I AM SOOOOOOOOO SORRY THIS ONE TOOK SOOOOOOOO LOOOOOOOOONG! I've been overloaded with projects and homework… literally… and to make matters worse… my computer is half broken so I had to secretly type this on my extra time during my creative writing classes and post it up. I am soooo sorry. I promise to get the next chapter out ASAP. If I don't post in a while again, which I'll try not to do, that means that I'm being overloaded with school work or my stupid com is being a bitch…
Reap- Chapter 4- Convince Her! Difficulties Leaving
Everyone somehow figured out that Akiya was leaving the village and in an attempt to stop her from doing so, they all tried to convince her, even Jiruma and Imaru himself. Her friends Kohira, Keta, and Hiro all tried to talk her out of leaving but failed. Katsu, Mika, Yomi, and Hayate all gave another go at trying to convince her to stay but to no avail. The more they tried to convince her, the more they all got hurt. Finally, they decided to not push the subject any further and let her do as she wished. Also, as Akiya was leaving, Jiruma told Imaru that she didn't want Akiya to remember that they were half-siblings and that Rejuko, the horrid ninja demon, was Jiruma's father.
Chapter 5- An Unpleasant Reunion
Koenma led the group to the portal nearby outside of the village. Hiei and Kurama were in the back, constantly starring at the young and beautiful girl, wondering if she had the slightest idea that she just teamed up with the two people that had nearly killed her. Akiya was talking and giggling with Kuwabara and Yusuke as the two boys continuously shouted and hit each other. Both Hiei and Kurama noticed something around her neck that they didn't see before because her hair was tied up now. There was a small silver chain around her neck.
"Excuse me Akiya," Kurama said politely, getting her attention as she stopped and turned around to look at him.
"Yeah?" she asked almost as politely.
"What is that around your neck?"
Everyone stopped and turned around to look at her noticing that thin and small silver chain for the first time.
"Oh this?" she asked gently pulling out the necklace. Everyone saw the beautiful gem around it. "It was a gift from my mother's best friend."
"It's so beautiful," Botan said admiring it.
She smiled a bit. "I think so too. After all, she was a beautiful lady."
"You keep using 'was'," Kurama inquired. "Does that mean that's she's passed away already?"
Akiya nodded sadly. No-one decided to talk about it any longer as they continued walking to the portal.
'That's a Koorime tear gem,' Hiei said telepathically to Kurama. 'How in the world could she have gotten one of those?'
'I don't know,' Kurama answered. 'Perhaps we can ask her about it later.'
"We're here," Botan announced cheerfully. In front of her was a large purple portal. She jumped in followed by Koenma, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Akiya, Kurama, and Hiei. They all landed in Koenma's office.
"Well this is my office," Koenma informed Akiya. "This place is a bit big so you might wanna ask directions for getting around from the boys." Koenma turned to Botan. "Could you go get her? She should be in her room."
"Yes sir," Botan answered obediently and went out the door.
"Akiya, I'd like you to meet someone I think you'll like," he said smiling. "You two haven't seen each other for a while now. She'll be arriving shortly."
Akiya nodded as she walked over to the wall and waited patiently by the Spirit Detectives. Yusuke and Kuwabara began talking and hitting each other again as Hiei and Kurama were constantly looking at the young ninja. A few minutes later, Botan came in with another girl. When Akiya and the girl looked up, their eyes widened, not because they were happy to see each other again, but because they didn't want to see each other. Akiya and the girl stared at each other, the girl's eyes filled with hatred. Koenma looked at them both nonplussed.
"Yukina?" Koenma asked. "Is something wrong?"
She looked up at Koenma. "Why- why is she here?" she asked.
"Akiya?" Kurama asked her. "Is there a problem?"
She looked up at Kurama and smiled reassuringly. "Oh no! There's no problem. We're just really glad to see each other again, right Yukina?"
