Chapter Nine- The Road Stretches Out Ahead
Author Note- This story is drawing to a close. Time for it all to end happily... or not. Have I ever said I'm a fan of cliffhanger endings? +_+
Disclaimer- *insert witty disclaimer here*
Iron Town was bigger than it looked from a distance, I realized. The large wooden gate at the opening seemed like toothpicks from the other hilltop, and yet they were tall, thick trees that were larger than two full grown tribesmen standing on top of each other's shoulders.
The women of the town were so friendly as they ushered Ashitaka and I in. I glanced back for one last look at San, hidden among the trees. She had refused to come here. I said a silent good bye and turned back.
"Ashitaka, what have you managed to do this time? You look like death warmed over... and maybe chewed on a bit." one peticularly loud woman exclaimed, slipping Ashitaka's arm over her shoulders. Two other woman helped me along.
"It's a long story, Toki." my brother managed, his tone holding a relieved bit of humor. "Is Lady Eboshi in town now?" he added.
"Yes. She's been worried sick about you, not to mention the rest of us." Toki rambled, glaring up at him. I had to laugh a bit at her expression. She glanced back at me, suddenly remembering my presence. "Oh yeah, who's she?"
"That's Keiya... she's... traveled a long way to see Iron Town. She helped me to escape my captors." he explained, catching my eye. I blushed a bit at the chatter that erupted around us in the crowd.
"I- I mean, I didn't..." I began, stuttering and trying to grasp something to say.
"Thank you." Toki interrupted. I stopped, biting my lower lip gently. I glanced up at the woman, Toki.
"Excuse me?" I managed. What was there to thank me for?
"Thank you. You brought Ashitaka back to us... he's... he's like a brother to us." Toki managed, dropping her eyes and turning back.
"He's my brother, too." I thought, a bit jealous.
She didn't say another word and she pulled back a flap of a tent and pulled Ashitaka in. The scrawled writing at the top of the tent said something that meant that was a private area.
"Come, Keiya. We'll get you patched up in no time." one of the woman helping me stand spoke warmly.
"Where are they going?" I managed, turning to her.
"That's Lady Eboshi's personal tent. Don't worry, she won't let Ashitaka go without getting patched up as well." the other woman laughed.
I nodded slightly as we finally reach the healer's tent. I was told to lie down. A few moments passed before a bent old woman entered the room and began to tend to my various wounds. She poured a burning liquid across each, causing my eyes to grow wide and my teeth to clench from the pain. "Ow." I managed hoarsely."
"That doesn't hurt." the woman countered. I lifted an eyebrow and silently spoke my claims that it did.
My mind trailed back to the fight. Why had the samurai let us go? And what was that "curse" about? Had my brother and I been cursed? Was I going to die now? I pushed these thoughts away after a moment, though now a heavy cloud sat in my chest. Dark and painful.
Finally done, she told me to get some rest. I complied, glad to. I drifted to a peaceful sleep, my tired body grateful.
"Keiya? Wake up."
My eyes drifted open to a dark tent. A friendly glow lay on the walls from a small lantern in my companions hand. "Ashitaka?" I managed, sitting up. He nodded, helping me to stand.
"Can you walk alright?" he asked, letting my arm go when I indicated I could. "Lady Eboshi wants to see you... I'm sorry it's so late." he added.
"Lady Eboshi? Who is she?" I asked, following him silently out of the tent. My bare feet skidded across the stone laid roads. I tried my best to straighten my hair, knowing it must have been a mess.
"She's the head of Iron Town." was all Ashitaka would say about her. He glanced back at me. "Don't worry about your hair." he laughed. I glared a bit, close to commenting upon his looks but thought better of it.
"Ashitaka... why didn't you tell anyone I was your sister?" I asked, my tone a bit sad. He dropped his eyes.
"No one here knows about my past... I somewhat prefer it that way. I didn't want them to suddenly be questioning me because a sister they never knew I had appeared." he answered. I could see the logic in his reasoning, but it still hurt.
I stayed quiet as we entered Eboshi's chambers. It was dimly lit, but homy in it's decoration. At the head of a low table sat a woman draped in a long overcoat, a brightly printed shirt and pants underneath.
