Yuugi Nocahan had been walking for twenty days on end

Kiron banged his fist angrily on the table. "What are you saying?!" he demanded.

The hooded man simply smiled. "Calm yourself, Kiron," he said in a low tone. "Shouting will only end up giving you a sore head. Besides, you heard exactly what I said. Your orders are to remove the trespassers from this village. You already knew that you were supposed to kill anyone who stumbled onto it, so you decided their fate by bringing them here in the first place."

"What did you want me to do? Did you want me to kill them in the forest, unsuspecting?"

"Would that have been so bad? You have been in battles before, brave Kiron. You have killed before. Killing these two would not have been difficult."

Kiron gritted his teeth. "I'm not talking about difficulty. I'm talking about ethics! There's a difference between killing someone in battle and killing them in cold blood!"

The man chuckled behind his hood. "Nevertheless, you will kill them. You know my master doesn't like it when his orders aren't obeyed. No one must know about this town, and that reminds me- after having already known what must be done, you offered them help to leave and go live in the mountains! May I inquire as to what possessed you to do that? It had better be good answer- I'd hate to have to report this."

Kiron sighed, defeated. "I don't want bloodshed. I fought well in your battles. I did not mind being transferred to look after this town, because I thought I would be able to get away from the stench of death. I don't want to kill anyone."

The man snorted. "Well, what did you tell them? I saw you talking to them earlier today."

"I told them exactly what I told you I'd tell anyone that showed up. Simply, that the people here were exiles from society."

"A very plausible story," the man said thoughtfully. "I suppose the people here are exiles, but of a different type…"

Abruptly, he stood up from his place at the table, and Kiron did the same. "Well, I shall report back to our master. I will tell them that you've already killed the couple, so that will give you at least another day to get the job done."

"But wait!" Kiron interjected. "I don't want to kill anyone!"

"I know that," the hooded man said countered coldly. "That's why I'm going to tell him you already did. That way…you will have to, unless you want the entire Shogunate after you and your family."

Kiron's face flushed. "Are your experimentations that important to your precious Shogunate?!" he screamed, enraged at the man's insinuations. "You know I never approved of such things, but I've kept my mouth shut, even after all this time! Why must you always use my family as motivation? For that matter, why do you need me at all? Why can't you get somebody else to watch after your specimens?!"

"Because, a man of your talents must be put to good use," came the answer simply. "And who knows? Perhaps you are a prisoner here, yourself. Have you ever considered the possibility that while you were looking after these people as they were tested, that you were not being tested as well? You must realize by now that you've certainly had the opportunity to be exposed to elements."

Kiron clenched his fists. The thought had actually occurred to him many times, but he didn't care. All that mattered was keeping his family safe. "So," he said softly and slowly, "I must remain here. I already accepted that. I have also allowed these…experiments to go on, even on myself, and I accept that as well. But killing these people?" He faltered, hesitating.

The hooded man walked towards the door. "Well, far be it from me to change your 'ethics'. Still, you know the consequences if you don't. Your family, remember? But I don't think you'll have to worry about them- they always come first. So, will you do it, or won't you? You have about a day to think about it," he murmured, chuckling as he left an enraged Kiron behind him.

Ashitaka felt something prodding his arm in his sleep.

"San," he groaned, opening his eyes sleepily, "stop it! Oh! Kiron, I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you!"

"Save that for later," Kiron growled. "Get up- both of you," he commanded.

"What's going on?" San asked, rubbing her eyes and shaking her head. "I smell sweat…fear. Is everything all right?"

"Yes, yes," Kiron eased, "everything's fine. Now listen to me, and don't ask questions. This is going to sound strange, but I want you to do it, and quickly! You have to leave this town immediately. I've already had my wife gather your things and prepare some food for you, and it's waiting for you at the city's back entrance-"

"Wait a minute-" Ashitaka began.

"Don't interrupt!" Kiron spat, which immediately shut Ashitaka up. "The secluded mountains you seek are only a few more days journey from here, but you must not stop there! Beyond those mountains lies grassy plains- much more suitable for living, especially with the oncoming winter. If you hurry, you will be able to make it before it gets too cold. Now go!" he whispered fiercely.

"But wait! What's all this about?" San asked, getting up onto her feet.

There was a sound of iron sliding against iron, and Kiron suddenly had a sword in his hand, pointing it directly at San's face.

