New year is here and I'm back on track. I apologize for the long wait. Here's the latest chapter for the witch and the dark lord. I hope you enjoy it! Please read and review! Thank you!

Disclaimer: I don't own Skip Beat!


Chapter 6: In Search for the Golden-haired Healer

Over the course of the day, Kyoko had spent her time reading news and studying the maps she had bought later that afternoon while Maria was trying hard to make a simple painkiller. It took a lot of time to convince Kyoko to teach Maria how to make potions but finally, the elder sister yielded, figuring that it would be a good way to spend their time. Kyoko was still deciding where to head next while she watched Maria work. They can move to a southern city and she can work there as an apothecary but that wasn't what she wanted. She wanted to learn more, become stronger so that one day, she can show Shou that she was no longer the weak witch he had thrown away. And she will bring him and his sorceress down. But she can't just drag Maria around. She knows that it will be very difficult for her to defend themselves in these dark times. Conflicted, she went back to studying her map.

"Nee-san, I'm done!" the girl exclaimed as she brought the vial for Kyoko to see.

The liquid was clear with silver residues in the bottom but Kyoko judged it as a very good job considering Maria was still young. She complimented her sister. "This is very well-made, Maria! You're going to be a master in potion-making!"

The girl smiled widely, happy that Kyoko had praised her work. "Of course I will be! I am learning from the best!" Maria twirled in delight and returned to the table, preparing to make another.

Kyoko was heartened. She was lucky to have Maria. Maria was the one who kept her strong when she felt weak, scared and lost. Kyoko's direction now was to look for a way for both of them to survive. She would have to get stronger. If only Obaa-san was still around, she could teach Kyoko all the things she had yet to learn about potion-making and more. She was the best teacher, as far as Kyoko was concerned. But Obaa-san had not come home that evening two years ago. Their golden-haired foster mother had gone to the village to buy supplies and the two sisters had waited for her but she had not returned. Days turned to weeks and months but the witch-doctor had not been sighted anywhere. Kyoko and Maria had cried. They didn't want to believe that she had abandoned them but why could she have not returned? Could she have left them behind like their real mother had done?

It hurt to think about it so Kyoko pushed the thoughts and emotion away. She smiled at Maria who was busying herself.

"Why don't we get dinner? It's getting late already," she offered.

The young girl smiled, hurriedly cleaned up the table and said, "Let's go!"

Together, the siblings walked out of their room and walked down into the tavern. It was crowded but they managed to sit in the long table near the bar. Most of the customers by the bar were drinking the night away though there were some who were engaging in conversation. As they ate, Kyoko overheard the discussion of the bartender and three people seated behind her. She had no interest in eavesdropping into their discussions but their voices were too loud to tune out.

"Have you heard about Lady Iizuka's daughter? Many had said the child had been seen playing in their garden this afternoon," the bartender told the three persons before him.

"How come? The child had been incredibly sick since birth. She couldn't even lift a spoon to feed herself according to the town doctor!" the woman reacted, dubious.

"They might have mistaken someone else's child to be her. Maybe a cousin?" the gray-haired man beside her suggested.

The bartender shook his head. "No. Lady Marga came in this afternoon. She said it was indeed, Lady Iizuka's daughter!"

"That's impossible. Her illness was incurable!" the woman asserted. The gray-haired man agreed with her.

"What he is saying is true," a man in dark trench coat seated beside the lady spoke up. "I saw her."

There were outbursts of disbelief from the pair while the bartender asked what could have cured the girl.

"Two months ago, I've heard that Lady Iizuka had arranged a journey to bring her daughter to the southern valley," the man began. The pair fell silent. "I had no idea what it was that had made her embark on such a trip with a sick daughter in tow and I wasn't that much interested to know so I didn't look into it. However, while I was in the outskirts of town, I met this traveler who claimed that in his journey in the southern valley, he was attacked by a fierce beast. He was severely wounded and couldn't move so he assumed he would die there but when he woke up he found himself in a cottage far from the village. Living there was a golden-haired healer who had tended to him. Despite the severity of his injuries, it took only a week for it to completely heal." The woman attempted to interrupt him but he silenced her by a wave of his hand and continued. "He said she had used medicines he had never known before. When he asked for her name she smiled and told him to just call her a witch doctor. Before he left, she asked him not to tell anyone that she had healed him but how can he not speak of such kindness he had received?"

"Could it be?" the gray-haired man asked in shock before the other can stop him.

"We all know that they all disappeared after the king's death!" the woman exclaimed.

"The king did not die. He disappeared." the man corrected.

"Hmmp! His convoy was attacked and his carriage was destroyed! It has been more than two decades since he left and he has not returned! He's dead!" the woman insisted.

