The sun had decided to rise bright the next morning and having very few clouds to get in the way, it blasted its rays over the forest, the town, and a sleepy wolf girl who frowned, annoyed and disturbed. Her eyes opened reluctantly, squinting as the sun hit her tender eyes and turned her body away to escape its torture. She found this a little hard since there was a strong arm thrown around her waist along with half of his body on top of her. Ashitaka's head was nestled somewhere in her neck, his steady breathing tickling her and the occasional soft snores made her want to laugh. Still, she found out that moving was quite impossible without waking him first. This was not something she wanted, after all, he had done most of the work last night...
She blushed slightly at the memory of the night before, the very thought send shivers down her spines. She didn't know just how passionate he could be or the amount of need he had for her. She had welcomed it with her own unleashed passion and she found that once they started, it was difficult to stop. Needless to say, they had not gotten much sleep that night. Still, as much as she liked his weight on her, she was slowly becoming blind, thanks to the sun's cheerfulness that morning. Hadn't there been a thunderstorm just last night?
She shook Ashitaka's shoulders gently, not wanting to awake him so suddenly. It worked. His incredible sapphire eyes shone brightly in the sunlight, taking her breath away as he looked at her. He smiled, such a simple gesture that lit up his whole face.
"You're heavy," San said honestly. He chuckled, the sound resonating in his chest and he got off her, laying on his back as she turned to face him. The animal skin barely covered her chest but she didn't care. It's not like he hadn't seen it...
Still, she lay on her stomach, her arms placed under her body and her eyes slowly closed. Their body warmth was making her sleepy, especially when it was so cold outside.
He turned his head, looking at her languidly but with a certain passion that never seemed to rest. Leaning on his elbows, he proceeded to kiss her shoulders, her neck, and her cheeks. She smiled when she felt his hands snake around her again, bringing her closer to him. She dared not open her eyes, feeling as if his very gaze would devour her whole and what was worse, she would happily succumb to it. His lips teased her own, demanding entry to which she happily agreed to. His hands traveled everywhere, leaving not a single placed untouched.
"My," mumbled San as his lips left hers and began their way down once more, "A little frisky this morning, no?"
He said something but she didn't catch it. Besides, she was too preoccupied with what his mouth was doing to certain spots to really care. He turned her around, kissing her stomach and laying his head down, peacefully closing his eyes as she ran her fingers through his hair, pulling it hard enough to tickle his scalp but not so hard that it hurt. His face upturned, he looked at her with a certain curiosity, his fingers caressing her face.
"San?" he asked gently, touching the markings on her face.
"Mmm?"
"What do these mean?" he asked curiously, motioning to the three marks on her face. San smiled, looking down at him with a certain peacefulness that made Ashitaka wish they could spend the whole day like this.
"They are my acceptance to the wolf clan," she said, her eyes glazing over at the memory.
"Your mother gave these to you?" he asked, running his hands through her hair and messing it up more than it already was. She growled and tried to bite his hand but he quickly pulled away.
"No," she said huffily, "Do you want to hear the story?"
He nodded, a peaceful smile spreading across his face as he snuggled into her stomach, the slight stubble on his chin scratching her sensitive skin and making her slap his shoulder."I was adopted into the Wolf Clan many, many moons before my brothers were born. When they were born, my mother told them from the beginning that I was part of the Wolf clan, regardless of what I look or smell like. From the time they were young, they had been taught to hate all humans and all the destruction they brought along with them. Yet they couldn't understand why in the world I was among them. Still, it was my mother's demand that I was to be one of them so they rarely picked a fight with me when she was around. When she wasn't around, they used to do all sort of things to me. Things to prove that I did, in fact, belong with them."
She chuckled, remembering her childhood fondly.
