A/C - As always, thank you for the love! Don't forget to R/F/F!

Chapter 21 - Quiet Heartbeats

^.^

We didn't say anything while we walked to the restaurant and were directed to the table where Luella, Martin, Lin and Madoka were waiting.

Madoka waved to us and I felt the nerves start to rise, my heart was pounding in my head. This was really happening.

It didn't help me feel any less nervous that Naru had already seemed to be anxious about this dinner - now I started to feel uneasy too.

A steady hand on my the back of my waist brought me back. Gingerly, I looked up at Naru who nodded.

It'll be okay.

"Mai," Luella greeted me in Japanese when we approached the table. "How wonderful to see you, dear."

Naru's mom looked regal in a simple dark blue gown. She left her silver hair styled in a bun atop her head. Martin was next to her in a grey suit and bowed to me.

"It's so good to see you again as well. Thank you for inviting me to dinner." I said, returning the bow.

"The pleasure is ours. Please, sit." Luella gestured for me to sit in the seat next to her.

Luella sat at at the head of the table with Martin to her left and I sat on her right. Beside Martin was Lin then Madoka. I was surprised Naru insisted to sit beside me.

Martin spoke in a rough voice, his Japanese was not fluent like Luella's or Naru's. "I've waited weeks to hear from you. How did the Kamikawa District case go?"

Naru answered smoothly. "It went well, I left reports on the case."

"Yes, we read them."

"If you've read the report you must have known everything that we experienced." Naru questioned.

"Noll!" Madoka snapped at him. "That is incredibly rude."

Naru gave her an blank stare, then set his eyes back down on the menu. "Forgive me, Father."

"Oliver, darling, your father and I miss you dearly." Luella gazed at her son.

Naru was still eyeing the menu. "I have business here, mother."

"If it's parapsychology, you know your father would be interested to know." She chided him.

"It's personal," Naru dodged. "I don't ask questions about your personal research. You shouldn't find the need to question mine."

"What your mother is trying to say: when are you going to come home?" Madoka interjected. "You've been away for nearly a month. You barely gave us any notice before you up and left on a plane and took one of the most unusual cases in Japan without even a goodbye -"

"Madoka," there was a warning in Naru's voice. "I suggest we find a dinner appropriate conversation so we don't bore Mai."

There was an awkward tension at the table, and thankfully the server arrived to take our orders.

Madoka was the first to break the silence when the server left. "I'm sorry Mai, please tell us how you've been all this time. Have you finished school?"

"This is my last year," I fiddled with my fingers on the table, not sure what to do with my hands. "I've been taking courses for an Education Degree at a local college. I'm planning to be an elementary school teacher and we have a practicum next term."

"That sounds wonderful," Luella said. "Do you like children?"

"Yes," I smiled a little thinking about all of the kids at the Orphanage. I loved all of those crazy, silly children. "I work part time at an orphanage and I adore teaching the kids there. It's one of my favorite things to do."

"That's absolutely beautiful. I think you'll be a wonderful school teacher, Mai." Luella looked lovingly at her son when she said this. "Oliver hates children. It's probably because he has no patience. I hope your gentle nature will rub off on him one day."

"Mother -" Naru started and I felt my face heat again, turning red.

"Oh shush," Luella took a drink from her water. "I'm only stating the truth."

I said, "T-Thank you, Mrs. Davis for your kind words."

"Please," She reached across the small distance on the table to touch my hand. "Call me Luella."

Her warm smile filled me with so much joy and I couldn't help but smile back. "Thank you, Luella."

"Mai, when you are graduated you must come to London," Madoka grinned eagerly. "For the wedding of course."

"I-I don't know English very well," I stammered, still blushing. "And, I wouldn't want to impose -"

"You won't be imposing, silly," Madoka waved her finger at me. "It's an invitation! Noll could teach you English, easily!"

Naru let out a small, amused breath. "English is a difficult language, I would hardly call it easy to learn."

I shot him a glare. "Well I could probably learn it if I had the chance."

Madoka seemed oblivious to our banter. "Oh, and of course you could bring your friends from the SPR. How are those guys?" She asked Naru, directly.

"SPR in Tokyo was only temporarily reinstated," Naru said.

"That's the other reason we're here," said Martin. "Do you intend on taking any clients while you are in Japan?"

"No, I'm not ghost hunting. As I've said, I'm looking into a personal matter."

