Lullabies and Flames

Kurobara sighed in annoyance, she was annoyed actually that was an understatement on how she was feeling, it was hard to explain. Kuro hated the way Masako just threw herself on him like that, she had no idea why but she just felt a burning feeling through her heart, despite Mai's edging on about her being jealous she denied It.

Kurobara kept a straight face. Or was trying to anyways, she could feel herself feeling slightly lost and confused, Mai, of course, was worried about her since Mai's face was showing a hint of worry. Kurobara sighed slightly while looking at Masako with indifference.

"What's wrong with this house…?" Masako asked weakly. "This is worse than a cemetery… It feels like a nest for evil spirits." Mai's eyes widened slightly upon hearing that. "There are the spirits of children everywhere… They're all suffering terribly. They're crying, saying that they want to go back to their mothers. What's more… this house is collecting spirits… and they're all children's spirits..." She said, staggering and falling backwards away from Naru as she finished.

"Hara-san!" John gasped, as he and the girls cried out in alarm, rushing forward to catch her. This time, Masako really had fainted. Kurobara managed to catch her in time and brought her up in her arms being very careful to not hurt her on accident. "Masako!" Mai worriedly says as she looked at Masako that was in her friend's arms.

Kurobara shakes her head "She's out cold Mai-chan she won't be waking up anytime soon. Masako will feel better after some rest" Kurobara says softly, despite feeling irritated at Masako earlier she softly laid her on the couch.

(Timeskip)

Noriko was having some difficulty of getting her niece to sleep, Kurobara could see the slight annoyance in Naru's eyes. John was currently outside the door awaiting the okay to come in and do what he needs to do. Kurobara inhaled softly. She walked up to Ayami's bed and sat down next to her " why don't I sing you a lullaby Ayami-chan" She said tenderly to the young child.

Noriko's eyes widen at Kurobara. Ayami eyes lit up at the mention of being sung to "you can sing?" Ayami says excitedly, Kazuya seemed slightly perplexed at the new find. Kuro chuckled softly, giving her a playful wink "you will be the judge of that Ayami-chan" Kurobara shuffled trying to get comfortable.

Kuro couldn't deny that she was in fact anxious. I mean she was going to be singing in front of three people, so she took a sharp intake of breath before she began.

Softly she opened her mouth and started to sing in a soft hoarse voice;

Hush now, my Storeen

Close your eyes and sleep

Waltzing the waves

Diving the deep

Stars are shining bright

The wind is on the rise

Whispering words of long lost lullabies

Oh, won't you come with me?

Where the moon is made of gold

And in the morning sun

We'll be sailing

Oh, won't you come with me?

Where the ocean meets the sky

And as the clouds roll by

We'll sing the song of the sea

I had a dream last night

And heard the sweetest sound

I saw a great white light and dancers in the round

Castles in the sand

Cradles in the trees

Don't cry, I'll see you by and by

Oh, won't you come with me?

Where the moon is made of gold

And in the morning sun

We'll be sailing

Oh, won't you come with me?

Where the ocean meets the sky

And as the clouds roll by

We'll sing the song of the sea

Rolling, rolling

Rolling, rolling

Oh, won't you come with me?

Where the moon is made of gold

And in the morning sun

We'll be sailing free

Oh, won't you come with me?

Where the ocean meets the sky

And as the clouds roll by

We'll sing the song of the sea

Kurobara paused her singing and looked down at Ayami as she slept soundly. They couldn't help be breathless at her singing, it was slightly rough but it was almost perfect in pitch and volume. Naru felt his lips twitch. He has never felt so relaxed before, before his lips became a smile he stopped it and went to the door to bring in John.

Kurobara stood up swiftly and moved over to where Naru was. John finally coming in sat on the bed like Kuro had just done moments ago and started to do his work. John placed a cross around Ayami's neck while she slept, being careful not to wake her, and said some prayers over her. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." He finished, closing his prayer book. "For the time being, I've offered a prayer, so I believe she'll be a little better off for now," John explained to Noriko-san.

Kuro sighed in relief. Hearing that made her slightly happy to know that the young child will be safe from any harm, Noriko was the same of course but she couldn't help but to bow earnestly "thank you so much. Both of you." She says in gratitude.

"Now then, "John said, turning to Naru, "Shibuya-san, as for the doll—" Kurobara sharply turned to the door as Monk burst through the door "Naru!" Takagawa said anxiously, "Minnie has disappeared! I left it sitting in our base, and while we weren't paying attention…" Naru sighed in annoyance.

"She's run away, has she?" Naru remarked, narrowing his eyes indigo eyes slightly. "She'll turn up soon. I'm sure of it" Kurobara chuckled slightly as they went out of Ayami's room, The monk and John were in front of them as they walked to the base. Meanwhile, Kuro and Naru were in the back with complete silence enveloping them.

Naru surprisingly was the one to cut the silence "I didn't know you could sing" He stated in a seemingly uninterested voice, Kurobara cocked her eyebrow up and gave a small chuckle " well I wouldn't say that I can sing." Kurobara pronounced softly as she looked at the walls of the building. Naru glanced at her as the soft moonlight lit up her pale face, he would not admit it but she was quite attractive.

