and turns to look at me.
It must be a shock. We have spoken about this before, but what can we do? And I know Mai, she will keep our baby until her last breath and I will stand beside her with that. After all, I'm responsible for making her pregnant.
"What happened?" she asks, turning her gaze at me. I stare at her trying to gather my thoughts.
"What do you remember?" I asked. Mai frowns, tilting her head to the side as her cheeks flares up, turning her body towards me.
"Not sure, um, we were at the hammock were we not?" she glances around the treehouse. I take a hold of her hand, looking straight at her eyes.
"Don't you remember?" I asked her. Mai shook her head as she came up to me, and cups my cheek, as her brown eyes soften while she soothes my cheek with her thumb.
"Not really, what another attack? Why are we here? Did I fell asleep?" she asks me, feeling her heart worrying. I capture her hand and rub my thumb across it.
"We weren't attacked, you fainted because I told you that we are pregnant. You're holding our baby." I told her.
Silence filled the room as Mai register my words but nervously laugh at me.
"No, we can't be pregnant, I mean is dangerous and..."
"Mai, we've been making love none stop for two whole months, at some point, I got you pregnant." I reminded her. Mai bites her lower lip, looking around, lowering her hand.
"But..."
"But nothing, I'm no expert on pregnancy, but you got the signs of a pregnant woman Mai and your period not coming for two months it's the biggest one. Plus we have been having cravings and we've been vomiting. So those are some of the symptoms. Also, you've been gaining some weight." I told her as I took a hold of her chin, making her look at me.
"So you're not mad?" she suddenly asks me. I was taken aback by her words.
"Mad? Why would I be mad?" I asked her, as her eyes gloss over with unshed tears.
"I don't know, I..."
"Mai, I'm not mad, just in shock, but not mad, I won't leave you or asking to do anything against your comfort zone. I know how much you want to have a child, so we'll be parents to the best of our ability. And I wouldn't want anyone else to be the mother of my child that is not you. So be at ease." I simply told her to ease her as I watch a tear roll down her cheek.
She finally moves her hand, and presses it on top of mine, and looks back up at me.
"You…" she spits out, as many emotions pass her eyes.
"Me?" I feel rather off right now, not sure how to react to this, now that I think about it.
"You gave me a child... We're pregnant?" she seems not to be convinced. I move closer to her, as I felt her ring hit mine, making it clink noise.
"Yes," I couldn't talk anymore, since I can feel my heart and her mix with so many emotions. It caused my throat to become thick.
Mai moves, wrapping her arms around me as I wrap my arm around her, to adjust her a bit.
"Naru! she cries, feeling her hand on the back of my head, I move my arms and stood up placing my arm under her, and hoist her up in my arms. She looks down at me I look up at her.
"I'm going to be a mama, and you're going to be a papa." Tears kept rolling down her cheeks.
I move us to the ocean shore and place Mai down on the sandy ground. She glances up at me, as I cup her cheeks.
"Is not a dream?"
"No Mai... You are pregnant… It's my fault, I should have been a little more careful." I told her, as Mai's red eyes scans mine then gave me a sympathetic look.
"No... It's Not... We were just making up for the lost time Naru and I was the one that began it. Isn't love like this? We want to be with each other all the time, I am not sorry... Now I'm…" she stops as she moves her hands, and placed them on her stomach, and smiles.
"Are you sure... I mean, this feels so surreal to me. I... A mama..." she cries out more, covering her mouth with her free hand.
"I am… I feel it, Mai. All the symptoms are there." I assured Mai. Mai wraps her arms around me and hugs me tightly, then kisses my lips. Then look down at her stomach.
"Hi there, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I'm Mai, your mama, and this is your Papa, Shibuya, or Oliver, but I call him Naru, but his other family calls him Noll. I know your Papa has lots of names, but you'll be calling him Papa. Nice to meet you my little one. Come, my love, say hi." She said causing my heart to warm up as she looks so excited.
I lowered myself down a bit as Mai lifted her blouse making me look at her stomach.
"Hi, I'm your father, I'll take good care of you as I do with your Mom." I felt a bit awkward as I lift myself to see Mai smiling at me with a strange joy making my heart swell with this strange warmth.
"Mai?"
"I promise to love and protect our baby. Thank you, Naru for giving me a child. I wouldn't have it no other way."
...
...
...
It's strange progress, to be honest, a bit surreal, but what can we do?
"I was thinking," Mai said as we folded the sheets and clothes that I washed an hour ago.
"What?" I asked her, as I went up to her and place my folded ends to her end, and with her pinky and thumb from her injured hand, she held it in place. I run my hands down to grab the bottom to continue to fold it.
"Now that I'm pregnant, I'm afraid," she tells me.
