"4." Akemi smiled as Naru did indeed have 4 fingers lifted up behind his back. Another turn and this continued a few more times with Akemi getting it right as she ate a few peeled sweet fruits, no trouble whatsoever in her expression as Naru watched her mildly impressed over her intuition that should be down-right frightening for others— but this was Naru. He's always impressed over anything she does, Akemi noticed.

The night had completely passed, with Akemi feeling lighter than ever. Now she knew why she was so comfortable with Naru as last night dreams were remembered; hearts were opened and tears were shed. Some of it of course only pertained to Akemi. Her voice had fully returned too, though a bit scratchy but it became a better option than not speaking at all. She hasn't yet told Naru of her findings and thought it would be better said later after her check-up where they've decided on coming back to the others.

On another turn, Akemi paused and gave an accusing frown. The sight of her contorted expression gave Naru an uneasy feeling.

"Are you flipping me off?"

Naru rolled his eyes at her teasing accusation, placing his cup down on her bed table. "As if I would flip you off."

"Just kidding~!" Akemi let out chiming laugh as she admitted her jesting. The calm air stayed quite a long time inside the room, it appeared comfortable and warm as it would be when they aren't in the middle of a dangerous case. Speaking of, "So when will Yasuhara be coming?" Akemi asks, plucking another grape off its vine and ate.

"Any time now— and it was decided he would go to the others directly to let him get some quick rest." Akemi hummed, 'Looks like all we are waiting now is my check-up...'

"So what are we going to do about Okobu-sama?"

After embarrassingly crying it out last night, Akemi had finally the time to process things over that made what she learned today a bit numb to the heart: Her parent's cause of death, the moment she awakened her abilities, the thoughts she had believed for 9 years of her being. She was going through an internal crisis that night.

But thinking things over, didn't she already knew her blindness was inevitable? Albeit she thought it would just pile up over time and not be taken so quickly. Her parents had also declared peace, her aunt following along with them. So why was she so hung up?

Akemi sighed when she remembered last night, a flow of overwhelming emotions just came straight out when she comprehended everything. Looking back at it now, Akemi in some way felt it was all pride talking.

'I let myself get broken by a piece of wood— how stupid is that?' but she knew better than to let pride get to her, it was nothing. However, with pride out of the way, something else seeped through. With the truth unveiled, she felt lighter than ever since she finally had answers to the doubts, the weight of being the reason of death by her parents now nonexistent— the questions— the what ifs. But in a way, it wasn't enough. All this heartfelt— all those questions, just for something like this?

The heiress didn't know that with knowing the truth she indeed would feel lighter, but wouldn't lightness pertain to emptiness as well?

But she in herself knew— it wasn't even her fault. Even with an intuition as great as hers aren't able to guess such outcomes. All she could do now was keep moving forward, yet the regret of letting herself drown on thoughts and things that turns out wasn't even her fault— she could keep regretting the past, or simply accept that it all happened for a reason and each reason led me to where Akemi is now. But still it wouldn't hurt to get some revenge. For I am after all a petty person and holds grudges extremely well.

"Are we planning on exorcising it?" Akemi continued to ask, but once again was greeted with no response from Naru. Having sensed the sudden change of temperature, she asked another. "So any news about my eyes?"

Although her voice was healing perfectly, the bandage around Akemi's eyes are still there. She itched to take it off,

"..." was all Naru had said and Akemi wasn't naive to think he hadn't heard her.

"You don't have to hide it, you know? I know its already official."

The results weren't yet delivered— the check-up over her eyes has not yet been done, but Naru stared at the heiress in front of him with an unreadable expression as she remained sitting on her hospital bed with a soft accepting smile on her lips and instead of responding, Naru takes an orange on her table and started stripping it of its skin as well as the whites, making sure only the pure orange color remained. "Eat some more."

For once, Naru didn't want to discuss things over with Akemi— the case or her abilities are out of the topics of conversation, Akemi realized but these were things that would pop out, one way or another even when Naru himself deems it out of question.

