A/N: -sigh-
Got this part out for you...sorry it is a little short. I plan on finishing another chapter this weekend so look forward to it!
Naru examined the object he held, the others moving to his side to look as well. It was a tablet of metal, a heavy metal at that, with what appeared to be rough inscriptions covering its face. Naru looked at it curiously…it certainly perked his interest immensely.
"What is that? A name plate?" Bou-san looked at it with equal curiosity. What was an object like that doing at the bottom of a garden koi pond anyway?
"Shall we investigate this?" Lin questioned as John entered the room.
"What is that?" he questioned inquisitively.
"Mai was holding that from when Naru pulled her from the pond. It is tablet of some sort." Bou-san answered.
"Hrm…" Naru made a noise as he thought. He turned his glance at Mai and promptly clenched his hand shut. She was asleep and soaked through, though he couldn't say much for himself either. It was late and they all needed rest…who knew what tomorrow would bring especially now that they finally had a clue to go on. "It has gotten late. We will see what we can find out about this thing first thing tomorrow after we have all gotten some rest."
Everyone silently agreed. Bou-san and John opted to stay in the base to sleep and Lin, who was entrusted with the tablet, wanted to make sure he documented the occurrence before he turned in.
Naru scooped up Mai effortlessly in his arms as the others occupied themselves with their own activities. "I will be in my room if you need me. Let me know if anything happens." He said coolly as he exited the room.
John blushed as he watched the couple leave. Bou-san noticed and smirked while nudging the priest's side. "What ya blushing for?"
"W-what do you mean!?" Bou-san's smirk widened. "W-well it is just that they are so…loving."
"Well they do love each other. I think Naru would rather die than see Mai hurt or in pain. It is like that when you are in love…" the monk trailed off as the dull ache he had been feeling all day struck painfully sharp in his chest. He glanced at Ayako's sleeping form and sighed. 'So that is what this is…'
"I see…so that is how it is. It's just that something still feels…off…with them. You know what I mean?" John looked up imploringly.
"…Yeah…I know what you mean. But, now is not the time to ask them about it. Maybe once this is all over we can ask."
"Yeah…"
-x-
Once in the safety of his room, Naru squeezed Mai tighter to himself before gently lowering her to the floor. He was still trying to calm himself down and even though Mai was right in front of him, was right in his arms; he was unable to calm his nerves.
Now that he was out of sight of the others he could no longer control the slight trembling of his hands and or the look of anxiety on his face that he had been trying so hard to conceal. He rested his hand on his forehead before he let it slide down the front of his shirt, which he finally remembered was thoroughly soaked through. In fact, it finally dawned on him that both he and Mai had not changed since they came inside from the garden. John had brought them towels but that did not help the current situation any.
Naru felt a chill run up the back of his spine and he knew that if he was cold from his wet clothes then probably so was Mai. He cringed at the thought…he was going to have to change her clothes…there was no one else that could do it…
He sighed before he placed his hand on her chilled cheek tenderly. It was a close call but luckily Mai was safe. He was still worried about what had happened before she passed out but that would have to wait until the morning…for now taking care of her body was the priority.
Leaving Mai resting on the floor, Naru quickly changed into dry clothes to sleep in and soon returned with a change of clothes for Mai. Sure he was overly mature for his age, but he was a guy none the less…not to mention he was currently pealing clothes off the girl he loved…
Naru almost let a blush arise when he had finally pulled off all of Mai's clothes, but he controlled himself. He was not fazed in the least by seeing a female body, but it was the fact that it was Mai's body that was getting to him. He could not help but feel a bit guilty about it even though technically she was legally his wife…even if she herself didn't think so.
Naru finished his task quickly and efficiently without wasting any time. He easily pushed unnecessary thoughts aside and once again lifted Mai into his arms. He gently placed her on the futon before he crawled in next to her, pulling the covers with him as he settled down. He inched closer to Mai and secured his arms around her, resting his head at the back of her neck. She did not stir and her breathing was soft and even. Naru could not help but be relaxed by the feeling.
He knew that he would never be able to get away with this if she were awake so he decided to take full advantage of it while he could. He wanted to make sure she was secure and safe. He may not be able to protect her in her dreams but he was hell bound to protect her body; he was not letting go of her tonight.
'Hmm…warm…' Naru thought absently as he drifted off to sleep at the sound of Mai's breathing and the warmth of her body.
-x-
'Naru…'
Mai vaguely thought she felt Naru's presence for an instant before the oppressing darkness took over once again. She was not sure what was going on but it felt like she was in a thick fog that she could not get out of. She was dazed and confused…her consciousness almost felt like her surroundings…
Where was she anyway?
