A/N: Well, for once, I don't know what to say except for some rather intriguing/interesting/shocking news! I'm going to make this a multi-case fanfic IF, and ONLY if, you guys get me to 100 reviews in the next few chapters (so, basically, before this case ends). This case will end in the next few chapters, so don't miss this chance! Please and thank you! I'm dearly sorry if this is rather demanding (is it?) but as it is my first multi chapter fanfic, I would like to see it reach some level of popularity. I know there's enough of you to do it, too! My hot-mail is FLOODED with notifications of 'faves' for the story, so please! And this is STILL in Mai's POV!
Disclaimer: Ghost Hunt is NOT mine!
I opened my eyes to complete, utter whiteness. Everything surrounding me was the colour of snow; white. Whiter here white there.
"Where am I?" I muttered to myself. I got onto my feet, feeling rather rejuvenated. Before I could even take a few steps forward, however, I heard a rather familiar voice. Or three, to be exact.
"Your soul has fallen into the in-between." He said, and I turned. And I almost had a heart attack. Almost. There, standing in all their glory, were my parents and Gene.
"HOLY! GENE! MOM! DAD!" I screamed, jumping back a good distance. Was I dead? No, wait. Gene said 'in-between'. Was I on the verge of life or death?
"Hi sweetie." Dad smiled, his eyes shining with...pride? I smiled back in response, still slightly confused. Why were they all there? How was I not already, well...dead?
"You're confused." My mom stated, smiling. I nodded, glad someone realized I was unaware of what was going on.
"Basically, this is where 'lost' souls go when their bodies have severe injuries. But if you are able to be kept alive, you come here; if not, you...don't." Gene explained, his eyes hardening. I nodded, the words processing in my head. I wasn't dead, but I wasn't alive exactly either. I glanced back up at the trio, and that's when realization hit me. There could only be ONE way spirits floated around in the in-between, and that way was...
"WAIT! YOU THREE AREN'T REALLY DEAD YET?" I yelled, staring at them in disbelief. Smirks and a smile met my shocked expression, confirming my thoughts.
"You're kidding me!" I fumed, stomping my foot. Inside, I was rejoicing; although, I wasn't prepared to tell them that yet. Not until I get some answers.
"Yes, Mai. We're still alive, all of us. But Seika has taken great measures to hide our bodies. We cannot tell you directly where they are, let alone direct you." Mom explained, her expression wary.
"B-But...how come I'm learning this NOW?" I asked, slightly put-out. So they couldn't tell me where their bodies were. But why didn't they try and contact me earlier?
"You weren't ready to take on Seika all alone. With Naru and the others at risk, though, you rose to the challenge and ended Seika's reign of terror." Dad explained, still shining with pride. I nodded slowly but surely. So, they were waiting for the right time to contact me.
"So, are your bodies still in the manor?" I asked, getting whatever information I could. They nodded, waiting for me to say something else.
"That settles it, then. I'm setting off to find your bodies as soon as I'm deemed alive." I decided with an air of finality and confidence. My parents beamed at me whilst Gene chuckled. I was practically bouncing on the balls of my feet; I was going to get reunited with my parents and my best friend again!
"Mai, do not take this mission lightly. It shall be harder than you believe." My mom warned, pointing a finger at me. I nodded slowly; the manor was a huge mansion; not to mention the acres and acres of greenery surrounding it.
"So, when do I go back?" I asked, slightly worried. How was the gang coping? Did they think I was...gone? Gene shook his head lightly, before replying.
"When your life force regains strength. I have something to show you in the meantime." He expalined, gesturing with his hands. I nodded, wondering what exactly Gene was going to show me. Suddenly, I found myself flying through time. Feeling as if my body was being torn apart, I stood and waited for it to end. Abruptly, we were back in the master bedroom in the manor. Confused, I glanced at Gene. He simply offered me a sad smile.
"I thought you would like to see why I lost to Seika." He informed me, his voice cold. I felt my eyes widened in shock; clearly, Gene didn't go down without a massive breakout. Nodding slightly, I turned my attention back to the memory.
"Seika! Where are you!" Gene was bellowing. Stunned, I watched as a younger version of Gene search through the room, his eyes ablaze. Clearly, my best friend had been furious whilst taking on her uncle.
"Why hello, Eugene." Her uncle's voice vibrated through the room, making him seem like his was everywhere at once. Even though he was gone, the mere sound of hi nasal voice made my eyes narrow; just who did he think he was?