Akiya walked up to Yukina and was about to put her arm around her when Yukina suddenly turned around and slapped it away. Everyone was stunned at what Yukina did. The sweet and innocent ice maiden was actually in a foul mood. Yukina faced Akiya and looked her in the eye. Akiya knew the look in her eyes all too well. It showed hatred and sadness. Akiya slightly looked at everyone else that was in the room. They were all looking at them both questioningly, mostly at Akiya though. Tears came to Yukina's eyes.
"Stay away from me!" she shouted. "Don't come near me! I don't want to see you! Just stay away from me, you murderer!"
"Murderer!" everyone said except for Hiei, who was now glaring at her.
"Just stay away from me!" she shouted again before running out of the door. Kuwabara was about to run after Yukina when Akiya looked up and stopped him.
"D-don't go after her…" Akiya said hesitantly.
All eyes were now on her. After a few seconds, she too ran out the door except, Hiei went after her. Akiya was already halfway down the hall in a few seconds when she something suddenly blocked her path. She abruptly stopped after noticing that it was Hiei.
"Going somewhere?" he asked in a mocking tone. His taunting eyes suddenly turned into a hard glare. Akiya noticed the change and stepped back a bit. "What did you do to her?" Hiei asked. "She never gets angry at anyone. Tell me, what did you do? Who did you murder?"
Akiya thought twice before she answered. She already knew that Hiei was Yukina's brother and that was just the problem. Akiya figured that he didn't know who had died in the past few years because he didn't seem like the type to act clueless in these kinds of situations.
"I was on a mission when I accidentally killed one of the animals nearby in the woods," she lied. "She's been holding a grudge ever since."
Hiei's eyes narrowed as he teleported behind her and grabbed one of her arm, twisting it behind her back and bringing her halfway down to her knees. Akiya winced slightly from the pain. There were suddenly shouts coming from a distance away. Koenma, Botan, and the rest of the Spirit Detectives were shouting to Hiei, telling him not to hurt Akiya. Ignoring the shouts, he twisted her arm a bit more.
"You're lying," he said, seeing through her weak excuse easily. "I know her quite well."
"Seeing as you're her brother, it's only natural," she said as Hiei threw her to the ground in irritation.
"If you even think about telling her, I can't guarantee you a quick and painless death," Hiei threatened.
"I have telepathy. Don't even think about touching me," she said, mocking him a bit.
"I'll be able to give you a nice, slow, painful death before you even think about doing it," he threatened again.
Everyone finally caught up to Hiei and Akiya who were glaring at each other. Akiya didn't know why but Hiei's last threat seemed to send shivers down her spine. Hiei growled in irritation and walked outside, going to the Human World. Akiya did the same. She didn't feel like being questioned. She was beginning to wonder if she had made the right decision when she decided to leave. Kurama looked at Koenma.
"I told you not to bring her if she didn't want to come," he said.
Koenma sighed and walked back to his office as the Spirit Detectives and Botan followed.
-In the Human World-
Akiya was on a snow covered mountain, walking aimlessly through the blizzard until she came to a cliff. She noticed another figure standing there a few yards in front of her. Approaching the figure a bit closer, she saw that the person was Yukina. Her body kept twitching up and down so Akiya assumed that she was crying. Hiei, who was standing on a higher cliff nearby, looked at the situation. Akiya stood where she was, observing Yukina a bit, wondering if she should approach her or just turn around and go somewhere else. Yukina turned around at the nagging feeling in her mind to find Akiya standing there, staring at her. Yukina backed up, looking at Akiya with hating eyes.
"Stay away from me!" Yukina cried out. "Don't come any closer!"
"Be careful! You're gonna fall off the edge of that cliff!" Akiya said in concern. Yukina was only inches away from falling off the edge.
Hiei was ready to go in and help Yukina at any moment, whether it was to help Yukina from falling off a cliff, or to save her from Akiya. Akiya stayed where she was, afraid that Yukina would back up further.
"What do you want with me!" Yukina shouted. "Why are you here!"
