JADE: Hello to all of my loyal readers out there! I AM BACK! *jumping up and down and doing a happy dance*
MAI: YAY! 'Bought time, Jade! Any longer and I think that I would've left ya!
JADE: *pouty face* Aw, it wasn't that long of a hiatus, Mai! Give a working girl a break! You know how it gets for me!
Mai: *rolls eyes* Yea yea, I know. Still though, it's not too nice of you leaving everyone hanging!
JADE: I know, but that's why I'm here again! I plan on updating A LOT today since I have the time and have stuff written now! And I should warn you all, this story is FAR from over. Hehe! ^.^
NARU: *sigh* Wonderful. I'm stuck with an idiot like you even longer now?
JADE: *glares a Naru worthy glare at said narcissist* Can it, Naru! You know damn well that I am smarter than you seem to think I am! Or else I wouldn't need you to thank so many people every chapter! And my English is impeccable, for the most part!
NARU: Whatever you think, Jade. Shall I continue, or would you like to waste more time ranting instead of getting to the point so all of these lovely people can read?
JADE: *blinks and blushes* R-right. Sorry everyone! Go for it Naru!
NARU: Jade wants to thank Ringo Satou (you are so awesome)…Wait, why'd I have to say that?
JADE: Cuz Ringo and I have been loyal readers for each others fics, and I felt a need for it.
NARU: *raises a brow* Okay…A big thanks to the other loyal readers/reviewers thearistocrat, , sushilover19, Emrald96, xCallie'sCharmedx, missyangel87, seiyurrabu, Flamegirl5500, Liris, darkwriter14, BloddyXandra, and yourcrazyordinary. And a thanks goes out to our newcomers dutchangel1979, Conejo-sama, Aktaiy, and gesshokutenshi.
JADE: Thanks for understanding when life gets in the way and being so patient with me! It's because of all of you that I am continuing this!
Mai skidded to a halt just behind John as a huge black bird-thing came flying out of one of the rooms near the end of the hall. Her eyes went wide with terror as she realized it was the exact thing she saw in her dreams. And as she looked closer, an inaudible gasp escaped her lips as she realized that the blood red eyes were the same ones the evil entity had. Without thinking Mai jumped in front of John and raised her hand, ready to perform the nine cuts.
The bird cawed angrily at her and it charged, head on, for Mai and John.
"MAI, JOHN! Watch it!" Takigawa jumped in front of them, inches from Mai, forcing her to stumble backwards. Thankfully John caught her before she fell and hurt herself. The two watched in awe as Takigawa started his chant. And that's when Mai noticed that the bird was not the only thing in the hallway with them.
She peered at the far left corner near the stairs, trying to make out the dark form hovering there. A sense of familiarity and longing overcame her, and she took a step forward, and then another, neglecting to hear the voices telling her to stop. A soft whisper came like the wind, calm and quiet, but Mai couldn't understand it. So, she continued to slowly walk forward.
She was so busy focusing on the dark figure in the corner that she didn't realize what was happening around her. Mai was brought out of her stupor, however, when she felt arms grab her around her waist and pull her back, her feet dragging slightly on the floor.
"Mai, are you stupid? We said to get back!" Naru barked at her as he shoved her behind him. She blinked a couple of times and stared.
"What?" she asked dumbly, attempting to peer around her boss. It was to no avail, however, because he whipped around, a frown on his face, and grabbed Mai's hand, dragging her back down the hall even more. They stopped when they met up with Ayako.
"Mai, are you hurt?" The red head began to check her over for injuries. Mai's brows furrowed as she searched for the second figure, but it was no longer there.
"What? No, I'm okay," she responded, still half out of it. Naru glared at the young woman and was about to say something when a yell erupted from Takigawa.
"MONK!" Mai screamed as she saw him slump over, sprawling out on his stomach. The crow creature cawed above him, flying higher, until it reached the ceiling. It turned toward the group, a strange cackle escaping it as its eyes pierced into Mai's, sending shivers down her spine. She involuntarily gasped and shook as it seemed to smile.
"Mai, come to me, lest you watch your friend suffer." Its voice was raspy and low, but Mai caught every word. She gulped and slowly shook her head, stepping backwards as she did so. The crow grunted angrily and glared before turning and diving for Takigawa, who still hadn't gotten up.
"Houshou!" Ayako yelled, desperation in her voice. She tried to move, but her feet seemed stuck to the floor. "I can't move!" she screeched.
"I can't either," Naru growled out as he realized he was confined as well. John, too, tried to step forward, but he was rooted to the spot. Mai's eyes went wide with fear as she attempted to step forward.
"I-I can move just fine," she whispered. The three snapped their heads toward the young assistant, but before they got a word out, Mai took off, running toward Takigawa.
She reached him just before the bird and, standing protectively in front of him, shouted out the nine cuts as quickly as she could. The bird screech din anger and pain and retreated upwards. Mai took this moment to bend down and check on Takigawa.
"Monk? Can you hear me?" She shook his form lightly. A small grunt escaped his lips and his eyes fluttered open. He hoisted himself up slowly and looked around.
"Mai, what happened?" he asked her. She shrugged.
"I don't know. You fainted I guess." She helped him to his feet.
