The SPR members except for Akemi, rushed towards the room of Akifumi's brother, Yasutaka. Knowing that she wouldn't be much help and a person needed to stay to take care of base, Akemi volunteered to keep watch as Lin is better suited for any possibilities. She kept herself busy fiddling with a few red strings she found while she waited and from what she has heard about Yasutaka, it was awful. An ambulance was called immediately as Yasutaka was crowded by his family as his room remained bloody stained and his wrists marred and tainted with horrific wounds— having used a knife to deal with his problems.
She was notified that Yasutaka came out okay, still breathing with his bleeding stopped though Akifumi came back home after his brother regained consciousness and had gotten answers. He told the SPR that his brother, Yasutaka thought he was hearing voices whenever he was alone and kept telling him to kill his family.
"It seems he saw dreams when he was sleeping. Dreams where he would kill the family. He said he remembered the feeling of stabbing people because it continued excessively. At this rate, he said he thought he might actually kill us someday." All of them listened to his words with grave expressions, if he were successful on his decision— Yasutaka would be their very first victim under their watch and so they all held deep responsibility and guilt but Akifumi and his family were forgiving, knowing none of them were at fault.
"John, how was Hazuki's condition?" Naru asked as he let John and Masako take a look around and investigate the people and place.
"It wasn't clear to me but for the time being, we've performed a simple exorcism and sealed the room."
"Was there a response?"
"I don't know."
"I see," Naru voiced out. "John. Please go to the hospital and attempt an exorcism on Yasutaka-san. Ayako can you and Akemi make charms— enough for each of us and the family." He ordered around, with no questions further asked, everybody went to work. Caution was declared necessary and the talismans that were supposed to be given tomorrow were told to be handed out today. Each member of the SPR, particularly Mai and Akemi were given a list on who they should hand out to, to avoid unnecessary delay. Ayako and Masako joined them in distributing the charms.
"Akifumi-san, could you please guide me to the family temple?" Naru asked and Akifumi willingly led him out. Bou-san though went along with them.
Akemi was wandering around senselessly for a while now with her mini camera once again around her neck, Bou-san and the others opted to call it Akemi-ra with the film being her point of view throughout the recording. With her eyesight, she wasn't given much as a list though it also gave her free reign and access to meet the few family members and observe them.
Akemi let out a hum, she got assigned to be with Ayako but her and Mai took off after the two children and Akemi insisted she'll be fine on her own.
Knowing that some of them might be possessed and are avoiding her to remain hidden, Akemi became even more heedless of her milling about, reaching out a hand. She felt the doors and slid it open when a gust of salty wind greeted her. "Hm?" Akemi cocked her head to the side, searching around as she sensed she wasn't alone.
And she turned out correct as she saw a meek aura of a female standing not far, distorted from stress and it felt gloomy with sadness. Narrowing her sight— Akemi could tell she must be standing near a cliff.
"Um... excuse me, I'm sorry to intrude." The woman flinched at the sudden voice and turned to hastily wipe off the tears coming out of her eye, greeting Akemi with haste. With the news of her brother's near death, Yoshimi Nao couldn't help but tear up. She had always looked at the sea to comfort her but knowing of her brother's state she couldn't help but cry.
"...Yes? Can I help you?"
"You must have been standing here for a while now," Akemi started off with a gentle comforting smile. "The SPR is handing out some charms to protect ourselves, I'm guessing you haven't had yours yet." Nao-san indeed shook her head but Akemi didn't blame her for not knowing she couldn't see it much.
"Then, I'll ask for it later..."
"Oh, I suggest on having it right at this moment. We are very cautious after the past events and would prefer if it lessened— or cease to exist would be better— so please." Akemi could tell she wasn't possessed or being controlled, just wanted some time alone however, it didn't mean that she wouldn't be possessed a few seconds from now. But seeing the broken aura around the girl, Akemi couldn't help but soften along the way in understanding.
