When he woke up the next morning Anja had curled her arms and legs around him and was sound asleep against his chest. Tasuki cursed and tried to slip out of her grasp but she clung tight. He was going to wake her but right as he moved to she pressed her lips against his chest and stole his breath away. Well, maybe I can lay here a little longer.
 

 Anja woke up to find herself entangled with the red headed bandit who had first seen her. She smiled and climbed out of bed, slipping back into her jeans and a shirt Chichiri had loaned her, then stood over Tasuki smiling. She cleared her throat and cried, "Wakey wakey rise and shine!"

 The red head almost jumped high as the ceiling! Anja chuckled and smiled at him, "Out of bed daisy
head."

 He growled at her and she Eeped and fled, Tasuki close on her tail. She sped into Chichiri's room
and dived behind the meditating monk, "Save me!"

 Chichiri gasped in surprise and looked up just in time to be bowled over by Tasuki. "Where is she!
Where is she damn it I'll. . ."

 "Language!" Anja scolded then yelped when the bandit caught her hair and yanked her out from
hiding. "Itaitaitaitaitai!!!! Not the hair!"

 Chichiri watched with interest at what was happening before him.

 Anja slid between Tasuki's legs and out the door and the monk caught his friend before he could
give chase. "What did she do no da?"

 "She called me a daisy head!" He growled.

 Chichiri was stunned silent a moment then broke out laughing.

 Hotohori came in a moment later and sighed, "Tasuki, Why is there a silver fox woman hiding under
my bed?"
 
 

 Breakfast that morning Anja stared at Miaka as she inhaled every bit of food she could find. "Anou.
. . you must have a lot of power leaking."

 "What?" The all asked.

 Anja shrugged, "Using power makes you hungry, the more you use the more you have to eat or
you'll waste away because it burns so many calories. We Youko conserve ours or eat power
replenishing fruits, but humans have to eat to build power back up. . . I just thought since she shovels
down her food and obviously doesn't gain a pound, she must be leaking power."

 "Miaka?" Tomahome glanced at her and then Anja, "Miaka doesn't have any power."

 "How can you live without life power? Earth strength? Doesn't that drive you mad?"

 "With is this Life power no da?" Chichiri asked, "I've never heard of such a thing no da."

 "Life power is the magic of creation. It exists everywhere. I thought." She looked confused, "None
of you have it?" She placed her hand over Chichiri's and closed her eyes. A song filled the room.
"What are you? What can live without life?!"

 "How can you use this?" Hotohori asked.

 "It's your ki. You can use it for all sorts of things. I use it to grow things, for battle technique, for
healing, lots of things." She sighed and shook her head, "But it's no good for getting me home. I have
to get back to my son and my lovers, and my brothers will worry if I'm gone too long."

 "We can ask The ugly one." Hotohori shivered.

 "The ugly one?"

 "My trainer and guardian of this world." Chichiri clarified.

 "Ok. Let's go then."

 "I can take you." Chichiri took his hat of and disappeared into it, peaking out of it a moment later.
"Well? Come on!"

 "You want me to get into your hat?"

 "Of Course."

 "Ah Gods this is an odd place."
 
 

 The day wore on and Anja and Chichiri came back, Anja left right after and Tasuki and Chichiri
went out in search for her. They found Anja perched in a tree looking out over Konan. "Anja? Anja
come down and talk to us no da."

 She slid from the limb and to the ground then looked up at the two of them, "Nani?"

 Chichiri sat beside her and craned his head to look into her eyes. "Anja? You don't have to do it you know, you can stay here."

 Anja smiled, "It doesn't bother me Chiri-chan." She leaned back against the tree trunk and sighed,
"And no, I can't stay. I'm sorry. But I need to get back to the men I love."

 "Plural. How did that happen?" Tasuki asked.

 "I have a theory, I don't know how much is correct though. I think Enma-sama wanted his son's soul to have everything. Wanted it to be perfect in every way possible, but when he created the soul, it was too big, so he had to split it apart and give it to different individuals. One was Koenma, his own son. The other parts went to children of other elemental God's. I was one, even though I didn't realize it." She smiled, "Most of us don't. The Gods let their children be born to human lives as a challenge to them. I am the child of the God of Earth, Kuronue is the child of the god of wind, Koenma is of death. Wufei is the child of the god of fire. We are still missing a part of us. His name was Shura, child of the god of water. But he will be back."

 "I am sorry."

 Anja shrugged "we're happy together so don't be sorry."

 "So. . ." The bandit asked, "What did she say you need to do?"

 The Youko shivered, "I have to die."

 "NANDA?!?!"

 Chichiri calmed his friend, "She has to die here to be placed in a new world. It's not a permanent
death."

 "How?"

 She nibbled her lip and fingered the cloth over her heart absently, "I have to. . . I have to eat
something."

 "Poison?"

 "Ha! Sort of." Her laugh held more than a little fear, "I have to eat my Youko heart."

 Tasuki went into a fit about stupid ugly witches and baka monks and Anja and Chichiri just watched
until he had calmed down. "Finished?" She asked when he was out of breath.

 He glared at her.
 
 

*****
 
 

 Koenma was driving everyone in the Reikai completely insane! "Where is she?! She can't have just
vanished! What the fuck is going on?! George if you try to wash my mouth out one more time I'm
going to. . . !"

 "KOENMA!"

 "Gulp, yes daddy?"

 "Get your ass to Ningenkai and don't come back until Anja is found and your mood has improved!"

 "H. . . Hai."
 
 

 "Koenma?!" Yuusuke jumped when the young God appeared in his teenage form.

 "That's Koenma?!" Genma and Soun fell to there knees before the boy. "Oh great sire welcome to
our home!"

 Koenma sweat-dropped.

 "Your daddy kick you out of Reikai again?" Hiei asked mockingly.

 Ranma stared at the God and demon who were arguing until Wufei smashed both of them with his
fists, "Shut up both of you! Anja is lost somewhere and she needs us! You both care about her ne?"

 "Hai." They chorused.

 "Then shut up and let's go see this Cologne."

