A/N: Well, November is over and so is my Nano season! I am proud to say that this story is almost done and I am rather pleased with how it is turning out! I hope you all stick with me till the end!
Still own nothing...sadness!
Naru shifted uncomfortably where he sat next to Mai's unconscious body. Her pale hand peeked out from under the covers, waiting to be held. Her face was that of sleep, but her breathing was slightly shallow and her face was red from fever.
Was she scared? Was she in pain? Was she uncomfortable? Naru hated the fact that he did not have all the answers; did not know what was going on. Even more so, he hated his own uselessness. He had never felt so helpless in his entire life.
With a deep sigh, as to steady himself, Naru slipped his hand around Mai's gently. It was soft, warm, and un-responding to his touch. Naru squeezed gently. "Mai…"
Silence.
"Please be safe…" he whispered softly. He spoke only as loud as necessary with the most even, calm voice he could muster. "I…" he choked, "to you…"
The words refused to form and Naru's mouth seemed unable to let them pass even if he wanted to say them. He hung his head. It wasn't supposed to be this way. He resolved that he would cherish and protect Mai…he bound that resolution with the ring that now adorned not only his hand but Mai's as well. She was his wife whether she believed it or not. He had a responsibility, as a husband…not just as a boss or a friend, to take care of her.
A husband…
Naru had never really thought about it like that before. He had obviously thought through everything fully before he even placed the ring on her finger but it was as if he was just now, for the first time, thinking of himself in that light.
It was different…
When he was young, his whole world consisted of only himself and Gene. There was never any room for anyone else. Even when their world expanded, even when they let more people get close…there was still only himself and Gene.
Naru knew it could not have stayed that way forever…but that was all he ever needed. When Gene died, it felt like his world did to. He never imagined he would ever be able to make room for someone else important again. He never thought he would fall in love…never thought he would find a person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
-x-
Drip, drip, drip…
Mai slowly let her eyes drift open. She felt as if something was there, as if something was different. "Augh…" she felt sick. It was cold, damp, and inescapably dark…nothing much had changed. She was still trapped, blocked off from everything. She was in a place where even Gene could not reach…she was alone.
It was a perfect prison, no doubt made by the Mara…which was the only name that Mai knew to describe the numerous wraith-like voices and wisps that plagued her surroundings. They would taunt her and whisper all too true criticisms that she didn't want to ever admit to. If there was a hell, Mai was sure it had to be something akin to this.
"You will die here…" an eerie voice reverberated around endlessly. "You shall never wake…your body will fade. You will die…"
"Shut up" Mai spat impatiently. "I have heard this already; you don't need to keep repeating yourself."
"Ha, how cold child…you should know we speak true."
"Naru will save me; I know he will." Mai said stubbornly. She didn't know exactly why she was still continuing to pointlessly argue with the voices. There was no point in it. They wanted her to be in despair Mai knew, yet she just could not help but defend herself against the cruel things spoken to her.
"He can not." The voices echoed…the effect was chilling. Mai unconsciously shuddered where she sat. "He can do nothing. Nothing can save you now…"
"I am not going to listen to you. I believe in Naru…and nothing you can say will change that fact!" Mai shouted angrily. She didn't want to listen to their nonsense, but there was no escape…no way to cover her ears.
Mai looked down at her slightly trembling hands. She could have sworn she felt something, yet there was nothing there. How silly to think someone was holding her hand.
"Believe in, you say? How worthless!" Mai shut her eyes tightly at the high pitch laughter surrounding her. "He will grieve your death, nothing can stop that fact." She wanted to wake up, she wanted to leave, and she wanted to see Naru…
She needed to see Naru.
"Naru…"
-x-
Naru suddenly perked. 'Wha-' he thought fleetingly on the strange sensation he felt before his attention was drawn by the soft knocking on the door.
"Naru?" Lin called as he stepped inside and swiftly made his way to Naru's side. "I have finished the preparations." Lin paused a moment to take in the sight before him. Naru looked as if he had just been contemplating something that has stumped him and that his interruption had stopped that line of thought all together.
