Moonmessi, I miss your reviews!
Chapter Eleven
"John, wake up! You've got to see this!"
I awoke to San's voice, and groaned at the soreness in my body. Taking on a demonically powered being was not at all fun!
I saw Ashitaka and San standing over me, smiling.
I quickly realized what they were smiling about: all around us, green grass, about waist-height, bloomed.
I rose and saw that the formally bare ground and hills were also blooming with tall grass. "Well, that's a sight, and no mistake!" I said, grinning at them both.
San was also amazed at the transformation. "But the Great Forest Spirit is dead."
Ashitaka shook his head, smiling. "Never. He's life itself. He's not dead, San."
I nodded, refraining to correct them in whom life actually belonged. "Aye, that's true."
Ashitaka continued. "He's here right now, trying to tell us something: that it's time for both of us to live."
Just then, Yakkul and our brothers joined us.
San sighed and climbed onto one of their backs. She looked down at Ashitaka, as I did the same with Tommy. "Ashitaka, you mean so much to me, but I can't forgive the humans for what they've done."
I groaned inwardly. Looks like convincing San of co-living with Eboshi was going to be difficult, but that didn't surprise me at all.
Ashitaka nodded calmly. "I understand. You'll live in the forest, and I'll go help them rebuild Iron Town. I'll always be near. Yakkul and I will come and visit you whenever we can, all right?"
The soft smile and nod that San gave him made me certain of her feelings for him, but I would work on that later.
I frowned at Ashitaka. "But what about your curse, Lad?"
He showed me his arm and saw that it had significantly decreased to the point of near full healing.
"Well, that's a spot of luck." I reached down and clapped him on the shoulder. "I'll see you soon, Mate. I've got some words for Eboshi!"
Ashitaka nodded, and we parted ways.
As Ashitaka made his way to the besieged Iron Town, he cursed himself for forgetting to ask his two friends for help against Asano.
San would not be quick to help her perceived enemies, but John was more probably more open to giving Iron Town help.
From his conversations with Eboshi, he was certain that Eboshi and John respected each other enough to talk to each other without fighting to the death, and Ashitaka was relatively convinced that there was more than respect between them.
In another part of the area, Eboshi sat with her guards. "Amazing. The wolves, that mad bastard of an Assassin, and that crazy little Wolf Girl helped save us all. Where are John and Ashitaka? I need to thank them. We're going to start all over again. This time, we'll build a better town."
Shocked by her sudden change of heart, they didn't realize that they would be seeing both fairly sooner than they had thought!
I sighed tiredly, as we came upon the body of Moro.
San dismounted, and buried her face into her mothers' fur, and the two brothers howled their misery and anger into the air. I stood by awkwardly, not knowing what to do or say.
"Father, why did you not come and help?" I asked mentally, and a voice answered behind me. "I never left, my Son."
I turned to Christ, who wrapped me in a hug before approaching San. "My poor, dear child."
San turned to the Alpha and Omega and flung herself at him. "Why didn't you help us? It's all your fault! I hate you! I hate you!"
The Lion allowed her to strike him again and again, shaking his head at me as I stepped forward to stop her.
The two brothers seemed like they wanted to join in, but the sadness and affection in the Lion's eyes kept them from doing so.
After a moment of pounding, kicking, biting, and scratching, she buried her face into the Lion's Mane, and spoke. "Why didn't you come to help us?"
The Lion purred comfortingly. "Dearest, what makes you think I did not come? I was here the entire time, in a way. The Forest Spirit was my representative, and all of his powers were given to him by me, except the power to harm or to kill."
San sniffed. "It doesn't matter. My mother is dead, and the Forest is without a guardian."
The Lion shook his head. "Your mother is alive in you, beloved. All have their season, but every season ends so that another can begin."
San frowned, and the Lion smiled. "You are the new Mother of the Wolf Clan, my dear, and will remain so."
San looked surprised for a moment, and looked at her brothers almost apologetically, but they made no objection.
In fact, they seemed pleased at this changing of the guard.
The Lion nodded and turned to me.
I raised my hands in surrender. "I know, I know! Kill that evil tosser!" I said, and Christ nodded. "That is indeed your primary duty, but I'll need you to do more. You will represent the Forest in your negotiations and dealings with Iron Town and the humans, and you shall also be a guardian of the Forest."
I nodded, suddenly serious. "I have to stay here for a long time, don't I?"
He nodded. "Yes, but I will always be with you, and the Pevensies are as well. Even if you live your whole life here, you will be with them again, and you maybe sooner than you think." I sighed and nodded.
Well, that wasn't so bad!
Allah continued: "Now, I believe it is time to tell your family of Lucifer."
I nodded and revealed to them the battle between good and evil, Michael and Lucifer, my part in the fight, and Lucifer's current whereabouts.
After we were done, San frowned at me, as the brothers sent each other confused looks. "You could have said something sooner, instead of hiding it from me."