 The other Gundam pilots stood frozen with shock. Quatre muttered, "Did Wufei just. . ."

 "Punch a God?" Duo finished.

 "He deserved it." Heero growled.

 Trowa only shook his head.
 
 

 Cologne looked up from her vials when the boys burst into the restaurant followed close by Akane.
"How may I help you?"

 "You may tell us where our sister is!" Yuusuke growled.

 "Who?"

 "Anja." Kuwabara glared, "The one who beat Shampoo. We know you took her, you are the only
one with a motive!"

 "Young bloods always jumping to conclusions."

 "Well if it wasn't you, tell us who else would have stolen her." Kurama reasoned.

 "I know that ki. . . Youko Kurama?"

 "Cu' long?!"

 "It has been a long time! Why are you in this ningen form?"

 "Long story."

 "I'm sure one I would love to hear."

 "We have no time now."

 Ranma and Ryoga looked from one to the other, "You know her?!"

 "We were. . . ah. . . friends, when she was younger." Kurama blushed and Hiei growled and clamped down on his lovers
hair as if to say ‘Mine'.

 "I see you have more exotic tastes than ever."

 "He is forever. We are bonded."

 "I never thought I'd live to see the day."

 "Please. Cu-chan, Anja is my sister and Inari's own daughter, you have to help us find her."

 "Of course Youko. Come with me."

 As they walked into the back room Koenma spoke up, "She is not in Ningenkai, Reikai, or Makai,
I've looked."

 "Then she is in the scattered lands."

 "Then what?"

 Cologne pulled out an ancient text and opened it to a map. "Here is Reikai, Ningenkai, and Makai.
They form a triangle, see? In the center of it, here, is the power source of all three worlds and a
scattering of tiny sub worlds between them. A delicate but powerful web connects all of the worlds
but firm barriers separate them."

 "And Anja is in one of these floating dimensions?"

 "Hai, but who sent her there, I don't know."

 "We have to find her." Wufei said in a low and determined voice.

 "Anja." Shadow whispered.
 
 

*****
 
 

 Anja stood in the middle of the courtyard, Youko form, "I only have one chance to do this. Thank
you all for helping me, I'll never forget you."

 "Here." Tasuki shoved something into her hands.

 "What is. . ."

 "It's a smaller version of my fan."

 "Your. . ."

 "Hai, my Tessen. My fire fan." He grinned, "This one is smaller but just as effective. I made it
myself."

 "A. . . arigato." She hugged the startled bandit with tear filled eyes. "You've become a dear friend to
me. I promise if I find a way, I will come and visit again."

 Chichiri smiled and accepted her hug, "You are dear to us also no da. Take this no da."

 "Your hat?! I couldn't!"

 "I can make another no da. This one's enchantment will take you anywhere you can picture in your
mind, but only in the world you are in at the time no da. It will keep you safe no da."

 She kissed his cheek and hugged both men to her while their team mates looked on. "I love you both like brothers. I'll miss you."

 "Yeah, us too." Tasuki sniffled and caught himself before he could cry.

 She secured her gifts and quickly completed the ceremony she had been instructed in. The world
went black around her and she felt herself falling again.

<Part 12>
 

Mew two sat under a tree watching the Pokemon clones he had made a year ago. That had been. . .
 Before he could finish his thought, the sky seemed to open up and spat out a huge white and copper fox creature. She landed with a thud on top of the Meowth clone and both were knocked unconscious.

The other Pokemon backed away from this new creature. Afraid.

 "Bulba? Bulba saur?" bulbasaur asked, stepping closer.

 "I am not sure." Mew two looked the newcomer over carefully, "Possibly a mutated Eevee
Pokemon, height: 1' 0" weight: 14 lbs, This pokemon's genetic code is irregular and may mutate when exposed to radiation from elemental stones. This could be a mutation. . . but I don't think so."

 Meowth stirred and clawed it's way out from under the thing. "Meow Meow."

 "Glad to here it, you're sure you are ok?"

 "Meowth!"

 The fox woman moaned and shook her head, "Ung. . . K'rama? Never let me try to out drink Hiei
again."

 "What?"

 "Wha. . . oh!" She jumped back and struck an attack position, raising her gleaming fan. "Who are
you?!"

 "Squiiiiiirtle!!" Squirtle exclaimed.

 "But the original Meowth talks too." The Mew two pointed out. He turned to the frightened
creature. "We will not harm you. What kind of Pokemon are you?"

 "Poke-huh? I am Youko Anja. Not a Pocket Monster!"

 "Youko?"

 "A fox demon, a child of Inari."

 "I do not know this ‘Inari'"

 "And I've never heard of a pocket monster so we're even."

 "Mew Mew." A little flying Pokemon smiled at her with large, sparkling eyes.

 "Thank you, you're precious!"

 "You understood him?!"

 "He said I was pretty." She smiled, "What's your name."

 "Mew."

 "Mew?" She smiled and slid into her human form, "I'm Anja."

 "How did you. . ."

 "I'm a breed, I can choose my form as Youko or human. What are all of you?"

 "We are Pokemon. Usually we are used by trainers to battle for them to gain the title of Pokemon
master, but we few are not like other Pokemon. We are all genetically engineered but for Mew, he is the last of his kind."

 "Do you have any idea how I can get out of this dimension? I'm trying to find my way back to the
ningenkai, Makai or Reikai."

 "I could not say, but there is one, a boy named Ash. He had a lot of potential when I saw him last,
maybe he could help you."

 "Honto?"

 "Hai."

 "Where do I find this Ash?"

 "He is a trainer so he travels a lot, but in this world what you seek usually has a tendency of finding
you."

 "Arigato."

 "Mew." Mew flew to rest in Anja's arms.

 "Are you sure Mew?"

 "Mew, Mew."

 "I couldn't understand that time."

 "He wants to go with you." Mew two explained, "He is curious about the other worlds and he likes
you very much. He has chosen you for his trainer."

 "I don't know how. . ."

 "Take this." He gave her a black sphere with odd looking designs and a large blue and purple stone
button.

 "What is it?"

 "A pokeball, to house him in. It will regenerate lost energy and keep him safe, and it shrinks to the
size of a marble for easy carrying."

