ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ NARU ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ
He could feel it. How his eyes slowly drifts away along with his attention as the sounds of the ongoing tapping rain faded in his ears, a ringing in his ears told him to focus— focus on what?
He felt like there is something he needed to know. Something he needed—
"—We're in trouble here, Naru-bou! How can you space out like this?" The muffled voice cleared up and the sounds of the raging rain once again filled his ears. His eyes strained a bit at the sudden light, it seems he had been staring at the fire for too long. All his senses returned, and he could finally feel the coldness of his body— still wet from the rain that pelted on them before getting stuck inside along with the numb fingertips he is using to caress his wrist.
When it felt warm to the touch, he didn't notice— but it looked like he has been fiddling with his wrist while he was lost in thought.
It was Bou-san who snapped him out of his reverie though.
"Right—" Naru clears his throat, lifting a hand to cover his mouth, his eyes catching something red. "I was just thinking about something..."
"You should take care of yourself better, Naru nii-san!" Mariko says as the grim expression on her face disappeared completely and as though she has been happy from the beginning, the child starts giggling.
"...Yeah."
"...I suppose so." Without any control his eyes once again gazed at the only bright colored item in the room. One that for him, rivalled the warmth coming from the burning fire in front of him.
A red bracelet...
"..." His brow twitched, furrowing in confusion as he kept staring at his lowered wrist. Taking in the red threads, something in his chest churned.
It was uncomfortable. Unpleasant. Naru clicked his tongue, it was annoying.
However, that thought hurt him more than he expected. It wasn't annoying. Just...
"Could you stop being so cute? Pfft—!" Something in his ear chimed, making him straightened his back, eyes widening at the clearness of voice in his ear.
Dark indigo eyes glanced towards his sides, looking anywhere it could have been without gaining any attention from the others who were passing around their cups to drink.
"Aren't you half-sleepwalking?" Bou-san said with a bitter grin towards Mai, who the kids also caught drifting in thought.
Naru frowned, 'Sleepwalking? I know someone who does that...'
Mai huffed, completely unaware of what was going on with Naru as she lifts up one of the cups. "As if!– I'm sorry! Takaru-kun's is the one with the doggies, here!"
"Thank you!" the little boy with short brown hair smiles, taking the cup from Mai's hand and lifts it up to sip the warm tea they have prepared before they left.
"Here's yours Naru!" Mai hands Naru his cup, and the group once again talked about what they were going to do next. Bou-san was listing off possible ways and Naru silently listened as he took a sip to stop feeling the cold seep his fingers and help him focus back to the case—!
'This taste...' For some unknown reason, his heart was filled with panic. The rhythm in his chest thumping hard in his ribs as he felt out of place. Like he couldn't— shouldn't stay still. 'What is the meaning of this sort of feeling?'
"Naru~!" Naru glanced at everyone— trying to see who called him but there was no one there that he knew could have such a voice.
The voice then continued to taunt him, a voice light and fluttering, at first humming a song he was familiar with until it sang. "I'm off to see the wizard~! The wonderful wizard of the SPR!"
It hurt his head, hearing that voice. With a hand going to his temple, Naru massaged it hard and soon the voice faded. That notion seemed to hurt him more than when it haunted his ears.
"What's up? Mai nee-san and everyone are all very weird." Mariko voices out, but none of the SPR group answered her and kept their worried gaze towards Naru.
"Oi Naru-bou, you okay?" Naru could hear the worry in that tone, but he couldn't focus on that. His chest tightened as he ignored whatever it was ringing in his head.
Forcing out his voice, Naru sighs. "Yeah. I'm fine."
They didn't seemed convinced, Naru didn't need to convince them, just get them off his back and focus on the case. "There are more important matters at hand. A headache from the rain is on our lowest concerns."
"Yes… indeed…" As though to dispel something, Bou-san spoke.
"The sun is going to set very soon, if we still don't think up an effective countermeasure…"
Naru nods, "Do not, in any case, fall into their trap." His voice though sounded like he was telling it to himself. "I think the body just now was also a trap."
"A trap?" The others blinked.
Mai though gave a look of stupefaction, eyes brightened and wide as though realizing something. "Because if everyone panicked because of that, and ran blindly out of the classroom, they could have made any one of us disappear!"
