JADE: Wow, I am on a roll!
MAI: Yes you are! And an awesome one too! You go!
JADE: ^.^ Thanks Mai! Say, where's Naru?
MAI: Oh, he didn't like how you kinda made him out of character, you know, feelings and all that, so he refused to come…*looks at feet, fiddling with hem of skirt shyly*
JADE: *shrugs* Oh well, he'll be back, I'm sure of it!
TAKIGAWA: Yo J! What's up?
JADE: *squeels* Hey Monk! Glad you're here! *hugs tall man with goofy smile on face*
TAKIGAWA: Sure thing sweetheart!
MAI: *clears throat* Ya dirty old man! Let her go, she's married! *pulls at his arm*
TAKIGAWA: *sweatdrop* S-sorry J! Didn't realize!
JADE: *not letting go* Oh, my hubby doesn't really care. Besides, he's not part of the anime world…yet! And until he is, I have no one to stop me! *sly grin*
MAI: *major sweatdrop* Uh…riiiiigggghhhhtttt…On with the story?
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"I think they are coming back! Lin!" Takigawa grabbed Mai as her eyes closed and her head dropped, and she slumped forward, into Naru's shoulder. He lifted her up, while Lin did the same with Naru, who had also fallen into Mai. The two men rushed out of base and into the next room, where two twin beds were located, and laid out the forms of their friends out gently. Both of them were breathing steady, but neither's eyes were open.
"Takigawa, what do you suppose happened to them?" the Chinese man asked as he checked his charge's vitals.
"I'm not sure, but if Mai was having a vision, and judging by how Naru's eyes matched hers, my guess is he somehow got pulled into it," he concluded. He stood from his surrogate little sister's bedside and walked to the door. "I'll cast a protective barrier on the room, but we should leave them sleep."
Lin nodded in understanding and got up as well. "I'll leave two of my Shiki here as well. They may have exhausted themselves, so sleep is probably best, I agree." After Monk recited a chant with his beads and Lin whistled his shiki to work, they quietly shut the door, leaving the two to their rest.
"How are they? Should I be getting my first aid kit?" Ayako asked as soon as Lin and Monk returned. Lin shook his head and moved next to the boxes of cameras.
"They are resting. No doubt they need it after that interesting incident. I imagine they both used up a lot of their energy with their powers." Lin tossed a camera and microphone to Monk. "We should at least set up things, so that we are prepared for the next round of occurrences before it's too late again."
"I agree." Takigawa turned to everyone. "Okay, John and Masako, I want you two to take three cameras and go where Lin tells you to. Lin, I assume Naru already gave you a list of hot spots and a map of the place?" Lin nodded in reply.
"And you and I will take the other three and go, am I right?" Ayako asked.
"You got it! Then we all meet back here, and hopefully by then Sleeping Beauty and Rumpelstiltskin will be awake." Everyone snickered at the nicknames, especially Naru's, even Lin.
Naru groaned and grabbed his head. He felt like a ton of bricks had pummeled the back of it really hard. It took him a minute to open his eyes, and he slowly took in his surroundings, rolling his head right to left, looking above him and all around. The moonlight was coming in through a huge window behind him, illuminating the room. It was bare, minus two beds and two small nightstands, matching sets he supposed. There was also a full length mirror hanging on the back of the door to the room. He sat up slowly, still searching the room until he suddenly noticed his assistant sleeping soundly across from him.
At least she's okay, he thought. He sat at the edge of the bed and placed his head in his hands, recalling everything that happened. I saw Gene. And Mai's vision. And Gene and Mai…together…Slow down, Oliver, get a hold of yourself! He grabbed his hair with his hands and attempted to concentrate, one thing at a time. Never in a million years would he have ever thought it possible to see a vision of the past or future the way he just had. Sure, he had his own useful power, psychometry, which allowed him to see people, but never visions of the past or future.
And never ones about people close to me, he thought. Except, of course, Gene's death, the ever looming, bad exception to his gift. Still, he supposed that Mai's visions were worse because she had to go through them all the time, where as he could choose to see things or not, most of the time anyway.
Mai rolled over in her sleep, causing Naru to stop thinking for a moment and simply look at her. She moaned as her eyes began to flutter and he knew she was waking up too. He wondered if she had any other visions while they had slept, and decided to ask her about it later, for fear of getting her riled up right away. He still had a bad headache and didn't want to pester it further by getting her mad at him.
'Oh please, Noll. You just care about her, admit it. That's why you don't want to ask. You don't want to hurt her,' an all too familiar voice rang in his head. Naru rolled his eyes and got up, walking to the mirror. Sure enough, his reflection was smiling knowingly back at him, even though he was frowning at the moment.
'Didn't get enough of me earlier, Gene?' he teased. His reflection laughed.
'To tell the truth, no, but that's not why I am here. I have something to tell you, and I couldn't do it while in the presence of Mai.' Naru's brow rose in question.
'What is it?' he asked, curiosity nagging at him. Gene smirked.
'You never change. Noll, you must watch over Mai and protect her. She is in danger here, and I fear that as soon as she realizes what is going on she will not hesitate to put herself in harm's way.' His voice was serious, as was the expression on his face. It matched Naru's so perfectly that had anyone else been around, they wouldn't have even known a ghost was in the mirror.
