AN: The end is near!! I do apologize to all of you who took the time to review, but due to a LOT of time constraints on my part, I won't do individual review comments for the remaining 4 chapters. Yes, 4 chapters is definite. They are all already written and my wonderful editor/beta/friend Emania is taking time out of HER busy schedule to check them for grammar, misspellings and unclear statements, so you will have them shortly.

I think, as probably my last AN for Through the Ancient Well, I have to dedicate all the remaining chapters to you, all my wonderful readers, who have driven me these past couple of months to trying to be consistent in my writing, encouraging me when I doubted myself, and giving me something enjoyable to do when school and work seemed too overwhelming. I salute all of you for all your wonderful reviews time and time again, and I hope that in the future, you will all continue to read my works.

In the works, I have started brainstorming a sequel for Summertime, and there is a short side story relating to Well that should be up and out within a few weeks. This is dedicated to my friend Meghan, who was the inspiration by suggestion for Megahna, and who approached me before Christmas wanting a little bit of compassion for the youkai that we have all grown to hate! So you shall see, what came to pass. I hope you'll all enjoy it.

As I said, I have enjoyed greatly writing this story, and I look forward hearing what you all think of my ending.

Thanks again to : Del_kaidin(),jschu25, MANDY VAUGHAN: , beautifulteen, ElvenDragon, pruningshears, Inu Girl(),pony girl(),Mika-Hurso, shorty40(),RavenShadow, snowecat(),Tithis, shinkan neko85, FluffysBijin05, Diana-sama, SilverTailz, ponygirl(). Like I said, I'm sorry that I didn't get the chance to do individual comments!!

Chapter 42

AN: I realized, I didn't give credit for the lyrics in Chapter 41. It was "Not a Day Goes By" by Lonestar. Very very pretty song!

~~*~~ Francesca

Time passed quickly, too quickly. The days grew shorter, my students grew more restless and my work load tripled as the end of the semester began to loom. I stared bleakly at the pile of papers and groaned, leaning back in my chair.

"They think they're going to be happy when break comes? I'm going to throw a party," I announced loudly to no one in particular and rose from my desk. I needed a break from grading, and since it was only Friday night, I could afford to take the night off and relax a little.

I plopped down on my bed, startling Yuki out of her very comfortable sleep. She had grown considerably in these past few months, from being small enough to perch comfortably on my shoulder, to close to a foot and a half in length, and her once snow-white fur had darkened to an almost blue grey color. She looked more like a Russian Blue, than the ball of fluff that had been her namesake. She yawned and stared at me, waiting for me to offer her a good excuse to have disturbed her nap.

"Sorry baby, but this is still my bed first," I said warmly and watched as she arched her back against my hand, and curled up again. I smiled and looked around the room.

My bedroom had become my sanctuary.

I bought a large display frame and placed all my gifts inside. Miroku and Inuyasha's rosaries hung beside each other, along with Kohaku's knife. Naoko's ink block and brush lay sitting on my dresser, covered in a clear plastic cover in an attempt to keep the dust from it. I didn't have the heart to ever use it. Kohana's necklace was always around my neck and nothing seemed to touch it. It remained as pristine and white as the day she gave it to me.

I fingered the braid gently, smiling as I remembered all the curious questions that it had gotten me from both my students and my co-workers. The latter I had begun to warm up to after my conversation with Kaede. I realized I hadn't been very fair to them.

I rolled over, stretching my arms up over my head and yawning lazily. My bed felt thoroughly inviting and comfortable and I closed my eyes, letting my body and my senses sink into it. An astounding sense of calm and peace came over me and I sighed softly as I felt a cool kiss of breath caress my cheek.

"Yuki, make sure you push the door closed," I muttered but, when I didn't hear her customary response, I stretched again and opened my eyes. The violet blue of the night sky peeked out between the soft billowing white curtains that I had hung up over the doors just the other day. Outside, the faint glow from the lamps on the street below glimmered just below the railing of the balcony, giving off the peculiar impression that they were within touching distance. I blinked curiously.