It was quiet until Bou-san suddenly started laughing.
"This—could you be over-thinking this? Disappear? How can we disappear?"
Mai gaped, slightly shocked. "How can you start joking? Right now, aren't Lin-san and Aya—" Mai froze, her eyes blinking in confusion. 'Eh?'
Naru once again heard a chime in his head at the mention of the name Mai had spoken. '...Lin?'
Mariko looked uncomprehendingly at her. "Mai nee-san, who is Lin-san?"
"This…" Mai stuttered, completely out of place on what to say.
Bou-san smiled grimly. "You are completely dream-walking!"
"Ah ne?"
Masako also looked at her, not much shocked but still the sudden mention of names they don't even know was a surprise. "Mai's the best at dreaming with her eyes open."
"Oh, shut up! my mind is only just slightly wandering a bit."
"Only just slightly? You're mind has really wandered far away— who said that?"
Naru inclined his head in thought, keeping silent as he observed them all.
"Have you forgotten what you've said yourself?" The kids asked the high school student who remained flustered at being so lost.
"This…" Mai was extremely lost, 'Ah eh–? Who was it who said to come over?'
When he notices how the conversation was driving away from their main topic, Naru couldn't help but speak so coldly to have them freeze their drifting. "Bou-san, has a barrier been set up here yet?"
The Monk nods however the sigh he let out wasn't all that energetic. "It can be set up. But do we have to go to this extent?"
"Indeed, but it's always better to be more cautious." Naru frowned. 'Was he the only one concerned for possible dangers?'
It was Yasuhara who spoke. "If we wait cautiously in the barrier the danger would be reduced, but if we were to leave this place wouldn't any path be equally dangerous?"
"Yes…" Bou-san nodded. "I concur with the young man, Yasuhara. Rather than hiding in here we should take the initiative and attack; I want to hurry up and start exorcising already. To ask this old man to wait here like this for death is simply not possible."
In the sides, Naru saw John also nodding in agreement. "Yeah… there are also children amongst us, we still have to consider how to set forth."
Naru glanced at the two children chatting and distracting Mai and Masako. His indigo eyes narrowed at the two children, Mariko was 11 and Takaru 9, their young ages gave them the responsibility on taking care of them. 'They don't have any abilities— they provide no advantage to the case not like— why are they here?'
Naru internally shook his head, just back to hear John.
"There already are safety measures. But when night falls there will be spirits that become active. Shouldn't we consider a slightly more proactive method of escape?"
Hearing their sides, made Naru consider. After some hesitation, he couldn't help but nod.
"Yeah—First, we have to look for a way out. Fortunately this school is built with wood so let's try if we can bore a hole."
Bou-san nodded. "How should we do it? We don't have tools."
"First search each classroom for anything that can be used as a tool, if we can't find any then we'll use fire."
"Burn it? Isn't that too much?!" Bou-san's eyes widened, he didn't expect that Naru would go to such extreme lengths.
Naru sighs as they overthought his plan. "We'll just smoke it, to make to wooden boards more fragile. If that still doesn't work then we'll look for a way to force the spirits into an impasse."
"Force them into an impasse?"
"Force the spirits into a specific location, then perform exorcism there."
"Ah—is that the plan?"
"Everyone will search within the school. Hara-san, can you check out the situation in each of the classrooms?"
The medium nods enthusiastically, eyes bright from getting Naru's attention. "Alright!"
Naru watched Mariko and Takaru, who were enthusiastically helping, closely. They chatted with John while energetically searched with their dust covered hands. From time to time they'd forget their job and start playing; after a mild admonishment from John, they'd immediately start helping again.
Naru frowned at the sight of them.
°•○●●○•°
ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ MAI and NARU ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ
"It's really embarrassing!" Masako says softly beside Mai as she finished wiping all evidence of her tears.
Mai nods, agreeing with her. "…Yeah!"
"Even I was also stunned. Although it was a very large fire, I never thought that I would actually cry because of witnessing it." Listening to the tone of her voice it appeared like she was really very frustrated with herself.
"Indeed…"
"Mai-nee-san, Masako-nee-san, can I drink juice?" Takaru asked.
Hearing Takaru asking for juice, Mai gave out a smile. "Of course, I'll pour it for you. Which cup belongs to you, Takaru?"