Luella pressed her lips in a tight line. "We read the report you sent to the SPR and there was something that concerned us about the case."

"The SPR in London gave me permission to take it."

"Yes, we are aware of that. However, this mark on Mai's arm seems to have brought some attention among the Board of Directors," said Martin.

"Before you even say anything Oliver, I want you to hear us out." Luella declared when Naru had, indeed, opened his mouth to argue with them.

I heard Naru take a deep, unsteady breath in and out as he waited.

"One of the Board Members seemed very intrigued about what was learned on the Kamikawa District case." Martin said and he looked directly at me. "They were very interested in you specifically."

I suddenly felt a chill run down my spine.

Martin continued, "I realize that's probably why you've stayed in Tokyo however they may be interested in you bringing Mai back to London and continuing there."

Naru was quiet for a very long time, giving the servers time to hand out each of our dinners and refill our glasses. When they left, Naru spoke and it wasn't what I expected him to say. "I've requested that the SPR in London not be involved in this part of the case."

For the first time it sounded as if Naru was...unsure. As if his trust in the SPR was enough to believe them. It was naive thinking coming from Naru.

It was Madoka who clarified. "This is still, technically, an SPR case. You can't continue to investigate it on your own without approval from the Board of Directors."

Slowly, I was began to realize why Naru was anxious about this dinner. Maybe Naru knew the evidence we found would lead the SPR to us. Especially when the SPR was now set on making me a test subject. Or, if they had something else planned with what we found.

And this member who was interested in me... I got flashes from the man in the cabin and repressed the goosebumps that began on my forearms.

No, it couldn't be him. I refused to believe this world was that small - or there were that many coincidences.

"Then I'll abandon the case," Naru said irritably. "Is that what you want?"

Luella sighed, "Oliver, we just want you to be careful."

"The SPR wants Mai to go to London so they can investigate her." Naru said, plainly. "If this is part of the case than I don't want to continue looking into it."

The table once again went quiet. I felt out of place to say anything even though they were discussing my fate, so instead I reached for my water to cool my dry throat.

Madoka, for once, was not smiling.

She looked directly at me. "I'm sorry, this must sound very insensitive to you Mai. Of course we want to help you but in doing so it means the SPR controls the investigation and could use it for their own purposes."

"This is ridiculous," Lin spoke for the first time. "Luella, Martin - you can't be serious in suggesting that Mai leave her home to become a test subject."

"We're not," Luella corrected in a hard tone. "We want Oliver to be aware that there are dangers to him continuing this investigation as part of an SPR case."

Mdoka said in a low voice, "I've heard rumors that the member who was interested in Mai may come to Tokyo if you don't agree to bring her to London."

"You think they would come here?" I asked, now feeling completely stunned.

"It's possible," Luella confirmed. "I worry about what they will request when they are here."

From beside me I could feel pricks of electricity nipping at my arms through the gossamer sleeves. The air turned cold and I could practically feel the weight of power pressing firmly on my back.

Naru sat perfectly still and this time nobody breathed.

The control that had slipped briefly took seconds to be put firmly in place. Naru leashed his control over that mighty (and dangerous) power.

My glass cup of water slowly began to frost over.

I was pulled into the dark aura that was emitting out of Naru and I reached under the table to find his fingers were in a fist, fingers digging into his palm. His skin was clammy and cold to the touch. My hand was shaking when I touched him and he flinched outwardly as if I had struck him.

Blue eyes swung to mine and I suddenly felt like I had over stepped a line. I yanked my hand back.

"Naru," Lin warned.

Never had I seen Naru so out sorts. His eyes snapped to Lin now and he gave the Chinese man a feral look.

"Oliver, please calm down." Luella said in a sweet voice. It was so sweet I could almost imagine her using the lull of this tone to sing to the twins to sleep - to comfort them.

Naru seemed to have responded to it and some of that tension in his shoulders seemed to be released.

I was even more surprised when I felt his hand reach for mine on my lap. I accepted his touch (where he didn't accept mine) and threaded my fingers into his until our palms pressed together.

In a tight voice, Naru finally spoke. "They are aware I'm currently in Japan and should be expecting someone from the Board?"

"Yes." Martin said. "However we believe that if we persuade the SPR you are back in London they may not to come here."

"You would lie to your Board of Directors?" I asked, hesitantly.

