N/A:Andddd! The forgotten children case comes to a close! phewww! AHAHAHAH all other chapters before the end of this case was also edited and added guys! So I suggest going back first so that whatever comes on this chapter won't be so confusing.

AKEMI A FEW MINUTES EARLIER

"Emi-san, Haruto-san, I have to be honest at this moment, I did not come to your place out of a whim." Akemi told the siblings as they had finished their dishes and are now sitting at the living room.

She read the confusion surrounding them until Haruto gave off a surprised air, his voice cheering as he looks at Akemi with bright wide eyes and a smile to match. "Are— are you saying that this is like one of them shows?!"

Akemi tilts her head as she and Emi turns to him in question, "One of them shows?"

Emi asked her brother who nodded continuously without finishing her words. "You know! Like surprise visits from celebrities and we get to win thousand of dollars!"

"I assure you, it is not one of those cases..." Akemi felt a bead of sweat drop down her forehead as she gave Haruto a wry smile, weakly chuckling at his words.

Haruto slumped in disappointment at the heiress words, Emi giving a sigh at her brother's humiliation.

But quickly shaking it off, Emi then goes back to focus on Akemi. "Then what is it that drove you here, Ojou-sama?"

Having gone back to the topic, Akemi gave a small smile. "I came here looking for someone, and I believe you have him within your property."

Emi and Haruto at her words paled. Their whole body freezing in cold sweat as they stared at her, without meaning to— their eyes drifted over one of the doors. Emi with hesitant words, started. "You..."

Akemi however waved her hands in comfort, her voice soft and smooth to somewhat ease them. "Do not worry, I'm not here to press charges, if anything I would like to show my appreciation for saving my brother-in-law! Someone special to me has been looking for him for quite a long time now."

Emi and Haruto let out a breath they have been holding until they once again froze, eyes gaping as they stared at Akemi with surprised eyes. "B- BROTHER-IN-LAW?!"

In front of them Akemi remained unmoved, her bright smile that passed her lips at the mention remained plastered on her lips. "If you don't mind me prying, but may I see where you kept him?"

"Speaking in English"

"Speaking on the Other Side"

"Speaking in Japanese"

'Thoughts'

Emi and Haruto directed Akemi with Oliver beside her towards the door where they kept Gene.

Her heart couldn't help but keep going faster as she got closer to the one person Naru has been with all his life, one he has been determined to finding for two years now. Deep in her mind, Akemi could not help but think, 'Years of all Naru's embarrassing stories lay there close to her!' Emi opens the door, letting Akemi and Oliver in first as the sibling, actual owners of the house felt it better to give them personal space and their privacy.

Akemi clears her throat, stepping inside as the scent of morning forest enveloped her, carrying with it the earthy aroma of damp soil, It was as if the forest itself were waking up— the air alive with possibilities. She could almost hear the rustling of small creatures in the underbrush, the soft flutter of wings as birds greeted the day, and the distant call of a deer as it moved gracefully through the trees. Akemi could just picture it, how the golden beams of the sun passed by the branches of trees and touching the warm ground.

And inside, Akemi let out an awe of how warm and comforting Gene's aura is. Her chest clenched at the thought that Naru almost lost such a bright person beside him. His twin most of all.

"We'll give you privacy." Emi said behind the heiress and Oliver as she closes the door behind her shut with her brother in tow, Akemi gracefully thanks them with her beaming smiles before it fully closed.

"Gene, it seems your brother and my friends have gotten themselves into trouble..." Akemi announces as soon as the door was fully shut and only her and Gene were left inside the room. Her purple gaze remained on the most focused area of the aura permitting around the room. Right on the middle, where Gene lays still and unmoving, not showing any signs that he had heard her but energy around him showed that he was aware somewhat and Akemi smiles at the sight of green forest aura responding somewhat to her presence.

"Hm~ You are already there trying to connect with them though, right?" Akemi lightly shakes her head, her voice sighing as though weakly scolding the guy but her expression showed otherwise an understanding. His little brother was in trouble, of course he would be there to see it all, front and center.

