Well 36

AN: Hey everyone!! I'm sorry everyone seemed so confused. A lot of people thought that was the end of Well. Nope, still got a few chapters to go!

Review Comments:

Pruningshears: Well, what happened between Kei and Rose was they were re- mated, and she regained her memories. I'm so glad you're excited about Em and I's project, I hope you'll like it!

Reillu: Welcome to my group of readers, and I'm glad you're enjoying this!

FluffysBijin05: Thank you!!

Funky Nassau : I know, I melted when she sent me that songfic, I'm so thrilled someone liked my story enough to write a songfic about it!! And to answer your question, yes they did.consummate their relationship, but I am never sure about FF's censors, so I try to keep things as simple and non descript as possible.

pasta-head(): Thanks!! I'm so psyched about the song fic too!!

chibi playing with fire: She is another one of my readers that asked my permission to put up a songfic in her profile about Kei and Rose that she wrote, so I said okay, especially after I read it!!

Smiley-chan : *laugh* Well, send it to me if you ever do and give me a sneak preview ahead of time!

SilentDark: Yep, Francesca is back to her old self, as you all will see!!

Lady Light: Aww, thank you

Fire Kitsune Goddess : *looks confused* Do what to them??

Tiranth : Yep, they're back to square one again! And almost to the end of their journey *covers her mouth* woops.

Niaka1: *grins* Yay! I'm so glad you liked my idea! I thought the same thing about the mating mark, and actually the idea of re-newing it wasn't quite mine, it was suggested to me. That since she lost a part of herself, that the mark wasn't quite bound to her as it should have been, hence why he remarked her.

RavenShadow: I'm so glad!! Keep reading!!

Well 36

I woke up to this light feeling against my cheek and nose. Slowly my senses came to, and I felt the warm strong body behind me, holding me close, his soft breath warm against my neck. I smiled and felt the touch against my face again, and hear a soft purr. I managed to crack open one eye, and saw a pair of blue ones staring back at me. Lifting a free hand to wipe the sleep from my eyes, I refocused and saw Mistero standing before me, his small nose brushing against mine, and his whiskers tickling my cheeks. I smiled softly and reached up to scratch his ears, rewarding me with a louder purr.

From behind me, I heard Kei groan softly and shift his body slightly, his arm still around my waist, but I could tell he was awake and looking over my shoulder.

"This had better be good fur ball," he groaned sleepily and I smiled as Mistero took a step back and gave him a look, baring some teeth. Kei growled softly in inu-speech, "Hey, I don't bother you on your trysts, you shouldn't be bothering me!"

"Now, now boys," I said cheerfully, "Play nice." I lifted myself up on one elbow and glanced down past my feet towards the entrance of the small cave we were sleeping in. My senses reached out delicately, a small tendril of empathy, and what I felt confirmed my previous thoughts.

"Everyone is outside waiting for us," I said softly and sat up, running my hands through my hair quickly, trying to look a little more presentable. Mistero mewed in agreement, and walked down towards the entrance.

"Thank you Mistero, we'll be out in a minute," I said and he nodded his head before walking through the small entrance. Kei was upright as well, and I felt his arm loop around my shoulders, and pull me back down to the cave floor. I laughed and looked up at him as he shifted to lean above me, his eyes shining.

"Hmmm. Good morning Rose," he said softly and gave me a soft kiss. I purred softly, enticing a laugh from him.

"Very good morning," I responded and saw something flare up in his eyes. I knew that look, it was the same look he had held in his eyes last night. I smiled and ran my fingers along his cheek.

"As very tempting as that is," I whispered huskily, "we do have visitors, and I have a feeling that we should get outside soon, before they send someone else in after us." I pulled myself up into a seating position, ignoring the brisk cold that assaulted my skin. Kei sighed, almost reluctantly and gave me one of his extremely charming grins.

"Mine," he purred and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me back down against him. I laughed softly, and ran my fingers up through his hair, gently stroking the length of his ears and felt the shiver that rippled through him.

