Mikiri- Part 4-5
(Formerly titled Towairaito no Tatara-Ba(Twilight of Tatara-Ba))
A Mononoke Hime/Princess Mononoke fanfic by John "Aren" Neal
[Introduction/Notes]
For a more detailed introduction and explanation to the story, see Mikiri parts 1-3.
That's about it, I suppose... Oh yeah, Mononoke Hime/Princess Mononoke and
related characters and events are copyright Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli and Mirimax.
Original characters and such are copyright John "Aren" Neal- so hands off my gumbo.
[Four]
"San!" Ashitaka's voice pierced through the calm air around the forest. He had
arrived at the marsh where the Shishigami had once taken its home, as they had agreed,
but San hadn't been there. Ashitaka was beginning to get a bit worried. He called out
again, guiding Yakkuru through the forest. This wasn't like her. "SAN!"
Movement in the nearby brush caught Ashitaka's attention. His head snapped to
the side to focus on the motion, his eyes trained. He cautiously set his right hand on the
pommel of his sword, waiting for whatever it was to move again.
Silence and stillness... Then, all of a sudden, a great black wolf with a rider bolted
out at Ashitaka and his mount. Instinctively, Ashitaka dismounted Yakkuru and drew his
sword, telling the elk to get away. The black wolf rider saw the challenge, and in turn
lept from his wolf. As he landed, he held his arm out towards the running Red Elk, and
the wolf took off after it.
Now alone in the marsh, the black-clad rider and Ashitaka stared each other in the
eye. When the Emishi warrior saw the young man, dressed in black wolf skins, before
him, he knew who it was immediately.
"You!" Ashitaka shouted. "That was you who attacked the city!" He could feel his
anger welling. Because of this wild boy, San was under Tatara-Ba fire once again.
Clenching his teeth, he resisted the temptation to right-out kill... No, he thought. That
wouldn't solve anything here. "What do you want?"
"Was this not once the forest of the Shishigami?" was the only reply from the boy,
hardly holding back his anger. "It's humans like you who do this! Your human greed,
your human foolishness! I attacked the city, and I'll keep it up until you're all dead!" The
rider drew his sword and held it out in front of him.
"You're... you're not from this forest, are you?" Ashitaka asked as calmly as he
could in the face of adversary. "Your wolves are different, not like the gray ones here."
The boy lunged forward. "No, I'm not!" His blade met Ashitaka's and he doubled
back for another strike. "I'm of the Shishigami's forsaken ones!" He brought his sword
down quickly, and Ashitaka had to act fast to block it before the rider struck him in the
skull.
"Forsaken?" Ashitaka stabbed forward himself, but his move was deflected. This
guy was good, Ashitaka thought. At least as good as me. This won't work.
The boy drew back into another stance as he spoke. "Yes! Our type was forsaken
by the Shishigami, this so-called god of life, and driven out! But we didn't forget our real
home. Hundreds of us have died-"
"You mean wolves?" Ashitaka had jumped back and was beginning to ready his
bow. He didn't want to have to do this, but it seemed like it was necessary at this point...
"Of course I mean wolves! So now that you humans have destroyed the
Shishigami, I'll... we'll... take back what's ours! This forest and the lands stolen by
humans belongs to us, the forsaken wolves!" The boy raised his sword to finalize the
stance to rush and strike at Ashitaka again, and began to charge forward.
"But you're-" Ashitaka's reasoning was too late. The boy had reached full attack.
With the bow ready and the boy running rampant towards him, Ashitaka took aim and
released the arrow straight on course for the heart. He watched the thin shaft soar through
the air...
...And then get severed and knocked down to the ground before making impact.
What! thought Ashitaka in desperation as the boy continued, How did he do that? But
then he remembered- His curse had been cured, and with it, the strength of ten men had
mostly passed. But Ashitaka found that his thought came at a price when a strong kick
nailed him in the abdomen and he tumbled backwards. The boy was suddenly over him,
as he had been with Eboshi-Sama, holding the sword to his neck.
"D...Don't you see what's wrong here?" Ashitaka asked pantingly. "This forest is
no longer the home of the god. It's weakened. You sh...should help rebuild it instead of
trying to take it... Please... I..." He bit his lip before continuing. "I don't want to kill you."
The boy grunted and sheathed his blade. He turned his back and walked a
distance away, then bent down to pick something up. He came back to Ashitaka and
crouched over him, still on the ground, and Ashitaka could see what he held. it was the
front half of his arrow, which the boy had severed to prevent its flight. He held the
arrowhead over Ashitaka's scar below the left eye. "You don't? Well, you'll be wiser next
time." With a fast motion of the hand, the arrowhead came down lightly and sliced right
across the mark, the gash forming a small crossbar. The cut was only deep enough to
scar.