I shrugged. "Would you have believed me if I told you myself?"
San answered me by not meeting my gaze.
I didn't blame her at all, and I understood the growls sent my way by my brothers.
The universal battle between Michael and Lucifer was something too big to believe in a hurry!
The Beginning and the End spoke up. "Now, Asano is still attacking the village, and they have need of you."
San folded her arms over her chest. "Why should we help them? They would not do the same for us."
The Lion of Judah gazed at her. "My dear child, There are innocents to be saved, and allies to be made. Would you really sentence to death those who have not harmed you or the forest? Has there not been enough hate and suffering between the humans and the Forest?"
San sighed and nodded to me. "Won't you need help with Moro?" I asked, but it was Aslan who answered. "I shall help them. Begone."
I nodded and gave myself to Michael's powers again.
At Iron Town, deep in the center of the enemy troops, Captain Okano was in a fury, letting it show to his underling officers. "We have attacked them for an entire day, and all we have fighting us are villagers, women, and lepers! You are supposed to be the greatest samurai of these parts!"
Before any of his men could answer, a strangely accented foreign voice answered. "Well, you Tosser, that's not the only people you're going to be fighting."
Everyone turned to see a crimson-dressed hooded figure standing close by, leaning slightly on the hilt of a massive sword that was taller than all present, except the one who held it. The hood obscured most of his face, making him an impressive figure in the early afternoon sun.
"Who are you?" The captain asked, shocked that the man could get so close without being spotted.
The man smiled ferally. "Your worst nightmare. What are you going to do about it?"
The captain and his officers burst into laughter. "Die, scum!" He replied, drawing his sword.
The man sighed. "Your funeral, literally!" The officers screamed in fear as the sword slashed in, throwing several into the air at once.
In a few moments, all the officers were dead, save the Captain.
I lifted him into the air by one hand to the throat. "You've got one last chance, you Sci. Go back to Asano, and take your soldiers with you. Tell him Michael sends his regards, and I mean it in the Lannister way!"
The man, terrified, his self-glory gone, called for a general retreat.
"Oi! Where're you lot going? Lost your taste for battle now that you are fighting real soldiers?" I called mockingly to them, then turned to Iron Town.
"Are you not entertained!?"
The villagers in Iron Town watched in shock and awe as the one-man army sent Asano's forces packing.
Cheering wildly, the few who weren't exhausted from the invasion to greet their rescuer, Ashitaka the first to get there.
"You certainly did not waste time," He observed, calm and implacable as ever, shaking my hand.
I nodded tiredly. "Well, I heard you needed help, and I thought I might pop in and help you chaps out...whoa, steady on-"
Were all the words I was able to get out, before a crowd of men and women hoisted Ashitaka and I onto their shoulders, parading their heroes into Iron Town.
By the time Eboshi and her soldiers returned, they were stunned to find the enemy gone, and their fellow villagers waiting for them.
The villager's joy turned to horrified dismay the moment Eboshi's wound became obvious to them, and I helped them carry the semi-conscious leader into her house.
When she drifted in unconsciousness, I used Michael's power to immediately stop the bleeding and cover the stump with smooth new skin, but I wasn't able to return her arm to her, as it was nowhere to be found.
"I'm afraid that's all I can do," I said to Ashitaka and Gonza, before I collapsed from overuse of my powers and exhaustion from the day's events.
When I awoke, I was lying in Eboshi's bed, Ashitaka standing over me. "Good evening, John."
I sat up at once. "Evening? How long have I been out?"
Ashitaka shrugged. "Only a few hours. I expected you to wake much later, but that would have probably tempted San to come get you herself."
I nodded. "That's probably true. How is Eboshi?"
Ashitaka smiled. "Much better, thanks to you. She wants to thank you personally."
I nodded and sat up. "Righto, send her in."
Ashitaka paused, then shook his head. "I want to talk first. There are a few things I would like to know."
I frowned at him, folding my arms. "Fine, then. What do you want to know?"
Ashitaka nodded. "What is between you and Eboshi?"
Bloody hell, I really didn't expect that.
"Respect, frustration, and maybe a little bit of attraction. Any other questions?"
Ashitaka chuckled. "I'll be interested to hear what San will have to say about that!"
I shrugged, smiling sheepishly. "I just hope she doesn't find out!"
Ashitaka's next question caught me off guard. "When San and Eboshi were fighting, when I got you and San out of the village, there were very few people I sensed who did not have a demon inside of them. You were one of them, which is surprising, considering your...profession. Can you tell me why?"
I paused and considered him for a moment.
Did I know him enough, trusted him enough, to tell him about Michael?
No, not yet. Perhaps soon, but not yet.
I decided to take it in another direction. "By 'profession,' you mean being an Assassin, yeah?"
The boy nodded, and I chuckled.
