The man was always ahead of them, muttering incoherent phrases and occasionally turning back to make sure that his two followers were still there.
A short time later, they passed through a break in the forest, and found themselves in a large, grassy area. Some people were further out, tending after some sheep, and both Ashitaka and San took note of the primitive village that lay before their eyes- nothing compared to the monstrous Iron Town they had left only a few days ago.
As was customary, an outer wall surrounded the tiny village, and the houses were inside of its perimeter.
San, unused to seeing such small housing, remarked, "It's so small!"
"Well," the man piped up, turning to look at her, "I told you it'wasn't anythin large. Our ancestors found this little notch in the woods centuries ago. During the war, me thinks we were refugees and needed a good hidin place. Afterwards, the folks liked the place so much that they dinnae wanna to leave! We only got a small population, but everyone looks out for everyone else, and we git by just fine!"
"Who's that you're talking to, you old goat?" one of the shepherds shouted at him. "About time you decided to come home! Your wife needs to speak with you about your crops- winters almost here, you know!"
"Don't you be tellin' me what to do, Iemen! She knows perfectly well that I had to go an check my traps!"
"You thought you'd catch something? Kiron, you couldn't catch a snake if it bit you!"
"Hmph. Don't you be payin any attention to him, now," Kiron said to Ashitaka. "That one there doesn't like outsiders. Mebbie that's why he's a lonely shepherd, but jus you forget all about him! Everyone else'll be thrilled to see ya!"
"Okay," San murmured to Ashitaka, "I don't think I've gotten a good picture of this town in my mind. We've only seen two people from this town- one's crazy, and the other one's an aggravated loner. Do you think it's safe to go in?"
"I'm sure it'll be fine, San," Ashitaka soothed. "People who are isolated usually live quite peacefully. Aside from a minor few, all of them are quite amiable and kind hearted."
"Okay," San nodded, walking to the town. "I do like the size, though. It's much better than that stinky old Iron Town."
"There are some advantages to having a smaller town, yes," Ashitaka agreed, "but there are some disadvantages as well. The death rate can be much higher, and it is harder to defend, because there are less people."
"I don't think these people have to worry about anything like that," San said sarcastically. "The odds of anyone finding a village out here in the middle of nowhere has to be the luckiest person alive!"
"There are tiny villages like this scattered all throughout the countryside, San," Ashitaka informed her. "I wouldn't be surprised if Iron Town started out as a tiny little settlement like this."
As they approached the entrance, Kiron waved at the two to hurry up. "Ashitaka and…er…" he trailed off, waving his hand vaguely, "and party, this is my wife, Hinto," he said, wrapping his arm around the young woman standing next to him."
"How do you do?" Ashitaka said, bowing. "Your husband was kind enough to offer us shelter in your town for a little while."
"How thoughtful of him," Hinto said, smiling. "Visitors are always welcome here."
San glanced curiously from Hinto to Kiron. "Aren't you young? Why did you marry this man?" she blurted out.
Hinto burst out laughing, and Kiron stammered, "Eh, w-what's that? Old, am I?"
"No, no," Ashitaka interceded, "that's not what she meant!"
But Kiron ignored him. "Now look here, young lady, I may be older than you, but I ain't old!" he said, drawing back the traveling hood that was covering his face.
Ashitaka couldn't have been more surprised by what he saw. From the voice and speech, he had assumed that it would be the face of a haggard old man. Instead, he saw the healthy tone of a strong, light haired man who could be no more than his late twenties.
San simply stared. After she regained her composure, she hastily said, "Please forgive me- I had no idea!"
Now Kiron laughed along with his wife. "It's no trouble at all, young one! It ain't the first time it's happened. Too bad me wife can't git it in her head that I'm still young!" he said, squeezing his wife with his arm.
"Oh, you!" Hinto chuckled, giving him a kiss.
San cocked her head again, but refrained from saying anything.
"Well," Kiron said, turning to face the pair, "I suppose you're free to wander about anywhere you'd care ta. Why don't you come over ta my place for some o that soup I was talking about?" he said, putting his hand on Ashitaka's shoulder in a friendly manner.
"It's very kind of you to offer," Ashitaka bowed. "It would be an honor."
"Good!" Hinto said, beaming. "It will take time to prepare. If you're back around dusk, I'm sure we'll be ready by then."