With that, the rider rose again and walked off to the edge of the marsh. "Kaze!" he
called out into the forest. Within moments, his black wolf came pattering in to his side.
He mounted and rode off, holding his sword pointing right at Ashitaka until he was out of
sight.
Meanwhile, Yakkuru was still running. He had come upon the rocky cliff edge,
and seen San. He cautiously walked up to her, noticing the black wolf that had been
chasing him was gone.
"Yakkuru?" San said, confusedly. "Where's Ashitaka? Is... is something wrong...?"
[Five]
The troops had begun to assemble at Tatara-Ba. Ranks of trained men lined up in
rows at the town square, with Gonza in the head of the formation. Eboshi walked up
before the soldiers, flanked by two of her most trusted women. She stepped up to a
podium at the front of the square, her presence commanding despite the years of peace
and her lost arm.
"People of Tatara-Ba," she exclaimed, having gotten the attention of the entire
populace. "The forest of the mononoke has decided to again challenge our power. We
have tried to live in peace, and successfully for two years. Now the Mononoke Hime is
back on the warpath, and she has gotten Ashitaka over on her side." A commotion rose
from the crowd before her, and she had to call out even loader to restore order. "It is now
our mission to finally claim these lands! Brave citizens of Tatara-Ba, this time we will be
victorious!"
Cheers filled the town square. Eboshi-Sama had a way with promoting citizen
morale, Gonza thought. He walked up behind her. "Eboshi-Sama," he said, "you'll be
wanting more ishibaya, no doubt. I can get the factory workers to-"
"That won't be needed, Gonza," she replied. "We have no need for the old models
to be made any longer." Gonza looked confused. Eboshi motioned over towards one of
her workers, who walked up and handed her a large object, wrapped in cloth.
"Made to your designs, Eboshi-Sama," the worker said. "If this fits, we can get
started on them within the hour."
"Thank you, this will do," she nodded as she hoisted the object with her single
arm. It was light enough- if she could do it with one, surely the citizens and soldiers
would do it with both of their arms. She held it high and allowed the cloth to drop.
The people of Tatara-Ba gasped collectively at the sight. It seemed, for most
purpose, to be an ishibaya, but not like one they had seen. It had its wooden shaft, its
steel barrel... But this one was of a new shape, and a different, strange firing mechanism.
"I give you our newest weapon in the battle," Eboshi said triumphantly. "And now for the
demonstration." She secured it over her shoulder, and aimed off just above the city walls.
Gripping the mechanism, she pulled back on the trigger.
The people, expecting a single shot, were alarmed when the fire from the ishibaya
continued until Eboshi-Sama eased up on the firing switch. It echoed with a tremendous
sound and flaring of light. She set the gun down, and the worker picked it up and began
to reload it. "That's very good," she said. "Begin work as soon as you can." The worker
bowed and walked off. "People of Tatara-Ba, with these new ishibaya, the forest is as
good as ours, and the Mononoke Hime is as good as dead."
"Eboshi-Sama!" shouted a voice from the crowd. Toki's, Eboshi thought. "What
about Ashitaka? He's out there too..."
"Ashitaka is our friend!" Koroku said in agreement, as Eboshi could pick out
among the voices.
Eboshi shook her head up on her podium. "If he stands in the way of our progress,
he will be considered the same as his Mononoke Hime. We will allow nothing to stop
us."
A fervor pulsed through the citizens, but Toki and Koroku weren't sure of this.
Worriedly, Toki pushed her way off through the crowd to get out of the town square, her
husband following as closely behind as he could. What will we do, thought the forge
woman, feeling desperate for Ashitaka's sake.
Eboshi continued to speak. "Tomorrow morning, we will have the new ishibaya
ready. Let those who are able to fight get one and do so! Citizens of this Tatara-Ba,
mononoke season opens tomorrow!"
Under the cover of the town's maniacal support, Toki and Koroku were able to
sneak up and clear the city walls. Toki ran off towards the forest, Koroku fast behind
her...
[Author's Note]
For more detailed notes, see Mikiri parts 1-3.
If anyone wants to contact me, my AIM screen name is Vash60BillionMan, ICQ
number is 39072552, MSN Messenger is pankurokku@hotmail.com(I don't use that for e-mail
though), and e-mail is john_neal@att.net.
[Notes/Response to Feedback Comments]
(Concerning the comment from Part 1-3 about how the reviews show "A aka"
instead of "Ashitaka") It probably cuts that part out of Ashitaka's name because it could
be read by an editing system as profanity- I've had it happen to me, when I try to play
certain online games under the name "Ashitaka" and it comes up "A@#@!aka." Odd
stuff.
