Just Once More 4 - To Feel You Once Again

JUST ONCE MORE

Author's Note: Finally! This is the last part of the story. So far, this is the longest chapter in this story and thankfully, I'm done. Now I can start on another story. Of course, I've already started writing the second installment of the series "To The One I Love" but sad to say, it's still on-going and written on the paper. But as soon as I'm done writing and editing and revising it, I'll post it here. Just wait for it, okay? Please don't forget to leave your reviews after reading this so that I'll know what to do with the other Ghost Hunt stories that I'll post in the future. Anyway, here's the last part. Enjoy reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt and its characters. Somehow, I could say that the plot belongs to me. So I guess I should still be happy with that.

Warning: Characters might not be in their usual selves. In other words, possible OOC

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PART FOUR

To Feel You Once Again

"Mama, don't kill Mai-san! Please, I'm begging you!" a child yelled at Mai (now possessed by Mina) that stopped her from her tracks.

Slowly, she turned around. Her face were blank but then her eyes softened upon seeing the child's face. The child has a shoulder-length brown hair tied in a ponytail. The little girl has a pleading look on her eyes as she approached her.

"Minako…" Mai mumbled, only in a different voice. It was the same voice of the woman in her dreams.

"Please, Mama! You don't have to do this. You don't have to kill Mai-san to let them know what you want. She has nothing to do with this. Mai-san has nothing to do with your revenge for the people who took Papa away from you," Minako said teary-eyed. She was sniffling but tried to show a brave front in order to convince her mother (now possessing Mai's body) not to do something rash.

Mai's tears started to fall as soon as Minako spoke those words. "Minako, I'm not going to kill Mai. I just need her to find your father," she said in Mina's voice. "I have to find him now that I figured out that he was really alive."

At that time, Naru arrived at the scene. Surprisingly, he was with Takuya, Lin and Takako.

"Onee-sama, please let her go. Even if you possess her, you won't be able to see Shiro anymore in that form," Takako pleadingly said as she put down a small vase of some sort on the ground. "Shiro commited suicide a few weeks ago because he wanted to be with you."

"Shiro… committed suicide?" Mai shockingly said. Her hand started to quiver as the thought sank into her mind—or to be exact, Mina's mind. "He's still an idiot." And then she started walking backwards unconsciously.

Naru's eyes widened at the thought of Mina trying to kill Mai by letting the latter fall from the cliff. He couldn't allow that to happen.

"Mina, you have to stop!" Takuya yelled. Looked like the stranger beat him to it. "Suicide does seem to be a bad idea and I have to admit that it's idiotic. But Shiro didn't kill himself for no reason. He did it for you. He wanted to be with you like what you have wished for. You have to move on now. So please, you have to let go of Mai-san."

The narcissist faced the lonely-looking Mai. Though he clearly knew that it was Mina's feelings, his heart clenched at the sight of her face like that. Possessed or not, he couldn't afford to see Mai in that state. But he has to do something in order to exorcise Mina before the spirit do something to hurt Mai in any way.

But what could he possibly do?

"Mina… I'm here…"

Naru froze as soon as he heard those words. That voice was calling out for Mina. He was sure it was a man. Could it be that it belonged to Shiro?

Before he could even look around, he felt a cold, almost freezing sensation touched his shoulder. Shiro was just behind him, he was sure of it!

"I'll do what I can to convince Mina to let go of Mai," Shiro said. Naru didn't even bother to turn around to have a glimpse of Shiro's spirit. But weird enough, he wanted to trust him. The only problem was what Shiro could possibly do. Mai was just standing near the edge of the cliff and one wrong move could lead to her death.

Which, of course, Naru wouldn't allow to happen. But then…

"But I need a body," Shiro suddenly said. "Right now, I know that only a psychic could see me as I am."

Shiro has a point. But who could be that willing person to be possessed by a spirit just to settle all this? But before he could think of what to do, Minako looked at him. To be specific, behind him. The child's eyes widened but there was still sparks in them.