"Yuki?" I called and heard nothing. For a moment I feared she might have fallen off the balcony, but the logical side of my brain quickly dismissed the idea. First of all, she was a cat who on the whole, had a sense of balance envied by most acrobats and secondly, she was a youkai cat. If she fell, she could fly back up. Of course this could present problems if anyone saw her, and I was always afraid of that. When she was still a small kitten, she had been prone to change unexpectedly whenever she sneezed. I think this frightened her more than me on more than one occasion, but thankfully this was a trait that she soon grew out of.

I didn't get out of bed, instead a deep sense of peace and curiosity came over me and I simply waited to see what was going to happen. I held my breath as the curtains fluttered in the cold night air and suddenly, a shadow appeared behind the curtain. Slowly a large hand appeared, lengthened nails scraping soundlessly against the fabric as the hand parted the curtain to the side. I half expected to scream, to gasp, to faint maybe, but surprisingly, my body didn't react as the feeling of peace and contentment still filled me.

It was as if I had expected the unknown visitor and even though I couldn't see his face, only his silhouette, but everything inside me knew who it was, my body seemed to come alive at that moment.

"Kei," I whispered, and heard the begging in my voice as I said his name. The figure stepped closer and I felt tears flow freely from my eyes as his beautiful face came into view. He was at my side before I could blink, and I cried as he gathered me up into his arms. It was everything I had ever dreamed of, the strong scent of his skin, of power and courage and spirit that I loved so much about him. His hair tickled my nose and I laughed as I cried, tightening my grip around him.

"I've missed you so much," I whispered in his ear, and felt his sigh caress my neck like silk.

"I have dreamed about you every day for half a millennia," he replied in my ear, his voice thick with emotion, but still as soft as velvet. I pulled back slightly to look into his eyes, as I ran my hand along his cheek.

"I'm sorry you had to wait so very long," I whispered and he smiled, but something behind the smile pained me.

"What is it?" I said, my voice shaking.

"This isn't real," he said softly, his eyes apologetic, "You're dreaming right now. You'll have to wait just a little longer."

I shook my head, "No, I can't be dreaming, you're right here, I can feel your heartbeat," I argued, my voice growing pitched and panicked. He could only shake his head.

"Keep faith my beautiful Rose, and know that I'm looking for you, I'm still looking for you," he said and it felt like he was fading away from me.

"Kei, I'm right here, I'm in Japan just like I told you!! Wait," I cried out as he began to drift away from my arms, "Wait and I'll tell you how to find me!" I screamed as he began to fade through the balcony doors. I scrambled in the covers to run after him, when a powerful jolt shook me.

I opened my eyes, and found myself sprawled on the floor, my shoulder sore from where I must have fallen from the bed. I was still crying, I couldn't stop, my heart ached horribly in my chest.

I heard a low deep growl and saw a transformed Yuki standing before the open balcony doors, just like in my dream, facing the night and growling softly. I stumbled to my feet and ran out onto the balcony, the railing the only thing keeping me from flying off the edge and out into the air.

"Kei!" I shouted into the cold night, my eyes peering out as hard as they could and where my sight failed me, I thrust my empathy. To hell with the consequences, I had to find him, I had to reach him. I felt my mind begin to ache but still I pushed myself until blinding pain reached my eyes and I collapsed on my knees.

"It's not fair Yuki," I sobbed as the large fire cat walked to my side and nuzzled my neck. I threw my arms around her and buried my face into her soft fur. "It's not fair!" I repeated angrily. "He haunts my memories, he haunts my waking thoughts, he even haunts my dreams and I can't find him, I can't feel him anywhere!"

She huffed into my ear, in a tone I knew to be as comforting as she could manage. Finally I regained some sort of control over my senses and released my grip on her neck, allowing her to shift into her smaller form. I slowly rose from the floor, shivering as the cold winter air finally sunk in and walked slowly back inside.

As I began to close the doors, a tingle shifted up my skin and I paused, looking out again into the night for the slightest sign of life, of movement, but saw nothing. I closed the doors and locked them, but even as I pulled the curtains closed, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was still watching me, invisible to my eyes.

