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Crystal Ashes

Blushing Petals

Chapter 1: Wish

Closing her eyes she let her body twist numbly through the cool sapphire waters around her, her fingers at her sides, twining with the cool laces of water fluttering past her. Water brushed over her smooth cheeks as she opened her dark, earth colored eyes. Reaching out her hands her fingers touched the cool, faceted object that glittered below the glassy waters. Wrapping her hand around it she brought it to her heart, sighing. Taking the silk string she tied it around her neck, tears clouding her sharp eyes as she watched the glittering black crystal thud against her chest. Turning her face she looked up through the azure waters to see the dusky sky. The sky was stained rose mixed with pearly light and a lemony sun sinking past the shelter of trees around her. Watching her bubbles surface filled with golden light she felt her eyes burn. Finally she surfaced as well, her face crested with sunlight and her cheeks glittering with tears. Bringing the crystal dagger to her lips she whispered.

"Ashitaka..." Soon she felt herself falling back into the night before...

:Flashback:

His eyes watched her lovingly, the fire of the world around them burning within his dark eyes. Silently he touched her cheek, giving her a small smile before he let himself fall away.

"It's the only way to end it..." He'd whispered in the moments before he let himself fall into the pit of battle. As he did so she watched, her eyes filled with fury. Leaping away from the cliff she clasped onto Ashitaka's rippling form. The wind whistled past their bodies as they fell to the glassy waters below where men dressed in crimsons and whites fought the people of Iron Town. She held tightly to him as he wrapped his arms around her. Then he whispered in her ear. "I love you San..." With that they hit the icy waters of the calm lake. Thunder broke out above them as the sky churned angrily. San felt as Ashitaka's form was ripped away from her. Tossing in the waters she surfaced to see the battle calm as Ashitaka was dragged from the crystal waters a knife held to his throat.

The people of Iron Town watched nervously as he was brought to the Emperor. The crippling old man took the blade hatefully.

"How dare you steal my immortality!" The ancient man rasped before the earth around them erupted in smoke and flames. The forest exploded in fire. The flames licked hungrily at the running soldiers and the smoke filled their lungs. Jumping from the waters San ran to where the Emperor had been her eyes full of tears. But the red and white cloaked men where gone, as if they'd never been there. Throwing herself to the ashes she cried out, reaching for the crystal dagger that the handsome teen had given her.

"It's gone..." She whimpered, holding her chest where the trinket should've been. Looking back to the chilled waters she knew she must've lost it in the fall. Crawling towards the waters she stood, soon crumpling into a heap as she fought for air...

:End Flashback:

Cradling the dagger she lifted her eyes to the place where her only human friend had vanished.

"This is all you left me, Ashitaka..."

Gasping, Ashitaka lifted his sore body from the splintered wooden floor. His eyes eased open, slowly focusing on the stern faces around him. Thick black bars separated him from the angry soldiers that marched beside him. Closing his eyes he tried to remember what had happened. Slowly the images of the fire and Iron Town's loyal warriors came into view. But his strongest memory was San, watching him gently, gripping the crystal dagger he'd given her... He'd told her he loved her but had never received an answer.

Soon he spotted a plush red throne being carried on the backs of four sturdy men dressed in the velvety red of the throne. The Emperor sat in a clump, his beady brown eyes webbed with wrinkles and his thin lips locked in a scowl.

"So my little thief has woken up..." He spoke sharply, watching Ashitaka. "You were not as hard to retrieve as I had thought." Lifting his eyes Ashitaka's face was calm.

"I jumped into your arms, Emperor." The Emperor snarled then.

"What was your reason for doing such a foolish thing?" Rasped the old man.

"It was the only way to save her..." Ashitaka whispered, his chocolaty eyes darkening, now stained with black. The Emperor snickered.

"You may have saved her, but you'll never see her again." He responded. "You're my prisoner now, thief, and you may even someday re-retrieve the head that you stole from me." Slowly he leaned back watching the young man. Ashitaka felt pain bolt through his heart. It didn't matter if he ever saw San again... She might not have ever loved him back.

Hope you liked it! The next chapter should be up soon! Please review

Blushing Petals.