"Papa… is that you?" Minako uttered that—even though it was soft—was still heard by everyone. So the others all focused their attention behind him.

Naru saw Mai looked behind him, as well. Her eyes opened wide. He knew what it meant. For some reason, he wanted Mai to look at him the same way Mina looked at Shiro. Despite the shock evident in them, he could see the love—a love that had never faded even after death. It was one of the emotions Mina had kept all these years.

A love Naru knew was meant for Shiro alone.

Weird enough, he could feel his heart constricted at the sight of that emotion in Mai's eyes. Despite knowing that it wasn't really Mai, why could he still feel something… weird? He shoved that thought off of his mind for now. His attention must be focused on how to convince Mina to let Mai go.

"Shiro…" Mai whispered and then smiled even though she was starting to cry. She covered her mouth with both her hands and let out a sob. Despite that, Naru could see that she was happy. "It really is you."

Shiro smiled longingly at Mai. The spirit then started to float towards the girl. "Yeah, it's me. I'm sorry I didn't come to you sooner than I should've been."

Mai shook her head gently and faced the spirit. "It's okay. It doesn't matter now. As long as you're here now… As long as you came back to me and let me see you once more, it doesn't matter."

The spirit smiled sadly this time and raised his hand. But then he stopped midway upon realizing something. "But I can't touch you now like I used to."

"Shiro…"

"I wanted to feel you just like before. I wanted to hold you once again. But I don't think I could."

"Does that mean you have to use a body in order to do what you want? Just like how Mina used Mai," Takuya inquired. Shiro nodded once.

Silence filled the air for a few moments. And then Takuya spoke of words all of a sudden that surprised Naru and Lin.

"Then used my body," Takuya said seriously.

The spirit and Mai's faces have etches of hesitation when they looked at Takuya. Lin was just looking at them solemnly while Naru was… Well, emotionless. Or at least that was what he wanted to project. But deep inside, he wanted to shout.

Reason? He wasn't sure—which was an illogical answer, he then thought. But let reason be damned. Would he actually allow someone innocent to be used as a spirit's puppet? But Takuya just agreed to it and Shiro would use him in order to fulfill his wish to hold Mina again…

…but in reality, Takuya was going to hold Mai!

And who knows what could possibly happen?

"But Takuya—"

"It's okay, Takako-neesan," Takuya abruptly talked that stopped Takako from continuing what she was supposed to say. "I know Shiro wouldn't let something happen to me. But this is the least I can do for him. I could feel until now just how much he loves Mina. His memories might have been erased for a long time but the love that's only meant for the woman more important than him remained in his heart. I wanted them to be completely happy in order for both of them to move on."

Well, Takuya does have a point there. But still, even though it was really Mina and Shiro who wanted to be with each other's arms, the fact that Takuya and Mai were strangers to each other were somehow bothering Naru. Unknown to Naru, Lin could actually see through that blank expression that the narcissist was projecting. In a way, Lin knew where this would lead them. And by the words that Naru had spoken, Lin wasn't surprised that he came up with that decision.

"I'll do it," Naru said seriously, despite the hints of coldness in his voice. Seriously, what came to his mind for him to say something like that? But he couldn't take it back now. He had already decided.

Is he serious? Takuya willingly allowed himself to be possessed by me. But then all of a sudden, this guy would say he'd do it? Not unless… he doesn't want a stranger to hold the girl that Mina possessed other than him, Shiro thought. But the conclusion he came up with did make a lot more sense. He could see that Naru could definitely feel something towards Mai. Only Naru couldn't figure it out for himself right now. Naru must have been holding that feeling for so long—only that he wasn't aware of it. If that's the case, then… Shiro floated towards Naru instead of Takuya.

The spirit looked at Naru intently before speaking. "Are you sure about your decision?"

The only answer that Shiro got from Naru was a nod. Naru's eyes were staring at him seriously. Shiro could see that—whatever the consequences—Naru would accept it in order for this predicament to end as discreetly as possible. That though alone amused him.

"Then…" Shiro started before floating towards Naru even closer. "We shall start." And just like that, the spirit finally entered Naru's body. When Naru opened his eyes, they were blank.

