Disclaimer: I do NOT own Ghost Hunt
Chapter Seventy-Three: How Long?
Naru pov
"No, that can't be. That's our younger selves, and that's Shibuya ship, shouldn't he be dead by now? No offense Naru," Mai screams, turning to face me. I as well felt stunned and shook my head.
"None, taken," I simply said not sure how to progress this.
"Go to the first Captain Shibuya ship," I heard Gene's voice echo in my head.
Seriously? Shouldn't we just go to our ship? I mean… but there was no answer from my big brother, instead, I was met up with silence. I slump my shoulders, not believing this.
"We are going in there first." I somewhat screamed to her, determined to get to the bottom of this. Mai gave me a strange look but nods trusting me.
I jump behind wrapped my arms around her and pushed our babies closer to her.
"Just hold on to the twins," I whispered, seeing her nod, I jumped us into Shibuya's ship.
"Naru? Why did you just jump us in here?" Mai hissed under her breath a bit confused. I shook my head as I pointed at my front. There stood Hayato and Shibuya, facing their backs at us, looking down. I travel my eyes down to spot our past selves laying on the ground unconscious.
"Getting to the bottom of this," I whisper to her, noticing that she shivered slightly and turns slightly to look at me, I couldn't help but smirk just a slightly, noticing that I still have some affection towards her.
"Oh, I see, I wouldn't think of that, besides taking the safe route and going towards Lin, but," her voice turns tender and looks down at Ayame and Gene.
"Papa is so smart." She held our babies closer; I wrap my arm around Mai noticing that the twins quiet down and I jump us into Captain Shibuya's ship leaving our boat.
"Mama, are you sure?" Hayato's voice rang strong in front of us. Both of us look in her direction which was in our far-right and we became shocked to see Ayame floating in front of our past selves.
"Ayame," Mai gasps out. Ayame hears her so she turns to face her. Hayato and Shibuya arched a brow and turned to follow Ayame's sight, and their eyes widen in pure shock when they made eye contact with us.
"Explain everything Ayame," I demanded from her, watching her float
towards us.
"My, everything turned out for the better." she simply said while Mai's eyes were wide, as Ayame came face to face with her.
"Ayame, I missed you." Mai gasped out. Ayame gave Mai a soft tender look and Shibuya and Hayato came next to her.
"Are they them?" Shibuya asks Ayame.
"Yes. As you can see, this place has no time. We are at the tip of the cursed island. Now that everything is straightened out, you both can return to your normal lives." she said to all of us.
"What about us?" Hayato asks her mother. Ayame smiles at her gently and points to the right.
"I have saved your future selves, by leading you here. Go and live peacefully. It's too late for your friend. I told you that night is not your fate to save her. That's why the plan wasn't successful, now go and live happily." Ayame smiles at her daughter as she places her ghostly hand on her cheek. Hayato's eyes become watery and longing.
"Mama," she said with sorrow, wanting to touch her hand, but it faces through. I felt bad about this, as I watch Shibuya place his hand on her shoulder for support.
"So Hayato and Shibuya manage to escape the island, what happened to them?" Mai asks. Ayame turns to face my wife.
"They live happily ever after and give birth to your grandmother," Ayame explains. I felt Mai go still turning to face me.
"Wait, that makes no sense. How? Well, that explains how my grandmother knew about the black lagoon, but…"
"I know he'll die." Mai finished for her. Hayato took hold of Shibuya's hand.
"So she's my great-granddaughter?"
"Yes. As well for Shibuya is your great-grandfather."
"Err; I fell in love with my great-grandfather?" Mai shivers in disgust. I blink, not sure how to progress this. Ayame places her hand on her lips and giggles.
"Oh dear, no, no. Naru and Shibuya only look similar to each other, and that's why he has no memories of him, If he was him, he would have his powers. I wouldn't waste my time saving him when he went to the mountains that day. He could've simply used his powers." She explains while I felt Mai breathe out in unison a breath of relief feeling our hearts relax.
I squeezed her shoulder causing her to give me a thankful smile.
"Still, it's creepy," Mai whispers causing me to nod in agreement. Mai turns towards Hayato and Shibuya.
"Don't worry, no matter how many lifetimes. We still end up together. See, we have two beautiful children." Mai stated in a tender matter showing our twins to them. Hayato and Shibuya smile gently as they look at our twins and then at us.