~~*~~Keitaro I sat up in bed, sweat sliding down my temples as I heaved in deep breaths. It had been decades since anything had ever worked my heart into such a frenzy, but now it felt as if I had run the earth twice over. I bowed my head into my hands, and pulled my knees up to my chest. Outside I could hear the soft hum of electricity that coursed through the black power lines. It was a comforting sound, one that I had grown accustomed to after it first hummed to life so many years before. Now it was almost soothing, because it reminded me that I was that much closer to finding Francesca.

I slid out of bed and walked to the window, staring out into the glittering night. Once, on a winter's night such as this, a clear sky would cast the twinkle of small lights on the world. Now, however, it was the glittering of office lights in buildings that touched the top of the world which lit my eyes. I glanced upwards, at one of the few buildings in this city that was taller than my current place of inhabitance. The Chrysler Building, they called it. Once, and for a very long time, it had been the tallest building in the world. Now, it was an antiquity, dwarfed by decades of advancements in science and technology.

I sighed and pressed my forehead against the cold window pane and closed my eyes. The dream had been so real, so vivid, I could still smell her intoxicating scent on my skin, the warmth of her slender body, and hear the excited beat of her heart. It was so different than the dreams that I had had over these many years, this was no romantic fantasy or the dreams of which one does not speak of in polite company. No. This was a dream of hope.

I cursed the fact that I couldn't open the window, to feel the cold breeze that I knew blew just outside the paned glass. I longed to feel the wilderness beneath my feet, the smell of wet earth and fresh foliage around me. Now I had to contend with this new world of stone and metal, and I felt like a caged animal some days.

But to survive, the most cunning creature must adapt to changes they cannot escape, and so had the family of the Western Lands. We had grown, and adapted to the new world. A world where youkai were fewer and fewer, and the once "weaker" human blood swept over the world like a swarm of locusts, covering everything, something that gave me a feeling of satisfaction, knowing that in the end, my once hated blood was superior.

Now, we were no longer simply the rulers of the Western Lands. Although that title still applied, its use was reserved to only the rarest of occasions and in the specialist of company. Now, our domain expanded beyond the shorelines of Japan, beyond sea, out to the far reaches of the earth, where once there was thought to be nothing.

I still remained the heir to the Western Lands, a position that was not contested by Lady Megahna, to the surprise of us all. Instead, she showed unique wisdom to see that there were great ranks to which her children could rise, outside of hereditary titles.

I bowed my head in polite respect at the thought of my aunt. It was my fortune that while Francesca's memories still remained in my mind, I spoke of the histories to come to Naoko, who carefully recorded them while he still lived. These histories have kept us alive during the hardest of times, and protected from those who would have harmed us. However, when the second Great War as it was called came to pass, Megahna would not flee to safety. A daughter of the Southern Lands, she chose to return to her home and try to protect her ancestral lands. She died at the hands of a new power, a terrible and awesome power that blew wind and fire and destroyed everything in its path.

Perhaps it was my folly that I did not record all of Francesca's memories myself, so that I could have kept her more intimate details fresh with me, forever. However, I never thought that just as the blossom fades when taken from the vine, the images and thoughts that I had once held so dear would begin to fade from my mind. It was so subtle that I barely knew they were gone till only the faintest whisper still reached my thoughts.

'500 years', it reminded me. So I had begun my search after the turn of the century, as the First of the Great Wars had finally ended, I left on a steamer boat to this land called America.

The Great Depression interfered with my plans, and I was summoned back to Japan to aid my uncle in recovering some of the fortunes that were lost. However our losses were nothing compared to the plight of some, and we quickly recovered.

I returned to this budding land, to start aiding others. Uncle supported my idea to begin a foothold in this strange new place. I took one of my cousins with me, and together we began to build a business industry that surpassed all others. I had no stomach for the new warfare that had begun in the world, the battles of stocks, money and capitalism, and so I left that to my cousins. They were all more than willing to step into this new form of royalty, and excelled at what they did.

I dedicated my time to trying to find the missing trail of my beloved. I had only her name to aid me, and so I began tracking down all those who shared her family name. For years, I found nothing, no clue.

Kohana spent most of her time in Japan between our Uncle's palace and traveling the island, spending time amongst the people, watching how they changed and grew when we did not. I think she suffered more than I, if that were at all possible. She had grown close to Francesca on perhaps a deeper level than we all had realized, and I knew that in her wanderings, she was doing what she could to find her sister.

