<Part 4>
 
 

 The cell was crowded and stuffy, Anja sat Indian style under the window in a tiny patch of sunlight looking very bored. She had already removed her shirt in the heat and had been forced to braid her long copper tresses and wear her bandana over her head like a washer woman to keep the youkai from playing with her hair. Sweat still streamed from her body. Anja swore when she got out of this she would never take cool water for granted again.

 The others in the cell, mostly demons, sat around her in a circle as they had for a week or two now. Every time a new demon was put in the cell and tried to touch the ‘pretty pretty', the others would force it away from her and then it too would sit and watch her. Anja opened her eyes to look around the circle, "Don't you have escapes to be planing or something?"

 The youkai just looked at her.

 "Hn!" She closed her eyes again, meditating, placing herself away from the cell and letting her mind roam to her own ‘pretty pretty' who waited for her back in the ningenkai. "Kuro." She sighed, an image of her Youko formed in her mind and she hummed ‘their song' from America, the sound of it calmed her down but when she opened her eyes she noticed all of the Youkai had turned to lay down and watch her as she sang. She smiled, Talk about your captive audiences! She started singing a different song and the youkai all listened attentively, obviously their music in Makai was very different from America's tunes, they were enthralled. Well why not, I don't have anything else to do. "Would you like to learn some songs like that?"

 Some of the more powerful Youkai couldn't believe what she was saying, but the younger ones were all very excited.

 "Hai Pretty Pretty!" They answered in chorus. Anja grinned at the thought of how ridiculous this all seemed. There she sat, in a Reikai jail, teaching the Youkai prisoners American tunes. . . She chuckled and started the lesson, appreciating the silliness of it.
 

 It took a week, but finally she got every demon in the cell to participate. It was amazing what a little boredom and way too much free time could do. Soon she knew all of the Youkai's names by heart. Once in a while a fight would start but Anja would calm it and tend the wounds of the ones who were hurt. She gave her food to those who were hungry and ate herself, only enough to stay alive. After Two weeks, the Youkai in the cell were almost like family to her. They called her something other than Pretty pretty, but she couldn't hear what it was. It took almost three weeks for her to get them to call her Nightwind, they refused to call her Anja and insisted on adding -sama to the end of her name, even though she was not their master in the slightest meaning of the word.
 

 Two weeks later, when Koenma and his oni came to take Anja to trial, he found her teaching the Youkai prisoners dance steps to ‘Millennium' by Will Smith. The Prince of the dead  fell backwards in surprise and the onis looked on in amazement. Some of the most feared demons of the Makai, thieves and murderers, were in there, dancing to words sung by a ningen? When had the world gone crazy? They must have missed it.

 Koenma finally pulled himself together and stood as the oni unlocked the door. "Anja Nightwind your time has come for trial." He said regally, grasping onto his professional tone.

 "Oh good! Are the guys here yet?!" She tied her shirt around her waist and ran out of the cell. "Bye fellas!"

 "Good bye Pretty Pretty!" They called out to her.

 She turned around "What is my name?"

 "Good bye Nightwind-sama."

 That made her smile, "Good bye chibi niisans." She waved.

 Koenma almost went into a fit.

 "Well, let's go!" She said running ahead so fast that the oni leading her were forced to run too.
 

 "I wouldn't be in such a hurry if I were you." Koenma sighed.

 "Why not, I've never met Enma Daiwa before and I want to see my friends again."

 Koenma muttered something about crazy brainless ningen and followed the
girl and oni to his fathers chambers.
 
 

 "Where is she!" Kuronue almost knock the oni guards out of the way as they were led to Enma's office.

 "Steady Kuro." Kurama soothed, "She's probably just fine."

 "I want to see her."

 "Baka." Hiei grunted but he too seamed worried about the Ningen girl's well- being. After a little over a month in a cell with some very powerful Youkai, warded or not. . . who wouldn't be worried about her?
 

 Anja stood in front of Enma, her face and arms were dirty from weeks in the cell, her bandana still covered her head and her braid hung over one shoulder. She was tired and hungry and her heart was crying for her fox but she stood tall in her chains and looked at Enma with dignity and not a trace of fear was shown for the towering God sitting before her.

 "Let them in." Enma motioned, and the oni opened the office doors to her friends. Kuro had to be held back by all four of the Reikai Tantai when he saw her. He struggled to get to her side, "Anja! Anja!"

 She held up a quieting hand to stop him, "Stay." She said softly, "I'm fine." Her eyes were like stone, hard and cold, when she faced Enma again.

 The deity laughed, "You are far from fine little one." He stood up to his full, immense height; filling the office with his presence. "What you have done was a danger to all of us, what if you had brought back someone else? Someone more evil?"

 "But I didn't did I?"

 "You might have!"

 "I was a child trying to save a child's soul forgive me if I didn't think of everything at my ripe old age of ten."

 "Your body might have been ten but your soul knows better!"

 "I saved a soul."

 "You think that makes this right?!"

 "No." She stood tall and her eyes flamed, "But I think I did the right thing."

 "The right thing!?" The oni in the room cringed.

 "Yes."

 Enma turned to his son, "Koenma."

 "Hai?"

 "You went to take her from the cell and your oni monitored her there, what
has she done for the past month."

 "She . . . tauthmtdanc. . ."

