Moonmessi: Wow, I love that you are so into the story, and I'm really impressed by how detailed your review was! The flirtations between John and Eboshi are kind of a distraction, but they are also signs that both characters are really charismatic and strongly driven to succeed, and they might well be attracted to each other. I think I might build on that, to make the story more interesting! I am so glad that you are enjoying this, and I hope to have more reviews like yours. You're awesome!


Chapter 8

"So, how is he?" I asked, finding San, who had placed Ashitaka at the foot of a large pond, his legs and chest submerged, and everything above them out of water, Yakkul next to him.

"He unconscious, and he bleeds, but it isn't quite a mortal wound."

And then she pointed to a cut plant conspicuosly that was placed above the boy's head. "That's so that the Great Forest Spirit comes to heal him. I can't do anything else."

I nodded. "Good. Thanks, luv."

She nodded. "As you said, he saved our lives."

I looked at her, and she didn't quite meet my eyes. "Oh, I see what this is about!"

She looked at me sharply. "What?"

"You've taken a shine to the kid, haven't you?"

She snorted. "Give me a break. I do not like him!"

Ignoring this, I walked over to the boy, squatted next to him, and pretended to study him. "He's handsome, isn't he? I'm not into men, but I know what most women tend to want."

She glared at me defiantly. "Shut up! You know me well enough to know that I'm not like most women!"

Fair point, that.

I rose again, and walked over to her. "All right, but I know you're interested. And, by the way he acted, and the way he was looking at you, I think he's interested as well! He couldn't take his eyes of you!"

With a snarl, she grabbed me by my collar, and pulled me close. "Get it through your thick, arrogant skull: I feel nothing for this boy! He is only, after all, a human!"

I raised my eyebrows. "Whatever you say, sweet Sis. Just a tic: I'm a human too, you know!"

I didn't say anything about San being a human because I didn't want my face to get torn off my skull. Teasing the Wolf Girl was dangerous, after all.

"Yes, but you aren't just a human." San argued, then took my face in both of her hands, pulling me down so that our foreheads pressed together. "You're a Wolf as well. You've earned your place in this forest."

She then released me, and walked over to the young man. "He hasn't, and probably won't," she finished, gazing down at the boy.

"Well, there was a time when we hated each other," I pointed out.

And then I tilted my head to one side. "But I don't see any hatred on your face when you look at him."

She looked at me tiredly. "What do you want me to say? That he's attractive? He may be so, but he could also be our enemy."

I grimaced, and looked down at the boy again. "I doubt it. There's something about this boy, something different, something...pure."

She frowned. "And how do you know that?"

I shrugged. "I've known people, both pure and not pure. I've killed plenty of the latter, and I'm family to pure ones."

She snorted. "I'm far from pure, and the last time I looked, we are your family."

I smiled at her, and leaned in to kiss her cheek. "You're purer than most people, interestingly enough. By 'family,' I meant the Pevensies, and they're your family as well now."

San frowned. "Ah, yes. You've told me about your human family. I should like to meet them."

I started as a gentle baritone sounded. "He is pure, my Lord, and more than you can understand."

I turned to the elk, surprised. "How did you learn to speak?"

The red elk shook himself, and trotted over to us. "I am Yakkul, and I've always known how to speak, but I did not want anyone to know."

I nodded. Smart choice!

"So, what's the story with Ashitaka?"

The elk then proceeded to tell us of Ashitaka, his village, his people, and his forest. "He gave up his life and his place in the tribe for the safety of his people. No good would have come from Ashitaka staying at the village, so he came to this land for healing."

San frowned. "Why would they make him leave?"

The elk shook his head. "The affairs of man are strange to me. You might as well ask this Assassin why he feels the need to kill members of his own race."

I was about to answer, when San grabbed my arm, and pulled me behind one of the trees.

"Oi! What-" She pressed her left hand against my mouth, silencing me, while he right hand pointed across the pond, directly opposite to Ashitaka.

The Great Forest Spirit had arrived. It was a brief visit, but it left Ashitaka healed, and the plant San had cut being remade.

"So, now what?" I said, crouching next to the boy, after the creature had left. San shrugged. "We wait until morning, I guess. Let's go get some food and some sleep. It's pretty late."

I wasn't going to argue against that. I was tired and hungry, but admitting that would suggest I was weak, which I had no wish in appearing so.

After all, I had a reputation of bad-assery I needed to uphold!


Ashitaka awoke in the morning, and felt for the wound, finding it blessedly gone. But, to his horror, he also discovered that the curse hadn't been lifted.

With a groan, he sank back down. Yakkul came into sight, and nuzzled his master affectionately.

"Ah, jolly good, you're awake!"

Ashitaka turned his head, seeing the Assassin leaning against a nearby tree, about ten steps to his left, sharpening his golden-hilted blade, which was at least three times larger than Ashitaka's own sword.