"Takigawa, get out of there!" Both of them turned toward the group, who was apparently still stuck in place. Mai glanced up and saw the bird was changing forms, about five feet ahead of them, blocking their path to the others. A hand grabbed hers and she started running, only to be jostled backwards.
"Mai, I can't move!" Takigawa's pained voice reached her ears as she stared at him in bewilderment.
"What's wrong?" her voice was laced with panic as she watched him slump onto his knees, grasping over his heart. He was breaking out into a sweat, and his breathing had become labored.
Mai's frantic eyes looked to the others, who appeared to be in similar pain. Tears stung her eyes as she looked back to Takigawa.
"W-what do I do?" she asked, desperation evident. He glanced up at her and attempted a smile.
"I w-want you to g-get behind me, o-okay?" he stuttered out in between gasps. She nodded and complied. Meanwhile, the crow had completely transformed into the entity Mai and Naru had seen before. It laughed at the two separated groups before turning its attention to Mai once again. It stretched out its clawed hand and beckoned for her to come.
"Mai, you will come with me now," he spat out. Mai swallowed hard, trying to muster up enough courage to answer back.
"And if I don't?" Her voice came out smaller than she had hoped. The entity glared and smirked.
"If you don't comply, not only will I keep your parents' souls captive, but I will destroy your friends, body and soul," its voice had malice laced in it. Mai frowned at its answer and gulped again. She knew what had to be done.
She closed her eyes and sucked in a breath, willing her body to calm down and her mind to stop racing. When she felt that she was ready, she stepped around Takigawa, quick to dodge his shaky reach.
"Mai, s-stop!" he yelled, but she just kept walking forward. The entity smirked as it descended slowly, until it reached the floor. The others began yelling for the young woman to stop her insane approach, but she ignored them, focusing instead on the being in front of her.
"MAI!" It was Naru's voice that reached her, and as much as she wanted to look, she knew if she did she would not go through with this, so instead she kept her eyes forward.
"Good girl Mai. I knew you'd see things my way," it cooed to her. She was a few feet away before she stopped.
"You have to promise me that they will be okay," she said, a newfound confidence in her voice. You've already made up your mind, Mai. There's no turning back now, she thought as she glared at her opponent. It smirked at her.
"You have my word," it cooed once again.
"And you have to let my parents go as soon as you have me," she bargained again. The entity frowned.
"Anything else, Mai? We're wasting time! The longer you wait to hand yourself over, the more everyone has to suffer." To emphasize its point it waved a hand casually in the air and she heard her friends yelping in pain. Her fists balled in anger as she glared down the entity.
"Stop it right now, or there's no deal." The entity glared back and waved a hand again, and she watched as everyone gasped for air. Their hands were on their throats as if they were trying to tear something off of them.
"If you do not come to me then they will die," it answered again. Mai frowned once more as she walked forward, toward the ugly being. Just as her hand had touched its owned clawed one, a flash of white flew in front of her. Then another and another, and soon it looked like four giant fireflies were buzzing around the blackened entity, slashing through it and around it. It howled in pain as Mai stumbled backwards.
"Lin, help Mai!" Naru ordered as the pressure on his throat ceased. The others coughed and all began to stand as they watched Lin running toward Mai, who had fallen to the floor.
"Damn you!" the thing screeched as it lunged for Lin, who was now protectively in front of the brunette. She gaped up at him as his shiki wrapped around the entity and tossed it back, all the way into the other end of the hall, near the base.
She scrambled up, eyes darting around to take in the scenes about her. Takigawa was running toward them full speed, and Ayako and John had started backing up to where she and Lin were. Naru was the last to his feet. She saw him clench his right wrist with his left hand and she ran.
"NARU, NO!" she yelled. As she ran to reach him, however, she felt something cold go through her and she tripped and fell, landing hard on her knees. Mai shook, clenching her midsection, her breathing labored. And then she heard it. The voice that was trying to reach her before.
"Mai, you can defeat it. Use your power," the voice, female, echoed in her head. Her head shot up and she darted around, looking for the source.
"W-what? What power?" she asked shakily. Her eyes were wide with fear and concern. Who the heck is that? I know that voice! She thought.
"Your PK, Mai. Focus your energy between your hands, and then let it go," it instructed again. Mai frowned and closed her eyes.
"But how?" she asked.
"You already know," the voice answered. Mai closed her eyes and focused, and suddenly it hit her. Her eyes snapped open and went back to Naru, who was gathering his own energy to use his power. She ran to him and grabbed at his arm, breaking through his barrier and effectively yanking him down hard. It made him lose his concentration and stop his plan. The black haired young man glared up to his assistant and frowned when he saw what she was doing, but it was too late.
Mai was positioned in front of him, hands held as if she were holding a ball, and in between them was a sphere of red energy. Her eyes were closed in concentration. And when they snapped open the ball flew for the entity, who was still being trapped by Lin's shiki.
"Lin, call your shiki back if you don't want to lose them!" she yelled. A whistle pierced the air and all four white streaks flew back to him before disappearing. By now everyone was gathered behind Mai, except for Masako, who had awoken and was staring at the brunette in wonder.
The red ball hit its target head on, causing it to wail and wither in pain before it disappeared…
JADE: Hope you liked this chappie! Please review and tell me what you think! And look for the next one soon!