"From the creatures and the random ghosts?" I asked her. She nods at me as I went to grab the blanket and grab my pants to fold them.
"I was concerned by that as well," I admit as Mai sat on our bed and place her hands on her stomach.
I stop my movement and look down at her.
"Mai?" She looks at me, but then I bend down on my knees to look at her at eye level. She smiles as she rose her hand and began to brush my hair gently.
"I'm going to protect our baby Naru, no matter what, that I promise. I'm already in love with the baby," she said to me. I lowered my gaze and kept staring at her stomach.
Strange, I'm going to become a father in less than nine months. I have to protect Mai and don't let anything happen to her. She will lose it if something happens to our baby. Especially since she knows is something that comes from me it makes it most precious.
"Mai not only that, since we have no doctor as we clearly stated many times, you will be more venerable to many things, so you have to keep healthy eat lots of fruits and meat. Just because you're going to protect our baby, don't lose focus on yourself, remember our baby needs you and I need you." I told her.
Mai tilts her head to stare at me giving me a strange look.
"What?" I felt strange under her gaze as she shook her head and continues to runs her fingers through my hair.
"I just love the way you say, our baby, that you need me. It makes me so happy and wanted. I feel secure, all these scary thoughts passed through my head as the horrible reality that I can lose our baby. This place is scary as it is. We don't know when those creatures will come back, or what other life and death situation we will be faced, but I don't want anything happening to our little one." she said with a thick voice as I stood and sat next to her, wrapping my arm around her small shoulder, making her lean against me.
"I know," I kiss the side of her head, while she closes her eyes, snuggling against me.
"We will be strong for us and our little one, but I'm not very informed about pregnancy, I have seen pregnant women before, but never really got information of how it works," she tells me, looking up at me.
"Naru, are you sure you are fine with this?" she asks me again.
"If I wasn't what would you do?" I asked out of curiosity. She moves aways and wraps her arms around her stomach.
"If you weren't I would keep the baby and love him or her to death because it's from you, but I will be always heartbroken that you didn't care about our baby, but maybe one day you will come back, that is what I choose to believe," she said. I run my palm against my knee as I let her words sink in.
"Even if it's hard?"
"Even it's is hard, I've been living all by myself for nineteen years before marrying you so surviving isn't possible, just hard and I wouldn't push you to do anything." she simply said to me.
"Mai, even if you weren't my wife, or another woman and got her pregnant, I would take responsibility. From experience through life and death that both of us went through, life is precious. Now that I know I made that tiny living being that is in you, I won't walk away. I'm a bit scared, to be honest, but I won't walk away. We just have to roll with the punches as it comes, at this point we just have to rely on each other I'm sure everything will work out." I told her honestly.
"Naru." Mai began to cry as I felt her heartbeat unregular.
"Then we'll roll with the punches, we'll learn as much as possible with this new challenge and try our best to be good parents. I don't want our baby to go through what I went through. I want to fill it with love and joy. So together we'll take a day out of time."
"That's my girl." I cause her to wipe her eyes and smile at me as I lowered my gaze looking at my hand.
But am I ready to be a father? Well, life doesn't come with instructions, does it? Yet, I can't help but feel a strange pull towards our unborn baby. It's a warm feeling and I like it.
...
...
...
To be honest, for the next few days, was interesting, nothing much happened, but Mai has been extra careful in her steps and how she moves, and I would follow suit, but this new emotion that filled our heartfelt so new and strange, not sure how to place it as.
While I work on our boat, which to be honest feels a bit sturdier than months ago, I wipe my forehead when suddenly I felt someone grab my hand and her heart jump.
I turned to see Mai looking at me.
"Mai?" I asked a bit concerned by her as her eyes lock eyes with mine. She looks a bit hesitant.
I grab her hand and rub them.
"What's the matter? Are you okay?" I asked. She nods and takes a bit big breath.
"Can... Can I ask something from you?" She shyly asks me. I nodded, as she cups my cheek once again getting on her tiptoes she kisses my lips gently, and leans her head against my chest.
She smiles at me, feeling our hearts begins to race.
"I can feel and hear your heart racing Naru," she said to me, causing me to clear my throat.
"What is it?" I avoided her words. Mai lifts her gaze at me and tiptoes again, and whispers in my ear. My eyes narrow, as I turned to gaze at her.
"Can I have a dance?"
"Now?"
"Yes, I don't know why, but I feel so happy, like a dream, please can I have this dance?" she asks me.
"You know I don't do these things, I..." but Mai kisses my cheek, and began to caress me, making me fist my hands.
"Please.. I want to dance." She begs, looking at my eyes, pleading, with those sweet eyes of hers.