"I said don't ask question's!" he growled. "Do you want me to kill you here and now? You cannot be here! I should never have brought you here! Your life is in danger as long as you are here, but there is still time to escape. I have orders to terminate both of you, but since they think I'll do it anyway, that gives you a few days head start!"

"But why do they want to kill us? And who is they?" Ashitaka asked, now wide awake. From what he could tell, somebody didn't like strangers here- most likely nobody was supposed to know about this town.

"They want to kill you," Kiron whispered, "because nobody from the outside is allowed here. This village belongs to the Emperor and his chemists. Combinations of herbal supplements are distributed here secretly in the food, air, water- everything. The people here are tests for medicines and mutations- something that no one can ever know about. That's why they want you dead! I can give you another reason too, though," he added, sheathing his sword and leaning in closer to Ashitaka. "I recognize your name. I didn't tell it to my advisor, though, and it's a good thing, too. Your efforts during Lord Asano's attack on Lady Eboshi's Iron Town have finally reached the Emperor's ears. He had secretly ordered Asano to attack Iron Town to try and control it for himself, but it was stopped. So now, because Iron Town is too profitable (and impenetrable), he cannot destroy it, but he is very angry about the whole situation. He heard that you had a big part to play in the counter-attack's success, Ashitaka, and you will be a wanted man, soon. That's all the more reason for you to go, now! We have wasted enough precious time as it is!" he finished, turning around and walking away in the darkness.

Ashitaka and San just stood there for a few moments, unable to say anything. Almost everywhere they went, trouble seemed to inevitably follow.

"I suppose it's a good thing I was trying to disappear, anyway," Ashitaka commented, breaking the silence. "I had heard Eboshi wondering if the Emperor actually had anything to do with Asano's attack…I wonder if she'll ever know?"

"She's smart for a human," San said, putting a comforting hand on Ashitaka's shoulder. "I'm sure she'll figure it out soon, if she hasn't already. Kiron is right, though. If we're in danger here, we should leave right now."

"Okay," Ashitaka agreed, heading towards the rear end of the town.

True to his word, Kiron had all of their things in a neat bundle next to the gate that surrounded the village. Gathering them quickly, they climbed over the fence and ran at a quick pace towards the cover of the forest.

After they had been running for quite some time, Ashitaka and San took a small break to rest their legs just as the sun began to rise.

There was no chatter. There was no more mood for play. It was as if the entire purpose of the journey, to console each other over Ashitaka's impending death, had been defeated. Rather than enjoying the scenery, so to speak, they were running for their very lives! On top of that, they now had to travel even farther!

Ashitaka hesitated at that thought. It would not be right for San to have to do that. She needed to protect her own forest. Perhaps she had already been thinking of that? Whenever he glanced over at her, her head hung low, as if she was deep in thought.

"I know what you're thinking," Ashitaka said lowly, helping her to get it out without having to wheedle them into the conversation.

San looked up at him with her blue eyes, innocently.

"You're thinking about what to do. Will you go on, or won't you?" Ashitaka stated. "I would advise against it. We're already in enough trouble as it is, and besides- you need to protect your new forest. I'll be able to handle it from here," he said, regretting every word of it. He didn't want her to leave, but he had to think of what was best for her.

"But…" San stammered. "I wanted it to be our forest, together- yours and mine. I want to be with you, Ashitaka, not the forest. Over time, I've come to realize that I cannot have both, even though…even though I know that the forest is a part of me, and I cannot abandon it. Oh, Ashitaka, why can't we just go back there and live in peace?" she cried, burying her head in his shoulder. "I don't want to leave you! Please come back!"

San began to whimper in his arm, shivering, as if she were cold.

Ashitaka slowly brought his arms up around her, and when she did not shudder, he embraced her tightly, as she continued hiding her face in the cleft of his neck. "I can't go back, San," he said, simply. "Nothing must be chanced. I have to be as far away from people as I can be…even you, San. I could never live with myself if I took you away from all the creatures that you love- your brothers, the little kodamas, the forest…"

"But…but…" San faltered. "I think I…Ashitaka, I think I love you, too."

Ashitaka's heart skipped a beat, and he reflexively squeezed her tighter- which she seemed to enjoy, for she had stopped shivering now.

"I won't leave you, Ashitaka. I won't leave you to die out in the middle of nowhere all by yourself. I'm sure my brothers will understand. They will be the guardians of the forest from now on…" San finished slowly.

