I do not own princess mononoke

Chapter 11 – Kites in the Sky

a/n: had to listen to a crap load of different songs to really feel what everyone must've been feeling. Love, goth, punk, whatever I could get my hands on. I wrote like crazy as the songs played, I tell you. It helps, really

"'Give her back', huh?"

"Yeah."

Everything was so silent for a few minutes as if time had stopped for her to reply to the events that had just been described to her. Like a movie in rewind, or a mental time machine. Recalling events that never seemed to occur to her. Time resumed as she sighed heavily, sinking deeper into her state of silent confession. She looked up at the three boys looking back at her. Taka, staring at her soul, Kai, staring at her heart, and Shinji, staring at her thoughts, She didn't know what else to do now. Where was Ashitaka? Did he go outside with Kaya? Is he on the balcony? Where is he? She stood up, with the 3 sets of eyes following her. She was about to turn the corner, but stopped as she came face to face with the very person she was just thinking about.

They didn't say anything for a while; they just stared at each other. Ashitaka, staring with concern, and San, staring with fatigue and relief. If she was feeling better, she would've given in by now, but she didn't, it wasn't strength that kept her silent, it was guilt. He took her by the hand, and walked through the sitting crowd and out the balcony door. He shut the door behind him, and hesitated before turning around. She turned around towards the city. The city was an unforgiving place. What a miserable and overpowering place it was. All its done was give her grief and anger from the start. But then again, was it all that bad to come anyways?

"San" His voice finally broke the silence. Oh, how comforting his voice was to her. Like a gentle wave of heat breaking rock-hard ice, his voice soothed her pain, just for a second. She turned around slowly, and gazed into his eyes without fear, or hate. She understood now why his black orbs always made her shiver and turn. Why they always seemed to grasp her whole body and soul with such might she almost couldn't handle it.

His arms blanketed around her, just like a wave of soothing heat he embraced her. She went limp, and felt like even if she turned into water, he would find a way to keep her in one piece and bring her back.

"San" He repeated and he squeezed gently. "Go" She looked to the side, only to see his hair and neck. "Go ahead, no one can hear you." She closed her eyes, inhaled, and tried to tell him that she wouldn't cry. Not here, not now. But as she exhaled, a violent knot forced its way up her throat, and the once melancholy eyes turned to the source of a river. She just stood there; just like a little kid. Not wiping her eyes, not wiping her nose, just stood there like a child in the arms of a parent. But, she was really standing there weeping, in the arms of a loved one. Why was it so easy to just cry? Right when he said to? Moro almost never held her like this. She gave love and care, yes, but a lasting embrace such as this was something new. It made her bones rattle with joy, her body tingle with delight, and her heart pound wildly. Slowly and cautiously, she lifted her heavy arms, and wrapped them as much as she could around his body and squeezed tightly, afraid he might leave right there. He held tightly, and let her stay in his arms, even though it was going to be the last time he could hold her.

He approached the street where his destination was in sight. He felt something in his gut turnover and over. Someone was standing in the doorway, perfect. He could just bash his way through now. He inched closer and closer, but as he reached a point where he could clearly see who was standing in his way, he stopped.

There was a deathly silent moment as the two stared at each other with different emotions. He couldn't understand why she was there right now; it was too early. She stared at him with a glare of determination. He was confused at what to do now. Up until this moment, he didn't know what he was going to do once he did get to see San for the first time since he was very little. She kept standing there, still as a statue, and as faceless as a Noh mask. He inched a little closer as the seconds passed, but still didn't know what else to do but advance.

"San…?" He swallowed hard as he was still unsure of himself. "If you're mad at me, I understand, but I want to know if you want to come with me." She didn't reply, nor did she move. "I mean, come back. We're family, and we should be together. I don't mean that in a weird way, but I do care about you, and that's why I want you to come back." He finally made it. He was so close now. It was as if he could just take her away right now. "San…" But he was cut off as soon as she hugged him. She dug her face into his shoulder as she squeezed.

"I'm sorry." Her voice was so soft, but it was as if her words stabbed him in the shoulder. "You live in the past, Hiro, but let me tell you, try joining me in the present. Now that I know you're here, I'm a little more comfortable" She didn't wait for him to say anything, she simply kept talking softly. "I'm happy" He felt that gut twist like a wet towel being wrung out to dry. "I'm happy you're alive, but I'm happy where I am. I want to stay with the family I've known." She carefully slipped a picture into his jacket pocket, and let go. "Let go, Hiro Kaname. You may know me as a sister, but starting right now, I am a friend. My name is San Okina, 17, high school student. I live in this building, with my two brothers, Ashitaka and Kaya Eboshi." He stood flustered, and uncertain of himself as he clenched his fists. "It's late right now, I should go. I hope to see you in the near future. Goodnight." She turned and walked away.

Ashitaka hid in the shadows as he smiled to himself, and at the courage San had built. He took one last glance at Hiro Kaname, and crept his way in after San.

As he lay in his bed, he stared blankly at the ceiling, thinking about San. He knew that this brief amount of happiness wouldn't go on for much longer. It was coming to an end. It was finally almost over. He heard a knock on the door, and sat up. Something told him it was San.

"Ashitaka?" She opened it slowly. He smiled in the dark, and scooted over. She crawled in and curled up next to him. "That wasn't easy." She said as they both lay still.