"Tease," he murmured as he nuzzled my neck and I smiled.

"I know, sorry love, but we should get ready. I think they sent Mistero out of consideration for us, and frankly I don't think you want Kaemon to see me like this," I said sheepishly. He nodded seriously, starting to pull away from me. I knew that he wanted to stay the whole day with me just like this, and the idea of going back out into that cold was just as unappealing to him as it was to me. I smiled and thought of something to make the day a little better for him. Quickly pulling him close for another kiss, I whispered against his lips, "Thank you love, everything is right again."

His eyes blinked for a second as he stared at me, "Then you remember?" he began and I ended in a whisper, "Everything, and then some."

He grinned and hugged me close, the relief and excitement flowing off of him like warm water, and I relished in the feeling. I had much better control over my empathy now, and it seemed now more than ever, that I felt it had grown, like I had grown. He reluctantly released me, and allowed me to get dressed, as he did, and together we made our way out to the path. The ground was frosted white and I shivered slightly as my breath fogged up my vision for a moment.

"It got a lot colder," I said and felt Kei drape the blanket over my shoulders.

"I don't think it's the normal weather," Naoko said, his gaze resting on the mountain tops ahead of us. "I think she knows we're coming."

I followed his gaze, and felt a pull, like the strange sensation I felt before being pulled into the well. It touched my empathy, and made itself known to my senses. "She knows, and she's inviting us." I whispered softly. Everyone turned to look at me, and I blushed. I felt rather uncomfortable under their stare, and so I reacted in the only way I knew how, I snapped.

"Stop staring at me Kaemon," I picked the closest victim, who looked like he was going to fall off his horse at my outburst. I tilted my head upwards, and I saw a few eyes fall on my neck before turning back to my face, but I had seen it. Kei stepped forward and gently wrapped an arm around my waist, and instantly his touch calmed my embarrassment and anger. He leapt onto our horse, who started at the sudden weight but held still as we settled into the saddle. Mistero and Kirara leapt into my arms, and I pulled them close against me.

"Let's not keep her waiting," I said and everyone nodded, nudging their own steeds into a trot up the path. We passed the snowline, and our poor horses made their way through the thickening snow. I felt the sting of the cold wind brush my cheeks, as harsh and raw as leather whips. I bowed my head against the wind that seemed to come right from the rocks, pushing at us roughly.

"Not a very friendly invitation," Kaemon called back from his mount. I glanced ahead of us, recognition lighting in my eyes. I knew this place.

"We have to go on foot," I yelled, and saw everyone pull their rides to a stop and turn to look at me incredulously. I nodded, and swung my leg over the saddle, jumping down into the powdery snow. It was past my ankle, and I desperately tried to ignore the cold. Maeko had done the same and approached me.

"We're close," she asked and stated in the same manner and I nodded. "Grab everything you can out of your packs, put on an extra layer of clothing for warmth. We send the horses back down the path. They won't be able to walk much further anyway." She nodded and went to relay the information to the others, while Kei began pulling things from the packs.

"I'll carry you," he said simply and I shook my head, "No, it's not fair to everyone else," I said and saw the argument begin on his face. I shook my head and grabbed a hold of his hair, pulling his face down to mine in a quick kiss. "I appreciate it though." He nodded, and handed me a pair of pants, which slipped over the ones I was already wearing easily. I tied the waist securely and pulled another shirt over my head, securing the ties to this as well. Then I took the blanket that I had been previously wearing around my shoulders and made it into a sling,

"Mistero, Kirara, come here," I called and carefully secured them inside. As I reached for Kirara, and my hands wrapped around her middle I felt a jolt shock my system, a moment's clarity and a strange sensation filled my mind. Kirara looked at me meaningfully and I smiled, nodding quietly in agreement before I placed her inside the sling, and made sure it was tightly fastened to my body. I felt their soft purr through all the material, and I knew they were comfortable and warm.