Naru let Mai's hand slip from his grasp as he turned his attention to Lin. "Good" he spoke softly. "Explain."
"The counter-curse will invoke the Goddess Hecate, or at least that is the hope. If we are to fight fire with fire so to speak, I think that she is the best candidate." Lin replied equally as soft.
"Hecate?" Naru questioned uneasily.
"Yes, the goddess of sorcery. She is also known for her role as the 'Queen of Ghosts.' She seems likes the obvious choice giving our current situation." Lin remained calm even though the new information seemed to make Naru a bit edgy. "She guards the 'ways and paths that cross' which if you haven't noticed, the inn happens to be at a spiritual location of crossing."
"I see…" Naru said as he processed the information. "Fine, proceed with weaving the spell. Do what you have to do."
"Understood. I will cast it now even though it is late. We can wait until morning to see if there are any results."
"Good, I will entrust it to you then." Naru said reluctantly. The sooner the better, but Naru could not help but feel an uneasy sinking feeling in his gut. Was the emotional toll of the case finally taking an effect on his body? As much as Naru wished that to be the case, he feared it was something much…much worse. "I am going to stay here for the night. We can meet in the morning."
Lin let a smile slip on his face. "Of course." Lin quickly corrected himself and returned to his norm. "I will see you in the morning."
With that Lin left Naru to his own contemplation with Mai at his side. It was going to be a long night that much Lin knew. He wished he could provide more support and comfort for Naru, but at the moment he had his hands full. Naru was going to have to work through his feelings and worries alone; he could not take the time to help especially when he had a rather difficult curse to weave.
The curse…
Lin made it back to the base room soon enough. He already had everything set up; all that was left was for him to actually cast the spell itself. It was going to be complicated and Lin knew he had to do it right the first time or else he might not be able to the next…
One shot…
One chance…
-x-
"…to protect the souls and guard the path…give peace and serenity to the souls and to the lands…"
Now all that was left was to wait…wait and see what would happen; see if it countered the curse…see if it freed the girls…
"Please work…" Lin whispered to himself fleetingly. It had to work.
-x-
Morning broke blissfully calm and unknowing staff members of the inn were up early readying for the day. Unbeknownst to the other people at the inn, a curse had been cast just hours before…
"How does it look?" Naru asked, trying to hide his anxiety. "Did it work?" He had woken up early and made it to the base room where Lin was already running through data collected throughout the night. Naru made a weak attempt at saying that he had gotten sleep and just woke…but it was not fooling anyone, especially not Lin. Fact was that rather than waking up early, Naru had not gone to sleep at all.
He had spent the entire rest of the night by Mai's side, gently holding her hand. He talked to her softly hoping on the slim chance that she could hear him, she would know she was not alone; know that he was there for her wherever she was.
Naru had talked about anything…everything that came to mind. He distinctly recalled that he had recited the entirety of a recently released scientific journal focusing on a variety of supernatural phenomena and psychic ability. Mai would have beaten him with a hard cover book if he had ever pulled that stunt when she was actually able to respond. Naru chuckled to himself; he would have to ask her questions about it when she woke up, he looked forward to her dismissive look and angry face…
When she woke…
Naru wished that she would wake up as soon as possible. He was seriously going to loose his mind if he had to wait any longer. He had already been deprived of her voice long enough…he wanted to see her, touch her…feel her presence.
"Well, it looks lik-" Lin started but was abruptly cut off by the loud opening of the door.
"They're awake!" Bou-san exclaimed breathlessly. "Ayako and Masako are awake!" He walked swiftly over to Lin and Naru. "John is with them right now. Apparently they can't believe they have been asleep for so long, how is Mai?"
Naru's eyes widened and he wordlessly rushed from the room. Bou-san looked from Naru's fleeting form to Lin with a confused expression. "Is something wrong?"
"…" Lin looked at the monitors. He knew immediately what was wrong.
