dna- um... sorry it took so long? well theres no use saying that anymore cuz i know everyones tired of hearing that from me... a lot really happened tho. thats my excuse this time. newayz, im still sorry this chapter took so long! please be patient with me!
Run Away Forever Chapter 17- Back to Where We First Met…
Akiya and the other ninjas were standing in front of the all too familiar gate to their village. Hiro pushed the door opened as they stepped inside.
"Not too many places we can go here," Hiro said.
"Yeah," Keta agreed. "But I think that back to the house is fine."
"Well Akiya, how does it feel to be back here?" Kohira asked. "You're okay with this, right?"
"If it's not, we can go somewhere else," Keta replied.
"No, here is fine Keta," Akiya replied.
Everyone except Hayate stared at her a bit surprised for a brief moment. A happy smile grew on their faces.
"Huh? What?" she asked confused.
"It's about time you felt comfortable enough to just call us by our names," Kohira replied happily.
Akiya smiled in response as they continued to walk to the house.
"Akiya nee-san, Imaru-sama is here…" Yomi warned.
Hiro and Keta walked in front of Akiya and greeted Imaru.
"You're back," Imaru said.
Akiya and the others were surprised. The tone that Imaru used with Akiya was different. It wasn't filled with hatred like it always was. It sounded… almost gentle in a way. His eyes were also different. They weren't icy cold towards her anymore.
"Jiruma, you have some papers you need to sort out in my office," he informed her.
"Yes sir, I'll go right now."
Imaru didn't say anything after that and left.
"Hey, why don't you three go and visit some of your friends?" Hiro suggested to the three children who went off.
"Should we be surprised or happy, about Imaru-sama I mean?" Kohira asked no one in particular.
"You've seemed happier lately…" Keta said to Akiya. "And you too Hayate…"
"You think so?" Akiya laughed.
"This is the Akiya that we want to see more of," Hiro said to her.
"You guys are acting like this is the last time we're all gonna be together like this or something."
"Well, who knows," Hiro replied cheerfully.
Keta opened the door to the house and walked in, everyone else following her.
"Sure feels good to walk in here smiling again, just like back then… all five of us," Kohira said happily.
"Sorry…" Akiya suddenly apologized.
"For what?" Keta asked.
"I just feel like I've caused you guys so much trouble since I left. I mean… it's not like I wanted to leave all that much in the first place and—"
"Relax," Keta cut her off. "Just know that whatever you do, we'll always be behind you to support you."
"You know, I remember how we used to come in here and just collapse on the couch or complain about another mission that we had to complete," Hiro said, changing the subject.
"And I remember how Hiro always burned the food that he was supposed to make," Kohira replied with a laugh.
"And then Akiya had to make it after she came back from looking after the kids," Keta joined.
"Either that or Keta had to make it after she finished up her duties healing the other ninjas cause she was top medical ninja," Hiro said.
"I remember when we got Hayate to make food once. Who knew he had a housewife's skills?" Kohira laughed again.
"What's up with all the reminiscing guys?" Akiya asked.
"Hey, who knows when we're gonna be able to reminisce like this again," Kohira answered. "This time could be our last."
"What's that supposed to mean Kohira?"
"Is it just me, or is it getting really warm?" Hiro asked to no one in particular, changing the subject once more.
"No, I'm getting warm too…" Keta replied. "I can fix that though… let's go outside."
Everyone walked out and went to the lakeside.
"Well… it's a little cooler here I guess…" Hiro said.
Keta performed a series of hand seals.
"What're you doing?"
"Fierce Gust Technique…"
All of a sudden, the wind picked up and blew them all off the ground, except for Keta of course. Even while in the air, they were still being knocked around by the strong winds.
-----Few Moments Later-----
Keta's wind finally subsided as the other four landed with a thump on the ground.
"Are you guys cooler now?" she asked, looking at them with a bland expression.
"Hell no!" Kohira shouted. "What the hell was that?"
She performed a series of hand seals.
"Don't you know that water works so much better! Tidal Wave Technique!"
The water from the lake rose over their heads and crashed into everyone except for Kohira. They were all underwater. When they finally managed to hang onto something to keep from drowning, Hiro performed a series of hand seals.
"Lightning Force Technique!" he yelled as he got out of the water.
