Eboshi called Ashitaka early the next morning to fully discuss the plan she had already formed. She had spent all night thinking of the best strategy to fight against Asano. Eboshi was not a weak woman. She would do what needed to be done to protect her town and her people. She also knew when she needed a little help, or rather, a distraction. Eboshi met Ashitaka outside of her home, she was sitting on the brick steps that led to her abode when he arrived. He bowed respectfully and sat next to her.
"M'lady?"
She smiled softly at him and thought of h ow to begin. He patiently waited, watching her graceful posture and delicate face as she tried to figure out how to start.
"It may not feel like it just yet," she started, looking straight ahead, "but a war has commenced between Asano and I. I am going to have to speak to the town in a few minutes but I'm going to explain something to you first and then ask a favor of you."
She paused to turn around and look at him with a very serious expression.
"Asano will most likely bring a large army to overthrow me and take over the town. He wants to bring back Iron Town and get all the riches for himself. The town will fight, you can be sure of that, but we are not enough. Anything can tip the scale in our favor. Which is how the favor comes in."
"What is it?"asked Ashitaka, dreading the question already.
"Ashitaka, you do realize the fastest and most undetectable way to get to Iron Town is through the forest. The army will tear apart the forest to get through to me."
She paused, perhaps for her words to set in but Ashitaka already knew this. He could also see what she was about to ask him. Out of politeness, he stayed quiet.
"I was hoping you could ask your Wolf Princess if she could join us in battle."
Ashitaka sighed. There it was, probably one of the scariest phrases ever spoken to him. How he came between the two women, he did not truly grasp. Yet, the weight of influencing San to do something he knew would kill her to do was something he truly did not like. Not only that, he was not sure if he wanted this bond between them as well.
"I will talk to her myself, of course," spoke Eboshi, though her voice sounded far away to Ashitaka, "This is not all up to you. However, she has respect for you and your opinions. Let her see that this is not only for our benefit but for hers as well."
He said nothing for a while.
"I promise nothing," he said just as seriously as she had spoken, "I do not know if this is the best idea. I will talk to her about it but I will influence nothing. It is all up to her."
Eboshi kept quiet. His devotion to the wolf girl surprised her. She had not truly expected for him to contradict her. He'd always fought for the animals and humans to work together.
"That's all I ask," said Eboshi gratefully, getting up and sweeping her coat of imaginary dirt.
"Thank you,"
With a nod, he welcomed her and watched as she walked away, leaving Ashitaka with a feeling of dread.
He would give anything to not ask such a thing from San.
He gave a daunted groan.
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While Eboshi prepared to give a speech to the town, Ashitaka prepared himself to go talk to the Wolf Princess. He could not get up the nerve to go talk to her that night, but the next day
he entered the forest with his head held high. He found it funny that he was so scared of her, though it was not truly her, he could never be scared of someone so beautiful. It was her temper. Her temper was the worst tempest imaginable. He would not be surprised if she scared away the very Gods if she truly tried.
He was not supposed to visit for a few days but he entered her forest nonetheless. He had to take advantage of his "in" with San and hope she did not get too annoyed at his intrusion. He left Yakuul back home, choosing to take his time reaching the mountain in which San and her brothers lived in and try to calm himself. Once he got there, he sat on the edge of the rock, as he had done a few times before, and waited.
This time, he waited for quite a while. The forest was very peaceful, the only sounds were the natural sounds of small insects which lulled him to sleep. The days were colder now and at the moment, he was wearing a skin which warmed him quite effectively. He lay on his back, patiently waiting and after a while, he felt his vision blur and the sounds around him dim.
When he awoke, San was already there with her two brothers. The two wolves were lying down while San leaned against her youngest brother. They were speaking quietly amongst each other and did not notice when Ashitaka awoke. He yawned and got up, stretching. San turned around and smiled at him.
"Finally! We thought you had died or something."
"Yes," said Kendo gruffly, "You looked quite appetizing for a moment."
Ashitaka laughed and walked to them, sitting next to San.
"What brings you here so unexpectedly, Ashitaka?' asked Kanha, his mouth full of meat and blood. He was the only left eating, the others had already had their share.
"I came to speak to the three of you about something very serious."
"Don't you always?" teased Kanha, though he could barely speak, his mouth was full of food.
"What is it?" laughed San, though her attitude became a little more concerned.