Maybe next time. Akemi thought to herself when she sensed the hidden turmoil over Naru's thoughts. The scent of his aura, currently messy reminding Akemi of dark hovering clouds in the sky, with threats of rain and cold wind.

°•○●●○•°

They let themselves stay in their own bubble. The two exchanging fruits to pass the time— and like Naru had said, Yasuhara reached the Yoshimi house early and informed Naru, that he has plans on going to the hospital to take them back as it seemed nobody back in the Yoshimi house is able after the zombie event last night. Naru frowned when he heard that topic on the other side of the phone.

There with a crazy chaos while here was peace and quiet with little to none lingering threats (for now). Naru wondered what they had gotten into this time, as it always seemed to happened whenever he was not around to watch over.

Not long after that, a nurse and a doctor came to check on Akemi's eyes a few minutes after Yasuhara has parked in the hospital. Even though, Akemi knew of the results, she pleaded for Naru and Yasuhara to give her privacy and the two willingly waited out the room. Naru had asked if she wanted any of her family informed, of course this exchange went into shushed ears only— just him, Akemi and Yasuhara to hear.

When Akemi shook her head, only then did the boys agreed to leave her alone and the nurses started gushing.

"My, having such dashing boys waiting for you— you are very lucky." The old nurse admiringly spoke. Naru's visuals were no joke— and if Ayako's words were to go by, with her details— Yasuhara also has his charms.

"I wouldn't consider it fortunate if I myself am unable to admire their appearance." Akemi elegantly smiled while she sensed the sudden pause of the nurse beside her. Akemi mischievously snickered, she didn't mean to put the nurse into an awkward state.

"Now now, you can't say that Maruyama-san, we haven't checked your eyes yet." The doctor, from what she had heard and sensed is female, chastised.

"I'm just jesting..."

Akemi gave a small apology and the doctor gave a comforting laugh. "Now, if your magazines and commercials held no editing, I know that you too are a beauty to behold— so why don't we remove the bandage now so that you can go back to your pretty self."

Akemi took a deep breath in, feeling how the wrapped tight bandage on her head loosened and soon was left but the sense of loss.

"Okay Maruyama-san, can you open your eyes for me?" Akemi didn't hesitate one bit and lifted her eyes.

Silenced passed for a while, her face expressionless as she spoke.

"Please don't let this information slip to anyone. I'll give the number of my doctor back home, so can you please inform him of your findings?" Akemi waited for a few seconds, not caring if they nodded or even responded but from the solemn atmosphere, they seem to have come to an agreement to keep quiet.

Slowly, a soft smile twitched on her lips as Akemi thanked them for their efforts and sat waiting for her papers declaring her okay to walk out the hospital.

"I told you," Akemi mutters, looking down to where her feet should be hanging, swinging them softly front and back as it was revealed that she was officially blind, now with medical proof: her optical nerves were placed under great pressure and are damaged, resulting to visual impairment. Permanently.

°•○●●○•°

KA— CHAK!

"Yo! Long time no see." Bou-san and the others just came back from once again searching the grounds after Ayako's cleansing exorcism to make sure no spirits were left behind but the cold air that greeted them gave them a shuddering breath.

W-what is it with this atmosphere? The group immediately thought to themselves as they stepped inside. Their steps hesitant in such a way that traps would catch them the moment they stepped wrong.

Inside was Akifumi-san and his family, who were soundly asleep— fortunately, with Ayako's exorcism they were no longer possessed; Yasuhara-san, who was struggling with a bunch of copies waved to them in greeting while Lin-san was replaying the video for Naru and Akemi to supervise, specifically Naru who was bent down, leaning forward to observe the tapes as Akemi sat on the corner of the room opposite of Naru's position, where in her place held the single chairs placed across from each other with a coffee table in between them.

"Ah, Akemi-san, I'm glad you are okay!" Akemi smiled and greeted John along with the others while Naru glanced coldly towards Bou-san and John in the midst of waving their hands. The aloof boss turned his face back to the screen without so much as a word of greeting.