Yukina backed up further and lost her balance. Hiei immediately became alarmed and was about to grab Yukina when he saw Akiya make a move. Yukina fell off of the cliff as Akiya raced to her and swung her hand. A crimson red ribbon came flying out and wrapped itself around Yukina. Akiya was about a foot away from the edge of the cliff as she yanked the ribbon, thrusting Yukina a couple of feet in the air. Akiya caught her as she fell on her butt. Yukina had her eyes squeezed shut.
"Yukina! Are you okay!" Akiya asked.
Yukina opened her eyes and pushed herself off of Akiya. "Are you trying to kill me too!" she asked angrily.
"What are you talking about!" Akiya said, trying not to shout. "That's the second time I saved you from dieing!"
"You call killing my mother saving me!" Yukina shouted as she cried, the tear gems sinking into the soft snow. She got up and ran off. Akiya stood, staring at Yukina running off.
Hiei, who had heard everything, was nonplussed at what Yukina had said. She killed our mother! Hiei thought angrily. Akiya was about to walk away when she saw something silver in the corner of her eye and sensed an enemy. Using her swiftness, she flipped backwards and found a pair of angry crimson eyes glaring at her.
"That's what she was so angry about!" he said coolly and dangerously. "You killed our mother!"
"Hiei!" Akiya shouted in surprise.
Sword in hand, Hiei was ready to fight as Akiya too, prepared to fight, even though she didn't want to. She knew that she was in for a really tough fight. Hiei was faster and stronger, and had more experience and more spirit energy. She was weaker than him in every way, but she knew that if she didn't fight, she'd be killed instantly. Akiya drew her katana as well. The two faced off. All that was noticeable was a blur when Akiya moved and the little spark of clashing swords. Botan, who Koenma had sent to make sure nothing bad would happen, watched in fear that Hiei would kill Akiya. She summoned her oar and raced to Spirit World.
-At Spirit World-
Botan burst through the door causing Koenma to nearly fall off his chair. The detectives turned to look at the anxious grim reaper.
"Koenma-sama, Hiei and Akiya are fighting!" she shouted desperately.
"What!" Koenma shouted. "Yusuke, Kurama, Kuwabara! Hurry!"
"Right!" Yusuke said as a portal was summoned. The detectives jumped through with Botan.
They all landed in the cold and heavily snowing mountain. Botan led the way on her oar as the detectives ran after her. After about ten minutes of running in the cold, they finally were able to see the spark of sword clashing against sword. As they were running, they saw Akiya fall to the ground but quickly got back up and continued fighting. Yusuke stopped where he was and fired his Spirit Gun at them both. Seeing the huge blast coming for them, they paused for a moment and teleported out of the way. Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, and Botan raced over to the two people who have now stopped fighting. Hiei only had one small cut across his hand that was barely visible at all, and Akiya had at least fifty cuts all over her body. She was also breathing harder than usual, and Hiei barely looked tired at all. Kurama ran to Akiya in concern.
"Akiya, are you all right!" he asked in worry.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied.
Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Botan were yelling at Hiei, who completely ignored them. He was glaring at Akiya, new hatred burning in his eyes. Akiya stared back with a bit of sadness in her eyes.
"You got lucky!" Hiei said in a forced calm, yet angry and dangerous voice. Akiya looked up at him as did everyone else. "When I kill you, I'll make you scream so loud that the even the Spirit World and Makai will be able to hear you!"
A spark of fear showed up in Akiya's eyes that Hiei missed because he ran off. Kurama even shivered a bit at the threat and it wasn't even directed at him.
"Akiya… what did you-" he began but got cut off.
"Sorry but I… don't want to discuss this… right now," she said slowly and quietly, pausing a few times. "I… I just… don't… think that… it's necessary… right at this moment… so…"
"It's alright," Kurama said comfortingly. "Let's go back to Spirit World for now."
Botan created a portal back to Koenma's office as everyone jumped in. When they all landed, they found Hiei and Yukina there, and a serious yet still confused, Koenma.
"Akiya, we need to talk," Koenma said.
She mentally sighed to herself. Koenma stood where he was, confusion very apparent on his face. Other than Hiei, the rest of the detectives and Botan were confused but anxious about the situation.
