<Part 0>
 

 Shuuichi packed up his clothes quickly. He was going to America as an exchange student! The girl whose family was taking him in was sending her to his family in Japan. Trading kids for a school year and a summer.

 Kurama walked in to his brothers room and looked around in amusement. "Ready to go?"

 "Almost! Almost! Hold on!" Shuuichi said quickly trying to sit on his
suitcase to make in shut completely.

 "Excited?"

 "Yeah! America! This will be fun!"

 Kurama looked at his watch. If we don't get you to the airport, shuu-chan, you wont be getting very far."

 "Ok, ok, done!"

 Kurama scooped up his brother's cases and took them out to the car.

 The drive to the airport was quick and filled with Shuuichi's excited talking about the American girls brothers and pets and how much he was going to love it.

 When they got to the airport Kurama hugged his brother at the loading gate.
"Now remember to write to kaasan Shuu-chan, long letters."

 "I will, I will write to you too."

 Kurama laughed, "I'll look for your letters."

 "And I will bring you both back gifts."

 Again the red head laughed, "Not if you don't get on the plane you won't." He
teased. He gave his little brother one more hug then smiled, "Well, go on."

 "Bye Oniisan!"

 "Sayonara Shuuichi!"
 
 

 Anja finished throwing her jeans and T-shirts a couple sweaters and her underclothing into her large army duffle. She tossed in all of the other necessities, a pair of pajamas, toiletries, hair ties. Then she tied her black bandana around her head and slid on a tight T-shirt and baggy, bugle- boy jeans. Her mother came into the room as she was tying her CAT work boots.

 "Ready?" She asked.

 "I think so." Anja said deciding last minuet to toss her stuffed mouse into the duffle too.

 "You have all the cloths you need?"

 "Yep."

 "Tennis shoes?"

 "Check."

 "Toiletries?"

 "Uhuh."

 "Jewelry?"

 Anja put a hand over the two necklaces around her neck and fingered the long claw like ring on her middle finger. "Yeah."

 "Anything else you might want or need?"

 Anja held up her leather backpack and patted it, "All in here."

 "Coat."

 "Got it."

 "Is that everything. . .?"

 Anja laughed, "Mom, I think you're more nervous than I am!"

 Her mother smiled slightly, "Well my babies going away for a whole year!"

 "But you get another kid to spoil rotten with hugs and kisses in my place."

 "I'm going to miss you. The kids will too."

 "I'll write." Anja said, "I promise."

 Her mother nodded.

 "And I'll bring you back something cool."

 That got her to laugh, "I'm sure you will. We had better get going or you'll miss the plane."

 "si madre, ooh, I guess I'll have to say hai kaasan now, huh."

 Her mother laughed and picked up the duffle carrying it out to their mini- van.

 "Bye guys!" Anja hugged her father and her siblings, "I'll miss you all."

 "Anja!"

 "Coming mom!" She turned back to her brothers, "Help with Serah."

 "We will."

 "And be nice to your new brother."

 "We will! Go or you'll be stuck here!"

 "Heaven forbid!" Anja laughed and waved one last time, "Bye!"

 At the airport gate she turned to her mom, her smile wavering, "I'll miss you."

 "Oh honey!" Her mother gathered her close for a big hug. "I'll miss you too!"

 "Last call."

 "You have to go." He mother smiled, "Just be yourself and you'll be fine."

 "Yeah."

 "Write to us."

 "I will. Promise. Cross my heart and hope to cry."

 "Ok." He mother smiled bravely, "Now git."
 
 

 A half hour later Shuuichi arrived in America and was greeted by his new mother with a big hug and a smile then taken to meet his new family.

 "You will like them, You would have liked Anja too."

 "What do I call you?"

 "Call me kaasan."

 He smiled.
 
 

 Kurama sat in the terminal lounge reading a book as he waited for his new sister's plane to arrive. When it did he stood to meet her and was greeted by swarms of American girls. Which was her?
 

 Anja stepped off the plane and looked around, "How am I supposed to recognize whoever is here for me?" She wondered out loud.

 She walked to the conveyer belt to get her duffle and saw a young man with
long red hair searching the crowd. Guess he's lost too. She thought as she scooped the
worn bag up and made her way toward him. "Ohayo." She smiled.

 Kurama smiled back absently, "Ohayo." He groaned inwardly, not another proposition!
 

 "Are you looking for someone too?"

 "Huh?"

 "You looked like you were searching the crowd, are you looking for someone too?"

 "Yes my new sister?"

 "Oh! Is she adopted?"

 "No," He replied scanning the room again, "she's an exchange student from the states."

 Anja got a huge smile on her face and she flung her arms around the startled man.
 

 Kurama jumped! This was a very forward approach! "Wha. . .?!"
 

 "You are Minamino Shuuichi Hai?!"

 "H. . . Hai."

 "I am your new sister! Nightwind Anja!"

 Kurama digested this slowly then smiled brightly, "I thought you were trying
to hit on me!" He laughed.

 "And I thought you had forgotten that I was coming today!"

 "Well I am here." He smiled. "Nightwind Anja, welcome to Japan."

 "COOL!"

<Part 1>

 Hiei sat high up in the tree, hidden from all of those baka ningen who poured out of the school before him. Mukuro had sent him away. She told him that he should take time to cool off before he scorched all of the Makai. He frowned at the memory.

 Ningenkai was very close to Hell except for one person. Kurama. He was the only person Hiei could truly call friend, even if the fire demon would never tell him that. Hn, the fox has a big enough head as it is!

 Maybe this wasn't such a bad thing. He could train without Mukuro. There was a training ground in China he had heard a lot about and wanted to try. But first. . . maybe Kurama would take him to get that sweet snow he liked so much.

 There in the crowd. He finally caught a glimpse of red in the waves of ningen. He watched as Kurama walked out of the school. The female ningen flocked around him and he smiled whenever one got up the courage to say something. Hiei was not pleased, but he didn't know exactly why. Kurama said something politely and nodded his head then walked away.

 When he rounded the corner, Hiei appeared at his friends side and just walked with him for a while in silence.

 After a while, Kurama spoke, "I thought you were training with Mukuro."

 "Hn. I'm taking a vaccination."

 "Vaccin. . . a vacation?" Kurama tried valiantly not to laugh.

 ". . ."

 "She couldn't stand your temper could she?" Kurama couldn't resist teasing. "She kicked you out!"

 "Hn!"

 Kurama smiled and put his hand on Hiei's shoulder, "I'm sorry Hiei, I couldn't resist. Do you want to get some ice cream?"

 Hiei looked up at Kurama and nodded once, "Hai, sweet snow."
 

 After they had each gotten a cone, they walked through the park. Kurama talked, Hiei ate.

 "So Koenma said we'll all be back on duty in just a few weeks."

 "Hn."

 "What are you going to do now that Mukuro gave you this. . . vacation."

 "Train."

 "That's what you did before."

 Hiei looked up at Kurama, "Hn, kitsune no baka."

 Kurama stifled a giggle at Hiei's ice cream covered face and unable to resist, he swooped down to lick the offending chocolate from the Koorime's skin.

 Hiei Jumped back hissed, "What do you think you're doing?!" He wasn't sure if he liked the swirling feelings that the Kitsunes touch made in his gut. He pushed away, desperate for some space between them.

 Kurama smiled, "Your face was dirty."

 The Koorime closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Kurama was his friend. He would admit that. He was happy when he saw the kitsune, yes. But what was the other feeling! It frightened him! Hiei didn't like being frightened. It was a feeling he had never known before. The two feelings both together were overwhelming.

 "Shuuichi."

 Hiei, thankful for the diversion, turned to Kurama's Okassan and stepped back as they talked.

 "Shuuichi."

 Kurama looked up at his mother in surprise, "‘Kaasan?"

 "And so I find you out playing, you were supposed to walk home with Anja."

 "Kaasan, Anja wanted to stay after school to talk with the sensai, and I think she needed some time alone."

 "But she is in Tokyo for the first time! Please Shuu-chan, go find her and bring her home."

 "Hai Kaasan, it was very unthinking of me. Gomen." Actually I was only thinking of having some minuets alone with Hiei. Kaasan is right. "Hiei, do you want to come with me?"

 "Hn."  Who is this Anja? What interest does she hold with Kurama and his Kaasan? Hiei started walking with his friend.

