P for Paranoiac

Definition: Paranoiac; of, relating to, affected with, or characteristic of paranoia or paranoid schizophrenia.

Word Count: 1,745

"Enno!" The young woman giggled at the sight of her dark-haired son glaring at his twin brother across the room.

Even at four-years-old the two were startlingly similar and she often mixed them up (before being politely corrected by the toddlers, who were beginning to realize it wasn't as easy to tell them apart as they thought) but she knew without a doubt that it was the younger twin that grappled for her attention now. He was quiet, patiently waiting for her attention with his tiny arms crossed over his chest and a glare on his face.

"Daijobou? Are you alright?"

Ennosuke turned his big blue eyes to his mother, "Ju-chan says there's a man in the living room but -" fear sparked in those dark orbs as he went on in sloppy Japanese, "I think he's lying. I can't see him!"

His mother forced a smile, kneeling to brush his long dark locks out of his face. "He's just teasing you, Enno. Now go on and go play with your building set. Dinner will be ready soon and then you'll have to start on your syukudai."

The child blanched at the word, having just learned its English counterpart just hours earlier, and looked at her in child-like horror. It was the word for his least favorite activity: homework.

His mother giggled again, tapped him on the forehead, and pushed him gently back toward his abandoned toys. Enno wasted no time in rejoining his twin, whispering something that made his brother grin.

Junno and Enno were barely four-years-old, and yet they acted more like teenagers. She wasn't entirely sure if she should be grateful for that, or worried. Her boy's were intuitive, able and fast learners, just like their father.

And their intelligence wasn't the only trait of his the twins' had inherited. Sure, they'd gotten her smooth dark hair but his grey-blue eyes peeked from behind their long eyelashes. They'd gotten his pale skin and strong jaw line too, making them look like tiny dark-haired copies of the man she loved.

But then there were Junnosuke's 'imaginary friends' and those were really beginning to worry her. She, too, could see the lingering spirit of a man hovering near the edge of the living room where the boys' were playing. He was just one of the many Earth bound spirits that roamed the forest behind their home and completely harmless.

And Junno could see him.

Part of her hoped it was just childish innocence that made her elder son sensitive and that he would just grow out of it. The other part knew it was just wishful thinking.

The woman sighed, hoping that if her son had indeed inherited her sensitivity, that it was the only gift he had inherited. Enno had shown no signs of other worldly abilities and she desperately hoped it would stay that way. She didn't know if she could live with herself knowing she'd forced her curse upon her family. And the world.

"Harumi?" The front door opened with a strangled squeak allowing the warm spring air to sweep through the house. Loud boots stomped across the old hardwood floors, muffling the man's voice as he called out for his sons. "E.C? Junno?"

"In the kitchen," she called back, not missing the tension in his voice.

A tall lean man came stumbling through the doorway, tawny unkempt hair falling in his face as he searched the room with wild eyes. "Oh thank God," he sighed, pulling his wife in to a tight embrace. He kissed her cheek before whispering in her ear, just loud enough for her to hear. "We have to go. Now."

"But-" This couldn't be happening. Not again. She'd already left everything to keep her family safe and now... now, even in the middle of nowhere, they were in danger. Tears pricked her eyes as she pulled out of her husbands embrace, speaking in a hushed whisper, "Thomas, we can't just leave! The boys' -"

"Mama?" Her brown eyes flicked over to Junno who was still seated on the floor of the living room, studying her intently. Enno mirrored his brother's worried expression, the tinker toys laying forgotten between them. "Are you... talking to daddy again?"

Harumi paled. She turned back toward where her husband had been standing, still feeling the ghost of his arms around her waist where he held her, but he wasn't there. Spinning on her heel, Harumi flitted across the kitchen, heart pounding in her ears as she reached the door and pulled.

It was still locked.

The timer rang out, shrill in the silence of the house. She jumped, turning quickly back to the kitchen to shut it off. The boys' stood precariously at the edge of the living room, watching their mother as she tried desperately to hole back her tears. "You, um, you boys' run to your room and wash up for dinner."

"But -" Junno turned, little hands still gripping a bright red Lego.

"Go. Now."