"You know, That lullaby. I use to sing it to my younger siblings when they had trouble sleeping" Kurobara said quietly to him with a small sad smile, it was almost bittersweet. Bittersweet because as soon as she sung that song flashes of her younger siblings protruded her mind. Kuro really missed them.

" I can't see you as an older sister type" Naru commented. She chuckled at his statement " How rude, I am the perfect sisterly type." Naru rolled his eyes " You really need to fix your personality" he said dryly, Kuro laughed quietly " I think you are the one who needs your personality fixed. You are the one who is the narcissist"

Naru became quite so, did she. But Kurobara wanted to ask him something, she was curious maybe she was too curious " Hey Naru." She said quietly. Naru hummed slightly showing that he was listening to her " do you have any Siblings of your own?" Kuro suddenly questions causing Naru to pause in his tracks.

Naru eyes narrowed "its none of your business," he said with a frosty tone, he seemed quite angry as he started to walking leaving Kuro behind a small bit, making Kuro catch up. " Kazuya…" Kuro felt slightly sad, did she do something wrong, her anxiety sparked up suddenly. She went quite completely as her anxiety crept up onto her back.

Kazuya sighed " I have a brother." Kuro eyes lit up, hearing that. Does that mean he wasn't mad? She had no idea but she gave him a response anyways " really?" before any more could be said they were now at base.

(Next day)

It was completely silent apart from the sound of the clock ticking away while they all sat in base, keeping watch over the monitors, waiting to see what would happen. Well, everyone except Ayako, who was sitting up with Noriko-san, keeping an eye on Ayami-chan.

"Naru! We're picking up something on the mike!" Kurobara said when she heard knocking sounds from the headphones over her small ears. "Patch it in." He ordered Lin, who did so immediately and turned up the volume so everyone could hear. "Those are children's voices… There are a lot of them." John said. There were so many, their voices were overlapping. It was incredibly unnerving. "How many are there?"

Kurobara felt slightly sad for the child spirits there"They sound like they're calling for Ayami-chan…" Mai said worriedly, Kurobara went next to Mai to keep her anxieties at bay. "I guess what John did had some effect," Takagawa remarked. "Which means a kekkai barrier might be of some use." Mai looked at Monk with confusion.

"Kekkai?" Mai asked. Kurobara glanced at Mai under her lashes " It's a barrier of sorts to keep out evil spirits." Mai nodded thankfully. Mai was lucky that Kurobara was there to help her understand the terminology they were using.

The children's cries suddenly fell silent.

"What happened?" Mai asked. Why did they suddenly stop, Kurobara wondered the same Mai turned to Kuro to see if she knew. Kuro gave a shrug not really knowing herself "Naru, look at this!" Ayako yelled, bursting into the room with something bundled up in her arms. Mai and the others gasped when Ayako handed the bundle over to Naru, and he unwrapped it enough to reveal Minnie's face.

"I noticed that there was a bulge at the foot of Ayami-chan's bed, and when I turned it out, there she was," Ayako explained, Kurobara felt herself becoming more alarmed as the Dolls eyes glared at her with those glass emerald eyes. " Is Ayami-chan okay? Minnie didn't do anything to her right?" Kurobara questioned worriedly.

Ayako turned to the worried raven-haired girl " she is fine, Minnie hasn't done anything to her" Kuro exhaled the breath she didn't know she was holding. 'The screaming stopped… because they found Ayami-chan…!' Mai realized, swallowing nervously, Kurobara seemed to hear Mai's thought and gave her a comforting smile.

(Timeskip)

Later that morning, John performed another exorcism on Minnie.

"Our Father, who art in Heaven, I pray thee, God, to have pity on us, and bless us. I pray thee will shine thy heavenly upon us." John prayed, placing a small cross on the doll's forehead. "No!" Mai yelped, grabbing onto Takagawa when Minnie's eyes suddenly shot open, as he flinched in surprise. Kurobara stepped closer to Naru with a frown, Minnie felt incredibly angry and it was making her feel sick.

"In the beginning was the Word," John continued, sprinkling some holy water, "and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Minnie began to tremble and shake. "The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." A Minnie's forehead began to sizzle, and the cross fell off, revealing that scorch mark in its shape had been burned into the doll's head.

The exorcism was finished. "I believe the spirit has been removed." John pronounced. "But that does not mean it has been destroyed. I think it would be best to burn the doll, so the spirits can't possess it again." This time, Minnie burned up easily and turned completely into ashes. Kurobara sighed in relief as she watched the doll turned into ashes she was almost bewitched to go close to flames but stood backwards and walked away. She was glad that the doll was finally gone but she knew that this was just the beginning in the investigation and it was far from being complete.

Kurobara hoped that there wasn't going to be any more injuries, her arm still felt like it was on fire and she didn't want any more pain. Don't take her wrong she can definitely take pain but it was slightly annoying.

Kiralawliet here, here's chapter 37? I am not sure XD anyways thank you for reading this chapter. I can't help but to say thank you so much for 29 followers and 29 favourites it lets me know that people are actually enjoying my story so thank you, everyone!

Sorry for taking so long to write the chapter. I wish I could do daily updates but I am not very good at that kind of thing so yeah. But anyway Thank you.

Also, that lullaby was aboustly beautiful to listen to its called Song Of The Sea Lullaby I don't know who the singer is but I am in love with the voice, you can listen to the song while you reading this if you want to.