Yuugi Nocahan had been walking for twenty days on end

"What the devil's going on in there?" Gonza asked, pacing in front of the makeshift hospital. "They've been in there for over an hour."

"You don't know what they're dealing with," Eboshi answered him. "You were still out there looking, but I caught a glimpse of it- his leg was torn up pretty badly. They will have to cleanse it and patch it as best they can."

"Did they ever find out what actually happened?" Yuugi queried.

"No," Eboshi said. "From what I heard, the wolf girl found him, and she didn't know anything, either. They were already out of the woods before anyone came across them. I'm betting, though, that either she or her two wolf companions will find out whatever did it, soon enough."

"Unless they eat it," Gonza muttered, peering through the curtained window of the building.

"Don't be foolish," Eboshi scolded good-naturedly. "You must give the wolves some credit. They are not as foolish as I thought they were. They are aware of the circumstances, and will more than likely help us."

Gonza blew air out of his mouth quickly. "I still don't trust that girl and her wolves," he said stubbornly. "Maybe they aren't as bad as I thought they were, but there's something about her; I can't explain it."

Eboshi chuckled. "It's probably contradicting with your nature to control things. It is apparent to everyone that you are a leader, and are fairly capable of handing just about any situation. However, this wolf girl is untamable. She is, indeed, worthy of the title she bears."

"What would that be?" Yuugi asked, curiously. They had briefly discussed the so-called "wolf girl" in their conversation earlier, but there were no specifics.

"You didn't tell him?" Gonza asked, glancing at Eboshi.

"I didn't think it was that important to you, Gonza," Eboshi teased. "She bears the title 'Mononoke'," she said, addressing Yuugi. "It was given to her years ago, supposedly. She may have been given it, or perhaps it was her intended name. No one really knows, but it floated around town for a few months, and before long, everyone was calling her the Mononoke- a legacy that I'm sure she wouldn't be displeased, with."

Yuugi nodded. Mononoke was most certainly a revered name. It wasn't exactly a term that was thrown about casually, either. From the limited information he'd acquired, this girl was certainly somebody worth seeing, but he was skeptical about the whole thing.

"You don't seem to convinced," Eboshi commented, noticing Yuugi's face.

Yuugi shook his head. "I'm afraid I find it hard to believe (and your pardon) that a young woman is capable of bearing such a name. She is flesh, as you or I, and yet you call her Mononoke. Is it a wonder that I have my doubts?"

Gonza and Eboshi both laughed heartily, much to Yuugi's frustration. "Apparently," Eboshi said between laughs, "I have not made myself clear. Perhaps it is impossible to describe with words. If you are lucky, you might see her more closely; maybe even get to speak with her. Do that, and you will quickly learn why she has earned the title."

"I'm looking forward to it," Yuugi said, to which Gonza and Eboshi returned to their insufferable laughter.

"If you were wise, you would stay away from her entirely," Gonza told the man. "Well," he said, apparently satisfied that everything would turn out for the best, "it's past dawn, and I haven't had any sleep. I'm going to go to bed."

Yuugi followed his example, but Eboshi stayed behind, if only for the respect she carried for the boy. Still, she was tired, so she leaned herself against a post that balanced the edge of the roof and hummed to herself until she fell asleep.

The doctor triumphantly wrapped the last piece of bandage over the now awake prince's leg.

"You're very lucky, my lad," the man commented. "That was a pretty nasty cut. We cleaned it out, though, and it should heal up fine. You'll have full use of your leg back in no time at all. I must say, you look like you've died, wrapped up in all those bandages!"

"Thank you, doctor," Ashitaka said, bowing as best as he could in his leaning position.

"No need to thank me," the other replied. "Just doing my job. Now you rest, and I'll be back to check on you from time to time," he said as he started to leave.

"Wait!" San exclaimed. "How long is he going to be here?"

The doctor frowned, thoughtfully. "Only until he's capable of functioning on his own," he answered. "Understand that he has no use of that leg. He is incapable of taking care of himself."

"But you're going to leave him!" San said. "You can't leave him when he's like this!"
"San, please!" Ashitaka said, reddening slightly. "I'm fine, and the doctor is being kind enough to let me stay until I am more healed."

The doctor took this as his cue to leave, and he did so.

"He shouldn't leave you," San repeated, grouchily. "It is against our laws to leave the injured alone."

