San politely finished her conversation with a distinctly nervous son of a noble house, and bade the youth farewell before he tripped over his robes from anxiety. She shook her head slightly as her eyes scanned the room for where Eboshi had gone, the rear of her garment trailing gracefully just a bare inch above the smooth wooden floor. He hadn't been any older than she! This was not a place for children, San thought emphatically. She wasn't a child herself, of course.

It was a beautiful place, however… San let her eyes rest for a moment on the huge crossbeams holding up the magnificently high roof, draped with cloth in the colors of the Imperial House, allowing the myriad of smells to infuse her slow intake of breath. The colors, the lights… she had not expected such beauty, honestly. And the people… well, even if they were all like Eboshi to one degree or another, they were not as bad as she had expected. Yes, most everyone here wanted something from her, whether trade deals, information that she couldn't give, or her hand in marriage. Well, nobody had said that last one yet, but she could see the way every man in the room looked at her as she strode by. What was more amusing, however, was the looks their wives gave her. San allowed herself a little smirk.

But still, they were not all as conniving and dangerous as she had expected, and as the Lord Shimada had shown, they could even be courteous and genuine when they desired to be. He hadn't even asked anything of her.

Ashitaka followed behind her, just far enough away not to annoy her, but also close enough that anyone that was watching could tell that he was attending her. He looked positively fearsome in that dark armor, the hard lines of his eyes never ceasing their movement. His head was bare, something about the traditions of the Kage, and she admitted that she rather liked the look of his hair pulled back like that…

San let out her breath, ridding those thought from her mind. She had said what she would say, and nothing he did could change her mind.

Why did her heart feel so empty, then?

San bared her teeth for a short second before regaining control of herself, catching sight of a red robe and immaculate dark hair. She altered course, breezing past curious glances and searching eyes to where Eboshi stood. Then San saw who she was speaking to.

"-you are the only other that I have met, and you have killed not one, but three of the beings. We are more alike than you think, Lady Eboshi." San stiffened, but did not let her legs stop moving. What were they speaking of? The man, a warrior, noticed her approach and something shifted in his stance. "Ah, Princess, I have been waiting for this moment," he stated, bowing low to her, and she tilted her head in return, mind racing to remember if she should know this man.

"Thank you, but forgive me if I do not know your name…" San began, desperately hiding the tightness that had sprung up in her spine when the man had spoken. His voice was… deceivingly soft. Like Eboshi's, when she was scheming.

"Tomorunai Nokurashi, Shogun of the Empire. Your host has been kind enough to entertain my questions, Princess."

He was large, easily over six feet tall and clad in a crimson-and-gold jinbaori over black armor. A nodachi was on his back, and a tachi was belted at his waist, though his head was bare of a kabuto, showing a masterfully woven topknot. Long eyebrows, situated over intensely dark eyes, analyzed her carefully.

San drew in a breath and replied. "I am glad. She has been most supportive and gracious to me in my journey. What business do you have with her?" San ignored the look of caution that Eboshi sent her way. trying to keep her tone light and casual, but her suspicions could not be easily brushed aside,

"Oh, merely that I share some remarkable interests with the Lady Eboshi," he replied smoothly. "The killing of gods is not a common association, Princess, though I am pleasantly surprised to not be the only one pursuing it."

San's hands clenched into fists, but she somehow maintained her courteous tone. "What do you have against the honored Gods of Nature?"

He nodded solemnly. "They disrupt our settlement of the outward lands, barring the progress of the nation. Surely Eboshi has mentioned to you her troubles with them?"

San's shoulders tightened, and she stepped forward. "They preserve the balance," she stated, just barely keeping it from a snarl.

"They have no honor." Nokurashi said, his voice lowering, and San retreated slightly from the intensity of it. "They cannot be reasoned with, and hundreds of lives have been lost to their demonic power, Princess. Maybe in your land it is different, but here we must fight if we are to survive." His hand brushed the hilt of his tachi. "And it is my duty as Shogun to see that we survive." There was a moment of terse silence, as San struggled for any words to say, as well as the effort of not showing that struggle. Eboshi stood, posture relaxed and observing, but her eyes were bright with caution. Nokurashi's eyes moved past San and noted something, then returned to her. "I must depart presently–duty, you understand—but I look forward to continuing our conversation. On both sides." He gave her a bow, then another, yet more shallow, to Lady Eboshi who returned it smoothly. He turned to Eboshi. "You shall both be attending the performances on firstday?"

Eboshi's voice came before San's mouth had time to open. "Yes, we shall, Lord Shogun."

"Perfect, I look forward to the occasion. In the meantime, I think that someone shall be arriving shortly to keep your attention. Good night."

"Thank you for your time." He nodded once more with a small smile, then turned and strode away.

The two women watched him for a second more, and then San turned to Eboshi, eyes narrowed. "How dare he—"

Eboshi interrupted, expression firmly controlled and voice lowered. "San. Do not lose control like that again."

San gritted her teeth and took a deep breath, but a vindictive smile made its way onto her face. "What about you, demon killer Eboshi? Found somebody that understands you?"

