dna- i am soooooooo sorry that this chapter took so long! i was busy and stressed over a lot of stuff. also, my friend coshi and i are writing a furuba fanfic together so that sorta uh...sorry... it was harder than we thought so she and i spent quite a bit of time on it and we're not even halfway through the story... anyway, like i said, i am sooooooooooooo sorry! please feel free to scold me all you want! i promise that i will try to update as soon as possible! i hope u enjoy this chap then ppl! and im sorry!

Run Away Forever Chapter 14- Train Hard! They're Attacking Again!

"So you're going back with them?" Yusuke asked as Keta was tending to Hayate's wounds.

"Yeah," Akiya replied. "Rejuko is strong… I have to train to become stronger…"

"We understand," Kurama said.

"I'll be back soon though," Akiya told them. "It's only for a week anyway."

Koenma opened a portal for Akiya and the others to go through.

"I have training for all of you," Genkai announced to the detectives. "Come with me to my temple."

"What!" Yusuke and Kuwabara both exclaimed.

"Do you think that you'll stand a chance against that man when he comes back!" Genkai asked. "You all were being beaten by his men! He didn't even have to fight you!"

Yusuke and Kuwabara kept quiet. They both knew that what Genkai said was true. Hiei gave a "hn" and turned around to walk out the door.

"And where are you going?" Genkai asked. "Do you think that you're an exception? You need training as well."

"Not with you I don't," Hiei said coldly, and continued to walk out of Koenma's office.

Genkai didn't bother to stop him, and neither did anyone else. Koenma was frustrated. Rejuko actually attacked the palace itself. No one in Spirit World history had ever done that before, no one.

­-----Akiya and the Others-----

They were in an opened field surrounded by a forest.

-----Flashback-----

"Go to the middle of the forest to the open field," Imaru told them. "There is an invisible tunnel somewhere there. Find it, and go through it."

"If it's invisible, then how are we supposed to find it Imaru-sama?" Kohira asked.

"Use your spirit energy to find it," he answered. "You have to use your mind and concentrate. It's not going to be easy, but it will make you stronger." He paused. "No one except the leaders of the village has never even attempted to find the tunnel and go through it. It is extremely dangerous, and it can kill you if you're not strong enough…"

"Sir," Hiro said. "Tell me… is that the same tunnel that Rejuko had gone through?"

Everyone looked at him confused, then they looked back at Imaru for an answer. He didn't answer. He only stared straight ahead intensely.

"Yes… he was the only one…" he finally answered.

-----End Flashback-----

The field was huge. It went on for miles and miles in all directions.

"We should get started," Jiruma said. Imaru had sent her with them.

"We don't take orders form you," Hayate said coldly. "As long as you're with us, you'll have to do things the way we do them. Hiro is the leader. If you have a problem, then run back to the old man."

"Hayate, leave her alone," Hiro told him. "She's a part of our group now. We treat her as one of our own."

"What do you mean one of your own?" Jiruma asked curiously. "I've always been one of you guys."

"Wrong," Akiya said. "It's always been just the eight of us. No one else. And it's still just the eight of us."

"You can stick around and it won't change a thing," Keta agreed.

"Because I'm his assistant?" Jiruma asked, sounding a bit hurt. "Or is it just me?"

"Don't take it the wrong way," Hiro quickly said. "It's just that… well… we're just our own little group. It's always been us. We've been through everything together and… let's just say that this is the way we want to stay. It's not because of you. We've always been alone, so we've learned to depend on just each other… and we're not all that much welcoming to newcomers. That goes for everyone, not just you, so don't worry about it."

"So you don't trust me?" she asked.

No one answered.

"We've never trusted anyone," Akiya replied after a while, surprising Jiruma. "We can't. That's all." She then turned to her friends. "Shall we go?"

They all nodded and started to search for the tunnel. Jiruma too, helped them look for the tunnel after a while.

Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama-----

They were all at Genkai's temple, training to get stronger. Yusuke fired his Spirit Gun again.

"Can you do anything right you dimwit!" Genkai shouted at him. "I told you to push your Spirit Gun forward, not for it to push you back! Do it again!"

"God dammit, old witch!" Yusuke complained as he gathered energy to his index finger. "I'm gonna be dead before I get this right!"

"Haha! You wimp!" Kuwabara teased.

"Kuwabara! Concentrate!" Genkai ordered.

Kuwabara snapped around without any arguments.