"We shall be back by dusk, then," Ashitaka said. After thanking Kiron and Hinto once more, couple turned and strolled down the small lane to some other part of the village, leaving San and Ashitaka at the entrance. As soon as they had left, Ashitaka prepared himself for the inevitable question that he knew that San was going to ask him…
"What were they doing?" she asked cautiously. "When she put her mouth on his! It looked like a mother bird feeding her children, but I know humans don't eat that way!"
Despite himself, he couldn't help but smile. Of course, she wouldn't know what a kiss was. A wolf was not only unable to give a kiss, but would have no reason to. "It's like a human way of showing affection," he answered her, somewhat embarrassed. He never would have thought that one day he'd have to explain what a kiss was to a young woman.
"Oh," San said, absorbing the new piece of information. "Kind of like a hug?"
"Uh, sort of…" Ashitaka said, laughing half-heartedly. "It's a little different, but I suppose they're basically the same thing."
"I see…" San replied. "Well, I know you've hugged me before, but you haven't ever kissed me. Why's that?"
Ashitaka
faltered, and felt his face turn a bright red. "San!" he said between gritted
teeth. "It's not exactly the same thing! Kissing isn't something two people do
lightly!"
"Oh! Sorry," San said, casting her
eyes down. She noticed that she had somehow embarrassed him. In spite of her
efforts to stop herself, she couldn't help but feel elated at the sight of
Ashitaka whenever he was like that. It made her feel happy, only a different
kind of happy- a happy she had never felt before. Still, she didn't want him to
be uncomfortable, so she offered, "I wasn't asking you to kiss me or anything.
I was just wondering why you would hug, but not kiss. But if they're not the
same thing, then I think I understand."
"Okay," Ashitaka chuckled, his face still a bit colored. She seemed to be able to embarrass him often, simply by asking an innocent question! "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm anxious to see what this town has to offer. Care to join me?" he said, holding out his arm.
"Sure!" San said, running off ahead to inspect the many different wares and goods that merchants were offering. So much for trying to hold hands, Ashitaka thought…
In spite of that, Ashitaka couldn't help but be impressed by the many products these merchants were selling. Even though the town was small and in a remote location, they had up to date and high-quality items for sale. A few merchants even said they owned rifles (But they were kept under the stall, so the buyer could never inspect the quality of that particular item until after he bought it for a not so inexpensive price. Odds were, though, that all sales were final, even if the rifles didn't work).
San, meanwhile, busied herself by looking at all of the foods that the lady were selling. Most of them, in a predictable motherly fashion, took notice of San's young age and flocked to her, offering her many kinds of exotic foods for a much lower price than would otherwise be normal.
Ashitaka chuckled as he watched San kindly refuse their generous offers, although she hesitated briefly when one older woman offered her a piece of fruit…still, it didn't escape his eyes that San seemed to be behaving herself quite nicely with these women- probably because they were the same gender, and that, being in an entirely different town, she could start a clean slate with these townspeople; no grudges held. Or perhaps it was simply because she was getting used to people?
"San," Ashitaka called after her, "why don't you buy an apple from that kind lady? I'll pay for it, don't worry."
"Really?" San asked, her eyes beaming at the though of getting to taste a brand new fruit! When she went to select one, however, she was unable to identify it. "Which one is the apple?" she asked, puzzled.
Ashitaka cringed. If that didn't give away her kind of upbringing, surely nothing else would. But the woman didn't seem to notice, and took San's query as an inside joke, handing her the tender produce.
"Eat up, girl," the woman said in a shaky old voice. "It'll help you grow up strong!"
"Thank you," Ashitaka and San said in unison, as the former pulled out a coin to pay for the small apple.
"You're very welcome!" the old lady said kindly. "Good gracious, girl!" she piped up as San took an enormous bite out of the fruit, "don't eat it so quickly! And for heaven's sake, you don't eat the stem! Haven't you ever eaten an apple before?"
"Well," San replied, "N-"
"Of course she has," Ashitaka said, flashing the old woman a wide grin. "She's just pulling your leg, aren't you San?" Ashitaka said, pushing San further down the street. "Thank you!"
After they were some distance away, San leaned over and asked, "Why wouldn't you let me answer?"
"Well," Ashitaka began, "I didn't think it'd be smart to not let the townspeople know about your past. I mean, you've gotten off to a very good start with some of them; why complicate it by making others afraid of you?"
San cocked her head. "I guess you're right. But this sure is strange," she said, holding up the orange. "It's very bitter. I don't like it," she said bluntly.
Smiling, Ashitaka withdrew his tiny dagger and removed the 'bitterness' from San's hand. "You cut the peel off, first, San," Ashitaka explained, deftly skinning it. When he was finished, he handed it back to her. "It's very sticky, so I hope you don't mind."
