Chapter 11

Deep Ember

~.~.~.~

**Bleach OST - Oh So Tired**

"N-nani!"I yelped, staring wide-eyed.

I can't believe my ears at what I had just heard...in fact nobody in this room did in fact! In fact I sware I'm close to passing out here from both the overwhelming shock and the fact I still got nasty wounds that have reduced me to the strength of a kitten. The only reason I'm still sitting is because I'm using Cadell for support here. "Woah..room spining...not good."I thought. I can't believe I just met my grandmother!

**End OST**

"Hey, Neko-chan, are you ok? do you need to lie down again?"asked Cadell through the Phoenix Link, looking very concerned at how drained Kishi now looked.

I blink at hearing Cadell's voice in my head but I simply nod as I gave my own telepathic reply in return to him, "Yeah...I'm still really tired and everything still kinda hurts."

I can see everybody but my grandmother looking oddly at Cadell and me. Cadell helps me lie back down and tucks me back in, telling me he'd be back in a moment or two. I then rested my eyes on my grandmother, my hands moving to toy with the locket I still have around my neck. It was then I hear my friends' voices chime in...

"Who's Deep Ember?"asked Anna.

"Yeah, and why did you call Kishi-chan the Snow Maiden or whatever it was?"asked Rose with her hands on her hips.

"I'm confused! Too much information in my head~!"said Aura, her fox tail and ears popping out in frrustration.

Athena gave a gentle nod of understanding, realizing now that Cadell was indeed a part of the prophecy like Deep Ember had told her. The bronze haired healer turned her eyes to Anna, her deceased twin sister's granddaughter.

"Alright, everybody that isn't Cadell or a part of Maiden Kishi's family must leave for now."said Athena calmly.

"I'll send Pai-san, Kisshu-san, Ichigo-san, Lettuce-san, and Taruto-san in then. They're just outside, Athena-sama."said Rose in understanding.

"Je na Kishi nee-chan!"said Aura before following after Rose and Nami.

Not long after Cadell returned holding a glass of water and what looked like a bowl of soup and by the growling complaints my stomache gives I can help but blush. My grandmother and boyfriend just chuckle a bit and Cadell helps me back up, taking a seat beside me again. I smile in gratitude as Cadell handed me the water, which I eagerly took and gulped down.

"Better?"asked Cadell with a foxish grin just as the cheetah-girl's kin came in.

"Better."I giggled, my voice not being as scratchy anymore as I took the soup from Cadell.

I then spot my cousins and parents enter the room and they looked overjoyed...well, Pai's expression was neutral but those eyes of his danced with mirth. Taruto had that same silly smile of his on, dad had his signature smirk on, and mom had tears of joy in her eyes.

"Mom? Dad? and even Taruto-san and Pai-san?"I said, simply blinking tiredly.

"Hey, how's my mini koneko-chan doing?"asked Kisshu with a smile.

"She is doing fine, son. She is Deep Ember's Maiden...she wasn't about to just simply up and die by wounds like that."snickered Athena.

Pretty much everybody in the room sweat dropped at this strange scene...even me while I'm devouring my soup. The soup I'm surprised is one of my favorites to eat when I'm not at 100% of my health; it was ramen! I don't know if it is because I had been reading too much mangas involving ramen or whatever, but I'm thankful for the food. I feel like I could eat a chimera animal the size of a truck! To everybody's surprise I finished it too, even in my current state. And in return I give my signature smirk...but I think I over did it sense the room is spinning violently again.

Cadell had noticed this, he took the empty bowl and placed the cup in it before handing it to Ichigo who placed it over on the desk near the window. He decided it was best that Kishi just lied down before she ended up reopening those wounds. So, he helped her back down and tucked her back in as Anna took a seat at the corner of the bed. "I'm amazed she's still awake, it must have been the shock from what Lady Athena called her. Heck, even I'm confused here."thought Cadell, restting his arm on his knee.

"Oi, Athena-sama, why did you call Kishi-san Snow Maiden? And you still didn't answer my question from before."retorted Anna, crossing her arms.

I can see the shocked expressions on my Pai, Taruto, and my dad's faces but Lettuce and my mom are very confused here as my grandmother laughed. Which really has me feeling mixed emotions right now as I moved my hand from out from under my blanket and onto my face. "Oi, this really annoying! I really wanna just sleep right now but I can't yet!"I thought with a groan.