"Yoshimi-san, Yasutaka-san is getting better by the second." 'If anything he is much safer now away than those still here.' "I assure you, that he'll be back to his cheerful self in no time. I'm confident about it." Nao didn't know why but she believed the woman in front of her, with just a few words she had regained her strength.
"I guess, he won't like it at all if he found out I've been crying..." Nao-san let out a small smile, Akemi followed suit.
"Hearing a few of his happy manners from Akifumi-san, I think he would be displeased, indeed."
Nao nods, letting out a breath before she excused herself to go inside and get a charm. Just as she closed the doors, the camera around Akemi's neck let out a beep: an indication of the camera shutting down from lack of batteries.
Akemi gave a thoughtful look on the camera currently in her hands. Her senses ringing an alarm, her eyes widening in realization before she quickly side stepped and fell on the ground as someone reached her last standing.
A man with thick build, another Yoshimi family member that she hasn't met yet laid crouching on the ground from where she was standing earlier. His head turned, facing her with wide manic eyes. Brows furrowed and lips snarling at her. The spirit that greeted her sights resembled the same fire as Eijirou's. Manic and rabid,
"Ahh!" Akemi once again turned to the side to avoid his grabby hands that reached for her neck. She took a quick stand and went to the doors of the house to call for aide when she was pulled back by the nape. "He- ACK!"
Akemi glared at nothing, burning in anger as the man wrapped his thick arms around her neck in a chokehold. When he took a step back, Akemi took advantage and wrapped her fingers on the arm choking her and bent out of the space he made and pushed him away with every strength she has. On the top of her lungs, Akemi screamed. "HELP!"
The spirit reached out to grab her shoulders, Akemi turned to the side to dodge it. The possessed man in front of her was unhinged. Making it easy to read what he is going to do, but his maniac desperation to kill makes him unpredictable.
Especially when he is controlled by it.
Akemi figured it out, able to connect the dots on why her aunt and Eugene showed her Okobu-sama. It reminded her of Yasuhara's case and even Kasai-san's case due to both being spiritual summonings. It all made sense, they're lack of grudge and emotions that keep it from being seen by Masako— they were summoned for a purpose.
Akemi's eyes narrowed as she dodges the hand that wanted to grab her once more just by a hair. "You're being controlled."
At her words, the aura around him burned further. Akemi prepared for what he was going to do side-stepped but let out a hiss when she felt a scratch on her neck, she felt her blood lightly trickle down to her collarbone. She frowned when it seemed that spirit in front of her has a way of fighting. But her second of distraction was enough for the unhinged man to wrap his around her neck.
Akemi moved her arms to start exorcising the spirit and the man let out a growl and instead wrapped his fingers on her temple, with his thumb pressing hard on her eyes. Akemi let out a shriek, the discomfort and pain evident on her cries as she forgot about exorcisms and focused on surviving.
"Ack! Khackr!" Akemi flapped her arms in panic, the hold on her head tightening. With more desperation on her actions, Akemi scratched and pushed and kicked but it was useless.
'She was failing...'
"He- eck!" Akemi let out a painful cry, calling out for her but the chokehold on her throat earlier made it seemed like it was squeezed and is drizzled with sour lemon. With no more ideas and pure instinct, Akemi tried scratching and planned to pull his thumb away from her eyes but when she touched his arm, her sight changed and found herself to a different era with her eyes blotching. 'Not now!'
but on her darkening vision, she felt the ground beneath her disappear. The air of the harsh ocean waves coming up to greet her and there she knew she was being held on the edge of the cliff with the only thing keeping her up was the tight grip of the possessed man's fingers on her head.
"Get them!" She yelled with a torch on hand and a weapon on the other. Akemi found herself wearing disheveled clothing due to the run she and her comrades have pursued for a few minutes now.
'This isn't the time! Argh! I'm dying out there!' Akemi let out a displeased grunt, wanting out of this as quick as she can.
Her sights focused on the people they have surrounded, they looked back with equal venom, eyes filled of betrayal and anger. While Akemi and her men, glared at them with pure hostility. Unknownst that the man she possessed, held hidden pride. 'He had done this! Finally, we can be rid of them!'