 "Anja is a foreign exchange student sent to live with us." Kurama explained as if he had read his friends mind. "She is from America and has never been to a different country until now." He gave a soft sigh. "Kaasan was right, I shouldn't have left her."

 "Hn."

 "I guess she can take care of herself, ne?"

 "Hn."

 Kurama was about to say something more when he heard some voices from behind a building.

 Hiei heard too and tensed, his hand hovering over the cloak that concealed
his katana.

 "What have we here guys?"

 "A pretty gaijin girl."

 "Is it true what they say about gaijin girls?"

 "Get away from me bakas." A distinctly annoyed feminine voice replied.

 "K'so! It's Anja!" Kurama ran toward the voices Hiei close behind.

 "Oooh we got a feisty one here." The leader of the three ran a hand over Anja's rear and the others laughed.

 The two demons rounded the corner just as Anja's fist collided with the
large boy's jaw, "Hand's off!"

 The three boys surrounded her then. One grabbed her from behind so the others could hit her, but Anja bent down and with one fluid motion threw him into the wall. "Just because I'm gaijin doesn't mean I'm helpless."

 The two left standing came at her and one found himself pushed into the wall behind her, his own momentum used against him, the other found a boot knife pressed against his neck.

 "Cool down pretty gaijin." The boy said calmly as he pushed the blade away from his throat slowly. He smoothed his shirt and smiled, "We were only messing with you."

 "Hn!" Anja snorted.

 The boy thought of another tactic since the first obviously wasn't working. "Nice necklace, you like antique jewelry?"

 "Keep your filthy hands off of it." Anja warned.

 The warning came too late, the boy had the silver pendant with a round red stone in his hands.

 She swept with her knife, cutting his fingers, "I said to keep your filthy hands off. Now move it or loose it, kisama!"

 The boy ran away cradling his bleeding hand.

 "Hn, Baka." Anja muttered as she arranged her pendant back in it's place and stroked a loving hand over it.

 "Anja?" Kurama ran up to her, "Are you all right?"

 "Shuu-kun!" She looked surprised to see him, "Yeah, I'm fine."

 "They didn't hurt you?"

 Anja gave him a look that told him it was a stupid question, "I know how to fight."

 "I saw! How did you learn that?!"

 "I trained." She looked over at Hiei and smiled, "Hi, I'm Anja."

 "Hn."

 Kurama smiled, "That's Hiei."

 Hiei looked the human girl over. She was tall, taller than Kurama's human form, and had eyes that seemed green one instant, brown the next. Her skin was healthy and tanned with exposure and as red as Kurama's hair was, Anja's was copper. She wore an odd claw like ring on her left middle finger, a claw like necklace laid between her breasts and a red pendant a little lower.  A bandana wrapped like a headband over her brow, and she had a bat tattooed on her left hand, it's wings folding around her to her palm and head resting right below her index finger. Most interesting though was the fact that she had true strong Ki.

 "Hiei." She smiled again. When he didn't answer she turned back to Kurama, "Why did you come back? I thought you wanted to go somewhere." The three of them walked out back onto the street and started toward Kurama's home.

 "Kaasan found me and reminded me of my manners. Gomen."

 "Oi Shuu! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to be a bother."

 "No bother."

 "Well, as you can see I'm fine now. You don't have to waste your free time
with me."

 "I. . ."

 "Hey! Kurama!"

 "Yuusuke! Kuwabara!"

 "Hi," Kuwabara looked down at Hiei and grinned, "I see the shrimps back."

 "Hn, who you callin' a shrimp meat head?"

 "Why you. . .!"

 "Hey Kurama, who's your friend." Yuusuke asked when he noticed Anja.

 "This is Anja, She is staying with my family as a foreign exchange student.
She's from America."

 "Ohayo Anja, I am Urameshi Yuusuke."

 "Nightwind Anja, pleased to meet you."

 "That lug over there is Kuwabara." Yuusuke waved a hand to where Kuwabara and Hiei were still going at it.

 "Ohayo Kuwabara."

 The boy turned and was immediately clobbered by Hiei.

 "Hiei!" Anja ran to help the other boy up, "That was uncalled for!"

 Hiei glared at Anja, but she glared right back.

 Kurama broke it up quickly, he had no want to take his guest home in pieces.

 Yuusuke and Kuwabara were a couple of delinquents from another school.
Anja liked them at once.  Kuwabara was brainless but funny and Yuusuke was headstrong but sweet. They were both very kind and equally silly.

 "So Kurama, mind if we borrow your new sister?" Yuusuke asked.

 "Yeah, we can show you the town!"

 Anja smiled but shook her head, "I still have to unpack, and change out of this God awful uniform, but if you wanted to walk home with me you could."

 They nodded and left and Hiei gazed up at Kurama in question.

 Kurama smiled at him, "She's kind of odd, but you get used to her."

 The fire demon nodded.

 "I'm glad you came back. I. . . I missed you."

 "Hn."

 "Hiei, come to the house tonight, please."

 "Why?"

 "Just to talk." He paused for a moment. ". . . You are my. . . my friend, and I missed talking to you."

 "So talk now."

 "No. . . I mean. . . , but. . ." Kurama sounded as confused as Hiei felt, finally he finished. "it's not the same."

 Hiei looked like he wanted to question this,  but finally he just nodded again.

 They stayed around the park, Kurama talked, Hiei listened. They made a few trips for more ‘sweet snow'. Then a commotion caused them to look up. Yuusuke and Kuwabara were barreling across the grass toward them, Anja hot on their heels. "Bakas! I am not a Tomboy! You take that back!" She caught Yuusuke first, rolling to the ground with him they proceeded to wrestle around until Kuwabara's laughter caught their attention and they both tackled him.
 

 Kurama gasped at Anja's behavior, and her outfit! Her jeans were hip hugging and clung to her legs like a second skin before flaring at the knees. Her T-shirt was modest enough but as she wrestled it had come up to display her tight abdomen. Her huge, CAT work boots had come unlaced in the scuffle and threatened to fall off her feet. "Anja!"

 "Uh oh, busted." The three said in unison.

 "You're right about that!" Kurama looked Anja up and down from where
she sprawled on the grass in a tangle of limbs with Yuusuke and Kuwabara. "What are you wearing?!"

 Anja looked down at her outfit then back up at Kurama with innocent eyes, "Umm, clothes?" Kurama's lips thinned, "Jeans and a T-shirt?"

 She found herself hauled up to stand in front of her new ‘brother'. "What did I do?" She looked saddened by his anger.

 "You are not a boy." Kurama told her, still holding her arm, "You don't behave like a boy."

 Now she looked upset, "No, I am Anja Nightwind and I will behave like Anja Nightwind!"

 "You are not in America anymore Anja." Kurama said more gently

 She shut her eyes for a moment, her whole body shook with the force of her emotions, "I know." she hissed, as she walked away Hiei caught a whimper blown by the wind, "I didn't belong there either."

 Yuusuke and Kuwabara looked after Anja then at Kurama, "You were kind of hard with her."

 "I'm just worried about her." Kurama sighed gazing after her. She is so very naive."

 "We wouldn't do anything though, you know that."

 "But other people might. She already got harassed today."

 "Hn." Hiei flitted off and Kurama sighed.
 
 

  Anja walked up until she got to the cover of the woods then she broke out running as fast and as far as she could. She ran until her chest hurt and then more until she collapsed against a tree. Her breaths were heavy and her eyes were blank, masked.

 Hiei sat up in the trees watching the ningen slid down against the tree to a sitting position. He clutched his katana tightly when he felt another Ki coming close to Anja.

 "Kuro. I know you're there, come out." Anja said softly.

 A nine tailed fox bounded out of the bushes and jumped onto Anja's lap yipping and licking her face. Nine tails? Hiei thought, A Youko!

 "Kuro! Get down!" Anja laughed. She petted the sleek black fur of the fox and hummed an American song for a while then she started talking. Hiei listened. "I'm glad you came Kuronue. It's hard to be so far from my family." She looked down into golden eyes, "Could you take your other form? I need a hug." She sounded close to tears.

 The fox seamed to become engulfed in a body fitting, shimmering mist, when it cleared, a black haired, silver Youko sat beside Anja. He took the girl into his arms, pulled her to sit on his lap, and rocked her as she cried.

 "I. . . I'm . . . s. . . sorry." She said between sobs.

 "Shhh." The Youko whispered softly, "It's okay to cry Anja, it helps. It really does. Don't try to stop the tears, I'm here."

