The Right Decision
Ashitaka sat on his knees enjoying dinner with Toki and Kōroku in their modest home. They were good friends and oftentimes Toki had invited Ashitaka for dinner. Today was the same, and the youth had complied.
Dinner was, as usual, rice, but with a pot of rabbit stew, miso soup, and some preserved vegetables. Ashitaka wolfed down his dinner, due to his hunger induced by working in the hot sun for the whole morning till late afternoon (but with some degree of table manners; at least Toki was relieved that he didn't drop too much food scraps on the table or make loud chewing noises, unlike Kōroku).
After the meal was finished Toki boiled some tea, and the three friends whiled away the time by chatting. The conversation jumped from the progress of Tatara-ba's reconstruction to the Forest's regrowth. It all suddenly landed on the topic of the Wolf-girl San. Ashitaka's eyes suddenly widened at the mention of her name. He silently cussed himself as he realized that he'd not been visiting her as he promised. "What of her?" he questioned. Toki sighed.
"C'mon Ashitaka, you know that a wolf will probably reject loving a human like you. She's quite wild and unpredictable. Why not choose a girl from here? There are plenty of single women who have their eyes on you Ashitaka, and they'll probably start a war over who gets you first," Toki tried convincing Ashitaka. He shook his head. "My heart is with her. No one else takes that place except her. I will even move out of here and live in the forest with her if it means to. But I'll still come to town and you'll still be my friends, even if you change your mind about me." He quirked a smile. "I know you're just concerned for my relationships, but I've made my mind up already." Toki's gaze dropped to the wooden floor, then sighed. "Your choice Ashitaka. Make sure you don't forget us, or I'll boil you alive in the tatara furnace!" Kōroku's eyes widened at such a threat, but Ashitaka cracked up a laugh.
"I'm sure it won't come to that. But please, when you see her, don't scare her off. Could you at least treat her nicely for my sake?" Toki smiled warmly.
"Alright. I'll try to, and talk to her. Maybe even teach her a few human things."
"Thank you Toki. You know she means much to me."
He rose up and turned to go, thanking the couple again for their hospitality, and left into the chilly night, ravishing in the name that had had captured his heart. He felt a little guilty that he was thinking less of her than je should have. He had been so busy that he'd forgot. And he was also a little doubtful whether she loved him as much as he did. But all his thoughts were drowned into a sea of tiredness as he reached his front door. Tonight, unknown to him, would be an unexpected night.