"No, it's okay," San said, taking a small bite. "Mm, it's very good!" she exclaimed. "I like it better with the peel off! How come they don't have these in Iron Town?"
Ashitaka shrugged. "Probably because…well…you know, I'm not really sure! That is strange. You'd think that anything this hidden village would have, Iron Town would have."
"Well, you must have eaten it from someplace," San argued. "Because Iron Town didn't have them and you still knew what they were, so you would've had to have eaten one somewhere else."
"I know we had some in my old village," Ashitaka said wistfully. "Still, you'd think that a hidden place like this would be less…economized."
"There ya are!" Kiron shouted from a distance as he spotted them. "Come along, now, dinner's on the table, and all that's lackin are guests!"
San and Ashitaka smiled and walked briskly over to where he was standing.
"So, how do you enjoy our little town? Not much ta look at, eh, but we git bye."
"It's very impressive," Ashitaka conceded, taking one last glance at the many marketers. Why would so many marketers be needed in such a small town?
"Hey, Kiron! Who the hell have you brought to our town now?! You don't seem to quite get it! We don't like visitors!"
"Ya mean you don like visitors!" Kiron spat back as Iemen, the shepherd they had seen earlier, approached them.
"Like what you say matters," came the livid reply. "You know what happened last time you brought someone out here! Damn near sold us out, he did!"
"Not all folks are like that!" Kiron. "A short time ago, I brought someone else like you," he said quietly to Ashitaka. "He was just wanderin in the woods, so I led him to our little ole town. Turned out that the bloody devil was a criminal. Stole a good bit of our gold and took our finest horses with him."
"And what makes you think this one isn't just like him?" Iemen said, giving Ashitaka a look that would have pierced armor. "He even brought along his little whore so she could 'distract' you while he made off with your goods!"
San growled menacingly. "Watch what you say, human," she sneered. "Had I not a change of heart, I would not hesitate to terminate your miserable life."
"Oh?" Iemen said in just as threatening a voice. "Would your heart change back if I, say…terminated your boyfriends life instead?" he said, quickly drawing a miniature dagger and making a small cut in Ashitaka's neck before he had a chance to react.
San roared a furious snarl, and drew her own dagger, gathering her legs to leap at Ashitaka's assailant.
Before she could do so, however, there was the sound of another sword being drawn, and it came crashing down on Iemen's, forcing it out of his hand.
Ashitaka blinked, surprised, and turned to see that it was Kiron who had removed Iemen's weapon. He must've had a long sword hidden under the many cloaks that he wore as clothing.
"Lay a finger on either of them," Kiron said in perfect speech, "and you will regret it for the rest of your life."
Ashitaka was startled by his new friends change of character. It almost seemed as if Kiron had been crouched over, for now he seemed taller- almost massive in stature. His piercing eyes blazed with calm, restrained power. Apparently, there was more to this man than met the eye.
"Damn you to hell!" Iemen yelled. "You're going to be the end of us!"
"Do not forget, I am the leader of this town," Kiron said evenly. "I would do nothing to endanger the lives of my people if I could prevent it. You should know that by now. Furthermore, if you take such a disliking to our guests, I suggest you keep away from them, because they will be staying with us for as long as they like."
Iemen just growled and stormed away, not before he picked his dagger up from the ground.
Satisfied that the immediate danger was over, Kiron sheathed his long sword, and turned to look at his bemused friends.
"You no doubt have many questions you wish to ask me now," he sighed softly. "Questions that I had hoped to avoid answering, but what's done is done," he finished, taking out a small cloth and handing it to Ashitaka. "Wipe your neck," he instructed, "you're bleeding."
San gasped and turned Ashitaka around to face her so she could inspect his neck. She then took the material and began to tenderly wipe the blood that was dripping down his neckline.
"Well," Kiron continued, "I will show you to my home. I will answer your questions there."
San and Ashitaka simply nodded in baffled confusion, following their massive guide, who had only minutes before seemed a crazy, idealistic man.
As was the fashion for most houses of small towns, the hut looked as if it had been built in a hurry. The inside betrayed the sense of simplistic measures, as all of the family's personal belongings were in the home. But even they were scarce. Kiron and Hinto were married, but without children, so there were very few personal items, aside from a few carved statuettes that signified certain forest creatures.
"So how long have you been the head of the city?" Ashitaka asked, as he allowed himself to be served a large bowl of rice from Hinto.