"Hello, Keiya." she called, motioning for both of us to sit. She smiled warmly at us, her eyes lingering on me for a few moments. "Welcome to Iron Town." she added, then turning to Ashitaka. "She has to be of your blood. The resemblance in uncanny."
I gulped deep, waiting for Ashitaka's answer. "She is my sister." he breathed.
"I thought as much." she smiled. She called to a servant to bring a bottle of wine and then sent them away. The silence hung between us all, seemingly a cloud.
"What did you want to see me about, Lady Eboshi?" I finally blurted. She looked at me from just above the rim of her cup.
"The curse... both you and Ashitaka were cursed by that damned general." she spoke finally. I looked skeptical. "I may be a woman, but that doesn't mean I don't have any knowledge of ancient hexes."
"How can it be broken?" I pressed. She took a long sip of the wine, swirling it in the bottom of her cup for a moment. My heart beat increased until I was sure my heart was trying to leave my body. My skin burned in anticipation and a bit of fear.
"My original guess was for you both to return to your true home, back to the Amishi." she began. I took a deep breath. Neither of us were permitted to return now. We would die. "Then I realized that their was a trick to the words. It said you have to go to where you belong."
"I've already found where I belong." Ashitaka spoke. "Here, in Iron Town. With San and the women here. I've found my real home." he explained to me. I turned this over in my mind.
"But have you found your home, Keiya?" Eboshi pressed. "Do you belong here?" she added.
I stayed silent. I knew the answer. How could I not? I didn't belong here. I wanted adventure. I'd found Ashitaka, and suddenly I knew that he's always be here if I chose to come.
"No. I don't." I breathed. Ashitaka looked on sadly. "The people of Iron Town are friendly enough, but I don't feel at home here." I tried to explain. I looked up, hoping they understood.
"Then I believe you know what you have to do." Eboshi spoke.
I stood. "When should I leave?" I asked.
"No later than tomorrow morning. You can't hesitate for long anywhere, or the curse will kick in." Eboshi explained. Ashitaka stood next to me, as did Eboshi.
"Very well then." I breathed.
The next morning wasn't full of tearful goodbyes, or long farewells. I snuck out of the town early, before dawn. I didn't want to have to see them, have to walk away from them.
However, I found San and Ashitaka awaiting me on the hilltop above the town.
"I had hoped to avoid this goodbye, brother." I breathed. Ashitaka pulled me into a tight hug, pushing a large wrapped package into my hands as he pulled away.
"You'll need these, little sister." he explained. I bit my lower lip as I opened the gift. A bow and a quiver full of arrows, a long knife, some heavy leather boots, and a thick, long cloak. Towards the bottom I found supply of food and water also.
"I had wondered how I would fair without supplies. Thank you." I laughed slightly. Ashitaka smiled slightly.
I finally turned to San, the girl I'd grown to respect and love in the past few days. I nodded to her, knowing of her distaste for humans by now. She surprised me by grabbing my hand and slicing the palm open. She followed suit with her own and held the two wounds together by grasping my hand. "Sworn sisters." she spoke softly. "You have a family among the wolf clan." she added.
I had to fight tears. I was so touched by the words.
"Thank you, sister." I whispered. She turned, whistling into the trees. A small, at least in comparison to San's "brother", wolf appear, loping towards us.
"This is Natake. He's one of the younger cubs of my clan, but I want you to take him with you." San explained. Natake looked up at me, large ice colored eyes searching mine.
"I couldn't, San... I-" I began. Natake cut me off by nuzzling my hand.
*Take me with you, please?* was the wolf's plea. I sighed a bit.
"You're sure?" I asked San. She nodded. "Very well, then." I glanced at the sky. Dawn was fast approaching. "Good bye, both of you." I spoke. "Come, Natake." I added, turning to go. The sun rose fast behind me as I ran down the hill. I glanced back once, seeing Ashitaka and San watching me go. I didn't wave, but turned back to face my future.
I was going to break my curse. Someday I'd return, I vowed.
"The future awaits us, friend." I spoke to the wolf beside me. He turned his head towards me and I swear I heard him laugh at me.
Author Notes/ That's it, the end. I'm done writing. So, anyone want a sequel about her journey? Or should I leave it as is?