"I may be laughing now but it sure hurt when they made me do things like jump off hills in order to prove that I was as powerful as they were on when they made me run through thorny parts of the forest to prove how agile I was. One day, tired that I simply never gave up, they decided to make up the ultimate test. The task was relatively simple, far simpler than what I'd ever done before. I completed it with ease, happy to be able to hear them say I was part of their clan at last. They decided to give me a ceremony that, according to them, had been given for generations without end from sibling to sibling. You can guess how excited I was to hear this so I let them do whatever it is they wanted to me. They took me to a small place in the woods where these rare flowers grew. They told that if I smashed them into powder, they would be able to perform the ceremony. So I did. Then they told me to apply the powder on my face in the shape of wolves' teeth while they chanted. Again, I did so with delight.
After the ritual was done and I was 'initiated' as a wolf, my eyes began to water and my throat began to clog. I couldn't breathe suddenly and the world seemed to spin. Panicking, my brothers ran to my mother, insisting they had found me there half dying. You see, the powder was poisonous and the marks burned my skin."
She touched her own marks with her fingers.
"The are not marks. They are burns. My skin burned that day and remains burned to this day. Mother was furious. I do not believe I have ever seen her that angry before, not even when all the humans began destroying the forest but I did not know to whom she was furious at.
I lay sick and delirious for half a season, unable to do simplest activities. However, I did vouch for my brothers, telling Mother that they had not done anything to me. I think Mother knew better but she never said anything. She just took my word. This meant a lot to my brothers who began to look at me with new found respect as I got better. I survived the poison with only the marks on my face. From then, my brothers and I have always been extremely close."
She laughed, the sound ringing in Ashitaka's ears.
"I guess the ritual did work after all," said Ashitaka, amused by her story.
"I guess it did,"The birds inside the forest began to chirp, the daily ritual of mornings had begun. After her story, the two lovers lay together, trying to enjoy what little time they had together before the inevitable happened. Yet, everything comes to an end and before they knew it, the time had come. Slowly, sluggishly, they got up and dressed. The sudden cold hit their bodies mercilessly and they had half a mind to jump back in bed and snuggle together, letting each other's warmth lull them back to sleep.
They knew what they must do. Neither of them spoke as they got everything ready though Ashitaka felt very light-hearted. Enough for him to tease her, getting her upset which was how she liked her most. Her eyes would burn with anger as she tried to get him back but he was too strong to let her win. She would get her way, however, by biting him wherever she could reach.
Still, when the moment came to get ready, a silence filled the small house, a sad sort of silence, anticipating the moment when they had to part. When Ashitaka had everything ready, he took her hand in his and walked out the door. To their surprise, there was a group of townspeople waiting for them outside of the town walls. Toki, Koroku, and Chandra were among them. San and Ashitaka went over to them, thanking them as they gave him food and other necessities he might need on his trip.
"Good luck, Ashitaka," said Koroku, giving him a respectful bow to which Ashitaka bowed back.
"I thank you,"
"Oh, Ashie," said Toki sadly, her voice deep with unhappiness, "take care of yourself out there. And do come back as quickly as you can."
He nodded, his eyes traveling toward the rest of the townspeople behind them.
"They don't blame you for anything," said Toki, upon seeing where his eyes went to, "In fact, most of them didn't even like the fact that Eboshi killed those men so mercilessly, like they were animals. She didn't even tell most of us about it so you can guess how angry some of us are."
She shook her head, unwilling to say anything. Koroku said it for her, though.
"We never thought she'd be capable of such disregard for people. She looked like all
she wanted to do was win the battle against Asano and that's all."
Toki nodded, adding,
"They got kicked out early this morning. You should have seen how triumphant Eboshi looked when Asano left. He was incensed, vowing revenge and whatnot. This is not the end of this stupid war. He'll come back again. It's just a matter of time."
She looked disgusted at her old friend, a truly disbelieving look on her face. She turned to him, a supplicating look on her face.
"The town understands why you are leaving but–" she frowned, "you need to return. This town needs more humanizing and Eboshi is giving anything but that. The woman has shown a side that none of us agree with."
Ashitaka said nothing but understood. He gave her a final hug before thanking the rest of the townsfolk for coming to see him off. They gave him a heartfelt good bye as walked to his elk, patting him tenderly.