"Mai is has yet to awake…"
-x-
"Mai!" Naru called as he rushed to her side. She was just as he had left her…nothing had changed. "Mai…Mai can you hear me?" He touched her forehead softly, moving her hair aside. "Mai…" he shook her shoulder lightly. Nothing…
"Please wake up…"
Still nothing. She was not awake. Naru hung his head in defeat, what in the world was going on!?
"Naru?" Bou-san questioned from the open entry way. "Everyone is meeting in the base room…I think you should be there too." As if not wanting to intrude on something he shouldn't, Bou-san excused himself quietly. He was relieved that Ayako was awake and well…but he was deeply troubled that Mai was not…
It did not take long for everyone to settle down at the table in the base room, more than one person glancing over at the still sleeping Mai now at the back of the room. Masako and Ayako looked very uncomfortable…they were briefed on the situation it seemed. Naru sighed as he took a seat at the table as well.
"Were we really asleep for two whole days?" Ayako finally asked showing a concerned look on her face. Masako was mirroring the sentiment. "What has been going on?"
"Well, like we explained earlier…there was a curse." Bou-san started, "you both were asleep apparently because of it. Lin cast a spell in hopes that it would break the curse's hold on you…and it looks like it worked."
"Then why is Mai still not awake…"
Naru flinched when the miko asked the obvious question. The data collected overnight was already showing a downward trend of activity, Hara-san and Matsuzaki-san were wide awake, yet Mai was not. Naru could not help but show his concern for the situation. Why was she still not awake?
-x-
Ravens loudly called, filling the air with a raucous sound to which nothing else could compare. Mai tucked herself closer to her body, curling up tightly so that she was as small as she could possibly be. Her surroundings where still dark and desolate, but now the darkness had a form…
A blanket of black…ravens, or crows rather…filled the air and covered everything. Mai was unable to make out anything other than their outline. Was she still in that hell with the Mara?
Suddenly a crow swept down striking the side of Mai's head, she screamed at the contact. "No!" She wailed but soon her voice dwindled away. There, before Mai's very eyes, the ravens were clearing. "What…" Mai asked herself shakily. Soon a path became visible, the ravens had completely cleared.
"The land is beginning to settle…" a voice rang out behind Mai, startling her. "It looks like the reverse curse using Hecate worked."
"Gene!" Mai shouted loudly as she was already up and embracing him. "What's going on? Where have you been? What was that about a reverse curse? Is Naru okay!? What about the others!?"
Gene chuckled softly to himself. Mai was looking at him with such a frantic look on her face. It was obvious that she was much more worried about Naru, the case, and the others more than herself. It was so like her. He chuckled again. "Naru and the others are fine, so don't worry. Though, they are pretty worried about you…especially Naru."
Mai breathed a sigh of relief. So Naru was okay…she had felt extremely uneasy the whole time wondering what he was doing without her. She liked to think that she was his better half and that in order for him to function; he needed her by his side. What a nice thought that was…
"You have been trapped…beyond my reach…this whole time…"
"I know…those Mara things said I was beyond the reach of anyone and that I would just fade away and die." Mai sighed as she sat down in the grass. The garden had returned to the way it was supposed to look, or at least the way Mai remembered it to be when she had first arrived. It was beautiful.
"Yes, it seems they were part of the curse…to carry out the vendetta against women imposed by the curse." Gene explained as he took a seat next to Mai. "Lin cast a counter curse which overpowered the original…it seems to be working if things here are any indication."
"What do you mean?" Mai tilted her head to the side.
"Well, you saw it yourself didn't you? The ravens that where overrunning this place left and the path cleared. The inn should be fine, the spirits are dispersing." Gene smiled softly.
