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Chapter II: A Meeting Much Like Their First
Ashitaka stared silently, stoney faced into the vast brush ahead of him. Was this new? No, it most certainly wasn't. But then, what made him feel so... unprepared? As he peered into the darkness, thoughts flashing, memories, and so much more, he realized that it wasn't the forest that made him apprehensive. It was the thought of seeing San again. He wasn't even sure how long it had been: weeks, months maybe? But now he would see her and he would run to her and hold her in his arms and peer into her eyes and tell her just how much he loved her, and that he had missed her oh-so-terribly, he thought.
He took in a breath and set his eyes on what lay ahead, telling himself: this is it, man, this is your chance to see - to be with - San, and you know better than to let such a trivial thing intimidate you. He nodded, as if agreeing with himself, and he adjusted his robe and steadied his sword in its clutch, as if setting off for a grand adventure.
He set his eyes now on Yakul, who stood fearlessly - and yet knowingly - beside him, the animal snorting some now and then before gazing back at his kind master. Ashitaka nodded in acknowledgment to Yakul's humble presence and saddled him, running his hands over Yakul's coarse pelt before kicking his side gently. They ventured into the forest.
They were welcomed, as usual, by the Kodama who appeared and reappeared everywhere in great numbers, their heads making hollow rattling noises. Ashitaka could not help but smile; these spirits had salvaged him when he had first ventured into the forest, and he had a feeling they would help him once more.
He smiled as he looked around and said, in a calm, if not spirited voice, "will you help me find San?" His reply was that of rattles and the small movement of Kodama feet as they scattered around and ahead of him. Yakul followed them obediently, and they walked together, Ashitaka, Yakul, and the many Kodama through the dark, yet inviting, brush of the forest.
Suddenly and abruptly, a noise, much like a growl was heard in the near distance, and Yakul stopped instantly; through everything he had been through, the forests and the war, he was still as jumpy as ever. He made a small sort-of whimper and Ashitaka patted him soothingly.
"Shh, Yakul, do you see-" then he noticed that the Kodama had disappeared, all of them gone in the blink of an eye. "Hmm..." Ashitaka titled his head toward the direction the sound seemed to be coming from. And then, as if piercing the silence that had followed that mysterious sound, came a voice. And it was San's.
"San!" Ashitaka grinned uncontrollably and kicked at Yakul's hide, racing him towards the sound. They ran swiftly through the trees, a thrill surging through Ashitaka as he kicked Yakul to go faster, faster. Soon, through the trees Ashitaka could see a blur of white, Moro, maybe, and a pool of water and San and some other white creatures who had to be her brothers.
"San! San... it's me, San! It's me, Ashitaka!" Yakul stopped right in front of the standing figure of San as Moro peered at her side, her brothers behind her. Ashitaka jumped off of Yakul and, standing there in front of San, the biggest, most delightful grin painted on his face, he caught his breath. And then his eyes met San's; those dark, secretive eyes that had seemed to him the most beautiful eyes in the world that now stared at him like stone, not moving from his face. Nor was her expression any lighter, for she not only frowned, but her teeth were pulled back, just slightly into a snarl. The sounds of fierce growling came from Moro and her sons, just as if he were any unknown stranger come to trespass their home. Did they not recognize him? Why did she not smile, why didn't she even say a word...?
"San, I-" but his grin turned quickly to a frown as he watched San straddle Moro and then, in utter silence, took off into the depths of the trees, leaving him there without even a second glance. But Ashitaka was not mad, nor was he really much of anything. He should have expected this from the beginning. So much for a perfect reuniting. Eboshi was right, she had not forgotten him; he knew that by the way she looked at him, peered into his eyes. And she hadn't forgotten his promise, either.