Kaya Sees the World, Chapter 20
Cowgrree: Thanks for all your suggestions! I'll be trying to keep them in mind as this story develops.
SHay: Lol, I actually always thought they really were brother and sister since Kaya said ". . .so you won't forget your little sister" when she gave him the crystal dagger. I guess I'll have to keep them brother and sister now, but thanks for pointing that out!
And thank you so much to everyone else that reviewed!
While Kaya stood outside, shocked at her friend's words, Ashitaka was sitting alone in Lady Eboshi's cabin. Perhaps he was being rather ridiculous, he thought, his brow furrowed in thought and indecision. The wounded arm rested limply across his legs, parallel to his chest, while his other elbow stood on his knee and propped up his chin.
He shouldn't have taken his anger out on San, he thought, and the first pangs of guilt began coming to him. Nor should he have punched the tree. . . nor should he have told the women of Irontown what had happened. The problem of Irontown's next ruler was no longer the priority on his list, Ashitaka realized, as he leaned back against the hard wooden wall. Far off in the distance he could hear the women's voices, but couldn't make out what they were talking about. He didn't want to know, although he already knew.
They were talking about San.
As if they didn't have enough problems in the town already, he had now managed to turn the townspeople against her. Ashitaka knew Toki's ways-by sunset, the entire town would know that San was the one responsible for Ashitaka's injuries. He half wanted to run outside and tell them it wasn't her fault, that it was his fault, but then that would implicate the fact that Kaya had been there visiting San, pouring out her problems-which the women did not support either. And now he figured Kaya deserved some sort of privacy.
Ashitaka sighed. He was beginning to sense that he was the problem in this mess.
= = = = = = =
From the forest emitted a sound that San had hardly ever heard before. There was always the chirping of birds, the scurrying of squirrels, the rattling of kodamas, the gentle clash of ripe nuts falling against the ground. Other times-and she shivered to remember this-there had been days when the forest was alight with fire and roaring with the gunshots and calls of Lady Eboshi to her men.
But today, it was silent.
It was as if someone had draped a silencing cover over the forest, sealing all sound away. There was not a single bird on the tree that Ashitaka had punched in anger. The leaves hung still and sullen; the trunk was silent and somber. It seemed as if she were the only thing alive in this forest.
Her wolf brothers came to her side and nuzzled her arm, but San did not respond. At the moment she didn't know whom to blame. Ashitaka, for his ruthless anger and for punching the tree? Her wolf brothers, for injuring the man she loved? Kaya, for having caused such uproar in Irontown?
Or was it her own fault, for having brought humans into the forest?
She wondered briefly if Kaya would ever come to see her again-if she was permitted. Most likely Ashitaka had a scolding ready for her.
= = = = = =
Kaya had fled from the women, but not to where Ashitaka was. She chose an alternate route and hurried out of Irontown.
Gasping for breath, she ran on until she came to rest at a young tree which generously held out its branches to provide some shade for her. It was where Ashitaka had slept that first day when Kaya went exploring. Kaya sat down under it and leaned against the trunk. So much had changed since her first day here, she thought.
For the first time she wondered what her life would have been like if she had stayed at home and not come with Ashitaka. Would she be married to Taro now, the mother of a newborn child?
I'll never know, thought Kaya. She glanced worriedly in the direction of the forest.
Cowgrree: Thanks for all your suggestions! I'll be trying to keep them in mind as this story develops.
SHay: Lol, I actually always thought they really were brother and sister since Kaya said ". . .so you won't forget your little sister" when she gave him the crystal dagger. I guess I'll have to keep them brother and sister now, but thanks for pointing that out!
And thank you so much to everyone else that reviewed!
While Kaya stood outside, shocked at her friend's words, Ashitaka was sitting alone in Lady Eboshi's cabin. Perhaps he was being rather ridiculous, he thought, his brow furrowed in thought and indecision. The wounded arm rested limply across his legs, parallel to his chest, while his other elbow stood on his knee and propped up his chin.
He shouldn't have taken his anger out on San, he thought, and the first pangs of guilt began coming to him. Nor should he have punched the tree. . . nor should he have told the women of Irontown what had happened. The problem of Irontown's next ruler was no longer the priority on his list, Ashitaka realized, as he leaned back against the hard wooden wall. Far off in the distance he could hear the women's voices, but couldn't make out what they were talking about. He didn't want to know, although he already knew.
They were talking about San.
As if they didn't have enough problems in the town already, he had now managed to turn the townspeople against her. Ashitaka knew Toki's ways-by sunset, the entire town would know that San was the one responsible for Ashitaka's injuries. He half wanted to run outside and tell them it wasn't her fault, that it was his fault, but then that would implicate the fact that Kaya had been there visiting San, pouring out her problems-which the women did not support either. And now he figured Kaya deserved some sort of privacy.
Ashitaka sighed. He was beginning to sense that he was the problem in this mess.
= = = = = = =
From the forest emitted a sound that San had hardly ever heard before. There was always the chirping of birds, the scurrying of squirrels, the rattling of kodamas, the gentle clash of ripe nuts falling against the ground. Other times-and she shivered to remember this-there had been days when the forest was alight with fire and roaring with the gunshots and calls of Lady Eboshi to her men.
But today, it was silent.
It was as if someone had draped a silencing cover over the forest, sealing all sound away. There was not a single bird on the tree that Ashitaka had punched in anger. The leaves hung still and sullen; the trunk was silent and somber. It seemed as if she were the only thing alive in this forest.
Her wolf brothers came to her side and nuzzled her arm, but San did not respond. At the moment she didn't know whom to blame. Ashitaka, for his ruthless anger and for punching the tree? Her wolf brothers, for injuring the man she loved? Kaya, for having caused such uproar in Irontown?
Or was it her own fault, for having brought humans into the forest?
She wondered briefly if Kaya would ever come to see her again-if she was permitted. Most likely Ashitaka had a scolding ready for her.
= = = = = =
Kaya had fled from the women, but not to where Ashitaka was. She chose an alternate route and hurried out of Irontown.
Gasping for breath, she ran on until she came to rest at a young tree which generously held out its branches to provide some shade for her. It was where Ashitaka had slept that first day when Kaya went exploring. Kaya sat down under it and leaned against the trunk. So much had changed since her first day here, she thought.
For the first time she wondered what her life would have been like if she had stayed at home and not come with Ashitaka. Would she be married to Taro now, the mother of a newborn child?
I'll never know, thought Kaya. She glanced worriedly in the direction of the forest.