Mai remained silent. She was not blind nor was she stupid. She knew what it meant even without having Gene tell her. It was obvious as soon as she found herself free from the darkness cage…the ravens meant she was free from whatever it was that had trapped her. Even though that should have been on Mai's mind, it was far from what was occupying her thoughts…
Gene took one look at Mai's face and knew something was troubling her, something more than that the ordeal she had just been through. "What's wrong? You look troubled…"
Mai paused, brought back to reality by his calm voice. She rested her head on her upright knees, tears welling in her eyes even though she didn't want them to. "You know we came here to find you…"
Gene hid his startled expression as he watched the tears Mai had been trying so hard to suppress slip from her eyes and fall down her face. So, that was what was on her mind. "Mai…"
"I'm sorry…" she whispered. "I know I promised not to tell, but I did…and we even came here to get you…" Mai trailed off and buried her head deeper into her lap. She didn't want to be having this conversation but she couldn't help it. It was something that had been weighing heavily on her conscience and she needed to get it off her chest…she could only handle so much after all before she would break…
"Mai…" Gene said sweetly, though he had to admit he was hiding his true face under a well placed mask. It was true that he felt sympathetic towards Mai…she was very dear to him after all, but it was hard to admit that he was feeling uneasy about the situation as well. After Mai was almost lost last time, everything had been put on hold. Gene was thankful that Mai was alright but he was uncertain about his future.
Ever since his death he had been able to exist in another plain…not death, yet not living either. He had grown fond of the time he was able to spend with Mai. He was pleased that he was able to help his beloved brother in a round about way, but it was help none the less. He was happy that he was able to watch over those that he loved. It didn't really bother him that his body had not been found nor that he had not been laid to rest properly…
That kind of thing only seemed to bother Noll and in turn bother Mai. Mai was very sensitive to other's emotions and feelings; even though Noll tried his best to hide his emotions from every one, he could not hide from Mai. She broke through his wall and embedded herself inside like no one else could.
Gene was not going to lie; he felt envy toward Mai for being able to be so close to Naru like she was. It felt as if she had taken a spot in his heart that at one time had no room for anyone else other than himself. While Noll was alive in a world with other people, he had been left in a plain where he was alone…an existence entirely for himself.
What if his body was found and he disappeared once it was laid to rest? He would no longer be able to see Mai…no longer be able to guide her through her visions or comfort her when she was afraid and alone. He would no longer be able to watch over Noll and help him from afar. Truth be told…
'I don't want to be found…'
A small voice resounded in the back of Gene's head. Yes, that was what it was. He was scared that if his body was found like what Mai planned, things would change. He was scared of change. He was scared of what happened next. Would he go somewhere better? Would he be happy? Would those he left behind be sad…like Mai?
There were so many questions that he didn't have the answers to, so many unknown variables. It was frightening…and that was one fact that Gene did not want Mai to know. If she knew his true line off thought she would feel guilt or feel that it was her fault somehow. She had enough to worry about. She did not need his problems to worry about on top of everything else. He wanted to protect Mai, not add more stress and pain for her.
Gene paused, pulling himself away from his own thoughts. "You should go back now Mai." He said as sweetly and gently as he could. "Naru is worried about you…go on…wake up."
Mai remained silent but Gene knew that she had heard him. Her head lifted slightly from her tucked up knees, "No." she replied simply before letting her head drop again.
"No?" Gene reiterated cautiously, it was the first time he had ever heard her refuse in such a way.
"I don't want to go back. I don't want to leave…" Mai whispered into her lap.
"You should know that you can't stay here…"
"Just for a little longer…please let me stay here with you…"
Gene's eyes widened slightly. He let his hand drift up her head where he let his hand rest atop her head, ruffling her hair softly. "Mai, what is really bothering you?" He felt her stiffen under his touch. "I know you are worried about me and finding my body…but there is something else troubling you…can't you tell me about it?"
Mai didn't respond but she flushed when she felt Gene move closer to her side, guiding her body to lean against his. "Please tell me…" he whispered softly into her ear, her head resting against his chest.
"It…it's this…" Mai started hesitantly, raising her left hand to show Gene the ring that adorned her ring finger. "It's a wedding ring."
