Chapter Four: His Tale

The next morning San awoke to find Ashitaka wasn't there. She walked over and put on her undies and bra then her dress. Then her shoes. And her head band.
"ASHITAKA?!" She yelled.
San put a hand on the right side of her mouth and yelled out his name again.
"San, I'm right here!"
San tunred around and there was Ashitaka smiling.
She ran into his arms.
"I thought it was a dream!" She said.
He smiled. San gazed at him.
He hadn't changed.
His brown locks of hair were still a little messy. And still ear length.
And his radiant black eyes. They told his story.

Ashitaka looked San up and down.
Her darkish green ear length tresses were neat.
And her brown eyes were as vibrant as ever.
But they too, also told her story.

Ashitaka smiled.
San cocked her head to the side a bit. And then she too, smiled.

"Come on!" She said tugging on Ashi's right arm.
He followed her to the den.
When Yakkul saw Ashitaka, he got up and pranced over to him.
"YAKKUL!" Ashitaka said happily. San giggled.
Even Mora and Nasha got up to great him.

But yet the question weighed on ever ones mind: 'How did he survive?'
Ashi smiled and sat down on San's bed.
"I guess you guys are wondering how I survived?" They all shook their heads.
They gathered around. San went to sit by Ashi, but he pulled her on his lap.
She blushed.
"I wish....," He began. "I wish that I could tell you how I survived. But I don't know that either."
He sighed a little and then bit his lower lip.
"I guess it was my will to survive."
He put his arms around San's waist and hugged her.
"All I can remember is pushing San out of the way. And then I woke up and a cabin."
He thought for a bit.
"A cabin, Ashi?" Asked San.
"Hai, a cabin. The cabin was small. I remember seeing a young girl looking at me as I awoke. She gasped and then ran to her mother. Telling her I was awake."
San nodded her head.
Ashitaka closed his eyes before continuing.
He let out a deep sigh and then opend his eyes again.
"Her name was Koneko. The little girl. Her mother's name was Ki. Short for Kiki.
Apparently, Koneko found me unconscious and half alive on the shore of the river that ran by their house. Her mother told me that if Koneko didn't find me when she did, I would have died."
Ashitaka put his hand in his right pocket and then pulled out a necklace. Not a very fancy necklace. But it was pretty just the same.

"Koneko made it for me." He chuckled.
"I was badly injured and Ki said that it was a miracle I survived the fall from the cliff.
After about a month, I was able to walk. But I was still really weak.
After a while, I was able to help out. I wanted to help, even though Ki said I shouldn't.
Koneko's father lives in Iron Town. But Kiki hates what Lady Eboshi and them are doing to the forest, she her and her daughter live outside the safety of the walls.
And after being there for about two or so months, I was able to come home. I was on my way here, but then I saw you were in the stream."
San blushed. Mora and Nasha narrowed thier eyes.
Ashitaka chuckled and hugged San.

The End

((Note: For thoes of you who don't know, San and Mononoke are the same. San is her name, but she is also called Mononoke. Among other things.))