Author Note- This story is drawing to a close. Time for it all to end happily... or not. Have I ever said I'm a fan of cliffhanger endings? +_+
Disclaimer- *insert witty disclaimer here*
Iron Town was bigger than it looked from a distance, I realized. The large wooden gate at the opening seemed like toothpicks from the other hilltop, and yet they were tall, thick trees that were larger than two full grown tribesmen standing on top of each other's shoulders.
The women of the town were so friendly as they ushered Ashitaka and I in. I glanced back for one last look at San, hidden among the trees. She had refused to come here. I said a silent good bye and turned back.
"Ashitaka, what have you managed to do this time? You look like death warmed over... and maybe chewed on a bit." one peticularly loud woman exclaimed, slipping Ashitaka's arm over her shoulders. Two other woman helped me along.
"It's a long story, Toki." my brother managed, his tone holding a relieved bit of humor. "Is Lady Eboshi in town now?" he added.
"Yes. She's been worried sick about you, not to mention the rest of us." Toki rambled, glaring up at him. I had to laugh a bit at her expression. She glanced back at me, suddenly remembering my presence. "Oh yeah, who's she?"
"That's Keiya... she's... traveled a long way to see Iron Town. She helped me to escape my captors." he explained, catching my eye. I blushed a bit at the chatter that erupted around us in the crowd.
"I- I mean, I didn't..." I began, stuttering and trying to grasp something to say.
"Thank you." Toki interrupted. I stopped, biting my lower lip gently. I glanced up at the woman, Toki.
"Excuse me?" I managed. What was there to thank me for?
"Thank you. You brought Ashitaka back to us... he's... he's like a brother to us." Toki managed, dropping her eyes and turning back.
"He's my brother, too." I thought, a bit jealous.
She didn't say another word and she pulled back a flap of a tent and pulled Ashitaka in. The scrawled writing at the top of the tent said something that meant that was a private area.
"Come, Keiya. We'll get you patched up in no time." one of the woman helping me stand spoke warmly.
"Where are they going?" I managed, turning to her.
"That's Lady Eboshi's personal tent. Don't worry, she won't let Ashitaka go without getting patched up as well." the other woman laughed.
I nodded slightly as we finally reach the healer's tent. I was told to lie down. A few moments passed before a bent old woman entered the room and began to tend to my various wounds. She poured a burning liquid across each, causing my eyes to grow wide and my teeth to clench from the pain. "Ow." I managed hoarsely."
"That doesn't hurt." the woman countered. I lifted an eyebrow and silently spoke my claims that it did.
My mind trailed back to the fight. Why had the samurai let us go? And what was that "curse" about? Had my brother and I been cursed? Was I going to die now? I pushed these thoughts away after a moment, though now a heavy cloud sat in my chest. Dark and painful.
Finally done, she told me to get some rest. I complied, glad to. I drifted to a peaceful sleep, my tired body grateful.
"Keiya? Wake up."
My eyes drifted open to a dark tent. A friendly glow lay on the walls from a small lantern in my companions hand. "Ashitaka?" I managed, sitting up. He nodded, helping me to stand.
"Can you walk alright?" he asked, letting my arm go when I indicated I could. "Lady Eboshi wants to see you... I'm sorry it's so late." he added.
"Lady Eboshi? Who is she?" I asked, following him silently out of the tent. My bare feet skidded across the stone laid roads. I tried my best to straighten my hair, knowing it must have been a mess.
"She's the head of Iron Town." was all Ashitaka would say about her. He glanced back at me. "Don't worry about your hair." he laughed. I glared a bit, close to commenting upon his looks but thought better of it.
"Ashitaka... why didn't you tell anyone I was your sister?" I asked, my tone a bit sad. He dropped his eyes.
"No one here knows about my past... I somewhat prefer it that way. I didn't want them to suddenly be questioning me because a sister they never knew I had appeared." he answered. I could see the logic in his reasoning, but it still hurt.
I stayed quiet as we entered Eboshi's chambers. It was dimly lit, but homy in it's decoration. At the head of a low table sat a woman draped in a long overcoat, a brightly printed shirt and pants underneath.