"But I'm not alone," Ashitaka said, smiling. "You're here with me."
San grinned broadly. "But it stinks in here! How are you going to get better without air?"

"It's a lot better than some of the other stuff I've smelt…" Ashitaka commented. "But you're right, it is a bit strong. There's no place I can go, though."

San cocked her head. "What about your den? I was always taught that familiar surroundings always made it easier to heal."

"But how would I get there?" Ashitaka countered.

"I'd take you, of course!" San said, standing up quickly.

Ashitaka laughed, albeit cautiously. The cut along his chest was still a little sore. "You would carry me?"

"No!" San remarked, pressing her hand against his arm in a playful attitude. "I'd have Yakuul carry you. I'd just help you on to him."

Ashitaka's eyes widened. "Yakuul! Do you think he followed me into the forest? I haven't seen him!" he struggled to move. "I have to go find him!"

"Whoa, hold on!" San said, forcing him to lie back down. "Yakuul is smart. He thinks you've gone to my den, remember? He probably wandered back to your den."

"House, San, house," Ashitaka corrected. "I have a house, you have a den," he commented, trying to think about where Yakuul would be.

"All the same, wouldn't that be all the more reason to go back to your den? I mean house," she corrected herself. She frowned. "I like 'den' better."

"Call it a den, then, San," Ashitaka consented, smiling. "You're very crafty, you know. You've convinced me to go. All I have to do is tell the doctor where I'm going, so that he knows."

"I'll go find him," San said, jumping up and gliding out of the building at a half run.

She didn't have to search far, and when she found him, the first thing out of her mouth was: "I'm taking Ashitaka to his den."

The doctor, distracted from his current business, looked up at her curiously. "What's that? Taking him where?"

"His den," San said flatly. She was prepared to have to argue with the man over whether she could, but to her mild surprise, he gave in almost immediately.

"That's always better," he said. "I wasn't sure if he wanted to leave, but if it's his choice, then by all means, go. His only serious wound, mind you, is in his leg. Check on it from time to time, and if you notice anything strange, inform me immediately."

San nodded curtly, and ran back to the infirmary.

"Ashitaka, Ashitaka!" she shouted, bursting through the door, "We're leaving! I'm going to go and bring Yakuul!"

Ashitaka paused. "You're almost as eager for me to go home as I am," he commented. "Is something wrong?"

"No," San said, regaining her composure. "I just never had a chance to show you what I wanted to last night."

"I see," Ashitaka said. "How very thoughtful of you." He thought of his own gift, and inadvertently placed his hand on his red pouch.

"Are you all right?" San asked, stepping forward when she noticed Ashitaka's face.

"My red pouch," he said, sitting up. "Have you seen it? It had your gift in it."

"No, I haven't," San answered. "You must've dropped it in the woods."

Ashitaka moaned and laid his head on his pillow, covering his eyes with his hands. "Well, if not Yakuul, then that's one thing I have to go back and find."

"Oh no you don't!" San smiled. "Not until you're better! You do realize, of course, that I'll never let you into my forest alone ever again, don't you?" she teased.

"I deserve it, don't I?" he laughed with her.

"Okay," San said, jumping up again. "I'll go and find Yakuul. I'll be back soon," she promised as she slammed the door behind her. Apparently she still hadn't acquired the technique it took to close a door without breaking off the hinges (something he, and everyone, took for granted). Placidness wasn't really called for in a cave.

San immediately headed for the gate of the town. Before long, she had arrived. For the many months since the forest had been restored, the amount of times she had actually come to the town could be counted on one hand, so she still had to deal with the many stares she got from people. Still, she held her head up proudly. She would at least try and fit in, if only for Ashitaka's sake, although she didn't like it at all.

She went through the gates without incident, and ran all the way to Ashitaka's den. True to self, Yakuul had returned there as she had predicted. He was grazing on the green grass, completely oblivious to the circumstances that had happened last night. When he spotted her approaching, he happily trotted over to greet her, and to have his muzzle scratched, for which she was fond of doing.

"Would you like to bring Ashitaka home?" San asked, rubbing his soft nose.

Yakuul recognized his master's name and scratched his hoof on the ground.

"I'll take that as a yes," San said merrily. She liked Yakuul. He was a noble animal, and he commanded her respect, even though she was capable of commanding his actions.