Finally, one year it seemed I had struck a bit of luck when one of my many servants told me of some paperwork that he had come across. The record told of a birth and application for citizenship for a newborn baby girl named Francesca Rose Fanton. I thought I had reached Nirvana and before the call had ended, I was packing a bag to travel. That was when something very unexpected happened. Kohana appeared on my threshold.

"Kohana, what are you doing here?" I asked. She quickly stepped into the room, shutting the door behind her.

"I'm stopping you from making a mistake," she answered. "You can't go to her now!"

I growled. "What are you saying?" I demanded. "Do you realize how long I've been looking?" I glared at her completely certain that my sister had finally gone quite mad. "And now I've finally found her you ask me to not go to her?!" I nearly laughed at the absurdity of her request. "Not even Naraku reborn could stop me from going to her side," I finished with a huff as I turned to finish packing.

"If you go to her now, you may never meet her," she whispered. That caught my attention.

"What will you do in her life now?" she asked, almost demurely.

"Protect her of course," I answered surely. "And take care of her, make sure she needs nothing," I said, almost amazed that she had to ask. I paused a second and spun on my heel, my head tilted to the side with curiosity. "How did you know about her anyway?"

"I paid your men to tell me when they found anything," she answered unapologetically. "The same man who called you called me a few days ago." At the look of shocked incredulity on my face, she explained. "I sweetened the pot to convince him to wait to call you until I'd had enough time to get here so that I could stop you before you did anything foolish."

"Remind me to have him killed," I growled under my breath.

She giggled. "Oh, is that Uncle I hear?"

"Kohana, this isn't a game!" I shouted, staring her down as she sighed and gave me a tired look.

"Brother, listen to me. If you go to her now, you'll change her. Everything that she had to go through, she went through so that she could find her way to us." She sighed and her eyes went soft and slightly pained at what her next words meant for her sister. "All her struggles, all her heartache, they shaped her to be the woman she was. If you change that," she shook her head softly, her hair dancing over her shoulders. "She may never become a teacher, she may never move to Japan and she may never come to save us from the Sorrow."

I froze, as her words actually made it through the haze of the instincts screaming at me to find my mate and protect her. My little sister was right. I sighed and sat down on the bed, "I can't just sit here and do nothing."

She came to kneel before me, "Kei, if you even keep one eye on her, you'll change things. You won't be able to stop yourself from interfering with her life, I know you all to well!"

"Yes," I grumbled. "And it's all too annoying sometimes." She grinned, and her face transformed into that bright beautiful little girl that I held newborn so long ago. The face that captured my heart with its innocence and joy. I stared, awestruck, at the smile that I had not seen in centuries.

"What?" she asked me curiously and I just stared as she ran a hand over her perfectly complexioned skin. Then I began to smile as I realized that the good times had most defiantly returned again. My little sister truly smiled from her soul once again, and it was all thanks to a tiny baby that ruled both our hearts.

I rose from the bed and opened the small mini bar that these hotels were so fond of keeping for guests, and pulled out a bottle of champagne that I had been saving for a special occasion. I reached for two glasses and poured some, handing one glass to Kohana.

"To Francesca, happy birthday," I said lifting my glass up.

Kohana smiled and lifted her own, "Happy Birthday, sister."

My eyes opened and the vision faded back into memory. The anniversary of that night, more than a quarter of a century passed, was quickly approaching . Soon, the year would turn again, and Francesca would be 26.

"Where are you?" I whispered.

You would think that once I heard the news, that all would been settled, but we were wrong.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN!?" I shouted into the phone, well aware that the sensitive ears of my contact would suffer greatly.

"I'm sorry milord, I sent my best men to investigate this child, like you asked, but it is not the child you seek."

"How can it not be her? The name matches perfectly!" I shouted again.

"But milord, she looks nothing like the maid that you described, even as a cub. You are seeking a child of olive complexion with red hair and brown eyes," he began and I interrupted him impatiently.

"You idiot, you should know that all babies change their colorings from birth," I shook my head. I should have known better than to hire a weasel youkai to investigate this, they were sneaky and cunning but sometimes I wondered how much common sense they actually possessed.