He decided to just come out and say it.
"I'm here to try and convince you of something but I wish for you to keep an open mind."
She looked at him suspiciously but nodded.
"I'm here to offer an invitation to join forces with the town in order to fight against Asano."
San raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He continued.
"You all must know that the quickest way to town is through your home and in order to protect both your home and mine, it may help for all of us to work together."
Kendo snorted.
"You truly believe the woman would accept that?" he asked incredulously.
"It was Eboshi who came up with the idea."
San still did not speak but her gaze averted to the rocky ground. Her brothers took over for her, though.
"Then why is she not here offering us such an invitation?" asked Kanha, though his tone was not as rude as Kendo's.
"She will," explained Ashitaka, wondering why San had not spoken just yet, "I just wanted to discuss it first."
"We have discussed this as well, young human," said Kendo patiently, "It is in our best interest to join with the humans as well and we realize this."
"You know our opinions about humans, though" continued Kanha, "It is not easy for us to just agree with it."
"I understand that and I—"
"Where do you stand, Ashitaka?"asked San, finally bringing her eyes back to meet him. The night had not yet fallen but the day was a cloudy one. It felt like rain was about to come which only made the day colder. A wind blew between them, not quite cold but with a harsh bite. San continued to look at Ashitaka, who took a moment to think about her question.
He had not really thought about the war just yet. He supposed he was going to fight as well. Iron Town was his home now and just like his old home, he was willing to defend it from anything. He was not only protecting Iron Town, though. There was something else he needed to protect as well as someone else (though the fact that she probably did not need protecting made him smile a little).
"I will fight for my home– and yours."
She looked at him with hard eyes, in a way she had only given him when she believed he had betrayed her.
"What to do you truly believe, Ashitaka?" said San quietly and though her voice was low, there was a certain dangerous tone to it, "Should I truly trust the word of a woman who completely destroyed my home because of her greediness?"
Ashitaka gave it some thought. When he spoke, he spoke honestly.
"I am not an idiot, San. I understand what she did, I tried to stop it as well. Yet she has changed. Iron Town is no more because she is indebted to you."
"You did not answer my question, Ashitaka."
He sighed.
"I do not know how to answer it, to tell you the truth. I realize that, because of past experiences, she is not the most trustworthy person in the world. Yet cooperation seems like the best option."
San looked at her brothers. They seemed to be speaking without words but he knew that they had spoken of this already. They might have even reached a conclusion.
"We will join forces with the humans," said San, her eyes still on her brothers but they soon traveled to meet Ashitaka's own deep blue eyes, "It does not mean we trust them completely or that we will follow everything they say. We are our own."
Ashitaka's face broke into a small smile, much to San's surprise.
"What!" she asked, surprised at his strange response.
"Nothing," he said, still smiling, "you are very smart, that's all."
She narrowed her eyes at him but the atmosphere seemed to turn a shade lighter.
"Sister, he is trying to mesmerize you," said Kanha teasingly, nudging her shoulder with his paw, "Resist it."
"Be quiet," said San seriously but her eyes gave her away.
"No point in worrying about it now," said Kendo wisely, "what comes will come and we shall be ready for it."
"Well spoken, brother," said Kanha loudly, swatting his tail at him which only made Kendo growl dangerously at him. Kanha laughed loudly, rumbling through the rock underneath them and made Ashitaka's whole body tremble with his laughter.
As the two wolves teased each other, Ashitaka took this moment to hold San's hand in his own. She turned to look at him and got a dazzling but reassuring smile in return.
"Arrogant human..."
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San kept a vigilant watch over her forest. All the animals wanted to help, even the boars who did not agree with the idea of trusting the humans. Though the forest was small, there were many animals that called it their home. However, most of them were not made to battle. They had offered any help they could give, however. The whole forest was in a state of alert, anything out of the ordinary was immediately reported and investigated. How many days passed in such a form, San did not know, but she did not like it. She was stressed beyond belief and it had shown when Eboshi came into her forest to offer San an alliance between humans and animals. She had brought her men in her territory as well and they had gone off to get to know the forest better. She had hated the idea of disgusting humans trampling around in her home but she had let them, under the supervision of a few animals. Ashitaka had also looked a bit confused with the request but said nothing. He knew San would keep a close eye on them. However, the conversation with Eboshi had been the polar opposite of her conversation with Ashitaka. She had lost her temper so many times that she found it quite funny now. Ashitaka made this his life line and teased her non-stop about it.