Seeing his aura reaching out, Oliver had guided Akemi to a seat at the chair beside the bed. The heiress stretches out her hand, grasping Gene's unmoving one in a comforting grip. "Hello, Akemi. It's nice seeing my sister-in-law again."

The environment around them was as usual when it came to the Other Side, dark and shrouded with thick mist that covered their feet and made it difficult to see the surroundings except the very building in front of them.

Having sensed her, Gene sent the heiress a sweet-kind smile that can be compared to hers. Though Akemi's smile makes her eyes small and comes off as closed, a mischievous glint passed by her eyes, elegantly smiling as she looks around to see Gene and her standing in front of an abandoned building, that seemed to only have two floors.

Akemi knew when a bold teasing was being directed at her, she does it all the time with Naru and when it came to Naru, Akemi is always shameless. "Hello to you too, Gene. It seems you are already here to help them!"

Gene reciprocates the bright smile plastered on her lips, his eyes warm and greeting her with open arms— completely opposite to his brother's sharp unapproachable glares yet both brothers held the equal barred looks that makes it impossible for others to fully read their thoughts and emotions through their eyes.

Seeing it, Akemi felt herself understand why the two brothers are protective over their own. With growing up with a hard upbringing would do that to any person.

"I had forced myself to get here actually–"Gene gave out a wry smile at Akemi's disapproving look. "I know, I know! Letting myself wander farther my body increases the chances of my death but I cannot just leave my little brother in harms way, right?"

Akemi sighs, letting Gene have his win. "So you have not yet contacted Mai then?"Gene shook his head, his gaze turning to stare at the school building.

"Out of all them, the only one I can contact is Mai."Gene let his lips turn to a concerned frown. "And the only way I can contact her is if she were to go to a dream-like state but I doubt she would be going to sleep anytime with Noll's temper flared up today."With his last words, Gene gives Akemi a blunt look but the heiress nodded, as though she hasn't heard the last part he said.

"And with the problem so close around her, Mai's defense mechanisms must also be keeping her alert..."Akemi nods in understanding, her french accent slowing her speech a bit."But I think I can somewhat help with contacting Naru, the red bracelet I gave him should be enough to protect him from any tricks of the spirits around so whatever is keeping them trapped won't affect him as much as the others, but the problem is I cannot fully show myself to him for a long time unless the spirits notice me and fight back."

Gene nods, and seeing his reaction Akemi clasps her fingers behind her, letting her golden locks hop behind her as she straightened."With that, Do you mind if I come along then brother-in-law?"

"Oh sister-in-law, your presence is most welcome especially if it means seeing my little brother get flustered." Gene smiles making Akemi giggle as Gene switches to Japanese and so she unclasps her fingers and gestures towards the building with soft hands.

"After you." She says but Gene gently shook his head and equally gestures ahead of them and repeats her words, wanting her to go first.

"Please, after you!" The two beaming people with flowery smiles on their face stood in front of the dark bleak building, the environment surrounded by thick mist and everything cloaked in darkness. Their mannerism and behavior far from the contrasting darkness and grave situation they were in.

••

BACK TO NARU AND THE OTHERS

"Naru, run!" Without thought just in time for Mai to finish her words, the stoic boss grabs Mai's arm and pulled her to the direction upstairs.

"Come, Mai! Bou-san follow me!" Naru says, keeping his eyes on the golden locks that disappeared at the turn at the stairs.

Naru followed, keeping his hold tight on Mai's arm as to not get each other lost. "Get to any of the rooms, just don't stay in the hallways, he has them guarding it!"

"Bou-san!"

"Bou-san!" Both girls called out to the monk, when the figure stopped her run and made haste to turn and run back, Naru felt his heart spike and reach to grab Akemi's arm to stop her from running into danger, but only a tingling sensation was felt in his fingers as her arm passed by his touch like air.

"Don't wait up for me! I'll save Bou-san, you both go now!"

Naru clicked his tongue at hearing Akemi's words, "Mai! Come on!"

