Disclaimers: These fabulous characters do not belong to me. They belong to Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli, and Miramax films. Anyone I left out, sorry! The only characters that belong to me, are any created characters that may pop up in the story, but there won't be many of them.
And now for a few notes. I know the story takes place in midieval Japan, but I'm not the best with names and things like that. So any liberties I take with locations, beliefs and names, they are not meant to reflect on that aspect, because I know very little about midieval Japan.
Also, I have given Moro's pups names, because I could not find any. If anyone knows their actual names please email me them, and I'll. . . I'll make you some free fanart. BUT ONLY IF THEY'RE REAL NAMES OF THE WOLVES!
Any lines in italics are the words of the animals, most commonly, the wolves.
With that out of the way, I hope you enjoy my story.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 2: Longing
By Ritsuko
Ashitaka yawned beneath his mask. After checking the mines for the safety of the men, checking the women of the bellows to make sure work was not fatiguing them, supervising the replanting of the forest in bare areas, reminding Eboshi of her boundaries, and what supplies to stockpile, and keeping up on his sword practice, he could not wait to relax the rest of the day with San. The tension of a days work fleeted from him just to hear the sound of her sweet, voice--
"YAAAAAH!" came the scream above him, as he quickly looked up to see San, just before she pushed him off of Yakkul, causing the Red Elk to run away. In the fall, he lost his mask, and she land right on top of him with a thump, lips inches away from his. She smiled down at him, as he recovered from the initial shock. "What has taken you so long? You and the Eboshi woman wouldn't be planning something would you?" She teased.
"No more than the usual babysitting. She swears to change, but still someone needs to keep her from biting off more than she can chew." He gazed at her, taking in all of her rugged beauty. How he loved her. . . if they could only be together every single moment of the day. . . instead of not knowing each day if he would get to be with her for even a moment.
She sat up, crossed legged on his stomach and sighed. "She's been doing good though with forest matters? I guess then it's for a good cause. The animals don't complain as much, without all of that smoke being pushed into the air, and their garbage missing from the forest. Leaning back down over him, she grinned. "I'm glad you got those oxen to stomp around the forest less frequently too. They were treading too much of the new growth."
Ashitaka smiled up at her, content at resting. "I try to do what I can. . ." He sighed, turning his head away. "That Eboshi is so shrewd. . . I must have spent three hours with her going over contracts for safer labor and ways to be even more heedful of the forest. But she always has a scheme packed away. . ." He shook his head, thinking of the woman trying to urge her lepers to make a more compact rifle, for use with one hand. "Sometimes I wonder if it's even worth it to help her."
San sulked and got off of him. "Damn Eboshi woman. She gets to see you more than me." She pouted, and he felt a pang shiver through him. He knew, instantly, why he did it. For San, for the forest. To keep the forest and the people of Iron Town safe.
"San. . . I. . ."He pulled her back down on top of him, and she blushed nervously. "May I kiss you, San?" He murmured, gazing into her eyes, hoping to convey all of his emotions with her in one look.
She gulped, and started to nod, when she smiled devilishly. "You were late. And now you want something of me." She yawned. "Typical human. Let's make a bet!" San clapped her hands together. "Let's see if you can catch a wolf! If you catch me, you may kiss me."
Ashitaka smiled. "And if I lose?"
San stood up. "Then I get a wish."
For a moment Ashitaka frowned playfully. "Well, it doesn't concern the 'humans' does it?
Looking at him quizzically for a moment, she shook her head with a smile, and put up a hand. "No, no, nothing like that. I just want a small favor that deals with you and me." Ashitaka stared at her, and wondered exactly what could be running through the girl's head.
"Well, I guess. . ."
No sooner had the words been uttered than San was litarally lost in the woods. He looked around everywhere, but could find no trace of which way she started. "Oh well. How hard can it be to catch the Princess of Beasts?" He knew, down inside, he had no chance.
He started walking when he noticed Yakkul, who had been grazing near the two the entire time motion with his head in the opposite direction. Ashitaka patted the elk's nose, and lightly sprinted off in the opposite direction.
~*~*~*~*~
San giggled as she watched the elk point Ashitaka in her direction, then with muffled delight, howled as she ran through the forest. She didn't want to make it too hard for him to catch her after all. Looking behind her, she could see glimpses of the prince running through the underbrush, trying to be quiet, but he in no way matched her agility.
At top speed, she jumped up into a tree, lightly panting and waiting for him to pass.