"Your Spirit Sword is barely even flickering!" Genkai shouted at him. "Concentrate and put more energy into it and maybe it'll actually do some damage!"

"How much more energy do you want me to put into this thing!" Kuwabara asked, pouring even more energy into the already brightly glowing sword.

"And you, Kurama," Genkai said. "You're a lot weaker than Yoko since this is your human form, so work on putting more energy into your attacks, and work on your speed a bit. When you use your plant attacks, try to make them stronger. I'm not going to ask you to make them as strong as Yoko's was, but they definitely need to be more powerful. And learn some new attacks and maneuvers with that thing that you call a brain!"

Kurama nodded in response, ignoring Genkai's insult, as he got his rose out.

"Fire your Spirit Gun Yusuke!" Genkai ordered. "And make sure that you push your energy with more force! Kuwabara, I want you to knock it away!"

"Bossy old hag!" Yusuke shouted as he fired his attack. "Spirit Gun!"

"Spirit Sword!" Kuwabara shouted, swinging his sword down into Yusuke's Spirit Gun.

Akiya and the Others----- Night-----

"What the hell," Hiro said quietly, sounding tired. "We've searched all day yet…"

"We have no idea where that tunnel is…" Kohira finished.

"How are we supposed to sense something that's not there Akiya Nee-chan?" Mika asked.

"I dunno," Akiya answered quietly. "I dunno…"

"Are you okay?" Katsu asked Akiya. She seemed exhausted.

"I'm fine."

"Akiya Nee-chan," Yomi called. "Hayate-sama… he's gone."

Akiya looked up and looked around. So did everyone else. Yomi was right. Hayate was nowhere in sight.

"Did he find the tunnel maybe?" Kohira considered.

"Then why didn't he say anything?" Jiruma asked as everyone turned to stare at her, making her feel out of place and uncomfortable. "I guess it doesn't matter what I think. It's none of my business anyway…"

She feels out of place… Akiya thought. "It's not that Jiruma-san. We're just stressed. Your thoughts count as much as ours. Please try not to feel uncomfortable around us."

How? Jiruma asked herself. They're acting like I'm not even there. How am I supposed to feel comfortable around people who refuse to accept me? Jiruma's eyes widened at her own thought. Akiya-san… was this how you always felt when you were at the village? Is that why you only trust them? Hiro-san and the others that is? Is that why you can understand me right now? Akiya…

"We have to look for Hayate," Keta told everyone as she began searching for him.

Hiei-----

"What are you?" asked a familiar voice. "A ninja? You're always hanging out in the forests."

Hiei spun around to face Hayate.

"Why are you here?" Hiei asked suspiciously.

He didn't answer him. Hiei waited patiently. After a while, he decided to take off. He teleported away but Hayate cut him off, surprising Hiei slightly though he didn't show it, Hiei merely growled in irritation.

"You need to learn how to control the dragon," Hayate said. "And you need to learn how to use a more powerful attack than that."

"You're going to train me?" Hiei asked amused.

"Yes," he answered calmly.

"I'd rather pick tulips and daisies."

"Then go ahead," Hayate dared, knowing that Hiei wouldn't do that to save his life.

"As soon as you make out with your mother," Hiei countered and turned around to leave.

But Hayate grabbed Hiei's wrist and turned him around to face him.

"What the hell's your problem!" he asked. "I know we got off on a bad start, and I know that I haven't exactly been all that great to you either, but can't you tell when you need to stop acting childish! We're dealing with a powerful enemy, and if you're satisfied with getting your ass kicked, then fine! But remember, I don't need to waste my time to help you!"

"Why do you care so much?" Hiei asked, still suspicious. "I never asked for your help!"

"I'm doing this because I want to! I want you to get stronger!

"What?" Hiei asked, surprised at what he just heard.

"I said I want you to get stronger," he repeated.

"Why…?"

After a while, he finally replied, "Because… let's just say… I won't always be able to protect Akiya… and I need someone I can trust to protect her… and I need someone who can stop me… to bluntly put it… I'm trusting you with my life, and with hers."

Hiei looked at him questioningly but didn't say anything.

"Now, power up!" Hayate commanded.

Akiya and the Others-----

"Where could he have gone?" wondered Kohira.

They had been searching for him for a good two hours now, and he was still nowhere in sight. Everyone continued to search for him except for Akiya.

"Akiya?" Keta called. "Something wrong?"

"Let's look for the tunnel," she suggested.