But soon after, they were starting to radiate emotions. Everyone there clearly knew that those emotions were from Shiro. Naru started walking towards Mai who was still standing near the edge of the cliff. After she saw what Shiro did, she moved towards Naru. And now they were close to each other. For a short while, the couple (A/N: I'm mentioning Mina and Shiro here. As for Naru and Mai being a couple, well… that will take a long time before it happens. He he! ^_^) stared at each other lovingly. Almost a year… That was how long they've been apart. It was natural for them to look at each other that way.

Takako smiled despite the tears starting to fall from her eyes. Takuya smiled, too and so did Lin. Minako was serious with hints of fear.

Unable to hold it much longer, Mai ran towards Naru and hugged him tightly. Naru hugged him back in return. They relished each other's warmth for about a minute or so. It was obvious that the couple missed each other so much. The intensity of the emotions they had for each other was too much for them to contain inside of them much longer.

"I can't believe I'll be able to hold you like this again," Naru whispered to Mai's ears. "I love you, Mina. So much. I've always loved you even though I suffered from amnesia. And I wanted to thank you for giving me Minako."

"I love you, too, Shiro," Mai replied emotionally. "I don't want Minako to suffer in that hell, that's why I entrusted her to Takako. My sister knew better than anyone just how much I love you. Minako's the proof that you had existed in my life. And I never regretted—not once—that I gave birth to Minako—our child. I watched over her in my spirit form ever since I died after giving birth to her. That way, I could give her the love that remained here in my heart that was meant for you." Mai was crying while saying those words. Naru only hugged her tighter in response.

Soon after, they pulled away and stared at each other. But before anyone could anticipate what was about to happen, Naru's head lowered towards Mai. Mai closed her eyes slowly. The others watched everything with eyes wide open when they saw what happened next.

Naru kissed Mai!

Even though they had a clear idea that Naru and Mai were possessed by the lovers Shiro and Mina respectively, it still came as a surprise to them. How could they have missed this? Shiro and Mina had been apart for so long. And Shiro wanted to hold and touch Mina for one last time before moving on.

So I guess that's what Shiro meant. He wanted to feel Mina this way like he used to do before, Takuya thought when he finally understood Shiro's words before possessing Naru.

Naru continued to kiss Mai passionately without a care in the world. All that mattered to them was each other. He knew for sure that the feelings from that one passionate kiss would forever seal the love that Shiro and Mina had for each other in their hearts. It was a love that definitely surpassed the wall between life and death and defied the odds of love and destiny.

They have each other now and no one could keep them apart.

This time, it was forever.

After that kiss, Naru and Mai looked at each other—the couple's love was surely evident in their eyes.

"I'll be with you. And this time, it's forever. No one will keep us apart now," Mai said softly.

"We'll never let each other go this time. I can keep my promise now. We'll love each other till beyond eternity," Naru replied with a gentle smile on his face before embracing Mai again.

With all that finally settled, Shiro and Mina's spirits finally let go of the bodies that they possessed, causing Naru and Mai to lose consciousness.

"Naru!" Lin called out as he approached the black clad person holding Mai's hand.

"Mai-san!" Minako and Takako both called out and then they approached Mai. At that time, the rest of SPR and some of the members of the Kawazumi family arrived at the scene. They were surprised to see both Mai and Naru unconscious.

Masako looked up and she saw two spirits slowly heading towards the sky—with hands intertwined and a thankful, relieved and peaceful smiled on their faces—as the couple looked at Mai and Naru.

"Thank you so much, Shibuya-san, Mai-san," the couple said in unison with smiles on their faces. And then they've disappeared.

When the medium revert her gaze to Naru and Mai, she smiled when she saw that the two were actually holding each other's hands tightly. It was like they didn't want to let each other go forever.

Something must have happened, Masako thought as she saw Monk carried Mai and Lin carried Naru. The others decided to stay in order for Takako to fulfill Shiro's dying wish—and it was about his remains to be buried next to Mina's grave. Hopefully, after all these, things would turn out good for the entire Kawazumi family.