 Hiei watched the scene with wariness. He recognized the name. Kuronue,
Kurama's old partner in crime. The fox below even resembled the Chimera had wings and all, but how? Had he been reincarnated into a kitsune? Into a Youko?

 "Kuronue, I made a fool of myself! I don't know how to act here! I have already shamed my brother, Shuuichi."

 "How did you do that?"

 "I wore these clothes, and I wrestled with a couple of his friends. I wrestle with all of my friends. I didn't see any harm in it."

 "You show friendship by physical contact Anja, you always have." The Youko smiled, "It is part of what makes you. . . you."

 "But he was so disappointed in me."

 Hiei was startled at the words, Anja wasn't crying because of Kurama's anger, she was crying because she thought she had disappointed him!

 The Youko got a gleam in his eyes, "Anja."

 "Huh?"

 When she looked up the Youko bit her nose and jumped away.

 "Oh you little. . ."

 "Na na na na na, you can't get me." He chanted swaying his hips and tails around
and sticking out his tongue.

 "You're gonna pay for that one!" She jumped up from where he had dumped her from his lap and ran after him.

 He laughed and zipped around the trees, Anja kept up with him almost perfectly, She is fast for a ningen. Hiei had to admit.

 Finally the Youko slowed just a bit but that was all Anja needed, she tripped him and they both went rolling down a small hill. Hiei followed them still in the trees.

 Anja landed on Kuronue's chest and quickly put him into a hold down position. The Youko squirmed but couldn't get out of it. "Ok, You got me!" He howled with laughter.

 "I claim my revenge then." Anja grinned and bit his nose. Then she let him out of the lock to tickle him.

 Kuronue howled with indignation and tried tickling her too. Anja howled in laughter and curled up into a ball, "No!. . . ahahah!. . . . I'm too ticklish!. . . ahahahah. . . Kuro!. . . . Stooooooop. . . . ahahaha. . . help!"

 "Not so high and mighty now are you little ningen." He teased.

 "Ahahahaha! Ok! You win! Hahaha! I give!" She fairly screeched the last part.

 The Youko bent down and kissed her lips softly. "I take." He said softly.

 Anja looked up at him with a radiant smile that reminded Hiei of Kurama's ‘real' smile. The smile he reserved only for his close friends and family. "Kuro, You always make me feel better."

 "Well, you always make me feel good too." He smiled and held her in his lap again.

 "Are you going to stay with me here?"

 "I think I can do that." He nodded, "I followed you here didn't I?"

 "What have you been up to lately?"

 A gleam caught in the Youko's eyes, "I recently had a great heist!"

 "Greater than the one you got this from?" Anja asked running the claw ring
over his chest.

 "Oh much bigger! My den is packed! It will fetch some fine prices. But one piece just looked too beautiful to sell. He pulled out a choker necklace made out of moonstones, sunstones, emeralds that were animated, continuously cut through by tiny bolts of white hot lightning, and some type of stone that resembled a tiger eye, but constantly changed color,  with a silver dragons taloned claws set to  rest in the hollow of the wearer's neck.

 "It's beautiful! Kuro this alone will fetch you a great price! I don't know about Makai value systems, but it would fetch a  small fortune in Ningenkai!"

 "No, It wont."

 "Why not? Is it flawed? I could pawn it for you here, I doubt any ningen would see a flaw in it."

 "I don't plan on selling it."

 "You don't?" Anja looked at him like he was crazy.

 "No, it's for you." He fastened the tiny chain's links carefully around her throat, kissing the nape of her neck when he was done. "There."

 Anja turned around and looked into the bright silver eyes of her kitsune, "arigato koibito."

 Kuronue smiled, "Seeing you wearing it is thanks enough." He looked up at the sky, "Come on, I'll take you home, it's almost dinner time."

 "Oh! You're right!" Anja got up and tried without much success to get the dirt off of her clothes and the leaves out of her hair.

 Hiei followed them back to Kurama's house, the whole way back they teased each other, Anja would jump up and yank Kuronue's ear or still his wide brimmed, ragged old hat, and he would immediately retaliate, the two chasing through the woods and ending up on the ground in a tangle of limbs laughing and teasing until they realized it was getting darker. Finally they reached civilization and Kuronue transformed into a human form to walk Anja to the house. In the shadows by the door he gave her one last kiss, "take care of yourself itoshi."

 "Sleep sweet koibito." Then she hugged him quickly and darted into the house.
 
 

 Kurama was waiting for her when she closed the door. "Shuuichi! I. . ."

 "I'm sorry Anja, I didn't mean to be so harsh with you, It's just. . .  I never
had a sister before and I get worried about your honor and well being."

 Anja hugged the red head, "arigato nissan." She smiled, "I didn't mean to disappoint you."

 "You didn't, and I don't care if you wrestle with those two, just be careful ok? Not everyone is a friend."

 "I know shuu, but I thought, since you guys seemed close. . ."

 "Hai, we are."

 "But not as close as you want you and Hiei, ne?"

 "Nani!?" Kurama was beet red.

 "Kids, dinner!"

 "Hai Kaasan." Anja walked to the kitchen leaving Kurama to blush alone.
 

 That night, Hiei crept into Kurama's room and found him helping Anja with some school work. The two looked up to greet him then Anja smiled and kissed Kurama's cheek, "Thank you nissan, I can do the rest."

 Anja could have sworn she saw Hiei's eyes flit to her, begging her to stay. Uh uh uh little one. You have to face your own love life buddy. I'm siding with K'rama on this one. You guys look so kawii together!

 When she had closed the door, Kurama turned to Hiei and smiled, "You came."
 

 "Hn, why wouldn't I?"

 "I. . ."

 "Kurama?" Hiei asked uncertainly.

 The kitsune captured his friends eyes with his own and slowly leaned forward, trying to project every thought, feeling, and emotion though his eyes. He wanted so badly for the Koorime to know how he felt. He had wanted him to know since the moment their eyes had met, even when at that moment, Hiei had wanted to kill him.

 The little youkai didn't dare to hope what he saw in the Youko's emerald gaze was real. He refused to open his mind to the possibility that Kurama may have feelings for him, a forbidden child, betrayed by his own kind. Why would a kitsune of Kurama's beauty and status even think about him in that way?

 Kurama wanted to wrap his arms around the little fire demon and kiss him until he had no choice but to love him, but he kept a respectable distance, fearing that if he gave in to impulse he would scare the koorime away forever.

 The Koorime looked up at the fox with his wide burning gaze red as twin embers, "So?"

 Kurama smiled at that, "Still not one to mince words are you Hiei."

 "Hn."

 "How has Mukuro been treating you?" Kurama could hardly stand it! This silly small talk was so much less significant than what his heart truly longed to say.

 Hiei perched on Kurama's desk and took out his sword to sharpen it, "fair."

 "Fair?" Kurama asked using teasing to cover the depth of his feelings, "Fair as in a fair maiden? Fair as in fairly decent? Fair as in a fair and just ruler?"

 "last one."

 "What kind of training are you doing?"

 "I guard the borders."

 "Are you captain of her guards?"

 "Hai."

 "The title suits you well." Kurama smiled and stood up stretching his limbs. "Ah, that feels good. I have been sitting too long!"

 "Helping Anja?"

 "Hai. She is a great student but her math is atrocious! She can't sit still long enough to do one set before she's off doing something completely different."

 "Hn." Hiei could relate to that. He didn't know how the Youko/Ningen could sit still doing homework as long as he did.

 "So what do you do as captain of the guard?"

 Hiei held his sword up for the light to streak over the deep blood stain on the blade.

 Kurama nodded, he got the picture. "Do you think you'll like being ruler when Mukuro is gone?" the kitsune asked.

 "I haven't thought about it."

 "Then why are you giving your time to Mukuro's army if you aren't thinking of taking over? You invest a lot of time to it."

 "Why not."

 Kurama wished he could give Hiei a reason why not, but he was afraid, and so he remained quiet, and the small talk continued on into the night.

<Part 2>
 

 The night air felt good on Anja's skin as she readied herself for sleep. She could hear Kurama and Hiei through the thin wall, and she was happy that they had found one another, even if they didn't know it themselves yet. It was hard to find the other half of your soul. She thought of Kuronue and smiled. But I've found mine. "Kuro."