"It's nice to meet you all," Hayato said causing us to bow to them, and they did the same then she turns to face Ayame.
"I finally understand now Mama. I want to have a happy ending because a happy ending consists in living each day to the fullest with the person you love."
"Exactly." I finally spoke, holding Mai closer. Mai smiles tenderly at me, looking at me with pure love, as I couldn't help but feel bashful under her gaze, but looking at her the same way.
"Oh, that's why you keep saying that," Mai whispers causing me to shrug at her in a little playful way.
Well, if she believes this way, then let it be.
"Well, that's why I keep saying they're no such things as happy endings," I told her honestly causing her to giggle. Ayame turns to our sleepy selves on the floor.
"What do we do now?" Shibuya asks, moving towards our younger selves, crossing his arms. We lay unconscious on the floor, now that I look at ourselves, we truly haven't aged a single day. I'm still baffled by this.
"Oh, thank you for saving us, we didn't know," Mai said as we walk closer to ourselves. Shibuya shrug at us, as Ayame, floats towards me.
"No big deal, we would have done it for anyone, just thought it was strange to see that ship, Ayame said it's a modern ship, The Black Lagoon is just so strange," he said to us, and I couldn't help but place my hand on his shoulder, and a shiver run down our spines. He turns to look at me and I gave him a grateful smile.
"Thank you, for saving my wife and me, I mean our past selves, regardless Captain Shibuya, I'm glad that you're not me, even though we have the same face because it would have been strange for us. Just live the best life you can and make her happy and make yourself happy as much as time gives you." I told him. Captain Shibuya smiles patting my arm.
"I get it, no problem, just make your wife happy, you two have gone through a lot, Ayame had kept us in touch with your misadventures," he said to me. I nodded, feeling Mai's heart race with pure warmth.
"Now, let time take its course. Oliver, can you please just wave your hand and take your pasts selves into the sandy shores of the waters of the island?" I remove my hand from Shibuya went up to our sleepy selves. I turned to face Ayame in my right.
"Wait I have a question, so is this why you knew about us? About us being Soul mates and our children, cause it already happened?" Mai asks her voice sounding so confused now that she says it, I'm confused by this.
"Yes, time is a very complicated method. There's no logic in this. I can go back and forth as I please, even let Gene borrow my time to visit, even if you two freed me, I can simply return back in time, to help you two, thus you and your husband have been temporarily seeing the future or the past, the Black Lagoon is just that mysterious in a sense, sometimes you don't have to think of it because it will make no sense. I'm sorry about many things, but I was bound to not tell you anything, that's why I kept warning you." Ayame explains causing me to rub the back of my neck.
"Wait, then it would be an endless cycle," I whispered to her. Ayame shook her head and looks up at the sky.
"Unfortunately yes, but don't worry, you two will continue your lives, the next cycle will be with your past selves, but I will make sure that you two in this present moment go back to almost normal, while these two in the past will go through what you two went. The curse will be broken as soon as you two leave, but it will restart as soon you two wake up. As for you two have completed your mission on this island. Think of it as a time loop, but not at the same time, The Black Lagoon is cursed this way, but maybe one day it will end."
"I have a headache. I'm so lost with this time warp thing." Mai protest. I pinched the bridge of my nose, getting a slight headache by this.
"You're telling me," I whispered, trying to comprehend this, but cleared my throat.
"Can we go with them?" I asked Ayame, and she nods.
"Wait, if we go back will it suck us back?" Mai asks concerned, but Ayame shook her head.
"Not you two or your kids, only your past selves," she assured us, causing us to be more at ease.
"Now that we went through it, I feel horrible, they will have to encounter so many bad things," Mai slumps her shoulders as pity and sorrow past her eyes, looking at our past selves. I rub her back and nodded in agreement, and leaned forward to whisper into her ear.
"I know, but if it means to be with you, then I will do everything all over again to make you my wife once again." Mai turns her head to look at me wide-eyed but then blushes hard, leaning forward, and kisses my cheek in a shy matter.
"Me too," she whispers back.
With that said, we both nodded in agreement and turned to our past selves.
You two are sure for one hell of a ride. I went up to Mai's younger self and bend down, my Mai arched a brow at my sudden movement as I leaned down and whispered to her ear.
