This is a sequel to Queen Mononoke- Through Fire and Fang. Go read it! And then come back, it'l make a lot more sense that way.
The wind was telling Ashitaka to be wary. He took it into consideration, but couldn't understand how he could possibly be any more wary. After all, he was surrounded by the biggest crowd he had ever seen in his entire life, riding directly into a city ruled by powerful people who wanted to kill him as well as his entire race –– and, to top that off, the walls of San's litter were far too weak to stop an arrow sent with any power. The thought of their enemies having guns caused him to shiver.
He shook it off and strode as dangerously as he could, trying to portray the darkness and power contained in the Lady's shadow. Ashitaka passed his hand over the complete daisho of samurai blades strapped to his waist, partially covered by the dark blue jinbaori that Eboshi had bought for him; everything familiar to Ashitaka had been taken away. Only his ringblade remained, hidden in the knee-length front of the coat. He wore no armor beneath it, but the gold-embossed material was thick and very comfortable, and the way the wind was tossing it about was somehow giving him confidence.
The light breeze also wove through the hanging lantern and banners, all red and decorated with representations of flowers. The Akaihana festival had begun a mere day before, and Ashitaka could see more traces of it everywhere, its symbol inscribed on door-frames and on clothing to celebrate the passage of spring.
Ashitaka strode at the head of the company, leading the Lady Eboshi's dark warhorse. She was surveying the city elegantly, short rifle held easily in her single-handed grip, her missing arm hidden beneath a heavy cloak. The Lady was shadowed closely by Ituse and Toki, both armed with rifles and pistols, and they, in turn, were followed by the regally decorated litter bearing Princess Saisana.
The finery of her concealing outshone them all. Ashitaka could sense the crowds gathered around the procession, who had been gawking at Eboshi and her bodyguards, grow quieter as it passed. The litter –– carried by reluctant ox-drivers — was escorted by half of Eboshi's rifle-bearing warriors, men and women alike.
But Ashitaka did not look back. He knew what San's carriage looked like, he knew how well it was defended. So he kept his eyes open, alert and wary, scanning the many buildings and windows above them. An assassin would not come from the crowds; it would be too hard to penetrate the defenses. No, they would wait for their wariness to wane or would take her with sudden power. Or maybe —
"Calm yourself, Kage."
He sighed at Eboshi's words, but looked to her expectantly. She smiled down at him, hiding her fatigue expertly. Her voice carried just over the crowd, but was not loud enough to be audible outside their immediate vicinity.
"She is safe, for now at least. The Emperor is curious ––he wouldn't dare move against her yet. My enemies are either dead or likewise out of favor with the Emperor. Watch the city and prepare for the event." Ashitaka nodded, facing forward once again, hand on the katana's hilt. It felt odd to be carrying such weapons. It helped with the image he was trying to portray, but that in and of itself unnerved him. He did not want to be changed by the things he carried.
"Ah! I cannot stand this!" There- San's irate tones. The event was starting. He didn't have to pretend concern as he turned around to see San poking her head from the cloth entrance. The porters had stopped hesitantly, and the entirety of the procession paused in mild disorder. "I came to see this land, not to be hidden from it!" She stood up elegantly on the edge of the litter, tossing the cloth aside.
Murmurs ran through the crowd, of awe and surprise, and Ashitaka did not blame them. Where he had thought the Princess Saisana imposing before, now she was majestic. The golden crescent crown shown in the noonday sun, and her white regalia and sweeping sleeves contrasting sharply with the crimson scarf and hems. Her striking appearance was aided by the antique katana hanging on her shoulder like it belonged there.
"My Lady Saisana," Eboshi replied, slipping her rifle into a saddle holster and carefully reining her large horse back to face the peeved Princess. "I must insist you remain inside, this area is not safe for one—"
"One such as I? I am not your fancy pet to be pampered, Lady Eboshi. I want to walk the streets of this city, not be carried over them." She moved to jump from the litter, and Ashitaka remembered his role just in time, striding in front of Eboshi to where she stood.
"Allow me, my Lady," he stated easily, holding up his hand. San glared down at him regally then took it with a roll of her eyes, jumping down lightly and quickly releasing it.