"I can only imagine." He replied as he continued to wish it would last just a little longer.

"What now? What do you think Shinji, Kai and Taka will do? What will Hiro do?" She was constantly worrying about others, with no regards to herself.

"Kites." Ashitaka replied. She nudged in confusion. "Kites in the sky." He wrapped his arm around her. "We're both kites, San. Can't you see? We're always going to be attached to someone more powerful than us. They hold on to us so we won't get lost, or get tangled up. They control us at will." She didn't know where this was going, but she kept quiet so that he could go on. "We're not going to be as free as we are now. Our paths are carved out in stone now. We're going to go our separate ways." She tried getting closer, pretending not to understand. "The deal is over with our parents. We both have to go back to where we came from." Something about the way he said it made her crumble under the covers and made her body go cold. She had forgotten what life was like without knowing he was right down the hall. She tried to remember her mother trying to wake her up every morning for school, trying to get her two brothers up for school, and continuing on life without ever knowing Ashitaka.

"Don't go." She quietly pleaded as he still faced the ceiling. He then turned his head slowly and waited for her to face him herself. He gazed until she felt the weight of his eyes. It was like a last look before departure. He didn't know what to reply to her plea. He knew that he couldn't do that. Not when he had work. Although, in the end, was his work really making him happy? It seemed that only she could. She could be with him, and he could relax without regret. She could smile, and he could smile back. He wanted to love her. He wanted her to love him back, but not even that could sever the string which bound them to their families.

He cradled her head and touched her forehead with his lips, and held for a second. He realized that she was already asleep. He kept his arm around her, trying not to realize he couldn't ever hold her again.

"It really is hopeless, isn't it?" He took his free hand, Covered his face as best he could, and for the first time, he prayed that someone would hear him. Anyone, just someone might hear him, and feel sorry. He knew he didn't need sympathy when he needed her.

Just when he entered a state of half-sleep, someone forced the door open. He shot up, and before he could investigate, he could hear Kai struggling with someone.

'Get away from me! Get off! Don't touch me!" he and Taka raged. Kaya was screaming in panic from the other room, while San tried to see what was going on too. Ashitaka tried getting out the door, but before he even got out of the bed, a man kicked the door open and stomped over to the bed.

"Hey! What are you…?" San started to object to the stranger, but he grabbed her and started to drag her away. Ashitaka immediately tried to fight the man off, but from nowhere, another man fought with him instead. He tried fending him off while still trying to get San back. She screamed and kicked but the man overpowered her. He dragged her out of the room while taka and Kai were still wildly fighting back.

"SAN!" Ashitaka yelled as the struggle continued.

"ASHITAKA!" She screamed back, and then she was gone. Just like that. Under 10 minutes she disappeared. Not knowing where she was going, or if she was coming back. He did the only thing he could do, and that was call his mother.

"What's going on here?" He tried remaining calm with his mother. He was angry at those men, not at her.

"What are you talking about?" Eboshi asked tiredly. She had finally reached a good night's sleep, and then the phone rang.

"A bunch of weird guys came in and dragged the Okina's out." He explained quick and dirty.

"What? That was Moro's doing. She knew about how dangerous that Hiro Kaname was. She probably wanted to get them out before it got too dangerous." Eboshi tried to see what time it was

"That can't be possible!" He was starting to lose it already. He was so on-edge he could've snapped at anyone at this point.

"Look Ashitaka, if you want to do something, I strongly advise against it. This is their mother's idea, not mine, nor anyone else. Try to remember that." She then hung up and fell asleep soon after. Ashitaka, on the other line, slammed the phone down and ran into Kaya's room.

"Ashitaka!" she struggled. She was shaking, still trying to recover from what just happened. Her eyes were still watery, and still trying to figure out what had just happened. "I…they….it was so…." She tried forming sentences, but none would.

"It's alright, Kaya, I'm going out right now to find out what's going on and where they are." He comforted her like a good brother would. He started to walk away, but she grabbed his shirt.

"T-Take me with you!" She wanted to feel strong too. She wanted to save someone she loved too. Ashitaka saw it in her eyes that she had the strength and will to come. He helped her off the bed and onto her feet.

As they ran off, he wandered why Moro would go to such measures to take them away. Why was it necessary? Hiro wasn't that dangerous, especially to San, so why the urgency? Then again, Moro nor Eboshi was ever informed about the events that had happened while away, so how would they know?

As he thought, a hand pushed him back with forceful strength. He coughed from the pressure that had suddenly been replied, and regained his normal breathing after the wind was knocked out of him.

"San's in trouble, isn't she?"

to be continued!

a/n: hmm… I don't feel like I'm staying true to the original characters. Perhaps I should change that for those of you who feel strongly about characters. Especially if I butchered any of the characters. Sorry. I write for myself, and for my readers, so tell me what you think.

a/n this was an early rough draft for chapter 11, as you can see, I didn't have anywhere to put it in the final. But I liked it so damn much I wanted to share it with you guys. I forgot who this narrative was supposed to be in, but whoever it was they were referring to kites (metaphorically).

I hate you. I pity you. I want to strangle you. I have to hold on to you. I ignored you. I tried to find you. What is it about you? I don't know you, but I feel attached to you. By this thread I can't see, nor touch. It's just a string. It's just a tiny string. So fragile, yet so stubborn. If given the chance, will I be able to cut it?