They argued but Kyoko no longer listened to them. Her mind was spinning and her heart was beating faster. A woman with golden-hair who uses medicines that had not been known before. That was the only thing she could think about.

Maria, heart also pounding, held her sister's arm and said in a low voice, "Nee-san, do you think, it's her?"

Kyoko didn't know what to answer. She could be mistaken but she wanted to believe that it was her. The one they were talking about could be their Obaa-san. Quickly, she stood up, "Maria, just wait here." She walked towards the group and stood before the man in a trench coat. Then she said, "I'm sorry to interrupt but I overheard your conversation and I was wondering if you can tell me more about that healer."

The man looked at her, deliberating, then said, "I don't know much about her, child. What I have said was all I've heard from the traveler and what he said was all I know."

"Did he say where in the southern valley?" Kyoko asked.

He shook his head. "All he mentioned was a cottage far from the village. Nothing more. Why are you so interested, child?"

Kyoko quickly put up her guard. "I'm just really interested in stories about magic and healers and I wondered if I could ever meet one."

The man looked doubtful of her answer but finally shrugged it off. "Child, do not attempt a journey to the south. It is too dangerous for a young girl like you," the man advised.

Kyoko thanked him and returned to her seat. She paid her bill and they went back to their room to pack. Maria was also eager to go. And so the sisters slept that night ready to leave by sunlight in the morning.

To the south were no trains but a stagecoach transported passengers and mails once every three days. Fortunately, for both Maria and Kyoko, a coach was scheduled to leave that morning which will reach the southern village by late afternoon. They had waited two hours for it to be ready and another for it to be filled with passengers before finally leaving. Incidentally, Kanae was one of the passengers. However, when Kyoko asked her why she was heading south, she didn't answer and any attempt for further conversation was dropped.

Without any major mishaps in the road, they arrived three in the afternoon, right on schedule. Kyoko had wakened Maria who had fallen asleep that afternoon after their short meal in the carriage.

"Kanae-san, where are you headed to?" Kyoko kindly asked after they had finally gotten out of the stagecoach.

"It is none of your business," Kanae replied before moving to ask the driver for directions.

"Sir, do you know of a cottage located in this valley far from the village?" she asked and Kyoko who had heard it was surprised.

The driver seemed to think hard for a while and then replied, "I'm sorry, young lady. In all the time I had come here, I have not heard or seen a cottage outside the village. If you have seen the woods on our way here, you would comprehend how dangerous it is to live there."

Disappointed, Kanae thanked the driver, anyway.

Indeed, it was dangerous to live there. In their journey, once they had entered the thick woods, occasionally they could hear noises created by something large that seemed to be following the carriage.

"Kanae-san, could you be looking for the golden-haired healer as well?" Kyoko asked.

The girl was shocked by her question. "As well? You're after the healer?" she responded.

"Yes. My sister and I had been searching for her, that is why we're here," Kyoko answered.

Kanae looked at the siblings for a while. "Why?"

Her defenses up, Kyoko didn't answer. She didn't know why Kanae was looking for their foster mother so she wasn't willing to answer it. Still, it would be safer to travel with her than with only the two of them, Maria and her. Along the way, she might also know Kanae's reasons.

"Well, if you don't want to say it, fine. I'll see you around," Kanae began to walk away.

"Kanae-san," Kyoko called, unaware of her voice becoming deceivingly sweet. "What do you think about travelling together?" Maria, who was standing beside her, looked at Kyoko with confusion.

Kanae turned and stared at her as if she had spoken a different language. "Why would I want to travel with you?"

Kyoko stepped towards her as Maria watched them. "We have the same goal Kanae-san. That is to find the Golden-haired healer. Besides, travelling together is better than alone. Didn't the driver say that it was dangerous."

"I can protect myself just fine. Thank you,'' Kanae coldly replied, though feeling somewhat uncertain.

"I'm sure you can," Kyoko nodded. "Kanae-san, have you heard of that noise following our trip? Don't you think it's much safer to travel with company than alone?" Kanae looked away. Kyoko smiled. "Don't you, Kanae-san?"

Kanae glared at her. Why is it that her thoughts are somewhat hazy? "I think… yes." However, after hearing herself, Kanae was confused as to why she had agreed.

"See?"Kyoko smiled happily. "Then I guess, we'll be companions for a while, Kanae-san."

Kanae felt her uncertainty disappear. She deliberated for a moment. Even if she was formerly against it, indeed, it was safer to travel together. What worried Kanae was the confusion she had felt when Kyoko had suggested it. "Fine. I'll go with you. We'll leave tomorrow morning." she answered.

Kyoko smiled, "Sure, Kanae-san."