Darn it, I can't reject her.
I sigh in defeat as I wrap my arm around her small waist, pushing her towards me.
"As you wish." I simply said to her causing her to smile broadly at me, as she places her hand on my arm.
"I'm not good at dancing," she said.
"Just follow my lead okay?" I told her. Mai nods at me as I move my leg forward, and she awkwardly moves but steps on my feet. Her eyes widen in panic.
"Sorry."
"Look at my eyes, let me guide you," I told her. Mai hesitated, but nods, taking a breath, she tries to relax.
I straighten her, as I took a hold of her hand and lay it gently on my hand.
"Dancing is something that comes naturally if you let your partner lead you," I told her to step forward and she moves back.
"Good, now keep that up, alright." She nods at me, while we kept doing it, now dancing gently on the beach, circling, a bit of a stumble here and there, but Mai picked it up finally not stepping on my feet.
I took care not to hurt her.
"Why the dance?" I asked her, as we twirl around. Mai smiles at me brightly, as I stretch out my arm and twirl her around, and place her back in my arms. Mai sniffs, as we kept dancing, even though Mai twisted wrong, but I carry her.
"Can you hear the song?" She whispers as I kept with my rhythm.
"No."
"Come on pretend, be more romantic." She whispers, as I pull her closer to me, and bent her.
"I'm not romantic.." I told her, as I pull her back, but on doing so, we became so close, our nose barely touching, but dangerously close, almost we can kiss, and her breath caught, watching her brown eyes sparkle making my heart race double now with hers.
Moving away from her, we kept dancing around.
"You have no imagination Naru, when did you learn to dance like this? You're full of mysteries," she asks, as I twirl her once again, bringing her back to me.
"My mother made Gene and I take classes when we were young," I explained. Letting her go, Mai twirls around, only to become clumsy and almost fall back. I move quickly and grab her by her waist and she looks up at me. Our eyes lock, as my gaze softens. A strong pulse ran down my veins, as Mai blushes.
"Thanks," I spun her back up, and rose her arms, to continue to dance around.
"Answer my first question!"
"What the first question?" she asks, noticing her eyes becoming happier.
"Mai.." I grunted, moving forward.
"No fun, fine, because... I have a story to tell our children.." She tells me, I rolled my eyes at her, as we kept dancing even more, now the sun moving towards the horizon.
How can she make the words, our children sound so inviting? This woman has too much love.
I didn't notice a smile pass my lips causing Mai to take notice. She smiles deeply at my reaction, as she leans her head on my shoulder, resting peacefully, and kept on dancing.
After some time, we finally stop, we gaze into each other eyes feeling the subtle breeze brush against our heated skin, then light rain. I lifted my gaze to see twilight surrounding us with cloudy skies.
Mai giggles, looking up at the rain.
"I'm so blessed... Thank you God!" she yells, looking back at me. I gave her a crooked smile, as she wraps her arms around my shoulders. I slip my other hand around her waist, watching how beautiful she looks under the rai. Her hair splatters down, as her dress clenched into her body, the sight catches my breath. To how utterly beautiful she looks to me.
Thank you, God, for giving her to me and for letting me love her.
"Thank you, Naru… I love you with all my heart and soul." She whispers, as my heart exploded at her words, feeling her love. I nodded as I close my eyes, as she tilts up, and kisses my lips gently as I spun her around.
"What are you doing?" she giggles even more.
"I'm not done with this dance," I whisper, as I started our dance once again. Mai laughs through our dance in the rain and all I can feel, being the happiest man alive.
I love you to Mai, with all I have.
Mai Pov
I can't believe, that I'm holding Naru's baby, my baby, from our love, I have never been so scared and happy at the same time, but I will trust Naru for he will help me through this, as he has been doing for the last twelve years of our lives.
"Naru," I called out as we lay under the stars in our hammock.
"Hmm?" he asks.
Moving my head to get comfortable, Naru wraps his arm on my tummy as we intertwine our fingers.
"I was thinking of how surprised the others will be when we return, not only married but with a child at hand."
"Oh, I can't imagine, just how are we going to explain it to the others who thought we were dead for ten years." Naru mumbles.
I nodded in agreement when I cleared my throat.
"Oh, how did you know I'm pregnant?" I asked while I felt him rub my stomach.
"At first, when I began to observe you, I just knew from the look in your eyes." He explains, I move my head to stare at him.
"Oh? What look?" I asked him raising a brow. Naru chuckles, placing his free arm behind his head.
"When I look at your eyes, I see something different. More alive, more tender, a strange spark. You have been craving just like I do, so you know... I did go to school and went into the scientific field as well, so I know the symptoms since I met many pregnant women."