Hayate quickly got out of the water as well, noticing the hand seals that Hiro performed. Lightning struck the water and electrocuted the three girls who hadn't got out. Suddenly, a powerful wind swept past them, cutting Hiro's lightning off and pushing all of the water back. Everyone turned to find Imaru. Hiro and Hayate hopped down from the tree and in front of the girls.
"What are you? Children?" he asked, not sounding angry like they expected. "Don't play like that. Someone could get hurt."
With that, he walked away.
"Okay… so what now?" Kohira wondered as she Keta and Akiya walked aimlessly. Hiro and Hayate were behind them.
"Go ahead, now's your chance," Hiro quietly said to Hayate.
"Shut up!" Hayate growled.
"Hey Akiya, Hayate wants to talk to you!" he shouted to her.
Hayate's hands were immediately around Hiro's neck. Flames were bursting from Hayate whose eyes were blood red.
"Oh, sure," she replied.
'Dead! You're dead!' Hayate told Hiro telepathically.
'She'll wonder what's up if you don't let me go,' Hiro replied happily.
"So… what did you want to talk to me about?" she asked as Hiro was freed and went to join the others.
Akiya followed Hayate who was pretty much silent. After about a couple of minutes, they were both up at the cliff with the sakura tree.
"Hayate…?" she asked.
"Remember?" he asked her.
"Remember what?"
"This is where we first met."
"How could I forget?" she asked with a smile. "When we first met here, you nearly killed, quite literally."
"We got into a huge argument, even though it was the first time we talked to each other."
It went silent. A couple minutes later, Akiya spoke up.
"You know what I've always wondered? How a sakura tree could grow near salt water…"
"Let me ask you… are you happy with Koenma and the other guys there?" he asked her.
"Somewhat," she replied.
"Have you… found a replacement for me there…?"
"…Yeah… I have…" she answered half truthfully.
"Do you love him more than me…?"
"Yeah…"
"You're lying… right?"
"I'm sorry…"
"You must know how I feel about you."
"I know… but…" Akiya replied, at a lost for words. With her was the man that she loved more than anyone else, and here she was, telling him that she didn't love him anymore.
"Tell me, why is he so much better? What makes you want to go for him more than me?"
"He isn't better… but maybe that's why…"
"I… love you so much…" Hayate hesitated.
Akiya's eyes widened, but it wasn't in complete shock. It broke her heart to hear those words come from him.
"Don't lie to me… I just want to know… do you love me… at all?"
Of course I do! she thought. I love you so much!
"I…"
Hayate waited patiently.
I love you more than anything… so why…
"I…"
Why do I find myself always thinking about him?
"No…"
What am I saying?
"No… I don't… love you…" she said trying to hold her tears back, confused herself at why she replied that way.
"Are you serious…? I… I really love you!"
Akiya didn't reply.
"More than anything…" Hayate said quietly.
"But I don't love you… there's no point in a one sided romance," she lied.
He grabbed Akiya's shoulders with both of his hands firmly and pinned her to the sakura tree.
"Ha-Hayate! What're you doing?" Akiya asked.
Hayate leaned his head and gently pushed his lips against hers. Akiya was completely shocked.
Hayate… she thought as she closed her eyes and kissed him back gently as Hayate's grip on Akiya loosened.
Little did they know, Hiei was watching secretly nearby from the top of a tree. He had followed her out of curiosity, and now, he wished that he hadn't. Hiei tightened his fists and disappeared.
Akiya's eyes were squeezed shut. Two tears escaped her eyes.
Hayate…
"Stop it!" Akiya shouted as she pushed him away from her, more tears escaping from her eyes.
Hayate was confused.
"Akiya…"
"I'm sorry…" she said, still crying. "I'm so sorry!"
She turned around and ran away.
"Akiya!" Hayate called after her. "… Akiya…"
Akiya kept on running until she bumped into someone.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she apologized, looking up. "Hiei!"
She quickly wiped her tears away.
"What're you doing here?" she asked, trying to sound normal.
Hiei ignored her and continued to walk.
"Hey!" Akiya called.
Hiei continued to ignore her.
"Hiei!" Akiya grabbed his arm.
Hiei roughly shook her off.
"Don't touch me!" Hiei glared at her and after a while, turned around and continued to walk.
Akiya grabbed Hiei's arm again regardless as he furiously turned around.