With that, the case was considered solved.

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A few hours later…

Takuya remained standing in front of the bloodstained boulder where the fifth stanza of Mina's poem was etched. He smiled as he looked at the deeply-etched words on it. He was right, after all. Naru and Mai helped Shiro and Mina to be together for one final time.

"Looks like Mi-chan's going to anticipate a lot of things to happen between those two," Madoka said with a smile as she approached him. Apparently, only he knew that she was there. None of the SPR thought she would come.

Takuya faced Madoka and nodded as a reply to what she stated. "You're right. Not just her, but I guess all of us, too. By the way, you managed to have a copy of that scene?"

She nodded and showed him a picture already printed. It was a picture of Naru and Mai's memorable and passionate kissing scene. She handed it to him afterwards.

"But what do you think Mi-chan will do with that picture?" Madoka asked as she looked at it.

He sighed before placing the picture inside a folder. "Probably something that will make those two people realized their feelings for each other."

"Oh? Now that's definitely something to anticipate. How I wish it happens before I get married," Madoka said dreamily.

Takuya smiled. "Really? You're getting married?" he asked excitedly.

She nodded and smiled. "Yup. Lin proposed to me three days ago." And then she showed the engagement ring she was wearing. "But as of now, only Naru knew that."

"I guess a double or a triple wedding wouldn't hurt that much," Takuya commented. He and Madoka started walking away from that place.

"Probably a double wedding. Bou-san and Matsuzaki-san were already married three months ago."

"Then I guess we'll just have to wait for more progress to happen to them."

Madoka looked at him before she gave out an agreeing sound. "You're right."

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Upon arriving to SPR office, Naru immediately told Mai to bring him his tea. Mai, who had gotte used to her boss' demands, only rolled her eyes and muttered "tea-addict workaholic jerk" under her breath jokingly before doing what was told. The others—most likely the guys—helped unpack the equipment and other things from the van and after a few minutes, they all gathered in the office. Mai then served everyone their tea which had started to become everyone's favorite even before Naru came back from England.

"I'm just glad this case got solved, even though I don't know how it was solved," Ayako said before taking another sip.

"Now that you mention it—" Monk paused and faced Naru. "How did you solve it? You must have remembered at least something, even just a little. Lin won't talk even though we've asked him a lot of times during the entire trip."

But Naru didn't say a word. He just took a sip of his tea and looked at the file placed on his lap. That file held the answer to Monk's question regarding on how the case was solved—a case that was dubbed by Mai as "The Lost Lover's Words". Lin completed the information for him before he woke up a few hours after he fell unconscious. Mai woke up half an hour after him. But until now, he couldn't still believe that he allowed himself to do something like that while Mai was possessed.

Lin told him everything—from the part where Shiro finally possessed him until the reunited lover's souls had finally passed on. Lin also told him about the information regarding the Kawazumi family's reconciliation and repentance to their sins towards Shiro and Mina. Even the fact that the family finally learned the truth about Minako's true heritage were also told to him.

"Naru, what's wrong?" a familiar voice full of concern disrupted the flow of his thoughts. That familiar voice, apparently, caused his heartbeat to increase its tempo all of a sudden. When he looked up, he saw Mai looking at him with her eyes full of concern and worry. Something pricked his heart at that sight.

He just took another sip of his tea. "Nothing," he said nonchalantly. But still, those look in her eyes clenched his heart for some reasons.

Monk sighed, probably giving up. "I guess he won't say anything even if he knew the answer."

"But even if we didn't know how it was solved, it was for the best that Minako-chan won't have to live a life where she needed to hide her true identity as Mina's daughter anymore," Mai said with a smile.

"You're right. After all, Minako-chan has a right to be loved by her mother's family," Yusahara added.

Everyone agreed to what Mai said and they continued to enjoy their cups of tea. But Masako noticed that Mai wasn't drinking her tea and that she was unusually quiet—like Mai was in deep thoughts.