"Then why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"I needed to confirm it, when you lay on top of me that day, I confirm it. You're a bit heavier than you were three weeks ago." I frowned, as I move my hand, to trace Naru's hand.
"If my period hasn't come for two months, then I'm two months pregnant or something like that, but why do my symptoms show now? Is it normal?" I asked. Naru shrugs at me.
"I'm not sure myself, but it's different for every woman out there," Naru said. I look down and rubbed my tummy.
"I'm sorry little one. I didn't know. that I was carrying you without being cautious." I talk down to my stomach, as Naru tilts his head.
"You're talking to the baby?"
"Yes. I feel bad, I didn't know."
"Understandable." He stated. I kept quiet for a few minutes, before speaking again.
"So.. You're happy that we are having a baby?" I asked him once again. Naru thins out his lips.
"A bit scared, but not dissatisfied. I want to see what this new journey we'll take us," he admits.
"Don't worry, I'm scared too but..." I couldn't help but laugh loudly, stretching out my arms up, wiggling my fingers with my good hand.
"We're going to be parents... Naru.." I move to stare at Naru, but my breath caught, as Naru stares at me with a profound look.
"You need to be very careful Mai, from today on, be careful where you go, and do. Now you're carrying someone else that is so fragile," he tells me. I nodded.
"I will, you'll be protecting me... Even if I am with a child, doesn't mean, that I would stop protecting you. I have two reasons to be on my guard now. You, and our child." Naru nods while he moves forward and I close my eyes, to feel his lips on my forehead.
"Our child still feels odd to hear that word," I mumbled, while Naru closes his eyes, and I rub my nose against his face.
"Thank you." He whispers.
I smiled, wrapping my arms around him, holding him tight.
"So we take a day at a time. This is new to us, and since we don't have no one to help us, we need to learn on our own."
"Alright, like we have been doing since we have arrived on this island. We take a day at a time." I agree with him. Naru nods.
Lying back on his chest, facing the night sky, I took Naru's hand and I glance at his ring.
"Are you proud of wearing this ring?" I asked him.
I move my hand next to his, and spread my fingers, staring at my matching ring.
"I don't even feel it at this point, but yes, I am, it means that I tell the whole world that I only belong to you." He admits.
I move his hand and kiss his palm, then press his hand on my cheek.
"I'm not sure if the whole world would know, but those who we encounter will know, and no one will try to steal you from me." Naru smiles at me tenderly as I lay down back as Naru continues to swing us.
Now silence filled us, while we stare at the night sky. Hearing the night creatures sing, as the gentle waves sound soothe us, something in me felt weird.
"What about the creatures?" I interrupted the silence.
"Trust me, I won't let them come near you, nor our child." He tightens his grip on me.
"Then, what about you?"
"I'm fine."
"Sure Naru.. I'll protect you as well." I groan, moving a little, as Naru moves his hands on my tummy once again, and I place my hands on top of his.
"How do you feel?" he suddenly asks. I shrug at him.
"I feel warm inside"
I crossed my arms and pouted. Naru chuckles, kissing the top of my head. Then a sudden dark thought passes my head.
"Naru, would you like to continue to make love to me after all, my body will change. I won't be the same, and…" Naru shuts me up, as he sat me up straight, and stares at my eyes.
"Yes, not only that.. I'll bathe you, change you. I don't care, your human Mai. You're mine, no matter what shape or form. No other woman… I only want you." He tells me honestly as he stares dead in my eyes.
I took a breath while he came closer to me making my heart swell up.
"So... You'll be there for me forever?" I whispered to him as he nods at me whispering back to me.
"Yes, forever." I move in, and press my lips against him, and gave each other a chaste kiss.
"Thank you." I simply told him.
That night, we slept outside. Naru has his arms protective over me, as I stare at the stars.
"Naru."
"Hmm?"
"Can you swing the hammock a little more?" I asked feeling Naru nodding at my request.
"As you wish." Naru whispers, moving the hammock a little harder with his feet, and with that, we fell asleep in each other arms as the hammock dance for the both of us.
Naru Pov
It's been two weeks since I told her about her pregnancy. I'm sure, that she's already two months old. Then again, here I am, watching Mai throw up near the waterfalls, behind a boulder, while I hold her hair.
Gasping, she wipes her mouth and turns to look at me with droopy watery eyes.
"I need to cut my hair, please Naru." Mai groans, in complaint while I rub her back gently.
"As you wish." I finally agree with her. She stands up, as her watery eyes smile at me.
"Good. Now, hold my hair aga…" she covers her mouth, making a gagging sound, and turns her head to throw up for the second time today. I squint away but kept rubbing her back with my free hand.
After a good few minutes. I handed her one of my dirty clothes, so she can wipe her mouth.