 A tapping on the wall made the ningen girl start, but when she turned around, what she saw made her smile. "Kuronue." She opened her arms and that was all the welcome he needed, he jumped from the sill and embraced her. His wide brimmed hat cast a shadow over both of their faces but Anja didn't mind the dark, as long as his strong arms were wrapped around her, she felt safe. "Kuro, what are you doing here?"

 "It felt weird sleeping without having you near me these last nights." He said softly, "I saw the little youkai climb into the other window, and decided I could too."

 "Hai." She smiled, "Hai, you can. Any time you wish."

 "May I sleep here?" He asked.

 Anja nodded and climbed into bed then patted the futon beside her.

 Mist filled the room and when it cleared, a black fox laid curled up into a
ball cuddling up just below the girl's breasts. His soft purring lulled her to sleep.
 

 Hiei left around midnight. He felt twisted up inside, confused, almost in physical pain. What has that baka done to me? He thought in anger that he couldn't really feel. He couldn't force himself to stay angry at the kitsune, no matter how much he wanted to be angry with him. Anger was safe, it was a feeling he knew, familiar. Not like what he felt now, the warm feeling that tickled at his stomach and bubbled up in his breast. The intense pain he felt at the Youko's absence was unbearable but equally so was the pain he felt when he was near to him.

 Baka, what have you done to me?
 

 Kurama got up and went to wake Anja. My sister is fine once she is awake, but getting her up is the hard part. He knocked on the door but no one answered, "Anja! School time!" still no answer. He opened the door quietly and walked in, the room was cold. "Anja If you leave the window open like this you'll catch cold!" He shut the window the reached for her blankets, "Now get. . ." He pulled back the blankets and saw the black ball of fur pressing into her night shirt. "Anja!"

 "Huh?" Anja yawned and stretched then realized she still had a huge silver/black fox in her bed. "Um, busted again? Shuu-kun, I can explain. . ."

 "Ok. Go ahead." Kurama crossed his arms over his chest and waited.

 Anja looked a little cornered and still sleepy, "You want to interrogate me before breakfast, what kind of monster are you?!"

 The fox yawned and stretched fanning out nine tails.

 Nine tails! A very powerful Youko! "Oi, who are you!"

 The fox looked up at Kurama and the sleep left it's eyes, it jumped in front of Anja teeth bared, hair bristling.

 "No! Kuronue!" She sneezed as the tails tickled her nose, "This is my new brother Shuuichi!"

 The fox eyed him speculatively but curled up on Anja's lap and licked her hand as she stroked his fur.

 "Kuro. . . it can't be. . ." Kurama gulped looking at the fox, "Kuronue was a Chimera."

 This got the fox's attention, He dove off of Anja's lap and the next thing Kurama knew there was a large, silver Youko with black hair and wings,  in his partners old outfit holding a knife to his throat. "Who are you?!"

 "Kuro. . . it's me, . . . Kurama."

 "Kurama? Kurama died."

 "So did you! I came to this body to stay alive! It's me. . . see?"

 More mist and suddenly Shuuichi was replaced by a tall silver Youko.

 "Kurama!" The black kitsune threw down the knife and embraced his lost friend.

 "Kuronue." Kurama turned back into Shuuichi and tears filled his eyes, "I missed you."

 "I knew that name sounded familiar!" Anja said in wonder, "So you're Youko Kurama! Wow!"

 "Anja?!" Kurama looked from the silver/black Youko to his new sister, "So you. . . you knew about Kuronue? That he was a Youko?"

 "Of course! I met him in America years ago! He's been my only real friend since I was eleven years old!"

 "And now maybe something more."

 "Hai. He is a part of my soul."

 Kuronue got a soft look in his eyes as he took Anja's hand, "Hai."

 "I can't believe this!"

 "Shuuichi! Anja! Breakfast!"

 "Hai Kaasan!" They both yelled down.

 "Kuronue, I have to get dressed now."

 "Oh, Kurama, let's go into the hall."

 "I thought you said you were more than friends." Kurama said as the Youko shut the door and slid into human form.

 "We are, not that much more though, not yet."

 "But you were in bed with her."

 "Only in fox form. We feel better sleeping near one another."

 "Why haven't you. . .?"

 "Kurama, you above all people should know the importance of waiting for the one you love." Kurama looked startled. "The walls of this house are thin. And I know you too well Youko. Who is this Hiei?"

 Kurama blushed to the tips of his ears, "He is a koorime/fire demon."

 Kuronue laughed and patted his friends shoulder. "You always did have exotic taste. Is this one for keeps?"
 

 "Hai. He is if he'll have me."

 "Do my ears deceive me? Someone is imperious to you and your charm?"

 Kurama ignored his old partner, "And is Anja for keeps?"

 "Hai, She completes me."

 "Oi, I'm ready!" Anja closed the door of her room behind her. She was
wearing her school uniform, a pinkish colored sailor fuku that matched the shade of Kurama's suit. "Kuro, one chuckle and you're history!"

 "I didn't say a word!" He pleaded, but he couldn't hide the smile forming on his lips.

 "You two are going to be late for school!"

 "Hai kaasan, gomen."

 "Oh, who is your friend?"

 "This is Kuro." Anja said happily.

 "Oh another new friend already?"

 "Hai kaasan."

 "But all boys Anja, do you not think you should meet some girls too?"

 "Girls don't like me very well kaasan."

 "Oh and why not."

 Anja shrugged.

 "We have to go or we'll be late." Kurama and Anja both kissed Shori on the cheek, "See you after school kaasan!"

 "Good bye!" Shori called after them.
 

 After school they all met at Genkai's temple.

 "Oi, Anja!" Yuusuke called when she walked in with Kurama, "What are you doing here?"
 

 "Being here baka." She teased and tweaked his nose.

 Kuwabara sat making a fool of himself over Yukina and Hiei was in the rafters cleaning his katana. "Hn, took you long enough."

 "Some of us can't travel faster than the speed of light Hiei-chan." Anja pointed out, still teasing.

 "Don't call me that!" Hiei growled.

 Anja just smiled.

 "Anja, can I see that necklace you're wearing?" Genkai asked.

 "Which one?"

 "All of them actually, and that ring. . ."

 Anja walked closer but refused to take them off.

 "Could you remove them?"

 "I never remove them. Ever."

 "You didn't have that choker on yesterday." Yuusuke observed.

 "It was just given to me later that day."

 "Where did you get these?"

 "The claw necklace was my mothers when she was sixteen, all the others were gifts."

 "From who?"

 "A friend."

 Genkai looked stern, "Anja, you must tell me who this friend is."

 Anja looked at Kurama then back at Genkai, "I can't, not unless he wants you to know."

 "These are from the Makai, do you know what that is?"

 "Yes and I knew they were from there." She looked at the ring, "This is from Yomi's territory, I don't know about the others."

 Everyone but Kurama and Hiei looked a little shocked.

 "This red pendant belonged to Chimera Kuronue." Genkai added.

 "His pendant!" Kurama looked at Anja just realizing what it was.

 "It was a gift from a special friend, when I was sixteen." She said, hoping Kurama would catch on.

 "Obviously a very special friend." Genkai said calmly.

 "Hai."

 " Do you know what this friend is?"

 "Hai, my koibito is a Youko."

 "Koibito!" Once again all but Hiei and Kurama looked shocked. "A Youko?!"

 "Hai, what are all of you, my echoes?"

 Kurama looked like he would die holding in his laughter and even Hiei had
a grin on his face. Anja was playing the team like a master!

 "And where did he get these gifts?"

 "Can I tell them?" She asked loudly.

 An affirmative rustling came from nowhere and a flower bloomed in Anja's hair.

 "Thank you!" she plucked the beautiful Makai blossom from her copper
tresses and breathed in it's perfume.

 The team looked at Kurama, who instantly backed down, "Don't look at me! I didn't make it."

 "Where did he get them?"

 "Stole them of course. He is the best thief in all the Makai." She looked at
Kurama over the flower and smiled, "a thief to rival even the great Youko Kurama."
 

 "Ok Anja I think you've played enough." Kurama chuckled.

 "Oh." Anja looked disappointed, "all right. Kuro!"

 A black fox with nine tails bounded into the room and jumped up onto Anja's chest licking her face and nipping her ear.

 "I'm going to get you for that one." She growled pulling the foxes ear in
return.

 "Wha. . ." The rest of the team looked on.

 "Yuusuke, Kuwabara, Yukina, Hiei, Genkai, meet Youko Kuronue."

 A mist surrounded the fox and a tall, black haired, Youko stood beside Anja. "Koibito." He said softly, kissing her in greeting.