It was very odd, if my Empathy before was a simple room toned voice, now it was a scream that I could hear a mile away. Everything was heightened, and I don't think it was because of my recent activities. I remembered everything that happened when I couldn't remember my past, and how my Empathy was a whisper, and a trial to use. It was like going deaf and suddenly being able to hear again, only more so. I wondered what this meant as we trudged through the hard wind and cold snow, our heads ducked down to keep our faces protected. I had since released my hair from its ribbon, and let it flow over my face and neck, trying to protect myself from the elements and I noticed that everyone else had copied me. Kaemon looked rather odd with his hair draped down over his ears, and poor Naoko's hair didn't do him much good, as it only brushed the nape of his neck. He shivered visibly and I could see the blue tinge to everyone's lips.

I paused a moment, to peer through the now blanket of white that was whipping around us, snow and wind combined into a sheet that tried to blind our path. I took a slow step forward, and then another, trying to get a better visual. Ahead of us, and leading the group, I saw Kaemon stumble to one knee in the snow.

"Are you alright?" I called out to him, and he turned to look at me, nodding.

"I'm fine," he yelled back over the howl of the wind, and began to nudge at the snow to see what caught his foot.

"I found something," he called to all of us, and we hurried to his side, huddling in a circle around his discovery with our backs to the wind. Emerging from the pure white snow, was a large piece of wood, a timber from a house it seemed. It was black, from not only the moisture but also something else. It was burnt.

"Someone lived here," Kaemon yelled so we could all hear, and I slowly turned around, a sensation tingling at my mind. I moved away from Keitaro's side, ignoring his curious call as I stepped into the storm. The wind began to die down, just for a moment, and above the sleet of snow, I saw the top of a mountain, ice gray in color, and as hard and cold as the snow that covered it. I knew that mountain.

Quickly I fell to my knees and began digging in the snow, my hands numbing instantly but I ignored it. I had to be sure, I had to know. Keitaro was on his knees beside me in an instant, digging with me.

"What is it," he asked and I didn't answer, I just kept digging, praying I wouldn't see what I actually hoped to find.

My finger brush up against something and I froze, very carefully moving away the last of the snow. Just beneath my fingertips, grinning mischievously at me from its cold tomb, was the skull that I had seen in my vision, and the tell-tale arrow that lay embedded in its temple. I shuddered and stared at it, my face growing whiter as the reality sunk in. It was the same ice grey rock rising up into the sky, so tall that I could not see the tip, the same shape of the white snow blown and frozen against its side, and the same body. This was the place that the Sorrow had come from, we had finally found it.

"We're here," was all I could say to him, as he looked from the remains to me, and back again. Slowly his own realization kicked in and he nodded, rising to his feet, extending me a hand to me to help me stand.. I shivered, my wet clothing causing my shins to ice up, but I held down my discomfort as the others grew near.

"Up there," Maeko called and we followed her gaze. In the distance, and not too far, we could see a light in the blinding white. I nodded and we hurried through the snow, which began to grow deeper with each step. By the time we were close enough to make out the shape of a meager shack, which seemed impossibly sturdy against this wind, we were almost thigh deep in the snow and moving too slowly for our own tastes.

The small shack seemed solid enough as we reached the door. This tiny shack seemed impossibly strong against the howling winds that pushed against it, but it showed no sign of wear or even any recognition of the forces of nature that assaulted it. We were protected from the elements by it, a fact for which I was very grateful. I sighed with relief as Keitaro knocked on the door, and an old, bent woman answered, her small body wrapped in a large blanket.

"You poor things, you must be frozen to the bone, and so far away from everything, hurry in here," she offered before we could even say a word. None of us could object to the offer and we hurried inside quickly. Inside the hut was comfortably warm and I felt weariness fill me the instant I crossed through the threshold. My knees crumpled beneath me, and I fell to the warm wooden floor silently, watching my companions follow suit, Naoko being kind enough to catch both Maeko and Aki as they fell, and Kaemon simply collapsed beside them. . Kirara and Mistero crawled out of the sling and settled near the warm center fire in the middle of the room.