Ashitaka had taken the point of view that her brothers had. Though a war was starting, there was truly no point in worrying about it all day and night. He and her brothers joked relentlessly about everything. Though it pleased San to see Ashitaka getting along so well with her brothers (and vice-versa) it annoyed her how much they teased her. Ashitaka had already left the forest with bruises more than once because of 'play fights' between him and San.
He came to her forest often, almost every day. Sometimes he came in for a little while, just to check if everything was as it should be. Sometimes, he stayed the entire day with her, doing nothing while San took care of her duties. The truth was, the town was in full gear for battle. The men were training to fight, the women were training with guns, and the whole town was in a state of tension. Toki was as serious as every one else and Chandra could not do anything do to the fact that she was heavily pregnant.
So he sought refuge in the peacefulness of San's forest and joking around with her brothers.
At the moment, he and San were walking around aimlessly, hand in hand, through her forest. Up to now, they had not spoken but it was all right by them. They let the incredible quiet surround them. Though it was early afternoon, the trees were tall and provided great shade, covering them in shadows.
"It's getting colder," commented Ashitaka, looking at San pointedly. He was beginning to think her change in wardrobe had not been such a smart idea. She noticed this and laughed.
"I'm used to it by now, don't worry."
"Yes but—"
She batted her eyes at him.
"Do you wish to make me warm, Ashitaka?" she aid in a low, seductive voice. It took a while for Ashitaka to realize she was being flirtatious. Not only was she being flirtatious but she was succeeding in making him all foggy brained. He decided to fight back. Pressing his body against hers, he too spoke softly.
"However you wish, princess."
She felt his words rumble from his chest to hers and shivered. He smiled.
"However I wish, eh?"
He nodded. His eyes widened as her face came closer to his until her lips were mere centimeters away from his. Her lips began to move, he noticed and tried to pay attention.
"Race me," she whispered passionately.
"Wh–?"
But San had already begun to run, laughing at him as she ran farther away. Grumbling, he began to run too, knowing he would never catch up to her.
"Up to the tree!" she shouted back at him, a big smile on her face. The smile turned bigger as she touched the tree and announced her victory.
She laughed as she saw Ashitaka bend over and try to catch his breath, hands on knees and breathing hard. He heard her laughter and gave her a mock glare.
"That was not how I hoped we would get warmer."
"No?" asked San dramatically, leaning against the tree, "however could we so it, then?"
As if on cue, Ashitaka was in front of her in a second, his left arm wrapped around her waist, the other he used to cup her face. His lips came closer to hers but with his fingers, he lifted her lips away from his and went to her neck instead. She glanced at the tree tops for a second before closing her eyes in pleasure as his breath tickled her throat and traveled up to her ears. There, he whispered huskily,
"I thought we could climb trees instead."
San laughed, surprised at his tone but happily annoyed at his suggestion.
"You're horrible!"
She could feel his smile as his mouth started doing amazing things with her neck. He left a trail of wet kisses down her throat, on the side and everywhere in between. She tangled her fingers in his hair, gently pushing him lower. He paused for a second before continuing. The kimono flattered her womanly form, showing more skin than before. He pushed against her body, trapping her between him and the tree behind her. He was crushing her but she did not mind. She welcomed it whole-heartedly, in fact, she made sure he knew this. She brought him closer still, trying to melt into him and have nothing between them.
Though San was still not experienced with human desires, she saw nothing wrong with moving into the next step. In fact, she had often tried to get him there. After all, in her eyes (as well as her brother's eyes for they had shown that they accepted the human boy) he was already her mate. As mates, they had a right to show each other how they felt, emotionally and physically. But as always, he would not have it. Stopping himself was a natural reaction, as he proved at the moment. He rested his forehead against her chest, breathing hard, as much as she was. He kept his arms tight around her, their bodies closed, and he burrowed his face in her neck.
"You're a silly human," said San, not exactly annoyed but certainly vexed.
"Why?" he mumbled against her skin.
"You have me here, already half undressed, and you stop without a good reason."
He chuckled but stayed quiet. After a while, he spoke again.
"You're right."
He traveled up to her face with kisses and stopped at her lips.
"Why?" she asked quietly.