"The puppy one!"
Mai nods, picking up the cup. "The puppy one it is, I've got it; what about Mariko?"
"The bunny one!"
"Ok, then Tsumura's is the crab one then!"
Tsumura nods, "Yeah!"
Mariko glances towards her younger brother, her brows furrowed and eyes sharp as she reminded him to be careful to not spill any drinks.
Seeing such a sibling connection, Mai could not help but find them endearing. She wished to have such a connection, maybe someday not of course by blood but at least through bonds.
With a sigh, Mai turns to look by the windows. 'What is wrong with me – to be so anxious and unsettled – to be so unreasonably depressed?' The rain started falling once more, the darkness outside made it seem like night has been going on for hours now but the glow from the bonfire shone through the glass and water droplets, creating a dim red glow.
Outside, the vague shadow of the two vehicles could be seen. Mai blanked at the image, 'Two vehicles...? It would be better to ask everyone first, anyway.'
Beside John and Bou-san, the three men stood on the side to look at the wooden walls and start coming up with more ideas or even just look for a weak spot. However, Naru stopped nearby the entrance doors, its small glass window giving him a clear view of the equipment they left behind.
His sight locked on the folder containing all his notes, but what gathered his attention was his contacting device placed above it to keep it from flying away. Something so helpful was there near his reach but so out of his grasp. It irked him, looking at that device.
"Ne, who drove the car here?" The stoic boss heard his naive assistant ask. His brows furrowed at her question, feeling his temper rise was something he usually cannot fathom to be possible. Staying here must be irritating him more then he expected to,
Breathing in and out, Naru unconsciously sought to touch the cloth texture of his bracelet.
Bou-san glanced at her, stopping his conversation with John, stupefied by her question. "You cannot possibly have dementia, can you? Of course I drove it!"
Mai blinked in confusion, "Then what about the other car?"
Bou-san wrinkled his brow but beside him, John smiles. "It was me, Mai."
At that revelation, Mai's head tilted in confusion. 'Eh? John can drive?' "John, you know how to drive?"
Naru also frowned at this knowledge, keeping his gaze outside and away from being seen. In his peripheral, he could see the parked vehicles that Mai had noticed. There in his sight was a car and the van. He couldn't remember John ever being with him in the van. He knew Bou-san drove the car, but the van was always his position. Not once, he was sure that John ever drove with him.
Naru remembers correctly, it was always a tight fit and Naru is extremely picky on who he lets on to touch the van.
He knew himself that Japan has strict laws when it comes to driving, though he already knew how to drive— in this country with his age, it was still illegal though. He surely wouldn't dare to have a dog drive a van and Naru would already be a dead man if he lets a blind woman drive for him—
Something in his mind clicked, 'A blind woman? Where did that thought come from...?' Tightly closing his eyes, deeming his thoughts to clear up, the emotionless man coldly pushed his thoughts away. "I must be stuck here with Mai for too long..." he murmurs under his breath,
"Pfft! Poor Naru!" A chiming bell like laugh rung in his ears, and a golden strand passed by his thoughts. He could hear it, how the voice would laugh knowing her teasing was getting to him.
John's expression immediately turned rather strange as he thought of Mai's questions. "Ur—it looks like I do – I know!"
Masako's lips twitched down as she stared at her friend in worry. Lifting a hand to touch the high schooler's back. "Mai, are you alright? You've completely blanked out, haven't you?"
"Of course not, I've only forgotten."
"Are you having a fever?" The medium continued to ask.
"Of – course – not! I've only made a small mistake." Mai gave a sheepish laugh, feeling her face flush as everybody had now turned to look at her. All in various expression, of course Naru was the only one to just simply stare sharply.
To avoid their stares, Mai looked out of the window once more. 'Right, the cars were driven by Bou-san and John. Ah—ah, what is wrong with me, how can I be this strange?'
Seeing how Mai was already embarrassed enough, Naru moved to gaze back towards the window but something in his peripheral shimmered— making him glance back towards Mai and the children, particularly to the set of stairs leading to the second floor.
Since it was dark and hard to see, he couldn't make out much but the sight of her golden strands made the figure shine. She stood tall and quiet, stepping down close to Mai and Masako, her golden waves covered her figure perfectly and warmly that Naru wished she would push it back just so it didn't also cover her face.