"I came here over a year ago," Kiron answered. "It wasn't my original intention, but it was inevitable. When I arrived, there was hardly anything here. I managed to erect a few sturdy lodgings, and ever so slowly, people began to trickle in."
"But how did they even know this place existed?" San injected, picking up a tiny mound of rice with her chopsticks. "I didn't even know we were close to a town until you told us so."
"Now that's the really big question," Kiron answered. "The reason I came here in the first place was because I was sent by the Emperor's Shogun."
Ashitaka nodded. "Then that would explain the manner in which you carry yourself. Do you disguise your voice so that people don't recognize your military background?"
"That would be most of the reason, yes," Kiron answered. "You'd be surprised how many people it's capable of fooling. Most of the people here know by now that it's not my real voice, but a lot of them don't suspect a thing."
"But that still doesn't answer the question of why this town is even here, or why you were sent here by this sh…shogun person," San asked. "Is it a secret?"
"Yes and no," Kiron replied. "I was sent by the Shogun to keep an eye on the villagers. It's my job to make sure that they stay where they are; namely, in this town. The Emperor has seen to it that they are supplied with all of the materials he deems necessary for them to survive, and he is even kind enough to send them a few of his closest merchant friends so that they can share their wears with the townspeople."
"Are they outcasts?" Ashitaka asked. "I've never heard of people being isolated from a particular place for no apparent reason. They must be prisoners, or else they have simply fallen to the bad graces of the Shogunate."
Kiron sighed. "You have named the situation perfectly," he said slowly. "As you are no doubt aware, the Dynasty is in great peril. Idealists and liberalists roam our land, spreading poison and dissention among the people about the Empire. Their goal is to eliminate the empire completely, and set up their own system of government. The people here are simply prisoners of war, in a sense- rebels that were captured and spared the fate of execution. When they were first exiled, they did fairly well for themselves, but soon they started to die off. The Shogun sent my predecessor to try and rectify the problem, but it got even worse. I was, therefore, sent."
"But wouldn't that mean the reason these rebels are spreading bad news about the Dynasty is because it's doing something wrong?" San asked. "If the leader of a clan is wise and good to his people, then they would have no quarrel with the Emperor."
Hinto, from her quiet position next to her husband, chuckled softly. "It's not that simple, I'm afraid, child. There is corruption, even in the midst of the royal bloodline- perhaps even in the Shogunate. There is no one person who rules this country anymore, and that is why there is so much confusion. Some people are trying to hold on to the old code, while others have begun spreading new ideas. The problem, therefore, lies within the system, not within the Dynasty."
"Then why don't they change the system?" San queried further.
"Think of it this way, San," Ashitaka said quietly to her. "Try to compare it to your own clan. You said so yourself that the philosophy of your tribe was deep and wise. What if some of the related members of that clan tried to change everything? Tried to rearrange the code because they claimed it would make it better. To do such a thing is not only difficult, but often deadly."
"I'm glad you seem to share my opinion on the matter, then," Kiron said simply. "I had hoped you wouldn't argue with me over the idea of holding these people here."
Ashitaka shrugged. "What's done is done. These people are here because they chose to be here. They knew the consequences, and they did it anyway, so as long as they're okay with that, then I have no quarrel over them. He seems to be treating them very well, and anyway, I do not wish for a quarrel with the Emperor. I have enough problems of my own, as it is."
Kiron raised an inquisitive eyebrow to this, but said nothing.
"But how do you keep the people from leaving?" San inquired.
"I was not sent here alone," Kiron responded. "I have guards patrolling the outskirts of this village night and day. Besides many of the people like it here, and don't want to leave. Who knows? Maybe one day my quiet little village will become a thriving economy. You know you are welcome to stay here for as long as you like. You are under no obligation to, of course, but I would enjoy the company of someone that I don't have to keep my eye on."
"I understand how you might feel that way," Ashitaka said. "I thank you for your offer, but I really can't stay that long. I'm a danger to the people here, and I need to find an isolated place. As a matter of fact, I was on my way to the mountain to be by myself before we came across you."
"I don't suppose your situation is something to be conversed about lightly?" Kiron said, grinning. "Well, all the same, whatever you do is fine by me. If you'd like, I can spare some of my guards to help you on your way. Winter is almost here, and if you're planning on staying there, you'll need to erect a shelter for you and your wife to be able to make it through the winter."
"Wife?!" San choked, her face turning a shad darker.
Ashitaka smiled. "No, Kiron, San is not my wife. She is my very dear friend, and she's accompanying me on my travels."