Was she dreaming?
Mai could feel that she was not alone…this was not like any other dream she had ever had before. It was frighteningly realistic, more so than normal. It didn't feel like a dream…
What was happening?
Why was she here?
-x-
Naru awoke the next morning surprisingly satisfied and refreshed. He could not remember a time that he woke up feeling so good…
"Mai…" he whispered softly as he detangled him self from around her. He sat up, propping himself on his arm, and looked at Mai's sleeping face. He smoothly tangled his fingers of his free hand into her hair, caressing her face lightly.
She would be alright…
She had to be…
-x-
"Report" Naru said sternly as he waltzed into the base room after he showered and dressed. He was met with a tired looking Bou-san, a polite hello from John, and Lin who just nodded as he entered.
"The girls are the same…" Bou-san commented as he took a sip from his coffee.
"We tried to wake them but it was no use…they are sound asleep and nothing seems to work." John elaborated kindly.
"I am concerned that they are not regaining consciousness." Lin commented dryly as he continued to rattle away at his computer.
"I am also very worried" John exclaimed. "Neither of us sense anything from them and they don't appear to be possessed or anything…yet the doctor says he can't find anything wrong with them."
"It just doesn't make any sense!" Bou-san looked troubled. He didn't want to show it but he was extremely apprehensive about the situation. Ayako and Masako where sleeping like the dead…and now Mai had succumbed to something as well. They had a strange tablet and a verbal clue…but was that going to be any help?
"Hrm…we will have to deal with what we can first. Right now we have that tablet and a clue so we should see where that takes us" Naru said quickly. He was restless; he didn't like leaving Mai unattended in the room where he could not watch over her. He wanted to get back there as soon as he could. He would have to bring her to the base room just like the others so that someone would be there to keep an eye on her.
"What in the world could be going on…?" Bou-san mumbled more to himself than anyone in particular.
"It is the Mara…"
Naru spun around instantly at the voice that rung out. There standing in the doorway was Mai still clad in her pajama's that he had dressed her in the night before. Much to Naru's dismay, she looked as she did last night…vacant and absent. The eyes that were looking at them were glassy and anything but vibrant.
"What the hell is the Mara!?" Bou-san snapped. He didn't know why he was so angry but he just couldn't keep it in anymore. Ayako collapsed, Masako followed, and now Mai was some sort of walking zombie and there was nothing he could do about it. "Damnit you better start explaining!"
Mai said nothing. She remained standing there on teetering feet, her expression unchanging. Bou-san clenched his fists tightly and slammed his closed hand down on the table in front of him. "Damnit!"
Naru meanwhile approached Mai. She didn't even register him standing before her, nor did she even flinch when he took hold of her and brought her into the room. He sat her on the couch and promptly took a seat next to her. "What is the Mara, Mai?" He spoke in an even, soft tone…much calmer than Bou-san's outburst.
"…"
Mai remained silent. Unbeknown to them, Mai was still trapped in a world of darkness. She was too far for them to reach. She was lost to them…
"The Mara" Lin started, "according to my research, are a kind of malignant female wraith believed to cause nightmares."
"What?" John and Bou-san said simultaneously, Naru simply looked in his assistant's direction interested in what he had to say.
"The Mara…it is from mythology. They are spirits of sorts that are thought to cause nightmares in women" Lin explained.
"If they are spirits then why can't any of us sense them on the girls?" John asked curiously.
"According to the mythology, they are immaterial beings. The concept of Mara is pretty widespread in Europe with its roots tied into many current concepts of nightmares, malicious deities and demons, and witches or sorceresses." Lin answered stoically.
"If that is the case and they are intangible and immaterial then what are we supposed to do?" Bou-san looked worriedly at the Mai zombie and then to Ayako and Masako. Even if they knew what the Mara was that didn't help them at all with what was afflicting the girls.
"If I may speculate…" Lin started somewhat hesitantly, "Mai may be in one of her 'dreams' yet due to the influence of the Mara, she is as you see her now. They might be using her as their connection."
"Like a messenger?" John asked.
"Yes, something like that."
"So, Mai is probably in a nightmare as are the others." Naru looked deep in thought. He was worried before but now he was extremely concerned. Mai was probably trapped in her own body suffering who knows what kind of torture. Naru's chest tensed painfully tight at the thought. Now he not only had to bring the activity in the inn to an end but save the girls from unknown peril as well.
This was turning out to be much more than he had projected. No, a lot more…
A/N: There it is! I hope you liked it! Let me know what you think of the direction I am heading in! Thanks!