"Hmph."

A touching reunion— complete fail.

"He's in a rotten mood." Yasuhara meekly smiles towards the newcomers and they all knew to keep their mouth shut about anything that might trigger the already brooding male.

"I guess the origin of the curse isn't the Rokobu spirits-"

"It's Okobu-sama." Bou-san who planned on informing Naru of everything they found, was quickly cut-off. While he was gone Bou-san and the others tried to uncover the mystery themselves to prove their greatness to Naru but here he was, foiling their plan and so they could only stare at Naru blankly in shock.

"How... how did you know?!" Mai gaped at the emotionless boy in front of her, Naru picking up a few of the papers kept on the side when he finished analyzing the tapes.

"My brain is different from yours."

Mai's lips twitched, "Listen you-!"

Akemi remained quiet on the sides as she sensed everything she can over her friends, not bothering to listen to Mai's rant at the moment and simply, 'see' them. Her brows furrowed in concern when she remembered everything Lin had informed the two the moment they came back. They had found out that a lot has happened after only having missing for one night: A fire broke out on the main house and somehow last night they were also attacked by entities. From the looks of it though, they had managed it by themselves and everyone was as okay as they can be from what they had just experienced but it seemed none of them got some good rest.

"I discovered it!"

Attention was quick to change as everyone turned to Yasuhara who called out. "The content?"

Yasuhara cleared his throat before reading out the page. "Curse of the Guardian god. The god honored in a certain shrine as Okoboshi-san is an ebisu god, so that indicates Okobu-sama. Ever since they started honoring Okoboshi-sama, it is said that the storms and high waves have stopped. So it was highly respected but if the villagers or Iwai failed to give honor, disaster immediately followed. Especially the Iwai household will be cursed and many people will die."

"What's an Iwai?" Mai muttered to herself as it seemed the others also didn't know.

"Iwai?" Naru frowned, Ayako looked at Akemi who just ignored Naru's question. "Matsuzaki-san?"

Ayako straightened at the sudden direct of question, confusedly blinking and glancing towards Naru and Akemi. Did something happened between the two? Akemi usually answer anything Naru had no idea about. "Oh, it's like a guardian of a shrine."

"Umm, what's all that mean then?" Bou-san spoke timidly, and Naru looked over at them with his cold-hearted eyes.

Naru straightened up to his full height, letting out a sigh as it seemed no one was in their right minds as of now. "There's a shrine, and behind that, a cave. " He started off before making his way towards one of the available single chairs, which happened to be in front of Akemi. But he remained solemn in his expression as he sat. "The cave where corpses wash ashore. There's a small shrine and an Ebisu called Okobu-sama enshrined there. From the cave towards the direction of the shrine there is a path that is carved in the steep cliff, and there is an old stone stairway— why such immense construction done? Naturally, they decided to do it because of a purpose. Why would they carry out such immense construction merely for the sake of a boring cave. Of course, it's because that shrine's goshintai is there. They were forced to do it for that reason."

'...Ah.' They all looked at Naru, stunned.

"Moreover, if it was an insignificant god, they wouldn't have done that. The being enshrined in that shrine is a god that possesses manifestations that they believed to be great power enough to make them do that."

"I see. Then that's the current legend?"

Naru nods, picking up one of the refilled teacups on the table. "That's right. I expected there to be a legend around this area about a god possessing great power. That's why I had Yasuhara researched such documents."

"Okobu-sama is an ebisu god and furthermore, it frequently calmed the disasters of the sea. However, it's also a malicious god that curses if it fails to be worshipped. That shrine, which is considered to be dedicated to Okobu-sama is now separated from the small shrine. This house is what's separating them. In all likelihood, this was originally part of the shrine. It would be logical to assume the compound was sold off in pieces and the grounds were divided and sold into lots."