"But Milord," he insisted. "They do not change this much." I heard him take in a breath when my silence signaled to him that he should continue. "This child was much, much darker in complexion than the child you are seeking. Also her parentage was not as you described it should be. I am sorry Milord," his voice, although respectful, was confident. "But she cannot be the child you are seeking, not all the time in the world could change this child into the woman you are searching for." With that he quickly hung up before I could yell at him again. Unable to take my frustrations out on him, I threw the phone against the wall with such a force that it shattered into small pieces.

Just when I had hope, it was taken away. And as I threw myself into katas to bring down my anger and frustration, I knew it was only a matter of time until she went to Japan, but how long? I would just have to have more patience

My phone ringing broke me from the memories and my thoughts, and as I walked over to answer, I noted that the snow had begun falling while I had been gathering wool.

"Hello," I answered in English.

"Kei," I heard a breathless voice on the other end, "Did I wake you?"

"No, I couldn't sleep," I lied and sat down on the elegant four poster bed, "What's going on Kohana?"

"I found her," she breathed and I felt the power of her words touch my heart.

"Are you sure, is it really her?" I asked excitedly.

"Kaede has had her suspicions from the start, but Uncle's been practically unreachable for a decade now, Father is off on another one of his travels," I could hear the exasperation in her voice, "and I was- detained." I almost asked the hidden question to her pause, but remained silent.

"I know it is the same scent," she continued emphatically. "And not only that, but how many women do you know who shout out the name Kei into a cold winter's night?" That comment froze me.

"She called out for me?" I whispered.

"Not more than 30 minutes ago. I would have called sooner, but I knew she would look for me. I think she knew someone was watching her, I could feel her trying to find out who, and I was so shocked and surprised that I ran out of her range, which is far more impressive than I remember." She paused. "I thought about going back to her right afterward." she trailed off as she thought. "She seemed so lost, so." she sighed. "But I thought it would be best if we waited."

I was no longer completely listening to my sister. Instead, I glanced at my clock: 30 minutes. My dream. I broke out into a grin.

"I'll be on the first flight out ," I said, flipping on a light.

"Kei, hold on!" she exclaimed. "Let me meet her first, find out what's going on. We don't know how long she's been waiting for us. For all of us to appear, and for all our history to just fall in her lap, it might be too much of a shock. I'll speak to her tomorrow, and if you can just give me one day, fly in the day after tomorrow. Alright?"

I growled loudly. "KEI!" she shouted in the phone, "Do not use that language with me! Now, will you promise me you won't come charging down here like an elephant in musk, and give me 24 hours?"

"Fine, but no more," I said and heard her laugh softly

"I didn't think you'd even give me that. Get some sleep, and I'll see you in a day, brother." She said hanging up.

Twenty-four hours, I thought. What was twenty-four hours when I had already waited 500? But now that I knew where she was, 24 hours seemed like an eternity stretching out before me, echoing the ache inside me to touch her again. I waited a moment, and then picked up the phone again letting it ring a few times before a sleepy voice answered.

"Have my plane ready by 9 am tomorrow, we're returning to Japan," I said, and hung up. I knew it would be done. I began to pack my suitcase, as I couldn't help but smile at my cleverness. I had promised to give Kohana 24 hours, but I didn't say I wasn't going to fly out. I had some arrangements to take care of.

~~*~~ Francesca

I awoke the next morning to find myself curled up next to Yuki, who didn't seem to mind being held like a teddy bear in my arms. I think she knew that even that little comfort would be a help.

I sighed and rolled over, looking at the bright sunlight that was shining through my window. Saturday. I closed my eyes a moment, attempting to drift back to sleep, but my body, sated with rest, wouldn't let me. I rose, and stretched slowly, before going about my morning rituals. This included a workout with a staff.

I couldn't bring myself not to continue the lessons that Kaemon had begun with me. In my own way, it was how I chose to remember him, by practicing the arts that he tried to teach me. I thought that perhaps I would look into taking up archery on the weekends, but in some ways I felt that I would leave that expertise to the memory of Maeko and Kagome. After all, I wouldn't have much need to defend myself with bow and arrow in this time, and the staff would always come in handy.