"Cheer up, mate! You're alive, and you saved both our lives, even though we didn't need the help."

Ashitaka sighed. "I may be healed, but the Forest Spirit did not take away the curse."

The man winced. "Hmm, well, we'll figure something out." The warrior said, shrugging, walking over to him and crouching next to him, patting Yakkul as I did so.

"Can you stand, lad?"

Ashitaka tried visibly, but I shook my head, and pressed a hand to his chest, stopping him gently. "Don't worry, Son, it's just bloodloss. Maybe a bit of shock too. It'll be a bit before you're up and about, but you have nothing to be worried about."

I gestured to Yakkul. "Quite a loyal beast you have there, old chap. He hasn't left your side this whole time."

I frowned as I saw a tear or two course from the boy's eyes, and I laid a hand on his shoulder, feeling bad for the ankle-biter. "It'll be all right, kid. We'll figure something out."

After a moment, Ashitaka sighed. "Why are you helping me?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Tit for tat, yeah?"

Ashitaka shrugged. "It was the least I could do, after you tried to heal me."

I shrugged, smirking. "But it could be about a certain Wolf Girl, yeah?"

Ashitaka colored, and I smiled. "That's what I thought. She's quite a beauty, but I'm not sure you could handle her. She has...issues with most humans, and I'm the poor bastard who is in between you and several hungry wolves. Neat trick, that."

Just then, San came into sight, carrying several pieces of dried meat. "Finally, you're awake. You really should thank Yakkul. He hasn't left your side this whole time."

Ashitaka frowned. "How'd you know his name's Yakkul?"

San answered, as she joined me at Ashitaka's side. "He told me, and he told me about you, about your village and people, and your forest. The Forest Spirit brought you back to life again. He wants you to live."

Ashitaka looked up into the sky, as she bit off a peice of meat. "I had the strangest dream. There was a golden creature, a cat-like creature that was as large as a horse."

I started, sitting up straight, but San gripped my arm warningly with one hand, and offered the boy meat with the other. "Eat this."

The boy frowned as she placed the food in his mouth, and I grinned. "Chew it, lad. Don't be shy."

The boy tried visibly, but couldn't.

"It's the bloodloss, most likely." I explained, while San put it into her own mouth, and chewed. "May be if you cut it into smaller pieces-"

I stopped short, as San leaned down, and pressed her lips against Ashitaka's, feeding him the meat in a decidedly unorthodox way.

Ashitaka seemed as shocked as I was, but he certainly didn't stop her!

I stared, mouth open, as she repeated the gesture again and again, until the boy had his fill.

"What?" She growled, when she realized I was staring at her.

I shook my head, fighting back a chuckle. "Nothing, just-"

I was interrupted by a crashing in the trees around us.


A few seconds later, we were surrounded by boars. One of them stepped forward, and demanded the kid. He wanted to kill him, and make the forest 'safer.'

I sneered. "Go ahead and try, Ham-face! Now, sod off, before I cook the lot of you for lunch!"

There was an angry roar from the mob, and I hefted my sword. "It looks like pork's on the menu this morning. First come, first served!"

"Be silent, child!"

I turned to see Moro coming into view, followed by her sons.

The boar turned to her. "Why are there humans here, Moro?"

The Wolf Matriarch shrugged. "Humans are everywhere these days. Go back to your own mountain, and kill them there. The girl is San, my daughter. The red human is of the Wolf Tribe as well."

The boar did not back down. "We will kill them here. We will save this forest. What is that other human doing here?"

I spoke up. "He was shot, but the ruddy Forest Spirit healed him. Now, you tell your pigs to fuck off!"

The Boars surrounding us put up a stink. "The Forest Spirit saved him? Saved the life of that loathsome runt? Why didn't he save Nago? Is he not the guardian of the forest? Why?"

I shrugged. "Search me!"

Moro answered the boars. "The Forest Spirit gives life and takes life away. Life and death are his alone, or have you boars forgotten that?"

"You lie! You must have begged the Forest Spirit to spare his life! But you did not beg for Nago, did you?"

"Nago was afraid to die. Now I too, am suffering the same wound, but I was saved from madness by the new member of my Tribe. Nago fled, and the darkness took him. I remain, but I will be gone soon as well."

I turned to her. "Wait, what? I healed you!"

Moro turned to me. "You tried your best, but I have lived long enough. Soon the Forest Spirit will let me rest forever."

San came to my side, shaking her head, close to tears. "All these years you defended the Forest Spirit! He must save you!"

The boars erupted. "You are not fooling us. Nago was beautiful and strong. He would not have run from anything. You wolves must have eaten him!"

I snorted, holding San back from killing these pigs. "'Beautiful?' I highly doubt that!"

Suddenly, Ashitaka's weak voice interrupted us. "Gods of the mountain, please listen to me. Nago died far from here, and I was the one who killed him. He had become some kind of demon."