"Let's go, Naru!" Naru grabs the high schooler as she tried saving Bou-san. It took everything within him to not look back as he ran with Mai behind him. 'She can do it. She'll make it. She has to!'

Sliding open one of the rooms, Naru went inside, tugging Mai behind and closing the door. The sudden adrenaline rush was still keeping him on his toes as he panted,

Looking around, it seemed they were on one of the storage rooms that were vacant. "Are you okay, Mai?—!"

Naru looked back by the doors, seeing an empty space. His gaze stunned as he looked around the empty room. It was only him there.

'Wasn't I holding unto Mai?' His steps became firm and quickly decisive as he marched his way back towards the door, planning on going back to look for the part-time assistant but coiled hands sprung up from nowhere, gripping him tight, stopping him from any movement. 'Damn it!'

Then he too was covered up in darkness.

"Pardon my intrusion," That was the first he heard of her voice. He thought nothing of it, how it was a sound he had never heard of— like the soft, lilting sound of wind chimes swaying gently in a quiet breeze, a sound that's both ethereal and soothing, yet faintly offbeat, as if not quite of this world.

Still he thought nothing of it at first as he simply stood beside Lin. Just waiting to finally see the site.

So when Lin asked if he found her appealing, his thoughts drifted back towards the first words she has spoken to him. "...You... have quite a handsome voice...!"

'Do I really...?' It caught him off guard of course— he was used to the shy glances and some elderly praising his looks whenever he and Gene endeavored, of course with his brother with him— the gentle smiles and well-mannerism he projected, they would prefer him quick compared to that who is sharp mouthed and rarely smiles.

'This is just the usual, she'll get over it within this day once she's overworked.' And still if he were alone without Gene, his personality itself drives any attraction a girl may feel for him fly away quick.

"Do you find her appealing?" Naru paused writing on his notes when Lin's question reached his thoughts once more. The sight of her turning to face them, revealing her bright purple eyes flashed in his thoughts naturally. When he looked at them, it seemed to be covered in a light haze yet it carries a sense of serenity intertwined with subtle intrigue. He could see serenity in her indeed, emotionally calm and untroubled, she exuded that of a royal person unable to be touched and regal whatsoever but noting how in between all of that, the subtle intrigue somewhat made something in him disturbed.

Because it was intrigued at him.

It was just a thought though. Just a thought to answer Lin. One that he quickly dismissed and shook off. He had no time for such things.

So Naru expected it all to be over, that she would just be a passing person they meet and soon will have nothing to do with. Like usual, however he hadn't expected the next day of first meeting her that she had something more to offer.

"What about her?" He asked Lin, not even bothering to lift his gaze out of the folder articles he was reading and even turned a page. The very articles that she has given him.

When Lin hesitated on speaking, that was when Naru could tell it was serious. Folding the articles, he fully turns to focus on Lin. "Explain."

And Lin's words came easily out of his mouth. "I noticed this yesterday, when Maruyama-san has left us after and both of us where looking around the school premises." Naru nods, waiting for Lin. "I happen to see her on school grounds in the midst of practicing and her mana was visibly bigger compared to the others."

Naru frowned at that, "Bigger how?"

Lin turned to him with a somewhat grim expression. "One that could rival yours when you use your PK."

'-and she seems to have no problems whatsoever.' was a connection they didn't need to add as Naru realized why Lin held such a grim expression. "You think she is a PK user?"

Naru watched as Lin shook his head, not at all sure of whatever it is she can do. Meeting someone with a lot of mana could mean a lot of different possibilities. It could be dangerous to oneself like what it does to Naru or a lot of potential— and those two were just a general gist of the possibilities it could mean.

Naru leans back on his chair, legs crossing as his hand lifts itself to his chin as he thought of Maruyama Akemi.

'It seems you are not just a passing person after all, Maruyama-san...'

And it confirmed further when she found out his secret.

"It's about what happened at the Doll case," Akemi started, her eyes turning considerable sharp with every letter out of her mouth. "-when Mai and I fell on the well, Mai and I saw someone... An apparition that led me...doubtinga few things—That is why I am here...I want to know the reason you are here and maybe something personal as to who you are."