 "What?"

 "She. . ."

 "What has she been doing?!"

 "She taught the Youkai how to dance." Koenma yelled then shivered and backed away.

 Enma looked down at the girl who was now being stared at by every set of
eyes in the room. "You taught them what?"

 "I taught them a few American songs and dances."
 

 "The youkai."

 "Yes."

 "The ones in your cell."

 "Hai."

 "Oni." Enma turned to a figure beside him, "What was she called in the cell."

 "They call her pretty pretty." The oni stammered.

 Anja growled at the oni and he took a step back.

 "What was she called when she was out of hearing range?" He clarified.

 "They called her, she who cares."

 This took Anja by surprise. A smile caught on her lips, "Hn, kawii chibi- niisans." She muttered tenderly.

 Enma was startled in spite of himself and he looked down at the girl before him with a new insight and a new question, a way for Anja to get out of the mess she was in.

 "Are you insane?"

 Anja looked like she would laugh. Without even thinking about lying to save
her hide she shook her head, "No sir, I am sorry to report that I am very much
sane."

 "Then I have no choice," He sighed, "But to sentence you to. . ."

 "Wait!" Kuronue cried, "It's my fault! I used her to find a body!"

 "Kuro!" Anja hissed, "Shut up!"

 The Youko pulled away from the others and stood in front of Anja, guarding her. "Please Enma, I used her. I mind taped her with the pollen of a Zia plant and forced my will upon her."

 "And after going through all that trouble you rush to her rescue at the first sign of trouble, I think not."

 Anja kissed Kuro's shoulder and looked up at him with her bright, kaleidoscope eyes, "Nice try koibito."

 "Anja. . ."

 "Shh." She soothed, "Please let me handle this."

 "Anja I can't be away from you again, please. I wont be able to do it again.
This last month has been Hell! I can't exist without you near me. You are the other half of my soul!" He turned to Enma, the proud ningen/Youko had tears in his bright blue eyes, "Please Enma, Don't separate us again. Whatever punishment she has let me serve it with her."

 "Kuro!" Anja cried, "No. I wont allow it." She spun him around to face her,
"I need you to take care of my family for me if I'll be gone a long time. We don't even know what the punishment is ok, it might not be so bad."

 "Not so. . ."

 "Jail was kind of neat." She turned her arm to him and showed him the picture of a bat the now graced her shoulder. "See what I got there."

 Kuronue almost fell on his face, "Anja. . ." He sobbed with fear for her.

 Enma shook his head, "Youko." He groaned, "I've never seen such a silly creature."

 Anja looked up and her eyes narrowed, "What did you say?" She growled.

 Enma was once again surprised.

 "You can tease me about my sanity, you can lock me up again, but you have no right to say such hurtful things to my Youko."

 Koenma and the oni shivered, Yuusuke and Kuwabara went ghost white and even Hiei and Kurama took a step back. No one told Enma-sama what to do!

 A booming sound filled the room and shook the walls causing Anja to look annoyed. Enma was laughing.

 "This child!" He laughed, "She is one of a kind! No one has ever had such sane insanity!"

 "Father?" Koenma asked.

 "Put her on the team!" Enma laughed, "Her watch fox too!"

 "Watch fox!?" Kuronue looked insulted.

 Anja scratched his head behind his ears and he sat down in front of her and purred, "Ok, I'll be a watch fox."

 Anja shook her head and smiled, "Come on, let's go home. My teachers are going to kill me as it is."

 "Actually," Kurama smiled, "For a girl as sick as you have been your teachers have all commented on how diligent you are at getting your work in on time. Through your brother of course, you were much too sick to go to school."

 Anja hugged her brother, "Thank you Kurama!" Then as an after thought, she hugged Hiei too.

 "Hey!" Hiei screamed batting her away.

 "You're cute when you're pissed off." Anja smiled and whispered into his ear, "I can see why Kurama loves you."

 That stopped any comment the fire demon was going to make.

 Enma was still laughing when they left the room.

 Anja snickered, "He doesn't get out much does he."

 "I heard that!" Shouted Enma.

 They ran.
 

 When Botan dropped them off, the team quickly headed in their own directions. Kuronue went toward the woods.

 "Kuro wha. . ."

 "I'll be back soon." He smiled and kissed her hand, "I have a. . . date, with
Yomi's treasure vaults."

 Anja nodded and grinned, "I'll leave the window open."

 "You had better!" He growled teasingly.

 For a moment her expression got serious, "Be safe."

 He nodded, his expression mirroring hears, "I will. When am I not?"

 "You were killed twice before." She pointed out.

 "Yes, but that was then. Now I have something to live for, and a most
precious home to come home to." He kissed her forehead, "Your arms are my home now."

 She hugged him and he wiped away a stray tear that found it's way down her cheek, "You had better come back home." She smiled then, the teasing glint back, "We'll have a party."

 He grinned, "I'll bring the sake." Then he was gone.

 Hiei suddenly appeared at her side, "He'll be fine."

 "Kitsune no baka." She sobbed softly, "He is courting death."

 "Come , I'll walk you home."

 "Hiei?"

 "Who else?"

 "I. . . I didn't think you liked people that much."

 "Hn, we have a bond."
 

 "Wha. . ."