 "Oh you aren't getting off the hook that easy kitsune!"

 "Kuronue!" Kuwabara jumped up from his chair, "I the great Kazuma
Kuwabara will. . ."

 "You will sit down and shut up." Yuusuke said.

 "Nani!!!?"

 "That wasn't the real Kuronue we met before remember?"

 "Oh."

 Hiei rolled his eyes.

 "But Kuronue was a Chimera, not a Youko."

 "After I died I had to go somewhere didn't I?"

 "But a Youko?"

 "Beggars can't be choosers." He shrugged, "It's a good form, I can still pull a heist as easily as ever."

 "And it isn't too hard on the eyes either." Anja smiled suggestively.

 Kurama and Kuronue laughed, the others were still in shock.

 "So Anja, you knew. . .?" Yuusuke asked looking up at the very tall Youko.

 "We've been friends since I was eleven years old. Of course I knew."

 "Are you. . .?" Kuwabara finally spoke up."

 "No. Sorry, but far as I know I'm human."

 Yukina stood up, "I will go get some tea."

 "Oi YUKINA.  CAN I HELP?!" Kuwabara went crashing after the dainty Koorime maiden.

 Yuusuke and Genkai grimaced at the crashing and breaking sounds that
followed.

 "Well, there go my dishes."

 Yuusuke turned toward Kuronue who was now sitting on one of the
cushions surrounding the table, "So why are you in Ningenkai?"

 "Anja."

 ". . ."

 Kurama laughed, "Why don't you join us? Koenma would probably love to
have another member on the team."

 The Youko laughed at the thought, "Me on a team of spirit detectives. I
somehow don't think It'd fit."

 "I fit." Kurama smiled.

 "Barely."

 "Then what about you Anja?"

 "Me?"

 Kuwabara walked back into the room then with the tea tray, "Anja? Ha,
what could a kid like her do?"

 "Kid?" Anja's eyes flared.

 "Yeah, she's only human."

 "Anja. . ." Kuronue placed a hand on her shoulder but she advanced on
Kuwabara anyway.

 "I could beat you in a fight! No youki, just strait out!"

 "You?" He looked down at her, "I don't think so. I've never lost a fair fight!"

 "Well I think it's about time you did then."

 "Urameshi, is she serious?"

 "I think so."

 "I don't fight girls."

 "Well you wrestled with me like one of the boys, come on."

 "Hn, that chicken won't fight." Hiei growled down to them.

 "Wha. . . chicken!?!"

 Anja caught on to what Hiei was doing and looked up at him shrugging, "He's just scared I'll ruin his reputation."

 "Hn, what reputation?"

 "Wha. . . !?!" Kazuma was seeing red, "Fine! You want a fight?! Outside!"

 Genkai was interested, Hiei didn't care either way, Kuronue was unconcerned but the others were near frantic.

 "Kuronue, she could get hurt!" Yuusuke said, "Stop her!"

 "Do you think she can do it?" Kurama asked.

 "Oh please be careful!" Yukina shouted.

 "She has more than one trick up her sleeves." The Youko said smiling, "Just watch."

 Kazuma took off his jacket and flung it to the ground.

 Anja just smiled.

 "Well?"

 "You first." She grinned motioning for him to attack.

 He barreled toward her, fists clenched but Anja dropped to the ground and
caught his feet with her legs, pulling him to the dirt. She was up and out of the way before he could hit her. He tried again and she stepped out of the way, leap frogged over his back and caught his neck between her thighs, then twisted herself to force him off balance and down again, this time he got a mouthful of mud.

 "Come on, fight for real!" Yuusuke yelled at Kazuma.

 "I am!" He cried getting up and standing facing her. "Are we fighting to knock out or first blood?"

 "Knock out!"  Anja yelled, charging for the first time. This caught him off guard and she landed two swift aerial roundhouse kicks to his jaw and on the flip down, rammed her fists into his gut to push herself away.

 "Uhn!" He groaned but stayed up.

 "I'm impressed." Anja laughed, "That usually takes them out."

 "The great Kazuma Kuwabara is. . ."

 "A windbag." Anja finished for him, "Come on tough guy, I already know
you can talk the talk. Let's see you walk it."

 His fist shot toward her but only knicked her jaw before she dodged, it was
enough to draw blood though. "You talk too much!"

 Anja spun away and grinned wider, "Kuro, you want to kiss and make it better when I'm done here?"

 Kuronue laughed, "Concentrate on the fight you feather brain."

 "Look who's talking."

 "Oh,  that one hurt."

 "Hey! I'm still trying to fight over here!" Kazuma brought a fist into Anja's
stomach and she tucked and rolled back away from him , what he wasn't expecting was for her to jump right out of the roll and hit him again with a hard kick to the chin. He was down and out. "Uhng."

 "Kuwa-chan!" Yukina rushed to his side and started to heal his wounds.

 "His pride wont be that easily healed." Yuusuke mumbled.

 "Well he was so sure he could take me, he shouldn't judge so quickly." She walked to Kuronue and he bent down to lick the blood from her mouth.

 "You ok?" He asked.

 "My stomach is gonna have a bruise the size of his fist but other than that
I'm fine."

  "You should see what she does if you hurt her friends or family." Kuronue sounded proud.

 "You taught me Kuro."

 "Not all."

 "No, but there's only so much teacher Kim and Master Pan could show me."

 "You trained with Master Pan?" Genkai smiled, "I'm impressed."

 "Arigato. Kuwabara, You all right?" Anja called.

 "I demanded a rematch, just as soon as the DAMN trees stop spinning
around me."

 "Kuwa-chan!"

 "Gomen Yukina-san."
 

  "So who are you? Really." Yuusuke asked her.

 "I am really Anja Nightwind, exchange student from America."

 "But the way you fight. . ."

 "I had good teachers." She smiled, "But I really am just a student. I'm
Nineteen years old, I've gone to grade eleven in the US and now am doing my senior year here in Japan."

 "But you're nineteen!"

 "I skipped a little more than a year to train with teacher Pan."

 "Why?"

 "It looked pretty and made me feel good, what is this twenty questions?"

 "We just become a little concerned when we see an everyday student beat one of out team on her own."

 "He was a challenge."

 "But you beat him."

 "Of course."

 "But he has never been beaten!"

 "He was cocky because of that." Anja explained. "Now if I fought him again
he would probably win by pure force and size alone, before I had an edge. His pride was his downfall."

 Genkai smiled, "She has a head on her shoulders."

 She smiled and cuddled closer to Kuronue, laying her head on his chest.

 "So how did you two meet?"

 "You wouldn't believe me."

 They all looked at each other then at Anja, "Try us."
 

 "Well, I was training to become a healer, like my aunt and my ancestors,
who were Ojibway shamans."

 "Ojibway?" Yukina asked interested in hearing of other healers.

 "The Ojibway tribe is one of the Chipawa nations. American Indians you call us."

 "Oh!" Yukina looked Anja up and down like she was a savage.

 Anja laughed, "We aren't like the Indians on those old western movies. We go to school now and live in houses and towns same as you. I myself am only a fourth true tribal blood. I'm also Irish, Scottish, Turkish, Canadian, French, Dutch, there's more but it slips my mind at the moment."

 "So many cultures!"

 "It's fun, you get the best of each world."

 "And you are a healer too." Yukina smiled, "Will you teach me some of your healing?"

 "If you teach me some of yours."

 "Hai!" The ice maiden laughed.

 "You were saying. . ." Genkai coaxed.

  "Oh! Sorry. One day when I was ten years old, my aunt was away and I was watching her pets for her, a woman brought her son who was around my age, to be healed. Nothing else had worked and he was dying, so I touched his spirit but it was it's time to leave, the only thing making it stay was the mothers fear of being left alone, she was dying herself and didn't want to die with no one near to her, but the son's soul was dying because it couldn't leave so I felt around the spirit realms and found a soul who was dying of unnatural causes and wanted to stay and told the boy to share with that soul his memories then to go knowing his mother wasn't alone. He did, and the boy woke up again. The soul who had been looking for a body was an nine tailed Youko named Kuronue. He stayed with that mother as her son until three months later when she died then he came to find me and say thank you. We've been best friends ever since." She held up her hand that held the claw ring on it. "He gave me this as a thank you for saving him."

 Genkai nodded, "She has strong healing strength and warriors Ki also."

