I finally updated something. Wow!

It has been awhile, and for that I apologize. Life is busy. I have also found myself going back to my older fics, too. So, We Who are Cursed will probably be updated soon if I keep doing that. :)

Anyway, thank you for the awesome feedback on the prologue. I am going to go back and rewrite it, because quite frankly, I don't like it. So, expect that soon.

I am hopefully back for awhile.

Raiden: Whatever. You always say that!

Silence: Shut up, doofus.

DISCLAIMER: We own nothing but the plot. The characters and series' are property of their creators.


The Wish

Chapter One

Rei woke up to blades of grass, their green stalks brushing against her face and bare hands. She could feel them between her toes, reminding her that her feet too, were not covered. After a moment, a pain began to erupt in her head, making her reach up and touch the source of her discomfort.

She winced as she felt the gash, blood coating her fingertips.

Looking around her, all she could see were trees; what seemed to be an ocean of them. Birds scuttled on the ground around her, black crows staring curiously into her eyes. Something began to bug her, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was. Why did the crows bother her so much?

Deciding that lying on the ground was doing absolutely nothing to help her, she picked herself up. Her feet were not quite ready for that though, and she fell onto a tree, clutching onto the trunk as if she held on for dear life. Her eyes weren't steady, her eyelids fluttering unevenly as she stood there. She couldn't describe how badly her head pulsed.

Rei pulled her pajama top closer around her form, still leaning on the tree. What was wrong with her? Why was she in the middle of a forest, head spewing blood and throbbing?

Knowing she wouldn't last long unless she found help, and fast, Rei began to trudge forward, having to use the surrounding tree's for support. Her legs shook beneath her, threatening to let her plummet if she wasn't careful. She could feel her body weaken with each passing moment.

Her head was clouded; nothing made sense. Where was she? Was there anyone who could help her?

After a good while, the young woman could no longer carry herself. She fell to the ground with a thud, her eyes rolling around in her skull. Before she completely fell from consciousness however, she heard the crows cawing at coming footsteps.


It was warm, much warmer than it was before. She felt soft, almost like she was floating in an everlasting ecstasy. Was she dying? Or rather, already dead?

"What is wrong with her?" A voice asked, a kind feminine one. "Her head was bleeding very badly."

There was a pause.

"She has suffered a severe blow to the head, from what I cannot say. This woman was on the brink of slipping into a prolonged sleep. If she hadn't been found, I fear to think what might have happened."

Rei heard the voices, but she was too weak to respond. She lay motionless.

"Doctor, is there any clue as to what her name may be?" The woman asked again. "Or where she belongs? Her family is probably looking for her."

"Not that I am aware of. However, there is this mark on her wrist..." Rei inwardly squirmed as he lifted up her limp arm. "I guess we have to wait and see what this strange woman brings."

The room returned to quiet again, the previous occupants retreating footsteps echoing in the girl's mind. She tried to stay awake, but she fell again to unconsciousness.

When she woke up again, she couldn't tell how much time had passed. It seemed like minutes, but Rei knew it was longer. The light that had shone through the windows was long gone, only to be replaced by the light of the moon.

Opening her eyes had not been as much a task as it seemed to be before. They were very sore, but her head surpassed it all. Rei instinctively reached for it, finding that a bandage had been applied. The hair around it though seemed to be getting increasingly matted, from the bandage and the blood.

She sat up slowly, turning her head to survey the room. It was hard, because of the darkness, but she could see a door and the outline of an armoire. The window was open, letting the light of the moon and the wind easily make their way inside.

Finally taking notice of herself, Rei realizes she is no longer wearing the clothes she wore before. She now wore a set of brown robes, her pants and shirt no longer with her. Which, she reasoned, was good, because nasty clothes are never comfortable. Her hair was braided, beginning at the base of her neck. It was made loose, so no tugs were made on her gash.

Curious, she pushed back her covers, placing her bare feet on the wooden floors. She knew her legs were weak, but she had to see outside. Placing a hand on the wall beside her, she made her way to the open window, curling her fingers around its edge when she arrived.

What she saw amazed her. She was high up, probably the second story of a building. Trees could be seen all around her, the moonlight shining over the forest. No clouds blotted the sky tonight, only stars could be seen.

After a good moment of observing the scenery, Rei suddenly remembered what the two voices had said. She had a mark on her arm.