With a dark smirk, the man she possessed let out a yell. "Death!"
Akemi looked around when the scenery disappeared and the stench of blood was gone. She killed them. She had killed with her own hands before she was directed somewhere else again and realized she was in the caves.
"What do you want!?" Akemi yelled as she kept looking around, feeling eyes all over her but no one was in sight. When she turned to face behind her, she was immediately greeted by Okobu-sama in his shrine,
Akemi narrowed her eyes in distaste. "You..." Akemi frowned when it started to warp as the caves darkened with a premonitory rumbling. It was low and hideous to the ears, unending and deep.
Soon one by one spiritual orbs were summoned, taking the form of their original bodies.
Akemi's breath hitched as they all looked at her with black unmoving eyes. She felt judged as the dead eyes of the unliving stared at her very soul without any emotions,
The hair on her skin rose and the crawling sensation of her intuition alarming her of the dangers.
She remained still, staring at them one by one before keeping her eyes set on the warping shrine. Its silent question beckoning her to join them all.
With a glacial glare, her words sharpened and said: "There is only one God for me, and he's not some wood on a shore."
With her words, the exit to the cave closed and the spirits obscured her vision as they enveloped her blind.
A gasp signaled her awakening, it didn't last as it soon turned to dry coughs. She let out a wince as the pain heightened. Akemi held her throat with shaky fingers, letting out a wince when it burned along with her head going numb as she could only feel the slight throb of it. "Akemi! Are you okay?"
Akemi sagged as she heard Naru's concerned voice. Her eyelids felt heavy, her throat burns and her chest hurts. So no, she was not okay and so Akemi went to breath out that she was in fact, not fine and needed to be spoiled but her words instead hurt her throat further and choke up. "There," Naru caressed the back of her head, lifting her to sit up and lean on his chest for support, snaking an arm under her legs to lift her up. "I'll take that as an answer."
Akemi's heavy breath out was taken as a 'Glad you know.' and exhaustedly rested her head on his chest. Her breath coming out shallow and quick, falling unconscious once more unaware of their destination, Naru and her fully wet from the ocean, sitting near the entrance of the caves with an equally unconscious Kazuyasu-san beside them. Alive and still breathing.
With droplets of blood trickling down her cheeks as she unknowingly cried red.
"Just what the hell happened out there?" Ayako cursed under her breath as she along with Naru waited for Akemi's results. Once they found Naru with Akemi and Kazuyasu-san, the man that was possessed earlier, they immediately alerted the ambulance where they were and got sent to the hospital. A lot was happening in just one day, the SPR members couldn't grasp anything.
Bou-san was reprimanding Mai at the time when he and Naru got back from the temple with Akifumi. They were notified that Mai had used the nine cuts on the two children after finding out they had tampered with the car and ended with Lin, Bou-san and Akifumi running out to check that the brakes of the car were indeed tampered with. He was in the middle of explaining to Mai the situation as Ayako and Masako helped clean up the stinging scratches on the back of the children when they were bombarded by another possessed family member that rejected the charms being given.
It was fortunate that John was able to exorcise the woman without any problems, however— Lin's voice gained their attention.
Lin pointed out Akemi's camera shutting down, then and there Naru was already suspicious as he left the room and went to inform Akemi but a sudden yell caught his attention. Soon footsteps behind him were heard as he reached the doors leading outside to the garden, "-!"
Their breaths hitched in shock as they saw Kazuyasu-san, who has gripping Akemi, stood too close to the edge of the cliff with Akemi already hanging above it.
Naru sensed his heart stop from what he saw. He stared, stunned as he watched Akemi's limp form, unmoving and hanging. She wasn't fighting Kazuyasu's hold. Why?
Naru's feet moved on autopilot, running towards the unaware Kazuyasu with Bou-san and Lin quick beside him. The two took hold of the possessed man, while Naru used his whole body to leap and catch Akemi's hand before she completely fell and drowned.