"Oi, morning sickness, is the worst," she complains. I nodded at her, as I scrunched my face at her once again. Mai arched a brow.
"Naru, are you okay?" she asks me, I shook my head, pressing my hand on my stomach.
"No. I feel like throwing up as well." I turned my body, covering my mouth. Mai tilts her head to the side.
"Sorry, I know, watching your wife throwing up isn't a good sight." I notice a tint of pain in her tone. I turned, to face her.
"That's not it... I just feel nauseous, since yesterday." Mai blinks, but this time she doesn't say anything. Standing up, I help her adjust, turning towards the waterfalls. After she washes up, she came right back to me.
"Naru, you look terrible, your pale, sit please." She orders me, as she points at the rock. I nodded without argument, and run my hand through my face.
Why can I feel her symptoms? Is this normal?
"What else do you feel? It's been two weeks since you felt like this, strange," she asks, as she presses her palm on my forehead. I glance up, watching her blush, noticing how chubby her cheeks have gotten. She looks so breathtaking.
"Nothing, just nauseous."
"Hmm. Here, eat an apple, it will help." She sits next to me, taking the bag, she opens it and takes out an apple, and a knife. With her good hand, she cuts the apple in halves.
"Ahh," she opens her mouth. I arched a brow.
"I'm not a kid."
"Last time you let me, come on Naru." She pouts at me. I rolled my eyes at her, and open my mouth, not daring to argue with her. She places the half apple in my mouth.
"Chew slowly." She scolded, as I did what she told me, and swallowed it, a few seconds later, I felt a bit better.
"It helped a little," I told her. Mai nods, as she eats herself.
"I know, it helps me, after morning sickness."
"Well, do as you please." I move to stand. Mai watches me, while she kept eating. I bend down, to wash my hands, and I can still feel Mai's eyes on me while I felt her heartbeat increasing.
"What?" I asked, turning my gaze at her. Mai blushes as she glanced down at her lap.
"Will you cut my hair?"
"Unless you're planning on doing yourself, or go to the next hair salon of monkeys, I don't have a choice, do I?" I told her, even if I don't like the idea. I put my hands on the front of my legs, only to feel Mai's arms surround me, placing her cheek on the base of my back. I stare at the waters in front of me.
"Salon of monkeys? Funny." She sarcastically tells me, but then she takes a breath.
"I wasn't trying to be, and yes?" I move my head, as Mai kisses my temples catching me off guard. Our heartbeats skip a beat at the same time. I cleared my throat.
"I know, I sense the lack of humor in your tone, also, nothing, just wanted to kiss you." I stood up feeling Mai copying me, now feeling warm from her actions, I wrap my arm around her waist and pin her against me.
"Oh?" her voice hitched, as she rose a brow with giggles, pressing her hands on my chest.
"Why Mr. Shibuya, what are you up to?" I smirk at her and lower my tone at her.
"Well, Mrs. Shibuya, I'm seducing my wife." I played along, as I pop her into our house, and wave my hand, so a pillow appears below us.
"Sit," I order. She frowns, looking at me.
"Seducing me? What are you planning?" for a reason she looks excited by this.
I had to hold my laugh, as I kept looking up and down at her as though I was just checking her out.
"A big bad wolf found a poor girl lost in the woods." I started, as I place my hand behind my back and wave my fingers.
"Oh?"
"This poor girl was heading to see her grandmother's house you see, but in doing so, she met up with the big bad wolf..." I said while I pointed my eyes towards the pillow. Mai nods, and sits in front of me, on top of the pillow.
I took a hold of her hair, and brush it with my fingers loving the feel of her silky hair run through my fingers.
"What did the big bad wolf do to the girl?" she asks. I ran my fingers up to her nape, causing her to shiver as electricity pass through us. I leaned forward, and brush my lips against her skin in a lovely causing her Mai to gasp.
Then seductively whispered into her ear.
"What do you think?" I felt Mai leaning into me.
"He helps her out?" She said a bit breathless, I felt a sweat drop and I shook my head.
"No... He devours her completely.." I bite into her neck softly, causing her to yelp.
"That's not a very nice story." She giggles, as I kissed her neck gently.
"I particularly don't care how the story ends, while it gives a good reason behind it," I told her. I place my hands on her shoulder.
"Now, hold still. I'm going to cut your hair." Mai nods, sitting with her legs cross, the scissors appear on my hands and position her hair.
"Well, I like happy endings, but each its own," Mai mentions to me. I nodded as I continue to run my fingers through her hair.
"Such a shame," I told her. Mai shrugs, wrapping her arms around her stomach.