The figure moved to lift its head, Naru felt his whole stance tense up in caution. Naru waited with baited breath, dark midnight eyes narrowed as he focused on the figure. Its movement nearly finishing as it turned to look at him.
And all Naru could see was a majestic color of purple.
"Ne, Mai-nee-san!" Mariko stood and pulled Mai's hand. "Tsumura dropped his money."
Naru remained stiff, his eyes remaining on her.
Mai blinked in confusion, her gaze moving to the youngest of the bunch. His eyes prickling with tears as he stood next to his sister. "Money? Where did he drop it?"
"The second floor; I saved for a very long time, there is $500."
"Ah—that really is unlucky." Mai sweat dropped at the amount, stopping her jaw from gaping. 'Why did he bring so much money?!'
Takaru said, tilting his head. "I think I dropped it at the turn at the entrance to the second floor. Can I go look for it?"
"Stop Mai from leaving, Naru!"
"Ah—" Mai straightens her back, standing up along with them. "Of course, I'll go with you guys."
"Mai." With a bang, Naru's voice intruded. "Don't wander off by yourself."
Mai pouted, frowning towards Naru's direction. "It's just for a little while!"
Naru's eyes chilled, moving to let it shoot towards Mai. The high schooler flinched at the sharpness of it. "You're not allowed to!"
Feeling her temper rise, 'Whatever, that miser—'
"I'll go with you guys as well!" Masako said. While Bou-san and John turned their glances back and forth.
Tsumura stares unblinkingly at Masako and shook his head. "No need, I'll look for my things myself."
"But it'll be very dangerous all by yourself." the medium kindly says, going to pat the boy in the head but Tsumura steps back to avoid it.
"You really don't need to." Tsumura insists. "I'll be fine by myself."
"It's no matter to me, but for the money you saved so hard by yourself to be picked up by someone else—"
"No!" Mai and Masako felt a bead of sweat drop from their foreheads as the youngest seemed to stand his ground on getting his money.
"Tsumura!" The SPR group flinched at the tone that Naru invoked.
'Naru doesn't even know to be gentle when speaking to children.' The remaining SPR group internally winced, all of their thoughts for once in understanding.
Oblivious though to their thoughts, Naru continues. "This place is very dangerous. You're not allowed to wander around by yourself."
"I want to go!"
The stoic boss, crosses his arms. His tone firm and eyes still. his eyes holding no such care, his true feelings unreadable to others. "It's no use crying!"
"Nee-san and Takaru will go with me!"
"No." Naru says.
Tsumura started crying immediately, seeing such a sight stroke Mai in the heart and soon she felt pity for the kid. Even Masako felt saddened by his tears,
"Ne, we're just going up a little!" Mai tried to force an assuring smile but seeing the glare she was receiving from the head leader, it must have come out as a wincing grimace.
Naru glanced somewhere behind Mai, when he saw vacant space, he places them back towards the stubborn student-assistant. His voice was toneless and clear, unlike how he talked to the children to show his authority. This time, he spoke like a stating claim. No authority needed, just pure common sense. "Do you have the ability to protect the children?"
Mai was stuck. 'He hit the nail on the head.'
"I'll go too! Do you want me to go with you all?" Masako said, kneeling beside Tsumura.
"I don't want!"
Masako though pushed, "You cannot be stubborn! You can see it is dark outside already. If only children go, it will be very dangerous, right? So nee-san will bring you herself, is that alright?"
Tsumura though oddly stopped crying right away, his eyes unblinking as he looks at Masako. "—Just Masako-nee-san?"
"Yeah, just me."
"Then—if it's just nee-san alone it'll be alright."
Masako and Mai let out a sigh, finally Tsumura allowed to have someone go with him. "But we're only going to the entrance on the second floor, ok? Even if there isn't anything there we have to come back, do you understand?"
"I'm coming as well," Bou-san volunteers, already taking a step towards Masako and the kids but Tsumura threw another tantrum as quickly as he took one step.
"No way! I only want Masako-nee-san to come, just nee-san! We've already agreed on it just now, I don't want other people!"
Fearing that the kid might cry again, Bou-san lifts both hands to show he was backing off. "Ok, ok, ok!"