"Is it true that you really killed Yukina's mother?" Koenma asked her straight forward.
"What!" Botan, Kuwabara, and Yusuke all exclaimed together.
"Akiya!" Kurama exclaimed as well.
"Of course I didn't!" she objected.
"Liar!" Yukina argued.
"Akiya?" Koenma asked again.
"I swear I didn't kill her!"
"I saw you!" Yukina yelled. "You thrust your sword into her!"
"I want to hear everything now, Akiya," Koenma said quietly. "How did you kill her? Why?"
"I didn't kill her," she responded more calmly. "She chose to die to protect her children and the Koorime race."
A couple of tears escaped Yukina's eyes before she pushed the doors opened and ran out.
"Yukina!" Akiya shouted as she ran out the door after the ice maiden.
Koenma, Botan, and the detectives secretly followed her. Yukina was about to go through a portal to the Human World when Akiya caught her hand and held it firmly, not letting Yukina go.
"Just hear me out, would ya?" she asked.
"What!" Yukina asked in frustration. "Why should I listen to a heartless murderer like you anyway!"
"Because I didn't murder your mother," she said calmly. "Listen, that ninja Rejuko wanted you but captured your mother instead and poisoned her but she got away afterwards. What she didn't realize was that the poison in her body linked to everyone else of the Koorime race, and that they would die along with you and your brother if she wasn't killed. Rejuko had the only remedy but he obviously wouldn't give it up. Soon the poison linked to some of the ninjas in my village and Rejuko demanded a trade. He wanted your mother in return for the safety of the Koorime race, some of the ninjas, and you and your brother. I was to take her to the meeting time and place. When we were almost there, your mother couldn't last much longer with the poison in her body. She asked me to tie her up and gag her, and carry her the rest of the way. She died along the way. When I got there... you weren't supposed to be there… but you were, and Rejuko thought that your mother wasn't dead… so he told me to kill her… in front of you… he wanted to break our trust… our friendship…"
"What's your point!" Yukina asked. "I don't care for your excuses, you heartless thing!"
"Yukina, she died before I stuck the stupid sword into her body!" Akiya shouted.
"That doesn't change anything!" she shouted. "Even if my mother didn't die from the poison, you would've had to kill her anyway! The only thing that would've been different was how she died!"
Akiya's grip on Yukina's hand weakened and dropped.
"I'm right, aren't I?" she asked in a hurtful voice. "I don't know my brother, and my mother was my only protection. Why!"
Akiya took off the necklace she was wearing and put it around Yukina's neck. Then she looked down so Yukina couldn't see her face.
"I don't need you to understand or forgive me… but at least know that I'm not lying," Akiya said before walking down the empty and silent hall.
Yukina's fingers softly held the gem up to her face as she stared at it. Being a Koorime herself, she knew where the gem had come from. She looked up to look at Akiya who was quite a distance away by now. Yukina then looked down in sadness. Koenma, Botan, and the Spirit Detectives went up to Yukina.
"It's okay," Kuwabara said, trying to comfort her.
Yukina looked up at him, her mouth trembling. "Oh Kazuma!" she sobbed as she clanged onto Kuwabara crying. He gently put one comforting arm around her as Hiei watched, half disgusted.
Hiei began to walk away.
"Hiei!" Koenma called.
Hiei ignored Koenma as he kept walking and entered a portal. He came out in the Human World and walked into the forest nearby only to find Akiya sitting in a tree a while after a while. She didn't seem to notice him. Hiei didn't know why she looked so peaceful sitting there. Akiya finally looked down and unexpectedly saw Hiei standing there glaring at her.
"Did you really kill her?" Hiei asked, shockingly calm.
"It doesn't really matter what I say," she answered.
"Answer me before I decide to kill you like I promised," he threatened.
"Then you might as well kill me now," she said.
"I want an answer now! Did you kill her or not!"
"What's the point? If I said no, would you believe me anyway?" she asked. Hiei was silent. "That's what I thought…"
"If you are telling the truth, then why would you be blamed for it in the first place?" Hiei countered. "It's only natural that I think you're only lying to benefit yourself."