"It's okay, I'll regrow it later on, when the baby is born, it would be bothersome, to have long hair at this period of our lives." I don't say anything but cut her hair watching it fall on the floor.
"How short?"
"Like before, to my ears.." Nodding at her, I kept chopping her hair, trying to eye it to make it even as possible, and cleaned up the mess. I look over her shoulder and she stares at her old haircut through the crack mirror. She truly looks like the first time we came here, as though nothing has changed.
"Wow, you did wonderfully," Mai said running her fingers through her new hair cut, as I wrap my arm around her small shoulders, holding her gently against me.
"Thank you," she places her hands on my arm, and rubs it, as I frowned at her.
"Promise me you will grow it back out?" Mai turns her head slightly to the right to look at me.
"Of course, why are you obsessed with my hair?" she asks me.
"Hmm, not sure, but I like it very much, it's soft to the touch," I admit to her. She blushes as she closes her eyes and leans her forehead against my cheek.
"I promise when the baby is born and after he's a bit bigger, I let it grow out all you want," she promises me. I tighten my grip on her.
"You can cut it anytime Mai, I just think you look beautiful with your hair long it's all," I admit to her. Mai smiles at me in a shy matter and lowers her gaze.
"Oh Naru, you're making me shy all of the sudden." she squeals covering her face. I chuckled at her reaction.
"Good, now you look like your old self, if we go back now, no one will take notice of any difference." I simply said.
"True," Mai lower her hands as I kiss her cheek and stood up, then I help her straighten her hair, and my eyes soften.
"Now, you look better."
"I feel better." She tells me. I nodded, Mai claps her hands, and wave her arms in front of her in a distressing matter, now feeling awkward, noticing her going into panic mode.
"What?"
"I have no idea what to do, is there anything in Dr. Johns notes, about having a baby? He should have since he had one." I nodded, turning to go to the books section of our house, and sat down.
"I was reading up on something, now that you mention it," I told her, watching her sit next to me. She places her hand on her stomach, but takes my hand, placing it on top of hers.
"You have been searching haven't you?"
"Yes, I found some things, very interesting. We can work on it. Not only did he had books on plants, and information on the island, as well he kept notes about his pregnant wife."
"Oh? Really?" now interested in what I have to say, Mai moves closer to me, and I grab the first book on my right, a somewhat thick black book.
"I read this book when we became stranded on this island. It's his notes. I ignored it because it talks about his married life, and how to treat his pregnant wife."
"You ignore this book? Naru, it can be useful to us. As well, there are baby things in the chest, that are very helpful for us as well."
"Well, for my defend, I wasn't thinking on being stuck in this hell-bent island, getting married to you, then making you pregnant in almost eight years. Geez, the last thing I was thinking when we arrived here was to fall madly in love with you as well, all I wanted to do is go back home."
Mai looks at me as she let my words sink in then shyly smiles at my words since I mentioned love.
"Then we should have remained untouched for the rest of our lives? Then again, me either... Now that you mention it, it's been two weeks, since we have done anything... I miss it." Her cheeks flare up, as I cleared my throat while rubbing the back of my neck.
Damn me too. At least these last seven years have trained me to be patients with her.
"I want to make sure that is safe, I don't want to harm our baby," I admit to her causing her to nod at me.
"I know… We… We can follow something in the book. I remember that I had a neighbor, when she was pregnant, she used to go to classes with her boyfriend, to take some breathing exercises, and some other things, I went with her a few times." She touches her tummy again.
"Well, that can help a lot as well," I admit.
"Then we'll see how this book can help us," she said to me as I nodded. With that, I went to read out loud as Mai lay her head against my shoulder to listen.
We have lots to learn.
Mai Pov
Another week passed, and I glance at the toys at hand. (A raddle, a horse, and a small old wooden car which are very old-fashioned but so cute.)
"What are you doing?" Naru asks as he sits next to me. I smiled, turning to face him.
"Looking for toys... They look a little old-fashioned, but useful since it hasn't aged just like everything else on this island and they are so cute." I glee, grabbing the raddle, and shook it, remembering that this raddle caused me to see John and his baby.
So sweet.
Naru nods, but then he stood, bolting out of the treehouse. My eyes widen, dropping the toys, I rushed after him.
"Naru?" I called out hurriedly, as I reach outside. Naru is leaning against the railing, puking. My stomach jumps, as I turned, but took a breath and turned again, to face him.
"Naru.." I came to his side, rubbing his back. Naru wipes his mouth and turns to face him, waving his hand as his eyes are watery and droopy.
"It came out of nowhere. The smell of wood is getting to me." He huffs out. I bit my lower lip, as I tilt my head to the side.