So she led him back through to the gate of the town. It was clear to everyone what she was intending to do, so they did not stop her to comment on the weather, or some such nonsense. Besides, whenever they did, they usually got an icy glare in return.

San led Yakuul to the foot of the steps of the infirmary.

"Wait here," she said, certain that he would obey. "I'll bring him out in a minute." And with that, she disappeared into the building.

"Ah, San, you're back!" Ashitaka said as she came into the room. "Was Yakuul there?"

"He's waiting to take you back right now," San said, showing off her beautiful smile.

"Great!" Ashitaka said, sitting up and leaning his legs over the edge of the bed carefully. He could move the uninjured one just fine, but its counterpart had a splint down the side of it, making it hard to move.

"Do you need help?" San asked as he tried to stand.

"Not sure," Ashitaka commented. "Let's give it a try, shall we?"

Tentatively, he put his injured leg down on the floor. It didn't hurt, but when he tried to put some of his weight on it, it burned like fire.

"The doctor wasn't joking," Ashitaka said, leaning on the bed. "This hurts like crazy. I can't use it at all!"

"Lemme help!" San said, wrapping the arm on the same side of the wounded leg over her own shoulder. "I can be your other leg. Just put your weight on me."

And just then, it became apparent to her of what she had just done. She'd committed herself to helping him all the way to the door…alone…and right next to him. Her muscles tensed, and she shut her eyes tight, fighting back her sudden feeling of claustrophobia. Ashitaka didn't seem to notice, so that didn't make an awkward situation worse. It wasn't so bad, she thought after a moment. She could at least tolerate it until they reached the door.

Slowly, one foot after the other, they worked their way to the door, and down the steps (which proved to be a bit tricky, but they pulled it off), and by that time, the doctor had returned to help her lift Ashitaka onto Yakuul's back.

"Don't forget," the doctor reminded as they prepared to leave, "to take special attention and care of that leg. You must not use it, otherwise it'll never heal."

"I understand," Ashitaka said seriously. "I have no intention of prolonging my immobilized state."

The doctor nodded his approval. "Good luck, then."
"Thank you, sir," Ashitaka said, bowing once more.

He turned Yakuul around, and led him and San, once more, out of the town.

As they approached the hut, Ashitaka noticed a white skin hanging on a post.

"Is that yours?" Ashitaka commented, pointing to it.

San gasped. Her skin! She ran ahead and pulled it down, wrapping it around her shoulders and welcomed its comforting fur as it rubbed against her skin.

"I left it here in case you came back," she answered as she returned to Yakuul's side. "I'm glad it didn't blow away!" she said, starting to get excited. She ran back up to the hut's outer wall, and then ran back to Yakuul, who was still walking calmly.

"San, calm down! You're acting like a pup!" he said, using terminology that she would be more familiar with. Still, it was all good-natured, and he enjoyed seeing her happy.

"That's because I'm glad you're safe!" she barked back, running in circles for him.

Ashitaka smiled. She would never say anything like that around anyone else. Whenever she was with him, it was like she was a completely different person. He still needed to ask her if she did these things merely for his own sake. However, now that all the pressures of the late war were lifted from her shoulders, she could actually start enjoying what was left of her childhood years. Not that it would change much as she grew older, though- aside from guarding the forest, she could do whatever she wanted. He by no means carried a demeaning attitude towards her simplistic lifestyle. Guarding the forest was definitely a big responsibility, and somebody had to do it, so it might as well be the person who actually grew up in it.

"I'm glad you feel that way, but I think we have a problem," he said, causing her to stop in her tracks.

"What?" she asked cautiously.

"If you're the only one here, how am I going to get down?"

San's pursed her lips. She hadn't thought about that. "Can you make Yakuul lie down?" she asked.

"Well, when you get right down to it, I can't make him to anything," Ashitaka laughed.

San rolled her eyes, something that she picked up from watching other people in the town. "You know what I mean!" she said, grinning.

"I'm not sure. I never had to do it before. I guess I can try, eh? Yakuul," he said addressing his mount, "can you lay? Lie down?" Yakuul grunted uncomprehendingly. Ashitaka wasn't entirely sure how to get his beast to lie down while he was on top of it, especially since Yakuul had never heard the phrase 'lie down' before. "Um, San? A little help here?"

San was more than happy to comply. She yipped happily to get Yakuul's attention, and said, "Yakuul, can you lay down?" She looked directly into his eyes when she said it, and almost instantly, with a low grunt, Yakuul leaned over and settled down in the grass.