The boys' stood still, exchanging worried glances. "Mama -"

"Ike!" She shouted over the sudden tic tic tic of jittering silverware.

The boys flinched backwards in tandem, turning to scurry to their bedroom with shining eyes. Guilt washed over her but Harumi couldn't help the relief that followed their absence. She took a deep breath but the silverware's clanking remained steady.

Tears dripped down her cheeks as she stared at the offending objects. She shook with exhaustion as the air buzzed with energy, radiating off her skin in invisible waves.

Someone was watching her. Toying with her. She could practically feel their eyes boring holes into her. What more could they want from her? They'd already taken her home, her husband - wasn't that enough? Her chest clenched, the awful feeling of dread churning her stomach. They couldn't possibly... They wouldn't take her children from her.

She wouldn't let them.

The kitchen light dimmed, the TV in the living room flickering on and off in sync with the thrumming of her heart. A soft wind curled up around her; pulsing, twisting, encompassing.

She wouldn't run anymore.

"Darling," a deep voice purred in her ear.

Harumi spun furiously on her heel, searching for the source of the voice. The imposter. But there was no one there. "Leave them alone!" She shouted into the silence, tears pinching the corner of her dark eyes. The walls were closing in on her, her chest tightening with anxiety.

There was only one way out of this. They wouldn't stop, wouldn't leave her boys' alone, until they had her.

Tears slipped down her pink cheeks as the energy swelled to a crescendo around her, beautiful and deadly.

Harumi turned her back to the hallway where she knew her little boys were huddled, frightened in their room. They were strong. As long as they had each other, they would survive.

"I love you," she whispered into the piercing wind, glancing once over her shoulder before closing her eyes and letting the swirling energy tear her apart.

.~.

It hit the floor with a muffled thump, sparkling in the dull light of the room.

"What?" Gene asked, sensing his brother's unease. He turned from the pile of dusty school books he was supposed to be organizing with a raised eyebrow. "What'd you see?"

Noll stared at the ring lying at his feet, a shiver running down his spine. "It was..." he started, blinking up at his twin. Though they were both 10 years older than they had been then, Gene still sported that same teasing grin. But the grin was wavering, drooping into a frown with every second Noll remained silent. He could feel Gene 'knocking' on their telepathic link, searching for the answer in his head. "It was nothing." He said finally, stooping over, pulling his sleeve over his hand as he retrieved the old, dirty ring and return it to the box he'd found it in.

It clanged, spinning once before settling on top of a brown streaked photograph of Gene and himself, standing side by side the day they entered the orphanage. Noll let his eyes trace over the old photograph for a moment, and the yellowing folded paper beside it that had the words ADOPTION written across it, before pulling the lid back over the box and snapping it shut.

He lifted the box back onto the top shelf of the storage closet, dusting his hands off on his pants before he realized Gene had all but abandoned his work to watch him. "What is that?" He asked, blue gaze fixed on the small wooden box. It occurred to Noll that no matter what he said, Gene would have the box pulled down the moment he left the room, and he would find the papers, the pictures, and the ring.

But Gene would not see what Noll had seen. Would not know what Noll now knew.

He turned from the shelf and his curious brother with a frown, only pausing when he reached the doorway of the storage room. "Did you..." He trailed off, searching for the right words. He could feel his brother's eyes on his back, waiting. Noll swallowed, "Did you know mom was sick?"

He could hear the ruffle of clothing and could imagine his older brother shaking his head. "You did see something." He said, frown evident in his voice. "What did you see, Noll?"

Noll glared at the blank wall that separated the storage room from the rest of the Davis household, pinching the spot between his eyes to ward off the headache that always accompanied a Psychometry trip. He should tell Gene. He should tell him everything. He should -

"Noll?"

"Nothing. I saw nothing."

A/N: I do so apologize for my long absence on this series, but due to unforeseen complications, I'm afraid the updates will continue to be sporadic at best.

Still, I want to thank all of you who are still reading these despite the lack of new content. You guys are the best.

Last but not least, I know it's a bit dark for a mothers' day gift but here it is anyways: Happy mothers' day to all of you moms out there!

Read, relax, review!

ELV