"Remember Mai, have hope and faith, tell Naru that, and he'll listen. Just have patients. Remember Mai, I love you with all my heart, my little worm." After that, I stood up and went up to my wife.
"What did you whisper to me?" Mai asked me. I just gave her a mischievous smile and leaned into her ear.
"I told her, that to not be shy when we make love, she can scream all she wants," I teased causing her face to turn red as a tomato causing me to chuckle.
"Naru!" she hissed as I shrugged my shoulders.
She's so easy to tease.
I wrap my arm around my wife's shoulder and turned to face our past selves.
"Let's do this then." She still with a red face, but leans against me. Before we left, we face Shibuya and Hayato.
"Thank you for everything," We both bow once more and they just smiled at us.
"Be safe, may God protect you guys," both said at the same time. With that, I wave my hands and disappear our past selves, and I jump us back to The Black Lagoon.
Leaving our past selves on the sandy shores, we turned to walk away before they awake and pop us up in our favorite spot, on top of the bolder that oversees the ocean. We both look down to see my younger self twitch a bit, then gasps waken up from the unconscious state.
After adjusting myself, the first thing that catches my eyes is Mai's unconscious body. I remember it all too well and I went to give Mai CPR. Mai suddenly shrugs my shoulder after we watch my younger self-giving mouth to mouth to Mai.
I gave her a hard look.
"Oi, why did you do that?" I was startled by this, but relaxed as Mai's face is flaring up red looking rather shy once again.
"You did take my first kiss." Mai giggles with a blush. I rolled my eyes at her mindset.
"No, that is CPR, nothing romantic in that, and you're the one." I lick my lips, as the memories rushed into my mind when Mai took my first kiss when I was making her drink.
"Right, CPR, doesn't count, but that's the second time you mentioned that, what does that mean? From my memories, you were the first one to kiss me, then confess," Mai asks me. I just kept my mouth shut as I watch past Mai cough out the water, and I help her stand up. Mai smiled gently at us.
"I feel bad for everything that they will encounter, we were so innocent back then Naru, but they have to survive. Good-bye, and keep fighting," she whispers, as I kiss her cheek. Then we return to watch him look so confused and scared. Mai frowns as our hearts are hurt by this.
"They will turn out okay a bit traumatized, but okay, let's go before we mess up the timeline thing, I can't look anymore knowing what's going to happen," I assured her, causing her to nod in agreement, then I jump us back to Captain Shibuya's ship, but we bounced back a bit harshly and landed inside of the small boat I built over the years.
"Uff! Warn us next time," Mai gasped, as she checked on our twins, but they look fine, as I breathed out.
Ayame appears in front of us and smiled at us tenderly.
"They left already back to their normal lives. Enjoy your lives my Angel and Oliver and thank you for naming your child after me, it's an honor. Yet, going back means that your lives won't be the same, just continue to depend on each other, for you two have lots to live for," she smiles tenderly at us. I felt a sense of relief to hear that.
"Of course, you have helped us so much, thank you Ayame for not leaving us alone, on behalf of Naru as well, and thank you for letting us know," Mai said feeling so grateful over Ayame's actions and I bow down as well to thank her. Ayame shook her head as she added.
"It's no problem at all, also don't be too surprised, you should check your watch." With that, she disappears. Mai looks at me with frightened eyes.
I took Aya out of her arms. Holding Ayame, I move my hand, took out my watch from the bag, and place it on my wrist.
"Oi, you brought that?" Mai asks as she eyes it, causing me to nod.
"I manage to salvage many things. Luckily the fire wasn't too far off to destroy everything." I told her. Mai presses herself into me, and then her eyes widen when she takes notice of my watch.
"Ne Naru, it's working; your watch." She said excitedly. I look down to see the hands moving once again.
I wipe my wet face and look up at the stormy skies, to take notice, the rain is disappearing.
"At least is not raining anymore, and I am scared." She whispers, I look down at her eyes, and notice the fear in her brown eyes.
"I know," I whispered to her. Now floating alone in the vastness of the ocean. We held each other, not sure what to do next.
"Naru, if we die. I want you to know, that I don't regret anything. I love you with all my heart." Mai tells me. I chuckle, as she kisses my lips. I kiss her back, savoring her wet lips against mine.
