A Cry in the Night

Disclaimer: Sadly I STILL do not own any of the main characters used in my story, and Princess Mononoke is purely the genius of Hayoa Miyasaki. Everything else is mine! Muahahaha.

Authors note: Sorry it's been so long since I've updated, but I promise I am making an effort to remedy that. Hence: Chapter three is up! dances

"Let's hear it for Ping and Sango! May they live long and love long!"

Cheers answered that toast and glasses were raised in agreement. It was a wedding night in Iron town and everyone there found joy in the union and celebrated the newly weds. For the relatives and friends, they knew that love was the reason for the union, but for others that only knew the two by name, found that two trading companies had joined and were to expand their market through the legal contracts bound.

There were drinks and dancing in the large enclosure of the fort. Men asked their ladies to dance while the children chased each other in the attempt to spread their 'cooties'. A merry band played nothing but the best known and the most wanted, with the occasional slow song that had all couples swaying softly in the arms of their lovers. Even the brothel girls had found the excuse to enjoy a man's company again… only for the celebration of course.

Ashitaka, placed on guard duty, found it hard not to watch the merriment that went on below the ramparts. Dancing was something that he was raised with in his old village and he was known both then and now to be a very good partner indeed when the music was right. It was often said that if ever one wished to see a great dancer, watch the foot work of a warrior's moves and awe will bring silence. And Ashitaka was known to be a warrior.

"Uh oh, you're foots tapping."

Smiling without regret, Ashitaka watched as the honored groom came over to his side. "And what if I am? Scared I'll neglect my duties and go down there to show you how to really dance with your bride?"

Ping managed to look appalled. "You wouldn't dare!"

"I don't know, man…She's a lovely handf-oof!" Ashitaka grinned as he rubbed his side.

"Don't even think about it." Though he was grinning, Ping raised his fists as an added threat.

Laughing now and holding up his hands in surrender, Ashitaka leaned against the wooden railing. "She's yours and you know it. Pity though. She really does know how to mo—ove, It's a joke! It's a joke!" Dodging Ping's punches, he laughed and bowed this time, proving his teasing was over.

Unable to avoid his own mirth, Ping turned to watch his bride dance with her father. His laughter ebbed as he felt his emotions rise at the site. It didn't go unnoticed.

"I'm very happy for you. She'll make a perfect wife."

"Yes, well. Let's only hope that I will be the man that she needs."

"What are you saying? Of course you are!"

Ping gave a sideways glance and a lift of his eyebrow that clearly said 'yeah right'.

"Hey- it's true! You are a great trader with a thriving business, which is now booming even better due to your union. You've a land up north that is suitable for any woman to master and better yet, you love her." He ended on a soft note.

"That's just it Ashitaka. I do love her and it scares the hell out of me. I woke up today thinking that this was it. This is what I've been living for. She…is what I've been living for and then next thing I knew I was dunking my head in the rain barrel, scared as all hell. I don't want to mess this up. I could live without the trade Ashitaka. I could throw everything- my land, my money, my trade, all of it. I could toss it to the mercy of the wolves-but I can't lose Sango. And she thinks I am strong enough to lead her when, in truth, it's all her…all her." He looked over to his companion, fighting the need to laugh for showing so much of his self, but for some reason, he thought Ashitaka would understand. When he did not get a reply in turn, Ping rubbed his mouth, wishing he didn't divulge his feelings.

"Look at her."

"Huh?" Ping looked again to Ashitaka, whose eyes were on his wife again as she was now dancing with her younger brother to another slow song. The young man had said something to make her laugh, bringing her beautiful face to radiate the happiness that she was feeling.

"Look at your wife, Ping. She's down there dancing with a younger man, leading him in a dance that he has never done, but has watched his family do over and over again. He knows the steps in his mind, and she knows them by heart. Ah, see? He stepped on her foot. That definitely isn't part of the dance that plays in his head, but- there they go- they keep dancing anyway. I assume it is different when both partners have only the steps in their minds and both are hesitant to lead, but I know that when I dance-" he was now watching Ping watch his wife, "-I feel the music and let it guide me into its own version of the dance. It sways, I sway; it slows, I slow. Your wife and you have joined a new dance, Ping and you are to lead it as is your right, but you both have to move with each other and the way I see it, Sango is just waiting for you to-"

Ashitaka smiled to himself as he watched his friend react to the fact that Sango had chosen that moment to look up at them both with a beckoning smile and her husbands name on her lips. Ping didn't spare another glance at Ashitaka, merely turned and headed down the steps to get to the dance floor.