After working up a good sweat, and then relaxing with a hot, soothing bath, I set about finishing my grading. Yuki strolled in once in a while to investigate, settling on my lap and watching me mark the papers with my red pen. Then she would grow bored, and head back around the apartment to her own affairs.

I paused only once to grab some lunch for Yuki and I, which we enjoyed watching the flakes start to fall outside the window. The sky was a pale grey as clouds had moved in and blanketed the sky, and I sighed. It matched my mood ironically, rather gloomy.

"Well, I got an old wish granted today Yuki," I said, reaching over to scratch her ears. My mother would have been appalled that I let my cat eat on the table with me, but who cared. Yuki was more than a cat to me. She glanced up from her food and gave me a curious look. I smiled faintly and looked out the window.

"When I was little, the only thing I ever wanted for my birthday was a little snow. I loved the snow, still do I guess, and I think it's the prettiest when it falls light and fluffy, like it is today. Of course it hardly ever snowed where I grew up, which made my wish extra special in my eyes," I said, placing my chin in my hand.

"I wonder what he's doing right now," I sighed again, and shook my head.

"Ugh, no time to think like that, I've got work to do," I said, rising and taking my plate to the sink. Dishes I could do later.

"How about I go and get us a fat chicken from the store, maybe some potatoes and make a special dinner for my birthday?" I asked Yuki who almost chirped at the word chicken. It was her favorite as well. I grinned, and smacked my closed fist into my open palm.

"Alright, let me finish with this grading, and then I'll go shopping," I said and hurried to do just that.

The snow had stopped falling as I left the apartment complex, wrapped up for the cold, with a soft grey scarf around my head, ears, and throat, and a grey jacket. The wind blew mildly, causing the faint snow on the ground to dance in swirls and wisps playfully at my feet as I passed.

By the time I had gathered everything I needed for the dinner, including a little extra dessert, night had completely fallen and it had begun to snow again, this time harder than before. The flakes were thick and very fluffy and I paused to let them fall lightly on my nose and cheeks, laughing childishly at the way they tickled. It was a warm feeling, and, for a moment, I was a child again, watching the beauty of the snow with the innocence and purity that I once knew as a child.

After a few moments, I remembered where I was and continued my walk back to the apartment. A block from the complex something caught my senses. I paused a moment, trying to figure out what it was, when a figure stepped out of the shadows of a nearby alleyway. One of my hands quickly grabbed the strap of my purse, ready to should it become necessary. My eyes quickly glanced around for anyone, or anything that I could use to protect me.

The figure was wrapped in a soft, gray, hooded cloak and stood a little taller than I. As they turned, I noted it was with a mastery of grace that most people could never acquire in a million lifetimes. I waited and carefully extended my senses, as the shadowed figure remained mute and still. I was met with sincerity, fear, longing and excitement. I ventured a step forward into the streetlight.

"Are you lost?" I asked and I could feel the surprise and relief. I shifted nervously and fingered the braid around my neck .

"You kept it," came the voice of satin from within the cloak as a snow white hand lifted the hood away from the face. I stared into the perfectly complexioned face of a young woman, with snowy white hair that was draped in a long braid over her shoulder. Her eyes shone gold in the night and as she smiled, canines glimmered slightly on her lips. I stared at her, and she reached up moving something around her neck to catch the light. Gold shimmered between her fingers and I gasped.

"Kohana?" I asked carefully, and she gave me that wonderfully brilliant sweet smile that she had possessed as a child.

"It is you!" I exclaimed and dropped my groceries in the dust of the snow on the ground to embrace her. She still smelled like honeysuckle coupled with the clean smell of rain. She hugged me just as tightly.

"I have missed you so much Nee-san" she said and I smiled gently wiping tears from her cheeks.

"I can't believe it's really you," I whispered happily as she pressed her cheek into my hand, a soft sound uttered from her lips as fresh tears slid over my hand. I released her. "Come on, let's get out of the cold, I'm sure Yuki will be happy to see you again," I said and gathered up my bags, leading her to my apartment.

I opened the door and heard Yuki's greeting from the kitchen, where she was already waiting for dinner.