 "That can't be comfy!"

 "It is very much so, it's enchanted."

 "Oh." She nodded and held Mew with one arm. "Arigato."

 "You are welcome."

 "You have very kind eyes. I'm lucky that you are the one who found me."

 "I thank you."

 Anja smiled and shrank the pokeball then thrust it into her jean pocket. I'll carry you for now ok? Or you can fly."

 "Mew Mew Mew."

 She laughed and hugged the little creature but it was strained, "I'm glad you chose me."

 "Mew."

 "I'm ok, I just. . . ung." With that the ningen collapsed from exhaustion.
 
 

*****
 

 After working for hours on a plan to get into the Scattered lands, the boy's and Cologne were still getting no where. "What are we missing?!"

 "There has to be a key of some sort."

 "Maybe we should focus on getting the one who sent her there." Ranma suggested.

 Ryoga nodded, "Maybe then they can get her back."

 Kurama nodded, "That sounds logical."

 "Did Anja have any enemies?" Cologne asked.

 Hiei though a moment then shook his head, "None living."

 The others blanched.

 "Well then, how about you?"

 "Too many to list."

 "That doesn't help."

 "Hey, where's Canon?"

 "Who?"

 "Her pet Chibiera."

 "He's staying with Mukuro until this mission is complete." Heero answered.

 "Chibiera's are an endangered species in Makai of today because they have been hunter for their
power."

 "Which is?"

 "Dimension jumping." Cologne nodded, "The Chibiera can get a message to Anja that we're trying to get her home. He can only take what he can carry across dimensions but he should be able to carry
letters back and forth."

 Kurama nodded, "Hiei and I will go to Mukuro's and get him."

 "What do we do?" Duo asked.

 Kurama looked at his cross and then back into his eyes. "Pray."
 

*****
 

 Ash was once again complaining about how hungry he was as he and his two friends trudged up the side of a mountain over a narrow path.

 "You just ate!" Missy growled in frustration.

 "But that was a whole hour ago!"

 Brock froze, "Do you guys hear that?"

 "What? I don't. . . EEP!"

 A huge Charzard landed beside their group. All three trainers jumped back in shock.

 "Mew." A little pinkish Pokemon darted from out of no where and started zipping around the prone
figure that the Charzard lay before them.

 "It's a Mew!" Missy exclaimed.

 Ash stared, "I thought they were extinct!"

 "Is that his trainer?" Brock pointed to the unconscious girl.

 "Char!" Charzard roared, and then flew back the way he had come, leaving the girl and Mew to
their care.

 "Mew Mew!" The mew created a flat pink bubble beneath the girl to raise her off of the hard, rocky
ground.

 "Is she your trainer?"

 "Mew." The Mew gave Ash an affirmative and darted about the girl.

 "We can't just leave her like this." Missy looked at the figure nervously, "There's a town up ahead
we can take her to."

 Brock lifted her from the Mew's bubble and they began their trek.

 "Pika Pika." Pikachu said from Ash's shoulder.

 "Mew." Mew answered the disappeared with a pop and reappeared to Missy's right.

 "Oh!" She jumped and hit Brock who lost his balance and started to fall over the edge.

 "Brock!" Ash yelled.

 "Wha. . ." the girl stirred and gasped when she saw what was happening. She reach into her hair and grabbed Brock around the waist as she went Youko and  yelled, "Briar Whip!"

 The two trainers still on the ledge gasped as a huge thorny vine shot up and dug into the solid rock.

 "I didn't know there was a Pokemon who could do that!" Ash inspected the entry place of the whip.

 "I. . ." Missy stepped nervously back into him, "It wasn't a Pokemon."

 The now Youko girl shrunk the whip back into a seed and tucked it back into her hair with one hand while she lowered Brock to the ground with the other. "How. . . Mew! What's going on?" She
asked.

 "Mew Mewwwwww -MEW- mew mew! mew? Mew mew meeeeew me-w mmmmmmew."

 "Oh." She smiled and hugged the flighty Pokemon, "I'm sorry I worried you."

 "Mew."

 "Hey, sleeping beauty, rise and shine." She nudged Brock's shoulder.

 "Wha. . . hey, you're awake, wait didn't we. . ."

 Ash looked from Mew to the stranger and then to Brock, "What's going on here?"

 "I'm sorry, I was told you might be able to help me. I am Youko Anja."

 "Where is the other girl?"

 "Let me explain."

*****

 Mukuro was furious when she found out what had happened. "You lost my daughter?!"

 Kurama sweat-dropped, "She's. . . we know -where- she is, we just can't get her out."

 "And why have you come here?"

 "Canon can travel in the power webs between dimensions, He might be able to find her and get a
message to her."

 The Chibiera signed a few quick things to Mukuro and then burrowed into Kurama's hair and
chirped.

 "What did he say?"

 "That he will find her for me." Mukuro's voice sounded choked.

 "We will find her Mukuro-sama." Hiei vowed. "I would never let any harm come to her."

 "I know Hiei." She smiled faintly, "I'm coming with you."

 "What?!" Kurama snapped, "Why?!"

 "Kuro-chan needs a baby sitter while you are all hunting for his Kaasan, I will watch over him for
you. And I want to have a few words with Anja for letting her guard down."

 Hiei nodded and blurred out, Kurama and Mukuro followed close behind.

   "Let's get one thing clear." Kurama growled, "I don't trust you. I don't like you. And I definitely
don't like my family being near you."

 "I assure you," Mukuro deadpanned, "The feeling is mutual."

<Part 13>

Mukuro slammed into the ramen shop and glared at all of the occupants, "I should have known

Kurama would find friends in the likes of you."

 Cologne looked at the Makai lord with patience born of years of teaching young amazons, "I know
you are worried but that is no excuse to be rude."

 "Rude?! Who attacked who last we met?!"

 "You were a threat."

 "I'll show you threat you old hag."

 "Watch your mouth child of hell!"

 "SHUT UP!"

 Both women turned to stare at the enraged Chinese pilot.