 "We both love foolish foxes." Anja looked down when Hiei suddenly stopped
in his tracks, "That's the first time you've said it isn't it."

 He nodded and started to walk again.

 "Always gets you by surprise, ne?"

 Another nod.

 "But you know, we're pretty lucky to have those kitsunes."

 "Hai." He bit the inside of him cheek and frowned.

 "Don't worry Hiei." Anja smiled softly at him, "I wont tell."

 "Hn." He paused a moment, ". . . thank you."

 "Pardon? Do my ears deceive me? Did you just say thank you? My God! Is the Earth still turning? Sky falling? Hiei said thank you!"

 "Hn. Baka!" He growled.

 "Oh I'll never let you forget this." She teased, "Say it again."

 "Hn."

 "Just once."

 "Shut up!"

 "Awe come on!"

 "Kurama!" Hiei screamed into the night, "Get your sister away from me!"

 "Awe you're no fun." Anja smirked and kissed his cheek, "You're welcome."

 Hiei looked startled at her sudden sincerity then he just grunted, "Hn!"
 
 

 That night Kurama went to his sisters room and found her in her pajamas, sitting on the window sill staring out the open window into the night. He cleared his throat to make himself known but Anja didn't turn, "I knew you were there K'rama, I could see your reflection." She motioned to a mirror hanging on the wall.

 " Oh."

  "I worry about him."

 "Don't. Kuro is a wonderful thief. His only fault was that pendant. He never
did tell me why he loved it so much."

 "He gave it to me." She sighed, "That means I am his weakness now."

 "Oh no, Anja. You are his strength."

 "Then I should be with him!"

 "Hn." Hiei climbed into the room through the window, almost tripping over
Anja. "He's fine."

 "Hiei!" Anja and Kurama were both surprised.

 "You weren't in your room fox."

 The three of them sat on the bed and Anja and Hiei listened as Kurama told storied of his heists with Kuronue.

 "I remember one job, we were after the water of the dragon springs. I makes one impervious to fire. We were going to use it to rob to temple of a thousand flames."

 "I know that place."

 "Of course you do baka, you're a fire demon!"

 "Hn."

 "It was heavily guarded," Kurama continued, "So Kuronue stood in front of
the guards and," He chuckled at the memory, "He did a strip tease to distract them!"

 "A strip. . ." Hiei didn't want to know.

 Kurama broke into peals of laughter then, "hahaha! You should have seen it!
Those guards didn't know what to do!"

 "Baka, we would have gotten away clean if you hadn't stopped to drop a coin
into my pants!"

 "Kuronue!" Anja jumped up and almost knocked Hiei over in her rush to her fox.

 "Ohayo Anja." He smiled, "Kurama, Hiei."

 "Welcome back , Kurama smiled.

 "You and your horror stories." Kuronue laughed, "What have you been
telling her?"

 "Nothing that isn't true."

 Kuro paused to consider this then nodded, "What have you been telling her."

 Kurama laughed, "You walked in on the first story."

 "Can I join?"

 Anja smiled and patted the bed sitting back down. She looked around and smiled, "You know, in America we'd call this a circle of friends or a slumber party."

 Kurama grinned, "Party?"

 "I'm way ahead of you." Kuronue reached into his cloak and pulled out three
bottles of green Makai liquor and three glasses of fine crystal. "Drinks anyone."

 "Where. . .?" Kurama started.

 "Let's just say our. . .  dear old friend Yomi will not be too happy in the morning.

 "Why only three?"
 

 "Anja doesn't drink." Kuro pulled out a bottle of a mushy, chunky iced fruit drink and passed it to Anja, "I got this for you."

 "Domo arigato Kuro chan." Anja smiled and opened it.

 "You don't drink?" Kurama asked.

 Anja shook her head, "I don't smoke either."

 "Why not?" Hiei asked.

 "It's bad for you." Kuronue smiled and kissed Anja's head, "besides, Anja doesn't like the taste anyway."

 "It makes the fruit taste rotten."

 The fire demon looked at Anja's tattoos and then at her multi-pierced ears.
"Bad for you? Hn," He took a long drink right from the bottle.

   Kurama laughed, "I hope you brought more.

 Kuro smiled and juggled two other bottles and two boxes of twinkies , "This good?"

 "Twinkies!" Anja grabbed one box from the circle and upset Kuro's count.
The last box and bottles fell to the bed.

 The night went on and the stories got sillier with every drink the boys took.

 Near sunrise, Hiei had somehow ended up on Kurama's lap and both boys
had passed out that way. Kuro had reverted to his fox form and snuggled close to
Anja whining for attention.

 Anja smiled to herself as she lugged Hiei and Kurama back into her brothers
room, this was another reason she didn't drink. It was much more fun to see how much they would remembered in the morning.

<Part 5>
 

 Hiei woke up with a pounding headache. "Hn!" He sat strait up, not recognizing the softness under him. This wasn't his tree! Next to him, A red mass moved and Kurama turned his sleeping face toward him. The Koorime froze. What was going on! What had he done last night?!

    He shot to his feet and noticed he was still dressed. Well that was one fear out of the way. . . or was it? Anja! Anja hadn't been drinking! She would know.

 He left the red headed ningen and opened Anja's door. No one was there except that damned black Youko, sleeping like a baby with his nine tails curling around him. The sound of water was coming from the bathroom.