Bou-san smiled bitterly, then tossed the lighter to Masako. "Here!"
"Thanks, come, let's go, Tsumura."
"Yeah!"
The SPR group watched as Masako ascended the stairs, holding Tsumura's hand on her left then the lighter Bou-san gave her on her right.
For some reason, they couldn't find it in themselves to stop the other children, Takaru and Mariko from coming along with them as Tsumura seemed to be really happy.
Naru glanced around trying to find any presence of the figure from before, but he couldn't find it. Hidden in his pockets, his hands clenched to fists while Mai though kept herself focused on Masako's figure, following the medium closely with worried eyes. Hoping she'll be back down with all of them.
With it being dark, Masako lifts up her right hand, clicking the lighter. Letting the orange dim glow to light up their path, as they ascended forward to the top— Masako and the kids took a turn and they were now out of their sight.
°•○●●○•°
They all huddled near the bonfire, all of them seeking warmth as the rain continued to pelt of the poor roof of the building. Its cold wind being able to seep inside. Here was how they were lined up: Naru, Bou-san, John, Mai and the 4 children: Mariko, Tsumura, Takaru, and Takami.
Mai reaches out both of her hands as she felt it start to get numb from the cold. 'Clearly no one had gone missing, but why did I feel like this feeling wasn't the least bit reliable?'
"Let's clean up the classrooms one by one, except for the inner-most classroom." Naru says, as the escaping ideas seemed to not go so well— all they could do for now was exorcise anything that's trapping them inside.
Letting out a breath, Naru stands up. Stretching his leg lightly as he took a quick glance to his side, a frown making his way to his lips as the figure gave him a closed eyed smile— elegantly waving her frail fingers at him.
Seeing her outfit and noting the pouring rain, he couldn't help but think if she was getting cold.
Bou-san nods, agreeing. Not seeing the woman standing right beside him. "It looks like that's all we can do. The problem is what to do with these children?"
John adds. "Indeed, and neither do we want to divide our energies. Do we go all together?"
"There is a little problem there." The figure nods, "That is why you all should snap out of it and remember!" She playfully scolds, her tone carrying a light air of teasing lilt in her delivery yet, despite the tone, her voice has a warmth to it— a hidden tenderness that makes it clear she's concern for them.
Naru sighs as the woman kept pouting while John continues. "Only either myself or Takigawa-san can stay behind, but Takigawa-san is more suited than myself for jobs like sealing the classrooms."
Bou-san though scratches the back of his head, eyes glancing to the side towards Naru. "I'm not too confident with Naru and myself." The monk didn't know why he was that unconfident working with Naru, when he has been working with the poker-face for a while now.
"We'll find a way." Naru says, ignoring Bou-san's meaning.
Bou-san looked at Naru, blinked in a questioning stare. "You'll find a way? What about exorcism?"
"If it doesn't work, at the key moment there'll always be a way."
The monk gave out a weak chuckle, "Don't joke. We'd be in trouble if you were to do anything."
"There is no way to call for an ambulance."
"You better not get to that point, Naru." The golden weaved hair woman stopped pouting as she listened to the conversation, her eyes turning to look at Naru with a challenging stare. Although Naru knows Qi-gong, with Naru's frail physique, and his long recovery and recent discharge from hospital, the others knew they couldn't risk repeating the same mistake.
Ignoring the woman, Naru turns to face away and speak to John. "John, will you be fine here by yourself?"
"No problem."
"Take Mai with you please, Naru! Leave John and the others to my care."
"Mai, come with us."
Mai gave out a wry smile, her eyes fully conveying her lack of confidence as well making Naru frown at the people he was going with. "Yeah, if I can be of any help."
"Just don't make trouble for Naru, Ok?" Mai blushes at the nudge she was given by Bou-san.
"I believe in you, Mai~!"
"Wu—it looks like—"
"Then that's decided! John, the children are in your care then."
Naru sighs, turning his back making sure he cannot see the figure already standing next to John. "Be careful down here. Watch your back."
"Got it!" John nods while Akemi, who was watching behind him looked up to stare at Naru's retreating back. A small smile coming by her lips as she also watched his back as they left.
'Sorry if this is the only thing I can do...'
