Kaya Sees the World, Chap. 9
dragoninmyroom: Firstly, thanks for reviewing my story. I haven't watched the movie in ages and therefore don't remember anything specific about Gonza being in love with Lady Eboshi (albeit he did seem obsessive about defending her) but it seems quite possible that you're right, judging from his actions. For the sake of this fanfic, though, I'm fiddling around with the peoples' personalities a little (
It had been so long since San and the late Lady Eboshi had seen each other. Each had chosen to stay in their own separate worlds, with as little interaction as possible. In some ways Ashitaka had been the bond between them, but neither minded that.
Kaya rode alongside San, reciting her entire story in bits and pieces, starting from Ashitaka's departure from their home town to Lady Eboshi's death at Gonza's hands. San listened with few interjections until the entire story had escaped her new friend's lips. Using what was left of the old broken string of leather, she managed to retie the dagger around her neck. Kaya didn't object.
As Kaya related the story of her best friend, San felt herself touched by the girl's deep hurt although she herself had never had a best friend, save for her wolf brothers and sisters. She realized that as a royal child, Kaya had never been permitted to play very much with other children her age due to their inferior status. She wasn't sure when it happened, but before long she was very much taken with Kaya, despite the fact that this girl was telling her the story of the death of the woman she had hated. A year ago she would have gleefully celebrated, but now she was grieving with Kaya.
Kaya found it especially difficult to talk about their last tea party. "She told me about you," she said quietly.
"Really? What did she say?" asked San. Her wolf family's ears pricked up upon hearing this.
"She told me briefly of.of what happened between you.your wolves-Ashitaka- she seemed to think that it was mostly her fault. She was sorry for what she did."
"It was mine too," said San softly, finally admitting what had taken her ages to accept. For months she had been haunted by images of boars turned to demons, forests, ablaze with fire-
Kaya's sniffle brought her back to reality. She turned to look tenderly at her, and realized that Kaya was struggling to hide the fact that she was crying. Kaya let go of the wolf's thick fur to wipe her eyes, but just at that moment the wolf jounced a little while stepping over a rock and accidentally knocked Kaya off.
San jumped off her wolf instinctively and the wave of terror washed over her before she could figure out why she cared so much. "Kaya? Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
San helped her back to her feet. "You aren't very used to riding a wolf, are you? We're going to have to get you something else to ride. What are you used to, Ashitaka's elk?"
"Yes, he's fine," said Kaya, feeling a laugh bubble up inside her. She dried her tears and bravely climbed back onto the wolf.
"So how is Irontown these days?" asked San, feeling as if that moment had broken the tension between them.
"Not so great, now that Lady Eboshi is gone. Gonza.the guy who used to protect her." At San's face of disgust, she laughed-actually laughed for the first time after her beloved Lady Eboshi's death-and continued. "He's now in charge of the town now, and he's working everyone like crazy. A lot of the women are speaking of returning to the brothel."
"Why him and not Ashitaka?" asked San earnestly.
"I don't know. After Lady Eboshi's death.everyone was absolutely grief- stricken; we all loved her so much. I think Gonza pretty much just took advantage of that and decided to take over."
"Very power-hungry, isn't he?" commented San, mildly this time.
Kaya looked at San in surprise. "You don't think he killed her.for power?"
"I really don't know. He was always very protective of her, but at the same time became infuriated when the women always teased him. You know that Lady Eboshi never trusted men, and to her-and the women of Irontown-they were always of an inferior status. I wouldn't be very surprised if he decided to take revenge."
They rode in silence back to the edge of the forest, Kaya pondering upon this new concept. San stopped her wolves when they came to the clearing and the smoke issuing from the fire became clear.
"I should go now," said Kaya regretfully; she had truly enjoyed getting to know San better.
"All right. Come down and visit me again," said San, a smile on her lips now. "And Kaya?"
"Yes?"
"I'll help you defeat that Gonza someday. Lady Eboshi was and will always be right. You can't trust men."
Kaya laughed suddenly. "And what about Ashitaka?"
San blushed a deep shade of red, something she hated doing. "Well.he's.well, an exception.?"
Kaya laughed again, and it was a deep laugh of pure joy. "Thank you, San. I'll come back soon."