But it went as a surprise for all when Kazuyasu let out a scream, a spray of blood went up like a burst of mist, a red wound appearing on their arms and realized of Kazuyasu's capabilities of using whirlwind sickles.
"Who are you? Tell me who!"
Kazuyasu let out a growl like a cornered beast, his eyes moving to observe Lin and Bou-san. "What grudge do you bear to do something like this?"
Naru behind Kazuyasu, though gained his attention as the boy let out a low groan trying to pull Akemi up. "What's your purpose?"
With his sights on a new target, he menacingly grinned towards Bou-san and Lin. With a low reply, he said: "Death."
Suddenly, Kazuyasa sprung up and was faster than Mai's eyes could follow, when they blinked, his figure was nowhere along with Naru and Akemi.
It was decided to have Ayako and Bou-san to join Akemi when they soon found her and Naru safe near the caves— fortunately with an unconscious Kazuyasu. With Ayako being a close family friend and Bou-san able to drive her back if needed, but Naru ignored the two and got inside the ambulance before they could talk to him on staying. This led to a decision that Ayako would be the one to follow with no need for Bou-san to come with, insisting that she could handle herself. With the case still filled with gaps, they need every man power they got and so agreed to the decision.
"Matsuzaki-san? Shibuya-san?" Ayako and Naru stood straight as a nurse called them forward, the air between the two remained tense as they are in a situation of any possibilities. "Please follow me."
"Well, how is she?" Mai asked as she tried to look behind Ayako as though Akemi would pop up all better behind her. "And where's Naru?"
Ayako let out a tired sigh as the members of the SPR surrounded her in worry, she was glad a lot of people genuinely care for Akemi but this case was taking a lot out of her. 'Just why does that girl keep getting into so much trouble? If she didn't escape her guards, this might have been avoided! Seriously...' "She's fine, nothing to fatal that needs her to be registered in the hospital for weeks. The doctor said she only needs rest for two to three days so Naru is staying with her at the hospital." Mai and Masako let out a sigh as though a heavy burden was released out of their shoulders, even though she didn't show it much— Masako did care for Akemi as a friend.
Though at the mention of Naru, the two girls couldn't help but let out a huff of jealousy. Looking beside her, Mai saw Masako's hidden expression. 'She irritates me sometimes, but at times like these, I sympathize with her.'
Ayako clapped her hand once to remove any negative atmospheres and asked the plan for a while. This gave them the idea to look around the place and other locations with Akifumi as their guide while Naru was away in hopes to learn more about the territory and maybe gain a few more information that the Yoshimi house wasn't able to give now that Masako and John are with them,
"All right! Let's go!" Bou-san cheered, trying to lift uo their moods and the others followed along.
"Think you can manage getting here quick? Okay... hm." Akemi woke up to the sounds of Naru ending a call, a few coughs came out of her mouth and the feeling of a dry throat was felt.
It didn't took long as soon she felt a hard cold curved object on her lips.
"Drink." was Naru's short command and she willingly did, though she frowned when everything was dark and the only thing she sees is Naru's aura floating on the side of her.
Akemi lifted her fingers to touch her face and felt a rough texture. "Your eyes were bandaged as it kept crying out blood when we sent you here."
Akemi let out a small smile, lowering her hand to her side. 'A bandage? I see...'
When silenced passed, and not being able to talk, Akemi pushed herself to sit up. "The doctor said to rest." Naru's brow twitched when she only gave him a grin and pushed herself up higher with her shaky hands. He shook his head, letting out a sigh before helping her up.
Akemi wanted to speak and so opened her mouth but closed it when she realized she can't talk. This happened for a few more seconds and Naru crossed his arms, waiting in amusement.
Despite the coverage on her eyes, Akemi could see the air of amusement around him: the light scent of his fresh powder and cloudy rain filtered her nose, it practically surrounded the room. The bastard.
"I could get used to this." Naru even speaks out, the tone of his hidden glee evident on his lips, twitching up with a teasing brow raised.
Akemi let out a huff at his words, crossing her arms in disdain. She thought of ways on how to ask who he was talking to, when it hit her.
