It had been so long. No one of the family really didn't know how long. They had burned Ashitaka's body and taken his clothes. San was still in pain, but she tried to stay strong for her precious pups. Kohaku too, he felt pain, but he felt he had to be strong, since he was the oldest. He had promised he wouldn't cry anymore. He couldn't cry anymore. Yakkuru had died years ago, saddened by his master's death.

The strange thing was that not one of them aged a day after Ashitaka's death. But not one of them cared. Happiness seemed to have lost. Then, one day San called them all to meeting.

"My children, I know this has been hard for all of us, but all of you must know the truth. The truth of you, Kohaku, my son" she said

"About me?"

"Yes. You're adopted"

"What?"

"You're adopted. I found you the day you were born, lying all alone next to a small river. I've always thought this, but when Ashitaka died I was sure for the first time. I think you're a god of that river and you're supposed to protect it. That's the empty place you felt in your heart when you were younger. It explains why you're so special and your spiritual powers and maturity. It also explains why we haven't aged. Since we are near you, we won't age, like you don't either. But, unlike you, though we won't age, we will die. I know it's been longer time than we think from Ashitaka's death. It's been fifty years now. And soon, I will die, out of old age. But before it happens, I want to get you back to your river. It's the place you have to live after we all die. You have to live, Kohaku. But that you're adopted never changed that we love you" San said slowly.

"That's…So unbelievable"

"I know. But you have to accept it. Please. Can you leave with me tomorrow morning? I think I don't have much more than a day or two to live" San asked

"…Alright, but only for you, 'Kaasan. And for 'Tousan as well"

"Thank you. Now, let's got to sleep, so we can get up early"

It was night. Kohaku couldn't sleep. He was just thinking this all. And he thought about 'Tousan. He wondered, had he ever loved him?

"Kohaku…Kohaku, are you awake?"

"'Kaasan?"

"Yes, please come outside with me, I've got something for you"

Kohaku followed San outside

"Here, I want you to have these" she said. Kohaku could see her beautiful suffered face in the moonlight.

"But…These are dad's clothes. And this is the precious crystal dagger he gave to you. These are way too precious, I can't take them" Kohaku said and tried to push them back to his mother.

"Don't disrespect me and you fahter by refusing. You have to understand this now. Fifty years have passed since Ashitaka died. I'm over eighty years old. Kaya is sixty and Hana and Takeshi are fifty-six. We will all die soon. I must do this last journey with you, then I'll die. If not naturally, then from my own hand. Your siblings will also die in few tens of years. So please, take then and keep them safe. When we will meet again in the next life, these will be the proof for us, who you are."

"Alright. I shall take them, and I thank you for it, 'Kaasan."

Next morning, everybody woke up early as it was said. Kohaku wanted to say goodbyes to his siblings alone. First one was Kaya.

"Ani-sama…I just want you to know that I'll miss you and I'll be always thinking of you…And I want you to know that…Aishiteru, Ani-sama, itsumo aishiteru" (A/N: This means: I love you(strongly), Older brother, always I love you.")

"Kaya…I had no idea…"

"I know you didn't! I didn't want you to know, because I was sure mom and dad would not allow it, but I should have known they would have allowed it, if it only made us happy! I wish I could have realised it sooner!"

"Shh, Kaya it's alright. Aishiteru mo, I always meant it that way when I told it to you. Ever since we were children. I didn't even care we are siblings" Kohaku said as he embraced Kaya thigh.

"Ani-sama…"

"Shh…Let's just be like this for a while."

"Alright, but let me give you a gift. Please, accept this and keep it as a memory of me"

"But…Isn't this your precious pearled necklace?" Kohaku asked. Kaya had once found the pearl from ocean and she had treasured it always very much. Later, their parents had helped her to make a necklace of it.

"Yes, but I want you to have it. It's the symbol of my love for you. Please accept it and keep it as a seal of your memories about me" Kaya begged

"Alright. So I shall. But you know I could never forget you, Kaya. You'll always be my precious"

"And you'll be mine. Let's meet again in the next life"

"Yes."

Then they embraced each other for the next time. Then Kaya called Hana and Takeshi to say their goodbyes together.

"Brother, please accept this gift from both of us" Takeshi said as Hana handed Kohaku a knife that had blood red shiny stones in it.

"Where did you get those stones? Usually it's so hard to find them" Kohaku asked amazed. There was those stones at a river nearby, but they were hard to find. They made knifes and swords much stronger.

"We've had them hidden for some time. We spared them for your birthday, but we decided to give them with this knife we made last night. Please use it and think of us" Hana said. This was surprising, because Hana was shy and hardly talked even to her family.

"So I shall, you'll Always be in my thoughts. Both of you" And then he gave them both a hug.

San also said goodbyes to her children quickly. She said she would not come back. She was dead to them. It was a fate.

"It's time." San said sadly

"Yes. Let's go."

Hana started crying

"Hey, don't cry. We will always benear, though you can't see us. Please, live and understand. Let's meet again, in the next life. We'll bewaiting for you" Kohaku said and patted Hana's head.

"Promise? That we will all be together again someday?" Hana asked

"I promise. To all of you" Kohaku said and looked them all.

"Takeshi, take care of everyone now" he said to his younger brother

"I will! I'll try my best!"

"That's the spirit"

"Kohaku, we really have to go now"

"Yes mother"

With that, they walked away. Neither one dared to look back. It would have been too painful. They travelled the whole day and didn't stop for once. Finally they reached a river. There was now also a village

"Go, my son. It's your destiny. Do it for me, your father and most of all, for yourself. Don't punish yourself anymore. Past is past and the future is the future. So, just go now." San said.

"'Kaasan….Suma ne…" (This means 'Mom…sorry…')

Then, he transformed into a big snakelike white dragon and disappeared to the waters.

San heard some voices from behind her. She turned and saw few men, probably from the village near.

"Wh-what has happened to this river? For years now, it has been all dirty and the water can't be used to anything. But now, all suddenly, it's all clear!" One of the men said

"I think that the spirit of the river was gone for a long, long trip that he has finally returned from. And this river's name is…The Kohaku River. And the one that guards it is known as…Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi" San said faintly. And with those words, life left her body. She died in that position. She felt no pain, she only saw Ashitaka's smiling face before her. He gave her his hand and San gladly took it. Now, they could finally be together at peace…

"Our son is a god indeed." San said to Ashitaka

"Yes…Maybe at the next life we can meet him again…But it's time for us to go now, love. Your mother is waiting for us." Ashitaka said and squeezed San's hand gently

"Yes…"

And with that, they left this world and stepped to the next.