"-join her in the dance," he whispered to the air. He had to admit, he never knew that a man newly married would have reserves. In his old village, it was a custom to spend a year with the intended to see if things worked out. If not, the union was forfeit and they could separate, though it rarely happened. When the people of his village wished to join in hands, they were sincere and taken. They were, much to Ashitaka's irony, very much like wolves…

"Ashitaka. I was hoping to find you. I got the message that you needed to see me?"

"Hm?" Coming from the other direction this time, was Toki- her winter's wrap tied tight around her so that her bulging stomach was blatantly obvious. As she was normally inclined to refuse messages and make the sender go to her hut in person, Ashitaka was surprised by her visit. "Er- no- I told the messenger to tell you your crib is complete."

"Oh yes, that was it. Well, sucks to be my husband 'cause I sure as hell ain't gonna carry that thing home." She snorted while Ashitaka chuckled.

"It is light and able to be broken down if you need to travel. The wood smith also put a--or not. Wait for the ox driver- got it."

"Looks like the party's in full bloom."

"Yeah." Ashitaka turned from the party to survey the surrounding woods as was his duty. His eyes had trouble adjusting to the change in light. The darkened night seemed to dance with sparkling lights every time he blinked.

"Sango looks beautiful."

"I know."

"I wonder how many children she'll have." Toki placed her palm over the crest of her stomach subconsciously. "Hopefully they'll all resemble her and have her disposition."

Ashitaka snorted. "Oh come on, Ping is a good looking guy and…his disposition is fair enough."

"'Fair enough?' He almost challenged a samurai the other day when the warrior accidentally bumped into Sango!"

"It was no accident."

"What do you mean?" Toki was now leaning with her back to the celebration, trying to ease her baby's weight from her lower back,

"I watched the samurai trip- on nothing- and grab at Sango's chest."

"No! A samurai wouldn't- that's why I hate men! All they think about is-"

"I don't know about that, but I do know that Ping had a right to challenge him. Though…" he sighed. "I am glad he didn't. He's utterly useless in fighting."

Toki bit back her rant and turned once more to the people below. "Yeah- well. A samurai should know better."

Ashitaka was silent, listening as the dancers called out their favorite songs while the band took a much needed and earned break. Their murmurs grew as the dance floor was left alone, leaving men to gather drinks and woman to converse amongst each other. None of them seeming to notice the absence of the bride and groom they were all celebrating.

"What are you thinking, Ashitaka?"

"That the forest has grown far to fast to have been without its old magic. It's well forested now."

"Is that all that is in that head of yours?"

He didn't answer her, choosing, instead, to watch the road that led around the growing forest. His eyes darted every once and a while towards the tree's, wishing there was something that would give him leave to investigate. It was not that he didn't trust the forest; no it was just the opposite. He found peace when he was in there, among the berries and okudama. It brought him closer to both the spirits there and his memories of San of which seemed to plague him more so now than ever. Ever since that one howl he had heard the other night, he had been unable to sleep very well, waking each time to find himself straining to hear for what he knew was another howl. Jealousy plagued him every now and then at the thought that she was taken with another man. Perhaps one that had said he would stay beside her and fight against the humans. Hell, maybe it was a wolf god. Either way he hated the feeling. But even when the green anger set in, a hope followed its wake, causing his chest ease from jealousy's tight grasp. He hoped that wherever she was- she was happy. Where ever and who ever she chose to-

"Right, Ashitaka?"

"What?' Stumbling from his minds wanderings, Ashitaka frowned as he turned to see Toki glaring at him with her hands on her hips.

"I said: It is San that you are thinking about. Am I right?"

His lungs expelled pent up air and his answer. "Yes."

"I told you once, forget about the girl. She's not like us. She's a wolf in human clothing. You know that."

He forced a nod.

"Ashitaka." Toki moved to grasp his shoulders. "You can find a good wife here and settle down as you need to, here- in Iron town. You'll always have work and income. And think about it. Our children can play with each other and-"

She stopped, an animalistic screech split through the din of Iron Town, effectively calling a halt to the events within. It was a hunting call of a demon and Ashitaka knew it well. Ever since the forest had been demolished, there had been various demons that had sprung forth from its evil. Each one had emitted it's cry of anguish and anger before it rampaged through the forest destroying almost anything in its path and when one demon had turned to the town, and almost destroyed it, the men of the town decided to hunt each one down in order to protect both the forest and their lives.

"MEN! TO YOUR MOUNTS!"

The bell alarms were sounded and Ashitaka, Toki's forgotten, took off running to the end of the ramparts, knowing Yakkul would be waiting there for him. With a jump, he cleared the surrounding wall and fell upon his steeds back, bringing Yakkul to rear back upon his hind legs before taking off into a break neck run; followed closely by the others that were on guard. They were to hunt the demon and kill it before it damaged too much or took a life- even if it cost them their own.