"I'm in danger?" a small voice asked. Both boys looked shocked as Naru spun to see Mai sitting on her bed, rubbing one eye and yawning. She casually stood and strolled up to the mirror, not fazed by the looks they were giving her. Gene scowled and frowned, sighing exasperatingly.
'Yes Mai, you are. I know you won't go if I ask you to, but please, be careful! You have no idea what is happening here and just how much it involves you,' Gene warned, voice sounding desperate.
Mai's eyes widened in shock, and she started shaking. She didn't know what to think about all this, and she wasn't sure she wanted to stay any longer. Something inside of her, however, was telling her she had to stay, that it was important she did. And suddenly, she knew what it was, or part of it anyway.
'It's my parents' spirits, isn't it Gene? Something's wrong, something happened when they died…'her thoughts trailed off as she looked at the floor.
'Yes, you are right Mai. Your parents' spirits are here, but they are not alone. I can't tell you anymore right now, but promise me something, okay?' Mai's head shot up to look at Gene in the mirror, as did Naru's. He couldn't hear what Mai was thinking, but he heard Gene loud and clear, and that included everything about Mai's parents.
'What is it?' she asked. He smiled genuinely at her and then looked at Naru.
'You must not leave Noll's sight, or anyone else's. You are to never be alone during this case, do you understand me?' His face had gone hard again, serious. Mai nodded, but he continued anyway. 'I mean it, Mai! No stupid, hare-brained ideas about going off to handle things yourself. This is a matter of life and death here, and not for you parents, or anyone else, but for you! I won't always be there to help, and you can't rely on yourself for this task.'
Naru looked at Mai who was obviously shaken by his words, and very confused. He turned to his brother, determination in his tone, jaw set hard. 'I will not allow anything to happen to her Gene. Regardless of whether or not she wants to listen, I will do everything I can, as will everyone else I'm sure, to keep her safe.'
Gene smiled at his brother, a glint of amusement in his eyes, and he looked at Mai. Then, without another word, he was gone.
"Hey, I didn't even get to answer him!" Mai shouted in annoyance. Naru smirked and shook his head.
"I guess you took too long. No matter, I will make sure you abide by his rules," he said nonchalantly before reaching for the handle on the door. Mai was about to say something back when the room suddenly got cold. They froze in place, watching their breath puff out in front of them.
"Naru?" Mai shivered when she felt something snake down her back lightly, causing her to shiver. Naru, being who he was, noticed her reaction and turned, standing in front of her so that she was between him and the mirrored door. His blue eyes scanned the room, looking for any other signs of a spirit.
Mai felt the fear rising in her as she remembered Gene's warnings. She could feel a presence in the room, but she couldn't tell where it was.
"Mai, I need you to relax, okay?" Naru's voice broke through the fear, bringing her instant calm. She nodded and rested a hand on his arm, partially for support and also to tell him she understood.
"Something is here, but I don't know where it is," she said, fear slipping out in her voice. She shivered again, and stepped closer to him. Naru peered at the young woman over his shoulder.
"Mai, do you feel like it's something bad?" he asked.
"I-I can't tell, but I'm scared," she whispered. Naru was about to say something when everything in the room started shaking violently. The moonlight still illuminated through the window, and both of them watched as the beds began to slide away from the walls, shaking and moving like something was trying to pick them up. The nightstands were doing the same. Mai glanced back as she saw that the mirror was also rattling, and then she heard it.
'Mai Taniyama, you have returned,' the eerie voice called out. She gulped and scooted so close to her boss that she could have easily hugged him had she wanted to. The tall teen turned and wrapped his arms protectively around her, searching the room top to bottom for the source of the voice.
Mai, in the meantime, got caught up on the mirror. She watched as it began to crack, little by little. She tugged on Naru's sleeve and he turned, arms wrapped around her petite form, and saw the mirror too. They looked on as the rattles died down, backing up cautiously away from it.
'Come to me, my child,' the voice cooed. Mai's and Naru's eyes both widened when they saw a figure forming in the mirror before them. Naru's initial reaction was to pull her behind him, but as he did, he went flying into the wall, his head whacking hard against it. He slid to the floor, wincing in pain, slumped over onto his side.
"NARU!" Mai screamed as she went to move. Her legs were rooted in place, however, and as she looked at her boss, helpless, she screamed again.
'You are mine,' the voice boomed throughout the room, causing Mai to cover her ears. She looked on in horror as the figure in the mirror was now fully manifested. Whether male or female she wasn't sure, but it was all black, almost like a shadow, except for blood red eyes, a mouth full of sharp teeth, and talons for fingers. And those talons were reaching for her.
"NARU! HELP ME!" Mai screamed again, as one of the razor sharp hands darted out of the mirror and for her…
JADE: DUN DUN DUN!!! I know, I usually hate cliffies too, but it seemed like a great place to stop! I am hoping to have another chapter tomorrow, and if not then, by Tuesday for sure! And as always, PLEASE PUSH THE GREEN BUTTON! Love you guys! ;)