A/N: I apologize for the long delay in this story. I got busy with several projects and had doubts about whether this story was going where people wanted it to. But this is how the story's been unfolding for me for quite some time and I hope it lives up to expectations.
Anyway, thank you to everyone who left reviews begging for a continuation. It helped me work on this chapter little by little.
Disclaimer: All characters in Ghost Hunt are the creation of the Goddess Ono Fuyumi-sama.
The surface of the water gleamed white in the summer sun, creating an almost blinding image. Mai squinted from the brightness, wondering where she was. She had no recollection of this place.
Ah, this must be a dream, she thought.
But it all seemed so real to her. She could feel the sun's warmth touch her skin, feel the gentle breeze caress her hair, she could even feel the grains of sand shift between her toes.
So how could this be a dream? she wondered.
"What's the matter?"
Mai turned her gaze in the direction of the voice, raising her eyes toward the man suddenly standing beside her. When she caught sight of him, a familiar feeling unfurled itself in her chest. There before her, with his hair a dripping mess and his wet clothes clinging to him, was Jun.
"I'm fine," she said almost breathlessly. "Did you find what you were looking for?"
Jun stared at her silently for a few moments, his tall frame towering over her, before he lowered himself into the sand beside her. He removed a leather pouch from his belt. Opening it and reaching inside, he pinched something between two fingers and brought it out into view.
"I found just the right ones," he said, holding a light pink pearl up to the blazing sun, one eye squinting as he looked at it. He glanced towards her, his face expressionless yet somehow full of adoration. "It's the color of your soul, you know."
Mai stared at him blankly. He reminded her so much of Lin. She wondered how she had never guessed the two were essentially one and the same.
After a moment, what Jun had said reached her brain. Somehow, she remembered he could see auras. It was something she herself was usually only capable of during a trance.
"What did you need it for anyway?" she asked.
Jun looked away from her, smiling slightly. "That is a secret."
Mai felt a tinge of annoyance at his remark. He had dragged her out of bed much earlier than usual and now he wouldn't even tell her why. She abruptly turned towards him and pushed him into the sand, but not before he grabbed ahold of her and pulled her with him. The sand shifted around the pair, cradling them in it's warm embrace.
"Why," she huffed, propping herself up on one elbow, "why must you always tease me?"
Jun lightly laughed as he shifted onto his side. Smiling fondly, he placed a hand on her arm. "Because I love you dearly."
"It doesn't seem so," she pouted.
"It is so," he assured her. "My heart, my soul… my all is yours, forever."
Mai looked away, a wave of sadness washing over her. She knew these feelings weren't hers. They belonged to that half of her that was once Rei. And now they were a distant memory all but lost to time. Still, Mai understood them.
"No…" she said softly, "not forever. I must wither with time, but you… you will remain pristine."
Jun sat up. Gently taking ahold of her chin, he turned her face back toward him. His bright eyes blazed like the sun. "I will not will lose you again. I refuse to face eternity without you anymore."
Mai was silent. There was something odd about his statement. "Again?" she questioned.
Jun looked away. "I misspoke," he said quietly.
Mai, or rather, Rei could tell when he was lying. "Jun," she practically growled, "if I am to be yours, do not keep this from me."
Jun remained silent. After a moment, he spoke. "I…" His voice cut out. He closed his eyes and tried again. "I lost you once before..."
"What... what do you mean?"
He looked at her, his expression pained. "I've tried to tell you so many times," he said quietly. "I love you as you are now, but… I knew your soul in this life once before. Your death... is on my hands. We were—"
Mai was suddenly awoken by the sound of voices outside her bedroom door.
"Deal with her," came Naru's voice, the sound growing nearer, "she's your mother."
"No," Lin responded tersely. "Send her away. I don't want her interference."
"Don't be st—"
Naru abruptly stopped speaking. This was quickly followed by a quiet exchange of angry words too hushed for her make out. Until Naru finally snapped.
"Lin, you're the one who ran away to my parents' home. You're the reason she's here, so deal with her."
Then there was silence.
A few moments later, the door to the room suddenly opened, revealing Lin. He abruptly stopped in the doorway when he realized Mai was awake.
"I apologize if I—" he began curtly before breaking off and shaking his head. He took a breath and slowly exhaled the remnants of his anger, then tried again. "I'm sorry," he said softly.
Mai sighed and sat up. Throwing the covers aside, she patted the bed. "Come here."
Lin gently nodded and came into the room, shutting the door as he entered. Making his way to the bed, he sat next to Mai. She held out her hand and he easily accepted it, slotting his fingers between hers.
"What's up?" she asked simply.
Lin was silent for a moment. "...it seems my mother has come to pay us a visit," he answered gloomily. "And she refuses to leave until she's seen us."
"Uh-oh, we've been caught already?" Mai joked, trying to lighten his mood. "It's been what, a day maybe?"
Lin smiled ever so slightly. "She likely sensed our escape before it happened."
Mai let out a small laugh. "Sounds like you never got away with anything as a child."
Lin glanced at her briefly before returning his gaze to the wall. "Never," he agreed.
Mai didn't really know what to do. She knew he was worried for her safety, but this was his mother they were talking about. Would she really try to destroy her son's happiness?
"It's your mother," she finally said, "what's the worst that could happen?"
"It could be the end of us," he muttered unhappily.
Mai clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "Hey, I'm here to stay, pal."
Lin let out a soft breath and raised his eyes toward the ceiling. "That's all that I want, Mai," he said quietly, the barest edge of desperation in his voice. "You're all that I want. For once in this unending eternity, I just want to marry the woman I love."
Mai suddenly recalled that morning's dream. "Koujo," she said, waiting for him to look at her, "do you remember the beach?" When he inclined his head expressionlessly, she added, "The pearls?"
"Ah," he said softly.
"What did Jun mean," she continued, "when he said my death was on his hands?"
Lin stared at her silently for a moment. "You don't remember?"
Mai shook her head.
"Well, it seems we were meant to be married," he explained. "Unfortunately, your parents later betrothed you to a wealthy merchant. But when you tried to explain, I wouldn't listen. Then you… you took your own life. I— Jun went into seclusion after that."
"How awful," Mai murmured.
Lin nodded. After a moment, he shifted his body and turned Mai to face him. "I didn't want to burden you with this," he told her gravely, "but I think it's best you knew."
"What is it?" she asked nervously.
Lin briefly hesitated. "From one lifetime to the next…" he said cautiously, watching Mai, "I've seen you die countless deaths. But it doesn't matter if I try to separate myself from you. It still happens before it's meant to. And I've been searching for some way to stop it. I thought with the help of my family... but..."
Mai felt a chill seep into her body. How could that be? How could it be possible for them to live so many lives, forever together but always apart. "Why," she choked out, "why us?"
Lin gathered her into his arms, gently kissing her head. "I don't know," he whispered. "I just don't know. What I do know is there's something, someone trying to keep us apart."
"But who?"
Lin shook his head. "I don't have a definite answer, but I went over it again and again last night, and the only thing that remains the same is our families' involvement. That's why I'm certain now. No matter what, you have to stay away from my family."
"What about your mother?" Mai questioned.
"I'll deal with her," he promised, "but you need to keep your distance."
Mai nodded, but she couldn't help the uneasy feeling swirling in her stomach.