Eboshi's gaze darkened. "You know nothing of our interaction. We shall speak of this more later."

"He—"

"—is the one who imprisoned and tortured Ashitaka's friend, and yet I do not see him losing his head." Eboshi rejoined, and San turned wide-eyed to look at Ashitaka, whose iron-hard gaze had not changed in the slightest and was still moving around the room wardingly. "Calm yourself, San, we will be out of here soon enough."

San growled softly but reluctantly took a deep breath, and released it slowly, opening her eyes so that once again she could be the Moon Princess. She thought briefly on her next words. "Eboshi, what did he mean by the last thing he said?"

"I assume he meant that someone of importance will be making an appearance soon…" her tone was relaxed and casual once again, and she craned her head slightly to see the entrance. "Ah, there he is now." San followed her gaze to the wide door just as they finished opening.

A courier, acting as herald, stepped through first. "All honor Prince Aiko Yamasaki, Heir and Protector of the Throne of his father, the Emperor. All honor!"

With that, all went quiet and almost the entirety of the assembled crowd knelt on the ground, only the Heads of the noble Houses remaining with San in standing. A magnificent palanquin was walked forward to the edge of the uppermost stair of the square room, where it was lowered. The figure sitting thereon stood and walked forward, attended by a team of four Kazekata.

Prince Aiko was a young man, possibly a year or so older than San, and resplendent in dark green robes with golden trim. It was hard to make out specific details at this distance, and San did not attempt to get a closer look. She would get a good enough view tomorrow night. The Prince smiled to the crowd and bowed slightly in return, but in the instant before her view of him was masked, San saw him look to her.

She shook her head, irritated, as the assemblage rose again, the noise of chatter rising as well in the wake of the silence. Eboshi stood, and San asked coolly, "Will he come to me tonight?"

"I do not know the disposition of the Prince, but yes, I assume he will personally greet you as befitting the to-be ruler of another nation." A wry smile crept up her face. "He is most likely very curious about you, actually, you being one of the few heads of state his age in three hundred miles." San scowled lightly, and turned away from the Prince's line of sight. She would not give him the satisfaction of watching him coming.

She began to stride slowly towards the corner with the food, absently noting her hunger while grumbling internally to herself. This was supposed to have been simple! Get dressed up like a fancy human, talk to people in a lofty accent, and be generally human-y. But then this… child! Had the nerve to ask her, San, daughter of Moro the Wolf Goddess, to dinner! She clenched her teeth.

"Well, I shall go and enjoy some of the refreshments provided…" Eboshi stated, a small smile on her face. "You best stay here and wait for him, Princess. Kage, remain with her." San's eyes widened and she tried to speak, but Eboshi bowed to her slightly and retreated with a smirking Ituse in tow.

She turned on Ashitaka, who backed up a step at her gaze. "Don't you say anything!" she stated vehemently, and he bobbed a quick bow, tied-back hair bouncing on his head. She huffed and began to walk aimlessly, anywhere to gain her more time before he showed up. Against her will, anxiety pushed its way up her throat. What did he want from her? What would she say? What would he say? She fought back the sudden urge to howl and turned back to Ashitaka. "Pretend to speak to me, right now."

"But… you just said—"

"Forget what I said! I want you to pretend to talk to me, now go."

They stood about a shoulder's width apart, and there was a suspiciously long second of silence, as if time itself seemed content to watch Ashitaka squirm. "Ummm… Enjoying yourself, Princess?"

"Very." San thought the sarcasm would drip onto the floor, it was so thick. "And what of you, Kage? Are you enjoying having the face of a stone? Anything vaguely shadowy planned for tonight?"

"Well, actually, the Lady wanted me to—"

"Very nice. I trust you like the…" San struggled for a furious second. "Swords you are carrying?"

"Well, Chen helped me pick them, so as far as a standard daisho goes, it isn't so—"

"Pardon me." The voice belonging to the words was quiet, yet confident, soft, yet urging. San's eyes widened, but she forced her mask back on with a flurry. She turned slowly to face the newcomer.

"Yes, what is it you want?" She fought to keep the coldness down, and then her eyes finally found him.

"My Lady Saisana…" he began, and Prince Aiko bowed slightly to her, of equals. His movement was graceful, but as he rose, his dark eyes found hers and widened. "Princess… it is…" he paused and simply stared at her face for a moment before straightening and shaking his head abashedly. "Forgive my stumbling tongue, it is just that I've… I have never seen eyes so blue before."

She blinked. "Well, thank you, Prince Aiko." In the following moment of silence, San regarded him. He was not large, barely taller than she, but despite his size the ornate robes fit his slim frame perfectly. His eyebrows were thick, but elegantly tapered upward in an almost unnatural fashion. She blinked again as the orange light of the lanterns reached into his eyes. They were the color of an ancient tree's bark, dappled with leaf-covered sunlight. San took a breath and cleared her mind.

