Princess Mononoke

~Returning To Irontown~

"Sir you were right! We made it back home like you said!"
Ashitaka looked at what stood before him. There was a large bronze wall spreading for miles each way around a large town. From the town loud clangs of metal could be heard and smoke rose from every chimney.
"It's a fortress" Ashitaka spoke softly and lightly fearful. He found himself pulling his mask from his parcel and covering his face.
"It's Lady Eboshi's Irontown. We make iron here from the ore in the sand". 

The wounded man called out to four men sitting in boats on the shore of Irontown.
"Hey there! Hello! It's me!"
"Look there", one man said to the another.
"Hello!" The man called again.
The men in the boats spoke softly to eachother "Someone has come out of the woods... is it the wolf girl?"
The man on Yakul shouted loudly as he got closer, "Looks it's me Kohroku the ox driver!"
The news spread quickly through Irontown that a man who was supposed to be dead had emerged just outside the walls. Crowds rushed forward to see if it was true. The Captain of the Guard, not knowing the miracle that was taking place, found himself frustrated by the commotion.
"Quiet! Stop that noise! I am tying to tally accounts here so shut up!"
A citizen panted out as he ran past, "Haven't you heard! Kohroku has come back from the dead!" 
"What?" The Captain barked in disbelief.
Citizens gathered around Kohroku questioning him,
"Where are the others?"
"Is my son with you?"
Kohroku shook his head and sighed. "I'm afraid we're the only ones that made it"

"Stand aside!" The Captain growled pushing through the crowd side-by-side with his second in command
" That man in the weird costume sir, who do you think that could be?" The second questioned in a hushed voice
"Obviously an outsider" was the snarled response.

Kohroku called proudly,
"Listen to me everyone! This man has saved our lives! He carried the rifleman all the way here, you should be greatful to him! Ow hey watch my arm."
"Hold it right there!" The Captain demanded directly to Ashitaka, "I'm very grateful for you bringing these men back home to us stranger, but something doesn't smell right. You got back here as fast as we did and you went through the forbidden forest. On top of that you did it with two badly injured men and you want me to believe that you-"
He was cut off by the joyful cries of a young woman,
"Kohroku! You're alive!"
" Toki my love!" Kohroku cried back.
Toki gasped at her husband's injured arm. All of a sudden her mood changed from elated... to angry.
"Oh that's just great! Now how are you going to drive the ox all beaten up and mangled?"
"But my little flower-"
"You scared me half to death! Don't you little flower me! I wish the wolves had eaten you, then maybe I could have found a real husband"
"Sweetness can we discuss this later?"

The Captain rolled his eyes and scoffed, "Toki, save your sweet nothings for some other time"
She whipped her head around to face him, her face now red with hot anger
"And as for you Gonza, a fine Captain of the guard you are always strutting and throwing your weight around once the danger's over! You never do a lick of work around here"
"That's unfair and untrue!"
Toki turned to Ashitaka but instead of barking more insults she merely let out a sign and smiled
"Thanks stranger. My husband is an idiot but I'm glad he's safe and sound"
Ashitaka smiled "That's a relief. I started to think I had done something wrong by bringing him back here"
Toki laughed heartily at his remark. "Say", she began, "Why don't you take that mask off I bet you're really handsome"

A voice like silk spoke above the crowd.
"Gonza? Bring the stranger to me later, I would like to thank him personally. Kohroku?" "Uh yes?" He spoke shakily
"I'm happy you're back and I apologize"
"Uh... okay"
"Uh oh milady you really shouldn't tell him things like that. If you're too nice he'll walk all over you" Toki giggled.
"I hope you'll forgive me too Toki, I was responsible and I should have never let it happen"
"Oh that's all right milady! If you hadn't been there the wolves would have eaten everyone and then we'd all have to find new husbands!" Toki and all the women howled with laughter.
Lady Eboshi looked back at Ashitaka "Get some rest traveler. I will see you this evening"
As she disappeared amongst the crowd Ashitaka pulled off his mask and sighed. Toki turned her head and upon seeing his face she giggled girlishly,
"Oh hey, you're not handsome, your gorgeous!"