I opened my mouth to speak and the woman smiled, shaking her head, "No need to say anything, Francesca of the foreign land, I know who you are and I have been expecting you for some time."

Everyone jerked their heads up at this, and my eyes widened, "The voice," I whispered and she grinned, shaking her finger at me.

"A clever girl as well, I can see why you have taken such a fancy to her, young Lord Keitaro," she cackled happily and I felt Keitaro's pleasure at the compliment glow behind me.

"You must all be famished from your long and hard journey, please rest in ease. I have some soup cooking and you are more than welcome to help yourselves, as for you two," she said, looking down at the two fire cats, "I have something for you as well." She pulled out a small flask, and placed it near the fire. "Some warm milk will do you both well, and will help with the little ones," she said.

Everyone but me blinked in surprise at this revelation as well, "Little ones?" Maeko stammered and looked at me. I blinked and shook my head quickly as the old woman laughed.

"No, not the Lady Francesca, but Kirara. Oh you sly kit, you didn't tell them did you?" Kirara mewed and gave the old woman a glare, which only set her off laughing harder.

"Francesca knew, didn't you child? You can feel them just as clearly as you can feel any of your companions." I blushed and shook my head.

"I just found out when I held her today," I replied.

"Wait a second, " Kaemon said, shaking his head, "The snow might be clogging my ears, but are you meaning to say-"

"That there will be new additions to your family, young samurai," the old woman said warmly, "I would have to say quite a few mewing mouths."

Kaemon glanced at her, then down to Kirara and then to Mistero before grinning, "You sly old cat!" Mistero made a noise that sounded like indignation, but I could feel the pride behind it, as he nuzzled his mate affectionately.

I coughed and began to feel the heat from the fire bring my senses back to attention, "Um, excuse me, but are you-?" I began and she looked up from the soup she was stirring and gave me a look.

"Do you really need to ask me that question," she replied and I looked away, blushing. No, it was pretty obvious already that she was the witch in the mountains that we had been seeking.

"If that's the case," Kei spoke up, "then you must know-"

"Business later, Lord Keitaro, dinner first, what kind of host would I be if I let you starve while asking me all sorts of questions?"

None of us could argue with that logic, especially as the delicious smell of stew wafted beneath our noses. My stomach made itself known and I sighed, wrapping an arm around my waist to try and muffle its complaints. Keitaro moved closer to me and wrapped his own arms around me, and I was enveloped in the bubble of safety and security that they contained. He rested his chin on my shoulder, and I leaned against the strength of his chest as I let my body relax for a moment.

I watched our host quietly, as she shuffled around the small shed, adding bits and pieces to the stew, tasting then shuffling around to add something else. She must have been over eighty, which in this era I knew to be a very old woman. Her clothing was simple but comfortable looking, not worn or in shabs, but I figured any nearby village would come and provide her charity. But there was nothing about her that would lead the eye to believe she was anything but. What kinds of powers did she hide? What kinds of information could she give us?

"Here you go," the woman said cheerfully, wakening me from my thoughts, and handing me a simple stone bowl full of rich stew. I smiled and took it from her, letting the steam brush over my cheeks and inhaled the aroma. Kei seemed to inhale his food and I smiled watching him for a moment from the corner of my eye before lifting my own bowl to my lips and let the rich liquid slide down my throat. I felt Kei's body respond like my own, content and fulfilled from the good meal. A quick glance at the faces of our companions spoke volumes of how they were enjoying their meal as well.

Kirara and Mistero were sharing a bowl of what I only assumed was the previously mentioned milk and when Mistero lifted his head to look at me, my suspicions were confirmed by the droplets of white that clung to his whiskers. After we had all reached the bottom of our bowls, and declined seconds, our host gathered up our dishes and placed them to the side, beckoning us to join her seated around the fire. Of course Kei sat behind me, giving me his body to lean against, and I watched as Naoko did the same for Maeko. Kaemon gave Aki a suggestive grin and she narrowed her eyes. I saw Kaemon's face fall a little but inside I wanted to laugh, if only sympathetically. It was good to see that he had genuinely gotten his mind off of me, and was pursuing other interests. Though, it didn't seem that this interest was interested in being pursued. I decided to give her a little help and motioned for her to sit beside me, which she did willingly, only giving a second glance at Kaemon to make sure he would not move.

