Follow your heart - Completed

Chapter Seven:


“Miku? Earth to Miku!” called Naru, waving his hands in front of his sister’s face.

“Oh sorry!” Miku apologized, coming out of her thoughts. “Do you need help Naru?” she asked softly.

Naru shook his head. “What’s wrong Miku? You have been like this since you came over to help me pack. Also what’s with the sad face? Smile for me, will you?”

Miku burst into tears. “Oh Naru! It’s all my fault and now you are going to die!”

Naru gave his sister a pat on the head. "Silly! How are you responsible for my condition? Don't blame yourself for something that isn't your fault.”

“But...”

"If I say that it isn’t your fault, then it’s not your fault! Now are you going to help me finish packing before my boss gets here, or what?” he said with a big smile. "Unless you have changed your mind about wanting me to move in with my boss?” he said.

Miku shook her head. “No, never Naru. I was so happy when he offered to let you live with him.”

“You know that I can still take care of myself right Miku? Just because I have been diagnosed with a terminal illness doesn't mean that I am unable to take care of myself properly,” remarked Naru. He still didn't like the idea of moving in with the boss that he had only known for a short time. He had a big argument with Miku about it when his sister first told him that she had accepted his boss’s offer to let Naru live with him. In the end, his sister won the argument and now on the day after he got out of the hospital, here he was at his apartment packing his things to move in with his boss.

Miku looked at her brother. “I'm sorry Naru. I was worried about what might happen to you if I was not around, and when your boss offered to let you live with him, I jumped right in and accepted his offer without consulting with you first.”

"Since you have accepted his offer already, what more can I do but go along with it? Next time, before you jump in and accept someone’s offer, please consult with me your brother first, alright?” said Naru.

Miku nodded her head, just as the door to the apartment swung open to reveal Risa and Rei. They both smiled as they entered the small apartment. “Ryuu couldn't make it so he sent us to help you Naru,” said Rei.

“Umm.. thank you,” said Naru, not knowing what else to say. He didn't understand why these two were friendly with him. They hardly knew him and he hardly knew them either.

“Naru, what’s this?” Miku asked holding a small box she found in her brother’s room.

“That, it’s something Father left for me,” he said. “It belonged to our great-great-grandfather. He told me to open it after he passed away, but I never did.”

"Why don't you open it now?" Miku suggested, her hands already working on opening the small box. She handed it to her brother once the box was open.

Naru took it and put it down on the floor before sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of the box. Miku, Risa and Rei surrounded him. All three wanted to see what lay inside the box. Naru looked inside and pulled out what looked to him like a old photo album and a book. Something shiny caught his eyes. He put down the photo album and the book before reaching inside for the shiny object. It was a ring with a big crimson stone in the middle. It was taped to a envelope addressed to him from his father.

“Read it,” Miku urged her brother.

Naru nodded his head and slowly opened the envelope. He pulled out the letter addressed to him and read it aloud so his sister could hear as well. It was very short, it was not even a letter, it was more of a note, and a weird one too.

“When you meet your true love, it will shine brightly. When you meet those who wish you harm, it will turn blue. When your life is in danger, it will turn black. Keep the ring on you at all times, you can control your mate with the ring. Your beloved great- great-grandfather Minori.”

“What? The note is from our great-great grandfather.” Miku voiced out loud. “It’s not from our father, and it’s one weird note. What does he mean by all that?” remarked Miku.

“I don't know,” said Naru. He slipped the ring onto the fourth finger of his right hand.

“It’s strange don't you think Naru, that our great-great grandfather would leave a note to you? Father wasn’t even born yet back then.”

Naru nodded his head in agreement. He found it strange also. He flipped open the old photo album and was a bit shocked to see a picture of a man who looked just like him. He heard his sister gasp in surprise as well. He pulled the picture out of the album and flipped it back. The name on the back of the picture read “Minori, age twenty- two.” He slid the picture back into the photo album and turned to the next page. When he got to the end of the picture album, he had read ten different names off the back of each picture of all the men in the picture album who bore a great resemblance to him.

Rei let out a cough to get everyone’s attention. “I hate to interrupt you Naru, but we need to get going. It’s getting late and I have a date tonight,” said Rei.

“Sorry,” Naru apologized as he put everything back in the small black box and sealed it shut with clear tape. Thankfully for all of them, Naru didn't have that much stuff. They loaded everything into the moving van and were out of the apartment and on their way to Ryuu’s mansion by five o'clock. They arrived right at six o'clock. Rei apologized for not being able to help Naru settle in, before getting into his car and backing out of the driveway.

Risa shook her head at Rei and walked inside to order someone to bring Naru’s stuff inside. She directed them to the room Ryuu had given to Naru. Naru carried the small black box and followed the servants to his room. It took about two hours to get everything into his room. When everything was done, he thanked the servants. They told him not to worry about it and left him alone in his new room. His sister came in to say goodbye.

“I will see you next week Naru,” said Miku. She gave her brother a tight hug and left the room. Her mind was at ease now that she knew that her brother was well taken care of. Risa smiled at her and she smiled back before getting into Risa’s car.

Back in his room, Naru lay down on the bed exhausted. He gently shut his eyes and then a hard knock came on his door. “Come in!” he called as he sat up. He didn't see the ring on his finger shining brightly as the door opened to reveal Ryuu.

Ryuu opened the door and leaned to the side. “How was your day Naru?” he asked.

“Fine,” Naru replied. “Why are you here Boss?” he asked.

“I came to ask you what you wanted to eat. My cook is not here tonight so we will have to get delivery,” said Ryuu.