"Akemi–"When Naru tried to dissuade the conversation, she cut him off first and he felt a wave of shock hit his whole being.

"Naru. Mai called the apparition that Isaw... as Naru. And I saw that person perfectly clear, andI know that was not you."

Her gaze towards him was cold, this was the first he had ever seen it so cutting towards him. Her purple was far from a serene calm he was used to but instead was showing such a bruising color that Naru could already feel the strain and numbness on his skin like an actual bruise would.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Her voice cut off his thoughts,
"Akemi—"
"Are you really Kazuya Shibuya?" Akemi pushes, Naru noticing how her hands on her side were turning white by how hard she was clenching it.

Naru went silent, if he were to disagree— it would come off he was conning them all and his identity itself was stolen from someone who is unliving. Naru sighed just thinking about it, 'That itself would be a hassle if it were something he would do, then all his actions would be questioned.'

So it seemed at that time there was only one solution. So he told the truth.

With unmoving eyes, Naru spoke— his voice unwavering and even his way of remaining calm showed the truth of his words. "Kazuya Shibuya is my Japanese name. I came here in Japan for a reason and that is looking for my brother, Eugene— that man you saw... He was my twin and I plan on getting him back home after I found out that he died here in Japan."

It was the first time Naru had ever seen her eyes open so wide that it was near amusing. But still he couldn't show such a positive reaction until he saw her clenched fist loosening, he knew— a wave of breath left his shoulders. She believed him.

"Akemi... Tell me about the man you saw on the other side." He asked, as if his words could trigger something and Akemi would explode again. She seemed to hesitate but in the end, she still spoke,

"It wasn't really you? The one on the other side?" Akemi hesitated, wanting to hear it from his voice one more time. 'You're really not some kind of impostor? You're not dead?'

Naru shook his head with a slight frown. "It wasn't me. I was with Lin the whole time– making this." Naru then lifted up a wooden craft, as big as his hand— words scribbled on it that Akemi couldn't read clearly due to the distance.

Naru lowered his hand and placed them back on his pocket, his stare intense. "Now... Tell me about who you saw."
Akemi felt a bead of sweat drop from her forehead as she gave a wry chuckle, "Now I definitely believe it wasn't him... the one on the other side was more friendly." Naru frowned at her words, his brow unknowingly furrowing at hearing them but seeing how the glint in her eyes came back. He knew she meant it as a light conversation.

He sighed, feeling the heaviness on his chest lighten.

Akemi in front of him continues, "He looked exactly like you. I only saw him for a moment, he was standing next to Mai and I when we fell on the well— at first I thought that it was just a hallucination from the fall but—"

"But?" Her sudden pause made Naru curious, why the pause? and so he pushed.

"He was way to good-looking to be you, like someone out of a disney fairy tale vibe." Akemi blurted, sticking out her tongue at him. Showing him she was definitely teasing.

'This girl!' Naru felt the edge of his brow twitch in annoyance, controlling his tone he said: "You do notice that we look exactly alike? He is my paternal twin after all." Naru said dryly, his feet stepping close towards her. Letting him see her expression more clearly as she playfully raises a brow at him, the purple of her eyes now holding a sparkle that hides a clever joke, the light-hearted tug of a joke that's more affectionate than sharp. Far from the cutting bruise she looked at him before.

Now it wasits playful hue, like the color of laughter shared in secret.

"Ara~ are you sure about that? The one on the other side is definitely more good-looking... And friendly too!" Akemi quipped, feeling smug from her retort. Naru inside huffed, 'How could she look so smug saying that nonsense.'and so his hand acted.

"-it is like comparing Honey to vinegar— itai!"

Akemi held the top of her head— feeling it ache from Naru's karate chop. "Stop kidding around and go straight to the point." Naru tried his best to stop his eyes from rolling in impatience.

"Mouh! That hurt!" Akemi pouted, holding the part where he had 'chopped' her head. Pouting as though she was already feeling a bump.

