After a day of traveling across a wasteland that had been littered with the bodies of soldiers that had dared to face her in battle, Ashi wandered about in search of food, as Jack made haste to create a campfire.
He saw her petite form approach with arms full various edible plants just as he had gotten the fire going.
After a simple meal, they laid down on opposite sides of the campfire and attempted to sleep. Much of the adrenaline she had gotten from the battle had prevented this.
She looked to her companion, finding him laying still but awake. His new white gi covering most of himself, and his long lost sword still in his hands.
Her mind wandered back to the night she first told him to tell her the truth about himself, and of Aku.
"Jack?" Ashi asked timidly, looking to the night sky. "Do you know other stories? Like the one about the stars that you told me?"
Jack looked up and found his eyes drawn to the waxing moon.
"I know one about a woman who lives on the moon," he answered. "But… it's not a happy tale."
"Tell it to me," she encouraged.
He paused and then began:
"Long ago, there lived a kind but poor Bamboo Cutter and his Wife who longed to have a child. One day, when the Bamboo Cutter and his Wife were working in his grove and they came to a stalk that was bigger than the others.
He cut it open and found a little girl inside of it.
"Who are you?" The Wife asked her.
"My name is Princess Kaguya," she told them. "I am here to be your daughter."
The Bamboo Cutter told her sadly, "I wish we could be your family, but we are so poor that we would not be able to give you the care you need."
"Fear not, dear Father," Kaguya said. "For our house shall be greatly blessed. Please go and cut another bamboo stalk."
The Bamboo Cutter did as Kaguya asked. He was shocked to discover that whenever he cut a bamboo stalk, a gold nugget would fall from it.
It was with this blessing that Kaguya and her new family were able to build a small palace of their own and live comfortably.
As time went on, Kaguya grew up to become one of the most beautiful women in all of the land. Many men came to ask for her hand but the Bamboo Cutter only allowed five to approach her.
Kaguya, however, did not want to marry, so she gave each of her five suitors an impossible task. More than one tried to reason with her, but she was adamant in her requests. Not one of the suitors could accomplish what she asked of them.
Word of the five suitors and the tasks eventually reached the ears of the Emperor. He found himself quite curious about what kind of woman would issue such tests and requested to meet her.
When the Emperor laid eyes upon her, he fell deeply in love and asked her to become his wife, but Kaguya only looked sadly upon the Emperor and told him, "Forgive me, but I can not marry you, for I am not a citizen of this land."
The Emperor was confused. "If you are not one of my subjects, then where are you from?" he asked.
"I am from the Kingdom of the Moon," she confessed to him. "I was sent here to grant a wish at the request of my own King. My time in this land is ending and I must return within a few nights. My King will be sending an envoy to escort me home."
The Emperor was horrified at the thought of never seeing her again and stationed a battalion of his finest soldiers outside her home in order to stop the envoy.
When night fell and the moon was highest in the sky, the soldiers saw a bright flash of light and found themselves blinded.
When daybreak came, the sight of the soldiers was restored, and Kaguya was nowhere to be found.
In her room, they found a strange vial and letter addressed to the Emperor from Kaguya. The letter thanked the Emperor for his hospitality and revealed that the strange vial was the Elixir of Life, which would grant immortality to the drinker.
Heartbroken, the Emperor refused to drink it, for he didn't want to live forever knowing the woman he loved would not be a part of it. So, he ordered the Elixir to be burned upon the highest mountain in the land."
Ashi was silent for a time.
"That's a depressing story," she finally said.
"I'm sorry," Jack said. "I did warn that it's not a happy tale."
She spoke again after a moment.
"Was Kaguya in love with the Emperor?" she asked.
He raised a brow at her question.
"Well..." he paused, trying to think of how to explain it. "It varies from telling to telling."
"What about your telling?"
He felt himself beginning to become flustered. "W-why do you think that's important?"
"Well… she could have given the Emperor an impossible task like she did with her other suitors, but she decided to tell him the truth instead. Why would she do that? Did she not want to go back to the Moon? Did she think the Emperor could help her? And if that was preventing her from taking a husband, then why not tell the other suitors that? And why offer the Emperor the Elixir?"
Jack thought for a moment. "I don't think telling the suitors the truth would have stopped them from pursuing her. I suppose it's possible that Kaguya may have had feelings for the Emperor."
He started to ask what brought on all her questions, only to glance over and see that she had fallen asleep.
Her short dark hair framing her face and her body covered by the strange dress of leaves she had fashioned. She seemed so peaceful. It was strange to him to think that this woman had once attempted to take his life.
Today she had proven that he was able to trust her, and he was glad of that. As he began to drift to sleep, he couldn't help thinking that she looked beautiful.
She had felt Aku leave the world. He assured her that he could never hurt anyone ever again, and they embraced for the first time since the moment they realized they felt more than just companionship for each other.
Ashi walked slowly and gracefully towards the alter of the Shinto Temple where Jack waited for her. Her white wedding robes contrasting to his black ones.
Part of her wanted to take in the sight of everyone, all the people of this time that had helped him, but all she could think of was the man waiting for her with the Priest and she couldn't help returning his gentle smile, eager to start this new life with him.
As she neared the halfway point, a strange feeling overtook her and her smile vanished. She tried to take another step, only to lose her balance and fall.
She knew what was happening. She had feared it coming once she had felt Aku leave this world. However, hours turned into days, weeks, and then months. After so much time, she began to feel that she was safe without him; that she could exist. The feeling now told her that it could not be.
She felt Jack's hands on her, holding her upright.
He said her name, worried for her.
She opened her eyes, feeling weak and knowing that she was fading.
"Jack."
"What's wrong?"
With what strength she could summon, she placed her hand to his cheek. "Without Aku, I never would have existed," she explained.
She was vaguely aware of him saying something as she let her eyes close.
She felt herself awaken suddenly hearing a voice laughing. This would not have been concerning, had it not been a voice that she'd thought that she'd never have to hear again.