Naru shook his head at the man. “No delivery. I'll cook. It’s healthier to cook for yourself than to order in Boss, and also you can save a lot of money as well. Lead the way to the kitchen Boss,” said Naru as he stood up and walked towards Ryuu.

Ryuu cracked a smile at Naru. “if you insist. Follow me down to the kitchen,” he said. Naru nodded his head with a determined look on his face. He followed his boss downstairs to the huge kitchen. He started cooking right away while Ryuu stood by and watched.

“Naru aren't you scared? Ryuu asked suddenly. He wanted to know why Naru acted as if nothing was wrong with him when he knew that he was going to die soon. He also needed to know how Naru really felt about the situation he found himself in.

“Yes I am, but it won't do me any good to worry about it. It’s just part of the cycle of life Boss,” Naru replied with a matter of fact tone.

“Naru, if you were given a choice between dying and living forever, which one would you choose?” asked Ryuu.

Naru put the knife in his hand down and turned to his boss. “I don't want to die, but I also don't want to live forever Boss. What I want is to live my life to the fullest with the person I choose to spend the remainder of my life with. So I would have to say no to living forever.”

“Why?” asked Ryuu. “Most people would jump at the chance to live forever.”

Naru smiled. “Yes, that might be true Boss, but I don't want to be alone when the person I love leaves this world. I want to be able to be reincarnated again and meet the love of my life once more in my next life,” said Naru. “That is if there is really a next life,” he added.

“Your answer pleases me very much Naru,” said Ryuu. “And yes there is a next life. That is if you believe in it,” added Ryuu just before walking out of the kitchen and leaving Naru to his cooking.

“Well, have you decided yet Ryuu? You are the only one who can help him in this situation,” said his uncle as soon as he entered his study.

“Yes, I have decided Uncle Kousuki. I will help him, only because I don't want to lose a good secretary,” said Ryuu, not being honest at all with himself about the real reason he was willing to help Naru escape death.

“Are you going to let him live for eternity like us Ryuu?” asked his uncle.

Ryuu shook his head. “No. He doesn't want that Uncle Kousuki. I am going to give him what he wishes for,” he replied just as a knock came on his door. He called out for whomever it was to come in.

“Master Ryuu, Master Naru wants me to tell you that dinner is ready,” said the servant.

Ryuu dismissed his servant and turned to his uncle Kousuki. “You wanted to see him so why don't you join us for dinner?” he said.

Kousuki accepted the invitation and the two made their way to the dinning room where Naru sat comfortably in a chair waiting.

“Boss, you should have told me that a third person was joining us for dinner,” Naru said with a frown. He got up and went to the kitchen to grab the man a bowl filled with rice all the way to the top. He handed it to the man with a warm smile on his face.

“Thank you,” Kousuki said with a smile of his own. Naru looked so much like Sai, they could have been twins if Sai was still alive, but Sai had died seven hundred years ago. His eyes locked onto the ring on Naru’s right hand. He recognized the ring right away and knew what power the ring held. He hadn't seen that ring since it disappeared seven hundred years ago after Sai died. He pulled himself out of memory lane and asked the young man before him. “Your ring is lovely, may I ask where you got it?” he asked in a polite manner.

“My great-great-grandfather left it for me,” answered Naru.

“I see. What was your great-great-grandfather’s name if you don't mind me asking Naru?” said Kousuki.

“Minori,” replied Naru before reaching over the table to grab the delicious tempura he had cooked up. “He looked just like me,” Naru added that bit of information before he ate his food.

“Looked like you?” Ryuu asked after listening to his uncle and Naru’s conversation.

“Yes,” replied Naru. “In fact all my great-great-grandfathers look like me. If you don't believe me, I'll show you their picture after we are done eating,” he said as he reached over the table to grab a shrimp tempura.

“I would love that,” said Kousuki before he too began eating as well. Ryuu excused himself from the table and went to answer his phone.

“Rei where the hell are you?” Ryuu yelled into the phone.

“I am where you wanted me to be Ryuu, at Naru’s apartment unpacking my things. I just got back from my date with Naoya. I can't talk long, he is with me right now. He's taking a shower at the moment.”

“Why is he taking a shower there?” Ryuu practically shouted into the phone.

“His clothes got wet,” and that was all Rei was going to say regarding that matter. “Look Ryuu, no need to worry your head off. I know how to take care of myself and you know it. Why else would you let me move into Naru’s apartment knowing how dangerous it is?”

Ryuu pinched the middle of his nose and let out a weary sigh. “You are right Rei, but keep in mind that I didn't allow you to move in there so you could bring your love interest there to fool around. I let you move in there because Naru was his target. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand Ryuu. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye now!” Rei said, hanging up before his brother could say anything again.

“Who was that?” Naoya asked as he toweled his hair dry, wearing one of Rei’s bathrobes.

“My brother,” replied Rei. “I'm so sorry that you fell into the water fountain because of me.”

Naoya let out a soft chuckle, “No apology needed. I decided for my self to protect you from those punks.”

Rei smiled shyly at Naoya. “Thank you,” he said softly. “Do you want some tea or something?” he said as he made his way to the kitchen.

“Don't worry about me, I will be leaving soon. You should get back to unpacking your things before it gets too late,” said Naoya as he let his eyes scan the room.

“This apartment looks very warm and cozy,” Naoya commented.

“You think so too?” said Rei.

“Yes,” replied Noaya with a grin. “Did someone just move out?” asked Naoya.

Strange, how did Naoya know that? Rei thought. He quickly shook that thought away. “Yes, as a matter of fact it’s my brother’s boyfriend. They just decided to live together, and I was given this apartment to get out of their hair,” he answered with a lie.

Naoya went over to Rei and gently touched his cheek. “You shouldn't lie Rei.”


End of chapter seven.