Lifting her right arm, the one she thought the Doctor had lifted before, she found a curious symbol on her wrist. Sticking it beneath the moonlight, she tried to read it, but couldn't. No matter how much she wracked her brain, she didn't know what it said.

"Miss?"

Slowly turning, she saw a woman in the doorway, holding a lantern in her hands.

"Miss? Are you alright?" Rei didn't know what to say. "Hold on, let me get my husband!"

In a few brief moments, the woman returned with a man, who she assumed was the Doctor from before. They eased closer to her slowly, like they were trying not to scare her.

"Miss, will you sit down?" The Doctor motioned to the bed. "Please? You are still very weak."

Rei sat down on the bed like the Doctor instructed.

"Now, how do you feel?" He felt of her forehead are around her neck. "Does this hurt at all?"

She shook her head, but afterwards regretted it. It made her quite dizzy.

The Doctor nodded in satisfaction, taking a seat beside her bed. His wife stood beside him, holding the lantern diligently.

"Now, what is your name?" He smiled at her, but she couldn't respond. She couldn't remember it at all.

"I... don't know." She spoke, but was shocked to feel the language unnatural. Rei brought a hand to her lips, feeling as though she had never spoken a word of this in her life. "I... can't... remember anything."

They husband and wife shared worried looks.

"You don't know where you came from?" The wife asked, a crack in her voice indicating her concern.

"No." Rei felt a rock drop in her stomach. She hadn't thought about it until now. "I only remember waking up in the forest."

"Amnesia." The Doctor sighed. "I feared this would happen. You took such a blow to the head it was inevitable, I guess."

They remained silent for awhile, but Rei was itching to ask him a question.

"Sir..." She pulled up the sleeve of her robe. "What is this?"

He smiled and pulled on her arm, bringing it closer to the light.

"You cannot read it?" She shook her head. "It is the character rei, meaning 'beauty'."

Rei... She repeated the word in her mind. Why does that sound so familiar?

"You are very beautiful, miss." The woman complemented. "So, I will just call you Rei, if that would be alright with you. That is, until you remember your real name."

She nodded numbly, not really paying attention. Why was there a strange character on her wrist? One that she could not even read, for that matter. What was wrong with her?

"Miss Rei..." The woman grabbed her attention again. "It is very late. Why don't you go back to sleep and rest. In the morning we will be able to decide what to do."

The couple bid her goodnight, leaving her alone in the tiny room. However, she couldn't fall asleep. Only the thoughts of her recent development lingered in her mind.

First, why did she have an awful beating to the head? She either fell from a great distance or she was bludgeoned with a club. Second, who the hell was she? Her memory was nonexistent and she couldn't read. But, for some reason she could still speak in a language she was sure she never spoke before. Third, what was this mark on her arm? Surely it meant something important.

She wouldn't know for a long while.


"Miss Rei, I made you some food." The wife of the Doctor, Da, offered. She was very pretty for her age. Long hair was tied into an elaborate bun, a beautiful shenyi clinging to her body, its yellow and orange tones complementing her pale skin. Wrinkles appeared at the corners of her eyes, as well as on her cheeks. "Please eat. I know you haven't eaten for days."

Rei did as Da pleased, picking up a meat bun to eat. As she ate, she watched the Doctor, Zhao, and his wife whisper, their voices kept very low as they spoke about something. She knew it was about her, and it was beginning to make her angry, but she remembered their hospitality and kept her mouth shut.

"Miss..." Zhao turned towards her, smiling warmly. He had a kind face, one covered in wrinkles. For a reason unknown to her, he made her feel very comfortable and happy. "We would like to know if you would stay with us. You are still in a very very fragile state, and we don't want you to go off without knowing yourself. You can stay here and work as my apprentice, if you would like."

"I would like to," She began, placing her half-eaten meat bun her plate. "But, where is here?"

"Oh, how foolish of us." Da laughed. "You are in Tai-Tou, a small village at the foot of Mt. Reikaku. My husband is the Doctor in these parts. A young man brought you to us when he found you in the forest."

Rei looked at the remaining bits of her meat bun. How could she refuse these people? They had just given her care and treated her with the utmost respect, event though it was obvious she was unusual. "Alright, I will be your apprentice. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity. I promise I will do whatever I can to make this up to you."

"Don't speak like this! We should be the ones thanking you!" Zhao beamed. "My last apprentice was foolish, and because of him, I had no one to pass my knowledge to. But, of course, if you remember where you need to be, don't feel obligated to stay."