°•○●●○•°
Coming down the flight of stairs, Naru, Bou-san and Mai saw five figures surrounding the bonfire they created. All five figures lifted their heads to look towards them, Mariko, Tsumura, Takaru, Takami, and Ai.
'What a relief, I was worried to death– the children –' just as Mai was about to step forward, she stops. Feeling a heavy air fall from her head to her feet that threatened her to also fall with it. Her heart rate sped up, her own energy somehow crashing up as she stared at the five children before them. 'We couldn't just be left with children— At least, at least either Bou-san or I would have stayed behind, because leaving the children alone would be impossible with Naru's personality!'
"Wait!" Bou-san and Naru turned at Mai's call, reaching out she grasped Bou-san's and Naru's sleeves tightly. With a shaky breath, she says. "Ne! Why don't we go back?"
Gathering any strength she has, Mai stepped backwards while pulling the pair of them. Trying her best to keep things normal as to not give herself away,
"Hey! Mai!"
Naru frowned, looking at Mai. Searching for anything—
"It's strange—" The children looked at them without making a sound while Mai kept her eyes focused on them.
Bou-san tilts his head in confusion, facing Mai he asked: "Strange? What is strange?"
"It really is strange. There definitely must be some mistake, we must have missed something upstairs..."
"What is strange, you fellow?" Mai felt her forehead give an irk, she was already panicking enough and they just won't listen to her!
"Do my instincts not count?— Ne! Go back!" Mai pulls at their clothes harder, trying her best to nudge them back.
"Then what about the children?" Naru asks, though his voice held no question nor worry but instead he asked like every tests— checking.
With a shaky breath, Mai took a risk, her heart already screaming loudly in her chest— So it all came pouring out, "Why, why would there be two vehicles?!
"This—"
"Bou-san drove one of the vehicles, then who drove the other one?! Neither Naru nor I have a license!"
Suddenly, Naru grabs Mai's arm and ran, dragging her along, as though they were escaping from something.
"Come, Mai! Bou-san, follow up!" Bou-san responded, immediately grabbing Mai's other hand and running upwards. The sound came like pistol shots.
The children gathers near the doorway, their body twisting unnaturally at the slight movement, their heads snapping towards Mai and others as they watched them run away from them. Without warning, their fragile forms elongated grotesquely, their limbs stretching and distorting like molten wax. The five small children figures hurtled forward in an unnerving silence, their faces frozen in wide-eyed, vacant stares.
"Bou-san!" Their coiled fingers clamped onto the Monk like iron claws, pulling him into their writhing mass. His figure darkened immediately, swallowed by an inky blackness that spread across his body like an infection, his form dissolving into an unrecognizable shadow but before he could be fully engulfed, Bou-san with all his strength yells out and throws something in their direction which landed by Mai's feet.
"Naru!" the vajra, the blade Bou-san uses to aide him in exorcising spirits flashed a pale gold in the darkness and Mai was quick to pick it up without thought and shrugged off Naru's hold on her. Ignoring his call as she started chanting the nine cuts.
"Rin Pyō Tō Sha Kai Jin Retsu Zai Zen!" Lifitng up the vajra, Mai slashed it right across the center, but it was already late. Bou-san's was gone and nowhere to be seen.
"Mai!" This time she could only grab his hand and escape.
"Let's go, Nar—!"
"-Did you mistake us for someone else, nee-san?"
Mai blinked, her heart freezing in her chest as she lifts her hand holding what should be Naru's.
While their laughter still reverberated across the stage, Mai stared at the small hand of a different child that replaced Naru.
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And here's to another chapter! Cheers! Ahahahahah, this chapter is still unedited so some parts may change if I felt like editing it again HAHAAH but still I hope you guys enjoy the chapter.
I missed writing so much huhu it's been a while and so if you guys notice anything missing or different from the way I write, it's just me overcoming writer's block and getting back to it! Hope you guys also noticed that I'm using the bears again to point out point of views, I just decided to use it. It's just so nostalgic for me! ahahahaha
I love reading your reviews and I'm so glad that you guys are still waiting for my updates! I sincerely appreciate you guys! Thank you so much for the support! With that, I'm already working on the next part which could be the last part for this case or second to last!
Sooo hope you guys enjoy the chapter!