"I see," the other said. "Well, either way, you'll still need help getting settled. I think it'll be okay if I spare a few guards, eh, Hinto? Let me know when you're rested from your journey, so I can prepare your escorts. Meanwhile, Hinto will show you to your quarters."
Ashitaka bowed low, and San mimicked him to the best of her abilities.
"Thank you very much, sir," Ashitaka said. "Your help is most kind and appreciated."
Kiron waved the thanks away with his hand. "Nonsense. After all, it's the least I could do to repay you for savin me from dat evil wolf person!" he said, reverting back to his old accent a bit.
This time, San laughed along with Ashitaka, as the joke was done in good taste. "Why didn't you defend yourself from me?" San piped up. "From your performance a while ago, it looked like you could've provided me with a good challenge," she said, grinning evilly.
"Perhaps, although I think you'd find me more difficult than you realize," Kiron answered just as mischievously. "But as for why I didn't attack- you recall how I said there are guards posted? Yes? Well, one of them spotted you from a distance, but didn't recognize you as one of the townspeople, so he could not confront you. His only option was to get me to inspect, and I tried to stay out of sight, but apparently it didn't work," he said, flashing San a grin. "You found me, but I couldn't attack you because you were simply civilians. To attack you would have been dishonorable."
San raised her eyebrows in admiration. "Very noble of you," she said approvingly.
"I'm glad you think so. Now, Hinto will show you to your rooms. Rest well, and remember: you can stay for as long as you like."
"We will," Ashitaka said, helping San stand up. They then followed Hinto out of the main hut and into a small courtyard in the back. There, a small, private hut was standing there, inviting weary travelers to rest.
"My husband insisted that one be made to house anyone that passed through here," Hinto informed the couple. "He seems to have taken a liking to you two, but he does that with almost everyone. He's a very kindhearted man. But as for resting materials, you will find everything you need to inside. Sleep well, children," she said, turning to leave Ashitaka and San in the courtyard.
San waited for the woman to leave, looking around and fidgeting nervously. "Well," she said slowly, looking anywhere but at Ashitaka, "good night. I hope you sleep we-"
"San, wait," Ashitaka interrupted, holding up his hand. "Why don't you sleep in the hut? It'd be good for you to sleep in a bed every once in a while, and don't worry- I don't mind sleeping outside."
"But-" San objected. "But why do you have to sleep outside? I mean, uh," she stammered, as Ashitaka gently grinned at her. "You can sleep in the hut, too, if you'd like. I trust you," she said, staring squarely at his eyes, as if trying to probe the depths of his soul.
Ashitaka simply stared back in appreciation. He took her hand into his own and said in a soft voice, "Thank you, San. It means a lot to me that you trust me enough to let me sleep in the same den with you. However, it isn't necessary. I shall sleep outside, and you can sleep in the den."
San cast her eyes downward and nodded slowly. "Well, if you're sure that's what you want…good night, then, Ashitaka," she said again. "Sleep well."
"You, too," he answered her, staring after her as she slowly worked her way over to the hut. He smiled inwardly when San didn't close the door- most likely because she didn't have a good concept of what a door was for, but it didn't matter. As far as he knew, San slept in her clothes anyway, so she need not fear any violation of privacy.
Settling himself down on the soft soil and making himself comfortable, Ashitaka laid his head on his arm and went to sleep.
San was startled out of her sleep by the sound of crashing thunder. Odd. She must've been too preoccupied with the town to notice the weather. Ashitaka, if he had already awakened, had probably taken shelter elsewhere, there being no point to sit out in what would soon become rain. However, it wasn't raining yet, so, being an avid thunderstorm watcher, she appropriately dressed herself and exited the small hut.
If there was ever anything that ever caused her to become emotional, it was the power of a thunderstorm. Back at her own den, whenever it was like this, she would sit out on the peak of the mountain, watching the streaks of light blaze across the sky. The flash perked her senses, and almost every time, she shivered with excitement, and every time the thunder responded, she felt the vibrations deep within her, lifting her spirits.
However, seeing as there was no roof nearby, she had to make do with sitting under the overhang of the hut- she could still see clearly enough, though. Looking up, she stared at the sky in awe, and she smiled each time the lightning ripped across the sky, making it glow in a vibrant shade of pink.
From the distance of the covered merchant grounds, Ashitaka watched San as she eagerly stared at the sky. She was so beautiful just sitting there when there was nothing distracting her. At times like these, he could see her in her true nature, without being influenced by other people.