 "I've been training since I was able to walk and share my Ki with trees
when I was tired and needed a boost. Kuronue helped me go that little bit further that I needed."

 "But Kuronue, you gave your life for that damned pendant!" Kurama said, "When did you give it to her?"

 "When she became my life. My reason to live."

 Anja smiled up at him and hugged him, overwhelmed with the purity of the love they felt for each other.

 Kurama looked up at Hiei, who watched to pair with an odd look on his usually passive face. That is how I love you Hiei, and when you are ready, all you have to do is come to me.

 Hiei closed his eyes at the strength of the love those two shared, That is how much I feel for Kurama, but does he feel so strongly about me? How will I know? When?

 Anja smiled at the two confused soul mates, "Kuro, why don't you take human form and maybe Yuusuke and Kuwabara will show us around Tokyo.

 "Of course! We can stop by and get Keiko and we can all go!"

 "OI! YUKINA, WILL YOU COME?" Kuwabara asked.

 "Of course." The ice maiden laughed as Kuwabara blushed from head to toe.

 As they left Anja looked over her shoulder and winked at Kurama and Hiei.

 "I think she did that so we could be alone." Kurama smiled when the demon dropped down beside him.

 "Hn."

 "Would you like to go out for sweet snow with me?"

 "Hai." Hiei nodded and when Kurama offered his hand, this time, the fire demon took it hesitantly, but kept hold of it.

 Genkai watched from inside the temple, "That girl is going to bring
changes good and bad." She prophesied, "Koenma's gonna have his hands full."

 I can't remember what it was like to be without him. I can't seem to imagine my life, or even this world without him in it. When did this happen? When did he become the first person I see when I wake up and the last face I see as I fall asleep? When did I start searching him out in the crowd before anyone else?

 I sit outside his window, watching him do his homework. He doesn't realize how much this means to me. Just watching him like this has become a habit for me. I'm becoming too predictable. Every day I follow him to school, walk with him from school. Every evening I'm here outside his window, every night. Will I ever be in his arms?

 Kurama, what have you done to me? You slipped into my heart past all of the barriers I've erected around my soul. It's a weakness that I can not afford. But I accept it, because with this weakness, I get you. And you are more precious to me than my life. When did this happen?

 I feel his Ki, a soft, warming glow that wraps around me, keeps me safe. I have never felt safe before, never so relaxed as I do with him. What would happen if we were attacked? What if I wasn't ready?

 I slip inside his window. He doesn't turn around, but he knows I'm here. This is a game we play. My watching him as he works. Even before I knew I loved him, I would watch him. Always under the guise of something else, but now I realize, all I wanted was to be near him. How can I tell him?

 He was always the one who was there for me, to tend to my wounds, to carry me when I was too hurt or tired to walk on my own. He never thought of leaving me behind.

 I left him. I went to Mukuro, led her army. He let me leave even though it hurt him. Because he loves me? How could he ever love me?

 Youko Kurama, the most beautiful creature in the ningen and youkai worlds in love with Hiei the forbidden child, cold blooded killer and heartless beast. Is it possible?

 At  night I feel drawn to his window, wishing he would press his lips to mine, and tell me ‘ai shiteru', I can barely breath at the thought! I don't dare to breath because the dream might disappear. I don't want to wake up cold and hungry, a forbidden child, somewhere in the Makai looking for shelter and fighting for my life. But I have to breath, and when I do, he is still here. And I am still here, searching for words I never thought I would have need for. Gods let him love me. I know I don't deserve him but Gods let him love me.

 "Kurama."

 He turns around, "Hiei."

 Did I call his name out loud?! I didn't mean to say it out loud! "Hn, kitsune no baka." I say turning on his desk lamp, "You will hurt your eyes." baka, baka, Baka! He's a Youko, a little darkness wont hurt him!

 He smiles at me and I feel my heart stop beating for a moment, then it races on to make up for it's missed beat. Fast, too fast. "Arigato Hiei."

 "Hn."

 He's so close. If I leaned down I could touch his lips with mine. A kiss. Such a small word for such an earth shattering action. My whole inside seams to melt with the thought of his kisses.

 "Hiei." His voice is so soft, like music. And then our lips meet. I don't know who started the kiss but I don't want it to stop. I never want this to stop. I press closer to him, I need him nearer to me. When the kiss breaks I'm on his lap! How did I. . .?

 "Hiei."

 And then his lips again. I don't care how I got here, I'm here, that is all that matters. I straddle his legs, bury my hands in his hair and pull him closer. Our tongues meet and our bodies shiver together with perfect timing. He must know what the sound of my name on her tongue does to me. I wonder, does it work both ways?

 "Kurama."

 He shivers and holds me closer, it does! "Kurama." I bring my mouth to his, licking his lips then moving to kiss his eyes, his ears. I pull one delicate lobe into my mouth and run my tongue over it. He shivers, I shiver. His skin is as soft as the petals of the roses that he loves so much, and his scent, like a Youko but covered in the smell of damp soil and flowers. His own special scent, Ningen and Youko. Both combined, both mine.

 "Mine." I say it softly but it's threatening even so. This is mine, no one else can have him. This scent, this soft skin, these lips, all mine.
 

 "Yes, Hiei." He is panting and his heart is beating so fast, "Yours, only yours."

 I want more, but I am afraid. He holds so much of me already. I am afraid if I let him see any more of my feelings, if he goes away, it will kill me.

 "I understand Hiei." He says it so softly, and buries his head in my shoulder, "I will wait as long as you need me to."

 "Kitsune. . ."

 "Shh, just let me hold you."

 I could never say no to my fox. I let him hold me, I hold him. We sleep that way, holding each other. I fight off sleep as long as I can. This is to perfect, it has to be a dream. If I fall asleep here, I might wake up. Not yet, just let me hold him a little longer, I don't want to wake up yet. . .

 . . . I fell asleep, it's morning! But, he is still with me, beside me. He always will be. "Kurama." I love him! I really do love him! How could I let this happen?! I. . . I love. . . should I tell him? Can I tell him? N. . . no. Not yet. I'm not ready yet.

 "Hiei." He's dreaming, when he wakes up, I'll be gone. But I'll be back, and he will wait. He loves me that much. Hai, and I love him, even if I don't say it out loud, not yet.

 A tear falls down my cheek, a tear of joy. The first I've ever cried out of happiness. It falls to his futon, A perfect gem, not blood red like my tear gems are, but misty white and blue, a moonstone, a soul keeper. This tear is a little piece of my soul. I put it into his hand, and close his fist around it. He holds the rest of my soul, why not this piece too. One kiss before I go. One promise. I'll be back koibito. I love you.

          * ____________________@_______________________*

 Anja walked into her brothers room the next morning with two mugs of hot chocolate. She sat down on his futon and took in his confused face, mussed hair, the tear in his hand and the sappy smile on his face. "Oh it was ‘That' kind of night was it?" She asked setting the cocoa by the bed.

 A pillow caught her right in the face, but it couldn't muffle her laughter.

 Nothing could muffle Kurama's either, and outside on a shadowed branch, it was music to two Koorime ears.

           School had never been the high point of Anja's life. This one was no different from the one in America. She spent all of her classes waiting for the bell for lunch and the for school to be over so she could see Kuronue. The girls in the school didn't help.

 "Anja." One girl asked, "That is your name, yes?"

 "Hai."

 "We heard you live with Minamino-san."

 "Hai, He is my Oniisan."

 The girls started talking to quickly for Anja to translate then turned back to her. "You live with the most beautiful boy in school and you call him your ‘niisan?"

 "He is."

 "What is he like?" Another girl asked dreamily.

 "Like my brothers back home, well. . . maybe not so annoying."

 "Your brothers could not be as beautiful as Minamino!"

 "I think they are."

 "But you live with Minamino-san and act like it is no big thing! I think you are no one to judge beauty."

 "Why would I want Shuu-chan when I have someone already?"
 

 "Who could even come near to Minamino Shuuichi?!"

 "Kuro."

 "Who is that?"

 "My itoshi."

 "Liar. You American girls are so fake" She sneered "You all look ridiculous with your pounds of make-up and big lips and round eyes."

 "I don't wear make-up and my lips are not any bigger than yours! They are the ones God gave me and I and my Koi like my eyes just fine."

 "You probably don't even like boys." She teased, "You probably like girls!"

 "I happen to like boys very much."

 "Then maybe it's Minamino-san who doesn't like girls." One very mean girl said.

 "Take that back about my brother."

