dna- i am SUPER, SUPER, SUPER, SUPER, SUPER SORRY! it to soooooo long for this chapter to come out. it was mainly cuz i had writers block... btw, this chapter doesnt really connect all that much with the story. its main purpose is for comic relief... or i tried... and to show how much hayate cares for akiya and to show their more carefree and unserious side. if you guys really want comic relief, then you should read my fruits basket fanfic. that one made me laugh a couple times since i have an... interesting... imagination... newayz, enjoy this chapter if youre not too angry with me and i will try my best to get the next one out soon this time!

Run Away Forever Chapter 16- Lost…

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

"We should split up," Genkai suggested.

"We'll go to the vault," Akiya said.

"But-" Koenma started but was cut off.

"But nothing!" Yusuke shouted. "We need to get to them! My mother and Keiko could be in danger right now as well as everyone else!"

Koenma looked at Yusuke and the other detectives. They were dead serious, especially Hiei in concern for his sister. Koenma wanted them to go to the vault together because he was afraid that Rejuko may have gone there, but he gave in.

"Take Botan with you," Koenma ordered.

Botan summoned a portal for the detectives to the Ningenkai so that they can search for the girls and make sure that they are all right.

"Let's go to the vault," Koenma said to the ninjas. "Ogre, stay here."

"Yes sir," George obediently replied.

Koenma led the way through the complicated corridors and to the vault which was somewhere outside of the palace.

"Jiruma-san, why did you never tell us?" Kohira asked as they followed the prince of Spirit World who was sort of listening to their conversation.

"Being his daughter isn't something that I am proud of," she answered bitterly.

"Do you know why he's attacking us?" she asked again.

"I don't know," Jiruma replied. "Like he said, we haven't seen each other for ten years."

"Do you think that the attack was a diversion?" Hiro spoke after thinking a bit.

"A diversion?" Kohira wondered.

"Yeah… to distract us from Yukina and the others," he continued. "Didn't he try to take Yukina before? I just think it's weird how he just suddenly attacked."

"You're right," Keta agreed.

'Do you think that Katsu would know the reason behind this?' Keta asked telepathically to Akiya, Hiro, Hayate, Kohira, and Jiruma so that the children couldn't hear.

'I don't know,' Akiya responded.

'Even if he did know, it's not like we're going to beat it out of him,' Hiro said.

'Couldn't he just tell us?' Jiruma asked. 'He's on our side.'

'But Rejuko has control of him…' Keta replied.

'What!' she asked shocked.

'Didn't we tell you?' Kohira asked. 'Rejuko gave Katsu a seal. He can make him do anything he wants him to do…'

"We're here," Koenma announced, ending their telepathic conversation.

He opened the door to the vault and immediately stepped back out. The guards were in pieces, literally.

"Mika, Katsu, Yomi, stay outside," Akiya commanded, not wanting the children to witness what was inside.

"What in the world…" Koenma trailed off as he saw more body parts. "What kind of monster would do this?"

"Mirumino…" Akiya replied. "I'd recognize his victims anywhere… this is his work."

"How grotesque…"

"So how are we supposed to find out what's missing?" Kohira wondered. "There are so many rooms in here."

"Good point…"

"Why not just look for a room with no door?" Jiruma asked playfully.

"Actually, that's a good idea," Akiya replied. "That guy Mirumino was nicknamed 'The Clean Cut Ninja.' As corny and stupid as it may sound, he lives up to his nickname quite well."

"Then let's get to it," Kohira said.

"No need," Hayate interrupted, earning a half confused look from everyone.

"And why is that?" Koenma asked.

"Because the room's in front of us," he replied.

"What?" everyone asked surprised, even Koenma himself.

"Look at the hall," he began to explain, Koenma closely listening. "Why would the hall be split in three when there are only two directions we can go? Besides, this middle hall has a dead end about a few feet in."

"You can see? It's so dark though…" Koenma mumbled half to himself.

"Shouldn't you know the way in here?" he asked, a hint of mockery in his voice. "After all, this is your vault to look after, isn't it?"

"Look, I haven't been down here much, okay!"

