Confession and Trepidation
"Ashitaka...what's this?"
That question lingered in his head, as he strode to the gates of the wooden fortress. Tatara-ba was indeed improving, at least externally, though he knew that the people were contented. A steady stream of ox drivers and merchants flowed in and out of the looming gate, imposing shadow cast on the heat-blasted soil.
The answer to that question had been silence on his part, but loudness on the thing that he had shown her. A crystal shell of some animal, reflecting the light of a thousand suns. San had not seen anything like it, not in her 15-or-so years of life. She wondered if Moro had known of this?
"Its for you, San. Consider it a gift."
Her heart throbbed in wild rhythms.
"F-for me? Oh, Ashitaka, don't be ridicul-"
A sudden kiss cut her short, and she dropped the shell. Again, tingles.up her spine and butterflies in her stomach, but this time with a refreshing wave that undulated all over her face. Now that was certainly foreign.
"Keep it, along with my crystal blade, as a reminder of me. I..." Eyes deep with longing, both of them were locked together, if only for a moment; then he took in a deep breath, broke the spell.
"I wish for us to be married, or mated together, as you wolves would say."
Her wolf mind began to self-destruct in a cacophony of wild excitement and pure terror. She certainly did not see this coming. Her breathing turned labored, her dark eyes widened till they stretched like saucers, and her entire being crumbled into nothingness. The Mononoke was no more, at least in front of Ashitaka's eyes.
"W-wait Ashitaka, y-you, you want m-me to b-be your m-mate? Do you k-know what it... aargh!!"
San collapsed into ranting about the duties of mated stuff, which Ashitaka knew very well. At some point she, in loud words, stated, "Do you not know that when wolves mate they mate for life? For LIFE! And mate no other after one dies?"
He smiled. Simply. And that diffused her madness, or madness to herself at least; Ashitaka wouldn't think of her as literally crazy.
"Its ok San, I understand perfectly. I've also been afraid to come and ask you of such a thing. But now that you know, I am at peace, even if you say no." He had not though of her saying no, but even if she did, he wouldn't force her.
"Ashitaka-I...give me time to think about it first. I love you, but...it has not come this close before. I'm sorry..."
He smiled again. This time even more simpler. "Ok" was all he said. He then started down the trail and left her abode.
Now he reached the smoking vales of the residential quarters, arriving at Toki's house. The familiarity of town life seeped back into him: the wrinkling tiles, cracked shoji doors, the rough tatami mats that he'd gotten used to...
He rapped at the door. "Toki? Are you in?"
The door slid open to reveal a wimping and terror-filled Kōroku, knees shaking and body perspirating. "A-a-shitaka, thank g-goodness, you're back-k! I..."
Ashitaka would have asked what was the matter had he not seen Toki brandishing a metal rod in one hand while vomiting into a bucket, all the while yelling foul insults to her husband.
"Ahh...perhaps she's sick, y'know. Maybe leave 'er alone, she might get better."
"B-but that's not the problem t-today! Her sickness and all is unlike normal ones...I fear she's... pregnant."
"I'M NOT PREGNANT!! MUST I SAY IT THE HUNDREDTH TIME??"
Kōroku lost it and scrambled out of the house screaming, leaving the awed and, at the same time, terrified Ashitaka with Toki.
He felt tired...perhaps the world has gone crazy? He gingerly said bye to Toki and raced for his quiet and peaceful little house. What he needed was some food and rest.
Real rest.
Chapter 10 is out! I hope yulou still continue reading it. I haven't written stuff this consistently in a long time and my style might have changed a bit. Do let me know what's good and bad! Like and share!