 "No."

 "You do not talk about my family."

 "He's not even your real brother!"

 "To me he is."

 "Baka!" The girl slapped Anja across the face.

 Anja just stood and took the slap then lifted her hand, grabbing the girls neck, preventing her from crying out. The look in the American girls eyes made blood run cold. "You do not talk of my family in any bad way. Do you understand me."

 The girls choked on her answer and Anja dropped her to the ground.

 "I'm telling the Headmaster!" Another girl said running toward the school.

 Anja and the girl she had threatened were called to the Headmasters office
that afternoon.

 "I heard that you two had a misunderstanding."

 "No, no misunderstanding." Anja said calmly.

 "You say differently?" He asked the girl.

 "All I did was talk about Minamino-san."

 "She can talk about anyone she likes Nightwind-san, you know that. You Americans have the freedoms of speech."

 "Yes. I never said she couldn't talk about Shuu-kun."

 "Good, then we understand each other."

 "But if you spread Hentai rumors about my brother again I'll beat the crap out of you."

 "Anja! If you hurt anyone you will be suspended and could even be sent back to America, I heard you came from a bad situation there, do you want to go back?"

 "No sir."

 "Good, then She can speak of whoever she wants."

 "I already said she could," Anja turned to the girl, "But if you spread Hentai rumors of my brother, I will beat the crap out of you."

 "Anja!"

 "Sir?"

 "If you hurt her you will be pulled out of this school."

 "Hai, I understand." Anja's expression and defensive posture didn't change.

 "Hai, well, you are off this time with a warning."

 "Arigato Headmaster." They both answered.

 As they were walking back to class Anja whispered to the girl, "I will beat you, you know I will. So be nice."
 
 

 When school was out Kurama ran through the crowd to walk beside Anja, "The Headmaster called me in today."

 "Oh?"

 "He said you threatened a girl during lunch."

 "Niisan, you know me, would I just threaten someone?"

 "No, that is why I'm asking you, why?"

 "It was nothing."

 "It was something and I wish you'd tell me what."

 "I Just put a stop to some prejudice and rumors, that's all."

 "About?"

 "Me."

 "And. . .?"

 "You." Anja looked at Kurama with clear and honest eyes, "But it started with me."

 "I'll bet." He said not believing it for a minuet. "Please tell me."

 She sighed and shook her head, "She said you didn't like girls or I didn't like
boys because I wasn't interested in you as more than a brother."

 "What did you say?"
 

 "That if she spread any more hentai rumors about you I would beat the crap
out of her."

 "Me? What about you?"

 "Worst has been said."

 "Like what?"

 "If you really want to know ask your brother, He's probably heard some of the rumors about me by now." She stopped walking and smiled into the tree behind
Kurama, "Now Hiei has been following since we left the school and Kuro is around here somewhere too so I'm gonna leave you two be ok? Bye!"

 "But. . ." He sighed as she ran away to join the boy in black that he
recognized as Kuronue in human form.

 Hiei jumped out of the tree then. "Kurama."

 "Ohayo Hiei."

 "I saw what happened."

 "And?"

 "What is ‘Make up'."

 "Why? What did they say to her that she didn't tell me?"

 "They told her her brothers in America could not be so beautiful as you, that
American girls were liars and fake with too much make-up and too big lips." Hiei looked up at Kurama as they walked, "I didn't know lips had to be a certain size."

 "They don't. What did she say?"

 "That she didn't wear make up and her lips were the same as theirs, what
God gave her."

 Kurama nodded.

 "She is strange."

 "Yes." Kurama laughed, "But in a good way, ne?"

 "Hai."

 I got a letter from Shuuichi this morning, I think I should read it now. Come
to the park with me?"

 Hiei nodded and Kurama took the letter from his pack, reading as he walked.
 
 

 Shuuichi,
 Anja's brothers are so ‘cool'! That is an American slang, I'm learning many of them from Ivane, he is he oldest brother, a year younger than me! And he has long hair just like you! And he dyed it blue! and his ear is pierced! Her other brother, Granite, he has sort of long hair, and he can put it into a mohawk! He wears a dagger earring and plays all sorts of sports! She has a cool room with so many figures and pictures I feel like I am always watched. My kassan here said I could take them down, but it isn't a bad feeling they give. She has pets too! Cats and a dog, and fish, and rats! Guinea pigs too! And she has a bad reputation here! Her brothers say don't to believe it, but they say in this school that she is a witch and that she works magic and is the devil's consort! It's true they say this, but I don't think so. She has a lot of Indian things and she writes a lot I think she is a healer but I don't know. I wish I'd get to meet her, she is like a legend here. Little baby Serah, the sister, is sweet and Seline and Jack, those are my new Kassan and tousan, are really nice. Well, gotta go, I'm trying out for the basketball team. Cool, ne? WBS TTFN (That means ‘Write back soon' and ‘Ta Ta For Now')
 Love,
 Shuuichi
 

  "A witch?" Kurama almost laughed. "And the devils consort?!"

 "What is a consort?" Hiei asked.

 "Lover."

 "Anja?!"
 

 "Exactly. It is ridiculous." Kurama did laugh then, "Can you picture Anja as
the devils Lover? Or anything but a pain in his backside for that matter?"

 "Hn."

 "Those people didn't even try to get to know her."

 "She had Kuronue to be her friend, maybe she didn't care." Hiei pointed out.

 "Hai, you're right."

 "And I have you." Hiei looked up at his fox with bright and happy eyes. Kurama gasped at how deep and pure they were when they were unguarded.

 "Yes." He marveled at the declaration, the closest Hiei had come to saying he cared. He gave the jaganshi a kiss on the forehead and Hiei swatted him away.

 "Hn!"

 Kurama laughed and gave the demon a quick hug while he was off guard.

 Hiei blinked once, then pushed off Kurama's chest. "K'rama?"

 "Hm." He responded dreamily as he walked on.

 "Why?"

 "Why what Hiei?"

 "Why did they decide to love each other?"

 "You don't decide to love someone Hiei, you fall into love with them. It's a gift from the Gods."

 "But why?"

 "When the Gods give you a treasure, you don't ask why it was given."

 "Oh."

 Kurama leaned closer to the fire demon, "Hiei I. . ."

 "Kurama! Hiei!"

 "Botan!" Kurama jumped back from Hiei, "What's wrong?"

 "Lord Koenma wants to see you, he said it's urgent, and I'm supposed to
bring your new sister along too."

 "Anja?" Kurama looked worried, "What would Koenma want with Anja?"

 "Hop on and we'll find out."

 Kurama grasped the oar for dear life and Hiei did the same.

 "We have to find Anja."

 "She's in that tree over there." Hiei pointed out.

 "In the. . . why?. . ." Kurama suddenly had a thought, "Wait Botan don't. . .!"

 To late, Botan parted the leaves and found Anja and a tall boy with black hair
playing in the branches. Anja had stripped down to her undershirt and jeans, her
shoes and shirt sat precariously on a lower branch.

 "Anja!" Kurama scolded and she turned from the kiss she had been stealing
from Kuronue and looked up at the blue haired boat girl, "You just interrupted some major frolicking and fun funny face." She said with a frown, "Oh hi K'rama, Hey you're flying! Cool!"

 "Anja put your shirt on!"

 "But it was hot!" Anja protested.

 "And your shoes."

 "But they make climbing so much trickier."

 "Kuronue."

 "Yes?" The Youko was stripped of everything but a pair of very tight
britches.

 "Put your clothes on too."

 "She's right Kurama, it is hot."

 "Do it!"

 Kuronue looked at Anja beseechingly, "I don't remember him being such a nag."

 "Hn," Anja did a good impression of Hiei, "It must come with old age."

 Once Botan got Kurama settled down and the other two dressed, she flew
them to reikai, Kuwabara and Yuusuke were already waiting with Koenma.

 "Oi Anja what's going on?" Kuwabara asked.

 "I don't know Kuwa." She turned back to find Kurama glaring at her, "Oh will you get over it!"

 "What did she do now?" Yuusuke asked.

 "She can't seem to keep her clothes on!"

 Kuwabara, Yuusuke, and Koenma choked and Botan blushed bright red.

 "That's a lie! I was hot so I took off my shoes and shirt!"

 They blushed deeper.

 "You are not a boy!"

 "I was wearing a tank top under it!"

 "Um could we get back to this later." Koenma asked the two.