"We won't die. I don't regret anything as well. You're my life. Thank you for everything." I told her, aching to tell her those same words. That I love her beyond anything in this world, just like the children that she gave me.
"I love you two as well, my little ones," Mai kisses the top of their heads causing our babies to jump in happiness, and snuggles into us. I kiss them as well and felt at ease.
"Me too," I whispered to them.
Suddenly we heard a large noise. A noise that carries out so strong that it made us jump in fright, it's a horn. We both look up, and to our surprise, the ship that we fell from came near our small boat.
Mai gasps as I held her tighter.
"Mai. See I told you we won't die." I told her a bit scared and relieved by this. Mai turns her gaze at me and kisses my lips.
"I'm scared Naru, but with you by my side, we can overcome anything, just like in The Black Lagoon." I nodded in agreement.
"It's a promise Mai, we will be together until our last breath. Let's go before you start to cry." I told her. Giving Aya back, I stood up and began to wave my hands to get their attention. I just can't just pop us in there, and have to explain everything we are too mentally and emotionally exhausted.
"Hello! Help us!" Mai shouts
Someone peeked from the edge and yells, so I squint my eyes, but I couldn't tell who it was.
"There, I see them!" I heard a familiar voice. Mai lifts her gaze towards me.
"I was right it's Lin. Oh, God." My heart jumps at her words, as I see a rope ladder thrown down. I look down at Mai.
"I can simply pop the kids and..." but she shakes her head.
"No... We need to explain this to them, let alone show them our power now. So human time for you, okay." she tells me, as she pats my butt. I slump my shoulders in disappointment. Mai slowly stood up and adjust our babies on her arms.
"Then what about the twins? What do we tell them?"
"We'll find a way, one step at a time Naru, they will know soon, let us just adjust, it's been ten years Naru," Mai kisses my cheek causing me to nod.
She's right though a step at a time.
"Sometimes, I am amazed how wise you are Mai," I told her, causing her to shrug her shoulders.
"I do learn from the best," she winks at me, causing me to blush at her comment.
"Then my teaching didn't go to waste," I winked causing her to giggle, and roll her eyes. Then I took Gene out of her arms and bounced him to calm him a bit since he was a bit fussy.
"It's alright Gene, Mama, and Aya has to go first, then we will go next okay," I rub his small head, and then kiss it.
"Pa!" he simply said taking a hold of my arm and bouncing. I couldn't help but smile, as Mai did the same. Then I helped Mai climb first, as she held Ayame tightly on her other arm, and I would watch carefully just in case something goes off, I could be there just taking care of them.
Then as I watch Lin help her go over the edge, I look at Gene.
"Let's go, buddy, to your new home," I kiss his cheek as he lays on my chest, and I went and did the same what Mai did. I didn't realize the captain of the ship was with Lin and Mai placing a towel around her, as they came up to me and help me.
I took notice that Lin has Ayame in his arms, as he goes up to me and takes Gene out of my grasp. Gene lets out a loud cry, but the captain rushes towards him, to place a towel around.
"Finally, we are Rescued," I breathed.
A part of me felt relief, but another part of me will miss the island. You can call it homesick?
Lin places a towel over my shoulders after he gave our babies to the captain. I turned to look at my mentor, my friend. Mai could feel the emotions pass my heart, wanting to hug him or something, but I just kept staring in shock.
It can't be a dream, he's really in front of me.
"Ne, Naru!" she said as she came towards my way, and before anyone could say anything, Mai jumps me, wrapping her arms around my shoulder, and rubs my back, and whispered.
"I know Naru, I know," she simply said, as I lowered my head covering my eyes with my bangs so I don't have to show my emotions to Lin. Lin just arched a brow confused by this interaction.
"This is hard," I whispered back, so hard for us, to just see Lin and soon the others. After ten long years... How do we react? How do we progress this as?
Mai leans her head against me and nods then let's go and turn to face Lin, and he just has a rose brow up looking so confused by this.
"I'm glad that we were able to rescue you, we were so worried," Lin said as I glance behind Lin to see the captain trying to comfort the children, but they were so fussy, Ayame and Gene bursting out crying. Mai took notice. So she went around Lin and bends in front of our kids.
"Sorry they don't like strangers, I'll take care of it," Mai said, as the captain nodded and he excuse himself and left. I went as well towards my family and bend down to look at Aya and Gene. They both calmed down from our sight and rose their arms up for us to pick them up. So we did and used the towel to cover them, to give them warmth. Mai and I rub their small backs.