I would be honest with him in another way. "You've sure got some brass to ask that, Kid! Look, I've never said that I was a good person. I'm a killer, a murderer. The difference between me and people like Asano is that he enjoys taking lives, while I do it so that others might live in peace. Okay, I used to enjoy it, but now I don't."
I clapped him on the shoulder before continuing. "Despite the fact that you're naïve and reckless, you've got a good heart. That is something worth holding on to."
Ashitaka nodded after a moment, seeming to accept the answer.
"My last question is about San. She seems certain that she is a wolf. Why is that?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Because that's exactly what she believes she is, and how she was raised to be."
"But she's-"
I didn't let him finish. "Save it, kid. Don't tell her what you think she is, or what you want her to be. If you love her as much as I think you do, just accept the way she is. She will not bend or break for you, so you have to bend yourself."
Ashitaka nodded, satisfied.
I grinned at him, and ruffled his hair affectionately. "You're a right good 'un, you are! There's not many people I can say that to. Now, is that all the questions?"
Ashitaka nodded, and left to get Eboshi.
I sighed. Finally!
The lad asked some good questions, but it got annoying pretty fast!
"You are impossible to understand." I turned to regard Eboshi, who had just entered the room.
I smiled, rising from the bed. "I aim to please, luv! Thanks for the bed, by the way."
Eboshi shook her head. "You are a conundrum, that's what you are."
I shrugged. "Sure, but handsome, though!"
Eboshi ignored that. "I have much to thank you for, but I don't know quite how to do that."
I shrugged languidly. "I'm sure you'd like to. However, it seemed only fair to help your chaps. There are kids here, after all. To be honest, your people would be spiffy with Ashitaka in charge. He brought all this about."
Eboshi raised her eyebrows. "I've never heard you pass on the credit to someone else before."
I raised my hands in placation. "For what seems like the umpteenth time: I'm confident, not arrogant."
Eboshi nodded. "Still, I'm surprised that that little Wolf Girl allowed you to come here."
I shrugged. "She didn't, but I convinced her that innocents needed to be saved, so she eventually let me go. She wasn't that chuffed to help you, of course."
Eboshi shrugged. "I can understand that. But she'll be pleased to know that I'm not much of a threat anymore. Her mother saw to that."
I snorted. "Just because you lost your arm doesn't mean you are now incompetent. I'm not letting my guard down around you."
Eboshi frowned. "And why are you so willing to help me?"
I tilted my head to one side, suddenly aware of how close we were to each other, and that Eboshi was wearing some type of perfume that made it hard for me to concentrate.
"Asano, remember?"
She shook her head, a slow smile spreading across her face. "Oh, I think there's something you want other than an alliance," she asserted, drawing closer.
I smiled in return. "I suppose so. I always like to be honest, when the time is right."
She reached out, her fingers caressing my right cheek. "What I will do now is what I want, not for anything else: not for alliances, not for my people, and not for this land."
I shrugged and stepped closer. "I suppose that makes the two of us, luv."
Her hand drifted to my collar, and pulled me into a long, hard kiss.
I shuddered and returned the kiss with blind eagerness. She tasted of honey and sake, a sweet mixture that was instantly intoxicating.
I pulled her closer, deepening the kiss, one hand around her waist, the other in her ebony locks. Damn, this woman knew how to kiss!
Suddenly she pulled back and shoved me onto the bed with surprising strength. I had no intention of resisting!
After we snogged for a few good minutes, Eboshi sighed. "I really hate to stop this here, but your little sister will burn down this entire village if you don't return to her soon. I'd also advise taking a wash in the nearby river, to wash my perfume off."
I nodded, rising to my feet, strapping on my various weapons as she handed them to me. "I wish I could stay longer."
She smiled. "As do I. While I enjoy...us, what is more important is what you and that girl have."
I frowned at her, while picking up Heaven's blade.
Um, what now?
"Family is the most important thing in one's life. It's a lesson I did not learn in time to save those whom I loved."
I nodded, after a long moment, as she bade me good night.
It was those words I considered as I teleported back to the Den, after reluctantly cleansing myself of any smells or perfumes that would make San suspicious.
When I entered the Den, I was greeted by licks and nuzzles from the two brothers, and a hug from San.
And then she slapped me. "That's for taking so long, and for talking with her!"
I winced. "Oi! Duly noted. Good to see you too!"
Chuckling, she bent down, and showed me what looked like a long cape made of the same material that San's head-dress.
"Is that...Oh, San!" I said, as she used a piece of drawstring to tie it together at the neck.
"Despite what she made it seem like she thought of you, she would have been proud that you are wearing her fur. The rest will be good for blankets." She said, cutting my objections short.
"Now, you will always remember her, and carry our scent." I swallowed, a lump in my throat, and nodded. "I never will forget her, or you."
The four of us nestled together to sleep.
Eboshi was right.
They are my pride and joy, just like the Pevensies!
REVAMP!