~*~*~*~*~
Suddenly, the glimpses of while wolves fur that the prince had been following dissapeared. "Hmm. . . great." he sighed aloud, wondering where he would go now. Maybe San had actually been serious. . . maybe he wouldn't catch her. . . or see her the whole rest of the day. That thoughtstarted to drag him down, when he heard a rustle in the leaves, and a giggle above him.
Just as he looked up, San was at his side, pushing him jovially, and jetting down the path. But this time he had more of a sight on her, and he kept up little by little. After only a few moments of running, he knew where she was going.
~*~*~*~*~
San was confused when she looked behind her, and Ashitaka was suddenly gone. Still, she kept her pace and let the air whistle through her ears as she ran to the most beautiful place she knew.
The pool of the Forest God.
She stopped for a moment, upon reaching the lush green grass, and panted lightly. There was no quicker way to get to the pool, so Ashitaka could never sneak up on her. She bent down to the pool for a drink and her eyes widened. Instead of her own reflection, was Ashitaka's. . . who quickly pulled her in with him.
He laughed aloud as he dunked her, and she came up sputtering. "Why you. . . how did you?"
""I have my way, Princess." He winked at her, and she had to smile. Suddenly, he pulled her close to him, but she didn't fight it. He had, after all, won. But then again, she had really had no intention of letting him lose. "May I claim my prize, San?"
She had to chuckle at him. "So polite! If you want to do it human, do it!" She nuzzled her nose against his, and their lips met. He gently held her face as their mouths interlocked, and she couldn't help her feelings for him. He was the only human who had ever cared for her, and she wished for something more. Had she gotten the wish that she would have requested from him, it wasn't like she could honestly ask him to stay with her. It just wouldn't be fair.
His humanity was his most beautiful trait, and she couldn't destroy that.
She felt his hands slide down the sides of her body, and she made no move to stop him. It was only seconds later, when he gaspingly stopped kissing her, and stepped back in the water. "I. . . I'm sorry, San. . . I didn't mean. . ."
San put her fingers to his lips and shook her head. "There is no need to apologize, Ashitaka. I know how you feel. And it's Hell for the both of us. Someday, maybe. . ." she trailed off, staring into his eyes, and he knew what she wanted to say. The stood, staring for a moment, reading the love in each others eyes.
"Let's get out of this water, before we catch cold." Ashitaka said, finally breaking the silence, as San laughed.
"It's almost Summer! We wouldn't catch cold! Especially not in the forest." She smiled, scrambling out of the water, and then reaching a hand down to him. He smirked up at her.
"Well if that's the case. . ." He grabbed her hand and pulled her back into the water, where she squealed again at being forced into the water against her intent. Laughing they swam and splashed each other, never taking notice of how the water started to shimmer more than usual. . .
~*~*~*~*~
"San?" Ashitaka murmured, and the girl mumbled a reply. After their exploits in the water, they had crawled up onto the grass to dry off, but had ended up falling asleep, with San's head resting on his chest. He sighed staring down at her, and wiped a few stray strands of hair from her face. "San!" He shook her a little bit, sadly noting the setting sun.
Slowly she started to stir. "What is it?" She yawned, and then also realized the place of the sun. "Oh. I guess you have to. . ."
"Yes." Ashitaka said, sounding none too happy. "I'll have to get going now San. . . I'm sorry I can't stay longer. . ."
She smiled sadly. "You must do what you must do, Ashitaka. And you do great good." She stood, and looked down at him. "Will you be back tomorrow?"
"I'm not sure," Ashitaka sighed, rising and brushing grass off of his outfit. "It all depends on how the safety checks go on the mines tomorrow. If you want," he gazed at her hopefully, "You can come around to the site around noon, and we can have lunch."
San smiled down at him, as thoughts flew through the back of her mind. She and her wolves had stayed as far away as possible from the humans since the death of the Forest God. But Ashitaka looked at her so hopefully. . .
"Yes." She stated and he smiled. Bringing his fingers to his lips he whistled for Yakkul, and the elk ran into the clearing before the echoes had died.
"I appreciate it." He held her one more time and kissed her soflty on the lips, and she felt the world slip underneath her. "I love you, San." He whispered into her ear, and she thickly repeated the same sentiments to him. Without another word, he jumped on Yakkul, smiled back at her, and was gone.
San slumped a little watching his quickly receding figure, and sadly started to walk home, wondering why her chest always hurt so when he was gone.
Had she looked back, she might have seen the thousands of sparkles that were massing under the water. . .
Le sigh. . .