Martin nodded. "Of course. We dislike the thought of our son and you being used for personal gain within the Board."

"Thank you," I said. "I truly appreciate that you would go to such lengths for us."

Naru said, "Thank you Mother, Father. I realize the position this puts you in."

"You don't worry about us, darling. Just do what you came here to do." Luella urged her son. Martin looked at Naru, then to me and smiled briefly.

As our food arrived, Madoka reached across the table and grabbed the bottle of wine that had been left in the center. She opened it, smiling widely and poured her own and Lin's wine glass up to the rim.

Then she leaned across the table to fill up mine and Naru's.

"If we plan on getting any kind of decent conversation tonight I think we'll need a second bottle," she winked.

^.^

"So dinner went well. I really enjoyed myself." I said when Naru and I were finally inside the apartment. Naru took off his black blazer and walked into the living room.

Madoka wasn't joking about the second bottle of wine for the table. It was so good, I had never tasted anything so good before and hardly realized how much I had drank until my first glass was empty.

Lin, Naru and his parents had slowly drank each of theirs. By the time dessert arrived, Madoka had filled my glass a second time.

"They certainly were talkative tonight," Naru mused. "Mai, tea please."

"Well, of course they would be - they're worried about you. Parents and all, I hate to break it to you but that's what parents do." I walked into the kitchen to prepare the tea. I think I was going to need it too since my head was still spinning from the alcohol.

From the other room, Naru didn't answer. Still feeling the buzz of alcohol I couldn't keep my words in check and continued talking.

"Is it true what Madoka said - that you just up and left for Japan? I thought you said you were looking into that Enchanted Forest theory and you were trying to link it to the prison case in Biei."

Actually, the more I thought about it, the less sense it made.

His parents obviously missed him, he had left abruptly and it seemed like he had just taken any case he could have that was in Japan. Thinking back to it, the case was sloppy and it was not a case I expected Naru to take.

It was all very unlike Naru.

Things weren't making much sense, even in my slightly drunken state.

Naru emerged from the living room now wearing a simple black shirt and a pair of loose slacks.

Bluntly he said, "what is your point?"

I reached into the cupboard for cups. "It seems strange. You just came here and took a high profile case that you didn't have a whole lot of information on."

When I turned back around, intelligent blue eyes staring at me. From the table, Naru watched me. "And?"

I didn't want to say it. Not when I wasn't sure of what 'it' was. Naru had told me once before that he wanted to come back to Japan and maybe this was the only way he could.

When the kettle started to go off, I grabbed it from the stove. "Never mind, it's nothing."

Maybe I was thinking about it too much. Maybe, my mind was too fogged over from the wine and I wasn't thinking clearly.

Or, maybe I was thinking too clearly.

As I prepared the tea, I didn't see the figure that began to materialize in the corner of the room. It wasn't until I turned when I saw those striking blue eyes and exotic facial features.

I stopped mid motion as Sara gave me a lazy grin, "How's being the anchor?"

My eyes must have been saucer wide because I heard Naru calling out my name. Sara didn't move, she just remained in the doorway smiling at me.

"Oh don't just stand there. i thought you wanted to talk to me."

She turned, disappearing in the hallway.

"Mai."

I blinked, looking at Naru.

"Sorry, I just -" What was a good lie? Something believable. "I'm going to change first. I'll - uh, be right back."

Naru gave me a strange look, but he didn't try to stop me as I walked down the hall and into my bedroom. I closed the door softly, then turned to the dark figure standing in the middle of the room.

"What do you want?" I kept my voice low as I stared at Sara, not forgetting the games she used to play.

"Gene is waiting for us," she said.

I remembered what she had tried to do to him and hissed at her, "I swear if you hurt him I'm going to -"

"Kill me?" She offered, amused. "I'm already dead."

There was a headache forming in the front of my head that I wanted to massage out. The room started , slightly, spinning. "Where is Gene?"

Sara grinned, taking in my flushed cheeks and slightly parted lips. "Can't the great anchor take a little jaunt to the Spirit Land?"

"It's not that easy."

"Sure it is." Sara crossed her arms, challenging me.

I loosened a long sigh and closed my eyes. Concentrating past the headache I tried to reach for that feeling from within me. The veil that seemed to exist just beyond my skin. The power glittered at my touch and then opened.