"Princess, I do not believe this is a wise decision," Eboshi maintained, and San fixed her with a pointed look.
"Lady Eboshi, I appreciate your help thus far, and as such will take your belief into consideration. I would like to walk, however." She looked at the nearest group of onlookers elegantly, and they shrunk under her gaze.
Eboshi gave a theatrical sigh. "As you wish, my Lady."
She gestured towards Ituse, who took a deep breath. "All honor the Lady Saisana Re'im!" Her firm voice filled the packed streets, rippling through the crowds visibly. "Envoy of the Southern Islands and Crescent Princess of the Imnari! All honor!"
The crowd immediately sank to their knees, and the Imperial soldiers standing at the crowd's edge even looked about uncertainly. San audibly sighed, gesturing for them to rise. They did so hesitantly, and San strode forward, the katana swinging gently. She walked very close to the edge of the crowd, Ashitaka following, his hand never leaving the sword at his waist.
San walked gracefully, looking into the crowd as if personally inspecting the citizen's rough clothing and expressions of awe. She looked down curiously at a small child, pausing in her stride. The girl shrunk back, hiding within her mother's protective embrace, hair boud back with a rough red band. San knelt on one knee, seeking out the girl's wide eyes, and smiled. "Hello, there. Would you like to walk with me?" The girl's mouth fell open, and her mother tried to speak but was unsuccessful. Saisana continued, voice gentle. "I'd so much rather speak to a child of this land." She then looked up to the woman. "If that is fine with you, of course. I cannot take a child from her mother." The woman nodded dumbly, and Saisana brightened visibly, bringing a smile to Ashitaka's face as well. He hadn't seen San smile like that… ever since that night.
She held out an open hand to the girl –who couldn't be older than seven or eight, Ashitaka suspected—and she took it hesitantly. San stood, ignoring the soft brown smudges on her white robe, and led the child a little ways into the wide street, her mother following anxiously.
"I'm Saisana. What is your name?" The girl replied softly, and Ashitaka couldn't hear it. He smiled again, loosening his grip on the katana as they kept pace with the rest of the procession. At Eboshi's order, the litter had been dissembled efficiently and distributed amongst the porters. They proceeded up the main road, a slight incline leading them up the face of what had once been an ancient volcano, towards the peak where the royal palaces were situated.
San continued to converse with the girl, her friendly manner putting the child at an awed sense of ease quickly, sometimes allowing the mother to help her daughter answer San's questions. All the while, Ashitaka noted that she was courteous and kind, but also managed to somehow retain the aura of elegance and beauty. She was very skilled at this, he realized with a hint of frustration.
Soon, San thanked the pair for their time and allowed them to merge back into the crowds, which were finally beginning to thin as they reached the richer areas of the city. Ashitaka's watchfulness did not wane, the narrow alleys and frenetic assortment of dwellings making way for ornamented shrines and organized, multi-story houses and establishments. San took a place at the head of the column, walking beside Eboshi's horse.
Soon, they came into view of the Royal Palace itself, a massive fortress dominating the entire island from its superior vantage point on the peak. The massive complex of buildings were separated from the rest of the city by a battlement-sprinkled wall of hewn stone, and Ashitaka had to keep himself from gaping at the sheer size of it. All of Irontown could have fit within its walls.
"Kage," came Eboshi's controlled voice, and Ashitaka realized with a start that he hadn't noticed the turn-off to where the procession was supposed to be going. He turned to rejoin them, but with a sweeping of white skirts Saisana overtook him, standing by the edge of the road, looking up at the fortress.
"Go, I will follow," she ordered, and Eboshi paused.
"Kage, guard her, while I confirm our arrival. Be watchful!" she called, leading the procession down the narrower roads with a flourish. Toki stayed as well, her rifle held casually over her shoulder, her eyes scanning the rooftops.