"But what about Hayate?" Kohira asked confused.

"I think Akiya's right," Hiro agreed. "Let's look for the tunnel instead. I'm sure Hayate will be back."

Everyone nodded in acknowledgement to their leader's order.

"Let's try a different method this time," Hiro said. "Let's try forcing it out."

"How Hiro-sama?" Mika asked.

"We'll have to blast every inch of this place with our energy. I think that we should do it a little at a time."

Everyone nodded and separated but stayed near each other and continued to find the tunnel.

Four Days Later----- Hiei and Hayate-----

"That's it?" Hiei asked.

"Yeah," he answered. "I'm done here. I have to go back to do some more training with the others."

"There are only two more days left," Hiei pointed out.

"So?" Hayate asked. "I've spent five days training you. Now I have to spend some time to train on my own. Use the rest of this day and tomorrow to practice what I've taught you, but remember, don't overdo it. It takes up a lot of energy so be careful, otherwise, you'll be just as useless as before."

Before Hiei could get him for insulting him, Hayate left to go back to the others.

Akiya and the Others-----

"We… only have… two more days… left… to find the stupid tunnel… and get through it…" Akiya said between deep breaths. They had checked the whole field three times and tried many other methods that were energy consuming only to fail every time.

"Where's Hayate… when you need him?" Kohira asked, also out of breath just like everyone else.

"Right behind you," he answered in a-matter-of-factly kind of tone.

"About time," Hiro said.

"You always disappear when we need your brains more than you're arrogance," Kohira muttered.

"Couldn't she figure something out?" Hayate asked, indicating Keta.

"Apparently, no," Hiro replied.

"Amateurs," he mumbled.

"Well, we tried to force it out and it didn't work," Kohira said.

Hayate looked at Hiro. "You should know better," he told him. "You have to feel it, not force it out."

He slowly closed his eyes as everyone except Jiruma did the same. They concentrated on finding the tunnel. Nothing… Jiruma didn't get what the point of doing this was. It wasn't like the tunnel was just going to appear in front of them.

Hayate opened his eyes. Soon, so did everyone else.

"Feel that?" he asked quietly.

"How did we miss it?" Keta wondered.

"Such a strong feeling…" Akiya said.

"Let's go," Hiro said as they all walked to towards the strong feeling. Jiruma followed them, not seeing how just closing their eyes and concentrating would've helped them to find the tunnel.

Everyone suddenly stopped.

"Why are we stopping here?" Jiruma asked.

"Cuz this is where the tunnel is," Akiya replied.

"What?" she asked again, surprised. There was noting in front of them except grass.

"If you did what we did, you would've been able to feel it too Jiruma-sama," Yomi told her.

"Dispel!" everyone shouted together.

Nothing happened. Then a voice suddenly spoke to them. It seemed as if it were coming from the sky.

"Show me you sign," it commanded. "Your sign will allow you into the tunnel."

"What sign?" Hiro asked it.

"Your sign!" it repeated.

"What kind of sign?" Hiro asked again, hoping to get a more useful answer.

"Your sign!" it repeated yet again.

"Forget it," Hayate said. "Don't bother asking that thing. We're not gonna get anything else outta him."

"So… what kind of sign do we have?" Kohira asked everyone's question out loud.

"Maybe our village symbol?" Jiruma suggested.

"No, I don't think so," Keta replied. "If it wanted our village symbol, than it should've let us into the tunnel already because we all have the village symbol on the back of our shirts."

Everyone went silent and tried to think of what kind of sign they could've had. Akiya closed her eyes. She was stressed.

What kind of sign does it want? And why do they want a sign from us? What's the point?

-----Flashback-----

"A good ninja is not only strong, but is wise as well. If a ninja cannot use his head in a dangerous and life threatening situation, then they are a worthless ninja." Akiro told her.

-----End Flashback-----

"That's the point," she said to herself. "That's why it won't let us in unless we can figure this out."

"Akiya?" Keta asked.

"It's testing us," she replied. "Akiro-sensei once told me that a good ninja is smart and strong; that a worthless ninja is one that can't use his head in a situation that is dangerous."

"What are you talking about?" Jiruma asked.

"I see," Keta said. "It will only let us through the tunnel if we are wise enough, because we've already proven half of our strength by finding the location of the tunnel."

"Half?" Yomi asked.

"Yes, half. We've proven how strong we are mentally. If we can figure out what it wants to see, then we've proven how wise we are. So if we get through the tunnel, we'll be proving how strong we are physically," Jiruma answered.