When I opened my eyes, I was not standing in my room anymore. Instead, I was standing on the spirit world which seems to have been molded before me. I was standing near the cabin back in Biei.

Gene and Sara were there. I noticed Hana was missing.

"Where is Hana?"

"She's gone," Sara said, her voice sounded detached and cold. "Hana's soul passed through me when I was still the anchor."

"What is this?" I didn't need to show her my tattoo for her to understand what I was talking about. "Why did this happen?"

"Don't you remember? I told you the curse cannot be broken."

"Why?"

"You didn't destroy the Xipherian Amulet." Sara said this as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You left it half done."

"Xipherian Amulet?"

Gene stepped forward, "It's an amulet that was created before the curse. It apparently had special properties for the wearer. Things that shouldn't be possible."

Sara snorted at this, "It is possible. Hana and I were used as anchors. That thing possessed Hana and came from the other world as way to keep the portal open - a bridge. The souls we consumed didn't come to us, instead they were absorbed into the amulet."

"What does the amulet do?" I asked.

"In exchange for souls a wearer could live indefinitely."

The world flickered from my lack of concentration and Sara snickered at this.

Gene shook his head, "It can't be true. There's no such thing as an amulet that could give someone eternal life."

"Not eternal life but long life." Sara countered, "They age slower and can eventually die."

My throat felt raw, "who is wearing this amulet now?"

Sara shifted her weight uncomfortably, "You saw him, didn't you? It's the same man."

I knew who she meant and could still feel his fingers grasping around my throat, Could hear him screaming in my face. I could still see the amulet hanging from his neck, hidden in a mass of shadows.

The Xipherian Amulet.

"What about Miki?" I said, because at this moment it felt important. All this time, I thought Miki had been the one who started all of this.

"No," Sara frowned. "He's been one of the men in charge of dragging people to the prison so they can die. In fact most of that town was under some contract because a 'haunted' prison would attract a lot of inexperienced tourist. They didn't bother to investigate when so many people went missing. Not when it meant that people were coming back to the town again."

Gene asked, "Why the prison?"

"It was within range of the cabin where my body was. He couldn't risk someone actually finding the portal. The Xipherian Amulet also controlled the curse to an extent. When Hana and I were bound to that land he could ensure that souls were being consumed because if they weren't...well you can gather what would happen."

"He wouldn't be able to stop the aging." Gene guessed.

Sara nodded. "Exactly, the curse affects him like how it affects us. If souls are not absorbed by the anchors and the amulet than the aging progresses steadily."

It sounded horrible. He had done all of these awful things just so that he could remain young. It made sense why he wanted to know where I was, why he couldn't find me.

"You have to tell Noll," There was urgency in Gene's voice. "If this man is after you it's too dangerous for Noll to not be aware of it."

"That won't stop him," Sara said darkly. "That man will still find you, even if he has to kill the ones you love. I bet you haven't even collected one, yet. You probably haven't been through the Gates."

Gene hissed defensively, "Be quiet."

My silence gave away the truth - that I had been to those Gates.

Sara's eyes lit up, knowingly. "You have crossed through them."

"It was awful," I recalled my only time through when I witnessed Adina's death from her eyes. Even though the memory of it was horrible, being beyond the Gates felt...amazing. Surreal.

"You get used to it. I didn't have a physical body when I was the anchor so I don't know what it would do a physical mind," Sara noted.

"To destroy the curse we need to get the amulet - this Xipherian Amulet. With whatever time we have and wherever it may be." Gene concluded.

"Then we'll have to just do it," I declared. "I'll tell Naru about the Amulet, maybe he can find more information on the origins of it."

Sara's mouth tightened. "There's one more thing you'll need to know about destroying it."

I waited for her to explain but he said nothing.

My patience was being tested and I snapped, "well?"

Sara stood very still when she finally spoke. "Do you not understand what the anchor is - to be the anchor means that your soul is now attached to the Xipherian Amulet and to destroy it mean you must destroy your soul, and since you are still alive, well - "

I stopped hearing any words and the world had slipped out from under me.

Everything flickered as I stepped backwards with shaking legs and a hard weight seemed to sit on my hollow chest.

The world rippled and a tremor shuttered through it as if some piece of the world shifted. As if some part of the world was falling apart.

If my soul was to be destroyed...that means that I...

"I have to to die?"

^.^