Journeys end in lovers meeting,
As every wise man's son doth know.
-Feste, Twelfth Night
Next morning the miasma lifted, the weather cleared, and talks began. Much of what was discussed is not important to this story. Suffice it is to say that both groups of travelers agreed to end their hostilities. Kushana--who had, like all the injured, been miraculously restored to perfect health by the medicine Haku gave--had come into the negotiations happy that her troops and plans were no longer needed, and despite Noha and Makrisse's hatred of her and Charuka, they all managed to hammer out a truce between them. Nausicaä gave her half of the medicine ball to Kushana, for the latter to give to the new chieftains as a gesture of goodwill, and that helped ease tensions immensely between the parties. The Queen-Regent asked what they were doing in such a godforsaken wasteland--west of the Forest, east of the Periphery--in the first place; Noha replied that they were there because the Forest had overrun their villages, and they were looking for a place to resettle; Makrisse answered that her people were itinerant, and had been looking for ancient places to plunder for technology, much like the Pejitans did with their engine-mining industry. But, she added, she wouldn't mind settling down, like Noha's people did; they had no place to call home, for their town was also a victim of the Forest's spread.
Charuka heard their stories and offered them land on the Dorok border. Much of the place had been depopulated, he said, by the wars and the insects. He knew they still bore an allegiance to the old ways, and did not cherish the thought of Chikuku coming to the throne, but that didn't prevent him from making the offer. It was in everyone's best interests, he opined, for the border lands to remain occupied. The Forest had to be kept in check, and there was no need for land-grabbing there.
Noha had wanted to accept the offer right then and there, but said she would consult with her people first--and her husband, who was trussed up in her tent. Makrisse said likewise, and they scheduled the meeting's continuation at first light.
------oOo------
The sun had barely peeked over the horizon when the women returned, bringing with them word that they would accept Charuka's offer. Most of those not of the Principalities opted, they informed them, to return to their homelands. Nausicaä rejoiced at the decision along with Chikuku; Selm kept his peace, while Charuka and Kushana began to issue the orders to make everything a reality. Asbel... well, he stayed on board the monitor with Kecha, far away from the Princess' sight and everyone else's. To Nausicaä--who visited him on the ship once, to talk with him and tell him what had happened to her--he seemed to have made a decision about something; whatever it was, she could read in the peace and forbearance in his eyes, and was glad.
The visitors from the Spirit World, Haku and Bou and the Yu-bird, spent most of the day in the flagship, marveling at Dorok technology, drinking in much gossip from the deckhands and soldiers and medics, and gleefully setting fear in the hearts of the superstitious soldiers there by their mere presence. Word of their apparent immunity to the miasma had spread throughout the fleet, and that and their very different looks and habits caused more than one soul to edge away from them when they entered a room. Haku took it all in stride; Bou-mouse and the haedori had fits of what passed for animal laughter.
That afternoon it was decided that Noha and Makrisse's tribes would ride in one of the monitors and be deposited near the land Charuka had offered them. Possessions and animals were packed and herded on board the chosen ship, except for the guns; this condition the Dorok High Priest made of them, to prevent anyone's anger from fueling any more deaths. Their weapons were sent to a separate ship, to be returned to them once they got to their destination.
While this was being done, Nausicaä and Selm stood on a small mound of dirt some distance away, watching the proceedings. They saw Chikuku with a bunch of kids, hanging around one of the giant ship's doors, and he was telling them some story or another, decorating it with thought-images that swooped and flew and made the children exclaim with wonder. Selm guessed it was about Nausicaä: among the moving pictures he had seen a white Mehve.
"I'm glad this is over," the wind-rider confessed, enjoying her break for the moment. She had been busy helping catalogue Noha's people's possessions.
"Yes, so am I." Selm looked at her. "Where did you go, Nausicaä? There were so many people who looked for you, and yet we had no news of you until you showed up here."
"Selm... oh, Selm, I'm not sure I can even share this secret with you. You, who alone with me and the Master of the Garden know what the Forest is really about."