"Would you just spit it out already so I can get some sleep here!"I snapped.

"My apologies, Lady Kishi."said Athena, taking to calmly hovering and crossing her legs.

"Anyways to answer your question Lady Anna, Deep Ember is the protector of the innocent and life. She is...an enity stronger then Deep Blue in every way. Our true diety is the opposite of that scourge that hungers for Earth. In fact, Deep Blue was in reality once a normal warrior from our past but he grew too bloodthirsty and power hungry. His name was just Blue Greenfields back then. He decided to go confront Deep Ember and challenged her to do battle; but our mistress saw this coming and was a step of him. You see, Deep Ember is what in human legends and lore is called a phoenix. So, in other words Deep Ember was not somebody to mess with for she was a two sword style fighter and her attacks always took the form of a fiery bird with each blow."explained Athena.

"So, what happened to Deep Blue?"asked Ichigo nervously.

Athena smiled, "He lost and was punished, becoming who you all know as Deep Blue."

"But what does my daughter have to do with this, mother?"asked Kisshu, looking very nervous.

"That's what I wanna know!"said Cadell and I in unison.

"I better tell you the prophecy. Kisshu, Taruto, and Pai have already heard this prophecy from stories I told. But it is apparently true and not legend for the Snow Maiden is right in this room along with her fox."said Athena and pausing in thought for a moment then continued, "Do not fear the shadows of the blue abyss, letting blood rain in his lust. Born of snow, her heart ever reflecting. The fox comes, soothing her wounds and set kindred to her spirit. Eyes of the spirit see through all, her aura answers the phoenix's call."

I simply blink and it seems Pai, like always, is the first to understand, "Now I understand why you called Kishi-san the Snow Maiden, Lady Athena. Kishi is an albino so her hair is colored like snow and her skin looks like it almost got touch by snow too. Kishi also has Kisshu's and Ichigo's habit of speaking out and showing her emotions. She was bullied all her life until Cadell came along. Is this correct so far?"

Cadell gave a nod, "I kissed Kishi when I first met her face to face. I was checking out the area when I spotted her, I was a victom of cupid's arrow sense seeing her. But that kiss sealed the deal."

"H-hai, I met him for the first time where my dad met mom."I said groggily, struggling to stay awake but I could see the stunned expressions on my parents' faces at hearing this.

"Then the blue abyss must be Deep Blue, right?"asked Anna and Lettuce.

Athena nodded, "Lady Kishi and Cadell are in the prophecy. In other words, they were destinied to fall into such a deep, passionate love from the beginning. Cadell was the fox and my dear granddaughter was the snow. The last line of the prophecy I still can't figure out."

I can barely stay awake now and it would seem everybody could see this so my grandmother shooed everybody but Cadell out as she closed the door behind her. I think I just had a bit too much information...it just plain old sapped me of what little strength I had. I can feel Cadell lied back down beside me by the movements and yet again I snuggled up to him partly due to my feline instincts. I can hear him humming that same lullaby for a bit before he started singing it softly, running his hand through my hair as he did and to my surprise he is singing it differently...

"Chiisaki mono sore wa watashi

Watashi desu magire naku

Kagami no naka kokorobososa dake ga

Dare ni makenai ashita ni naru yo

Soshite watashi wa osanai koro ni

Sukoshizutsu modotte yuku

Imi mo shirazu utau koi no uta o

Hometekureta ano hi ni

Sora o ao geba

Michite kuru watashi no koe ga

Sara sara nagaru kaze no naka de kimi mo

Fuwari mai agare."

Cadell smiled when he saw Kishi was sound asleep, her Red Data DNA causing her to purr softly. He still couldn't believe his precious neko had such a huge burden to carry and that he, himself was no different. Deep Ember apperently predicted this would happen, that fate and destiny would bind two lovers. "Things just got a lot more interesting. Don't worry, Neko-chan...where ever you go or whatever you do, I'll be right there to help you through this to the bitter end."he thought calmly.

Several Weeks Later...

**Bleach OST - Ditty For Daddy**

"NYYYYYAAAAA~!"

Ok, chimera animals I could handle.

Transforming into a Aura Mew Mew I could handle.