"You have all traveled a long, long way, to seek the answers to what you have called the Sorrow. I know the answers you speak, but I should warn you-" she said and Kei's voice leapt over my shoulder.

"Where do they come from?"

She turned her eyes to his, and I saw a deep sadness reflected there. "Young hanyou, you should have learned the value of patience, for I fear yours will be the hardest lesson of all." I felt apprehension slide over my skin, giving me goose bumps, something was very, very wrong.

"As I began to say, I do have the power to give you the answers you seek, but my powers come at a price, for whenever something is asked of me, answers to a question, something must be given in return, and I fear you do not have the choice to decide what. Please choose your questions very wisely before asking."

I blinked and opened my mouth, but she simply smiled, "That answer I will give before your question, so you are not burdened by the price. I do not know why this is so. It has always been the price of my answers. In all other matters, I can aid without worry, but for answers that my Sight brings, answers that come from a spoken question, there is always a penalty."

She turned her eyes towards mine, and I noticed that they were an odd color, pure ebony. They almost made her look unreal, and unearthly. Her voice held a tone of sadness that her eyes did not reflect, and I stretched out another tendril of empathy, to see what she could be hiding. Nothing. Not to say I couldn't read her, but it was rather like passing your hand through water, the reflection is still there, but there's nothing to it. I pulled back and stared at her, as something clicked in my head.

"How did you die?"

Everyone's heads turned towards me so fast, I feared whiplash for a moment, as their eyes widened , and then turned back to our host, who sat there with an amused look on her face. I watched as Naoko seemed to scrutinize her a little more, and then his eyes grew even larger. Shame and surprise mixed in an odd pattern and it took me a moment to decipher what it meant. He was ashamed that he hadn't noticed as well.

"Very bright child, I knew I chose right when I called you here," she said and I leaned forward.

"Called me here? You mean you were the one who pulled me through the well?" I asked excitedly. Finally, I was getting some answers. I was so excited that I never even thought that I had asked her two questions.

"Hai," she replied, "Now sit quietly and I will tell you my tale."

I did as she asked, sitting back against Kei who had wrapped his arms tightly around my waist, as if he were afraid I would want to move. The old woman's words were still echoing in his mind, and it frightened him. I could almost taste it around him.

"I lived in the village just beyond this hut all my life. I grew up here, found love, married and had my family. I had always shown talents, and was trained occasionally by wandering monks who traveled through at times. My training was always more spiritual in nature. Everything else I began to learn on my own, through trial and error. I learned ways to tell if a storm was coming over the peaks, I could warn the villagers to any dangers that were coming, be it natural or unnatural."

"One day, shortly after my youngest child had been married, all our lives changed. I was already an old woman then, having just seen my 50th summer. I was up in the higher grounds, collecting a special herb for a medicine when I felt something horribly wrong. I glanced down the mountain and saw the column of smoke, rising from the village. As fast as my legs could carry me, I hurried back, but by the time I arrived, it was too late".

"A band of wandering warriors came across the village in my absence, and after having their fill of whatever they wanted, be it food or flesh, they set the village aflame. From my hiding place, I could see the bodies of my friends, my neighbors and my family, strewn about the ground like discarded branches. My grief was too great to bear, and I ran screaming towards the warriors."

She looked away from us a moment and I could almost see tears shining in those eyes, the memories strong even now for her spirit, "I will spare you the details of my murder, for you need not share in my grief, but with my dying breaths, I swore eternal vengeance. In my pain, and in my agony, I summoned up all the power in my soul and called out to the spirits of my loved ones, and the spirits of all those ever murdered in so cruel a fashion to rise up and judge those who spilled their blood. Their spirits rested, but what my magic had called up was something much deeper. The sorrow, the agony is what actually arose from the blood-soaked ground, and as my physical eyes began to shut to the world, I watched as creatures born of all that pain rose from the ground to answer my cry, and kill the warriors."

