Disclaimer: I don't own most of the characters except the bat race and my beloved Dai ;)
Crystal Ashes
Blushing Petals
Chapter 4: Fever Dreams—Part One, Spirit Journey
An old man robed in glistening silk stared across the colorful city below him. Decadent designs drowned the rich material, the colors of gold etched onto the ruby silk. The only undecorated surface on his body was his balding head and his brown eyes that sunk into the wrinkled flesh of his face. His face was built for worrying and anger, with lines where his lips had been pulled tight and formed a solemn line across his face and dents where his eye brows scowled and knitted together and where his nose had wrinkled in rage.
When the darkness faded he was the only person San could see. Shocked she pressed herself against the wall, baring her teeth and crouching. Though she stood in front of him, and possibly in his direct line of view, he never acknowledged her appearance. He simply stared out on the city, his eyes dancing greedily across each jewel-toned building.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and two guards entered, flanking a young woman dressed in thin red robes. Toki a voice chimed… San looked up, her eyes full of disgust as she watched the woman look up at the emperor.
"Ashitaka's friend?" Her mind asked. The chime sounded again, forming the word 'yes'. For a moment Toki's dark, mahogany eyes flickered to where San stood, but quickly they drew back to the emperor. San shivered, not understanding why no one had spoken of her presence…
"Emperor," Toki's voice was soft and submissive against the icy feel of the gold encrusted room. Fire ignited within San, making every inch of her body seethe with the heat of rage.
"Ashitaka is stupid!" Her mind growled. "His human friend betrayed him." Hissing she jumped from her place and screamed, pulling a knife from her belt. Leaping she used the force of her fall to plunge the small dagger through the girl… But San's body faded and she reappeared against the wall that she had started at. Eyes wide she touched her dagger and watched as the girl continued speaking with the Emperor.
"It was wise of you to allow Lady Eboshi to send us to care for the sick child, since she has proven to be an ally of yours before. If we were not here to cure him I'm afraid the whole city would have been infected with the illness by now." Bowing her eyes glimmered.
Lies The chime was louder this time, resonating through her mind… That was when it hit her.
"I am on a spirit journey." She said aloud with a gasp"Think of things you wish to see, young one…" Dai had sent her on a journey, using Ashitaka's Crystal Dagger to anchor her. She must be close to Ashitaka. "Lies…" She whispered. Toki's eyes held the sparks of a kind of dishonesty that only mortals used… "What do you lie for, Toki?" She snarled at the girl.
The Emperor eyed her greedily.
"Of course, this is for the best of my nation." He agreed. "That young girl with you—she is an apprentice of yours?" He asked, his voice twining richly, dancing like a nobleman's voice—the sound of a man who viewed all he did as burdening, as though someone else should have to bare through the parts of his life he disliked. "Very well, keep tending to him… When the illness fades, I will no longer have use for you…" Toki nodded.
"I was here to discus your plan for him, and the extent to which he needs healed." The emperor smiled, his eyes twinkling. Shivering San backed away.
"I want Ashitaka to pay his debt." The man said, his voice thick and airy… and nonchalant in the matters of life and death.
"Disgusting human." Her mind howled… that was when her vision blurred, the gold, crimson and lilac hues of the room began to melt together, creating a thick, velvet black… Like Dai's glossy fur, it shimmered…
Trembling San opened her eyes, trying desperately to see through the darkness, until finally, with a burst of color Iron Town came into view… Now it lay buried in plush grass, no longer warring with the forest that surrounded it. Sighing, she now stood at the open gates, her eyes flickering across the men guarding it. The men's eyes held glints of happiness.
"You damn humans never pay for what you do." She whispered viciously, wishing she could leap out and kill each one of them like wild game… the way that they had killed her people.
Walking forward she saw the women smiling and giggling as men nearby farmed… the town had changed so much from the smoky hell it had started as.
"Forest Spirit… Why did you cure these humans?" She asked softly, watching the once sick people that Lady Eboshi had used to create her weapons as they laughed healthily alongside the others. "And why then could you not save my mother and Okkoto?" Her voice was desperate now, tears seeping from her darkening eyes.
The crowd of brightly clothed women parted to reveal the black-haired, red-robed woman… Her right arm was completely gone, leaving the sleeve of her robe dangling uselessly. Roaring, San leapt up and ran towards her, desperately trying to break into the physical barrier to kill the woman who had slain the ones she loved… who had cursed her mother and her lands…
Be at peace, child. The chime hummed, forcing her to still. Snarling San fought to move, but the chime would not let her. And watch. As Lady Eboshi headed towards the gates, San's legs carried her close behind. Fourteen women came from the buildings to follow Eboshi, each dressed in snow white with bouquets of flowers in their hands.