But being heavily guarded with warriors breathing down my neck is an entirely different story...even more so if you are just recovering after nearly dying! "Damn, it hurts to run like this! I wish I could just fly, but grandma says it'll be awhile longer before I can even hope in doing that!"I thought bitterly, franticly trying to loose these guards that had been assigned to protect me. You try griefing after you found out two people you care about just sacrficed themselves to protect you and your other loved ones and have somebody breathing down your neck that you don't know for hours straight!

"Eeeek! Nya nya~! Where are you Cadell-kun? I can't loose these guys!"

"Oh man, not again Neko-chan! You know that wound on your chest hasn't fully healed. In fact you're lucky that one on the back was only a flesh wound like the others."

"JUST SHUT YOUR TRAP AND GET ME OUT OF HERE BAKA! NYA NYAA~!"

I then suddenly felt somebody grab me, and teleport away with me much to the annoyed cries of the guards as I heard Cadell's voice, "See yeah later, loosers~!"

**End OST**

We reappear within a forest glade and waiting in the clearing was Anna, Rose, Nami, and Aura. But the only thing was that teleporting hurt like heck and by the pained grunt Cadell gives and the pain-stricken grimace on mine seems to show it.

"Itetetetete!"I hissed, instinctively grabbing my stomach.

This sort of pattern has been going on sense I became strong enough to move around a few days ago. I sneak out, I get chased, I call for Cadell or one of my team mates, and then I end up hiding away with them till dinner.

"Sorry, Neko-chan."said Cadell, helping Kishi down to lean against a crystallized tree.

"Oi, Kishi nee-chan, don't look now but your red dress just got redder."said Aura quickly in worry.

"Oh snap, Aura's right!"yelped Nami, her otter features popping out.

I waste not a second and remove my hands to see blood stained them, which causes Cadell to get a petrified expression on his face at seeing this. "Great, just great! So now after all those other times it decides to reopen!"I thought with a cheetah's growl, my tail and ears bristling once they pop out. This was really a royal pain in the bu-uh, tail. But I really like it here, everybody is so nice to me unlike back on Earth where that psycho daughter of a tree hugger and many others I could name.

**Bleach OST - Comical World**

"Um, maybe this would help nee-chan."chuckled Aura, pulling out a small brown bag from behind a violet colored fern.

"Whatcha got there, squirt?"asked Nami, taking the bag from Aura.

Nami wasted no time opening it and found this little bag was in reality a first aid kit. The otter-girl looked at the fox-girl with a puzzled look before closing the bag and tossing it at Cadell.

"Looks like our little kitsune was at it again and swiped something out of the ship's infurmary. Although I honestly don't know how this little squirt did it."stated Nami in a brisk tone.

Everybody, including me stared at the aqua haired girl who was sweat dropping out of embarressment. Aura had to steal in order to survive before she was taken in by Pudding. So, I'm honestly not surprised she went and pulled that stunt...lets just hope Pai and Letuce and my grandmother don't find out. I just nod at Cadell who's now taking out the stuff from the bag.

**end ost**

"You guys will be fine right? the temple isn't too far from here. And Anna, dad wants you to go see Pai-san..something about learning to use a battle fan or something."I quickly said.

"Hai, we'll be fine Kishi-chan. It'll give Nami-san, Aura-san, and I a chance to train in our other state. Plus, this forest is very pretty."chuckled Rose before going deeper into the Crystal Woods.

Once we were alone I can't help but blush as Cadell helps me out by repatching the wound. It has healed quicker then it tended to do back on Earth, I don't know why though. "Maybe it has to do with the fact there is no pollution here. Everything is cleaner, even the air...but Cadell and grandma said this planet is still suffering because of the violent storms. They said they need something more powerful then Mew Aqua."I thought calmly.

"Done."I quickly snapped out of my thoughts at Cadell's voice.

"Arigato Cadell-kun."I said with a smile as Cadell helped me back up to my feet.

"Now, why don't we go check out the ruins of the Maiden's Temple?"asked Cadell with his signature smirk as he held Kishi close.

I nod in excitement at being able to see a piece of my ancestors' history. But as we walked there I can see Cadell barely takes his intense orange pools off of me, blushing now and again as he looked away. I can't help but wonder what is going through his mind to be frank about it.

Little did I know my life would soon change even more then it already has.

And a lot weirder!