"Actually, finding the tunnel strengthens your spiritual awareness," Hiro corrected. "The tunnel itself is going to test our strength all together whether it's mentally or physically."

"Akiya Nee-san," Mika called. "What about our birth sign?"

Everyone's attention turned to Mika.

"Birth sign?" Kohira questioned.

Everyone's eyes widened. Mika was right!

"That's it!" everyone shouted.

"Each one of us has a birth sign. All we have to do is show it to it," Hiro said.

"How?" Jiruma asked.

"Like this," Hayate replied as he put up the hand seal that stood for dragon. "Dragon!"

In less than a second, Hayate was gone.

"Tiger!" Hiro and Kohira both shouted, putting up the hand seal that stood for the tiger.

Keta went next. "Rabbit!"

"Dragon!" Akiya yelled.

"Ox!" Mika shouted.

"We're next," Yomi said to Katsu.

"Mouse!" the two young boys shouted together.

Jiruma stepped forward and put up the hand seal that represented to mouse. "Boar!" she shouted as well.

Everyone was now inside the tunnel.

In the Tunnel-----

"Akiya Nee-san, what is this place?" Mika asked.

"This is… inside the tunnel but…" Akiya trailed off.

"I- I can't move," Yomi said, sounding nervous.

"None of us can," Keta informed.

They seemed as if they were floating in space, except that it wasn't black. There wasn't a way to describe where they were. It just looked like all the colors in the world were mashed together and were constantly moving in weird and unusual motions.

"My spirit energy!" Kohira said alarmed.

"Mine too," Akiya agreed calmly.

It was as if their energy was being drained away. Suddenly, what seemed like spirits appeared around them.

"If you wish to leave here alive, then you must survive this course, otherwise, leave immediately! What is your choice?" the voice asked.

"We're not leaving!" Hiro answered confidently.

"Very well!"

"Wait!" Jiruma shouted. "How are we supposed to move in this place?"

"That is for you to find out!"

"And if we can't?" Keta asked calmly.

"Then this will be your grave!"

The spirits closed in on them and the ninjas were still unable to move.

"Shit!" Hayate cursed to himself. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I refuse to die in this damn oblivion! Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!"

Hayate released as much energy as he could while being restrained by the strange force of where they were, and it worked! However, the only thing was, he had to keep up that level of energy or else he would be paralyzed again.

"Hm? Figures… other than Akiya, you're the youngest one here yet you seem to be the best ninja out of the nine of us… even though you're the least experienced…" Hiro said as he did the same as Hayate. Everyone followed in turn.

"I sure as hell hope that our techniques will work in here!" Hayate said as he began to perform hand seals.

Two Days Later At the Spirit World Palace-----

The four detectives and Genkai were in Koenma's office along with Koenma, Botan, Ayame, and George.

"Let's meet them at the front gate," Koenma suggested.

As soon as he said that though, the doors to his office burst opened. As promised by Rejuko, the second attack on the palace was about to begin. The four detectives stepped in front of Koenma, George, and the two girls.

The crowd of demons and ninjas cleared a path for a familiar ninja. He looked around.

"Awwww, where's Akiya and the others?" he asked, pretending to whine. "It's no fun storming a castle when there's only an old hagged up woman and four teenagers to protect it."

"Unfortunately, they're running late," Yusuke answered in his slightly sarcastic tone. "But we'll manage just fine. You don't have to worry about that, cuz this time, it's your ass that gonna get kicked!"

"Yeah! After all that stuff Genkai put us through, there's no way in hell that we'll be able to lose!" Kuwabara agreed, being careful not to call Genkai a 'grandma' or an 'old hag'.

Hn! They don't understand anything! That training was only to prepare them for the least! Genkai thought.

"Hmmm… interesting," Rejuko commented. "I would like to test out this new strength that you speak of. Show me!"

With a wave of his hand, the demons charged in for an attack…

Next Chapter's Preview-----

Run Away Forever Chapter 15- Mission Accomplished!

What awaits the ninjas who are still in that odd tunnel? Will they get out in time to help the Spirit Detectives, or will the detectives have to try to hold up on their own? With all of their new gained strength, will they be able to at least land a hit on Rejuko this time? However, it seems that defeating the detectives and the ninjas isn't Rejuko's intention. And it seems that they have all forgotten about the girls that are in the Ningenkai… who are now hostages of the insanely powerful ninja…