 Shower! Hiei thought and he ran into the room.

 Anja was showering all right, and not being one to act on principles Hiei just tore back the shower curtain and growled, "Ok what did I do last night?!"

 "AIEEEEE!" Anja jumped and slammed her fist into Hiei's stomach, "GET OUT OF HERE!"

 The fire demon stumbled out the door, dazed. "Ouch."

 "Hiei, what the. . ." Kurama asked running down the stairs halfway into his clean shirt.

 Kuronue burst out of Anja's room and slammed into the bathroom door sending it flying open again.

 "YAHHH!" Anja jumped down into a curled position to hide herself from
view, "BY INARI'S WOMB!" She cried, "GET THE HELL OUT!!!"

 The boy tumbled out into the hall and slammed the door, his face as red as a beet.

 "What happened?!" Kurama gasped trying to process the scene in his hung- over mind.

 ". . ." Kuronue looked over at the fire demon then the door, then Kurama, "Hiei tore your shower curtain."

 "Wha. . . Hiei! What were you doing?!"

 "I had a question." He said honestly.

 "So you walked in on her in the shower?!"

 "Why not?" He asked, "We're on the same team."

 Kurama groaned and Anja took that moment to stomp out of the bathroom
wrapped only in a small towel and clobber Hiei over the head, "Hentai!" She
accused as she walked into her room and slammed the door.

 Kuronue and Kurama stood there for a second watching the stunned fire
demon before they burst out laughing.

 Anja could be heard on the other side of the door commenting on ‘Hentai'
Koorimes and stupid foxes and the fact that Hiei had gotten her clothes all wet
when he tore the curtain. When she came out she was once again clothed, if you
could call what she wore clothing! The jean shorts where tight! Hugging every
curve,  the top of them was clinging to her hips, not all the way to her waist like a
normal pair would and her shirt was sleeveless and didn't quite cover her abs, or her
tattoos. She had pulled her hair up into a ponytail, slung her guitar's strap over her
shoulder and threw on her tennis shoes on her way out, barely pausing to tie them.

 The boys ran after her as soon as they could move again, "Anja! Anja wait!"

 She ignored them and walked on into the heart of Tokyo.

 Anyone who had seen the four of them would have had to wonder what the
prized student of Tokyo's finest school and his friends were up to. Kurama and Hiei were both still rumpled from sleeping in their clothes, though Kurama had a fresh shirt. Kuronue looked like he always did except that in his haste he had completely forgotten to wear a shirt or brush his extremely long hair. They all stumbled after a girl in very tight shorts who looked like a traveling minstrel calling her name and begging her to not be angry.

 Tokyo had a lot to talk about that day.

 "Anja! Matte! Please!" Kurama called.

 "Hn baka ningen!" Hiei held his head at the sharp pain that sliced through
it from the liquor he had consumed.

 Anja walked into the market and tried to disappear into the crowds.

 "Ohayo miss." A man said behind her.

 "Hai?"

 "Are you a minstrel?"

 Anja smiled, "I can sing and play if that is what you mean."

 "Are you playing here?"

 "No I have no license." Anja replied recognizing the man for an off duty
policeman. "I was just going to buy some fruit and bread and go have a picnic in the park." A wicked idea came to her mind as she saw Kurama and the others coming through the crowed. Oh I really shouldn't, She thought, Hn, but that has never stopped me before. "Those boys though, have been following me for an awful long time and they are making me very nervous sir, could you. . ."

 "You go ahead with your shopping." The man said, "I will talk to those boys for you."

 Anja gave her brightest smile, "Oi thank you very much." She bowed and ran
away.
 

 Kuwabara watched his three reikai tantai team mates as they followed Anja through the city, he grinned when he saw her talking to the officer and elbowed Yuusuke. "Those three are in for it."

 Anja ran off and finished her shopping before continuing on her way to the woods, the three boys however were detained by a very annoyed police officer explaining that it wasn't nice to trail after a lady.

 "Hn, what lady?" Hiei made it worst by commenting.

 Kuwabara decided then to save his friends. He ran up to them dragging Yuusuke behind him and asked, "Minamino-san, have you found your sister yet?"

 Kurama turned around and smiled at his friend, "We saw her but before we could bring her home this man stopped us."
 

 "Sister?" The officer faltered.

 "Yes, my sister. We had a fight this morning and she ran off."

 "Oh! Gomen."

 The four boys ran out of the market, "Thanks Kuwabara!" Kurama smiled.

 "What did you do to piss her off?" Kazuma asked.

 The three of them went beet red.

 "Never mind, I don't want to know."

 "Guys! Guys!" Botan flew down on her oar.

 "Botan?"

 "There is a Youkai loose in Ningenkai. It is a high B class but it's power is
enhanced by it's knowledge of spells."

 "Has it killed anyone?" Yuusuke asked.

 "None yet, it was last reported heading through the woods, a very
unpopulated area."

 "Genkai's temple!" Kuwabara and Yuusuke exclaimed.

 Their team mates had other things on their minds. "Anja!"

 They ran toward the woods. Botan yelled after them to stop but it was too
late.
 
