Part I
1
It was already becoming cooler as the evening moved started to settle upon the land. Akira had been walking southwest along the road for most of the day. It was a quiet journey, and a pleasant one. It gave him time to appreciate the trees and the mountains around him. Mostly, people did not take the time to appreciate nature. The sun was slowly starting to set. He squinted and looked ahead, and saw the sunlight sinking beyond the mountains where he was headed. He knew he would have to find a place to rest soon, as he was becoming tired.
A little ways more down the road, Akira saw smoke coming from atop the distant trees. That meant there was a village located there. Akira paused for a moment, then checked the sack he was carrying. He slapped himself on the forehead once he realized he had forgotten to take a blanket. He thought that perhaps he could get one in the village. He kept walking along the path, and shortly got to the village. It was small, almost an encampment. There were several huts off to one side, and in the middle, an open market. Most of the shops were starting to close up.
One was lavishly dressed, in a long and colorful robe. He had a rather large shop, and Akira observed he had many blankets and other things, including bowls and vases. This caught Akira's attention, and he approached the man. The man was sitting cross-legged on one of his carpets, staring straight forward. He saw Akira approach, and gave a wide smile.
"Well, a traveller!" He exclaimed, getting up. "May I interest you in some of my wares, friend? I have had little business today." Akira thought that the short, jovial man was a little odd.
"Um...well, I'm interested in buying a blanket." Akira responded.
"Really?" The man said, putting his arms at his sides. He sounded interested. He casually put his arm on Akira's shoulder. "You know, I haven't had any company in a long while, why don't you have dinner with me at my place?" At first, Akira thought of refusing, but then reconsidered. He thought the man looked harmless enough. Besides, he was getting a free meal.
The Vendor's hut was larger than the others, and it was nicely decorated. Akira guessed that he was well off. He took a quick look around, then the man beckoned for him to come sit on the floor around an oak table. The table was also nicely carved.
"Oh, I'm sorry." The man said. "I seem to have forced all this upon you very quickly."
"No problem at all. Thank you for your hospitality." Akira replied.
"My name is Jo. I'm a local merchant here. I travel around and collect goods from lands far away."
"My name is Akira." Akira said.
"Where are you from?"
"I come from nowhere." Jo looked at Akira suspiciously. To the merchant, he seemed like a strange man.
"You have to be from somewhere if you pack weapons like that." Jo observed as Akira placed his bow on the floor.
"I used to be a mercenary."
"A mercenary?" Jo asked. He was instantly interested in what this shadowy character had to say. "Wait here, I'll get some food." Jo quickly got up from his seat, and went through a covering into another room. Akira waited patiently for awhile, thinking to himself. Jo finally appeared bringing two bowls of soup. He set them down on the table in front of them.
"So," he started, continuing the conversation "Why are you traveling alone like this?"
"Well, I am going to find my brother."
"Your brother?"
"Yes." Akira tasted some of the soup, it was fairly good.
"Do you have any other family?" Jo sipped his soup slowly, as he asked. Akira thought about this for a few moments.
"No." He said. It was a lie, of course.
"So where have you been living all this time?"
"I was recently in a small village North of here. Before that, I was a drifter. I used to go around looking for work as a mercenary. I used to sleep in the forests."
"The forests?" Jo was instantly surprised by this.
"What is the big deal about the forests?" Akira asked. He was genuinely wondering why people feared the forests so much. He had come to the conclusion that people feared the Gods of the forest. They would be angry for humans destroying the forest.
"I'm surprised you're still alive." Jo commented. "Anyone who goes there usually does not come back out again."
"Ever since I was young, I appreciated nature, and the beauty of it. I used to spend time out there alone. The animals and Gods seemed to accept me." Akira said, his eyes on the floor. Jo thought he was sincere, and this shocked him.
"Well, you must be different." Jo said, he finished up his soup.
"Yes, I was always an outcast too. Nobody wanted to associate themselves with a killer."
"Did you chose this life?" Jo asked.
"No." Akira replied sadly.
"Then you shouldn't have anything to worry about." Jo smiled, and patted Akira slightly on the back.
"Thank you for the meal." Akira said.
"Oh no problem, it was good to have some company. Do you need a place to sleep?"
"That would be perfect. I cannot repay you for this." Jo smile again.