"If there were a guardian of the shrine, he probably lived near the shrine. I'm guessing this area is it but the area here and the guardian was living was also split up when the riot ringleaders' graves were built— that's the best guess. In addition, this area was eventually sold as a private residence. Okobu-sama believes that the ones who live here are the guardians who should honor it but the ones who should be honoring it are not. So it cursed them. That legends proves it but the whole family hasn't been killed yet, it let some remain so they can become guardians to honor it."

Mai gazed at Naru with glittering eyes, staring at him in awe. 'Naru is really amazing... he was able to comprehend the situation so easily...'

"So what does it have to do with Akemi?" At the mention of her name, Naru turned to face Akemi, who too decided to face him. Both expressions remained cold towards each other, however, it went unnoticed when Naru's eyes glazed over as Akemi's head slightly tilted with brows arched in challenge and eyes meeting his directly. Naru looked to notice a small frown passing her lips, making his further twitched.

"Being a god, it sensed great spiritual energy on Akemi's mother— the Maruyama clan has always been gifted with this as stated by their history and proofing that we had done." Naru answered, not once taking their eyes off each other.

Akemi softly scoffs as she remembered it, Naru did it on her grandfather's birthday. She wouldn't be able to bring him home if she didn't have leverage.

"Furthermore, he had sensed Akemi's own energy and wanted her to remain as his guardian that would supply his every needs. A hafuri."

Mai blinked, 'Hafuri? What's a a Hafuri?'

And it seemed she spoke of it out loud as Ayako spoke: "A Hafuri is used for a person who delivers oracles or takusen in a state of spirit possession or kamigakari. They are also like caretakers of the shrine, with full dedication of serving them."

Bou-san met eyes with Ayako, having noticed the tension. It was safe to say Akemi's anger was directed over Naru when she didn't answer his question as she usually does but it was different when it also happened the same over Mai. The two nodded, letting each know that this was unnoticed. "So what are we planning to do next?"

Akemi's eyes narrowed as Naru kept quiet for a while, lifting a hand to rest his cheek. Naru observed her expression as he said. "I'm going to exorcise the Okobu-sama."

Naru observed as Akemi pulled a face at his words.

"Do we need to? Can't they just honor him?" Mai asks, her words making both Akemi and Naru frown further at the thought.

"If they forget to, it'll curse again." Naru says, his expression dark and glooming.

"But it'll be fine for a while, right? Even if the opponent is Ebisu, it's a type of god. It's worse than dealing with a monster." Bou-san adds in agreement to doing nothing. "It was you who said that there's no way to get rid of a monster, remember?"

"Yet the one he pertained to was dealt by me." Akemi spoke for the first time since the others reunited with them and the others gulped at her sneer. She huffed, "Let it go? I think not."

Naru distantly watched as Akemi's dark expression gave a grin that sent chills to the bones of others. "The so called god threatened the lives of children and other innocents all because he wasn't worshipped? It even included my family in its psychotic needs. How disgusting."

'They've gone mad!' Mai sweat dropped as she watched Naru and Akemi's dark auras. 'Completely bonkers!' Bou-san included in his thoughts, both of them shivered.

"It gave us such a fun experience, it's only fair that we should reciprocate." Naru finally pulls his eyes away from Akemi and turns to the others. "Or did you want to retreat?" They flinched at the glacial stare.

'He looks scary!' They glanced at the side where Akemi was glaring at the wall as soon as Naru broke off their connection. 'They're both scary...'

Ayako huffs, crossing her arms over her chest. "Well, I can't do it! There's no tree there that can help me."

John nods solemnly along, "Me neither... I can only deal with spirit possession. If it's a god, I don't know what to do."

Naru glances towards the mechanic. "Lin?"

"I don't think we can do it. Naru, I suggest keeping our hands clear of this one."
"Bou-san?" The more he called, the more Naru's expression turned sour.

"I could try... but maybe we should listen to Lin and not do it."

A scoff came out of his lips, "I don't need anyone who is incompetent."

"What did you say!?"