"Sorry little ones, Mama and Papa are a bit busy, must have been scary," I whispered, as Mai looks at me.
"I hope they don't get a fever," she mouthed at me, I nodded and turned to look at Lin.
"I hope they don't get sick," Mai said as she rubs Ayame's back and I did with Gene. We then heard a clear of the throat catching us off guard, something that became foreign to us.
Either way, Mai runs towards Lin and wraps her arms around him, being careful to not harm Gene.
"I thought we would never see you ever again." Mai sounded so relieved. Lin gives her a soft hug and smiles. Taking a breath, I gather the courage, and went up to Lin and pat his shoulder. Lin turns his gaze at me after he lets go of my wife.
"Are you two alright? We called the medical team to come, they should arrive soon," he scans us. I raised a brow confused.
"We both alright. We have been through worse." I assured him but Lin gave me a strange look.
"Of course, being thrown out of the ship could be a scary thing, you're lucky that we found you even if it took some time," he said as I blinked, but his voice didn't sound as though someone that went through ten years of grief, but a relief that they found us fast before it gets worse.
"Well it's been some time, it must have been hard for you and the others," I said, but Lin squint his eyes a bit confused by my words.
"Hard for me and the others? Well, they are worried, but I have to call and let them know we have found you two, plus two extras now." Lin said as Mai and I turn to look at each other then back at Lin.
"Wait, something doesn't seem right, Lin what do you mean worried? Wait, this looks familiar to me." I question him as Lin gave me a confused look by my question and statement. I took notice that Lin looks young, not aged at all.
"Yeah, shouldn't you be looking older? Or something? Ne, Naru did Lin get stuck in the Black Lagoon?"
"Black Lagoon? What's that? Oliver? What's going on? I don't know why, but you two look different, I can't put my finger on it." Lin question looking at us as though we were crazy and so lost.
Mai takes a hold of my arm and squeezed it hard, as I can feel our hearts beating with anxiety.
"Err, Lin, I... I have a question." I asked, turning to look at him.
"Is Mai alright? She's a bit pale, yes what is it?" He asks after he looks my way.
"How long were Mai and I... Been gone?" that question was hard to ask as Lin looks over his watch and said.
"Well, you and Mai have been gone about ten minutes."
Deleted Scene (A few months before leaving the Black Lagoon)
Mai Pov
"Say, Mama," I told my daughter and son, but none will have it, I slump my shoulders, as they went back playing with their old toys. We were at our bathing post, and Naru built a safe zone for our kids so they can play without crawling away.
I rub my aching neck and continue to wash clothes, but stopped and look around to see if Naru returned. He's been gone for ten minutes, and I'm already having anxiety, as memories from our past came back.
Normally Naru is back, is he okay? Did something happen to him? I stopped scrubbing and straightening up.
Please, God, I can't be without him this long, I have almost lost him so many times. I was about to go when suddenly I felt an arm snake around my waist, feeling him lean his forehead against the back of my head.
"Sorry, I thought I saw the ship and tried to go after it, but got jumped back to the island. I couldn't get near it, no matter how many times I tried." Naru said as I turned to look at him, he looks very sweaty and tired, and he has sand all over his clothes.
"Are you bruised?" I asked, searching him, but he shook his head.
"No, I'm alright. Just tired is all," he admits to me. I breathed out and wrap my arms around my husband and pushed him down to hug him.
"Don't try anymore Naru, when it's time we will leave. I don't want you hurt or missing. Do you know how many times we almost lost each other? I cant' stand you not being with me for even five minutes. Those memories are still fresh in my mind." I told him as he held me back, hugging me gently.
We separated, as I began to brush his cheek with my wet fingers, dusting off the sand, feeling his hand rub against my waist.
"How are the kids?" He asks as he peaks around my shoulder to see them just playing.
"Good, they are waiting for their papa to come back," I said, as Naru let's go of me and goes up to them and I watch him bend down to play with them.
"YOu know, we should go and take them swimming again, to get them used to the waters even more,"
"But last time Gene was so afraid, he didn't let go of me all night." I spat as I went up to him, and bend down, Naru turns to look at me and grabs my hand.