Everyone walked into the room together. Koenma took a few steps back as soon as they reached the end of the room, earning himself weird and worried looks from the ninjas. On the wall was the door to a safe cut in half.

"What?" Akiya asked.

"There's only one artifact that we would secure so tightly…" he trailed off, still shocked.

"Which one is that?" Hiro spoke for the first time in a while.

"The Sword of Death…"

-----Thirty Minutes Later-----

The ninjas were in the Human World, talking about the Sword of Death that Koenma had mentioned when they ran into the detectives. They seemed unconcerned and even a little confused.

"They were all perfectly fine," Yusuke informed.

"What?" Akiya asked to make sure she heard correctly. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, Keiko was at school and my mom was at home…"

"So why did Rejuko tell us that they were in trouble?" Kurama wondered.

"I think it sounds a bit suspicious…" Keta said.

"Who cares?" Kuwabara asked. "As long as they're okay, it doesn't matter, right?"

"I supposed…" Kurama answered unsure.

"Now that we all are up to date on everything, why don't we go to Spirit World and take a day of relaxation?" Botan suggested as she turned to the ninjas. "What do you guys say?"

"Hiro?" Kohira asked.

"Sure," Hiro replied.

So for the first time since the ninjas were with them, Botan summoned a portal to somewhere in Spirit World other than Koenma's office. They landed… somewhere… it was like an empty park. There were no benches or such, just a path with trees on the side and a lake nearby.

"Where the hell are we?" Yusuke asked.

"We're in Spirit World," Botan answered.

"I know! I meant where in Sprit World!" he shouted in response.

"Ah! I can't believe you don't know!"

"That's why I'm asking you!"

"Well I… don't know either!" she finished in a cheerful tone, causing Yusuke and Kuwabara to nearly fall over.

"And you were saying-"

"Hey, where'd Hiei, Akiya, and that other guy go?" Kuwabara asked, interrupting Yusuke.

Everyone looked around and noticed that they were gone.

"Great, did they get lost or something?" Yusuke asked sarcastically.

-----Akiya, Hiei, and Hayate-----

"Great… we're lost," Akiya said turning to Hayate. "What was the big deal dragging me here like that? You could've dislocated my wrist or shoulders or something you know?"

"Well if he wasn't following us…" Hayate said motioning to Hiei with his head.

Akiya looked over to Hiei. He was looking around, also wondering where they were. Hayate had wanted to tell Akiya something, but Hiei followed them. When they were trying to lose him, Hayate jumped down some weird cliff and into this labyrinth, dragging Akiya down with him.

"You know, I never should have helped you train!" Hayare muttered to Hiei bitterly so that Akiya wouldn't hear.

"Well, let's find a way out of here," Akiya suggested.

As soon as she said that, the walls started to close in on them. Hayate and Hiei were alarmed.

"What the hell did you do?" Hayate asked her.

"I didn't do anything!" she denied.

"Oh shit! Let's go!"

Hayate grabbed Akiya's wrist again and pulled her along past Hiei who he pushed out of the way. Hiei growled in irritation as he ran and up next to Hayate.

"I hope you know how to get around without legs!" he threatened.

-----Koenma's Office-----

"We can't find em anywhere," Kuwabara informed the toddler.

"How did you manage to lose them in the first place?" Koenma asked curiously. "Well no matter. I don't see what the big deal is. I mean, it's not like they can't take care of themselves."

"But Hayate-sama and the other guy don't get along," Yomi said.

"Koenma-sama, three people are trespassing in the forbidden area," George told. "I have activated the Maze of Doom on them."

Koenma's face went pale.

"Three people?" Kurama repeated.

"Then maybe-"

"You STUPID ogre!" Koenma screamed, cutting Yusuke off. "Akiya, Hiei, and Hayate are in there you idiot!"

"I didn't know sir!" he quickly defended himself.

"Well do something about it!" he ordered.

"But sir, you made it so that the maze can't be unactivated unless the trespassers are dead."

"WHAT!" everyone else in the room shouted together.

"Koenma!" Yusuke and Hiro said dangerously.

"Well, uh… at least we'll have some entertainment… Ogre! Get the big screen TV down here!"