"You—" Naru's words were cut off when someone cleared their throat behind him. The two teens, lifted their gaze and jerked their head to the side seeing Lin standing tall with a brow quirked at them.

"Did I interrupt anything?" Lin asked as his gaze went to Naru and Akemi repeatedly.

He spoke first, "You didn't."
then Akemi followed with, her lips still pouted: "You did."and disappointment was written all over her face as their moment was cut off.

Naru shook his head at Lin, understanding what he was thinking and so Naru, took a step back and went ahead inside the house. Leaving Lin and Akemi behind, a thought lingering at the back of his mind as he didn't know purple could be such a colorful color.

And he felt like there were more sides to it that he would see more in the future. There he can conclude thatPurple is an interesting color.

Then light started coming back to him again.

••

"You're okay!" The darkness in front of him disappears as Noll opens his eyes, though he was quick to wince as sunlight peaked in one of the tree leaves and hit his sight.

A gentle wind breeze brushed passed him as he took in his surroundings from the branch tree he was sitting on gave him a wide view of the natural scenery of a green field. The young Naru felt his brows furrow on his forehead, his lips tugged to a confused frown as he looked around the area of the wide open field he has long since forgotten ever visiting back then.

Movement from under him though took his attention, Claire was standing in front of the tree he was sitting on with a wide satisfied look on her face. Her thick bouncy curls tickling her whole face as she gazed at him with a wide smile.

This was new... Unlike the dreams he remembered— this moment was something he knew never happened. The heart in his chest spiked once, 'Does that mean that at this particular moment, this is really happening now?'

"What happened?"Young Naru asks, remembering that he slipped into darkness when the supernatural phenomenon grasped him back at the empty storage room.

Claire shrugs her shoulders at him, lightly tilting her head. Naru observed the child in front of him, she wore such a fluffy yellow ribbon dress that Naru reminded it of him of balloons by how round and bouncy her dress was. He was filled with nostalgia when he took note of her golden locks with dozen of hair clips."Well, one of the spirits was hiding on the room you picked and took notice of you but don't worry, I got rid of him and locked the room before more of them came looking for you and the others."

"You told me to chose any of the rooms." Noll stared at the girl blandly, tone fully accusing but the girl simply avoided his gaze with a wry chuckle, even picked on her ears to fake not hearing him. Seeing such a disgusting display from the child, Noll could not help but sigh in defeat. Even when he fully heard her mutter under her breath with a pout as to why he bothered complaining when she had already handled it.

"And how about the case? You know what is going on, right?" That got out of her pouting and started explaining.

"Well based on what I could tell, agroup of school children, along with their teacher, went on a field trip to the village but mysteriously disappeared, but you already knew that based on your reaction... So let me add that the children were lured into a hidden area of the forest, where they fell victim to malevolent spirits and died— Oh, flowers!" Claire told him, her eyes gleaming as a cheerful energy wrapped itself around her as she saw the beautiful field of flowers around her. She bends down, plucking each of different colors as she continued to explain. Noll simply frowning at how she was so easily distracted. "The teacher also perished, overwhelmed by guilt and despair when she couldn't save them, you know what overwhelmed means don't you? Mom said it means that its the feeling like something is too much to handle!—"

"Claire."

"-Anyhow! These children became vengeful spirits, trapped in the village. Their pain and anger created a spiritual barrier that isolated the area, warping the memories of anyone who came into contact with the village. This phenomenon explains why both the villagers and the SPR team experienced memory lapses—they were under the influence of the children's spirits."

When she had plucked two of a kind, Claire with her chubby fingers started fiddling with them and twisting them with precise practice. "But that is not the only thing messed up in this village," Noll sighs at the child's usage of words fully straightforward and directly casual as she bites her tongue and focuses for a few second of silence to the crown of flowers she was braiding before continuing. "It turns out that the hauntings are traced back to a tragic history of the village where long ago, a group of children was abandoned by their parents during a harsh famine. The parents, desperate to survive, left their children to die, erasing all memory of them to cope with the guilt."