Despite himself, Ashitaka was inclined to agree with her. After all, isn't this what he always dreamed of?! But what about…

"San, what about when I die…you'll be left alone, by yourself. There will be no one to protect you," Ashitaka argued. "And what if you get infected by me? There's no reason for you to die as well!"

San's eyes opened, and she raised her head to look straight at Ashitaka. "If I die by you, then that is reason enough. I have no future in that place, Ashitaka," she said compellingly. "My future is with you, in life or in death. If you die, then I will be there to die with you, and if you live, then so much the better! But as long as I am near you, I will never be alone, because…" she hesitated.

Ashitaka gazed at her gently. "Because I love you, too," he finished for her, staring into her eyes.

Almost immediately, San's blue eyes seemed to grow brighter on their own accord, as if a new fire had been raised within them.

"You…love me?" San asked, unbelieving, to which Ashitaka nodded solemnly. "I think I've waited all my life to hear those words," she breathed. Her body felt light, and she had no choice but to collapse into Ashitaka's warm, gentle grasp again, her head pressed against his shoulder. "I know my mother loved me," she continued, "and my brothers as well, but…not like this. No one has ever loved me as much as you do, Ashitaka. I feel…I feel like a part of me was dead, but now it's alive again."

"I know," Ashitaka agreed. "I feel it, too. I've never felt this way before in my life, San. Do you really want to come with me?" he asked softly. "You don't have to if you don't want to…" he trailed off.

In response, San lifted her arms up slowly, as if she were exploring new territory, and returned Ashitaka's embrace in equal measure, if not greater.

Ashitaka almost gasped. He felt like he was going to burst into tears! He had waited for this moment for so long! He never wanted it to end!

"San!" he choked, shifting so that she would be more comfortable. "Thank you, San!" he whispered. "Thank you! I was afraid- afraid that when you left, I would be alone. I didn't want to be alone, but I didn't want to make you come…"

"I wanted to come," San replied evenly.

"You did…and I was also afraid of dying," he breathed. "Not so much afraid of death itself, but of dying alone, and never telling you how much I loved you. Living a life unfulfilled and…empty."

With each pause, his hold around her lessened in force, and became more soothing- gentle.

"It wasn't empty," San countered, her own heart feeling as if it would fly away. "You've saved me, Ashitaka. I owe you everything. Even that night, a long time ago, the second time I met you…I saw it in your eyes. You didn't hate me like all the other humans did. You taught me that not all humans are evil, and you gave me something that can never be replaced: you gave me a piece of my body and mind I didn't even know I had lost…you gave it back to me, even after all the trouble I'd caused you. I will never forget that."

San brought her head up close to his. Something was urging her. Something she had seen people do before- to show affection. Something special. Leaning over, she brushed her lips up against Ashitaka's, praying to whatever gods were listening that she was doing it right. She didn't want to startle or scare him away- not now.

It seemed as if she had done something right after all, though. Ashitaka responded by facing her directly, and slowly brought his own lips to meet with hers in a gentle kiss.

At that very moment, San's heart melted. So this was what she had been missing all of her life! Suddenly she felt so complete…so whole. As if half of her was missing until this moment, and Ashitaka provided the other half!

Almost by reflex, San shifted her arms around Ashitaka's back, drawing him closer to her. He did the same- wrapping his arms around her so tight that she thought they would melt into one another.

San almost whimpered when Ashitaka abruptly parted their bond, bringing his lips away from hers. He gazed at her, his eyes glowing with a fire to match San's in intensity.

"Thank you, San," he said softly. "I love you."

"I love you, too," she responded, leaning against him, as if begging for support- to be held.

Though he had broken their kiss, Ashitaka had no desire to remove his arms from around San's body. He only wished they could stay like this forever…

Shifting his weight, he settled himself against the trunk of a large tree, and laid his head back. San shifted with him, likewise not removing her arms, and lay her head down on his chest.

Due to the lack of respite from the previous night, they both fell asleep in that position almost instantly, despite their current situation. But what of it? They had a few days before anyone found out about anything. That would give them plenty of time to get a good head start if they ran, and besides…nothing was going to take this moment away from them- not even the gods, themselves, could've convinced Ashitaka and San to put such things aside and continue on their journey. The journey would wait forever, but this…this would last only for a little while.