(Formerly titled Towairaito no Tatara-Ba(Twilight of Tatara-Ba))
A Mononoke Hime/Princess Mononoke fanfic by John "Aren" Neal
[Introduction/Notes]
For a more detailed introduction and explanation to the story, see Mikiri parts 1-3.
That's about it, I suppose... Oh yeah, Mononoke Hime/Princess Mononoke and
related characters and events are copyright Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli and Mirimax.
Original characters and such are copyright John "Aren" Neal- so hands off my gumbo.
[Four]
"San!" Ashitaka's voice pierced through the calm air around the forest. He had
arrived at the marsh where the Shishigami had once taken its home, as they had agreed,
but San hadn't been there. Ashitaka was beginning to get a bit worried. He called out
again, guiding Yakkuru through the forest. This wasn't like her. "SAN!"
Movement in the nearby brush caught Ashitaka's attention. His head snapped to
the side to focus on the motion, his eyes trained. He cautiously set his right hand on the
pommel of his sword, waiting for whatever it was to move again.
Silence and stillness... Then, all of a sudden, a great black wolf with a rider bolted
out at Ashitaka and his mount. Instinctively, Ashitaka dismounted Yakkuru and drew his
sword, telling the elk to get away. The black wolf rider saw the challenge, and in turn
lept from his wolf. As he landed, he held his arm out towards the running Red Elk, and
the wolf took off after it.
Now alone in the marsh, the black-clad rider and Ashitaka stared each other in the
eye. When the Emishi warrior saw the young man, dressed in black wolf skins, before
him, he knew who it was immediately.
"You!" Ashitaka shouted. "That was you who attacked the city!" He could feel his
anger welling. Because of this wild boy, San was under Tatara-Ba fire once again.
Clenching his teeth, he resisted the temptation to right-out kill... No, he thought. That
wouldn't solve anything here. "What do you want?"
"Was this not once the forest of the Shishigami?" was the only reply from the boy,
hardly holding back his anger. "It's humans like you who do this! Your human greed,
your human foolishness! I attacked the city, and I'll keep it up until you're all dead!" The
rider drew his sword and held it out in front of him.
"You're... you're not from this forest, are you?" Ashitaka asked as calmly as he
could in the face of adversary. "Your wolves are different, not like the gray ones here."
The boy lunged forward. "No, I'm not!" His blade met Ashitaka's and he doubled
back for another strike. "I'm of the Shishigami's forsaken ones!" He brought his sword
down quickly, and Ashitaka had to act fast to block it before the rider struck him in the
skull.
"Forsaken?" Ashitaka stabbed forward himself, but his move was deflected. This
guy was good, Ashitaka thought. At least as good as me. This won't work.
The boy drew back into another stance as he spoke. "Yes! Our type was forsaken
by the Shishigami, this so-called god of life, and driven out! But we didn't forget our real
home. Hundreds of us have died-"
"You mean wolves?" Ashitaka had jumped back and was beginning to ready his
bow. He didn't want to have to do this, but it seemed like it was necessary at this point...
"Of course I mean wolves! So now that you humans have destroyed the
Shishigami, I'll... we'll... take back what's ours! This forest and the lands stolen by
humans belongs to us, the forsaken wolves!" The boy raised his sword to finalize the
stance to rush and strike at Ashitaka again, and began to charge forward.
"But you're-" Ashitaka's reasoning was too late. The boy had reached full attack.
With the bow ready and the boy running rampant towards him, Ashitaka took aim and
released the arrow straight on course for the heart. He watched the thin shaft soar through
the air...
...And then get severed and knocked down to the ground before making impact.
What! thought Ashitaka in desperation as the boy continued, How did he do that? But
then he remembered- His curse had been cured, and with it, the strength of ten men had
mostly passed. But Ashitaka found that his thought came at a price when a strong kick
nailed him in the abdomen and he tumbled backwards. The boy was suddenly over him,
as he had been with Eboshi-Sama, holding the sword to his neck.
"D...Don't you see what's wrong here?" Ashitaka asked pantingly. "This forest is
no longer the home of the god. It's weakened. You sh...should help rebuild it instead of
trying to take it... Please... I..." He bit his lip before continuing. "I don't want to kill you."
The boy grunted and sheathed his blade. He turned his back and walked a
distance away, then bent down to pick something up. He came back to Ashitaka and
crouched over him, still on the ground, and Ashitaka could see what he held. it was the
front half of his arrow, which the boy had severed to prevent its flight. He held the
arrowhead over Ashitaka's scar below the left eye. "You don't? Well, you'll be wiser next
time." With a fast motion of the hand, the arrowhead came down lightly and sliced right
across the mark, the gash forming a small crossbar. The cut was only deep enough to
scar.