"I don't know," he responded truthfully.
They stared at each other, two pairs of blue pools, different in color and intensity but one nonetheless.
Somewhere in the distance, as if she was very, very far away, she heard the echo of an eagle. It was shrill enough to penetrate her foggy mind and awake her from her haze. She lightly pushed Ashitaka from her and looked around. Caught slightly off guard, he did the same and also noticed the sound. It seemed urgent, even to his untrained ears. San's face registered as well. A large golden eagle perched itself on top the tree branch right above their heads. San stepped back to look at it, an elegant eagle, black wings still spread out in all its glory and a hint of gold winked at them teasingly. Its incredible red eyes, like a devils would be, were hypnotizing and alluring. San starched her arm out for the eagle to perch on. She looked into his eyes and got the message. She sent the eagle flying off again and looked at Ashitaka, her lips still holding the evidence of their small but passionate affair.
"An army," said San darkly, "a big one, just outside the forest."
Ashitaka's instinct took over and nodded at her. They knew what they must do. They weren't too surprised for they knew this day was to come. It did not mean they were not nervous, to say the least. San looked at him, all the romance and pleasure gone from their surroundings and instead, a feeling of dread overtook them.
"You know what must happen," said San in a grim voice.
Ashitaka nodded but that did not mean he liked it. He closed the distance between them, gave her a kiss, small in comparison to what they had been doing before but full of sentiment, and began running towards Iron Town.
A feeling of dread set deep within his stomach.
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San found that all this running was leading her no where and so she stooped and began howling, without a moment's hesitation. She waited for a few minutes though they felt like an eternity. Finally, Kendo answered back. He gave her his location, which was not too far from where she was. She ran with all her might and met up with him. She climbed on his back as he told her that the eagle had already warned them and Kanha had already gone to warn the others. They would all meet at the edge of the forest.
They were there in a matter of minutes, surprised to see most of the tribes were there as well. She did not need to speak, they all knew what to do and what was going to happen. She did offer one thing, though.
"For our home," she declared passionately.
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The day was still quite young, it was early afternoon when Ashitaka ran in through the Town gates and stood in the middle of the town market. He informed them about the army with a morbid face and told them what they should do. The townspeople did not panic though they did look worried. They had all known this day would come and now that it was here, they needed to use their heads. Once he saw that the town was gearing to go, Ashitaka went to find Eboshi.
She had just come out of her house when Ashitaka nearly ran into her. He told her of what was happening and she instantly took over.
"Where are they?" she asked grimly.
"Just outside the forest," said Ashitaka, "San won't be able to hold them off too long."
Eboshi said nothing but looked smirked a little. She looked to where the men had already started getting ready and spoke strongly and firmly.
"Make sure you have everything ready to go. Your guns, knives and armor all should be ready in a few moments."
She turned to the women. They also had guns in their hands, ready to go.
"Go to the top posts and get ready. I doubt they will get this far but one can never be too safe."
They nodded and followed her instruction, looking as brave as any of the men.
She turned to meet Ashitaka's worried gaze.
"Do not worry, Ashitaka, we are prepared as best we can."
"It is not that," said Ashitaka anxiously, "San is still—"
A huge explosion cut him off, rumbling deep into the earth. Ashitaka looked up to see the cloud of black smoke somewhere in the distance. He climbed the nearest house and looked around, on top of the roof. The black cloud came from the distance and his heart fell when he saw where it had originated from. Another explosion came, then another. In less than a minute, at least half a dozen explosions shook the earth's core and sent clouds of dark smoke over the forest.
It came from the far end of the woods, where San was supposed to be. His heart dropped. San was being attacked. He scurried down the roof, expecting Eboshi and her men to be ready. However, none of them looked even mildly surprised at the explosions though he did notice none of them would meet his eyes. He looked at Eboshi with a hard expression.
"What did you do?"
"I did what I had to, Ashitaka."
"You planted bombs!"
Eboshi nodded, almost ruefully.
"It will stop most of them until we are ready to join the fight."
"You did not tell us!"
Eboshi bristled.
"You would have not permitted it."
"I sure as hell would have not!"
Taken back by his anger, Eboshi said nothing. The air was filled with another explosion and Ashitaka snapped. With a growl, he began to run in San's direction.
He could feel the anger bubbling up in him once more but something worse took over him.
Pure fear.