"You little vixen, I spoil you too much, " I called out to her as I switched on a light, "Your mother wouldn't approve."

She snorted and made another mewing comment to which Kohana laughed, her voice sounding like bright bells, "I shall be sure to ask her that when I see her again," she responded.

Yuki dashed out from the kitchen with a startled noise as I stared at my sister, "What?! Kirara is still alive?"

Kohana smiled softly, "Hai, and Mistero as well. Both are very well and alive, and enjoying a very easy life at Uncle's home." Yuki just stared at us quietly. After a moment I remembered my manners, and reached forward, "Let me get your cloak," I offered and she nodded as I reached forward to unclasp it.

I heard a soft noise come from beneath the cloak and as it fell away, I noticed a small bundle curled up tightly in a sling against Kohana's chest. Very carefully I moved the blanket covering the bundle and a large pair of soft brown eyes stared up at me surprised, before breaking out into a large toothless grin.

"Kohana," I whispered, staring up at her face, which had since turned red, "Is she yours?"

She smiled, and nodded, "In a manner of speaking, she is my great- granddaughter." I blinked and stared down again at the small child.

"Your great-granddaughter?!" I repeated and opened my hands slowly. Kohana smiled and placed the baby in them gently and I cooed softly at the little girl.

"When? I mean, how? I mean-?" I began and she laughed.

"The how I think you understand," she said softly motioning me over to the couch as she sat down. "The when is a little more complex. I married a young man just before the turn of the century, a human, and we only had one son before my husband passed away." She smiled, but I felt the hint of sadness in her voice.

"I had encountered him in my travels, and he knew of my nature and didn't mind. Our son was born a human, though I did always suspect like Maeko- neesan he may have inherited some of my youkai traits, but he never told me. He lived blessed with the long youth that we have, and died leaving his widow and their son. I kept care of them till she died. My grandson lived a long life, and married late, his wife dying in childbed, and he soon after in an accident. So I have taken this child into my care."

I stared down at the small child who rolled her eyes at me and began to smack her lips, a sure sign that she was hungry. I looked up to see Kohana had silently already stood and was looking through a small bag, pulling out a bottle.

"May I use your stove?" she asked and I nodded, rising to my feet. "Let me prepare that, you need to rest. Besides, I was going to start dinner anyway."

She nodded and handed me the bottle, as I handed her the child and began to heat the milk.

"What is her name?" I asked.

"Kagome," she answered softly. "She reminds me of Mother, and I felt it was good to honor her with such a strong name," she explained. I looked over to see her staring down at the child with a smile.

"Yes, I know Kagome would be proud to have her great-great-granddaughter bear her name," I said. "I think Sato would agree."

Kohana looked up, and I quickly looked away.

"Sato?" she asked softly, and I heard the implication in her voice.

"Your uncle Sato, your mother's brother," I said and she nodded.

"I have not been to visit them, I fear that perhaps it would be too painful for them," she whispered.

"So Kagome has died," I whispered. In my heart, I mourned my friend, and her husband, "How?"

Even with my head bowed over my work, I knew that she didn't look at me, "As all humans must, from living a long and happy life. We were all there with her in the end, and she died happy."

I stepped over and placed my hand on her shoulder comfortingly as she smiled up at me through the tears," It was hard for the first years, but it has gotten easier." She took the bottle from my hand and began to feed the baby.

"Your father?" I asked.

She smiled, "Too stubborn to die."

I laughed suddenly, "Yes, I suppose that would be true. I think he'd be afraid that Kagome would try and sit him for the rest of eternity when he joined her." Kohana laughed softly and nodded.

I paused, the next question on my lips freezing on my tongue. I wanted to ask, I wanted so badly to ask her, but she hadn't said anything, hadn't made any clue to want to tell me and I felt there was some reason behind this. Perhaps she did not wish to tell me the words that my heart dreaded to hear.

"Let me tend to dinner," I said hurriedly and turned quickly to the kitchen. I was so hell bent on concentrating on the food that I didn't even hear Kohana step up to my side.

"Nee-san, are you okay?" she whispered and I jumped, the sharp knife in my hand slicing along my finger. I winced and quickly reached for a paper towel when she grabbed my hand, stopping me.