San faced him, her eyes saddened but she knew this was the right thing for him. A little time off would do him good and she trusted his word. He would come back to her and she would be there to welcome him back. Her eyes became watery but she would not cry, even if she felt like breaking in half. She smiled bravely at him who saw right through but smiled his own sad smile back. He hugged her, enveloping her completely with his body. He wished they could return to last night and remain there, for eternity perhaps. Life was getting a little to much to deal with, especially when he was compelled to do something he did not wish to do. Yet, he knew he could remain in the town after what had happened. Not for them, not for himself, not even for San. It was because of all of them that he was leaving.
He hated the fact that he posed a threat to all of them. His anger had taken complete control; he had killed. Mercilessly. The fact had long since settled and it was one of the many things that passed through his mind as he made love to San last night. She had so willingly taken all of the weight of his shoulders, her open arms had received all those things he did not want to carry any longer. But that had been last night. Mornings brought new beginnings—and endings.
For now, they would be separated once more. However, the physical separation would be the only division between them Their hearts had joined, their minds and bodies hand become one. But before he could make true all the things he wanted for them, he needed some time to figure out himself. The mark had vanished but the deep seated anger still burned within him. Such rage would not give way to the happiness he envisioned with San and he would rather die than to have something happen to her because of him. If that meant he needed to separate himself from them, he would do so willingly.
San knew she would see him again. It hurt her to know she could not be there to help him find himself but her responsibilities were to her home. Besides, there was not way Ashitaka wold have let her. The man was more stubborn than she was. He would have been too preoccupied by her own well being than about getting better. The demons that haunted him were far too great to let him co-exist with anyone at the moment. Sometimes, she wished Ashitaka wouldn't be so noble but then again, that would not make him the man she love so dearly.
San returned his fierce hug, tip toeing to get closer and not really caring when a sharp pain shot up her leg. Her injuries were yet to be fully healed. He could feel her scar against his skin, still tender and rough. He urged the feeling of hatred back and tried to think of her and only her. She was safe in his arms ad the man was dead. Nothing could harm her now—yet the scar remained. San noticed and whispered soothingly to him, like a mother trying to calm her child.
It worked.
The necklace that San wore had remained dormant for some time, not even acknowledging last night. But now, it burned deeply on her skin, making her wince slightly. She touched it, trying to soothe it as she had done with Ashitaka and to her great surprise, it worked.
He pulled away from her, lacing his fingers with hers and giving her a kiss so passionate that it made her tingle from head to toe and left her senseless. Such a kiss was not meant for a good-bye.
Such a kiss was meant for a wonderful night, when they could be alone once more and let all feelings loose, inhibitions would be thrown into winds.
To her surprise, she tasted something salty against his delicious lips and felt more tears run down her cheeks.
"I love you," she mumbled against his lips.
She turned, closing her eyes as she began to walk away. If she had staid so close to him, there would have been little chance for him to leave. Her fingers slowly disentangled from his own and left the warmth of his hand. She finally turned back to face him, a safe distance away so she wouldn't go mad and run after him, force him to stay by any means necessary. He had already mounted Yakuul and waited for something, anything.
She raised her hand, eyes sad and full of tears but filled with conviction, a mirror of his own. They would do what was right, just like always.
Yakuul gave a snort and turned around, finding the path out of the town and starting their journey. Ashitaka did not look back, he did not think he could without jumping off the elk and throwing his much needed travel to the winds.
San too walked away, well aware of the glances she received but she did not care. The morning sun enveloped the once-Prince and his elk as the Forest's own green illumination enclosed the princess of beasts.
The clear white clouds dipped across the cerulean sky with a carefree avarice. The day moved on.
And so would they.
Well, guys, it's been real!
I am not sure I will continue with the third part any time soon but one of these days, don't be surprised if there is a continuation... cause there is. I just need to take a break. There will be a new story in the next few days but it's a Teen Titans story so if you want to check it out, please do so.
Thanks to all who have read the story, I really do appreaciate it. The ending I have given is realistic and though they will see wach other again, I like putting them through hell. That's the whole point of a story.
Toodles,
ChalakChalak