"Thank you, sir." Rei stood up and bowed. "Since I am now going to be living here, could I take a look around? If that is not a problem, at least."

Da walked close to her and held her arm. "Not at all darling! I will take you about myself!"

The two waved goodbye to Zhao, making there way throughout the small village. It was a cozy place, Rei noticed, little wooden houses lined in neat rows. In the center was a market place, a few people trying to sell their wares. All the while Da chattered on about happenings in the village, not once unloosing her arm from Rei's.

"You must be wary, though." She warned, shaking her head. "On Mt. Reikaku, there lies a bandit fort. Every so often a group of them will travel down here, and some of them can be quite unruly. A beauty like yourself best stay away, because who knows what some of those scoundrels might do."

Rei lifted an eyebrow, glancing about the village.

"However, many of them can also be quite the gentlemen. Some of the bandits used to live in this village, you see, and come down sometimes to visit family." She looked at the ground momentarily. "We have treated a couple of them. They go to the surrounding cities and pillage, so we are left alone. Many vile people have have turned there backs on this place, fearing that the bandits might kill them as our village's proclaimed protectors."

"It doesn't sound like they are so bad." Rei stated, looking at a cart covered in fabrics. She eyed a red floral one, feeling like she should be wearing it. "If they protect all of you."

"It is us, now." Da smiled. "Don't be fooled though. Not all of them are good."

"I won't." Rei smiled in reassurance. "I can put any man in his place."

"It sounds like you have done so before." Da chuckled, looking at the fabric cart along with her. "Funny, how some memories will always stick with you; even in your situation."

After passing up the fabric and looking at the other carts, Rei and Da made their way back home. Zhao was treating a small boys ankle, trying to cheer him up a bit. Meanwhile, Da took Rei to her new room.

"This used to belong to the old apprentice." Da straightened the sheets on the bed. "You can decorate however you like, but I think there is little to do with it."

She was right. It had wooden walls, a window, and a few ornaments hanging here and there. The sheets were a rich red, golden designs embroidered on their surface. A night stand with a small vase sat beside the bed, below it a thin, golden rug. The room itself was small, but that was alright. She couldn't even remember who she was, much less care about the decoration of her temporary bedroom.

"It is wonderful. Thank you." Rei bowed. "When will my duties begin?"

She bowed in response. "It will be a few days because we wish for you to rest as much as possible. The more you rest, the sooner you can begin your training."

Da left soon after, leaving the young woman with her thoughts to rest. Rei perched herself in front of the window, sitting on her knees with her shenyi neatly tucked beneath her. She could see the mountain perfectly, the ridges and bends, trees littering its rocky slopes. The sun sat just above it now, making her wish it was night already. The moon would look brilliant above the peaks, shining its light down on the inhabitants of its hills.

Rei took another look at her arm, the character still not making much sense. Da told her that she would begin to re-teach her the art of writing, assuming she knew it before this, because it is good to be knowledgeable in all areas of life. She said she was going to teach her as if she were her own daughter.

Parts of Rei wondered if the medicine man and his wife kept her around for that reason. She was a lonely girl, young and inexperienced in the way of life. Her mind was fogged, leaving her with no memory at all. It would be the perfect excuse to take in a young woman, hoping to have her as your daughter of sorts. From what Rei could tell, Da had no children and she was wanting one to pass on their families knowledge of medicine to. She couldn't really blame them, though. If she was in there place, she probably would try to make the best of it too.

Appearance wise she seemed to fit in. Her hair was long and black, framing a small, pale face. Her eyes were small, a dark violet they seemed to be in the right lighting. She was small, standing about five feet and not weighing much in the slightest. No one really questioned her sudden appearance in the village. They were just curious as to where she came from. It wasn't often that newcomers arrived, the bandits being close by and all that.

The wind blew slightly through her window, picking up a few stray hairs from her forehead and waving them about. How thankful she was for her luck. She was given to kind people, who were nice enough to let her use their home and learn their craft.

Even if she never regained her memory, she had a feeling that it would be ok. The only thing she wished she could remember was who gave her to the Doctor to begin with.


End of Chapter One

A shenyi is like the japanese kimono. Darker colors indicate richer, and more powerful, people. The shenyi can be worn three different ways, depending on the accessories: casual, semi-formal, and formal.

The phonetics of the Chinese word for 'beauty' sound like Rei, and does not correspond to the Japanese meaning.