Ashitaka would've been surprised, but he expected it. San had already expressed the fact that she could communicate with Yakuul in some incomprehensible way. Still, from the look in her eyes, it looked as if she was craving to get an acknowledgement of some sort from Ashitaka. Moro, for all her noble qualities, must have left San with a big hole in the love section of her soul, if such a thing existed.

"I don't understand it!" Ashitaka shouted. "You just say the word, and he does it. You're still going to teach me how to do that, right?"

San laughed and wrapped his arm around her shoulder once more. With little difficulty, he managed to get himself completely off of Yakuul's back, and he allowed himself to be herded towards his hut.

There was a little bench just outside the entranceway to his "den", and it was here that she settled Ashitaka down. The sun and breeze would be good for him.

"Okay," she said quickly, "wait here. I'm going to go and get your present!"

Without waiting for a response, she tore over the grassy plain, disappearing from sight over the hill in almost an instant.

"She's really something, eh, Yakuul?" Ashitaka said to his friend, watching as San disappeared into the forest. Yakuul, still lying down, glanced at his master affectionately, and Ashitaka grinned at him. "I don't think she meant for you to stay laying down. You can stand up now, I'm off."

To his surprise, Yakuul grunted and leaned up into a standing position. Perhaps there was more to his friend than he gave him credit for. That, or with San's help, he already had a fundamental idea of how to communicate with animals that were close to him (although he suspected it was the former).

San must have hid her gift in the outskirts of the forest, because he could see her racing over the hills towards him.

"That was quick," he commented as she slowed to a half run, entering the tiny courtyard.

"I was in a hurry," she said dryly, handing him a package wrapped in large forest leaves. "Open it," she said, and sat down cross-legged.

Curious and excited, he delicately removed the wrapping and held up the contents it was covering. Inside was the most beautifully made fur skin he had ever seen. Its brown fur was streaked with even darker lines, and there was a large white spot where it would connect on the front.

"I made it from an impala," she commented as he held it up to admire it. "Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful, San!" Ashitaka exclaimed, wrapping it around his shoulders. "Now I have my own fur! Thank you!" he said. It didn't stand out as far as San's did, but then again, it didn't have half as much fur on it, but a man wouldn't want a lot of excess fur. She'd probably taken that into account when she made it. "Thank you," he said again, looking at her. "I don't know what to say."

"Silly," she smiled, "you've already said enough. You like it, and that's good enough for me."

Ashitaka looked at her, his admiration for her rising. She gave without thought of return. Of course, he did have something to give her, except he lost it. Still, he wanted her to know that he had at least tried.

"I made something for you, too," he said, and watched gleefully as her eyes widened in surprise.

"Really?!" she asked ecstatically.

"Hold on, San," he said soothingly. "Remember my red pouch? It was in there, and I lost it, remember?"

"Oh," San said, the excitement leaving her eyes.

"I was thinking that we could go look for it after I get a little better?" he half asked, half stated.

San's eyes darted to his, and she gave an excited: "Yes!"

"All right, then," he replied. "All I have to do now is get well enough to move around a bit more freely. Are you sleepy?" he asked as San stifled back a yawn.

"No!" she replied stubbornly, snapping her mouth shut.

"Don't lie, San," Ashitaka joked. "You probably haven't had any sleep since yesterday. Why don't you go home and get some rest?"
"I can't leave you alone!" San said, sitting up on her knees.

"But I'm fine, San!" Ashitaka said, exasperated. They were going to go through this again.

In the end, he convinced her to go, although he had much trouble doing it. She could always come back, he had said, after she'd gotten some rest, of course. He, too, would be getting some rest, and then they'd both be re-energized for whatever lay ahead. After she had gone, he decided that he was looking forward to it…whatever it was.

San, on the other hand, was upset with herself. One reason was that Ashitaka had convinced her to leave, and the other reason was that she had allowed any of this to happen in the first place. Still, she had to admit that everything had turned out all right in the end.

She followed the all too familiar trail that led to her den. Occasionally, she stopped to examine the trees and flowers, taking time to just sit back and look at what nature had done. Although the Forest Spirit was dead, his power must've remained. The large trees that surrounded her had grown in only a few months, almost completely returning the monstrous forest to its former glory.