"Is there something wrong, Mai-san?" Masako asked as she put down her tea to the table.

Mai was startled upon hearing that. When she looked up, she noticed that the others were looking at her with concern—and that included Naru, as well. Reluctantly, she beamed a smile.

"I'm fine. There's nothing wrong," Mai answered and laughed weakly. But she knew the others won't buy that reason.

"Mai, you know you can't trick us with that kind of answer," Ayako asked seriously. This made Mai serious, too.

"I was just thinking," Mai started. " I know I did something for Mina and Shiro to reunite even after death had separated them. But whenever I try to remember, no images come out of my mind. It's like I had this feeling that there's something stuck at the back of my mind. Something important… But I can't figure out what no matter how I try to make myself remember it," she said seriously without facing the others.

And then there's this weird feeling stuck on my lips. It's like there's a sensation that I haven't felt before. Nevertheless, I still like it. But what could it be? She added in her thoughts that only made her sigh. She secretly glanced at Naru who was busy drinking his tea while stoically reading something. It must be the file with regards to that case they just solved. Does Naru know what happened? Did he follow me after I took off? I'm sure I've felt his hand held mine… but I guess it's just a dream. Though it would be great if he did hold my hand back then… Great! She was doing some wishful thinking again. As if Naru would actually do something like that consciously and wholeheartedly—which she doubted so much.

But then she chose to shrug it off in order not to let the others worry about her—again. They continued to enjoy drinking their tea while having conversations. It was surprising, though, to see Naru not doing anything with regards to it.

After that, the others have gone home, even Mai. Lin and Naru stayed in the office even though there was nothing left to do. Naru stood up from his seat and walked towards the window where he could see Mai walking happily along with the others. Upon seeing Mai's smile, his heart suddenly beat faster and louder, too. He couldn't believe that solving those lover's predicament would lead him to this. He couldn't believe that Mai would have this effect on him. How did it all end up like this, anyway?

He wouldn't deny the fact that what he felt for his brown-haired assistant had changed after he came back. He cared for her before (or at least that's what he thought) and he cared even more for her now. He sighed as he remembered something.

It would be a blatant lie if he told the others that he didn't remember anything from the incident. He remembered them clearly—as clear as crystal. Though he couldn't recall the words he spoke as Shiro, he remembered the love vividly expressed in Mai's eyes when she looked at him. And it was weird for him to wish that those love in her eyes was somehow meant for him—as Naru and not as Shiro. Of course, he also remembered the kiss that he and Mai had passionately shared.

He unconsciously touched his lips with his finger upon remembering that, along with Mai's smile. He never realized that this case would bring so much trouble to him. That was probably the real reason why he decided to let Shiro possess him instead of Takuya. He didn't want Takuya to kiss Mai like that—especially in front of him where he could see it clearly. He didn't want any other guy to kiss Mai aside from… him…

Wait a minute! What the hell was he thinking? Was his mind still working properly?

Maybe not. And it was all because of that one passionate kiss. All he did was to breath out a long sigh.

He could barely see Mai's figure from his office window. And yet, his heart was still beating loud and fast. How could one kiss turn everything upside-down? How was it possible that Mai has this so much effect on him? He has a lot of questions that he wanted to find answers as soon as possible. But there was one question that he wasn't sure if it would be answered sooner. A question he considered slightly foolish.

Would he be able to feel Mai's kiss like that once again?

To be honest, he really wanted to feel them again…

He wanted to… at least just once more…

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Who would have actually thought something like this would happen to Naru and Mai? Sorry if I have to end it here but I have to. Don't worry (I guess) since I'll be doing a sequel. It's the second installment of "To The One I Love" series that I've entitled "Please Remember". About the Mi-chan person that Madoka mentioned, she'll be appearing in that second installment. As of now, I'll leave her as a mystery. In the second book, though, she'll be one of the people who'll make Naru realize his true feelings for Mai. But certain events would unfold before he does. Wait for it, okay?

Leave a review after reading this. I really appreciate it if you could do that.

So until next story time, I hope you all do well. Ciao! ^_^