"But Koenma," Kurama began to protest.

"Don't worry, they'll be fine," he quickly said seeing as how everyone in the room was ready to beat him up. However, it didn't work. Everyone except Kurama and Jiruma jumped at him.

-----Akiya, Hiei, and Hayate-----

"What's the big idea!" Hiei shouted at Hayate. "You could've killed me back there!"

"Oh darn, you didn't die," Hayate replied sarcastically.

"I can kill you here and now, you know?" he warned.

"Wanna bet?" he challenged.

"Uh, some of us want to get out of here alive if you two don't mind," Akiya said. "If you two want to kill each other, can you do it after you guys get me out of here?"

"Shut up. We're trying to fight," Hayate responded.

"You think fighting is more important than—huh?" Akiya looked down as did the other two. The ground was trembling. Then all of a sudden, the floor split apart. Hiei and Akiya went one way while Hayate went the other.

"Hayate-san!"

Hiei looked around at where they were now. There must've been at least a hundred different staircases and another hundred different corridors and paths to take.

"What the hell is going on?" Akiya asked.

"Do you seriously think I know?" Hiei looked at her. "Ah. What?"

Akiya was smiling at him.

"Try smiling more Hiei," she told him. "I think you'd look cuter that way."

"And why would someone like me want to look cute?" Hiei asked, blushing so lightly that it was barely noticeable.

"Well, what's wrong with being cute?"

Akiya paled when she felt something wrap around her body. She looked down to see vines. They pulled her up into the air and swung her around as Hiei watched in amusement.

-----Koenma's Office-----

"Is there any other way for them to get out?" Yusuke asked after everyone stopped beating up Koenma.

"I don't know," Koenma said sarcastically.

A kunai flew from Hiro's direction and hit Koenma's pacifier out of his mouth.

"They have to find the exit!" he gave in immediately.

"What? That's it?" Kuwabara asked. "That sounds simple enough."

"Well, yes. It sounds simple, but the maze has traps and all sorts of other stuff in there," he informed them. "There are even some powerful demons in there if they take a wrong turn…"

Everyone prepared to jump at Koenma again as he backed away.

-----Akiya and Hiei------

Hiei had finally cut Akiya down after he got bored watching her dangling around in the air.

"I swear I'm gonna kill you!" Akiya threatened.

Hiei smirked, but it turned out to look more like a smile. Akiya smiled happily at him.

"See? I was right!" she said. "You do look cuter when you smile!"

Hiei's smile quickly vanished when she said that. Suddenly, they heard a loud noise coming from somewhere around them.

"What now?" Akiya whined as she and Hiei looked around.

"Let's go!" Hiei shouted, grabbing her wrist and pulling her along.

Behind them was a huge, HUGE, boulder. They ran to the closest path and kept running. All of a sudden, Hiei abruptly stopped. They were about to go downhill, and that wasn't the best thing in the world considering the fact that round things roll twice as fast down hills. However, they didn't have any other choice. The boulder wouldn't stop to give them time to think. Hiei and Akiya ran down. Akiya looked behind them to see how far the boulder was behind them. But when she did, her eyes nearly popped out. The boulder had… a booster rocket behind it? That was the most bizarre thing she had ever seen.

"Hiei!" she alerted. "The boulder's gonna run us over and grill us after it's done!"

"What are you talking about!" Hiei asked as he turned around. He half paled at the boulder.

He grabbed Akiya's wrist again and sped up. Eventually, the path became straight again, but they heard something else coming from the other side despite the fact that the boulder was loud enough. They kept running, and soon enough, they ran into Hayate. But he seemed to be running from something as well. It was rushing water!

"What the hell is going on!" Hayate shouted to the other two.

They met up in the middle and turned into the same path, taking a quick break from running. They didn't get much time though. The water carried the boulder into the path they went into. And so now, they have a rampaging boulder on their tail as well as rushing water.

"Who was it again that dragged us in here again!" Akiya asked.

"Shut up!" Hayate shouted. "How the hell was I supposed to know! And you! Gothic guy! Let go of her hand!"