She caught sent of her older brother approaching. He'd more than likely already picked up her scent as well, so all she had to do was stand still and wait for him to come to her. She spotted him before he came into the small clearing that she was standing in.

"Hello!" San said, patting her brother on his large head.

"What are you so cheerful about?" he asked as he closed his eyes, letting the child scratch his head.

"I gave Ashitaka his present today," she said reflectively.

"It's about time," he said, rubbing his snout with his paw where she had just been scratching it. "You've been holding on to that thing for far too long."

"Well, don't forget, he already had a covering," she said, sitting down on the soft grass. "I didn't know if he wanted or needed another one."

"Does it matter?" he commented dryly, lying down on the ground next to her. "If you gave anything to him, I'm sure he'd use it. He already does everything in his power to please you."
"Oh, you're no help!" San retorted, giving him a playful slap on his back. It was just like her brother to go and bring up their relationship, if there was one. True, she had strong feelings for Ashitaka, but she didn't really think she was ready to take the next step. Sometimes she suspected her brothers got tired of watching the two dance in circles, and tried to hurry up the process by having conversations like the one that was inevitably coming. "He'll do as he pleases," she finished.

"Oh? Aren't you deserving of more respect?" he countered.

"You said, yourself, that he does everything in his power to please me," San replied, trying to trap him in his words. They were both fond of such games (something that they had probably picked up from her mother), and played them as often as they could. Although she was a bit disappointed she never had a sister to grow up with, she was still happy that she had someone to talk to in a more personal tone. Her other brother was…difficult to speak to in such matters, as he had the notorious tendency of saying whatever was on his mind.

"I did, didn't I?" her brother said, bobbing his head up and down gracefully. "I suppose that-"

"San!" her younger brother yelled, tearing through the bushes. He had come up so fast, and they were so engrossed in their debate that neither of the two conversationalists had noticed him coming.

"What is it?" she answered, jumping to her feet, instantly.

"I don't know! Something's not right," he managed. "I went back to where Ashitaka was attacked, and I got a good look at the thing!"
"And?" she inquired.

"I've never seen anything like it before in my life!" he said, turning around. "Jump on, I'll show you!"

"Calm down," the San's older brother said. "You won't be thinking clearly. Are you absolutely sure that you've never seen it?"

"Yes, yes!" the other answered excitedly.

Intrigued, San jumped onto his back, so he shot off through the forest, the other wolf not far behind.

In only a few minutes, they arrived on the scene, and San jumped off of his back. It still reeked of Ashitaka's painfully familiar smelling blood, mingled with a strange new one.

"Over here," the young one said, indicating a fallen body on the ground. The other two trotted over to where he was standing. "Isn't it bizarre?"

San examined the corpse. It was relatively small- something she did not expect from the amount of damage it had done to a well-trained soldier. It was lightly covered in soft, brown fur, giving it an almost friendly appearance…until she turned it over.

Its eyes and mouth were hidden under an unusually high forehead. The purple tongue lagged out of the opened jaw, giving all present a clear view of it's painfully sharp, jagged teeth. Even its claws were dangerously long, and it almost looked as if they could sever stone.

San shook her head in disbelief. "I've never seen anything like it," she said, finally.

"What should we do with it?" the older wolf asked.

San thought for a moment, and then said, "It would probably be good to take it back to the town. Perhaps there is someone there who can identify it." As she glanced at her brothers, she caught sight of a small, red pouch hidden under fallen leaves. "Hey, wow!" she yelled, temporarily forgetting about the creature, "I can't believe I found it!"

"What is it?" the young one asked, coming up to examine it.

"It's Ashitaka's pouch. He told me that he'd made a present for me, too, and that he'd put it in this pouch, but then he lost it."

"Open it!" he prodded.

San smiled and patted his nose. "I want to open it when he's watching," she said.

Both brothers looked at each other, knowingly.

"Oh, please!" San whined, "Not that again! Look, I just want to see his reaction to when I open it. It'll be more special for me, too, if he's there."
"All right, then," the older brother announced. "I'll bring this…this thing, along with San, back to the town. Brother," he said, "please stay behind and see if you can't figure out where it came from. If no one is able to identify it in the town, we may need to have a plan to fall back on."

"Right," he answered, trotting off through the underbrush.

San slipped the package into her undergarment and jumped onto her brother's back as he bent to pick up the lump of lifeless flesh.

"Awwight," he managed with his mouth full, "hongon!" and he leaped forward.