'Oh, he's manipulating them into it!' Mai bit her lips as she watched all of their interactions but the high school student couldn't help but notice one silent person and it seemed Bou-san and the others did too as Bou-san points towards Akemi.

"Well, what about Akemi then? Let her do it, she looks fired up!" Naru was quick to disagree.

"No? What do you mean?" Bou-san and the others blinked at the sudden change.

Akemi turned to face where she knew Naru is and was about to open her mouth as she stood but Naru beat her to it and ignored her glare.

"No, you are not doing anything. You're staying here." The others watched with gaping mouths as they got crossed out of their world, with Naru and Akemi having theirs.

"Well, that's unfair! if you're going, then I'm going too!" Throughout their car ride back, she pondered things over and realized Naru's pride has been hurt too. And she knew he wouldn't stand back and leave the place just the way it is.

"Life isn't always fair." Akemi gave out a sly smile when that was all Naru could give.

"Ara~? Aren't you, motivating? Since when did you become a Philosopher?" The others froze,

Naru opened his eyes and lifted them to look up at Akemi who was standing tall over him as he remained sitting. "Feisty, aren't you?"
"Only when you are being mean."

Naru gave out a smirk, his brow arching in reaction to her words. With her words, Naru stood up gaining equal ground as they glared at each other. Akemi stepped closer, "I'm mean?"

"Yes and a bully at that." Akemi internally scratched her head in irritation, 'Idiotic scientist! Why can't you just tell me what really is wrong with you?!'

Naru and Akemi was silent until Naru says: "No."

"No? Is that the only word that you know? 'No'? "

"You might find my vocabulary a lot flexible compared to the others here!" Naru steps closer.

Akemi and Naru starts to quarrel unaware that they were getting closer and closer to each other.
"Oh I bet that vocabulary only has the synonyms of 'No'!"

"You are not going when it seems that you can't even handle protecting yourself." Naru says and Akemi was triggered. "You should have run." Now those hidden in deep thoughts were starting to rise, Akemi understood that he pertained about Kazuyasu-san. That instead of trying to double her efforts of escaping, she opted to just exorcise her way to freedom.

"Well forgive me, it seems that my future senses weren't working to their hundred percent when I'm being choked to death by a man twice my size and so happened to have additional abilities at his disposal." Akemi let out a sigh, slumping in defeat and why is he acting like this? So affected? "Why are you so angry on how I dealt with Kazuyasu-san, Naru? It's over and done with." She wanted to get something from Naru. He has been acting strange, Akemi wanted to know what was wrong. No. She wanted Naru to already tell her what was wrong.

Akemi knew it, she was not naive. Naru wouldn't act in such a way if his pride wasn't hurt. It further heightened when she got hurt under his watch and was blaming himself and planned on removing his feelings for it. What she hated about Naru is when he tries to hide these things, placing them as something else entirely. It hurt to see him so affected but has no way of responding to it efficiently.

Just then Naru saw the weakened state of Akemi, her body limp and unmoving under Kazuyasu-san hold. The sudden irratic beating in his chest as he held an unconscious Akemi in his arms with no choice but to perform CPR when he didn't hear any heartbeat in her chest. Her tired red eyes and loss of state then he remembered his brother— no.

"No." Naru then left the room.

BLAG—!

But Akemi saw it. His slight change of thought and realization seeped through, and followed him quick outside as she held his aura in sight, she bumped into a wall a few times but she was adamant to leave the room.

BLAG—!

Leaving the others behind in thick silence. Having heard the door close the second time.

"Whoo! Is it hot in here?" Bou-san said as the moment Akemi and Naru left the room, the others couldn't move an inch while Mai and Masako stared at the closed doors worry and hurt etched on their faces.

°•○●●○•°

Naru

"Naru, wait!" Naru walked out the room, trying his best to remove any thoughts of Akemi but the sound of her voice immediately ruined that effort. "—Ah!" When he heard a few scuffles and desks she bumped into while making her way over, Naru stopped his step and walked back to hold her arm, helping her steady.