"Are you getting jealous!" Hiei shouted back to him.

"Could we do a better job of trying to stay alive!" Akiya asked.

Hayate saw a ledge above them not too far ahead.

"Hold on!" he warned Akiya.

He grabbed her arm and threw her up to the ledge.

"Hey!" Hiei shouted.

Hiei, who was caught off guard, held onto Akiya's hand. Akiya made it safely over the ledge despite the fact that she fell face first. However, Hiei, who happened to be below Akiya, had the ledge slammed into his stomach. Akiya didn't grab Hiei in time. He fell on top of Hayate who was on his way up, dragging Hayate down with him.

"Argh! You piece of shit!" Hayate cursed as he quickly repositioned himself.

He landed feet first on the rolling boulder and quickly jumped back up before he lost his balance, pulling Hiei up with him.

"You could've killed me!" Hayate shouted.

"Next time, give me a warning too!" Hiei argued.

"You are such an idiot!" Hayate turned to Akiya. "Hey, are you o…kay?"

The two boys turned around to find no one there.

"Why weren't you looking after her!" Hayate shouted once again.

"What are you blaming me for!" he asked.

"I told you that she's your responsibility!

"Are you trying to pick a fight?" Hiei threatened as he drew his sword.

"Bring it on!" Hayate said confidently as he drew his katana as well.

-----Akiya-----

How the hell did I get here? Akiya wondered. And how did that get here!

In front of Akiya was a huge red sleeping demon. Akiya carefully and quietly walked around it and was almost out of the room when there were loud shouts coming from somewhere nearby. They sounded like Hiei and Hayate. Suddenly, the demon woke up.

I swear I'll kill both of them!

The demon got up and glared at Akiya as she drew her katana. Before Akiya knew what happened, she slammed into the wall behind her.

-----Hiei and Hayate-----

The two suddenly stopped their fighting.

"What the hell?" Hayate said quietly.

"Where is that energy coming from?" Hiei wondered.

Hayate slapped his hand on his head.

"That idiotic girl got herself in trouble again," he sighed.

"And judging from the amount of energy we're sensing…"

"She got herself into a lot of trouble!" Hayate finished, racing towards the energy as Hiei did the same.

-----Akiya-----

Akiya must've slashed the demon at least over a hundred times already, yet the demon seemed completely fine. She grabbed a kunai, threw it in the air, and shouted,

"Shadow Kunai Technique!"

All of a sudden, the kunai multiplied into fifty. Akiya performed some simple hand seals and shouted,

"Dance of Kunai!" Hirame-kun's favorite attack! Imagine, he created this attack himself. Not only is it powerful on its own, but it can be combined with so many more techniques. His spirit ball sure comes in handy… I can't perform all of his techniques as perfectly as him, but…

The kunai danced around the demon, preventing him from escaping from the attack. Then all of the kunai flew into him. Blood splattered out from its body.

"What a weak demon…" Akiya said to herself. I thought it was gonna be strong since it had a lot of spirit energy, but I guess I was wrong…

All of a sudden, the kunai flew out of the demon and towards Akiya, catching her off guard.

What!

"Move you idiot!" came Hayate's voice.

He deflected some of the kunai away with his katana as Hiei deflected the rest.

"Do I always have to come to your rescue?" Hayate asked.

"Shut up! If you and Hiei hadn't been—"

Akiya was cut short when Hayate turned around and blocked its punch with one hand and threw him across the room. She stared at him in amazement. He was so powerful.

"Were you just gonna let that thing hit me!" Hayate shouted to Hiei.

"Maybe," he answered coolly.

"You know, don't be too disappointed if you have an early retirement on earth," he said flatly as he turned to Akiya. "And what happened to you? That demon was so weak. How come you couldn't defeat it?"

"Hey," Hiei called as he walked up in front of her.

Akiya suddenly collapsed on him causing Hiei to slightly blush.

"Akiya?" Hayate called as he walked up to her and pulled her gently from Hiei to get a look at her face.

She was awfully pale, and her body was cold.

"What's going on?" Hiei asked, trying to hide the concern he had. "And what's that on her neck?"