We all turned to him, listening. "One day he attacked our village. If you want proof, look at my hand where he touched me."

He opened his sleeve, and show us his cursed arm, which seemed to have gotten much worse.

There goes my hard work!

Ashitaka continued. "I came here to beg the Forest Spirit to lift Nago's curse from me. He healed the bullet wound in my side, but the demon mark remains. First it will tear my soul apart, and then it will kill me."


Suddenly, the boars parted, revealing a massive boar the size of a London Double-decked Bus. It's skin and hair revealed its great age, and I was surprised that the old thing was still alive!

Cripes!

Moro spoke, as the huge creature approached us. "Okkoto, finally, a boar who will listen to reason."

Okkoto continued walking, clearly aiming for Ashitaka.

San and I impeded his way, and San spoke first. "No, Lord Okkoto, wait! Please, you mustn't eat him!"

Okkoto turned to her. "Ah, you are Moro's human child, aren't you? I've heard of you."

She stared at him, as I stepped forward. "You're blind."

I took over, raising a hand. "Stay back!"

Okkoto turned to me, and before I could stop him, took a sniff of my outstretched hand. "So, my dreams of late were correct. You look younger than you should look. By your hand, many have fallen. You yourself have fallen, but was raised again to serve our Father."

I winced, as San shot a look at me. Oh, bugger, I'm in knacking trouble!

The old boar continued, speaking to me and San. "Stand back. I will not eat him."

We obeyed, with Ashitaka encouraging us. "It's all right, the both of you. My Lord Okkoto, what I said about Nago's death was the truth."

He sniffed Ashitaka's hand as well, and after a moment, Okkoto sighed, and spoke to Ashitaka. "I believe you, and I thank you for it, young one. I am only grieved and ashamed that such a demon has come from our tribe."

There was a pause, then Ashitaka replied, "O mighty lord, is there a way to lift Nago's curse from me?"

Okkoto paused. "Leave this forest; for the next time we meet, I will have to kill you."

I stepped forward again, ignoring Moro's warning look. "Just you try!"

Okkoto slowly turned to me. "If you were not on a mission from the Creator, I would kill you!"

I smiled ferally. "Now, now, old salt, don't wee-wee all the way home!"

Moro interrupted, as San kicked me in the shins. "Okkoto, you cannot win against the humans. Their guns will destroy you all."

Okkoto turned to her. "Look at my tribe, Moro. We grow small, and we grow stupid. We will soon be nothing but squealing game that the humans hunt for their meat."

I snorted. "And you lot are growing stupider by the minute, apparently! If you throw yourselves at them in one go, then Bob's your Uncle, Fannie's your Aunt, you will be 'squealing game that the humans hunt for their meat!'"

I recieved a glare of hate from the general vicinity of the Pig Tribe, but I didn't care.

I was just wishing the other day that I had something different to eat for a change, anyway!

Moro sent me a murderous look, but she seemed to agree with me. "You'd risk everything on one last battle? That's just what the humans want!"

Okkoto was not phased by this. "I do not ask for the help of the Wolf Tribe. Even if every one of us dies, it will be a battle the humans will never forget!"

With that, the Boar Tribe exited stage right.

Just when I was wishing for pork to eat.


We had just placed Ashitaka in the Den, making sure he was comfortable, before San rounded on me.

"What did Okkoto mean?"

I shrugged, smirking slightly. "I don't know. Be specific, luv!"

SLAP!

Cripes, she put all her strength into that slap!

"You know damned well! Start talking!"

I clutched my stinging right cheek. "All right, all right! Yes, I have killed a load of people, but I've died twice too. You didn't have to hit me, you stupid-"

She interrupted me by jamming her index finger into my chest, reminding me very vividly of Susan doing the same thing not too long ago. "Well, if you try any of that nonsence here, I'll kill you for good, understand?"

I just had to get in the last word. "You won't be able to kill me again if I die protecting the forest-"

WHACK! Maybe it was better if I didn't speak.

Tommy saved my skin by charging into view. "Eboshi is fighting Asano's army to the south!"

Moro turned to me. "Now's your first chance to get a look at Asano and his men. Go! I was hoping to be temporarily rid of your company, anyway!"

I nodded, both of my cheeks stinging from San's blows, silently promising her with a wink that I would be right back. "Righto, Guv! I'm on my way! Toodles!"

"Michael?"


Michael responded by placing me into an interesting spot: right next to Eboshi on the battlefield itself!

I took the liberty of punching Gonzo's lights out, as he was nearer to me than I would have ideally liked.

I did not trust him enough to be very welcoming, so I decided to take care of that problem post haste.

After doing so, I cheerfully addressed the surprised Eboshi: "Hullo, luv! Lovely day for a battle, yeah?"


REVAMP!