Part II
1
The gates to Iron Town opened and Akira was led inside by Ashitaka. As soon as Akira was inside, he saw a whole new world before him which he had never seen before. Around him were brand new houses, and a newly build marketplace. In the distance was an enormous building with a cloud of smoke lazily rising from the top of it. In the distance he heard the blacksmiths' hammers, and the chatter of many people as they walked along the dirt roads. Surrounding the town was a high battlement, with several guard towers. Akira observed there was armed sentries in the towers. The midday sun was pleasantly warm, and many people seemed to be enjoying the day.
Ashitaka led him forward towards the center of the town. Many people stopped to look at the disheveled man they saw before them. This made Akira feel somewhat uneasy. He was not used to large places like this. Ahead in the road, Ashitaka stopped and waited for Akira to come up beside him. Akira saw a large, bald headed man approach them.
"Who is this man?" The bald headed man asked Ashitaka. The man's voice sounded mean and spiteful Akira thought he was probably captain of the guards.
"This is my brother, Akira." Ashitaka said cheerfully. The bald headed man examined Akira closely. So close that Akira could smell his rancid breath.
"Is that right?" The man said questioningly. "What gutter did he crawl out from?" He said spitefully.
"Silence yourself, Gonza." Ashitaka scolded the man. "I will not have you berating my family like this." Gonza looked at the weapons Akira was carrying and frowned.
"I've got my eye on you, boy." He walked off past them, purposely bumping into Akira as he passed by.
"You must excuse him, brother. He does this to everyone. It was the same when I first came here."
"That was certainly unpleasant." Akira mumbled. Ashitaka led him before a large building, and they both walked inside. Akira let his eyes adjust to the darker environment, and then took a look. It was an expansive place, with ornate decorations and carvings gracing the walls. It had a large, central room, with a low table, and several beautifully woven carpets. Akira could not believe this.
"This is your house?" Akira asked.
"Yes, it is." Ashitaka responded blankly. Akira took a step forward and looked around more. He could see doorways off to a few more areas. His brother owned all of this. All of this was his. Things he himself had never had.
"You are certainly living the life of a rich man. Look at this place. Look at you, you're wearing silk clothes." Akira pointed to Ashitaka as he talked.
"You have all of this, and I've been living alone, never having anything."
"Is that resentment, I hear in your voice, brother?" Ashitaka asked him frankly. Akira stood there looking at him blankly. Ashitaka took a step toward Akira.
"If it is, I cannot blame you. I was not the one to give myself all of this. I know you have had a much harder life than I have, but we are together again. You can live with me now."
Ashitaka said kindly. Akira sighed loudly.
"I am sorry, Ashitaka. It is just that-that I have never seen things as great as this in my life. I was always just a pathetic mercenary."
"You do not need to think like that any longer." Ashitaka said to him. "We can talk later. Right now, you can take a bath in the back room." Ashitaka pointed to a narrow corridor to the right of him.
"Thank you." Akira said, and followed Ashitaka into the corridor.
2
That evening, Akira and Ashitaka sat around his table on the soft carpets. The town had died down in activity, and the sun was slowly setting behind the low hills. It was becoming cooler, and a feeling of peace was filling the town. Ashitaka had prepared them dinner, which consisted of fish, and some oddly prepared rice. It tasted good anyway. A small lamp was in the center of the table, illuminating them with a soft light.
"How long has it been since the war with the Gods started?" Akira asked, examining his brother.
"Around 10 months." Ashitaka replied, taking a bite of his food. "In fact, Iron Town was just finished a small time ago, from being rebuilt." There was a pause between them, and for a moment the sat in silence.
"What have you been doing for all this time, Akira?" Ashitaka asked him. Akira frowned and looked forward at the lamp, watching the flame dance, casting shadows upon the walls.
"I have been a mercenary."
"A mercenary?"
"Yes." Akira took a deep breath. "I have had no other choice. I had skills in combat, so I used them to fight for whatever army would pay for it. I've been all over, and with different armies."
"Haven't you had a place to stay?" Ashitaka asked him.
"No. I've just stayed wherever I can find shelter. If I'm not working, in the forest."
"In the forest?" Ashitaka was surprised to hear this, and put down his plate of food.
"Yes. The Gods seem to leave me alone. I feel at peace there."
"The Gods must like you, Akira." Ashitaka replied to him. "That is a good thing."
"The Gods must like you too." Akira said, looking straight at his brother. "I mean, after all you have done."
"They approve of me, but I am still a simple human, doing human business." Ashitaka observed that Akira was almost finished his food. It was like he had not eaten in weeks.
"So what exactly do you do here now, Ashitaka?"
"I am now the lord of this town, appointed by the people, after the unfortunate death of Lady Eboshi."
"Is that right?" Akira said flatly. He sat down his plate when he finished all his food.
"That food was excellent, brother."
"I am glad you liked it."
"I didn't know you could cook." When Akira said this, Ashitaka laughed a little.
"I have learned a lot since I have come upon this place." Ashitaka paused after finishing. Akira had a serene look on his face, as he sat, thinking.
"Why did you leave the village in the first place." Akira asked. Ashitaka sighed, and then thought back to that time, which was not long ago.
"I had a curse put on me by a demon. I had to leave because I needed to find the answer for the curse, which I did find in the end. I had to leave our people, though." Akira remained thoughtful, and felt sympathy for his brother. However, he had struggled much throughout his life.
"I am sorry to hear that, brother." Akira said solemnly.
"Do not be sorry, Akira, I feel much more sorry for you." Ashitaka said back, with a look of concern on his face. Akira, for the first time in his life, felt touched and wanted. He felt a rush of emotions as strong as a river surge through his body. Emotions he had not felt in a long time. Akira sat, looking at his brother, a brother who had once been a best friend, a brother who he had taught everything to.
"Brother..." Akira started. "I have finally found you again, and am very happy, but I can never forget what was done to me."
"I-I know Akira...I-I'm sorry that I-"
"It makes no difference now. I was mistreated then, and I will probably be mistreated more. Have you had to wander from place to place thinking about when you would get your next meal?" Akira had worked himself up, as the pain from the past flared up inside him.
"No brother. For that, I am fortunate. But you need to put your past behind you. We are together again, It can be better this time." Ashitaka finished up. He was expressing himself in an emotional way, which made Akira feel like he was overreacting.
"I hope you are right, brother."
"I hope so too. You have nothing to worry about anymore." For a period of time, both of them sat there studying each other. Then Akira decided to speak again.
"I feel weary, brother. I would like to go to sleep now."
"Of course, let me show you to a bed."
"Can I ask you one more thing?"
"Of course." Ashitaka said. For him, talking to his brother again was a joy. He could remember many times they spent in the past together.
"Why are you doing this for me?"
"Because you are my family."
"I am a killer, Ashitaka. I sometimes think I don't belong here."
"We have all had problems with those things before, but that does not make you a bad person. You need to start realizing what you as a person have."
"You are right, Ashitaka. Thank you." Akira said, ending with a smile. Ashitaka led him into a corridor, to which he would spend the night.