Hayate took a closer look near the side of her neck. There was a strange mark that he recognized.

"That bastard," he growled.

"What?"

"Rejuko! He must've given it to her sometime. That dumb thing is draining her soul directly. We have to get her to Keta. Only she's skilled enough to remove this thing. C'mon, let's go."

The two guys turned their attention back on Akiya when she made a noise.

"What is it?" Hayate asked gently, a tone in which Hiei had never heard him use before.

"Cold…" she whispered. In fact, it wasn't even a whisper. Her voice was so quiet and weak.

Hayate took off his jacket and put it on Akiya, leaving him with a tank top. She was about to take a step forward when he stopped her.

"Don't try to walk. I'll carry you," he said in the same gentle tone.

Hayate bent down and let her on his back. He got up and started walking. Hiei watched him, feeling helpless.

-----Koenma's Office-----

"Ogre!" Koenma shouted after he second beat down was over. "Why can't I see anything on my 10,000 dollar big screen TV!"

"Well Koenma-sama, if I tell you, you might hit me," George replied.

"If you don't tell me, I'll hit you harder!" he threatened.

"Well, you didn't install any cameras in the maze sir," he answered. "And that $10,000 big screen isn't in American money, it's in Japanese. (10,000- about $100)

Koenma paled as the others approached him for a third beat down.

-----Akiya, Hiei, and Hayate-----

Hiei looked at Akiya and Hayate.

I should've done something, Hiei thought. It's not like he's the only one that cares for her! Hiei was surprised by his own thought. What am I thinking! She just another sad and helpless little girl! Besides, she's merely a mortal… but why do I get burned up every time he's with her…?

"Where the hell is the exit!" Hiei shouted, getting extremely impatient.

"How the hell would I… … know…?"

Suddenly, in front of them, an exit appeared.

The two walked out cautiously incase it was a trap.

"Do you know the way around here?" Hayate asked Hiei.

"What if I do?" he replied sarcastically.

"We have to get her to Keta before it's too late!" he shouted. "If she dies, I swear I'll never forgive you!"

"No, I don't know this place…"

"Shit…"

Akiya's breathing got harder.

"Hang on!"

-----Koenma's Office-----

"There they are!" Koenma shouted before he got beat up again. "They're finally in camera view."

"Akiya!" Katsu shouted worriedly. "What's wrong with her!"

"Akiya nee-san!" Mika and Yomi shouted together.

Hiro glared at Koenma.

"If anything happens to her…"

"Botan, get them back here!" Koenma ordered in concern for Akiya.

"Right!"

-----Five Minutes Later-----

Botan was back in the office with the other three.

Hayate immediately went over to Keta. When she was informed about the markings on Akiya's neck, she immediately went to work.

-----Hour Later-----

Akiya had finally woken up and was outside with Hayate. Kohira had told her that he wanted to speak to her.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about Hayate-san?" she asked.

"Could you stop calling me that?" he asked.

"Hm?"

"Cut the "san". Just Hayate, same with the others. We've known each other for over ten years now. There's no need for you to still be so polite."

"Oh…"

"How're you feeling?"

"I'm okay now."

"I was just thinking, it's been a long time since you went back to the village, so maybe you could go back sometime… you know, just you, me, Hiro and the others and the children."

"That'd be nice."

There was a moment of silence.

"You know, the others really miss you. It's just not the same without you around."

"You sound sad…"

"Maybe because I feel lonely by myself there… I… miss you…"

"You know, you're a lot softer than you were before…"

Akiya and Hayate's hands bumped into each other. They both quickly pulled their hands away and became silent. The two of them stared at the setting sun.

It's not that I don't love you… it's just that… I might be falling for him more… in a way, I like it… and in a way… I don't…

-----Next Chapter's Preview-----

Run Away Forever Chapter 17- Back to Where We First Met…

Akiya goes back to the village with Hiro and the others. She and Hayate get to spend some alone time with each other. Hayate asks Akiya a shocking question… and Akiya gives him a shocking answer. Also, the sakura tree holds a shocking secret. And little do they know that the place where they first met as enemies… could be the last place they will meet as friends…