Thanx for reviewing to all those who reviewed! I love u guys! You're so supportive! Cool, now that the 'detour' is over we can move on with the story! hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer- (writing on chalkboard) I will not pretend I own Shaman King... I will not pretend I own Shaman King...

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o IZUMO o0o0o0o0o0o0

We arrived in Izumo that afternoon and landed behind a house. Blizzard immediately rose to the air again, out of sight.

"We'll have to walk from here, Zoe." She turned into a pure white Samoyed dog and followed at my heels as we strolled down the streets of Izumo.

"Excuse me sir, but do you know where we could find the Asakura residence?" I asked a man who was getting on his car.

"Yes, I do. They live a few blocks down that street." He pointed.

"Thanks!" I ran off excitedly, Zoe skipping at my heels. We came upon a humongous house with a gigantic front/back yard (it was all over the place). I walked up a thin path and knocked the door. I heard footsteps as someone neared and then opened the door. A girl my age with short, pink hair shyly opened the door.

"Um... hi! Could you tell me if Anna Kyouyama lives here...?" The girl's eyes widened in surprise, and then in recognition.

"No, I'm sorry, she doesn't." she said in a soft voice.

"Oh... ok then, I'm really sorry to bother you." I started to turn away.

"Wait! Umm... Anna did use to live here, but she is out of town, would you like to talk to Kino-sensei?"

"If that's ok..." I followed the pink-haired girl into the house. It was decorated with traditional Japanese umm... decorations.

"I am Tamao, by the way. Tamao Tamamura at your service, Miss Belaqua." She said shyly. I wondered how she knew my name.

"You're worldwide famous, stupid!" whispered Zoe. Of course. I knew that. The girl led me into a hall and knocked a door.

"Who is there?" came a voice from the inside of the room.

"It is a girl, sensei, she is looking for Anna." The door opened, revealing an old lady with gray hair and round sunglasses that walked in a short, wooden cane. She looked me over with interest.

"Would you like to come in? Something tells me you're looking for some answers." Officially impressed. I walked in, and Zoe followed after a second of hesitation. I sat on my knees in a traditional Japanese coffee table.

"So. You have come in search of Anna Kyouyama."

"That's right. Did you know her?" I asked. She paused for a moment in thought.

"Of course, young shaman. Anna was... and IS my best disciple." She knew I was a shaman. There was more to this lady than met the eye.

"Disciple? For what?"

"Anna is an expert Itako." A priestess!!! Anna!!! I swelled up in pride. It had been Anna's dream to be an Itako.

"Could you tell me more? Like when she came here... do you remember?"

"Yes. I remember that day as if it were yesterday. It happened around six years ago, when my husband had brought me a young girl the age of seven...

I watched the girl being dragged in by my husband. She was dressed in a black dress and had a blue bracelet in her right hand. Her face was slightly puffy from crying, but no tears flowed now. She looked angry.

"What's your name, girl?" I asked her. She just turned her head and scoffed, but then, after some thought, she straightened up and spoke in an even voice.

"My name is Anna. Anna Kyouyama."

"And why are you here?"

"Maybe I should be asking that question." She shot back.

"My husband brought you here because he thought you have Itako potential. What do you think?"

"I was happy where I was."

"An orphanage? Not exactly paradise if you ask me. You can dream of bigger, better things."

"Like?"

"I can train you to be an expert Itako. Teach you all my secrets. AND an opportunity to be Shaman Queen without even competing in the tournament." I offered. The girl's face went from mad to ambitious. She liked the idea.

"An expert Itako?" I could see she was having an internal struggle. "Ok, I'll stay, if you'll train me."

"I will, but first I must talk to the guardian of the orphanage you were relocated from"

"He doesn't care. And besides, I make my own decisions and have my own control over my life." I liked her spirit. The girl had guts.

"Fine. Anna, welcome to the Asakura family. I will order a room to be prepared for you." She just nodded and walked out of the room.

I was stunned. Anna had been trained to be an Itako by this woman. She had been in this house.

"Where is she now?"

"She is in Tokyo, preparing my grandson for the Shaman Tournament."

"Your grandson is... Yoh Asakura. Am I correct?"

"You are."

"I thank you for your time."

"Yes, of course. I just have one question."

"Hmm?"

"Is your name Kigali?" I was even more surprised.

"Y—yes."

"I see. Anna lives in a zone in Tokyo called Funbari. She talked about you a lot when she first came. I told her to forget you, and to focus on her training, but that was only because I had no idea you would meet again. I apologize for that." She said. This took me aback.

"Oh... err... ok... it's ok... I guess. Thank you for everything. Bye." I walked out of the room. The pink-haired girl showed me out of the house, after asking me form my autograph and asking where Asali and Ramissa were.

"Hey Key? What do you think the old lady meant by 'being Shaman Queen without even competing in the tournament'?"

"Who knows? And her name was Kino-sensei, not old lady."

"That's what you were thinking." She shot back. I hate it when she uses our spirit bond to read my mind.