 "I don't care what little spat you have going on between the two of you. I don't care if you kill
each other after this, but right now my lover, my best friend, the mother of my child is lost and in need
of our help so sit down, shut up and think of how to bring her back. Your petty arguments can wait!"

 "Woah! Way to go Wufei!"

 "Maxwell. . ."

 "Duo be silent." Quatre said softly, "he is really worried."

 Canon darted to Wufei and perched on his hand.

 "You can take a message to her?"

 The chibiera nodded and smiled.

 "Tell her that I love her dearly and that we are trying our best to bring her home."

 Another nod.

 Kurama spoke up then, "And to send you back to us with any ideas she has. Mukuro can translate
your signs to us."

 "Chirp."

 "Look over her Canon." Wufei said thickly, "Keep her safe for me."

 The little bat creature kissed Wufei's nose and vanished.

 "Now what?" Ranma asked.

 "Now we find out who did this." Ryoga frowned, "but where do we start."

 "Search me."

 Hiei glanced at him, "Why? Are you suspect?"

 "It's a figure of speech Hiei." Kurama explained while Yuusuke beat Kuwabara for laughing, "It
means he doesn't know."

 "Well then we're no where further than before."

 The Gundam pilots glanced at each other, "This promises to be a long mission."

 "Hn."
 
 

******
 
 

 When the unlikely group of trainers and Pokemon neared the village, Anja quickly returned Mew to
his pokeball and tucked it safely away.

 "So we need to find you a way home."

 Anja nodded, "Or at least out of this dimension."

 "Well, let's find a place to stay and get some food and we can consult the trainers guide, if any
Pokemon alive can do it, the guide will tell."

 "Hai."

 A bubbly sound behind them put all four on the defense, they whirled to see a black blur pop out of
mid air.

 "Wha. . .?" Anja was slammed to the ground when the thing hit her. She opened her eyes to see
Canon sitting on her chest grinning at her. "Canon? Canon!" She hugged her squirming pet tightly.

 "Huh?" Ash asked.

 "This is my pet Canon! From my world!" Her smile shrank as she watched his signing. By the end of
the message she was almost in tears.

 "Anja?" Brock stepped closer.

 "He said that Wufei sends his love. And that he is lonely and worried and wants me home." The little
black creature licked the tear from her cheek and she whimpered softly, "I miss him, I miss Kuro and Kuronue my brothers and my friends. Especially Duo and Hiei. I want to go home."

 Brock placed a hand lightly on her shoulder, "We'll get you home. Come on, lets see what the guide
says.

 "Hai." She let him help her stand and glanced at Canon's worried face, "I just miss them, that's all."

 "Chirp."

 She laughed and teased his wings, "Come on."

 An hour later Ash slammed the guide onto the table, "Nothing!"

 "Well maybe. . ."

 "Prepare for trouble. . ."

 "Make it double."

 All three trainers groaned, "Not again."

 "Who are those two?"

 "Team Rocket." Missy sighed.

 Anja snickered, "Love the costumes."

 "You dare to laugh at us?"

 "I snickered, there's a difference." She pointed out.

 "I don't think we've seen you before."

 "Your right she's new, who are you?"

 "Youko Anja."

 "Youko?"

 "Anja?"

 She rolled her eyes, "Look, I'm trying to find a way out of this dimension so could you just leave us
alone?"

 "Oh no, we couldn't do that." The girl smiled.

 "I thought as much." Anja stood, bored, "Ok, come on."

 "Huh?"

 "Fight me."

 "You?"

 "Are you a Pokemon?"

 "Again with this Poke-thing? Don't you people ever fight?"

 "Of course! Meowth I chose you!"

 Anja looked incredulously at the cat like creature, "You're joking." She deduced.
 
 

*******
 
 

 After a run through of all of the people who might want to get Anja out of the picture, they arrived at
a startling conclusion.

 "It couldn't have been human." Yuusuke breathed.

 Kuwabara seconded that, "She would have sensed them, and what human holds that much power?"

 "But no demon would hurt her!" Hiei insisted, "No one in Makai is that stupid."

 "What about Gods?" Akane asked.

 They all stopped to stare at her.

 Kurama blinked, "Say that again."

 "I said what about Gods."

 "Of course!" Quatre smiled, "We've been overlooking the obvious!"

 "But how many Gods are there?" Duo asked.

 Koenma answered that one. "There are five. Earth, wind, water, fire, and death."

 "What about life?"

 "The God of Life is God over all of us, God to even the Gods. He wouldn't have done it, he doesn't
trifle with things like this."

 "Anja is the child of Inari." Heero thought out loud.

 "Earth." Trowa nodded.

 "And Enma is the God of Death."

 "Father didn't do it. He told me to come help find her." Koenma reasoned, "And he knows I will find her."

 "So that leaves wind, water, and fire."

 "Wait, didn't Anja say that each of us stood for one of the elements?" Shadow asked.

 Wufei's eyes shot forward, "Kuronue?"

 "Huh?"

 "You just. . ."

 "You said ‘didn't Anja say that each of us stood for one of the elements." Ranma parroted.

 Ryoga looked at his brother carefully, "You've never known her before this visit have you?"

 "No I. . . I couldn't have."

 Wufei looked oddly disappointed. "Yes she did say that. Shura was water, I was fire, our third lover was wind."

 "The one you're searching for now."

 "Hai."

 "All of them could have a motive."

 All eyes turned back to Akane.

 "Well Anja killed the water God's son right? And the fire God, maybe he doesn't want his son with
her, or maybe the wind God blames her for his son's loss."

 "How do we interrogate a God?" Yuusuke whined.

 Kurama and Hiei both smiled at Koenma.

 "What?"

 More smiles turned his way as more people caught on.

 "What are you. . . no! Oh no."
 
 

******
 
 

 After defeating Meowth Anja sat back at the table fiddling with the hat Chichiri had given her.

 "What's that?" Ash asked.

 "A magic hat, you climb inside and pull it after you and you can go anywhere in a dimension that you
can visualize."

 "So much magic!" Missy exclaimed, "hats that you climb into, people who turn into demons, plants
that are really weapons, pets that crawl through dimensions with whatever they can carry, fans that
breath fire. . ."