Akemi waved her hands to get Naru's attention, one she didn't particularly lost. And the man took it upon himself to seat on the vacant chair beside her hospital bed, crossing his arms as he leaned back, curious to see what she'll do in hopes to communicate with him. Naru himself found it odd how he could be so at ease when just a few minutes prior, he remained tense and solemn. Seeing her alive and energetic seemed to elevate any tension he had, other than the fact that being away from the case makes her safer than anybody else. As long as she's alive.
Akemi folded her fingers, leaving only her thumb and pinky and placing it to her ear, resembling a call, to emphasized the question further— Akemi tilted her head to the side with a pout of her lips.
'Did he get it?' Akemi felt hope, 'Naru wasn't lacking in any common sense nor intelligence so of course he would, right?'
... right?
Silence passed the two and Akemi's hand is close to loosing their strength but before she puts them down in disappointment, a scoff rang out from his side.
"How cute, do it again." Akemi twitched at the sound of his mocking tone.
'He's making fun...?'
She grabbed the pillow behind her and threw it on his direction with an eased grin, knowing he would catch it before any damage could happen. She didn't expect another laugh would come out of him from it,
'Is my challenges that funny to you, huh? Am I that funny to you?' Akemi lightly shakes her head at his jesting and crossed her arms, she wasn't that irritated, it annoyed her further though when he could laugh so handsomely and she wasn't able to see it. Yet she couldn't help but feel delight on being able to make him laugh.
At this she was safe.
At the reminder, Akemi's shoulders loosened and a dejected air clung unto her.
"I called for Yasuhara-san to research a couple of things about the case." Naru said as he watched Akemi's changed in mood, "He'll be coming here first thing tomorrow morning, the doctor said your throat would be fine by then, you might be able to speak tonight."
Akemi nods while Naru goes to step outside. He stood from his seat, looking at Akemi. Taking note of her hospital attire but his gaze lingered on her bandaged eyes that covered the purples he wanted to see. Naru frown at his thought, shaking it off. "The doctor said to rest, so sleep for now."
Akemi nods and lays back down, turning to her side with her back facing Naru.
She guessed it was inevitable anyway.
But deep inside, Akemi couldn't help but cry as darkness surrounded her sight.
December 6, 2000
English /spirit / thoughts"Pulse! Doctor, we found a pulse!" The nurse calls out as she touched the side of the little girl's neck. A few more others surrounded her as the men in the ambulance places the injured girl on a vacant hospital bed as gently as they can.
"What's the situation?"
"A gruesome car accident with 3 people in the carnage, no IDs or personal identification. A man and woman had no pulse for hours now but this child showed strength after 30 minutes of CPR."
'It hurts...' Little Akemi thought to herself as she kept coming back and forth her consciousness. Her chest felt so tight, her head hurts and her mind numb. 'What was going on?'
"Call Doctor Johnson to the ER! This girl is fighting for her life." Akemi heard a male voice speak up, but it came muddled and echoing in her ears, she didn't even know if he was far or near.
All she remembered were her parents. Her parents...?
'Where's my mommy and daddy?' Those were the last coherent thought she had before she once again slept in darkness. 'It's so warm... I feel like I'm floating on air...'
With one accord, a few blocks away stood a small orphanage, a bunch of other kids of different colors and race surrounded two kids with same attributes, twins.
Naru with his brother Eugene, who sat on the ground cradling his sprained wrist, glared at the kids responsible to his twin's pain. "Back off!" He coldly glared at them only to be pushed down and beaten along them.
"Think you two are so great, huh?" One of them yells out as he raises a fist to punch. "The freaks finally getting adopted! Well, guess what? I'm sure they'll only experiment on you guys instead and wouldn't even last a week!" The bullies laughed at his words but before the bully ever reached his fists towards the twins, Naru flared and thrown them a few meters away.
While Akemi's heartbeat dropped.
His psychic ability along with Akemi's awakening, released in unison.