"We can try a few more times, if Gene doesn't get better by then, then we will stop okay?" he asks, I licked my lips and look over Gene, he was going up and down with his favorite train.
"I promise to not push him, Mai. I want him to be a strong swimmer, you know personally how it feels," he tries to convince me. I slump my shoulders and nodded at him.
"Alright, I don't want him to not at least try a few more times, but if he doesn't change his fear, then we'll stop and we can try when he's a bit bigger and if it doesn't change again, then we stop," I told him. Naru nods at me as he lifts my hand and kisses it.
"Thank you, Mai," he simply said causing me to smile at him.
"Thank you for asking me first. I would have been pissed if you just did it without my knowing," I told him as he shook his head and stood up.
"Well, aren't I smart?" he teased as he help me up.
"The biggest smarty-pants I ever met," I teased, as he suddenly wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me into his chest catching my breath as my hands landed on his chest.
"Ne, Naru?" I gasped up, as his blue eyes turns dark.
"Now, now Mai, don't tease me, but I'm the most handsome right?" He said as I couldn't stop looking at him. I suddenly felt shy under his gaze, yet he looks cool and collected.
"Are you?" I continue to tease, as we began to sway side by side, without letting go.
"I don't know you tell me, wasn't I, how you called me a narcissist jerk?" he brought back our past. I actually giggle, as he runs his fingertips down my arm, tracing my skin sending shivers down my spine, and grabs my hand spinning me out, and takes me back, but this time, my back is facing his chest, he wraps his arm around me. I was now more breathless.
"You sure know how to wow a woman to get a good answer huh?" I said a bit breathless.
"True, but there's a big difference though of how I woo a woman and you," he said as my breath is caught in my throat when I felt his fingers run down my spine, as he leans down kissing my neck.
"Oh, is i...it..." I rolled my eyes, biting my lower lip trying to make a noise, when I felt his hand on the side of my leg, pulling my dress up, making contact with my skin.
Why does this man make me so crazy after all these years? I can't... Think, how come my body still aches for his? Is it because our love so strong? Oh gosh, my heart is beating so hard and his as well.
"With another woman, I lie my flirting when I have to," he said, as he stops, and surprises me wrapping his arms around me, giving me a back hug.
"Naru?" I was surprised when he leans his face against me and held me closer to me. I can feel his heart warm-up, feeling it speed up more.
"With you is a two-million percent real." his voice is softly filled with love. I smiled at him, leaning against him, closing my eyes, and caressing his cheek with my nose loveling, then kiss his lips softly, feeling him return it.
"My handsome genius husband," I said passionately but then opened my eyes and look at him as it dawns on me something.
"Hey, why do you have to fake flirt with another woman?" I scolded as he lets go of me.
"I meant in my past Mai before we became a couple," he said to me in self-defend. I move away from him and cross my arms and huff out.
"Suuure," I said sternly, knowing deep down I knew he won't be flirting with anyone.
"Mai, I was only teasing, don't take it to heart okay. Please, don't..." Naru look a bit worried as I went to our babies.
"Let's go, Papa was mean to Mama," I lied as Gene looks at his father, and began to cry.
Alert bells echoed in our heads, as I went up to him.
"Gene, I was only teasing, I'm not mad at your Papa, see, I love him so much and you too, so don't be sad." I rub his back, but he shook his head and began to crawl towards his father ignoring me. I blinked as Ayame came up to me, waiting for me to take her into my arms.
"Naru, I'm sorry, I was not mad at you, you know that I was only teasing you. I know you won't do that. I know your heart, I will never doubt you, you know that my love. I love you with all my heart and soul and I know and feel how much you love me, even if you don't say it." Naru shakes his head and picks up his son.
"I know Mai, I know..." but his words are cut off when Gene said.
"Pa, Pa, Ma," he hugs him tightly and we stare at each other in pure shock.
That's the first time we heard Gene call out for his father and me, and yet it was the most heartwarming moment of our lives. I can feel Naru's heartbeat with awe and pure happiness along with mine.
Thank you for the reviews. So as you guessed, it's only ten minutes for everyone, instead of Ten years, I have changed the reaction to a more realistic way. My original one, I didn't like how it came out and thought of how one will react knowing that it was only ten minutes, instead of ten years. IT's a shock.
I hope you all continue to read my story. NOw back to almost normal, well they won't' be normal anymore.