She must have taken off her white covering to sleep, for she only had on her purple kimono, which made her look all the more beautiful to him. Such a simple creature, still unpolluted by the modern ways of mankind, though not all modernizations would have done her harm- he had one day hoped to see her in a stunning ballroom gown made of the finest silks, so he could dance with her. Well, first he would have to teach her how to dance, but he would teach her! Then he would ask her for a dance!
A brilliant streak split across the sky, lighting her up completely for him to see. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and her face was exuberant. He wanted to sit with her and watch the storm with her. To sit with San with his arms around her, and to whisper how he loved her.
For this reason he knew he could not sit by her. He truly did love her, but he did not want to scare San away. He wasn't entirely convinced that she loved him the same way he did her, because many of her ideas about love differed so drastically from his, and trying to confess eternal love was definitely something she could easily take the wrong way. Because of this, he had long ago opted to wait for her to tell him about her true feelings, whatever they may be, so that he'd know she was being completely honest with herself, and with him.
Then, Ashitaka saw San lift her hand up, as if she was holding an invisible item. Curious, Ashitaka leaned forward a bit, but he felt a tiny raindrop hit him on the head. So she had known when the rain was coming. He shook his head. He would give almost anything to have the kind of ability San had to read nature.
Lightning flashed again, this time accompanied by a loud clap of thunder. San jumped with glee, and clapped her hands softly together. She looked around some more, and Ashitaka's heart skipped a beat when her eyes came to rest on him. So, she'd finally spotted him…
At first, she glanced down, almost as if she was embarrassed. She quickly regained her composure and stood up and started walking over to Ashitaka, which completely unnerved him.
When she got near him, he stood up and put his hands behind his back, nervously.
"Rough night, huh?" he said, trying to act casual.
"Not really," San replied. "I like storms a lot- they're really exciting, don't you think?"
Ashitaka shrugged. "I suppose," he said. "But I didn't come over here to watch the storm- I came over here to get out of the rain that I assumed was coming."
San nodded and looked around. "I'd say you were right about the rain. It looks like it's going to get a lot heavier. Will you be all right out here?"
Ashitaka hung his head. "Yes, I think I'll be okay."
"In that case, would you like to watch the storm with me?" San asked, holding out her hand.
At first, this surprised Ashitaka, but then he remembered that he had held his own hand out to her earlier that day. She must have noticed this and was trying to mimic him in some way.
Not wanting to discourage her, he slowly (although agreeably) took her hand into his own. San's hand was rough with use, yet compared to his own, they were as soft as petals on a flower, and her fist fit perfectly into his palm. That feeling alone was enough to make him a bit light headed and dizzy. It must have been the same for her, because her face had turned a shade darker, and she avoided his gaze, although she still led him back over to where she was sitting.
"I always enjoyed watching storms as a cub," San said abruptly, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"Is that so?" Ashitaka inquired, ignoring the use of the word "cub" to describe herself.
"Yes. I was always fascinated with the way the lightning and thunder always go back and forth. And when the lightning flashes, it lights up the sky into all sorts of pretty colors."
Ashitaka nodded, absent-mindedly. "It almost makes it look as pretty as you," he said softly, still gazing upward.
San gasped and turned to Ashitaka, not knowing whether she was going to hug him or tackle him playfully. "You…you…stop being mean!" she said defiantly. "You know how all of your compliments make me feel light headed, and besides- I know I'm not that pretty," she finished, folding her arms.
"You're that pretty to me," Ashitaka pleaded. "And you always will be, as far as I'm concerned."
"Okay, slow down, there" San commanded, putting her hand on her forehead. "You just did it- made me get really dizzy. You! Now I'm gonna start getting tired, soon!"
She swung her softly clenched fist to hit him, and Ashitaka complied by letting her connect to his upper arm. "It's too late for you to be up, anyway," he chided her. "You should be asleep."
San giggled. "Are you trying to tell me what to do?" she queried. "Well, after all of your flattery, I feel like I could get to sleep pretty easily," and she laid down where she was.
Deciding not to question the location in which she decided to rest, Ashitaka followed suit, laying down close enough to her so that he would more than likely be able to tell when she got up the next morning. He didn't particularly like the idea of her running around the town without him, although Ashitaka didn't think she'd be in any danger. The townspeople would most likely be in danger if San decided to lose her temper.
Snickering softly to himself, he dwelled on these thoughts a bit longer, until his eyes drooped, and he drifted off to sleep, unaware that simply a few houses down, an entirely different kind of conversation was going on between two people.