 "THAT'S IT!" Anja yelped with glee and jumped  to stand before her new friends.

"What's it?"

 "Don't you see?" She smiled, "Canon can take whatever he can carry into other dimensions right?"

 "Hai, so?"

 "So I can climb into the kasa and he can take the hat home!"

 "It's so simple that it could work!" Ash grinned.

 Canon was sleeping in Anja's pouch, "We can wake him tonight. Let him rest for now."

 "So you can leave now." Ash said as they continued down the path.

 "Hai."

 "Are you taking Mew?"

 "Hai, he chose me, I guess I'm his human now."

 "Here." Ash handed her a few pages of crumpled paper.

 "What's this?"

 "Brock and Missy and I wrote down all the guide said about training and Mew so you can be a
good trainer."

 She took the dirt covered pages as if they were the most precious thing in the world. "Arigato."

 "No problem, and hey, if this works, jump back here some time to visit ne? We can see how far
along your training has come."

 Anja let Mew out of the Pokeball, "We're leaving this dimension." She said softly, "I thought you
might want to say good bye."

 "Mew mew mew m.e.w. mmew."

 "I'm glad you want to come along."

 "You really do understand him don't you!"

 She looked at Ash like he was crazy, "Of course."

 He shrugged.

 She placed Mew back in the pokeball for safe keeping's and kept walking with the three trainers as
the sun slowly melted into the horizon. Soon it would be dark, Canon's time. And she would be going
home.

******

 Koenma glared daggers at his tantai old and new as he stood on the doorstep of the God of Wind. When the door opened the little Godling was almost blown away! "Koenma my boy! You've finally decided to pay your uncle a visit eh lad? Your oni have told me you have a new romantic interest. eh? eh?"

 Koenma swallowed his pride and glared one last glare at the hiding tantai. He hated visiting his
uncles. They were so overbearing and arrogant and. . . (You're describing yourself fairly well.) A
voice in his memory mocked. He cursed Yuusuke and the red headed lug Kuwabara again and
entered his uncle's home.

 "What can I get you? Tea? Cocoa? You used to love that stuff why I remember. . ."

 //Kami sama give me strength.//

 ". . . and it took us three decades to get it cleaned up! Ho ho! Ah that's rich! Anyway my boy-o
what is this I hear about a girl?"

 "I. . ."

 "I'll bet she's a looker! Have to be to catch your eye. Human is she?"

 "Youko/human breed."

 "You wouldn't happen to mean Inari's surrogate daughter would you?"

 "Hai." he waited tensely for a reaction.

 He didn't wait long. "Good for you boy!" He slapped the young God's back.

 Koenma coughed.

 "Heard she's a real catch! My chosen son thought so too, she's found him again ne? Just can't get
him to remember, not to bright sometimes eh? But he loves that girlie, has since they first met.
Darndest thing. So pure. They'll be forever."

 "Hai, you like that?"

 "Sure. Why not? Not like they live with me right? Already gave me a grandchild too. Those two
screw like rabbits! You know once I was watching how they were fairing and I saw them doing the
most. . ."

 "I um. . . I have to go."

 "So soon?"

 "Places to go, souls to ship."

 "Ah yes yes, always a hard working boy-o weren't ya."

 "Hai, always."

 "Where's that fuukuman a yours?"

 "I ah. . . igaveittoanja."

 "Hahaha, she's got you already. Hoho, go in peace my young friend, you're as good as caught."

 "Arigato. . . I think."

 When he stepped out of the palace he snarled at the startled Tantai, "He isn't the one."

 "So. . ." Yuusuke snickered, "What you and dear old unc talk about?"

 "Don't go there Yuusuke, not if you want to live to fight another day."

 "Geash, touchy!"

 Kuwabara grunted in agreement and they started for the next God's abode.
 

<Part 14>
 

Anja hugged her friends and said her good byes. Her eyes were misty as she climbed into the hat and gave Canon the go ahead, but right before they dimension jumped. . .

 "Prepare for trouble."

 "Make it double."

 "Raichu we chose you!"

 The chibiera was knocked through the portal but he was injured. He couldn't make it to the
outer worlds. With a last minuet course adjustment he landed them on another of the scattered lands
and passed out.

 When Anja climbed out of the monks hat, she looked around, "Canon?" She asked, "Canon! Where
are you?!"

 "Chir. . ."

 "Canon!" She cradled the burnt little creature to her and checked over his injuries. "It's ok Canon, I'll
fix you up." She tried but the land they were in canceled out her healing ability. She released Mew
from his Pokeball and he hovered over them playfully, slight concern for Canon showing every now
and again. "Where are we?"

 A mountain exploded beside her and she curled herself around to protect Canon and Mew. "Hold
on baby!"

 "Vegita! Watch out! Don't underestimate it!" A man with a scared face warned him.

 "It could be friendly!" Another man, this one wearing an orange ji, arrived.

 "‘tousan! Look! Mr. Piccolo is coming!" The youngest pointed.

 Anja looked up at the towering green man in a cape and turban. She tucked her injured friend in the
crook of one arm and growled at the men hovering around her, ears flat against her hair and both tails bristling. "Stay back!"

 "Otousan! She has ears! And look! Two tails!"

 A little bald man pulled the child back, "Gohan! Don't get to close, we don't know if it's on our side."

 "Stay back!" The youko growled, "Don't come any closer!"

 "We wont hurt you."

 "Speak for yourself!" The short one with black hair growled.

 "Hiei?"

 "Wha. . ."

 "ONIISAN!" Anja leapt at the startled man and gave him a huge hug, "Oniisan! Where's Kurama?
What are you doing with these men?"

 "I am not your Oniisan!" He hissed, "HA"

 A ball of ki just missed the dodging girl. "You almost hit him!" She hugged Canon closer and pulled
out her fan, "Flame!"

 The men all jumped back, they obviously hadn't planned on much of a fight.

 While they were distracted she tucked Canon into her shirt so that she could use both hands. "Briar
whip!"

 "Ouch!" Goku grabbed the barbed thing and tried to keep her from striking again.

