'So your arm was swallowed by hatred again…'
San mused on what Ashitaka had recounted from his latest dream. San too, had been having strange visions. It didn't bother her at first; she had always had nonsensical dreams, and the past events were more than enough to stir up negativity in her sleep. But when Ashitaka told her of his strikingly similar dream, she began to fear a deeper meaning within it. She had toyed with a few ideas of where they came from, that prospect itself a fancy. The shishigami's spirit? Her mother? The rice Ashitaka had been bringing her?
But ever since that boy's appearance, she couldn't shake the feeling that she would get answers soon. Answers she would prefer to not hear.
'Yes' Ashitaka responded as he continued to stroll with her through the forest. Yakul followed closely behind. Beacons of cold spring light splashed on them as they walked. San greatly missed the Kodamas rhythmic clinking that used to accompany her, an ever-present reminder of home.
'It felt so real…the water, Nago's rage inside of me…all the sights and sounds'.
San glanced at him, seeing Ashitaka stiffen up beside him as he recalled the memories.
'I felt the same way in my dream. It sounds different to yours, but also not. The screaming of all those people, they were so full of hate… and the crying of that baby. I've never seen one in real life, yet somehow I knew that sound'.
As San remembered, she started feeling slightly foolish. All of these could be explained by events in her real life. The screams of the people were not unlike the people of Tataraba when she 'came to visit'...and, perhaps, that baby's cry was her own, a sliver of a lost memory she had suppressed.
Ashitaka seemed to sense what she was thinking.
'With the appearance of Saburo, there's no doubt in my mind that, somehow, our dreams are connected'.
The trees parted as they reached the bank of the luscious hill, overlooking Tataraba. He had left early that morning with permission from Gonza to see San. Dawn was their favourite time to spend time with each other in peace, completely alone save for Yakul and the birds in the trees. They sat down on the dew-speckled grass, not really caring for the dampness. Yakul lay down too, resting his tired head on the ground.
They sat in silence for a while, simply appreciating each other's presence, gazing at the sparkling water as it continuously rippled the shards of light.
Mizu no Shizoku…
'San?' Ashitaka spoke softly, 'have you ever known of other humans living in the forest?'
San knew the reason for his question.
'I haven't. Any humans I've been in contact with are only here for the same greedy purpose as all the others. I didn't think any still lived in the forest after all these years'. She furrowed her brow; Saburo's story had certainly piqued her interest, but a part of her, despite everything, found it hard to believe.
Ashitaka didn't reply. He simply listened to the breeze rustling the few leaves lingering on the dry branches, grasping for some peace of mind but all too aware of the fragility of the forest. It was far too soon when he heard a faint yell coming from Tataraba. Ashitaka and San both started, blinking, before the clouds in their vision faded and they saw a faint figure standing outside the gates of the town.
…
The wind lashed harshly at the young adults as they sprinted towards the town, down to the rocky shore. The shouts were becoming clearer now, and sounded as if it came from another boy with a rough, grievous voice. San paused as Ashitaka went ahead and rowed himself to the edge of Tataraba's boundaries. This wasn't her place. She took to crouching by the shoreline to watch from afar. It would be more than believable that she would have something to do with this. Yakul glanced at her before sharing a knowing look, and he ventured into the water.
Meanwhile, Ashitaka slapped the paddles against the water rapidly, throwing up sprays that obscured his view of the incident. He didn't know what was going on, but from the tones being thrown from one side of the barrier to another, his instinct to play the mediator kicked in. As he reached the gravel shore, he clumsily hopped out of the canoe, kicking up water with his feet. Yakul hesitated, water pooling around his neck as his fur rose in apprehension. The figure turned at this intrusion with a blank expression.
A tall boy he was, of an uncertain age but hardly grown, he had a mess of muddy curls for hair and tanned skin from working hours in the sun covered loosely with dirty ragged clothing. His mouth was partly covered, not unlike Ashitaka's own when he first arrived at Tataraba, by a dull blue cloth, so attention was drawn to his vacant eyes. They say you can view someone's soul by looking into their eyes, but for this individual, he could see nothing telling at all, aside from a tiredness that no sleep could cure.
Some townsfolk looked down at Ashitaka in fright. 'Sir, be careful.' warned Ushiko. 'This stranger is aggressive'.
'Aggressive?' He replied with an unnerving nonchalance, turning away from Ashitaka, 'I'm less aggressive than a crippled badger. I think I'm being quite reasonable'.
His unusual emphasis as he spoke the words conveyed a sense of ingenuity, and Ashitaka realised he sounded quite drunk. Ashitaka tried to give strangers the benefit of the doubt, but even he was starting to get annoyed with this person.
He started politely but firmly. 'Excuse me sir, but may I ask what business you have with this town?'.
The figure smiled at him, unsettling Ashitaka further, before his expression abruptly twisted to one of scorn.
'What am I doing here? What am I doing here? What is HE doing here?'.
He paced around Ashitaka as the villagers looked on in fear, wanting to get him inside but unable to with this unstable flight risk encroaching on him. Ashitaka put his hand behind his back, feeling for his dagger in case it would be necessary.
'You're fools. You think he's a victim, but he's NOT, you think I'M the problem here, well I'll tell you, everything that's happening to me right now is because of HIM, and if you continue this charade he'll hurt you too. He'll destroy you from the inside!'. The figure shook in his speech, a confusing mixture of hurt and malice. He swore he could almost hear his heart thumping.
'Y-you're not making any sense. Please, leave here at once' Ashitaka tried to stand his ground.
'Sir, quickly, we'll let you in!' Ushiko pleaded with him once again, a choir of women's voices calling 'quickly!' in turn.
The figure's mood shifted again, gaining a glum expression, and he sat down on a rock, head in hands. He pulled down his mask slightly, revealing a youthful mouth that indicated a younger age than Ashitaka thought. As quickly as he had sat, he yanked himself standing again, and looked up at the villagers.
'So you don't believe me? You think me crazy…Clearly Saburo has hid just as much as I would expect from him. Well, I tell you, bring him here now! Once you see us side by side you will see the truth in my words!'
The name-drop resulted in audible gasps, and for a moment Ashitaka was overwhelmed, before once again collecting himself and forcing himself to look the man in the eye.
'Look, you are clearly in deep trouble right now, just hold on and calm down…we can bring Saburo to…speak to you, I'm sure'. His voice trembled and Ashitaka thought he saw a twitch of delight in his expression. From his offer, or his visible fear, he didn't know.
He lowered his voice again. 'Then do it. Maybe he can explain this.'
With that word, he threw off his patched cape. Screams of fright filled the air, but Ashitaka could do nothing but stand in stunned silence. From the far shore, San faltered and fell to the floor.