"It's nothing. You have to have a good heart, and even though I've only talked to you very little, I know you are a good man, and hope you find what you need to. I have a mat you can sleep on over there." Jo pointed to the corner.
"How far is it from here to Iron Town do you think." Akira asked. He wanted to know how long he would have to travel.
"On foot? About 3 or 4 days, depending on the route you take. The main road will get you there quickly. You have to cross the mountains though."
"Should not be a problem." Akira replied, moving past the table to where the wool mat lay." Jo walked to the side and picked up a blanket.
"Here, you can keep this." He tossed the blanket to Akira. "You owe me nothing friend. Perhaps we will meet again."
"I will be leaving early tomorrow."
"That's fine. Good luck on your travels." Jo disappeared into a back room. Akira lay down upon the mat, and spread the blanket over him. He hope everyone he met was as kind as this. He knew he had a long journey ahead.
2
5 days later
The bluff overlooking Iron Town was a fantastic sight to behold. From there, the whole town could be seen among the lake and the surrounding mountains. Ashitaka enjoyed taking walks out in the hills. The immediate forest was slowly regaining itself. There were many beautiful flowers and grasses among the ruins of the forest. If one were to go further inward, the remaining forests could be reached.
After the war between Gods and humans, things had been at peace. Ashitaka always thought he needed a break, and tried to take his time with things. He was now the lord of Iron Town, after the previous Lady Eboshi had perished. He had decided to stay here among the friends that he had. However, he always felt there was something missing. He looked back to his childhood, and early teenage years to a time he would never dare speak of. He felt happy that he had found somewhere were he could call his home, but he needed what was lost from him, what he was ashamed to talk about.
Over the years Ashitaka had been disturbed by what he could not do in the past, for what he could not stop from happening. He hated himself for it. He also had hated his father for what he had done, but told no one. Everyone that Ashitaka came across knew little of his past. He did not want to tell anyone either. He was most ashamed of his father, and what he had done.
Ashitaka continued his walk in the forest, and came across a fallen log. Beside it, a small tree grew out of the soil. He decided to take a rest and sit down. He looked up at the blue sky, and thought to himself how nice it was to be alive. He was contemplating heavily, and did not notice a whizzing sound as an arrow went right past his ear and stuck itself into the tree beside him. His eyes popped open immediately, as he dove to the ground. Someone was trying to kill him. Another arrow came through the air with the same shrill whistling, and stuck in the ground beside him. He heard slight laughing in the distance.
"Who's there?" He called out into the forest, still remaining on the ground behind the log.
"It's been a long time, brother." A distant, mellow sounding voice answered him. Ashitaka was immediately flooded with disbelief. Could it be him?
"Are you really him?" He called out again.
"Why don't you take a look for yourself. I am coming out." Ashitaka cautiously raised himself off the ground and looked ahead of himself. In front of him, about five meters away, stood a short man, with long and unruly brown hair. He wore simple clothes, which looked like dirty rags. It was him.
"Akira?"
"It's me." Ashitaka stood there for a moment and then rushed toward him, he embraced Akira, and Akira returned it. Akira felt a flood of emotion come to him, and felt a tear in his eye. He looked at Ashitaka and saw he was slightly crying as well.
"I promised I would see you again, brother, and I found you." Akira said and smiled.
"How long has it been?" Ashitaka asked.
"I think six years." Akira patted Ashitaka on the back, and looked at him.
"I am overjoyed that you found me, Akira. We can finally be a family again."
"I hope so." Akira stood back and examined Ashitaka.
"You sure have grown taller, and obviously stronger. I am shorter than you."
"You have grown too, especially your hair." Akira laughed a little at his. So did Ashitaka, he had not heard that laugh in years.
"I do not mean to be rude, brother, but you smell rather bad." Ashitaka commented.
"I have been traveling in the forest for a week. What did you expect." Akira grinned.
"I wanted to ask you, how did you ever come to be in this village?" Akira asked.
"I will take you to the village." Ashitaka said in a happy voice. "I shall explain everything there."
As they walked, the emptiness inside of Akira instantly seemed to be filled. The deep void that he had possessed in his soul was closed up. He was now with someone that he knew from a long time ago, someone he loved and would always protect. He knew everything could be perfect though. He hoped so at least. In the past for him, nothing had stayed in excellent status for ever.