Kaya Sees the World, Chapter 19
Author's Note: I have definitely got to dedicate this chapter to animebaby08060. Thanks for all the reminders to update!!
Kaya sat alone in the cabin in a solitary cabin, stitching silently on a new kimono that she had looked forward to completing, but now the excitement was drained. The rest of the women, she knew, were outside talking about her. When they came inside to get something they picked it up and left without a word or a glance in her direction. She knew they weren't happy with her.
Toki came into the cabin and Kaya looked up expectantly, hoping for even a look in her direction, but Toki's face was strictly blank as she plucked a blanket off her bed and hurried back outside.
Kaya wondered what the blanket was for.
= = = = = = =
Ashitaka held his arm steady while Toki wound the blanket tightly around it, but the blood seeped right through it. Other women ran off to get more blankets while Toki held the first one in place.
Ashitaka said nothing, though the anger and hurt in his eyes were clearly visible. Toki was holding his arm so tightly that it was numb but he would likely have not felt it anyway. He was thinking only of San, filled with anger at his sister's actions and hurt at the fact that she had sided with Kaya. Irontown would collapse under the weak leaderless government now-how could Kaya be so selfish?
Kia returned with a stack of blankets and Toki worked rapidly at wrapping them around Ashitaka's arm, finally tying them in place.
"Thanks," he said, not meeting her eyes.
"How did it happen?" asked Toki, not responding to his thanks. The question had been asked many times before but never met an answer, and the other women had tried over and over again to worm the answer out of him. She stated it bluntly and cleanly.
And finally he responded with just a few words: "The wolf girl."
= = = = = = =
The whispering outside grew louder. Kaya had watched Kia snatch up several blankets with a vague glance in her direction that had briefly given her a glimpse of hope. She climbed off her bed and towards the window, trying to keep them from noticing her.
"I knew she couldn't be trusted!" Toki was saying. "Why Ashitaka ever bothered to try having her become a resident of Irontown. . ."
"Now, Toki, we don't know why it happened yet," one of the other women said. "It could have been just a disagreement. We've caused some hurt to people in our time."
"Like what?" snapped Toki.
"Well, such as the time I shot Ashitaka," Kia reminded them. "We're all upset now about the rice and Kaya's refusal and now this, but it will all cool down. Let Ashitaka have his rest," she ordered, as one of the women showed signs of turning towards his room.
"We'll never have her inside this town again," Toki vowed.
Kaya watched silently, terrified. Were they talking about her still? Toki wanted to throw her out? They were talking about Ashitaka being hurt, but he had been in perfect condition the last time she'd seen him.
Kaya went outside now, no longer afraid of being seen, and quietly asked, "What happened to my brother?"
The women gave each other skittish looks, none of them wanting to answer the question. Finally Toki stepped forward.
"Go ask your wolf girl friend," she snapped.
Author's Note: I have definitely got to dedicate this chapter to animebaby08060. Thanks for all the reminders to update!!
Kaya sat alone in the cabin in a solitary cabin, stitching silently on a new kimono that she had looked forward to completing, but now the excitement was drained. The rest of the women, she knew, were outside talking about her. When they came inside to get something they picked it up and left without a word or a glance in her direction. She knew they weren't happy with her.
Toki came into the cabin and Kaya looked up expectantly, hoping for even a look in her direction, but Toki's face was strictly blank as she plucked a blanket off her bed and hurried back outside.
Kaya wondered what the blanket was for.
= = = = = = =
Ashitaka held his arm steady while Toki wound the blanket tightly around it, but the blood seeped right through it. Other women ran off to get more blankets while Toki held the first one in place.
Ashitaka said nothing, though the anger and hurt in his eyes were clearly visible. Toki was holding his arm so tightly that it was numb but he would likely have not felt it anyway. He was thinking only of San, filled with anger at his sister's actions and hurt at the fact that she had sided with Kaya. Irontown would collapse under the weak leaderless government now-how could Kaya be so selfish?
Kia returned with a stack of blankets and Toki worked rapidly at wrapping them around Ashitaka's arm, finally tying them in place.
"Thanks," he said, not meeting her eyes.
"How did it happen?" asked Toki, not responding to his thanks. The question had been asked many times before but never met an answer, and the other women had tried over and over again to worm the answer out of him. She stated it bluntly and cleanly.
And finally he responded with just a few words: "The wolf girl."
= = = = = = =
The whispering outside grew louder. Kaya had watched Kia snatch up several blankets with a vague glance in her direction that had briefly given her a glimpse of hope. She climbed off her bed and towards the window, trying to keep them from noticing her.
"I knew she couldn't be trusted!" Toki was saying. "Why Ashitaka ever bothered to try having her become a resident of Irontown. . ."
"Now, Toki, we don't know why it happened yet," one of the other women said. "It could have been just a disagreement. We've caused some hurt to people in our time."
"Like what?" snapped Toki.
"Well, such as the time I shot Ashitaka," Kia reminded them. "We're all upset now about the rice and Kaya's refusal and now this, but it will all cool down. Let Ashitaka have his rest," she ordered, as one of the women showed signs of turning towards his room.
"We'll never have her inside this town again," Toki vowed.
Kaya watched silently, terrified. Were they talking about her still? Toki wanted to throw her out? They were talking about Ashitaka being hurt, but he had been in perfect condition the last time she'd seen him.
Kaya went outside now, no longer afraid of being seen, and quietly asked, "What happened to my brother?"
The women gave each other skittish looks, none of them wanting to answer the question. Finally Toki stepped forward.
"Go ask your wolf girl friend," she snapped.