When she was finally done, Claire gave a wide beaming smile and softly lifts it up and places it on her head. Lifting her gaze, twirling as though asking Noll of his opinion. "How do I look? Pretty right?—"

"..."

"Anyways, the children's spirits, filled with resentment and sorrow, became vengeful. Their anguish lingered in the village, causing the supernatural phenomena. They targeted the living by erasing memories, mimicking the way they were forgotten by their parents."

"Those vengeful spirits from the past, influenced those children of the school that perished in the accident, they were too many for me to handle them one by one although I did try to look for them around the school but it was too much and overwhelming. So I spent my energy to make sure that you guys are untouched instead while Gene and I figured something else out on how to inform you guys and snap out of it. Gene though said he has it covered, I don't know what he is planning, but since he is your brother I'll give him my trust."

"...Gene?"The name of his brother jumped the heart in his chest, yet his expression remained stoic and his brows furrowed further in irritation and now his frown held annoyance. 'What was his brother doing here?'

"Mhm. Gene is perfectly fine, Naru. You don't have to worry anymore." Having read his concern over the living status of his brother, Claire gave him a beaming smile clasping her hand behind her back as she nods. Her waves following her action with a bounce, the flower crown remaining on her head.

'Gene's fine?' Noll tilts his head, staring blankly at the girl as she switched languages. He mutters,"Naru?"

Seeing how unresponsive he was in the scheme of things, Akemi lets out a doubting gaze towards the young Naru. "You... you do know who I am, don't you? I mean the red bracelet I've given you should have protected you..." When she saw how unresponsive he was, Claire pouted her lips. Eyes narrowed as she lifts a brow. "Have you forgotten me, Noll? Did the bracelet not work?"

Silence passed the two kids, both gauging what the other was going to respond with. The two waiting for each other. The kid in front of him sure is familiar though, one he kept locked up to himself and to his brother– though only the truth was all Gene knew but not the moments–'My first imaginary friend, one who I thought only comes out in my dreams but—' Naru blinked, and the little kid that stood before him got replaced by someone older. Someone he now knew in the physical world. 'Now continues to torment me even in my thoughts.'

Her golden hair that used to get tangled like yarn now flowed behind her likes waves. The breeze in this realm combing it carefully now, unlike how it usually did when they were kids in this moment where all it sought to do was ruin and tangle her ball of yarn further. The chubbiness of her fingers slimmed and turned candle-like as she now clasped them in front the skirt of her white dress. The paleness of her skin looked so soft under his gaze and untouched by any physical scars. 'I had my doubts because truly... how could that person ever be real?

"So? Do you know who I am, Noll?"

'Forgotten her? How could I when every thought he has goes back to her— hah, Seriously this girl.' Naru jumps down from the branch he was sitting on, pushing himself with the right amount of strength for him to land perfectly in front of Akemi, but the heiress seemed to panic at his action and spread out her arms as though it was an instinct reaction to catch him but a foot of hers also took a step back in case quick space was needed.

Seeing her eyes brightened in worry, Naru lets a smirk of amusement come on his lips and internally shook his head. 'Really this girl...'Naru's feet lands softly right in front of Akemi, his hands reaching out quick to clasp her waist in a tight grip and pulls her close to his chest.

"A—ra!" Akemi gasped as her hands placed themselves to Naru's chest naturally. Deep inside though she cheered, letting her cheeks flush as she took note of how wide Naru's chest and shoulders were. 'Control yourself from feeling him up!' The heiress kept chanting inside her mind as she tried to keep her fingers still. 'Control! Control-'

"How could I ever forget you? You've been plaguing me since last night. It's annoying." It was Naru's voice that cut off her thoughts, making Akemi snap out of her dilemma and stare at him. 'For now, at this moment... Gene's been found— everything's handled... Could I really indulge myself?'

Biting her lip, Akemi tried to control her grin. "Aww, I'm so sorry for distracting you." Seeing the look on her face, he thought: 'Is this really my limit? Are we really breaching this line?'