"I can see that." Gene smiled. It was so like Mai to beat herself up over something so simple.
"I got into some trouble because of last time…Naru did this to help me…" She explained softly.
"Yes, aren't you happy?" Gene tilted his head in question. "He asked you to marry him so that you would be spared from all that stuff that would cause you trouble."
"Happy…" Mai paused. Yes, she was happy that Naru would go so far for her and that he loved her. But she could not help but feel insecure. "That's just it though…he never asked me. He just did it. And to top it off it's not even real…"
"What do you mean it is not real?" If he knew his brother, which he did better than anyone, it was real as real could be. Noll was not the type of guy to do anything half-way when he could go the full mile. He was not one to just gloss over a problem if there was a better solution out there. If it were Noll, he would definitely marry Mai in every meaning of the word. There was no doubt in his mind that Mai was legally wed to Naru…yet Mai didn't think that at all.
"I mean…he didn't even ask me. He just went ahead and did it…he pretended to marry me to fend those people off. He even went so far as to buy rings and everything." Mai sighed, "It's just so confusing. I know he loves me and I love him back…yet there just seems to be this distance between us that we can't seem to overcome. I don't know what he is thinking, and I am always second guessing his feelings for me just like a fool."
Mai glared to her side at the laughter that ensued after she finished talking. Gene was laughing at her, so much so that his face was red. Mai momentarily wondered what would ever make Naru show that kind of expression…it was the same face after all. "You are a fool, Mai…you really are!"
"What the hell!" Mai fumed. He was supposed to be comforting her, not agreeing with her!
"Naru loves you more than you think. You should stop suspecting him. Noll really cares for you." Gene reassured.
"I know he does…I know…I really do." Mai sighed, cooling down a bit. "It's just…he never tells me anything…"
"So, he has to tell you that he loves you for you to believe him?" Gene looked at Mai with eyes full of consideration and kindness. "You should already know how he feels without him having to say anything…"
Mai knew, she knew in her heart that it was true. She didn't need Naru to tell her…she already knew. The way his eyes followed her, the way his voice would change ever so slightly when he was talking to her, the way his skin warmed where she touched it…she knew. She knew that Naru would do anything to protect her, anything to keep her safe and keep her from suffering. He always had her best interests in mind…he loved her…truly and deeply loved her.
"I know. I know that he loves me…" Mai paused deciding on what to say next. "So, why can't he just be honest with me?"
"Well, what if it wasn't just pretend? What if it was real?" Gene smirked a very Naru-like smirk. Mai's startled expression was just what he was hoping to see. That possibility had never even crossed her mind.
"Wha...What do you mean?" Mai managed to stutter out.
"I mean what if he is not pretending. What if he really married you? What would you do? What would you think?" Gene asked as innocently as possible. "You want him to be honest with you right? But for Noll, that is still a hard thing for him to do. He doesn't want you to be worried…"
"So, you mean…I might not just be a pretend wife?" Tears began to softly fall from her face.
Gene, stunned by the tears, panicked. "I…I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you cry! I didn't mean to run my mouth! Just forget it!"
Mai sniffled, wiping at the tears on her face "no, it's fine." She looked up at him with reddened eyes, "It's just I would be so happy if that were the case…"
Gene looked at her in amazement. She was crying…because she was happy? "You'd be happy?"
"Yes…" Mai answered in a muffle. "Then I would be bound to him, truly and honestly. He could not get away from me; he would be mine and mine alone. I would have a family again and I could be his family…he would not have to be alone. He could rely on me."
"Mai…"
"When I fist saw the ring and realized what Naru had done, I was sure it was for pretend. I could not believe he would make me his 'wife' so easily. So, I fell into the roll as if it were pretend, as if it were not real. Naru never gave me any indication to think otherwise. Why do you think it might be real, Gene?"
"…" Gene didn't know exactly how to respond to that since he knew for a fact that the marriage was real. Noll was probably being shy or there was some other arrogant reason for not revealing the truth, but he knew that his heart was in the right place. "I am sure that either way once things settle down, Noll will talk to you about it. You should just believe in him. He would never do anything that would hurt you."