I watched, almost in awe as she carefully lifted my hand to her lips and very lightly licked the wound. I watched as that one simple gesture stopped the flow of blood, small trickle that it was. My mind was flooded instantly with the memories of another such incident, another such gesture, and I snatched my hand away from hers quickly.

"Did I hurt you?" she asked innocently and I shook my head, clutching my hand to my chest as if she had.

"No, I'm fine, really." I glanced over to see Kagome curled up on the couch, surrounded by pillows to keep her from rolling off.

"Why don't you go and take a bath? I can keep an eye on Kagome, and since it takes a while for this food to cook, you have time to relax." She glanced at me again, uncertain before nodding and heading for the bathroom. I finished preparing the chicken and placed everything in the oven, before walking over to sit beside Kagome on the couch.

She had woken up again, and was very quietly laying there, staring at the ceiling and making faces into the air. I smiled and carefully picked her up, laying her down on my lap and she turned her attentions to me. By her size, she couldn't be more than a few months old. She lifted her hand up towards me, a sweet smile on her face. I grinned and placed my pinky in her tiny hand, watching her squeeze it with that odd strength that all infants hold.

"I guess this makes you my great-grand niece," I said softly and used my other hand to smooth back the light tuft of hair on her head. She cooed and closed her eyes reflexively at my touch, but didn't seem the least bit distressed.

"You come from a very amazing family," I whispered softly to her, "You're named after one of the most incredible women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and your great-great grandfather was the most courageous. He was also the most stubborn, but I'm sure that hasn't changed much. You had a great-aunt, her name was Maeko, and she was kind and sweet, and very very wise. I only knew her for a short time, but she had this great inner power, that I can feel in you. I think the women in your family all carry this strength. You should always remember to trust in it, and be proud of who you are."

She cooed again and I smiled, "You don't understand all of this now, and I'm sure Kohana will explain it to you someday, when you're older." I picked her up in my arms and brought her close, my nose touching the soft fat of her cheeks as I took a deep breath. She smelled like all babies do, sweet and fragrant and so very soft. I smiled, and carefully let my Empathy touch her, passing the boundaries of her simple surface emotions. No, I let my senses reach down further. I suppose it was similar to smelling her scent, as Kei used to do, or Kohana probably could. I could feel the warmth of her blood as it flowed rapidly through her little heart, and the sensations that flowed with it. She was human, but beneath that, I could feel the tingle of wildness, just a hint, that Kohana so radiated, like Kouga had and Sesshomaru had.

I paused and opened my eyes. Kohana did have that strong wildness to her, but it wasn't like before, like when she was a child. It was exactly like her uncle's, and like Kouga's. It wasn't hanyou, it was youkai!

I carefully placed Kagome back down in her makeshift bed framed with my sitting pillows and stood, my thoughts flying wildly. Kohana looked my age, in 500 years she only aged 20. Even her hanyou blood couldn't keep her that young.

I paced the living room floor nervously. She still looked the same, still felt the same, but that wildness was stronger. How was that possible?

I didn't have to wait too long in my thoughts when I heard the bathroom door open and Kohana stepped out wearing my bathrobe.

"Might I borrow a change of clothes Nee-san? I didn't bring anything with me," she asked politely and I nodded, deciding to wait for my questions until after she was dressed. She returned, sporting a pair of my workout pants and a simple t-shirt.

"Nee-san," she began, as she reached the living room, "you-" she paused when she saw the look on my face. "Nee-san, what's wrong?"

I crossed my arms over my chest, and I could feel the tightness of my lips as I pursed them, "Kohana, what have you done?"

She blinked, and glanced down at the clothes, "Are these not alright? I didn't want to choose one of your nicer clothes, and these seemed-" I shook my head.

"Not the clothes, you. You're not hanyou anymore, are you?"

She blinked, and her whole body froze for half a moment before she began to smile, "Nee-san, what do you mean?"

I shook my head, "No games Kohana, because I do not think my heart can stand any more. Please, just tell me."

She stared at me, before sighing softly, "I suppose you deserve that in the least, but please sit down. It may be a bit of a shock."