And the answer was yes. Naru could not handle it any longer. If anything the line has been breached the moment their lips touched.

'If I had known you were here all along, I would have gotten here sooner to meet you.' "Once all of this is over... can I love you then?" Naru asks, his midnight eyes brightened like a moonlit night, like a could having passed the moon and its shine coming back to lighten the dark sky. Its brightness was sure, purposeful as his gaze unwavering but Akemi noticed how shaky his pupils were as the aura surrounded him kept wavering abnormally the same way his heart must be beating now. Though he was determined, he was still a man confessing, his heart in his chest surely is combusting at this very moment. "Would you protect me?"

And it was then Akemi realized his conundrum. Naru internally tried his best to lock away his thoughts— anything personal— but if this was happening, he should get used to it.

And Akemi understood it then. Understood him.

It was never about waiting for things to lay low nor finding his brother and making sure he was okay— it might have a part of it yes, but the very core laid on Naru's personal feelings.

He was so used to everything being under his control— it was just him and his brother who knew what truly lays inside Naru's very being but even Naru kept to himself to his twin. He was so used to guarding up his emotions— his heart, that putting himself to a position of handing it over with an open palm was scary. Yes. Naru feared of being touched— of being vulnerable.

And this...

Giving his trust and everything in him to someone that he cannot read nor control the way he can control himself, scares him to his very core.

But here he was. Giving Akemi full control over him— Right at this moment. Depending on her answer, he could be left broken and unable to be vulnerable again or he would be in the position of being out of his box, waiting forever for the inevitable.

And that is why Akemi never pushed him after— she just waited till he went to her.

And now he was giving her the words to choose, and when it came to him Akemi already knew what was in her heart. She nods, "I would protect you, Oliver. You... you're special to me and to commemorate this moment, let me assure you of my own feelings-"

"Ah—!" The hand on her waist tightened and Akemi felt herself being lifted of the ground, giving her an advantage to tower over Naru but it gave Naru all the privilege to fully see her whole expression as he held her close to him.

"Akemi, would you let me?" Naru asks, back to Japanese with a hushed breath as though making his voice loud would break everything they have. That this was a dream he should keep hush because if he even let himself become aware, he would wake and all of this would be over. As though if he spoke to the language he was so comfortable using, it would break everything.

Akemi places shaky fingers on his chin and with a soft smile, she gazed at him with soft glimmering shine on her eyes. Her fingers shook ever so slight, grazing the sides of his face and tracing his features that she could never see if they weren't here at this moment. A few seconds after, when she was satisfied, she held his face still."Let me."and she leaned down to let their lips touch.

It was soft. It was light.

And short as Akemi pulled away, letting their foreheads touch as she pulled back. Her majestic purple just taking all of it in, letting herself be filled by the sight of how Naru's midnight eyes lit at the sight of her. How even he himself was taking her all in, and it took her very strength to remind herself to breathe as to not embarrass herself. "Let this also be another assurance to you, Oliver Davis." Akemi chuckles as she noticed how Naru shivered at the mention of his name. "I'll wait for you then. I can wait— because you are worth it."

Gulping in thick air in his throat, his Adam's apple bobbed along the direction as he took in a shaky breath. As she spoke, his eyes drifted down to her lips, keeping his gaze there even when she was done speaking. 'It was too short.'

Akemi chuckled as he seemed to be focused on her lips and his eyes won't move anywhere else.

'Definitely too short.'His brows furrowed as his lips twitched to a frown as he took notice of how Akemi seemed to taken a delight to his predicament, but he was tired. He didn't want to fight himself any longer.

It was futile.

"Do you find her appealing?" Lin's question on their first day rung in his head, and on that day he didn't want to entertain such thoughts but deep inside he answered it. Just in the back of his head, thrown to the very deeps of his mind. A fleeting thought he quickly dismissed.

'She's fair. Bonny and darling to the eyes however, she herself is mesmerizing and has the ability to fully beckon me over.'