With that, the rider rose again and walked off to the edge of the marsh. "Kaze!" he
called out into the forest. Within moments, his black wolf came pattering in to his side.
He mounted and rode off, holding his sword pointing right at Ashitaka until he was out of
sight.
Meanwhile, Yakkuru was still running. He had come upon the rocky cliff edge,
and seen San. He cautiously walked up to her, noticing the black wolf that had been
chasing him was gone.
"Yakkuru?" San said, confusedly. "Where's Ashitaka? Is... is something wrong...?"
[Five]
The troops had begun to assemble at Tatara-Ba. Ranks of trained men lined up in
rows at the town square, with Gonza in the head of the formation. Eboshi walked up
before the soldiers, flanked by two of her most trusted women. She stepped up to a
podium at the front of the square, her presence commanding despite the years of peace
and her lost arm.
"People of Tatara-Ba," she exclaimed, having gotten the attention of the entire
populace. "The forest of the mononoke has decided to again challenge our power. We
have tried to live in peace, and successfully for two years. Now the Mononoke Hime is
back on the warpath, and she has gotten Ashitaka over on her side." A commotion rose
from the crowd before her, and she had to call out even loader to restore order. "It is now
our mission to finally claim these lands! Brave citizens of Tatara-Ba, this time we will be
victorious!"
Cheers filled the town square. Eboshi-Sama had a way with promoting citizen
morale, Gonza thought. He walked up behind her. "Eboshi-Sama," he said, "you'll be
wanting more ishibaya, no doubt. I can get the factory workers to-"
"That won't be needed, Gonza," she replied. "We have no need for the old models
to be made any longer." Gonza looked confused. Eboshi motioned over towards one of
her workers, who walked up and handed her a large object, wrapped in cloth.
"Made to your designs, Eboshi-Sama," the worker said. "If this fits, we can get
started on them within the hour."
"Thank you, this will do," she nodded as she hoisted the object with her single
arm. It was light enough- if she could do it with one, surely the citizens and soldiers
would do it with both of their arms. She held it high and allowed the cloth to drop.
The people of Tatara-Ba gasped collectively at the sight. It seemed, for most
purpose, to be an ishibaya, but not like one they had seen. It had its wooden shaft, its
steel barrel... But this one was of a new shape, and a different, strange firing mechanism.
"I give you our newest weapon in the battle," Eboshi said triumphantly. "And now for the
demonstration." She secured it over her shoulder, and aimed off just above the city walls.
Gripping the mechanism, she pulled back on the trigger.
The people, expecting a single shot, were alarmed when the fire from the ishibaya
continued until Eboshi-Sama eased up on the firing switch. It echoed with a tremendous
sound and flaring of light. She set the gun down, and the worker picked it up and began
to reload it. "That's very good," she said. "Begin work as soon as you can." The worker
bowed and walked off. "People of Tatara-Ba, with these new ishibaya, the forest is as
good as ours, and the Mononoke Hime is as good as dead."
"Eboshi-Sama!" shouted a voice from the crowd. Toki's, Eboshi thought. "What
about Ashitaka? He's out there too..."
"Ashitaka is our friend!" Koroku said in agreement, as Eboshi could pick out
among the voices.
Eboshi shook her head up on her podium. "If he stands in the way of our progress,
he will be considered the same as his Mononoke Hime. We will allow nothing to stop
us."
A fervor pulsed through the citizens, but Toki and Koroku weren't sure of this.
Worriedly, Toki pushed her way off through the crowd to get out of the town square, her
husband following as closely behind as he could. What will we do, thought the forge
woman, feeling desperate for Ashitaka's sake.
Eboshi continued to speak. "Tomorrow morning, we will have the new ishibaya
ready. Let those who are able to fight get one and do so! Citizens of this Tatara-Ba,
mononoke season opens tomorrow!"
Under the cover of the town's maniacal support, Toki and Koroku were able to
sneak up and clear the city walls. Toki ran off towards the forest, Koroku fast behind
her...
[Author's Note]
For more detailed notes, see Mikiri parts 1-3.
If anyone wants to contact me, my AIM screen name is Vash60BillionMan, ICQ
number is 39072552, MSN Messenger is pankurokku@hotmail.com(I don't use that for e-mail
though), and e-mail is john_neal@att.net.
[Notes/Response to Feedback Comments]
(Concerning the comment from Part 1-3 about how the reviews show "A aka"
instead of "Ashitaka") It probably cuts that part out of Ashitaka's name because it could
be read by an editing system as profanity- I've had it happen to me, when I try to play
certain online games under the name "Ashitaka" and it comes up "A@#@!aka." Odd
stuff.