 "Stop."

 They halted and turned to the green man floating above them, "Mr Piccolo?"

 "She isn't trying to hurt you."

 "She attacked us!"

 The green man pointed to her shirt and Canon who's head was just visible, "She is protecting
someone.

 "A baby?!" The short bald man looked closer.

 "No." She looked at them all carefully, "My friend. Canon."

   "A pet." Vegita snorted.

 The scarred man placed a hand on his shoulder and he relaxed slightly. "I'm Yamcha. This is Vegita."

 "I'm Goku, that's Krillan, and this is my son Gohan." the man in the orange smiled.

 "We were on our way home when we got attacked and Canon was burned very badly."

 "Let me see." The green man held out his hands.

 "Who are you?"

 "That's mister Piccolo." Gohan smiled, "Don't worry, he wont hurt it."

 She was hesitant but finally slid the moaning creature from her shirt, "He's getting worst."

 "What manner of beast is this?"

 "He isn't a beast!" She insisted, "He's a chibiera an off breed of the Chimera."

 "I've never heard of those creatures. Is that what you are?"

 She was slightly offended at that assumption, "I am NOT A Chimera! I am  Youko Anja."

The daughter of Inari God of the foxes!"

 "Well Anja, You've gotten caught in the middle of our training session." Yamcha smiled at her.

 "Do you usually blow up entire mountains when you train?"

 "Only when Vegita hasn't gotten laid for a while."

 "Hn!" The saiyan glared at Yamcha who only smirked back, he knew his Koi wouldn't ever hurt him.

 Anja grinned, flashing a bit of fang at the two lovers. A tug on her tail made her jump and turn to
face Gohan who was poking at her. "Yes?"

 "They're fluffy."

 "Fox fur usually is." She smiled fondly at the child. He reminded her of her own son.

 "Why are you sad?"

 "You remind me of my baby."

 "Boyfriend?"

 "No, my real baby. My son. He's back in my dimension with his daddies."

 "He has two daddies?"

 "Three."

 The others took a moment to digest that information while Anja approached Piccolo, "Well? How is
he?"

 Piccolo handed him back to her, he had wrapped strips of cloth around the wounds with some clear, jelly like stuff underneath. "It will halt the burning and start healing it."

 "What about the sensu?"

 "I'm not sure if his body would take one."

 Anja nodded, "Best not to take unnecessary chances. I can lay low here until he heals enough to
open a portal home."

 "What about the dragon?" Krillan asked.

 "What?"

 "The eternal dragon could grant you a wish to return home if we gather all of the dragon balls."

 "Well I need something to do while Canon is healing, but I have a different wish to make."

 "Something more important to you than going home?"

 "Hai." She nodded, "There was a man I loved very much who was killed, can I bring him back to
life?"

 "I don't see why not. We do it all the time."

 She nodded, "Canon can heal enough to take me home, and I'll use my wish to bring him back to my world."

 "Where will you stay?" Yamcha asked.

 Anja smiled, "I'll find a place, I'm a fox. I'll improvise."

 "Why don't you stay with us?" Goku asked.

 "I couldn't impose."

 "It'd be ok." Little Gohan smiled, "You can meet my mom, she's real nice."

 "I don't get along very well with women." She said quickly, "They don't like me very much and they
certainly wouldn't like Canon."

 "She can stay in my valley." Piccolo said.

 Gohan looked a little hurt "Mr. Piccolo?"

 "I have some questions I would like answered. Follow me."

 "I don't fly."

 "Take my hands and hold on."

 Anja soon found herself hundreds of feet above the ground. "Woah!"
 
 

******
 
 

 The tired boys trod through the Makai jungle. Koenma steadily grew to realize just why Duo was
considered insane.

 "Are we there yet?"

 "No Duo."

 "Are we there yet?"

 "No Duo."

 "Are we there yet."

 "Duo." Heero's voice held a warning.

 "Well are we?"

 "NO."

 Duo was silent a moment. "Now are we?"

 It took all of their little band to hold Heero and Hiei back.

 "No huh?" Duo smirked.
 
 

******
 
 

 Piccolo looked down at the laughing fox girl, "First time flying?"

 "In a long time yes, but my mate had wings, he used to fly me all over. Anou. . . does this valley have a lot of cold water?"

 "Hai."

 "Drop me as far from it as you can. Please."

 He shrugged and let go.

 "Ouch!" Anja landed on her rear. "Canon how you doing?"

 "Chirp." He smiled at her from inside her shirt and she smiled and winked at him.

 "Mew?"

 "Mew."

 She smiled.

 "Now, we talk." Piccolo sat in front of her, hovering just off the ground.

 "How long?"

 "Hm?"

 "How long have you been in love with the kid?"

 "WHAT?!"

 "The kid dressed like you back there, the one who liked my tails. How long have you been in love
with him?"

 Piccolo growled and glared at her, "That is not what I wish to discuss."

 "Of course not, but you need to because it's eating you up inside I feel it."

 "Gohan is not interested."

 "Oh no? Could have fooled me."

 "What do you mean?"

 "I mean the way his eyes glowed when you arrived and the pure joy he sent out whenever you
looked at him with kind eyes. He has deep feelings for you."

 "As a mentor."

 "As more. How old is he?"

 "Not old enough."

 "How old?"

 "Fourteen."

 "Old enough for kisses, you may need to wait for the more intimate relationship but for now. . ."

 "Who are you to know how he feels?"

 "He got jealous quick enough."

 "Jealous?"

 "When you said I could stay with you. It hurt him."

 "Shimatta! I would never hurt him!"

 "Shh, I know."

 "You seem to know a lot Youko."

 "Call it a gift."

 "You are a demon yes?"

 "Not always but now yes."

 "I don't want him hurt."

 "I don't hurt people who don't deserve to be hurt. Don't worry. Is that why you wanted me to stay
here instead of with him?"

 "Hai."

 She smiled, "Tell him that."

 "When?"

 "Now."

 "Now?"

 "He's probably crying into his pillow over your invitation to me, go set it right."

 "H. . . hai."

 "Oh, and Piccolo?"

