A/n: I am soooooo~ sorry! *bows a million times* I took forever to write this…But I at least have a legitimate excuse this time. I got a new laptop for Christmas…aka UTTER CHAOS… It took me weeks before I even transferred all my files. *everyone sweatdrops* I know, I know, I'm sad… I also got a CCS fic started! That consumed some time…As well as my 200-some page novel…and the gol darn elfwoodians are DEMANDING, I tell you!!! Can't even upload 'cos Thomas Whats-his-butt-the-Swede wants to fool around with the extranet and they STILL bludgeon you with  WRITE MORE, WRITE MORE!!!!! *sigh* Exuses, excuses, I KNOW…

Disclaimer: I do not own Princess Mononoke. If I did I wouldn't have to write this. Blah. Blah blah. Blah blah blah.

Chapter Three:

            San was not happy.

            She was happy for Ashitaka, of course—who happened to be extatic at that point—but beyond that her enthusiasm had gone into the negatives. She hated—not even disliked intensely, hated—humans, and here she was surrounded by them. Listening to their noise, smelling their human stink, watching them pile all over her Ashitaka. They alternately ignored and stared unabashedly at her, both of which she found equally rude. She found most things they found rude…except maybe die. And none of these people seemed predisposed to die any time soon.

            San trotted behind Ashitaka with the sort of general aura that anyone who cared to notice (no one did) would've taken unquestionably as one who feels that if she was seperated from him at this point the world might just come to an end. At the same time she scowled and made a point of remaining coldly silent. Ashitaka, Kaya perched happily on his shoulders (though she was rather big at the point to do any such thing), was typically oblivious to this until he happened to glance back at her for a second.

            His face fell almost inperceptibly and then his usually warm smile was plastered back onto his face. There was, however, a beseeching and somewhat reassuring glint in his eyes aimed at San. She glared defiantly back and frowned as if to say, It's not my fault I hate humans. He seemed to take the hint and as soon as the loud chaos had died down somewhat he asked wearily, "Where should we put our bags?" Not that there were many 'bags'. But their traveling stuffs sounded better as a plural.

            They were allowed a quick breather in Ashitaka's old room—but much quicker than San would've liked, because next thing they were dragged back out again and marched up to the Wise Woman's hut.

            The Wise Woman gaped at them with eyes bleary with age, then murmured, "My prince? Is that you?"

            Ashitaka nodded, ignoring the testy look San was giving him. While one of the Elders gushed out Ashitaka's story, slightly altered and exaggerated here and there, she hissed, " 'My prince'?"

            He shrugged. "Didn't Yakkul tell you that?"

            She crossed her arms. "How much do you think an elk knows about social structure, Ashitaka?" she demanded through her teeth.

            "Well, you're called Princess Mononoke," he returned calmly.

            The Wise Woman raised her hand to silence the jabbering Elder. "What was that, Ashitaka?"

            He blinked, looking slightly abashed. "What?"

            "The girl's name." The Wise Woman nodded, indicating San.

            "It's just a stupid name the humans give me," San replied tersely for him. "My real name is San." She sounded less than pleased.

            "But what was it?"

            "Princess Mononoke," Ashitaka answered quickly, cutting off the sharp remark that San would've inevitably made.

            The Wise Woman laughed. "Our prince goes out into the strange lands to the west, and even then he finds himself a princess." San blushed in a mixure of fury and embarrassment—mostly the former. Then she fixed her gaze on Ashitaka, seriously. "But, you cut your hair. We disowned you. We told you you were dead to us and not to return. So why did you?"

            Ashitaka sighed, and said clearly, "The place I settled, Iron Town. A plague had struck it. And the cure could only be found here—so Lady Eboshi sent me to get it. I tried to tell her I couldn't, but she wouldn't listen. So I came."

            "What is it you need, Ashitaka?" the Wise Woman queried curiously.

            "Imakkai."

            She let out an understandning ahhhhh and rocked back on her heels. "I know where it can be found." She fixed her bleary gaze on Kaya. "She's been learning from me, your sister. Go with her tomorrow morning to fetch this plant you seek. For now, take your rest. You will need it."

*****

            Ashitaka sat unmoving on his tatami mat. Across the room San lay fast asleep, curled up in a tight ball—or at least she was fainting sleep, being to peeved with the world, it seemed, to want to hold a conversation.

            There was a light rap on the door, and Ashitaka jumped to his feet as quietly as he could. If San was awake she was doing a pretty good job of pretending, for he didn't see her sharp ears perk up like they would've if she were awake. Or perhaps it was a sign that she really was awake—even in her sleep she probably would've heard it, and if not woken up, at the very least have perked up. Either way there was no way of knowing and Ashitaka knew it would be futile to try and figure out which was true.

            He opened the door to see, not to his surprise, Kaya's glowing face. She stepped in without being asked and settled herself down on one end of her brother's tatami pallet. He, with a sigh, sat slowly down on the other end, eying San suspiciously. Kaya didn't seem to notice. "I'm so glad you're back, Ashitaka," she whispered gleefully, leaning in so he could hear her better.

            "Not for long," he warned quietly. "I might have to be gone even before tommorow afternoon."

            Her face fell for a slit second and then brightened once again. "I'm just glad you're alive. And I'm glad I got to see you again. You will visit us again, Ashitaka?"

            "I will try," he promised solomnly, though he really doubted it. Kaya obviously didn't catch the note of uncertainty in his voice and turned her attentions to something more interesting.

            . "How'd you get that?" she whispered curiously, pointing to a scar under his eye.

            "San." He smiled wryly as if at a memory. "During when she didn't know I was a friend, and when she clumped all humans together into the same silly pile."

            "What is she?" Kaya asked uncertainly.

            "A princess of the wolves," her brother explained, lovingly examining the person in question. Kaya turned her head to take a good look at the young woman, also.

"My…dagger," she whispered.

            Ashitaka looked away nervously. "It gave me good luck. San needed it, so I gave it to her, and it saved her life."

            "How?"

            "She was buried inside the demon Lord Akotto. I saw the glint of the crystal and so was able to find her." He laughed ruefully. "Of course, she stabbed me with it just a few minutes later." Kaya didn't need to ask why, or what happened afterwards. It was written all over his face, which was tinged slightly red.

            "You really love her, don't you?" Kaya asked thoughtfully, careful to keep her voice low.

            Ashitaka reddened further and tilted his head down so that his hair obscured the veiw of his face. Finally he mumbled, "Yes, Kaya, I do."

            Kaya smiled happily and kept doing so until he looked up at her again. "Good night, Ashitaka." With that she got up and left the room.

            He sighed and looked back at San, who'd buried her face in her blankets. "San," he sighed, "I know you're awake. Stop it. You're going to suffocate yourself."

            She pulled the blankets reluctantly away, but turned over onto her other side immediately, facing away from Ashitaka. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, San asked, "Did you mean what you told your little…sister?"

            "I would never lie to Kaya," he replied evasively, voice firm.

            "Well, then…So you know…I do, too." With that she burrowed into her blankets and refused to speak any further.

A/n: I know this ends off horribly, but I felt obligated to upload SOMETHING. Chpt. 4 will show up some time within the next week or two… I know this is short but please forgive me, I've decided that more short chapters is better than a few long chapters. I get things out more quickly. R/R!!!! And if you like this stuff (my humor fics stink) you might want to visit my elfwood page, where all my GOOD stuff is located. See my bio page for the link-ie. Once again, R/R! Domo!