On that night, Akemi and Naru found themselves floating in abyss. For the first time, meeting each other in the universe's endless finite, accommodating both as they attested to the impossible— whether by coincidence or fate as their circumstance led to the time that matched the start of their stories.
"Stop crying." LittleNaru didn't know how to comfort the little girl in front of him, who started crying as soon as she saw him. "Why are you even crying?"
"I... I hate hospitals though!" Little Akemi sobbed, her French accent butchering her English as she felt snot drip down to her lips, seeing it— Little Naru tried his best not to wrinkle in disgust.
But she just wouldn't stop crying that it made Little Naru sigh. He didn't know what kind of dream this was but he wanted out. 'Just how was he going to leave this dream? Can he wake himself up just by thinking it?'
"Are you...going to leave me too...?" Little Akemi sniffled, the whole time she covered her face because she knew herself to be an ugly crier, but she had the distinct feeling that the boy with her was not liking her company and peeked if it were true.
Little Naru froze at her whispered question that echoed the empty abyss they were floating on, this made him turn to glance at the little girl but became flustered when he saw her peeking out from her small fingers. A color he had never seen on the eyes of others, sparkled as she stared at him in cute desperation.
"I won't, if you stop crying." Little Naru proposes, using her question as an advantage to finally stop the pity-party, but it seems his words didn't work as the Little Akemi once again felt tears fill her eyes and didn't bother covering them anymore.
"B-but I can't! I just can't stop crying though!" Akemi cried, and Naru was once again placed in a difficult position. He tried to think of ways to handle the girl but he didn't know how. He was very close to his brother and rarely met up with girls, but there was this one instance.
He paused when he did remember talking with a woman, remembering the couple that visited the orphanage and planned to take him and his brother under their care. A few words and advices were given by Mrs. Davis and Naru blushed at being reminded on how he should act to a girl, when he saw how the Davis couple demonstrated it back then.
"A... a pretty girl like you shouldn't cry." Little Naru stuttered out, his words coming out a bit forced but his words caught Little Akemi's attention. He didn't think it possible but he still tried and patted his pockets for the towel he knew he always brought and let out a breath of relief when it was there.
"...?" Little Akemi tilted her head in question when Naru walked towards her and knelt down in one knee to be the same height as hers, since she fell down to her feet the moment she cried.
"So let's wipe those tears," Naru said as he cutely reached out his towel in hand and wiped Akemi's tear stains on her cheeks. Akemi let him, closing her eyes when Naru reached her eyes. "A lady shouldn't cry because a Lady's tear is more precious than any jewel... at least that's what my soon-to-be mother told me."
When he finished, Naru then lightly pinched her nose so Akemi could sneeze on it and remove her snot covering her nostrils. "Fhenk...ou..." her voice came out muffled with her eyes no longer teary but still red.
Naru let out a small smile, leaving the towel on Akemi's hand as she held it to her face to continue letting out her snot.
"My name is Clarisse but you can call me Claire like my parents," Naru nodded as Akemi kept looking at him, making him a bit uncomfortable and so placed his hands in his pockets.
Akemi frowned when he remained quiet. Her brows furrowed together and lips pouting, "And you? Shouldn't you be saying your name when I gave mine?"
Naru gave an equally furrowed brow, "Why should I though? I don't even know who you are."
Akemi flinched at his reasoning, her eyes widening as confusion settled in her expression. With her meek voice she asked: "But... I already gave my name out... isn't that enough?"
Naru sighed, his cautious nature realizing in acceptance that this girl wouldn't be able to do anything if she was this naive. "Oliver."
Akemi blinked, "Olive...? Like the oil?"
Naru's brow twitched, narrowing his eyes at her. "Oliver like my name. It's Oliver."
Naru wanted to keep the glare as this little girl in front of him just turned his name into something embarrassing but the sight of her eyes glowing in their majestic hue with a wide smile coming out of her lips, he soon forgot as to why he was even angry in the first place.
Their meetings kept coming and going whenever he finds himself asleep, and for the first time in his eight years of life, Naru thought he had finally made a friend other than his brother.