The wind brushed Ashitaka's hair around his ears, whispering uncertainties to him. San looked up at the towering cluster of buildings, her expression guarded and neutral as her own white tresses flowed elegantly behind her. Then she shivered. "A mountain of stone, built by men…" she whispered, drawing his eyes. "Made to rule above all below it." Her fist clenched on the hilt of the wolf's-head katana. San said nothing more, however, and spun away to follow the end of the procession. Ashitaka followed.
That was the first time she had directly spoken to him since that night. He shoved the rising pain back again, and succeeded. He had not survived so long without the walls he built around him, and the only difference now was that his feelings for San were now within them as well. The first words she spoke, and they were in condemnation of humanity. He had expected nothing more, however, quickly stifling the rising despair.
They entered the hall, and the pair of uniformed guards watching the doors bowed ceremoniously to Saisana and eyed Kage with inspecting looks. He pulled the identity over himself like a cloak, gripping the katana in a tight grip and twisting his despairing determination into a cold, hardened edge. They would receive no hint of who he was.
They reached the stairs, and Ituse was waiting to direct them. San turned to Ashitaka coldly. "I do not require your furthered assistance, shadow. Return to your mistress." Ashitaka bowed, tiny blades of ice burying themselves in him with every word. Ituse –her gaze distinctly devoid of warmth as well—nodded down a side hallway, and Ashitaka followed it.
He knew the plan. The porters and warriors would rest in a side building devoted to such a purpose, while he, Eboshi, San, and several other guards would rest here, in the main building. He came out into an ornamented room, spacious and grand, presumably some kind of strategically-placed area to meet others. Positioned in the center of it, fittingly, was Eboshi, speaking intently to a man garbed in red and gold. Ashitaka frowned. He was not from their company, and if he remembered correctly, that was the sash of an Imperial messenger on his shoulder.
Ashitaka kept his distance, however, maintaining his role. Ituse stepped past him, anxious now. Eboshi nodded to the man, who bowed and scurried off. Ituse met her and they began to speak in hushed, urgent tones. But just because he was in his role did not mean that he wasn't curious. Ashitaka closed his eyes, and listened.
"—didn't train her for this, Ituse. She isn't ready." His eyes shot open wide, against his will. Eboshi's voice had hints of… panic.
They turned, and Eboshi faced him, her eyes carefully narrowed. He met her gaze unwaveringly, and she took a deep breath.
"Wait, milady, you're going to tell him?" Ituse's glower could almost be felt for the heat of it, but Ashitaka remained unmoved.
Eboshi barked out a rough approximation of a laugh. "Ituse, isn't he the one most likely to be interested in this development? No, he is one of the few I can confide in, especially with Chen's current predicament." She flung up a paper, the edges gilded in gold. "Ashitaka, what is this? And speak whatever you like, I trust this place."
"A Royal Summons."
"Someone's been paying attention. Normally I would applaud you, but today, you are incorrect. The meaning of its presence is changed by something that came with it." She opened her hand wider, revealing a small white rose, virtually perfect in form. She held it out to him, jabbing her hand forward. "Take it, before I crush it under my heel." He did so, carefully, the small flower tumbling gently.
"There is another player in this game, Ashitaka," Eboshi spat, and Ashitaka stepped back unconsciously, shocked at her barely-contained fury. "All of my planning has come to this moment and…" She took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing once again, her carefully painted nails pinching at the embossed paper. "I should have expected this. With Saisana being all that she is, and the Akaihana abounding as it does…"
Ashitaka waited as patiently as he could, the small rose protected in his palm. He could not read Imperial script, and Eboshi knew this. She fixed him in her gaze. "This is from the Imperial House itself, Ashitaka. Written by a one Aiko Yamasaki," Ashitaka let out his unconscious breath in a gasp. He knew that name, its origins and history. Eboshi had tested him relentlessly. "-to honor the company of Saisana Rei'im personally," Eboshi continued, who had read the last phrase from the letter itself.
She lowered the letter and met Ashitaka's gaze. Her bronze eyes glittered with frustration, and… yes. That was fear. "The Prince of the Empire and son of the man who wants to destroy your people, Ashitaka, desires to make the acquaintance of our dear wolfish moon princess." She let out another laugh, this one not quite managing to contain the desperation of dark humor. "Over dinner."