"All the blame is thrown on me and I have no choice but to catch them all… trying to balance them between hell and reality… I'd rather just drop it all and not catch anymore… but if I did that… I really would be betraying everyone… wouldn't I? And I'd rather drop down dead before I turn my back on those people..."
"Why? Why don't you just kill them all?" Hiei asked, wondering why she would put up with everything.
"Why don't you just kill all of the Koorime? Why don't you want revenge on them for throwing you off into the Makai?" she simply asked. Hiei, once again, remained silent. "Because you don't hate them… no matter how much you're unwanted. You would never kill them because they're important to you. You may not realize it or admit it, but you care for them very much, don't you? I'm right, aren't I? You care for them just like you care for your friends."
They both stood in silence for a bit, letting the calm wind pick up and gently blow through the trees. Akiya looked up and smiled softly.
"Hn… humans… demons… when it comes down to it… we're all the same… we never admit anything… we try to show that we don't care for each other and be rivals and hate each other… but it's those people who always care about you and risk their lives to save you all the time… because to them, you're important… that's why they try to hide it by doing these things…"
"Hn," was all Hiei said as he walked further into the forest. Akiya stared at him leave as she turned to leave the forest. When she came into the city again, she bumped into Yusuke, Kurama, Hiei, Botan, and Yukina all walking together.
"Oh Akiya!" Botan said cheerfully. "Would you like to join us? We're going to go meet a friend."
After a while of walking, they all came across a huge arcade on one side, and a bookstore right next to it.
"Whoa! That's one huge arcade!" Yusuke and Kuwabara both said astonished. "Be right back!"
"Hey!" Botan yelled after them.
"Uh… if you don't mind, I'll just be off to the book store while they're in there," Kurama said. "They might be a while. Would you two like to join me?"
"No thanks," Akiya said.
"Um… same here," Yukina replied. Kurama went off to the book store, hoping that it wasn't a problem with leaving Akiya and Yukina alone.
"Please tell me the truth," Yukina said after they were alone. "Did you kill my mother?"
"What's the point of asking me when you won't believe what I say Yukina?" Akiya replied. "It's kinda pointless, don't you think?" After about five minutes have passed, Akiya asked, "Wanna go feed the birds?"
Yukina nodded seeing as there was nothing else to do. She loved animals anyway.
- Two Hours Later-
Botan was finally able to drag Yusuke and Kuwabara out of the arcade just as Kurama came back from the bookstore with Hiei, who he had met on the way back. They all noticed Yukina and Akiya were missing and were worried that something bad might've happened. Hiei was the first one to notice them sitting on a bench in a park nearby feeding birds and talking to each other. It seemed as though they were friends now. A bird flew and perched itself on Akiya's finger as another perched itself on Yukina's finger. With the other finger, Akiya gently petted the bird. Yukina looked over at how gentle she was and how peaceful she looked at the time being.
Is it really possible that Akiya could be so gentle and kill my mother so cold-heartedly? Yukina thought.
The two noticed the rest of the group and gently raised their hands up as a signal for the birds to fly away as they walked to join the others and head off to their original destination. Before the rest of the group was within hearing distance, Yukina said quietly to Akiya,
"Sorry Akiya… for blaming you for killing my mother…"
Akiya had a slightly surprised reaction at first, but then turned to Yukina with a small smile.
"It's alright," she said. "I'm just glad… that you and I can finally be friends again."
-Next Chapter's Preview-
Run Away Forever Chapter 6- Reunion at the Training Session
Akiya gets a nice surprise when she and the group get to Genkai's to train. Hiro, Kohira, Keta, Hayate, Katsu, Mika, and Yomi are all there! They all get to train together just like they used to, that is… until something unexpected occurs. Rejuko appears again and this time, he wants Yukina… dead… why does he want her… and how will the ninjas and the detectives protect Yukina and fight off Rejuko when they didn't make a much as a scratch on him the last time they fought?