 "No, We can drop it now." Anja said calmly then turned to Koenma, "You
wanted to see me and my fox. Why?"

 "I was wondering that as well." Kuronue nodded.
 

 "Anja, by bringing the soul of Youko Kuronue into the body of Kriss
Kruthers, you have violated the laws of passage and the Reikai therefore you are hereby under arrest. Anything you say can and will be used against you."

 "Shimatta!"

 "Except that."

 "Kuso! noijitut! Inchkiday! Mien Gott! Pinchi. . ." After using up the curses of five or six different languages she stopped and faced the God of death with a
slight smile, "Can I plead the fifth?"

 ". . ."

 "Take her into custody."

 "NO!" Kuronue grabbed Anja's arms and pulled her to his chest. "Please,
you can't. . ."

 "I have no choice."

 "Then take me too." He pleaded, "You can't separate us, please!"

 "Kuro. . ." Anja shook her head but Kuronue stopped her argument.

 "I go where you go."

 "I need you to explain to my parents if the sentence is longer than my stay in Japan would have been."

 "Kurama, You can do that can't you?"

 "Yes but. . ."

 "Then it's settled." Kuro hugged Anja tighter, "Where she goes, I go!"

 "You can not. I'm sorry."

 "I'll be all right Kuro." Anja smiled and kissed his clenched fists.

 "Can I at least walk to the cell with her? To say good bye?"

 Koenma thought for a moment then nodded.

 Oni guards came into the room and escorted Anja and Kuronue out and to
the Reikai jail.

 "Kurama, you guys will be at the trial right?" Anja called back a they pushed her out."

 "Hai." Kurama said as the doors shut.

 "Koenma why?!" Yuusuke asked, "She saved a soul, she didn't take another
unwillingly, no catastrophe occurred because she put Kuronue into that boy's body, why are you doing this?"

 "Why do you care?"

 "She is our friend!" Kuwabara said.

 "Hai." Yuusuke agreed.

 "She is family." Kurama added.

 Hiei looked around at all the eyes turned on him then shrugged, "She grows
on you."

 Koenma frowned.

 "Please Koenma, you can't punish her for saving a soul and a life. She was only a kid, and she was only trying to do what healers do."

 "You all feel this way?"

 "Hai."

 "Kuronue is an S-Plus class now, even more powerful than Yuusuke what if
she had brought an evil soul into the boy instead? That kind of power in the Ningenkai is dangerous."

 "Genkai could teach her." Kuwabara suggested.
 

 "Hai!" Yuusuke said, "Then she would know even more how to use her gift."

 "But what of Kuronue?"

 "He goes where she does, he already said that." Kurama said softly.

 "So what would their punishment be?"

 ". . ."

 ". . ."

 ". . ."

 Hiei snorted, "Hn, they join the team. That is punishment enough."

 "Hai! Parole! Perfect!" Kuwabara and Yuusuke agreed ignoring the fire
demon's last comment.

 "A girl? On the team?"

 "Botan is a girl."

 "Botan doesn't really fight much."

 "Anja can though, She trained with Master Pan."

 "But can she fight at the level you do?" Koenma asked.

 "Hai, I'm sure she can." Kuwabara groaned and the others seconded him.

 "I will ask Enma to consider it, but that is all I can promise for now."

 "It's enough, for now." Kurama said.
 
 

 In the jail, Anja and Kuronue were taken into a cell full of Makai demons and a couple unfortunate human souls. "Say your good byes quickly Youko." The oni said.
 

 "Pretty, pretty." One demon said and grabbed at Anja's throat.

 "Bad!" Anja slashed his hand with her clawed ring.

 "Pretty." Another tried to touch Kuronue's tail.

 Anja hissed and kicked him in the teeth and growled at him baring her teeth, "Mine!"

 The guard pulled Kuronue out of the cell, "Time's up."

 "No! Anja!"

 "Kuronue!" Anja reached through the bars and grabbed his hand as the
guards tried to pull them apart.

 "Take care of yourself Anja." He mouthed, his heart aching as her fingers slipped from his.

 "Sleep sweet Kuro." Anja sobbed.
 
 

 Kurama opened Anja's door that night to find Kuronue curled up in fox form in her bed.

 "Kuro?"

 The fox whined weakly and buried himself deeper into Anja's pillow.

 Kurama sat beside his friend running his fingers through the Youko's fur,
"Yeah, I know how you feel." He sighed, "It's hard being away from one you love."

 The fox curled into a tighter ball.

 "You haven't been eating much lately."

 "‘ip." The fox moaned.

 "If you don't eat what will Anja think when she sees you looking like a skeleton at the trial?" Kurama put the fox on his lap and ruffled the fur on his head. "It's been three weeks, The trial is bound to be soon.

 The fox rolled over onto it's back to look up at Kurama.

 "She'll be fine." Kurama smiled and rolled the fox onto the floor as he stood, "Now change to human form and let's get something to eat."

 Kuronue did as he was asked and then turned to Kurama, "Is Hiei coming?"

 Kurama glared at his friend, "Leave me alone about Hiei. He will come if he
wants."

 "Why don't you invite him?"

 "He might not want to be invited."

 "You could always ask."

 "No, I can't."

 "We aren't just talking about lunch now, are we."

 Kurama looked at Kuronue with pained emerald eyes, "Just leave it alone."

 The Youko nodded and looked forward toward the street. When did we get outside?

 Kurama caught his odd look and laughed, "I had you out just after you turned."

 "Hn, same old Kurama."

 "Yeah, Now if only I was as good at stealing hearts."

 Kuronue looked at a swarm of girls heading their way. "Looks like you've stolen plenty."

 "Oh God." Kurama moaned before putting on his mechanical smile and turning to his ‘fan club'.

 "Minamino-san! Who is your friend?"

 "You look so much alike you could be twins!"

 "Is he your cousin?"

 Kurama looked at Kuronue and Kuronue looked at Kurama, the two laughed when they realized besides their hair styles and colors and eyes colors, they did look very much alike in human form!

 "Ohayo." Kuronue said in his soft human tenor, "I am Kuro."

 "Anja's Kuro?!" One girl asked in surprise.

 Kurama looked closely at the girl now recognizing her as the one who Anja had threatened earlier.

 Kuronue must have made the connection too because he got a sharp gleam in his eyes, "Ah! You must be the one who called my Koibito a liar." He said looking down his nose at her, "The one she threatened yes? For spreading hentai rumors about Minamino-san."

 The girl almost fainted from embarrassment and the other girls with her looked to Kurama to see his reaction to the news.

 Kurama glanced at the smiling Youko at his side and gave a slight shrug, why not? "Oh yes, I heard about that. Anja is very loyal to family. I would be careful if I were you, sometimes there is no controlling her when she is angry."

 "Hai, remember what she did to Kazuma Kuwabara?"

 "The poor guy, and just for calling her a kid, I can't imagine the damage she would do if someone directed such comments at her family."

 The girls seemed to go pale all at once.

 "Sorry, but we have to go now." Kuro smiled, "Lunch time and all." He
waved, "Bye bye."

 Kurama nodded, "Good bye."

 When they were out of sight of the girls, the two broke into fits of laughter. They were still laughing when they reached the ramen shop.

 Yuusuke greeted the two laughing Youko with a stare, "What did you two do?"

 Kuronue snickered as he took a seat, "Just taught some children from Anja's class that they are better neither seen nor heard."

 "Kurama?!" Yuusuke looked stunned as he glanced at the red head, "You too?"

 He laughed, "What can I say? I couldn't resist."

 Yuusuke shook his head, "I wonder about you sometimes, especially when you get around your ‘old friends'."

 Kuronue chuckled, "I just bring out the best in people."

 "And with such humble modesty." Kurama snickered.

 Yuusuke threw up his hands in a gesture of surrender, "Ok, ok I give up." He smiled, "What'll you have?"

 "Chicken ramen with extra spring veggies." Kurama said then looked at
Kuronue who was getting that ‘I-am-not-eating' look in his eyes. "Two please."

 "I. . ."

 "You're eating!" Kurama insisted.

 Kuronue sighed and nodded.

 "How did you survive so long without me? You hardly eat."

 "I got by fine."

 Kurama rolled his eyes.

 "I am hardly wasting away."

 "Kuro, please, for Anja, eat."

 The Youko looked trapped as he stared at the ramen Yuusuke placed before
them. ". . . for Anja." He finally agreed, "Only for Anja."

 "Thank you."
 
 
 

~tbc~