 "Nani?"

 "You two will make a cute couple."

 "Hn."

 Anja laughed as he flew of and set to exploring the land. //How do I get into these messes?//
 
 

*******
 
 

 "How does she get into these messes?!" Heero grumbled.

 "It's a gift." Duo grinned at his koi and brushed up against him as they trudged on.

 "Hn."

 "Are we almost there?"

 "Hai. Just a little longer."

 "Koenma, you said that two hours ago."

 "Stop whining."

 "I the great Kazuma Kuwabara, do not. . ."

 "Know when to shut up."

 "Why you. . .!"

 "Hiei! Kazuma! Matte!" Kurama commanded. "Not here and not now."

 "But I. . ."

 "No."

 "He started it." The ningen pouted.

 Kurama rolled his eyes. //Traveling the Makai with these two is about the worst punishment I can
think of. I hope Anja appreciates this.//
 

<Part 15>
 

 The dragon balls were scattered over the earth all save one that Goku had already. Anja turned the little orange thing over in her hands as they walked toward the next. The star inside it labeled it Dragon Ball one. "And all together these things grant you a wish?"

 "Hai." Yamcha nodded, "If not for the dragon balls we would all be dead by now."

 "Earth isn't so big." Goku squeezed her shoulder comfortingly, "We'll find them in no
time."

 Anja smiled and slipped the Dragon Ball into her hat. She found the hammer space inside
of it made a great place for storage. It weighed no more or less but when she reached inside and
called something to her that she had placed inside, it was there. Mukuro would have a field day
analyzing Chichiri's spell that made this possible. The thought of her surrogate mother made her
home sick and she closed her eyes a moment to block the hurt.

 Gohan took her hand and made her look down at him, "Don't worry Miss Anja. You'll
get home soon."

 "I've been gone so long."

 "I bet they miss you huh."

 "Yeah."

 "Thank you."

 She glanced at him quickly, "For what?"

 "For telling Mr Piccolo to come to me. I was sure he didn't feel. . . like that. But he does!
He really does!"

 "The only reason he let me stay in his valley was for your safety."

 "I know that now. I'm sorry I got mad at you."

 "Hey, I understand. If one of my mates even looked at another but our group I would be
jealous too, only at a lesser scale because I know that they all love me very much, but you had no
idea."

 "I found it!" Bulma grinned and waved another dragonball in the air. "We only need five
more!"

 Anja held the little orb and smiled softly, //This will allow me to bring Shura back to us.
Just this little ball.//   "Well? What are we waiting for! Let's get the rest!"
 
 

*******
 
 

 Koenma stood at the gates of a massive palace made completely of lava rock and
surrounded by a lake of molten rock.

 "I do not want to go in there." Koenma glared at the castle as if it were his own personal
Hell.

 "Well. . ." Mukuro smiled at Wufei, "He is -your- Godfather little dragon. Why don't
-you- go?"

 While they were telling Wufei how to address a God, Hiei slipped inside.

 AH! HIEI!

 "Ohayo Grandfather."

 WHAT BRINGSSS YOU HERE?

 "An attack on my family."

 ATTACK?

 "You know of my bond sister Anja."

 OF COURSSSSSE I WASSSSS VERY PLEASSSSED WITH YOUR CHOICE IN HER.

 "Someone has thrown her into the shattered lands and I don't know how to get her back."

 WHAT!!!! SSSSOMEONE DARE TO HARM ONE OF MY BLESSSSSSSED?!!!!

 "We believe it is a God."

 NANDA?!?!?!?!!!!!!

 "She has no demonic enemies."

 SSSSSHE ISSSS BELOVED BY ALL IN THE MAKAI.

 Hiei nodded, "And no human is strong enough to pull such a heist."

 SSSSSSSSSO I am SSSSSSUSPECT?

 "She is my sister. I will check every possibility to keep her safe."

 GOOD. I LIKE THAT GIRL SSSSSHE ISSSSSS A KIND SSSSSOUL. WHEN YOU
FIND WHO DID THISSSSSSS, YOU SSSSSSEND THEM TO ME.

 "Hai sir."

 GOOD BYE GRANDSSSSSSON. GOOD LUCK.

 "Hn."

 The fire God called after him as he left, TELL YOUR SSISSSSSSSSTER TO BRING
THE LITTLE ONE TO VISSSSSSIT! I WANT TO SSSSSSEE HIM.

 "I will." Then Hiei was gone.

 When he stepped outside Kurama ran to him, "Hiei?"

 "He isn't the one."

 "I didn't think so."

 "He wants her to bring Kuro-chan for a visit."

 The youko laughed, "That child is going to become spoiled!"

 Hiei eyed the grinning Youko, "So?"

 "Where to next?" Duo asked, glancing at Koenma.

 "Inari is the closest."

 "You suspect Inari!" Now Kurama was glaring.

 "I suspect everyone at this point." Koenma hung his head, "Even my own father."
 
 

******
 
 

 Anja looked at the water with foreboding, "The third one is in there?"

 "Hai, We need to dive for it." Yamcha smiled and stripped out of his shirt.

 "Damn."

 Vegita eyed her carefully, "What? You don't like water?"

 "I'm under a sort of a curse."

 "Curse?"

 She nodded, never taking her eyes off of the water, "I and two of my mates turn into little
dragons when we get wet with cold water. Hot water changes us back."

 Goku smiled, "Bulma, heat up some water, we'll need it soon."

 "Hai." She got to work while Anja stripped completely out of her clothes.

 The men all turned away blushing, "Anou. . . Anja. . ."

 "I don't want my clothing floating away when I turn." She dove into the water and a
moment later a little dragon emerged from the waves, a bright orange dragonball clutched in it's
beak.

 "Anja?" Gohan giggled.

 The dragon dropped the dragonball into Anja's kasa and walked over to Bulma.

 The blue haired woman dumped the hot water over the creature and in a flash, a very wet
Youko stood there, pulling on her clothing.

 Gohan handed her her hat, "Wow! That was cool!"

 She shook the water from her hair and allowed Canon and Mew to find their perches
again. "Where is the next one?"

