Midnight's Royalty
(A.N: This is my first Princess Mononoke fic! Please read and review!)
Disclaimer: I do not own Princess Mononoke, so don't sue me!
The last rays of the summer sun set behind the hills, vibrant hues of red and yellow fading to the soothing black of night. All was quiet in the forest, save for the enchanting melody of a lone flutist which pierced the night like a sorrowful cry into the wind. Time passed, and the night grew later yet, but the flute player continued the melody well into the night. This night marked an important date for her, and her moonlit celebration was all she had to recognize it with. Past was the past.
Finally, she took the flute from her lips, and the night was deafeningly still. The only sound was her quiet breathing and the steady beating of her heart. The silence was almost painful, empty and lonesome on a day that should have been warm with the presence of another. Her sigh seemed to echo through the forest, so vacant yet alive with the pulse of life flowing through it. Two wolves trotted to her side, their eyes glowing in the night. Her eyes reflected the dancing stars, illuminating her face and highlighting her stunning beauty, and nearly hiding the solitary tear that slid down her cheek.
"Come, sister. The night will end soon. You must rest." Jiro said, nudging her along the hard-packed path.
"Do not cry over that human" Taru scoffed, but she noticed a rare gentleness in his pure golden eyes. She lowered her head shamefully. Her brothers always knew exactly what she was thinking. Sometimes it was embarrassing, like her feelings for that human.
Ashitaka. Why did he do this to her? On this day a year ago fate had brought them together. She always had been skeptical of him. Human. She never should have trusted him. He should have died.
When the Forest Spirit saved him she thought it was a sign. Something that would say he wasn't human, something that would allow them to be together. He was kind at first. Understanding, gentle, and more loving then any human she had ever known. But still human.
Dirty, filthy human. He reminded her that she was part of his race, even if only by a tiny portion. He taught her greed. She never lived a day after she met him without longing for him, craving him by her side, desiring his touch and praise. She didn't even realize what was happening until he left, taking her heart with her. That had been her second reminder of her human nature. Heartbreak.
She was alone that day for the first time in weeks, and the loss of him was as if a piece of her own body had been savagely ripped off. The wound never healed, and every day the wretched wound grew larger, violently spewing more blood and regret. Leave it to a human to do this to her. If he really loved her he wouldn't have hurt her so.
The worn path ended at the rock cave and she entered quietly as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the blanketing darkness. She curled up, but try as she might she never entered dreams that dawn. Her body felt cold, even with the furry bodies of Jiro and Taru against her. Something was happening, but she couldn't understand what.
The sun was high into the noon sky when San finally felt sleep interweave itself inside her mind. She didn't fight it, and soon was drifting in a state of inexistence.
A.N.: End first chapter. I hope you liked it. If I get any reviews I'll update, otherwise I probably won't… so if you like it update! The plot will be more evident in later chapters, I promise! Don't ask about San and the flute part in the beginning. I just think it sounds pretty-like.