 

 Anja sat in a tree and propped herself up, legs spread, against the branches. She took out her guitar and strummed it humming to fine the right tone. Once she had in she started to sing, "Another turning point a fork stuck in the road, time grabs you by the wrist directs you where to go, so make to best of each test and don't ask why, it's not a question but a lesson learned in time, It's something unpredictable but in the end is right, I hope you had the time of your life."

 She gasped when something slammed into the trunk of the tree and grabbed a branch to slow her fall to the ground. It yanked at her shoulder and hurt. "Ugn!"

 "Ningen." A voice floated to her, "What are you doing out here so far from others?"

 Anja looked around for the source of the voice, "I like my private times." She answered.

 "Ningen, are you all alone in this world?"

 "Ne, I have family and friends who love me. Are you alone?"

 "Hai." The voice breathed.

 "It is not good to be always alone." Anja commented. "Why are you here?"

 "To have some private time."

 "You said you were alone."

 "The word has many meanings."

 Anja thought for a moment then nodded, "Hai it does. Are you ok? You
sound weak."

 "I have hurt myself."

 "I am a healer, can I help?"

 "You would help me?"

 "Hai, of course I will! Be first I have to see you."

 "Hai, . . . of. . . of course."

 The bushes to her left parted and a tall youkai stepped out of hiding, His skin
was deep brown like the bark of a tree, his hair and eyes were green like leaves. No wonder I didn't see him! Anja thought, then she saw the bloody trail his feet left. "Oh your poor feet!" She cried. "Here." She spread some leaves on the ground under the tree she had sat in. "Sit."

 The man looked wary but did as she said.

 "Let me see your feet." She said ripping the bottom off of her shirt. The balls and heels of his feet were covered in cuts and bruises. He looked as if he had been walking over bare stones and sticks with nothing to protect his delicate pads, "What happened to you?!"

 "I have no shoes." Anja shook her head and she poured the water she had
bought to drink over the cuts and wrapped the gently in the strip torn from her shirt.

 "Your feet look to be about the size of mine." She noted, "Here." She unlaced
her sneakers  and slipped them carefully over the rough bandages the tied them securely. "I am sorry I can do more. Do you need a place to stay?"

 "N. . . no, you have done enough for me already."

 Anja smiled, "At least share this food with me." She said, "I bought way too much for one person and you need strength to heal."

 "You are kind." He said, "What is your name?"

 "Nightwind Anja."

 "Arigato Nightwind-sama."

 "Just Anja is fine." Anja handed him a star fruit and nodded as she bit into her own.

 "Anja!" Kurama and Kuronue burst through the bushes and tripped over the girl. She quickly kicked her legs up to stop them from hitting the Youkai, but as a result they both landed hard on her stomach.

 "Off." She commanded and they scurried to obey.

 Hiei had been observing from the branches above, "Hn." He slid down to the
ground beside the ningen girl and took one of the star fruits.

 Yuusuke and Kuwabara were the last to stumble upon them. The two looked winded.

 "Ohayo." Anja smiled sweetly then turned back to her food.

 "Anja there is a Youkai loose! You shouldn't be alone here!" Yuusuke
wheezed, trying to catch his breath.

 "Oh I'm not, this is. . . I'm sorry I didn't ask your name."

 "Yo-Mawari."

 "This is black forest."

 "Wha. . ." The boys looked to the man who had seemed a tree at first glance. "The Youkai!"

 Anja looked in askance at her friends then at Yo-Mawari. ". . . you guys got all worked up over ‘Wari?"

 "Anja." Hiei asked calmly.

 "Hai?"

 "Why is he wearing your shoes?"

 "Hn? Oh! Because he hurt his feat."

 "So you gave him your shoes?"

 "Hai."

 Kuronue groaned, "And what were you going to do then little baka?"

 "Walk home."

 "And hurt your feet?"

 Anja shrugged.

 Yo-Mawari was feeling decidedly nervous around so many people but Anja seemed not to fear them, and she had been kind to him, so he settled down.

 "So why did you guy get so upset over ‘Wari?"

 "Youkai Aren't supposed to cross into Ningenkai, when they do it usually means trouble. Botan warned us about him."

 "I mean no harm. With my feet so sore, I didn't have a chance of survival in
the Makai. When I hear the music from the air and saw the portal to Ningenkai, I took it, it was a gift of safety."

 "Music?" Kurama turned to Anja suspiciously, "Anja. . .?"

 "Hai, I was playing, I didn't know anyone was near."

 ‘Wari looked frightened, "Please, don't send me back until I've healed! I'll die!"

 Anja took his hand and smiled reassuringly, "Hush, We won't make you go
until I've healed you, It can be done in minuets but I need some fresh spring water a prickly pear cactus, and an aloe plant.

 Hiei nodded, "I'll get the water.

 Kurama held out his hand and offered Anja the plants she needed.

 "And a pestle and mortar." She thought a moment, "A clean rock and a bowl
would do."

 Kuwabara found a smooth stone and cleaned it and ‘Wari spun a bowl out of
wood like a potter would work with clay.

 "Wow! Neat trick!"

 The Youkai smiled.

 Anja crushed the plants inside the bowl, making sure to first pull out every
needle from the cactus. She then washed his feet in the spring water and started chanting softly as she spread the paste over his wounds. Her hands radiated a soft sound, like music. At first it was un-whole and disjointed but as seconds went by it became more whole until she stopped and the wounds on The Youkai's feet were gone. Anja tied her shoes back onto the Youkai's feet and smiled. "Don't worry, I have my work boots at home, these were old anyway. You need them more than me."

