I take a deep breath of the cool morning air and rub the smooth edges of the dagger hanging from my neck.

*TWAK!*

I hear the sound of an arrow hitting its target and a smile spreads across my face as I run to find the source. Only one other person knew this area as well as I do and it was because I had shown them.

It's been almost three days since the last time I have seen him, and even though I would never admit it out loud, I missed him.

Almost two years ago he and the entire colony of humans started rebuilding Iron Town and it is almost completed. I still can't stand that woman, but now it's for an entirely different reason. Sure she had decided to make use of the rich soils now surrounding the old town, but instead of destroying the earth, it has grown to become a farming community for both crops and fishing. The so-called "foreigner's" ideas were openly accepted and he has helped this new town be reborn into a peaceful place where laughter and familial love is still present.

But now instead of taking from nature, she's taken directly from me. I wasn't too accepting of his feelings, but now…well…I shake my head to dislodge my current train of thought. Anyway, I still don't like that woman.

Back to the present I quietly and swiftly sneak around his practicing area and start to stalk him like a prowling wolf. I take in his standing form, legs giving him a strong foundation, broad shoulders toned from years of hard work, muscular arms, dark brown hair swept away from his sweaty brow; he had taken off his outer jacket and now stood in just his pants and blue arm tie under shirt. I stare as he draws a fresh arrow from his supply stabbed into the ground by his side, positions it on the string, takes a deep breath, and closes his eyes. As he draws the string back, I admire the way his muscular back ripples with strength. He exhales slowly, opens his closed eyes, and releases the arrow into his target almost twenty-five yards away.

I sneak further around his practicing ring, the years of living with the wolves giving me the silence I need to hunt my "prey." I smile to myself as I position myself so his back faces me and as quick as an eagle I pounce on him.

"Gotcha!" I laugh as he reflexively grabs me, stumbles, and rolls forward with me cradled in his arms.

"San." Ashitaka chuckles and rolls a little more so I am now lying flush with his body face-to-face. I can feel my own face start to warm in a blush and I scowl at him. He smiles and quickly kisses my nose.

"WAH! Don't do that!" I swat his chest and jump up quickly, in two seconds I am behind a tree ten feet away.

I peek out an eye and see him sitting up so he could lean comfortably onto his hands behind him. He cocks an eyebrow and gives me a soft crooked smile. My heart rate, still beating rapidly from his surprise smooch, starts to race even faster. Out of reflex I give a small grin back at him and blush.

"Stop being so human," I mumble at him.

"Come on San. You're human too. We are just like your wolf brothers, we express through words and touch. And I love you," Ashitaka says matter-of-factly.

I blush even more, for two years Ashitaka has been doing this, little kisses here and there, being such a courteous and kind human, sending me glances that send shivers up and down my spine for some unknown reasons. It had taken months after the forest spirit incident before I completely trusted him and felt at peace whenever I saw him. But once we reached that level of comfort, I didn't know how to react after that; I have never been with a human for this long and I felt in my gut that I was in way over my head with this guy.

"San?" Ashitaka's voice came from right in front of me startling me from my turmoil of thoughts. I lift my head up and find his eyes staring deeply into my own from only a couple inches away. Before my brain could comprehend that he had moved from his spot on the ground to where I was, one hand grasped my waist while the other gently gripped my chin and dragged me forward. Before I knew it his lips became a light pressure against my own and my eyes widened in surprise. My hands reflexively reach upward to his chest and gently push away.

I stare into his eyes in wonder, "What…what was that? What did you just do…?" one hand reaches up to touch my now tingling lips.

He grins handsomely and says, "That was our first kiss, did you like it?" I push his chest a little and his hands around my waist tighten.

"That was no kiss; the thingies you give me on the nose are kisses!" Ashitaka chuckles and his voice deeper than it had been two years ago reverberates between our bodies and I feel one of those shivers going up my spine. "It's one and the same, San. This one just happens to express my feelings better."

"Oh." With that I let my muscles relax and Ashitaka brings my body closer to his; I rest my palms against his practically bare chest which is still lightly coated in sweat from his morning exercises. I look up at his face and take in his handsome features.

He had grown since the first time I had seen him: he stood about 5' 11", had a strong manly jaw, deep soul-searching eyes, soft slightly chapped lips, and dark brown hair that begged to be finger combed.

As I search his face trying to find answers to questions boiling inside, I see the scar I had left on his face two years ago when I first met him. I slowly reach up and gently graze the pad of my right thumb against the one flaw on his face. I cup his cheek in my palm and gently smile at him; he grabs the hand against his face and brings it to his lips, pressing a kiss into my palm.

"Ashitaka…I…" Suddenly we hear a wolf's howl and my ears perk up. I turn my head to find where it's coming from.

"San...What…" I press a finger to his lips to silence him and continue to listen. After a few moments I turn back to him with a look of concern.

"I have to go, something's wrong, I'm being called for. I'm sorry; I'll come find you later."

"Wait, San…!" I'm already gone in a whirl of leaves before he could finish his sentence.

End Chapter 1