"Careful, you know that you are in no condition to-" Naru flinched at the sight of Akemi. After feeling his touch, she gave out a weak breath, her hands slightly quivering, for what? Naru didn't know but when she spoke Naru almost gave out at the sound she made as she pleaded.

"Naru, please don't walk away. You know I can't follow so easily." Something in his chest trembled. HIs hold on her arm, wanted to tighten its grip, but he couldn't risk of hurting her further. Despite the sudden silence between them, Naru's thoughts were not. 'Then why bother following?' That was what he wanted to say.

'Then don't follow me.'

'Why are you here?'

'Why follow me knowing you couldn't even cross the hallway unscathed?'

'Are you so stupid that-'

"Sorry." His words just happened to slip. Naru kept still, observing Akemi's small smile as he apologized.

"It's fine..." Naru felt his lips twitched at her words, 'No, you're not.'

He didn't mean to hear it when he planned on coming back inside the hospital room but he did. Naru remained standing outside that night, keeping quiet as Akemi clutched her blanket right on her figure and endured her choked sobs, some coughs coming out due to her throat. Naru heard how she tried her best to suppress her pain with a blank expression in his face but the hands on his sides remained clenched the whole night till he was confident enough she was asleep.

"Naru, you can't send Bou-san or John down to the caves. They are not in a good condition to fight of a god, they're exhausted."

'You're not either.' "Akemi, I said no—"

Akemi cut Naru off, "What would be the difference? I was already blind before-"

"You got hurt, Akemi. That's the difference." Naru blankly spoke out, keeping his tone as emotionless as he can but the way his eyes gleamed and the atmosphere around them turning cold by the second, he is in no way unfeeling. "-you have a personal link to this case. Its becoming dangerous."

"-And so was the Mansion case-'"

"And remember what happened to that?" Akemi scoffed, unknowingly pouting as she thought, 'Yeah, I exorcised it and no longer walks among the living nor dead.' "-It would be best if you maintain distance, we are exorcising Okobu-sama later and you are not allowed to be near even a few meters of it."

"So why didn't you just left me in the hospital?" Akemi lifted a hand to touch his that held her arm, her head tilting as she stared at nothing but ahead, knowing she was missing his eyes by a mile.

Naru was quick to respond, "Knowing you, it's better to keep my eye on you."

Akemi lets out a sigh, her stiff shoulders loosening and pushes his hand away from her arm to hold it between hers. "I'm not a baby, Naru. I don't need constant attention. You don't need to worry."

'And yet I still do.' Naru confusingly thought to himself, unable to think properly with the threats of the case fully looming itself around them. And the only thing left that he thought he could say was: "I'm not letting you get hurt because of some stupid belief."

The two remained quiet, but Naru saw how Akemi lightly nodded at his words, letting him know she was listening. 'Why are you still trembling?'

'Are you cold?'

A few more seconds passed when Akemi finally responded, her voice weak and whispering but Naru heard it clear. "I don't want you getting hurt either... any of you." Her hold on his hand tightened with her gaze lowered as though insecure and afraid.

Naru's words flowed smoothly out of his mouth, he couldn't control it. One he always believed he lacked, whenever Akemi is present.

"I promised your family to keep you safe, and I plan on keeping that promise." Akemi once again nods, knowing she has calmed down.

"Let me help, Naru...I don't want to lose another..." Akemi softly spoke, as though speaking of it would deem it a true event.

'I don't either, so what should I do?' Naru remained quiet.

'How do we compromise?' The two unknowingly asked themselves as they kept close.

Hehehe, advance Merry Christmas! it's been a while I know I know, but I just wanted to update so you guys know that I'm still alive. That this story is still alive! HAHAAH. Though I feel like this chapter is a bit fast paced, I'm not sure of the quarrel between Akemi and Naru was that believable but still! Akemi and Naru's first on-scene quarrel! HOOOOO!