"You killed my best friend. And her parents." Gene's voice was deathly calm, but I could sense the underlying pain and anger. I felt my own heart crumbling; how could I have left my best friend hanging like that? As if sensing my thoughts, Gene reached out and grabbed my hand in a comforting way. In return, I smiled at him, before returning my attention to the fast-paced fight that was coming.
"I know." Seika replied almost lazily. Instantly, I felt rage fill every inch of me. Seika didn't even have the courtesy to tell Gene he never killed me! Gene's hold on my hand tightened, as if asking me to stay calm for another few minutes.
"You're going to pay." Gene informed him, a hard gleam in his past eyes. Seika nodded, as if accepting the challenge, before the action started.
I watched, paralyzed, as Gene's former self darted forward at a lightning speed. PK fluttered in his hands, coming to life but slowly. Seika, noticing Gene's disadvantage, smirked and floated back leisurely. It sickened me to no extent the amount of fun Seika seemed to be having, causing people pain.
"Your PK..." I whispered, noticing how much weaker it seemed. What was going on? Gene, snapping out of a seemed reverie, answered my question.
"He put charms up in the room. That's also why you took so long to defeat him." Gene was bitter, I could tell. I would, too, if I was tricked into something like this. Seika sure had no pride; that, I was sure of.
"What's wrong, pup? Don't got enough energy on you?" Seika laughed, his taunting cruel. Memory-Gene snarled something incoherent in response, before jumping at Seika yet again. As a spectator, though, I could tell he was tiring. His energy source had been diminished to start off with, but now it was almost completely exploited.
"Oh, poor boy. You have spirit, I'll give you that. But spirit isn't enough to get through life, boy. Night night!" Seika laughed, before sending a particularly strong surge of PK at Gene. I watched, my body stiff, as the surge hit Gene head-on. Upon impact, his body was sent flying into the wall, leaving a large-sized dent.
"Now, time to dispose of your broken pieces." Seika cackled with relish. With that, everything surrounding me turned black, indicating the end of the memory. Frozen in shock, I didn't say anything for the first few moments.
"Mai?" Gene asked, slightly concerned. I nodded, inclining that I had heard his voice. He grabbed my shoulder and maneuvered me around in the darkness.
"He didn't even tell you I wasn't dead..." I whispered, shell-shocked. Was this why Gene died? Dirty tricks, pride-less idiocy?
"Calm, Mai. Don't worry, I have faith you'll find our bodies." Gene assured me, smiling warmly despite the replay of his last, living memory. I nodded, submitting. No use in dwelling on the past. Even though that past was caused by me.
"I'm finding your bodies if it's the last thing I do." I vowed sincerely, gazing at him. He nodded, thanking me with his eyes. I beamed back at him, before turning back to the front. Soon enough, we found ourselves walking towards my parents, who were waiting for us. As we closed distance, my mom took a step forward with a smile on her face. I smiled back, unsure of what brought on the sudden happiness.
"Mai, it's time for you to go back." She told me softly. My eyes widened with delight and surprise; my body was already healed?
"You're a quick healer, alright." Gene chuckled. I laughed along, but I was actually pretty sad. Already I had to leave my family and my best friend.
"Hey, cheer up. It's not going to be for long, right? You're going to find our bodies, I just know it!" Gene assured me with a bright smile.
I found myself starting to smile slowly, recognizing the optimistic aura surrounding us. With one final wave of goodbye, I closed my eyes and felt myself being morphed back into my body.
"I wonder when she'll wake up..." Ayako was whispering, her voice sounding...scared? I was awake, I knew that much, but I didn't open my eyes just yet. What had they been talking about?
"I don't know what I'll do if she doesn't get out of this coma..." Yasu replied, sounding defeated. Realization dawned on me; I was in a coma. Of course! My body had shut down due to the lack of energy...so I was in a coma. That's why everyone was on an edge!
"I wonder if Seika's really gone or not..." Martin trailed off, sounding lost and broken. I was pretty sure that he was; nobody could survive a level 10 PK surge. Not even Seika.
"I just want my Mai to wake up." Bou-san stated, and by he tone of his voice I could tell that he was slumping. Murmured agreements filled the hospital air, and I found myself opening my eyes.
"Miss me?" I asked, grinning cheekily. Needless to say, they all freaked out pretty bad.
A/N: That's probably one of the longer chapters! Phew! I had fun writing the little Mai x Gene moments (: Again, I hope you all review! I have high hopes for this story! Lilaccccc OUT!