Chapter 28 – Finally Over

I open my eyes and thankfully I managed to go through the night without having one of those dreams. However, when I look over at the clock, it reads five O'clock. That's when I realise the reason behind my waking; the babies were kicking. Usually they don't wake me up with their kicking and it makes me wonder why they'd start now. "Mai, what's wrong?"

I look over and see that Naru's bright blue eyes were staring at me, the concern evident behind them. "The babies woke me up," I answer, rubbing my belly as I do.

"That's unusual," he mutters.

He places his hand on my abdomen and starts to rub it. "Do you think maybe they know what's happening?" I ask him.

"Maybe, we can't know without asking them and I doubt our unborn babies are going to respond to a question," he mentions with a chuckle, his hand had stopped to feel the babies kick.

I yawn because I shouldn't be awake. "Come now little ones, mummy wants to sleep," I tell them while placing my hand over the top of Naru's.

As if they had heard me, they stopped their incessant kicking and I can finally go back to sleep.

Naru then wraps his arm around me and we quickly fall asleep.

I wake to a gentle shake of my shoulders, "Mai, it's time to wake up; we need to get rid of the ghost," whispers a familiar voice in my ear.

I open my eyes and see Masako with her hand still on my shoulder. "What time is it?" I ask her, sitting up with a hand on my bump.

"It's ten; Naru wanted to let you get some more sleep, he told us about the kicking earlier this morning," she replies with a kind smile. "I guess that's something for me to prepare for."

"Yeah, hopefully your baby decides it won't wake you up early in the morning," I laugh.

"Hopefully, but we better get to base before his highness comes looking for you," she giggles at her little joke.

I return her giggles as I start to get dressed; it's not like Masako hasn't seen what a woman's body looks like before.

We arrive at base and sitting on one of the couches was Taichi-san. "Good morning Taichi-san," I say to him cheerily.

"Good morning Taniyama-san," he replies and from his worried look, I could tell that he knew about what the ghost wants.

"So Naru, what are we going to do today?" Bou-san asks him, trying to draw the attention away from Masako and me.

"We need to find a way to draw him out and the only way I can think of is for you and John to pray in various rooms in the hopes he will appear. He wants his child right? So I'm thinking that perhaps a hitogata is a good option. If not, we have no choice, but to exercise him," he replies while keeping an eye trained on the monitors.

"When do you want us to get started Kazuya-san?" asks John.

"Whenever you're ready, but still as soon as possible; I'm sure you know why and how important this is," Naru replies turning away from the monitors.

"Right," whispers John while he and Bou-san make their way out of base to prepare for their praying.

We were crowded around the monitors while Bou-san and John were praying; John in the kitchen and Bou-san in the hallway on the other side of the building. They had been at it for the past five minutes and nothing had happened. I could see Naru's frustration beginning to grow as his frown kept growing. Suddenly, the temperature in the room started dropping rapidly. I leaned further into Naru while Lin pushed Ayako and Masako into a corner.

I felt as if someone was watching me and when I turn around; Takemaru is there staring at my stomach. Naru pulls me behind him to protect me from that sharp gaze. This makes Takemaru angry and he glares at Naru. He then disappears and we wonder where he had gone when I feel a cold breath on my neck. I slowly turn around and he is right behind me.

He latches onto my arm and throws me across the room; I smash into the wall and my arms instinctively wrap around my middle while I scream. "Mai," yells Naru trying to get closer to me.

Takemaru throws him against the other wall and moves closer to me. My vision was starting to blur and I vaguely heard as John and Bou-san returned after hearing my scream. Then I feel the familiar wind of Naru's power rising. "Naru, don't," I manage to scream.

However, my scream falls on deaf ears and before I know it; Naru has released his powers. Takemaru screams before completely disappearing. "He's gone," Masako whispers.

The temperature still hasn't risen and that's when Arisa appears before me. "I am sorry for what has happened; if there was anything I could do to make up for it I would. You have set me free from his hold and I only wish that you, your love and your baby live happily from now on when my child and I could not," she tells Naru and I.

Not long after, she too leaves and the temperature finally returns to normal. "She is gone too," Masako whispers, leaning against John in relief.

"Mai, are you okay?" Naru asks me, walking over slowly.

My vision started to blur again, "I don't kno-"

I was interrupted by Naru falling to the ground unconscious, "Naru," we all scream.

However, I can no longer stay conscious and I soon follow him.

I can hear an incessant beeping noise and it is starting to annoy me. I try to open my eyes, but the bright light hurts. I try again a few seconds later and look around to discover I am inside a hospital room. When I get a better look I realise that Naru is in the bed beside me, but he is still unconscious. The both of us were plugged into heart monitors and the double beeping was really annoying.

"Mai," I turn to see Ayako at the door with a wide grin on her face.

"Ayako, how long have I been unconscious?" I ask her, however, it comes out as more of a croak.

She comes over and hands me the glass of water beside my bed; she had heard my question though, "You have been out of it for the past four days and we were getting scared that you may not wake up. After what the doctor said, Naru was the even greater concern as up until yesterday he was in ICU. If he doesn't wake up soon, he may not make it," she whispers.

I had been out of it for four days? I look back over to Naru and I finally realise how much paler he is from normal.

Please be okay Naru, I plead to him mentally.

I really am on a role, I feel more accomplished then I have ever been. YAY ME! Anyway, it's finally over and they can get a break from all this hunting as Mai isn't allowed on another case until the twins are born. Hopefully Naru wakes up soon, poor Mai she always ends up in the hospital and now she has to worry about him to boot.

Not too much longer to go before this story is complete and then I'll feel even more accomplished. I'll have to have a mini party in my room with some chocolate and softdrink to celebrate my first completed fanfic. Nothing can ruin my mood, except for perhaps the fact that I have to catch the bus this afternoon. Which reminds me, this is the first chap in a long time that I have updated at school.

I'm so naughty, but anyway,

Seza, over and out.