"Naru, that's what I feel every morning or evening, the smell of wood gets to me, and I only crave mangoes or apples. My breasts are becoming tender as well, and I think they're growing." I frowned, looking down at my breasts, taking a hold of them.
"So, does yours do as well?" I asked, lifting my gaze, only to see Naru staring at my breasts.
My cheeks flares, but shyly look away, feeling a bit flatter by his deep longing look.
"Naru!" I yelp, Naru snaps his eyes up, noticing his cheeks turning red.
"Sorry. No.." he clears his throat.
"I think I know what's wrong with you," I told him, as I move closer to him, noticing that as soon as I touch him, my eyes widen, of how heated his hand felt.
"Mai?"
"I think you're receiving my symptoms. Since we are bonded well I think." I gasp out. Naru stares at me, with an unbelievable look.
"Just great.." He groans as he leans against the railing. I rub his back.
"My poor Naru, At least I won't be so lonely." I look at the positive side.
"That's all I wanted. I never thought this would happen to me, having my wife's pregnancy symptoms. I'm still wrapping my head around this." He whispers. I tilted my head, as he glances up at the blue sky.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't think I'm ready to become a father." I move and wrap my hand around his.
"I'm not ready to become a mother. I have few memories of my mother. At least you have your father to help you." I suddenly felt sad. Naru turns his gaze at me, as his eyes narrows.
"Mai, I didn't mean.." I shook my head, and run my fingers through his soft short hair.
"I know as you say, we take a day out of time. Thank God, we are older than, we were back then, so it's a tad easier. I know you're afraid, I am too. You are helping me, Naru. You are. I would be so lost right now if you weren't by my side. I want our baby to grow in a good environment with lots of love and warmth. We have seven months to figure this out, and then the rest of our lives. We all not prepare to be fathers or mothers, but like life, we have to learn," I whispered. Naru wraps his arms around me.
"I'll try my best." He whispers.
"That's all I ask for. I won't give up hope, nor faith in us." I rub his back.
Naru nods, as he moves and his eye scans mine.
"Why are you crying?" he suddenly asks me. I blinked, as I move my hand, and rub my eyes.
I didn't even notice.
"I don't know, I feel happy. My emotions were a little jumpy." I tell him. Naru nods, as I close my eyes and kiss his cheek, suddenly a strange feeling filled my body causing me to breathe out.
"Well, from the book, I have found some good herbs, and good fruits good for you and the baby." He moves away from me, heading towards the treehouse.
My eyes scan his broad shoulders, causing me to lick my lips longing for him.
I can't harm our little one, just stay put Mai.
I watch Naru go up the stairs, my tummy started to turn warm as my heart began to race and ache, Naru stops taking notice of my heartbeat. He turns but ignores it.
"Mai, aren't you coming?" Naru snaps me out of my thoughts.
"Y.. yeah." I rushed my steps, heading up.
Naru stands at the edge of the stairs, his hand stretched out, as his blue eyes soften.
Oh, he can feel my heart hammering hard against my chest as his smile grew even more, his blue eyes warming up.
I slip my hand on him, and he held it tightly.
Naru pulls me up to him and our eyes lock, as he comes close to me. His lips were barely against mine. My eyes drop to his lips.
Kiss me Naru, please, I'm afraid if I do, I'll do something wrong, and you can self contain yourself, but I can't.
Naru sighs, as he lets go, but I took a hold of his hand and gulped deeply.
"Can I have this dance?" I asked for the second time, trying to get my mind out of the gutter. Naru turns, arching a brow.
"Again?"
"Yes.."
Don't think of him like that, of how much I ache to feel him, touch him.
"I'm not in the mood and..." but I cut him off.
"Please. You're good at it. As well, I want to dance with you. You're denying your wife?" I begged him giving him puppy eyes.
Naru gave me one of his famous cold stares but sighs in defeat.
"As you wish, but..."
"But what?" I asked as he smirks at me.
"Let me wash my mouth, it really tastes bad and it stinks," he said to me causing me to step back and blink.
"Oh, I didn't even notice," I said to him as he nods at me. As he disappears, I rub my arms looking out towards the forest as this strange feeling filled me.
"Little one, I know this is strange, but we will protect and love you, well I already love you so much and I'm sure Naru as well, but he's scared, but he already protecting you so that means a lot from him." I whispered to my baby, as I lowered my hand and rub my stomach. I jump when I felt two arms wrap around me, and Naru's chin lays on my shoulder, as he held my hands in place.
"Can I have this dance?" Naru whispers into my ear causing me to smile.
"Why of course, since your breath doesn't stink," I teased him causing Naru to chuckle.
I turned and wrapped my arms around his midsection and smiled at him, feeling so peaceful in his arms.
"Well is the best thing next to not having no mint, so my mating call works," He plays along as he wraps his arms around me causing me to burst out laughing.