"Because of my actions, my spirit could not rest in peace, for I had brought into the world something just as evil as the men that had killed me. I remained, to watch over the Sorrow as you have called them, and to keep them at bay. But my power is weakening, my spirit no longer has the strength to stay in this world much longer, and they have broken free of my hold. So I knew I had to find someone, someone who had the power to see these creatures for what they were and stop them. With the last bits of my power, I Called for you, I reached out for the one who could stop them, and I found you, Lady Francesca."

I stared down at my hands, which had rested on Kei's during the story, and taken his in a hard grip. My heart ached for this woman, for everything she must have endured, and for her spirit that was tormented by her last actions of life. I felt Kei's strong heartbeat against my back, and it was a gentle comfort. I needed his strength, now more than ever. I was frightened, and worried because I didn't know what was expected of me, or how I could hope to stop them. This was their birthplace, this was where they were strongest.

Everyone seemed to be watching me, waiting for me to speak, but I couldn't. I couldn't say anything. The old woman watched me for a moment, before smiling softly, "I am sorry to burden you with this child, but I was desperate. I couldn't leave this world before knowing that it was safe once again. I will aid you in any way I can, but I fear my power is nothing now."

I looked up slowly, "No worries Grandmother," I said softly, with a light smile on my lips," I will be fine," I sat up a little straighter, a little taller, as I let the conviction of my words sink in. I would be fine I could do this, everything counted upon my faith in myself. I took another breath, adding what was also most important, something that was the cornerstone of my faith, "We will be fine." I looked around to everyone, "Will you fight with me?" My eyes lingered on Kei's only for a moment, so only he could see the spark of insecurity I held, "I-I don't think I can do this alone."

They all moved quickly to my side, and each one took a hold of my hand in theirs, till our hands were wrapped together. I felt a tear slide down my cheek, as I felt the cloud of their love and friendship surround me like a barrier. It was this power, I knew, that would rid this land of the Sorrow once and for all.

A sword of ice pierced my side and I flinched, bowing over and Kei's worry peaked significantly. I gasped and turned my head towards the doorway, and the snowstorm outside.

"They're here, and they know we've come for them," I gasped as another shot of pain ripped through me. Before anyone could say anything, I pulled myself to my feet.

"Grandmother," I said, glancing around the room, "Do you have any sorts of weapons?"

She nodded and rose, moving to the corner of the room and pulled a long wrapped package from the floor. Inside were an assortment of staffs, bows, and some arrows. Maeko quickly gather up the bow and arrows, and the rest of us reached for a staff.

"Maeko, can you fire the purifying arrows?" I asked and she grinned, "Almost as good as Mother."

"Good, because they might work," I said softly before turning to everyone, sweat gleaming on my face from the strain of the bolts of pain I was feeling.

"Aki, you should-" I began but she crossed her arms angrily, "No, Bara- sama, I will not stay behind like a child. I may have never fought these creatures, but I have fought youkai that threatened our village, so I am no child to battle." She took up a staff with both hands, and the set look on her face told me she would not back down, no matter what. With a sigh, I gave in.

"Remember, do not let your anger overthrow your senses. They'll use that, they'll suck it from you like air and it'll strengthen them." I turned to Kei, and gently ran my hand along his cheek, "Will you be alright love?"

He nodded, "I think I can keep it under control," he said and I nodded, grasping my staff in my hands. "Let's end this." I whispered, turning towards the door.

AN: I thought you all would find this as amusing as I did *laugh* and I hope she won't kill me for this, but this was the comment that Emania had for me at the end of her beta-ing:

(oooh! Very strong ending! I loved it! Totally awesome cliffhanger.to paraphrase the Sea Turtle, Crush from Finding Nemo, "Francesca-sama.you've got some serious thrill issues, dude." To which I can just imagine Kaemon saying "Sweet!")