For those wondering, ishi and isha are both words which essentially mean "doctor" in Japanese. I'm trying to write as much as I can for this story, but work is getting tighter and a few other things aren't allowing me to go at the pace I want. I'll definitely update again before my next college semester starts up. Oh, and a review would be extremely helpful.

Rain continued to fall throughout the night, keeping Ashitaka and San awake long past sunset. They held each other close to remain warm. Ashitaka's hand trailed up and down San's spine while they listened to the rain hammer their tent. San was well awake despite her closed eyes. She was wondering what her brothers were doing at the moment, if they were feeling any better. Determination dominated her mindset; she would finish this journey or die trying.

Tonight was the only night so far since leaving the forest that Ashitaka and San could spend a full night together without many worries. They felt too tired to stay up for long or preoccupied with their own thoughts. Even when they were in the forest, it wasn't common for them to have time alone to themselves. Ashitaka would often feel fatigued after running with San and her brothers all day. She would sometimes leave late at night to go hunting, leaving Ashitaka while he slept. Her memories returned to when she was living with him while her arm and leg healed. One of the few things she missed from that time was how she and Ashitaka would spend the nights together. He made her feel relaxed while surrounded by those who hated her. The worries which plagued her throughout the day vanished with his embrace.

"How much longer do you think it will take before this is all over?" Ashitaka asked as he nuzzled closer to San.

"Hopefully only a few more days," San sighed, "As interesting as the world outside the forest is, I would rather be back home." She rolled onto her side to face Ashitaka. His eyes were e gray like hers, a slightly darker shade, but they didn't have the same fierceness behind them. They were calm and friendly; the only time that demeanor broke was in battle.

"What do you think we should do after this is over?" San shrugged in response; she was not thinking about what she wanted to do after returning home. Continuing the way of life she, her brothers, and Ashitaka led seemed just fine. He had also mentioned a wedding, a human ceremony of bonding. She had not given it much thought and still did not know what it involved. Even if he was her mate for life, she was no sure if she wanted to go through a human ritual. The idea was shoved into the back of her mind as a gust of cold wind blasted into the tent. Ashitaka pulled their blanket tight over their bodies. Their body heat served well to shield them from the freezing air. As the night went on, they remained embraced to one another, even by the time they had both fallen asleep.

The sky was covered by black clouds which hid the morning sun. Late in the night, a storm had erupted with little warning. A small drizzle of rain soon turned into a torrential downpour. Ashitaka, San, and Lady Eboshi were quick to pack their things and head for the river. Yakul and Eboshi's horse trotted through the thick mud below, squinting as powerful winds flicked raindrops into their eyes. Flares of lightning lit up the sky and thunder roared close behind. In the distant, the black silhouette of the mountains flashed white with every boom from the storm. Never had any of the three been caught in a storm of this magnitude. San couldn't hear anything other than the crash of thunder and pelting rain. She wasn't sure if it would be wise to cross a river at a time like this; the river in her home would become violent after a lesser amount of rainfall and she couldn't imagine how bad it was now.

Lady Eboshi's smile had faded when she awoke to the sound of thunder. The river they were going to need to cross was dangerous on its own. With the rain and wind, it seemed suicidal to attempt to ford the water. She wanted to turn back; there was next to no chance that they would be able to make it. For miles on the river stretched, lacking any bridges nearby for them to use. However, if they were going to get to the mountains in time then they had no choice but to cross the river. Eboshi wondered if what Jigo told her before she left was true.

The trio reached the edge of the forest as they approached the river. Through his squinted eyes, Yakul could see a small tree being carried away by the flow of the water. On the ground below, his legs were several inches deep in water, making it difficult to move steadily.

A tree on the other side of the river was uprooted by the violent stream. Ashitaka couldn't believe what he was seeing. No amount of grit and determination would help them swim across. He stopped Yakul before they could get too close to the river's edge, prompting Lady Eboshi to do the same with her horse. She rode up alongside Ashitaka and San as she gazed at the river.

"It was nothing like this when I was last here," She practically shouted as her voice challenged the storm, "We'll be killed if we try to cross it in its current state."

"Is there no way around the river? Perhaps a bridge we can use?" Ashitaka asked.

"Not as far as I know."

"Maybe there is a part of this river that isn't as wide," San suggested, "We may be able to knock a tree down and cross from there."

"It would take two to make a bridge reaching from one side to the other. We should wait until the storm passes and the water levels lower."

"That could take weeks! There has to be an area where the river is more narrow!"