Then he takes me to go dancing with a free spirit, enjoying our day.
I don't know why, but why I can't ever get tired of our cheesy flirting or how much we tell each other how much we mean for each other. Seriously after going through life and death situations, it makes you appreciate the person you love even more or we are just two crazy people, that cant' seem to get enough of each other.
Our friends back home would never believe us, or I would believe if someone told my past self, that I would be married to Naru my boss in which fakes a smile and has a cold demeanor.
Falling in love with the same person multiple times, each time stronger than before is the most beautiful experience that Naru and I have experience in The Black Lagoon. After all, in every darkness, some good should come out of it, right?
(Deleted Scene: Four in the morning before mounting the ship.)
Naru pov
I let out a loud yawn as I leaned against the van, in front of Mai's apartment. It's barely sunrise, and our ship will be leaving in two hours, so we have a long way to go.
"Are you sure this is wise, it's only four-thirty in the morning," Lin asks as a yawn escapes him.
I turned to look at him, which he sat on the driver's side looking back at me with a bit sleepy eyes.
"No, but we can end up running late," I said as I lazily pushed myself forward when I see Mai running out with a small blue wheel suitcase at hand.
"Sorry, I overslept a bit," she gasped out in puffs as she reaches me. She rose her gaze as I stare down at her.
"Let's go," I simply said as I bend down to grab her suit, and turned to open the passenger door for her. As I place her suitcase behind the van, next to mine and Lins. I slam the doors and made sure it was tightly shut.
After walking around the van, Mai was still staring at the van instead of climbing into the van. I reached her, I place my hand on her shoulder. She jumps and looks up at me.
"We aren't going to reach the dock if you keep staring at the van, what's the matter?" I asked a bit worried, but my voice ran a bit colder than normal. Mai shook her head, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"I don't know, feel like this is the last time I'm coming back for some time. it just a strange feeling," she said as she turns to look at her apartment, which is overshadowed by the darkness, and the street light.
I follow her gaze, and this strange feeling filled my heart as well.
Strange, why am I feeling this as well?
Shaking my head I gestured her to get in the van.
"I hope you're wrong." I simply said as she looks at me, but doesn't say anything, but jumps inside the van. With that, I follow suit and locked the door. Now Mai sat between me and Lin, and I heard Lin say good morning to Mai. I place my seatbelt and cross my arms.
"I just hope I don't get seasick," I heard Mai say to Lin.
"Don't worry we carry some medication of seasickness, Noll is well prepared," he tells me. Mai nods as she turns to look at me, but I turn my gaze away from her to look at the dark streets, as Lin drove down the dark streets which it's illuminated by a few street lamps, a few miles away from Mai's apartment.
"Thank you," she said to me. I just shrug not saying anything, and only heard Mai and Lin make small talks while I continue to remain quiet.
"I think she fell asleep," I heard Lin said catching my attention. I turned my gaze to see Mai leaning against Lin's shoulder. He gave me a fast 'help me,' look as he made a right turn, as the GPS from his phone told him.
I carefully grab Mai's arm and pull her away from Lin and place her back against the seat. She twitched a bit as I turned to look back out the glass, to see a few cars beginning to drive next to us. Then I felt a small thump on my shoulder. I turned my head and glance down to see Mai snuggling into my arm.
She surely can sleep anywhere.
I couldn't help but stare at her as she breaths gently as some of her short hair covered her face. I somewhat forgot Lin was there, and I lift my hand and brush her hair behind her ear, making her move a bit. My heart stops for a brief second as she smiles and snuggles closer to my arm. I let out a breath and my eyes soften.
I didn't notice Lin caught me, and a sneaky smile passed his lips and turns his gaze back to the road.
I kept staring at Mai, not sure how but ended up falling into a deep sleep, landing my head against hers. Mai snakes her arm around mine, as I snuggle closer to her.
Lin stops at a red light and turns to look at us and his eyes narrow to see us sleeping deeply, as I took a hold of Mai's small hand.
Lin shook his head in disbelief but rapidly before the red light changed, took his cell, and took a picture of us.
"How are you going to explain this? See, your eyes and your body doesn't lie Noll." Lin said with a smile as he turns back and began to drive again since someone in the back honk their horn.
As he drove, Mai and I continue to sleep peacefully, while holding each other hands.
Little did we knew, this was the beginning of our long journey heading for the Black Lagoon, to the point we can't live without each other.
Thanks for the reviews. Sorry for the late update, was so busy and such...
Thanks for the follows and favorites.
I am enjoying writing the flashbacks, which gives more depth to how much they change. It's fun. Also, "As you wish," does comes from The Princess Bride.