 "Enma has it."

 Anja brightened, "Enma!?"

 "You know him?"

 "He's Koenma's dad!"

 "You know Koenma?!"

 "He's my boss!"

 Goku chuckled, "I'll take her to get this one. I gotta see this."
 
 

******
 
 

 Inari stood before her child Kurama and his mate. YOUKO KURAMA, YOU HAVE
BEEN AWAY FAR TOO LONG.

 "I am sorry mother. This is not a social visit. I fear Youko Anja is in trouble."

 ANJA? WHAT HAS HAPPENED? IS THE CHILD ALL RIGHT?

 "Kuro is fine, but Anja has been thrown into the shattered lands and we don't know how
to get her back."

 WHO HAS DONE THIS?

 "We suspect a God."

 YOU SUSPECT ME.

 "Never. But Koenma wishes to leave no lead unchecked."

 HE IS WISE, BUT I DO NOT KNOW OF THIS.

 "Hai."

 HAVE YOU FOUND A WAY TO BRING HER BACK?

 "We hope that the one who sent her can bring her home."

 IT MAY NOT BE SO SIMPLE MY CHILD. THE POWER TO ENTER THAT
SHATTERED LANDS IS MUCH LESS THAN THAT NEEDED TO LEAVE THEM.

 "As of now it is our only hope."

 SEEK OUT THE GUARDIAN OF THE GATE. SHE IS THE ONLY ONE WITH THE
POWER THAT YOU SEEK.

 "Do you think she could have done this?" Kurama asked.

 SHE IS A WOMAN. SHE LOVES THE SAME AS ANY WOMAN LOVES. I FEAR
THOUGH THAT SHE LOVES ONE WHO'S HEART ANJA HOLDS. THE ANSWER MAY
BE IN THAT, BUT TO APPROACH HER THE ONE WHO HAS LOVED ANJA MUST
ADMIT TO HIMSELF THAT THIS IS TRUE.

 "Who is it?"

 THIS IS A THING YOU MUST FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF.

 "Arigato Inari-sama."

 YOU ARE WELCOME AS ALWAYS MY SON. DO NOT BE A STRANGER TO
THESE LANDS.

 "Hai mother."

 AND HIEI.

 "Hai?"

 YOU HAVE A GOOD THING IN MY CHILD. DO NOT FORGET THAT.

 "Hn, he won't let me."

 The god laughed and nodded happily, GO WITH MY BLESSING MY CHILDREN.

 They bowed and left.

 "So?" Ryoga asked when they came out of the palace.

 "Not her." Hiei glared at Koenma.

 "But she did give us something to go on."

 "What?"

 "She said to visit the gatekeeper. She is the only one with the power to send Anja in and
bring her back."

 "The gatekeeper!?"

 "You know her Koenma?"

 "She has an obsession with me." He groaned, "She is the reason I don't go anywhere near
the scattered lands now."

 "Inari told us, ‘She loves one who's heart Anja holds. The answer may be in that, but to
approach her the one who has loved Anja must admit to himself that this is true.'"

 Wufei nodded, "So we need to find out who among our group has a crush on Anja but
won't admit it, then we just go to this gatekeeper and make her bring Anja back."

 Kurama nodded.

 Ranma embraced Ryoga from behind and shook his head, "Don't look at us."

 Heero and Duo and Trowa and Quatre did the same.

 "Yuusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei and I are family, so it can't be any of us, and Inari said he."

 All eyes turned to Koenma.

 The godling blushed and backed away when Wufei approached. "Is it true?"

 "I. . . ah. . ."

 "Do you want to be with us?"

 "I. . . that is I. . ."

 Wufei enfolded the startled godling in his arms and gave him a soft kiss, "Why didn't you
tell us?"

 Everyone, including Koenma, was shocked!

 "Did Wufei just. . ."

 "Kiss a God?" Quatre finished for his lover.

 Duo snickered, "Well it's a big step from punching him."

 Koenma finally found his voice, "You. . . you don't mind?"

 The Chinese pilot shook his head, "And Anja wont either. We've been waiting for you to
realize you shared our soul."

 The Godling fell into Wufei's arms bonelessly. He closed his eyes reveling in the
wonderful scent of the young pilot.

 "Come on." Wufei smiled, "Let's go see that gatekeeper."
 
 

*******
 
 

 Anja and Goku stepped into Enma's office. "Enma!" She smiled and ran up to the surprised deity. "I'm home!"

 "Anja!?"

 She smiled and hugged him, "Yep, I found Kuronue no thanks to you, how are the tantai,
do they need me? Can I get home from here?"

 "Woah! Slow down!"

 She smiled, "Where's Koenma?"

 "He's out in the reikai searching for you." Enma looked at the startled super saiyan who
had brought his tantai member to him. "Goku? What are you doing with Anja?"

 "She's in our dimension right now."

 "So you -are- in the scattered lands."

 "Yep, and look what followed me home." She held up the little pink Pokemon with a
smile.

 "A Mew! I thought he was extinct!"

 "Guess not."

 "Anja have you got a plan to get back?"

 "Yes and also to get Shura back, but I need your dragon ball."

 "So you're going to wish him home."

 "Uhuh."

 Enma smiled and handed her the glowing orb, "Just remember to word the wish
carefully."

 "I will."

 "Be strong Anja. I can't help you out of there, but Koenma and your family are seeking
out the gatekeeper. They'll be there to get you hopefully within the week."

 "Honto?"

 "Mm, yes."

 "Yes! I'm going home!"

 Oni suddenly started flooding Enma's office, "Lord Enma we heard Nightwind-sama was
here! Nightwind-sama! Ohayo! Daijoubu ka?"

 Anja laughed and greeted the Oni around her.

 Goku jumped up beside Enma's throne to keep from being trampled! "Wow!"

 "She's very popular with the oni."

 "I see!"

 Enma laughed, "Hurry back Anja, missions are back piling since you disappeared."

 "I will. Promise." Then the two of them left, Anja's laughter filling the palace of the Reikai once again.

 Enma smiled, "I never realized how much this whole place misses her when she's gone."
 

~tbc~