"Where are they going?" San asked frustrated. But the chime remained silent, and San simply followed, now willingly.
When they entered the forest a warm chill ran through San's body… Each step she took was lighter until everything faded into whiteness. After a moment or two it the forest faded back into view.
Now the women and Eboshi stood beside the grave of her mother, as if her spirit journey allowed her to skip the walk.
"NO!!!" San fought the barriers, finally breaking the invisible hold.
The edges of her vision began to melt into darkness, but fighting she plunged the dagger into Lady Eboshi's heart. She could feel it hit, and bury itself between her ribs. The woman stumbled, gasping as she gripped her heart. Shaking her head she stood again… Leaving San shocked.
Strong child. You broke the spirit barrier I've kept on you. I will not allow it again. You stabbed her with a spirit weapon… She will feel it for her life but it will never be fatal. Calm your spirit or you will be trapped between the physical and spiritual realms, with no true body.
This chime whistled, making San gasp and struggle for air. Such a shrill sound… Like a bat screaming in rage.
"She wants to hurt my mother's resting place!" San cried, now sobbing like a weak child. Looking up she watched through eyes blurred by tears as Lady Eboshi chuckled.
"Moro does not like me here—she tears at my heart from her place among the heavens." A woman was now holding Lady Eboshi upright. "Place the flowers on their graves… and whisper prayers to them… They are Gods… but they are also families to the forest and each other…" The women followed her directions. When they'd finished Lady Eboshi pulled a thin gold chain from her pocket. On it a single gold platelet rested… scribed upon it were the words 'honored ones'. Placing it between the graves she looked to the sky.
"That Princess Mononoke saved me in the end… she did not deserve to have her mother taken from her at such a young age… Time has taught me that my ways are greedy and selfish… Yours were not, and I honor you now, offering my apologies. I do not expect forgiveness, or even to be allowed to leave this forest alive… But still I offer these things with my heart, understanding we both killed to protect our own." San stood shocked as Lady Eboshi bowed to Moro's grave. No words could come to her mind… Once again darkness took over, coming and blurring her vision, preparing her for the next place her spirit would appear.
This time the dark vanished unlike any other time, taken over abruptly by fields and fields of white orchids, and tall trees, and brooks and the soft hum of the wind rushing across the downy soft grass. San stood, her body now able to sense her surroundings, unlike any other vision… she could smell and feel the wind as though it were reality.
That was when the giant white wolf came into her view… The wolf's thick white fur was glossy beneath the gentle sun and each step she took more white orchids sprouted. Behind her hundreds of wolves, some much larger than her, and others slightly smaller, sprinted through the grass, alongside other animals…
"Mother!" San screamed, her heart thumping wildly as she ran desperately to reach the now smiling white wolf. Hugging her neck San burst into tears.
"Daughter… I sensed your spirit floating about and brought you here." San smiled hugging her tightly. "I love you, dear one, and I always will. Someday you will live in this heaven, among Gods and human's with good hearts… and me. One day we will all be together again." Her voice now was silky like petals, and hummed like rain falling. Hugging her San pushed the tears back.
"Thank you, mother, for saving me… Through everything…" She whispered, watching her mother with nothing but pure love cascading through her vision. "I miss you… life is hard without you beside me… to guide me… and hum to me as I sleep…" Moro smiled gently.
"My little girl…" She whispered. "You have grown so strong. I can see you and Alkine and Nobu… You make me proud." She finished, nuzzling her daughter. Behind her a wolf twice her side came up as well as Okkoto and Nago. Gasping San watched them. The wolf smiled at Moro and began speaking.
"Your human child is beautiful as any wolf, dear daughter." Moro nodded to the other wolf, watching her daughter with pride in her eyes.
"This is my mother, San…" She hummed as the other beamed at San. Okkoto then pushed his way forward, his eyes bright, and black, seeing all that passed.
"Thank you San. You are a brave child, standing beside a demon, remembering the God it used to be… My warriors are here," He whispered. "I have no rage. Here we are forever together and safe." San felt the tears gushing from her eyes.
"Someday I, too, will be here?" She whispered back, her voice shaking. Moro only smiled.
"Yes, my child. Your years are like moments in this world so I know I will only have to miss you for awhile, and then once again we will be together. And, yes, the journey you are on is a noble one… and you have my blessing." San smiled hugging her mother, and breathing in her scent, warmth prickling through her.
Together they stood, beautiful glowing beings in a perfect world of emerald and diamond tones… full of silky flowers every color San imagined… and full of peace.
A/N: San had to see Moro one last time with the promise that one day they'd be safe together in the end otherwise I was going to cry.
Anyway, thank you so much for reading, and again I am sorry for the wait between Chapters 1 and 2. So tell me what you think! I am dying to know if anyone still likes it!
Blushing Petals