"So, you are saying he has his reasons for not telling me and being honest with me?" Mai tilted her head to the side.
Gene laughed lightly, "Yeah I guess so. That is the best way to explain it. You should know how stubborn he is."
Mai laughed as well. "Yeah, that I do know…I guess I was jut being a little too paranoid. I was worrying so much over something that really didn't matter, since like you said…he loves me and I know that to be true so why get all worked up over the little details?"
"I suppose you can put it that way. I am sure you will find out the truth soon anyway…since this case seems to be solved now."
"You are probably right…"
"You should go back now." Gene said tenderly.
"Hrm?" Mai was looking tired. "But what about you? We haven't talked about you! What about your body!?" Mai started to panic, she didn't want this to be the last time with Gene…the last time she could talk to him like she usually did, the last time to see his face or hear his voice.
"Shhh…" Gene soothed her, his arms wrapped around her protectively. "Calm down. I will be fine…I want you to find my body and bring me home. Naru will be at peace and I want him to be happy. I have always regretted the fact that he has been suffering this whole time alone about my death and my missing body. I inadvertently caused you to suffer as well by burdening you with the secret…you had to watch him every day being plagued by trying to find my body and not say a word. I'm sorry, Mai…I know it has been hard on you."
"Eugene…"
"Please don't trouble yourself anymore on this. Just find me and take me home." Gene smiled an angelic smile.
"But…" Mai looked up at him with tears in her eyes, "what will happen to you?"
"I…" Gene wiped the tears away and tried to give her the best optimistic expression he could, "I don't know Mai…but you have to believe it will all work out. It won't be good for either of us if we worry needlessly over something that we have no control over the outcome."
Mai sniffled, but she knew he was right. She knew that what was done was done already and there was nothing that could really stop the inevitable. Gene's body was going to be found…it had to be. That was why they had come here in the first place. Gene probably knew that fact as well. He had already resigned to his fate, so why couldn't she accept the way things were turning out?
She was scared, plain and simple. She didn't want to loose Gene, but she didn't want to see Naru hurting either. She was being selfish. She wanted both Naru to be at peace and Gene to continue to look after her the way he had been. She wanted the best of both worlds…
"I understand…" She said tearfully. "I will believe in you…it will be okay, Gene." She smiled as she squeezed his hands that were around her waist. "I love you Eugene…never forget that…never forget that Naru and I both love you a great deal…"
Gene genuinely smiled. He leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on Mai's cheek. He smiled even more as she blushed at the action but made no move to leave his embrace. "Thank you Mai…I will never forget you…"
Mai began to cry and Gene merely laughed behind her, repeating words of thanks into her ear. "Gene…"
"Go back now Mai…" he whispered. Mai was visibly forcing herself to stay awake. Her eyes kept drifting shut and she would quickly force them open again. "Wake up now Mai…Naru is waiting…"
"No…I don't want to leave you…" she said drowsily.
Gene chuckled; he had to let her go. "I know, I know. I will be here waiting for the next time. So, just go back for now…I fear if you stay here any longer Noll will hate me."
Mai giggled sleepily. She could just imagine Naru pacing around with that stern look on his face trying to hide his concern but only really succeeding in scary everyone that dared get in his way. Mai doubted he would show any outward affection, but in his own way he was probably being considerate. "I will miss you…"
"Don't say that, Mai…" he was happy that he was behind Mai so that she could not see his downtrodden expression. He didn't want her to see his fear or his sadness…
"But…"
"Until we meet again…" he whispered as her eyes were sliding shut for the last time. 'I loved you…I love you both…so much. Take care of yourselves…' he thought as he watched Mai's eyes slip shut.
"…until…we meet…again…"
A/N: So there it is! Please review and let me know how you liked it! I will be posting another chapter probably tomorrow or the next day! Thanks so much!