"I have heard much about you, Princess, and I am…" His words broke off suddenly, and he smiled abashedly. "I am sorry, would you mind accompanying me for a short time?"

San tilted her head, her golden earrings moving gently back and forth. "And why can we not talk and stand in one place?"

He opened his mouth to reply, then paused, his eyes rising to the ceiling as if in thought. "I… am not sure. Tradition, I suppose."

San smiled at him, curiosity rising. "Well, despite appearances, I have walked a great deal of late, Prince Aiko. I would not mind staying one place for a moment." San punctuated this by shifting her weight from one foot to the other, something that she and Eboshi had made up as an Imnari habit. San realized that the reason for not walking was also because she didn't want to get too far from Eboshi.

"Oh, yes, of course, I understand." Aiko nodded to her and looked behind him at the pair of Kazekata accompanying him. At his glance, they nodded and retreated several steps, their eyes visible as dark spots in their streamlined masks. He turned back to her, his enthusiasm only just curbed by the elegance of their surroundings. "I would not want to inconvenience you further, Princess—"

"Then why did you summon me for tomorrow's dinner?" she rejoined, softening the words with the continuation of her smile. "I had heard great things about the celebrations in the boats around the city…"

Again, he did not reply, but paused. His next words were hesitant, but grew in confidence with every second. "Well, I had heard of your purpose in coming to my city, Princess, and of your conversing with the people of my land. You have spoken to craftsmen, traders, farmers, warriors… and children." He gave a short, light laugh, not of amusement but of some kind of… wonder. "So why not a Prince? I had merely hoped to expand the scope of your experience, my lady."

She fixed him with a gaze. "I am grateful of your consideration, but are you sure that is the only reason, Prince Aiko?"

His smile didn't falter, and he bobbed another small bow. "Well, there may be the small and insignificant detail that it would be a great shame if I were to miss the chance to meet a woman such as you." A warmth grew in her then, familiar and strange all at once, but San only nodded lightly in acquiescence, hiding her surprise. Aiko gave a chuckle, drawing her eyes.

"What are you laughing about?"

"Oh, it is nothing, my lady, just…" He looked up again, dark eyes seeking nothing in particular. They came back to settle on her, warm and curious. "You are not what I expected."

"If I was what everyone expected, who would I truly be?" she replied, and he stiffened, but she continued, pleased with her own words, "Not myself, that is sure." San nodded to herself. She then realized what affect her words had on the Prince. The smile had disappeared, leaving a tightly controlled mask. She blinked at him, surprised at the change, wondering if she should speak. In that moment, the regality and confidence that had suffused him faded away, leaving a young man warring with his own emotion.

And then San realized that she saw Ashitaka in him.

"Princess, you… are correct." Aiko met her eyes once again, and San found that somehow even his restrained smile was infectious. "I am anxious to hear more of your words, and I thank you for allowing me to take some of your time."

"You are welcome. It is the reason I came here, to give of my time." The next words came without her permission. "And I am looking forward to seeing you again." His smile became real again and he gave her another bow, and she returned it, mind racing. Why had she said that?

"Thank you, Princess… I look forward to tomorrow as well. I hope you enjoy the remainder of your evening." He turned away, the green fabric of his robes making barely a rustle against the hard wood of the floor. San let out a breath she hadn't known she had been holding, and shook herself once.

She looked to Ashitaka. He hadn't moved an inch during the conversation, staying beside her in his respectfully distant way. She caught his gaze following the Prince, but there was nothing in his eyes, no jealousy, hate, nor the slightest hint of envy. Then he met her gaze.

She scowled at him. "What? What do you have to say?"

He lowered his eyes contritely. "Nothing, my lady."

San wanted to step up and smack the words right out of him, but was stopped by societal convention and the arrival of Lady Eboshi, San straightened furiously and faced her old adversary, who was trailed by Ituse.

"Princess, Kage," she stated in greeting, and San nodded in return, expression cool. "How did it go?" Eboshi queried, taking a sip of the cup she was holding, and San huffed slightly.

"It went rather well, actually. He is very polite," she replied gingerly, but her eyes widened when Eboshi turned to Ashitaka.

"How did she do?"

"As she said, my lady. No breaks of character, the Prince was quite enchanted with the Princess Saisana, and she enjoyed his company as well." San spun on him angrily, but forced the words back down her mouth as Eboshi chuckled.

"Good. That gives me some measure of comfort for tomorrow, at least. We shall be departing within the hour, and the Kage will attend to his other duties." Eboshi scanned the assembled company. "We will meet up again before that time. Meanwhile, continue your search for knowledge, Princess." San nodded once, heat spreading into her ears, but she managed to keep the snarl from her lips.

Eboshi and Ituse wandered off again, and San blew out a breath before setting her own course. Ashitaka followed her, of course. Why wouldn't he—San clenched her fists before the nonsensical thought could finish itself. Ashitaka would never leave her alone. Not until she left. Curse this mask!

But even as her grim thoughts marched inside her mind, she caught a glimpse of a green robe with golden trim and that warmth bloomed again.