 "I. . . I thank you."

 Anja smiled warmly and took out her hair tie, using it to pull to Youkai's hair
back away from his face. "There."

 He smiled, "I am forever a friend ‘She who cares'." He pledged.

 Yuusuke frowned suddenly, "Yo-Mawari, what class are you?"

 "About a high C, why?"

 The boy swore, "He isn't the. . ."

 The scene was interrupted when a huge beastly Youkai broke into the
clearing. "Ah, Koenma's brat pack all in one place." He sneered.

 "Who. . .?"

 "Duck!" Anja cried as a blast sent Yuusuke slamming into the tree she had
sat in earlier. "Oh that poor tree." Anja mumbled.

 "Better direct your pity to your friends ningen!" The Youkai hissed and sent
a bolt of power at Kuwabara. The spell knocked him head over heals and he landed on his belly.

 Anja growled when the Youkai turned on Kurama and Hiei. He aimed a bright yellow orb at Hiei, but Kurama jumped in front of the koorime and took the attack himself. "Kurama!" Hiei cried catching the fox as he fell.

 The Youkai cursed. He had obviously planned this well, now that Kurama had upset his plans, he was confused. Kuronue took the opportunity sending a rain of deadly sharp Scythes spinning all around the monster.

 The thing took aim again, this time for the silver/black Youko in human guise.

 "NO!" Anja ran for Kuronue and pushed him from harms way, the spell hit her square in the chest but she fought it. She couldn't give in yet. First. . . "Night wind take wings, and fly ‘gainst my prey!!" She screamed and held out her palm. The tattoo of the bat took on life of it's own and flew from her hand razor sharp wings sliced into the Youkai over and over until it found the creatures misplaced heart. One slice and it was all through. The bat flew back to Anja and re- settled itself on her hand, covering the palm in the Youkai's blood, then, she fainted.

 Yo' Mawari, Hiei, and Kuronue carried the four fallen to Genkai's temple. Yuusuke's spell had been easy enough to heal, it was all physical. Kuwabara's was mental, closing off his thoughts (few though they were) But Yukina pulled him through with a kiss and a giggle. Kurama seemed completely normal. Nothing seemed wrong with him he was just asleep. Hiei nodded at this news and prepared to take the fox home. Anja however. . .

 "What is wrong with her Genkai?"

 "She is only ningen, but took a spell meant for a Youko. It was very strong.
Then she used her Ki afterwards to kill the thing, that allowed the spell to settle into her body."

 "What will it do to her?"

 "We won't know until she wakes up." Genkai sat beside the girl and bathed her forehead with a cool rag, "Now, while we wait, tell me, who is your friend?"

  "YoMawari." The youkai bowed.

 Genkai nodded and looked down at his feet, "Tennis shoes?"

 "Anja loaned them to me, I have tender feet."

 "A tree spirit."

 "Hai."

 "With tender feat?"

 He blushed, an odd feet on his rough brown cheeks.

 "And Anja gave you her shoes?"

 "Hai. She-who-cares is a very kind soul."

 Genkai looked down at the sleeping ningen with a new fascination. "I see."

 Anja moaned and tried to sit up. "Did anyone get the license plate of
whatever truck it was that hit me?"

 "Anja!" Kuronue ran to her side.

 "Get away from me!" She screamed and jumped up.

 "Anja!"

 "I can't. . ." She ran outside the door and the unmistakable sound of vomiting
was heard.

 "What was that all about?" Yuusuke asked. He went to the doorway, "Anja are you ok?"

 "Stay back!" She hissed and vomited again.

 Yuusuke hurried back inside.

 "What is wrong with her Genkai?" Kuwabara asked.

 "She can't stand the sight of anyone she cares about." The old woman said, "The spell has caused her to be physically Ill at the presence of anyone she cares
about."

 "But she cares about everyone!"

 "Ung. . ." Kurama moaned.

 "Kurama?" Kuronue asked.

 "Hn, get up fox." Hiei ordered standing over him, "Your sister needs you."
 "Hiei?" Kurama wrapped his arms around the surprised Youkai pressing a deep kiss to his lips as the koorime squirmed and swore in the vice like grip.
 

 "Kurama! Get off me!"

 "Hiei." Kurama just stared into the crimson orbs that watched him from the Youkai's face. He held the Koorime tighter and closed his eyes, tears slipping from them, "Hiei."

 "Kurama's feelings have been enhanced." Genkai noted, "While Anja's were reversed." She thought for a moment. "The Youkai who did this was trying to weaken the group."

 "For another attack? By it's employer maybe?" Kuronue took a wild guess.

 "Or perhaps only to leave us vulnerable to attacks."

 "Hn!" Hiei growled, "Wasn't smart enough for that, he just messed up."

 "But we can fix this, right?"

 Genkai lowered her eyes, "It is not so easy to fix emotional spells. Human emotions are to complex. They will wear off but until then. . ."

 "So you're saying. . ."

 "I'm saying we have a problem."

