Chapter 3: Unexpected

MAI'S POV

I wasn't sure if I were dreaming or is it a memory of some sort. As soon as I closed my eyes to sleep, I found myself standing among a large group of boys my age. Everyone wore dark black robes that Japan civilian wore during the Heian Period. No one seems to notice me as I stood between the boys. I look around the group for a bit until something caught my attention.

"Hikaru!" a boy with blue green hair shouted as he punched a dark hair boy's shoulder that stood in front of him. I turned towards their direction.

"Ow! That hurts Akiyo!" the boy named Hikaru turned around and glared at the boy named Akiyo. 'Wow, he looked just like Naru!' I thought.

"Well, who told you to doze off," Akiyo said.

HIkaru continue to glare, "I wasn't dozing off! I was just thinking why they have us assemble here so early in the morning."

"Hm, you're right," Akiyo said as a mater-of-fact.

"Anyway, hit me again and you're find yourself without a right hand," Hikaru warned him before turning back around. I couldn't help but be amused with this particular attitude of this different Naru. The Naru that I know would never show this kind of personalities or either the Naru in my dream. How many Naru is there!

"Look! It's Murasaki-no-ue!" someone shouted among the men in the front. Hikaru looked up at the second floor of the palace. I followed his gaze and found myself looking at… me?

My look alike (I guess I'll call it that) wore a long Heian kimono and holds a fan in one hand. Her long brown hair was let lose down her back. She looks at the group of men as she continues to walk by. She is just like your typical princess. And then an unexpected encounter happened. For the briefest moment, her eyes met with Hikaru. But then he looks away from her when Akiyo tug his sleeve. "Beautiful isn't she?" he whispered.

I moved closer, wanting to hear what he might say. "Truly," was his answer. When he turned back, she was already out of view. "I wouldn't mind dying to protect such a beautiful princess," Akiyo whispered to him.

Hikaru turn to look at him with a serious expression on his face, "I could careless for a princess who doesn't have a heart even if she is as beautiful as a goddess."

"You're saying as if you know her," Akiyo said.

"I'm just telling you what I believed," was his replied.

"Ah!" I awoke with a start. My alarm clock went off just then. I sat up and turn it off. 'What a weird dream,' I thought back to the dream. 'Damn' I clench the bed sheet between my fingers, 'Why is it that whenever I dreamed of Naru, my heart hurt so much? And the Naru in my dream is not even Naru!"

I closed my eyes tightly and shake my head to clear my thoughts. "I need to stop thinking of Naru. It's just going to hurt me more if I think about him," I mumbled to myself. 'Damn, I'm starting to cry from just thinking about him!'

*GHOST HUNT*

NORMAL POV

"Finally!" Monk-san said as he stepped out of the car to get some fresh air. The group decided to get some fresh air after hours of driving. They have finally arrive in Sakurako Town and decided to take a breather. Naru and Lin-san are discussing something while Madoka and Yasuhara-san pour out the tea they bought just a few hours ago when they stopped to use the restroom. Masako was looking around the area with John-san. Monk-san and Ayako looked down at the houses here and there on the waving hills.

"Does Naru even know where Mai lives?" Ayako asked.

"He should, he's Naru after all," Monk-san said.

"You're probably right," she agreed.

"Gather around!" Naru shouted.

Once everyone were gather around him, Naru looked at the marked street on the map he was holding, "We'll head straight to Mai's current residence and then go find a hotel we could used as base for the time being. From what Madoka has been telling me, Yukiyo Takumi is randomly attacking classmates that are getting close to Mai, so if we keep her with us, he will surely show himself."

"Right, but Naru," Monk-san said, "If by chance Mai doesn't come with us, what are you going to do?"

"Even if she doesn't, we have other means," Naru replied instantly.

The group stared at him with stunned expression. "I didn't know you were those type," Ayako said.

"You also didn't know what I'm capable of," Naru smirk and then got back in the car.

"Grrrrrr!" Ayako growled.

"I didn't know she could growl," Yasuhara-san whispered to Monk-san.

"Neither did I," he whispered back.

*GHOST HUNT*

MAI'S POV

"I'm going!" I said as I stepped out of the house and closed the door behind me. 'Today make one week of summer vacation, so that means I hadn't have anything to occupy my mind with for a while.' I let out a long sighed, 'Summer sucks.'

"Why the long sigh, Mai-chan?" Mr. Moto from next door asked as he water his garden.

"It's nothing Mr. Moto," I replied, "Good Morning by the way."

"Good Morning," he greeted back, "Aren't you beautiful this morning?" he said as he look at my yellow mini sundress.

"Thank you," I smiled.

"Are you going to visit Mimi-chan?" Mr. Moto asked.

"Uh, no, is something wrong?" I asked.

"You haven't heard?" Mr. Moto asked.

"Heard what?" I asked.

"It spread like a river over the Amazon. Mimi-chan was sent to the hospital this morning after she was found in the river," Mr. Moto said.

"A river? Why is she?" I asked.

"No one knows. About a few days ago, Mimi-chan started acting strange and then yesterday she disappeared. They spend all night searching her. They barely just found her this morning," Mr. Moto explained to me.

"I think I'll visit her," I said immediately.

"Then see you later," Mr. Moto said.

"Ok," I said and then quickly run off the porch and headed for the hospital. Since I lived quite close, I don't have to take the bus or a taxi. 'I hope Mimi is alright!'

*GHOST HUNT*

NORMAL POV

"Wow, Sakurako town is really big despite being in the countryside," Ayako said in awe as she look around the shopping district as they drove passed.

"I have to agree," Yasuhara-san said as he too looks around.

"Ah, isn't that Mai!" John-san shouted. Monk-san quickly stepped on the break, since the only car on the street is the car Naru rides up in front. "Mai!" Ayako shouted as she quickly got out of the car.

MAI'S POV

As I ran down the shopping district, I heard the squeak sound of a car nearby but I was too much in a hurry to care about it, so I continue to run without stopping. That was until I heard someone shout my name. "Mai!"

'That voice?' I instinctually stopped and turn around.

AUTHOR'S NOTE- Hope you like this chapter as well. Thanks for reading and all the good comments! (Two Bows)