"Hello, Keiya." she called, motioning for both of us to sit. She smiled warmly at us, her eyes lingering on me for a few moments. "Welcome to Iron Town." she added, then turning to Ashitaka. "She has to be of your blood. The resemblance in uncanny."
I gulped deep, waiting for Ashitaka's answer. "She is my sister." he breathed.
"I thought as much." she smiled. She called to a servant to bring a bottle of wine and then sent them away. The silence hung between us all, seemingly a cloud.
"What did you want to see me about, Lady Eboshi?" I finally blurted. She looked at me from just above the rim of her cup.
"The curse... both you and Ashitaka were cursed by that damned general." she spoke finally. I looked skeptical. "I may be a woman, but that doesn't mean I don't have any knowledge of ancient hexes."
"How can it be broken?" I pressed. She took a long sip of the wine, swirling it in the bottom of her cup for a moment. My heart beat increased until I was sure my heart was trying to leave my body. My skin burned in anticipation and a bit of fear.
"My original guess was for you both to return to your true home, back to the Amishi." she began. I took a deep breath. Neither of us were permitted to return now. We would die. "Then I realized that their was a trick to the words. It said you have to go to where you belong."
"I've already found where I belong." Ashitaka spoke. "Here, in Iron Town. With San and the women here. I've found my real home." he explained to me. I turned this over in my mind.
"But have you found your home, Keiya?" Eboshi pressed. "Do you belong here?" she added.
I stayed silent. I knew the answer. How could I not? I didn't belong here. I wanted adventure. I'd found Ashitaka, and suddenly I knew that he's always be here if I chose to come.
"No. I don't." I breathed. Ashitaka looked on sadly. "The people of Iron Town are friendly enough, but I don't feel at home here." I tried to explain. I looked up, hoping they understood.
"Then I believe you know what you have to do." Eboshi spoke.
I stood. "When should I leave?" I asked.
"No later than tomorrow morning. You can't hesitate for long anywhere, or the curse will kick in." Eboshi explained. Ashitaka stood next to me, as did Eboshi.
"Very well then." I breathed.
The next morning wasn't full of tearful goodbyes, or long farewells. I snuck out of the town early, before dawn. I didn't want to have to see them, have to walk away from them.
However, I found San and Ashitaka awaiting me on the hilltop above the town.
"I had hoped to avoid this goodbye, brother." I breathed. Ashitaka pulled me into a tight hug, pushing a large wrapped package into my hands as he pulled away.
"You'll need these, little sister." he explained. I bit my lower lip as I opened the gift. A bow and a quiver full of arrows, a long knife, some heavy leather boots, and a thick, long cloak. Towards the bottom I found supply of food and water also.
"I had wondered how I would fair without supplies. Thank you." I laughed slightly. Ashitaka smiled slightly.
I finally turned to San, the girl I'd grown to respect and love in the past few days. I nodded to her, knowing of her distaste for humans by now. She surprised me by grabbing my hand and slicing the palm open. She followed suit with her own and held the two wounds together by grasping my hand. "Sworn sisters." she spoke softly. "You have a family among the wolf clan." she added.
I had to fight tears. I was so touched by the words.
"Thank you, sister." I whispered. She turned, whistling into the trees. A small, at least in comparison to San's "brother", wolf appear, loping towards us.
"This is Natake. He's one of the younger cubs of my clan, but I want you to take him with you." San explained. Natake looked up at me, large ice colored eyes searching mine.
"I couldn't, San... I-" I began. Natake cut me off by nuzzling my hand.
*Take me with you, please?* was the wolf's plea. I sighed a bit.
"You're sure?" I asked San. She nodded. "Very well, then." I glanced at the sky. Dawn was fast approaching. "Good bye, both of you." I spoke. "Come, Natake." I added, turning to go. The sun rose fast behind me as I ran down the hill. I glanced back once, seeing Ashitaka and San watching me go. I didn't wave, but turned back to face my future.
I was going to break my curse. Someday I'd return, I vowed.
"The future awaits us, friend." I spoke to the wolf beside me. He turned his head towards me and I swear I heard him laugh at me.
Author Notes/ That's it, the end. I'm done writing. So, anyone want a sequel about her journey? Or should I leave it as is?