<Part 6>
 

 Anja moaned, she was dehydrated from so much vomiting and her whole body ached. She couldn't go near anybody she knew or she would be so repulsed she was physically ill! She sat on her bed and swallowed back feeling rising in her throat once again. To be in the same house as the Youko was painful! She opened her window and slipped outside into the night, skirting any populated areas, she headed for the woods. She would meet no one there and that would stop the pain.
 

 Kurama lay on his bed, curled up in a fetal position. It wasn't his body that hurt but his heart. He shook with need, with love, with he thought of a certain little Koorime/fire demon. Hiei.

 A cool sweat dripped from his brow and he groaned. He and the Hiei had only kissed and cuddled once before, in his present condition he would end up doing much more than that to the Koorime and he didn't want to scare him away. Not after he had finally earned the little demons trust. "Argh." He almost cried as waves of love and need flowed over him, "Hiei." The name on his lips sounded so beautiful to him he had to repeat it, "Hiei. Hiei. Hiei."

 "Hn, I thought you had already memorized my name fox."

 "H. . . Hiei!" Kurama's body shook. The fluttering he felt inside whenever he saw the Koorime had been enhanced to a burning heat, "Y. . . you can't stay. . . Hiei I might. . . I don't w. . . w. . . want to. . . hurt y. . . you." He clenched his teeth and curled up tighter as more pleasure/pain hit him.

 "Hn, you're in pain." Hiei stepped forward to touch the boys forehead but Kurama jumped back until his back was against the wall.

 "N. . . no!"
 

 Hiei sat on the bed and ran a hand over the shivering boys arm, "I. . . I want to help."

 "You can't." Kurama had tears in his eyes. "Hiei I. . . you. . ."

 "Fox. I want to help." The demon brought his lips demon to the redhead's trembling mouth and Kurama instantly grabbed him, pulling him closer. The kiss was hard, wild, full of need and something much more powerful. Tongues teased lips tasted. When they finally had to come up for breath both of their lips were swollen and bright, not as bright though, as Kurama's eyes, "Ai shiteru Hiei."

 Hiei blinked wide eyes then shook his head, "It's the spell. It's making you feel more than you did."

 Kurama shook his head as his body shivered harder, "I always h. . . have
loved. . .  you, the spell i. . . is increasing m. . . my n. . . need for you. Th. . . that's way I am shi. . . shivering. But alw. . . always I have l. . . loved you. S. . . since I . . . I first s. . . set eyes o. . . on you."

 The Koorime turned his head away and Kurama felt his heart shatter. He had lost him. "H. . . hiei?"

 A plinking sound reached the Youko's ears, then another, and another. The Koorime turned around and he had tears of blood running from his eyes, tear gems plinked on the floor. The sight of those bright green eyes full of love had undone the last barrier and the fire demon felt his heart was breaking. "I wish you knew what you were saying fox." He sobbed and Kurama sat up and enfolded him in his arms. "I have wanted so much to hear you say that. I wish to all of the Gods that it was true."

 Kurama's arms tightened their hold, "It's true Hiei."

 He shook his head, "It's the spell, and when it's gone you might want me, but you will not love me."

 Kurama shook his head in denial, "I love you, you idiot, haven't you see it? It's been written on my face. Anja saw it the first time she saw us together!"

 Hiei looked startled, he remembered a comment the girl had made to him, I can see why Kurama loves you. Could it be true?
 

 "Use your Jagan Hiei." Kurama pleaded, "It will be able to see past the spell."

 Hiei nodded and opened his third eye, looking deep into the Kitsune's soul. He passed the weak red pulse of the spell, the bright green glow of his friends power, the golden shine of his memories, the pure white love for his family and friends, then, at the very center of Kurama's being, etched in the foxes soul, he saw himself. A person stood where Kurama's soul shape should have been, a silver glow surrounding him. But only half of the man was Kurama, undulating between his Shuuichi and Kurama shapes, the other half was. . . "Me."

 "Yes Hiei." Kurama hugged the jaganshi closer, "You."

 Hiei sobbed and hugged onto the fox as tight as he could never wanting to let him go. He buried his face in the other boys hair and sobbed with happiness and relief. "K. . . Kurama."

 "Shhh." He whispered, "It's ok." Then he realized, ". . . I'm not shaking anymore. The spell must have worn off!"

 "Genkai said it would take day's." Hiei said still cuddling Kurama's neck.

 "Then how?"

 Hiei didn't answer. Kurama looked down at the boy and realized he was falling asleep.

 He laid back on the bed, cuddling the Koorime to him. "I love you Hiei." He
smiled, "That's what broke the spell." Then he kissed the fire demons closed jagan and closed his eyes as well. Sleep came quickly to both filled with good dreams that night.
 

 Anja sat alone in the woods. She had finally stopped hurting, "What did that baka do to me?!" She screeched so loud it upset some night birds who flew away. A twinge of pain gripped her chest as the flew past her.

 She growled and started a fire to keep her warm. "I don't believe this!"

 She took out her guitar and thought for a moment for a song that felt like her feelings at that moment. Then she started to strum and to play.
 

 "Galileo's head was on the block, the crown was looking up the truth. And as the bombshells of my daily fears explodes I try to trace them to my youth. . ." She smiled and sang a little louder as her soul got lighter, ". . . and then you have to bring up reincarnation over a couple of beers the other night, and now I'm serving time for mistakes made in another life!" Her voice rose as she reached the chorus she loved so well and felt so much, "How long till my soul gets it right!? How many human beings ever reach the kind of light? I call on the resting soul, of Galileo, king of night vision king of insight!"