San remained at the edge of the forest waving. Kaya rode back to Irontown, and for the first time since Lady Eboshi's death, wasn't afraid of Gonza. She had San on her side now.
dragoninmyroom: Firstly, thanks for reviewing my story. I haven't watched the movie in ages and therefore don't remember anything specific about Gonza being in love with Lady Eboshi (albeit he did seem obsessive about defending her) but it seems quite possible that you're right, judging from his actions. For the sake of this fanfic, though, I'm fiddling around with the peoples' personalities a little (
It had been so long since San and the late Lady Eboshi had seen each other. Each had chosen to stay in their own separate worlds, with as little interaction as possible. In some ways Ashitaka had been the bond between them, but neither minded that.
Kaya rode alongside San, reciting her entire story in bits and pieces, starting from Ashitaka's departure from their home town to Lady Eboshi's death at Gonza's hands. San listened with few interjections until the entire story had escaped her new friend's lips. Using what was left of the old broken string of leather, she managed to retie the dagger around her neck. Kaya didn't object.
As Kaya related the story of her best friend, San felt herself touched by the girl's deep hurt although she herself had never had a best friend, save for her wolf brothers and sisters. She realized that as a royal child, Kaya had never been permitted to play very much with other children her age due to their inferior status. She wasn't sure when it happened, but before long she was very much taken with Kaya, despite the fact that this girl was telling her the story of the death of the woman she had hated. A year ago she would have gleefully celebrated, but now she was grieving with Kaya.
Kaya found it especially difficult to talk about their last tea party. "She told me about you," she said quietly.
"Really? What did she say?" asked San. Her wolf family's ears pricked up upon hearing this.
"She told me briefly of.of what happened between you.your wolves-Ashitaka- she seemed to think that it was mostly her fault. She was sorry for what she did."
"It was mine too," said San softly, finally admitting what had taken her ages to accept. For months she had been haunted by images of boars turned to demons, forests, ablaze with fire-
Kaya's sniffle brought her back to reality. She turned to look tenderly at her, and realized that Kaya was struggling to hide the fact that she was crying. Kaya let go of the wolf's thick fur to wipe her eyes, but just at that moment the wolf jounced a little while stepping over a rock and accidentally knocked Kaya off.
San jumped off her wolf instinctively and the wave of terror washed over her before she could figure out why she cared so much. "Kaya? Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
San helped her back to her feet. "You aren't very used to riding a wolf, are you? We're going to have to get you something else to ride. What are you used to, Ashitaka's elk?"
"Yes, he's fine," said Kaya, feeling a laugh bubble up inside her. She dried her tears and bravely climbed back onto the wolf.
"So how is Irontown these days?" asked San, feeling as if that moment had broken the tension between them.
"Not so great, now that Lady Eboshi is gone. Gonza.the guy who used to protect her." At San's face of disgust, she laughed-actually laughed for the first time after her beloved Lady Eboshi's death-and continued. "He's now in charge of the town now, and he's working everyone like crazy. A lot of the women are speaking of returning to the brothel."
"Why him and not Ashitaka?" asked San earnestly.
"I don't know. After Lady Eboshi's death.everyone was absolutely grief- stricken; we all loved her so much. I think Gonza pretty much just took advantage of that and decided to take over."
"Very power-hungry, isn't he?" commented San, mildly this time.
Kaya looked at San in surprise. "You don't think he killed her.for power?"
"I really don't know. He was always very protective of her, but at the same time became infuriated when the women always teased him. You know that Lady Eboshi never trusted men, and to her-and the women of Irontown-they were always of an inferior status. I wouldn't be very surprised if he decided to take revenge."
They rode in silence back to the edge of the forest, Kaya pondering upon this new concept. San stopped her wolves when they came to the clearing and the smoke issuing from the fire became clear.
"I should go now," said Kaya regretfully; she had truly enjoyed getting to know San better.
"All right. Come down and visit me again," said San, a smile on her lips now. "And Kaya?"
"Yes?"
"I'll help you defeat that Gonza someday. Lady Eboshi was and will always be right. You can't trust men."
Kaya laughed suddenly. "And what about Ashitaka?"
San blushed a deep shade of red, something she hated doing. "Well.he's.well, an exception.?"
Kaya laughed again, and it was a deep laugh of pure joy. "Thank you, San. I'll come back soon."
San remained at the edge of the forest waving. Kaya rode back to Irontown, and for the first time since Lady Eboshi's death, wasn't afraid of Gonza. She had San on her side now.