"Why are you ignoring me!" Akiya shouted, almost as if she was desperate. "What did I do to make you so mad!"
"Tell me, did you enjoy kissing him!" Hiei asked as Akiya let go of his arm.
Hiei once again, turned around and walked.
"That's it then?" she asked, stopping him again. "Your jealous? Is that why you're ignoring me?"
Her trembling voice caused Hiei to turn around once more.
"Don't you think it's hard on me?" she asked crying. "Don't you think he's jealous too? And even angry?"
Hiei hadn't meant it to mean the way it did. He was just angry.
"If it's hard on anyone, it's on him. He just told me that he loved me more than anyone else… and the way I reacted pretty much told him to get lost…"
"I didn't mean it like that! Don't you ever try to understand anyone's feelings! The world doesn't revolve around you!"
"Do you two ever try to understand my feelings!" she asked. "Do you think I want to choose between you two! Sure, maybe I don't understand other people's feelings well, but at least I try!"
Akiya covered her tearstained face with her hands. Hiei walked up to her.
"Look… I'm sorry… okay?" he asked quietly.
-----At the Sakura Tree-----
Hayate stared out at the ocean.
Akiya always loved this place… but she has no idea that the sparkling blue ocean she sees is only an illusion created by the sakura tree… and that the ocean is actually full of blood and dead bodies… I used to come here all the time because Ni-san died here… maybe it's time that Akiya learned the truth about this place.
"…Dispel…" Hayate said as the pink sakura petals turned black. The ocean turned crimson red and the dead bodies at the bottom of the cliff appeared along with many skeletons. The sky turned dark and the thick clouds blocked the sun, making the whole area dark. Hayate looked at the view in disgust and after a couple minutes, turned around and walked back.
Akiya… I'm sorry everything had to turn out this way…
-----Akiya-----
Hiei had left earlier after Akiya asked him to.
I should at least apologize to him one more time… Akiya thought as she walked towards the sakura tree. I hope Hayate's still there…
She noticed that the closer she got to the tree, the darker the sky got.
Is it about to rain or something? And what in the world is that horrible smell?
When she saw the sakura tree was in sight, she froze. Her hands automatically covered her mouth. She saw the dark black petals of the once light pink tree. She saw the dark and heavy sky filled with large dark gray clouds, and the ocean that she loved was blood red. And she saw hundreds, maybe even thousands of dead bodies and skeletons floating in the ocean.
Wha… what the hell…?
"What happened…?" she asked herself in complete shock. Wait… where is he! "Hayate!"
No reply.
"Hayate! Are you here! Haya—ah!"
Akiya suddenly remembered a conversation they had about six or seven years ago
-----Flashback-----
"I love this place!" Akiya said.
"Well I don't," Hayate replied.
"Why? I think that it's like paradise."
"Because the ocean is full of blood. The smell is horrible around here, and the sky is always so dark. Plus, there are thousands of dead bodies in this ocean, and the sakura petals are pitch black, like a void. This place seems more like hell to me," Hayate said.
"What're you talking about?" Akiya wondered. "The sun's out and shining brightly. The sky is full of birds, and the ocean is sparkling blue. And the sakura petals are a light pink that relaxes me when I look at them, and the fresh air smells great. I have absolutely no idea what you're saying. This place is wonderful!"
-----End Flashback-----
What the hell… is going on…? Akiya thought, trying not to panic. Was it always like this? The fresh air that I always breathed in… was it always this ocean of… of… blood and dead bodies…?
Akiya calmed down. She couldn't stay there much longer. It was too much for her at the moment. Akiya turned around and ran back.
Hayate said that he hated this place, she thought. Why? Why would he come here all the time? Why would he take me here when he knew that I needed to get away or when I was down? Why did he never tell me?
-----About an Hour Later-----
Akiya just arrived back to Spirit World in Koenma's office with the other detectives already there, including Hiei.
"What is it?" Akiya asked. "What's the emergency you were talking about?"
Koenma looked up, completely serious.
"We have a problem…" he began.
-----Next Chapter's Preview-----
Run Away Forever Chapter 18- Sword of Death
While Koenma is informing the detectives about the Sword of Death, people are getting terrorized in the Ningenkai. Koenma gives the detectives the task of finding the sword and bringing it back. However, they will not find that task so easy, seeing as how Mirumino, the 'Clean Cut' ninja is in possession of it.