"Whatever. Japanese titles are very complicated anyways." I whistled for Blizzard. She flapped down from the sky and butted me in greeting. We took off into the sky as soon as the sunset came. The sky was cloudless, and I couldn't afford being seen. We arrived in Tokyo at around 10 PM after flying at top speed.

"Why the hurry?" asked Zoe.

"We've GOT to find Anna."

"But it's late."

"I wanted to check something out." I landed, as usual, on top of a building. "I hear there's some cool nightclubs here."

"WHAT??? You're joking! You can't do a concert without Asali and Missy!"

"I know that! But I'm not going to sing. I just want to hang."

"That's irresponsible."

"I know. But it's been a week since I've danced. I want to have some fun before seeing Anna!" Zoe whined in concern as I changed into a black one-shoulder shirt and a short, ridged red mini-skirt.

"How do I look?" I posed for her.

"Nice. Too nice, come on! Whet you're doing is plain reckless!"

"I AM reckless."

"I KNOW!"

"Aww, c'mon Zoe, be a sweetheart and stay here and take care of my backpack. K?"

"Where are we going to stay tonight Key?"

"I don't know. I'll figure that out when I come back. Stay here until I do ok? Don't move from here."

"But what if you get in trouble?"

"Me? Trouble? Ha! Give me a break Zoe! I laugh in the face of trouble! HA HA HA!" I laughed.

"Ok. Fine." I hugged her and went down to ground level. The club was a few blocks from there. I walked into the club and made it for the dance floor. I was indifferent to drinking. I hated it, but I loved to dance. Dancing was like singing or playing soccer. It's just one of those things I'm good at. I gave myself to the music, but not completely. There were shouts and stares and catcalls that I suspected were aimed at me, but I danced solo. I sat at the bar and was offered something to drink, but I turned it down. Zoe was right. I was too reckless. Asali would murder me if she found out about this. Ramissa would shake her head in disapproval. 'You're too young to be in a dance club! Someone could take advantage of you blah blah blah' they would say.

I sighed and looked at my watch. It was late. I felt guilt at leaving poor Zoe with my backpack when I was dancing for all to see... and there's no use dancing when you feel guilty. I stood up to go when I saw a flash of blue hair. Wha...? I shook my head. The music was getting to me. I walked out of the club and down the deserted street. I was lost in thought as I walked towards the building I would find Zoe in. maybe TOO lost in thought, because I rammed straight into a boy who was standing with his buddies in the middle of the sidewalk. I fell backwards. He smirked.

"What's a pretty girl like you doing in this place at this time?' I didn't like where this was going.

"I'm coming back from the club." I shot back.

"Aren't you a little young to go to the club?" He sneered. I had dealt with these types of slime balls before. I smiled sweetly.

"Look, boy. Don't underestimate me. I might just end up surprising you."

"Oh really? You've got some guts talking to me like that. Did you know that I'm the leader of a very tough gang here?" He looked past my shoulder. Step... step... behind me! I dodged just as another boy lunged for me. He fell on his knees and I took the opportunity to kick him in the stomach. The 'leader' looked at me in surprise. Just like I had predicted.

"Now, I would suggest you let me through unless you want to be in for a serious beating." I warned them.

"Get her!" I sighed. Sometimes people could be so stupid. About seven guys came at me at the same time, from all sides. Sure, they might have known the basics of street fighting, but a wannabe gangster against a full-fledged ninja chick? Please. They were all down and out in less than two minutes. Except now there were even more boys behind the leader.

"Dude! She's like, a ninja!" I rolled my eyes.

"Get her! She's just a girl!" They came at me again. This time more of them. It was still easy, but this time it was a bit harder. I was seriously outnumbered. I gave myself to the fight, with the agility of the wolf and the strength of the bear. These dudes were no match for me. I got cocky. That was my sole mistake. I got cocky. I let my guard down for a second, and in that second, one of the boys put a handkerchief over my mouth. It was drugged. Not even I could fight against that.

I lost the feeling in my legs and I sunk down to my knees. I couldn't move! I was paralyzed! Crap. If only Zoe had come with me. I felt my vision blur. I had lost against a few stupid human wannabe gangsters. Shame overpowered me. Zoe had been right all along. Why did I never listen to her? The boys laughed all around me... I was picked up, and no matter how much willpower I put into it, I still couldn't move.

"HEY! LET HER GO!" A voice yelled.

"What are you going to do about it?" sneered the leader. Next thing I knew, the person who had been holding me dropped me on the hard, concrete floor. The sounds of fighting ensued... but they became fainter... and fainter... the drug was still taking effect. Someone gently picked me up and moved the hair from my face.

"Are you ok?" His voice echoed as the darkness pressed out consciousness. I only saw one thing before I lost complete vision. A headband. One last thought crossed my brain as I blacked out. Ainu.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 TBC 0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

So? How was that? I know you know what's coming neeext! Lol, I'll update real soon, k? But review in the meantime!

Next Chapter- Of Many Reunions