'I give... I fully give.' Taking a deep breath in, Naru softly closed his eyes and leaned forward and let their noses touch. When he felt the skin of their noses collide, Naru could not help but turn his head side ways to have their noses rub against each other. When he once again heard Akemi's chiming bell laughs, his lips twitched into a small contented smile. Maybe he could give it a thought...

Maybe he'll give it a shot with Akemi— but not now.

When everything is okay, maybe he would give it a try.

But at least now, he was assured.

He's safe.

"Noll," At the sound of her call, Naru hummed and gave their noses another short rub making Akemi giggle once more but she continued. Her arms behind his neck tightening their hold, her words whispered only for them to hear. "Daisuki desu!"

At her declaration, Naru opens his eyes. Lifting his chin to have their gazes connect with each other. Both were quietly staring at each other, waiting for whatever else was going to happen, 'I like you very much!'

His lips twitched,'Daisuki desu!'

and it was Naru who initiated the first move.

"-!" Akemi's breath hitched as she watched Naru, like one of the stars radiating light— he was lightly tilting his head as he smiled at her so endearingly that it shone towards her soul. His gaze was warm like a hug under the covers of a cold night that Akemi could feel herself be overwhelmed by how much it lingered on her, she could drown in them and still thirst for more. The love coming from him was so profound, she could lose herself in its depths and still ache for more. It was a gaze that cradled her whole being, reminding her of the moon's gentle light—steadfast and soothing even in the darkest night. This moment felt sacred, a midnight stolen from the world, where the bustling day belonged to everyone else, but this sliver of time was hers alone.

With hesitant fingers, afraid that such art could easily be broken, she lifted them up and caressed the corner of his lips which made his head turn to push itself more to her hand. No, this art was strong and firm, someone she can freely touch— and Akemi was the only one to see it. And because of her words, she was able to see such masterpiece. It's because of her he smiled so genuinely. She has a part on creating this art. Her very own art piece that she has created,

"Akemi..." Naru finally whispers, and the heiress hums in acknowledgement. "That kiss was too short."

That being so, Naru pushes his chin up and caught her lips. The two once again sharing a kiss that sent their hearts haywire at the same time contentment. Both promising each others hearts as surrendered and given.

"Everyone! You guys are okay!" Naru's eyelids fluttered open as cheers and laughter from the outside reached his ears.

No Akemi in sight.

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Finally finished with this case! In the next chapter to come, Gene and Naru would finally reunite! Especially Akemi and Naru after what just happened HAHAAHAH!

Although I'm quite happy with this chapter, I start to wonder if it all was too quick? But still this chapter plot just came to me and so I guess we got things going with Naru and Akemi's relationship! Yeyyyy!

And I hope Naru wasn't too OOC here? because as a fellow introvert, I actually relate when it comes to this 'giving relationships a try as someone who has never had any relationships other from friends and family' so the hesitation for me in giving his whole heart— his whole self and trust to a person that can potentially hurt us big with one wrong move is freaking scary. And I could see Naru exactly in that position.

Especially to someone who works more on his logic instead of his emotions, it would be a difficult switch to letting himself be fully exposed when he has been so guarded all his life. And with someone who has fully controlled himself in terms of logic and common sense, letting himself throw it away and let his emotions ride is out of his comfort zone.

And with that, the only way it would progress was not if Akemi continued to flaunt herself but for Naru to actually entertain the idea would something happen between them and by letting himself do it would let him realize more of his feelings and how willing he is to commit. Also if added with how he was deemed the weird one and be bullied in his old orphanage, and let's admit it kids could be really mean to others at times and with Gene and Naru being of different nationality (being asian) and orphans in a different culture country bullying is bound to happen especially when they are also more prone to paranormal with their abilities. So trusting others that is not his family is hard so the hesitation should be present.

Anyways! Hope you guys liked the chapter, keep the comments and reviews coming even those individual paragraph side comments! I love reading those HAHAHAAH cause it means you guys are seriously hooked with everything. You guys keep me going to write more of the chapters! Totally appreciate you guys! See you next chapter.