Lady Eboshi shook her head and turned to Ashitaka. He pulled down the lower half of his mask which covered his mouth. Both women had there concerns: San wanted to hurry to make sure her brothers would be cured, Lady Eboshi wanted to wait to ensure their survival. If they died, then San's brothers would follow. However, if they were too late, this journey would have been for naught.

"We can at least look for a part of the river that would be easier to cross, but we should wait if the current is too strong," Ashitaka replied, "And San, even if we did find a tree long enough for us to cross, how would we cut it down?"

San's mouth remained shut. She hadn't been thinking clearly, only trying to find a way to get across the river. Yakul and the horse probably wouldn't be able to keep their balance on a log anyway. "Fine, let's go look."

The three began to follow the flow of the current. Rain continued to pelt their faces. Their eyes were fixed on the river, looking to see if it would become narrow at any point. Ashitaka wondered if it would be best to simply follow Lady Eboshi's advice and wait. He didn't want the trio to stray too far from the path.

They continued on for hours as the storm continued to worsen. San wasn't ready to give up even if the river had yet to narrow. Lady Eboshi and Ashitaka were both silent, suppressing their protests for the minute. The water in the river was black from the color of the clouds. Thousands of tiny ripples formed on the surface every second. Wind blew against their backs, making the already freezing air sting. Yakul's hide was the only reason he wasn't shivering as badly as his two riders. Ashitaka was constantly giving him food to keep his energy up, ever grateful that Yakul hadn't decided to simply stop. He hoped that he would never have to put his beloved friend through something like this again.

None could tell the time of day with the clouds blocking the sun. Although the storm hadn't grown in strength for the past hour, it showed little signs of improvement. Finally, Lady Eboshi pulled back the reins on her horse. Ashitaka and San turned to see what was wrong. She hopped off of the saddle, staggering as she landed in the calf-high water, and stood with her back resting against a tree.

"Go on if you wish, but I'm staying behind until the weather calms down," Lady Eboshi declared, "I said that I would take you to the temple but I'm not going to do something that I know will cause my death. Crossing this river can only end in disaster."

"What if this storm doesn't clear up in time?" San asked, "If we don't get back home in time, this all with have been pointless, and my brothers... they..."

"I want to help them as much as you do, but you're asking us to throw our lives away by crossing this current. It is not as if I had nothing to lose, San; I need to return to Irontown."

"Then turn back! Just point towards where I need to go and leave."

Ashitaka removed himself from the saddle as he turned to face both women. "Let's all settle down for a moment and try to find a compromise," He suggested in a calm voice barely heard in the storm, "Lady Eboshi, what if we traveled opposite the water's flow? That way we can get closer back to our original path and possibly find a thinner part of the river."

"I still think it would be safer if we simply waited," Lady Eboshi replied, "I would be fine with returning to our original path but I don't want to stray as badly as we have so far."

San hopped off the saddle, striding past Ashitaka. Yakul stepped away from the river.

"I'm not going to waste my time for a human like you," San snapped, "I'll go on my own to find a way to cross."

"San, please," Ashitaka begged.

"No! I can find a way across, I know I can. I'll wave to you from across the river just to prove it!" San wasn't about to give in to Lady Eboshi. Her instincts were telling her that there was a way, she just had to find it. Even if Ashitaka wasn't going to go along with her, she knew she could get across before nightfall. Without another word, she stormed off.

"San, wait," Ashitaka pleaded, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Get off of me!" San spat as she grabbed Ashitaka's arm and threw him. He hadn't expected her to use so much force, though he knew there was a chance she'd swat his hand away. His balance was quickly lost and he fell face first into the water. As he tried to stand, he could feel his legs tossed over his head. Water rushed into his mouth and nose as he clawed his way upwards. A sense of dread quickly filled his body as he realized that he had fallen into the raging river.

"Ashitaka!" Lady Eboshi gasped as she saw him get carried away by the current. San could only stand and stare as she realized what she had done. Yakul trotted a few steps towards Ashitaka but stopped as he watched his old friend's hand disappear below the surface. Eboshi closed her eyes as San collapsed to her knees. She could barely feel the frigid water which submersed the lower half of her body. Her mouth hung agape as the river continued to flow without resistance. A word tried to escape her but got caught in her throat. Warm tears began to flow down her face, mixing in with the cold rain drops. The strength to stand fled as the fire which drove her fervor extinguished like a candle's flame. Rain continued to fall around she and Lady Eboshi, showing no signs of an end. Crashes of thunder, the roar of the river, and the rapid patter of the rain, like marbles clattering against a stone table, were the only sounds in the area.