 Her voice got softer, "And then I think of my fear of motion, of which I never could explain. Some other fool across the ocean years ago must have crashed his little airplane." She almost cried the last words of, "In my lifetime! I'm still not right." Then she trailed off into silence. Her breathing was hard and tears threatened.

           She clutched her beloved guitar to her. It was a martin backpacker that her father had bought for her years ago. She felt tears slipping down onto the smooth wood and quickly polished them away. "Damn." She muttered, "I am a healer! You'd think I could heal myself!. . . wait a minuet. . ." She quickly laid the guitar back over her shoulder and concentrated on the flames, meditating until she felt another presence. "I need to summon you my beloved spirit guide Emmanuel."

 "I'm here." He said calmly in his echoing musical voice.

 "I'm hurt. A spell has been cast over me." She explain unnecessarily, Emmanuel always knew what was going on in her life. "Can you take it away? Can you heal me?"

 "I can try."

 "Please." She asked and let her spirit form take his hands.

 The guide reached into Anja's being and started to untangle the red glowing spell like one would untie a large knot. Finally he plucked the last thread of it from her. Exhausted he fell to his knees, her spirit form going with him.

 "Emmanuel!"

 "I am fine." He panted, "I need time to regain my strength. But the spell is gone Anja."
 

 "Oh! Thank you my friend!"

 "You are vulnerable to spirit attack for a little though, so when you come
from your trance anoint yourself with smoke of sage and get a lot of sleep. You Understand?"

 "Yes Emmanuel. Thank you."

 "My pleasure princess." He smiled and faded as Anja regained her earthly body.

 She quickly did the anointing ceremony as he had asked her then ran back
home to tell her brother and Kuro.
 

 Hiei and Kurama both got a rude awakening when in the early hours of the morning, an energetic and  laughing girl jumped onto the bed on top of them giving both a huge rib crushing hug. Her hair flying everywhere. "Guess what!?" She laughed, "I'm back!"

 Kurama looked up at her amused then over at Hiei, "Morning Koibito."

 "Early morning!" Hiei growled, "Tell your psychotic sister to get off of me."

 "Anja?" Kurama asked.

 The girl bounced down in-between the two and giggle, giving each a kiss on the cheek as she snuggled down. Kurama was surprised Hiei didn't bolt for the window. He was about to tell Anja to go to bed when he realized her breathing was deep and even. He looked over her at Hiei then moved to shake her awake.

 "Hn!" Hiei whispered and grabbed his hand, "Baka, let her sleep."

 "You don't mind?"

 Hiei looked at the sleeping ningen, "As long as her mouth doesn't move, she's kind of nice."

 Kurama stifled a giggle and snuggled down into the covers. A ball of fur pounced onto the bed and lay down on top of Anja, it's tails spreading over the two demons as well. Kurama could have sworn he heard Hiei whisper, "I have a family."
 

 When the children didn't come down to breakfast Shori went up to her sons room and peeked inside. There was Shuuichi and Anja curled up together with another boy, whom she recognized as one of the boys that her son hung out with, and a large black dog that must belong to him. All were still dressed in their day time clothes.

 There were shiny red/black marbles all over the bed and the floor. Maybe Anja was teaching them an American game.

 She smiled and borrowed Anja's camera. She couldn't resist taking a picture, they all looked so young. When the flash went of the dog looked up at her but it went right back to sleep and she closed the door again. They must have had a slumber party last night, poor dears are exhausted.
 

 When Hiei woke up he found himself tangled up with Anja and Kurama on either side of him and the Youko laying on his legs. He thought about leaving but the warmth he felt now went further than his normal fire, it touched his heart too. I have a family now. He was surprised when Anja murmured something in her sleep and pressed closer to him. He even went so far as to let her and Kurama each cushion their heads on his shoulders as his arms wrapped around them. The fox yawned, his big red tongue lolling out as he stretch and inch a little further up until he rested half on Anja half on Hiei and the fire demon actually smiled before drifting back off to sleep. His last thought was, I have finally found home. This is where I belong.
 

 Yuusuke and Kuwabara knocked on Kurama's door half an hour later. "Is Ku. . . I mean Shuuichi here?" Yuusuke asked.

 "Hai." His mother said laughed a little. "He's still asleep though."

 "Still?"

 "He, Anja, and that other boy you play with are in Shuu-chan's room, I think they had a slumber party last night because they are all so tired! His dog is there too. It's so kawii!"

 Yuusuke looked at Kuwabara.

 Kuwabara looked at Yuusuke.

 Then both barreled toward the stair at the same time crying, "I have to see this!"

 Kuwabara's chuckle reached Shori a moment latter. Mrs. Minamino, do you
have a camera I could borrow?"

 "You can use Anja's It's in her room."

 "Arigato." He laughed

 The next sound she heard was an enraged roar and Kuwabara and Yuusuke almost fell down the stairs and out the door, followed by the black dog and by the boy with spiky black hair. A moment later Anja and Shuuichi followed. "Kuwabara! Yuusuke! Get back here cowards!" They ran out the door to join the chase.

 Shori smiled to herself and sat down to drink her tea.
 
 
 
 

~Owari~