A faint smile appeared on the Forest Person's face. "It must be a big one, for you to refuse to tell me."
"Yes. Bigger than this world of ours, Selm. Much bigger. Maybe in time I'll tell you."
"Suit yourself. You know best." Selm laid a gentle hand on the wind-rider's shoulder. "Whither now, Nausicaä? Will you go with them to the Dorok lands? Or will you go to Tolas? What are you going to do?"
"I really don't know," the Princess admitted. "I was sort of hoping I could rest for a while, then pass by the Valley of Wind, then visit your people afterwards. But I don't suppose Kushana or the others are headed that way, and I haven't got a kite any more."
"I'm sure Kushana won't mind a little detour. Her Bumblecrows visit the fleet regularly. Maybe you could hitch a ride on one of them." He patted her shoulder. "And about your kite, well, let me just say that you're going to have a little surprise waiting for you in the Valley, courtesy of Asbel and Mito."
"What is it?"
Selm sniffed. "Hmph. You won't tell, I won't tell either."
Nausicaä was about to protest when she was cut off by a voice calling her name. It was Haku, who was jogging up to meet them, from behind.
"How'd you get there?" Selm asked involuntarily. There was no way the stranger could have gotten behind them without being seen.
"Oh, I flew down from that ship," Haku replied, pointing a finger upward at a monitor which, from Selm and Nausicaä's point of view, was behind them.
"Oh." Selm eyed his companion. "So your friend can fly."
"Well, yes, I think I told you that last night."
Haku cleared his throat. "If I may, Selm of the Forest People, I'd like to talk privately to Nausicaä. It won't be long." Selm acquiesced, and Haku led Nausicaä a short distance away from the Forest-dweller.
"I have to go," he said at once. "I've brought you here and my job is done. I might already be late for Chihiro's wedding."
To Nausicaä, who saw Haku as her last living link to the incredible adventure she had undergone, his words brought sorrow. "I wish you could stay longer."
"Sorry, I can't. But maybe we'll meet again."
"I hope so. Well, goodbye, Haku. Thank you for your gift. It helped us a lot." Nausicaä frowned as she remembered something. "But I'm still cross at you for fooling me."
"I'm sorry! You just seemed so intent on mothering me I didn't have the heart to stop you. Like I said, I don't get that kind of care all the time, so I hope you understand. Anyway, this has been a new experience for me. I don't get shot that often in the Spirit World. Oh, a blowgun here and there, but aside from that..." Haku laughed, but he also blinked, and as he did Nausicaä wondered, Tears?
"You're a strange one, Nigihayami Kohakunushi," she said. "No one else I know thinks getting shot is funny... save perhaps Kurotowa..."
"Yes, well, I guess being alive for a couple of centuries tends to twist one's sense of humor," returned Haku. "You learn to find mirth in everything, no matter how great or small. Thanks, Nausicaä. I'll see you around."
"Wait! Where's Bou and the Yu-bird?"
Haku gingerly patted his chest, and a pair of heads popped up from his torn clothing. Bou-mouse and the fly-bird waved.
"Goodbye, you two. I'll miss you." The pair waved harder.
"Nausicaä?"
"Yes?"
"Don't forget your sack. I left it with the one you call Kecha. And as part of my thanks, here's something to help jumpstart your love life," Haku said, winking knowingly at her before giving her a peck on the lips. Beneath that calm exterior, he sent to her, referring to Selm, lies a passionate soul patiently waiting for your answer.
All of a sudden the river spirit drew back and launched himself into the air. Nausicaä thought she could hear him roaring with laughter as she found herself looking at a silver dragon who rose, twisting and wriggling, quickly into the sky, disappearing into the sun's glare.
Nausicaä cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted with all her might. "Goodbye, Haku! Goodbye!" Then she walked back to Selm, who was waiting for her with, she could tell, a carefully neutral expression covering much annoyance.
"What was that about?" the Forest Person asked.
"Nothing. He's just trying to get me into trouble with you."
The man from the Forest of Corruption raised an eyebrow. "If you say so." They returned to watching the procession going into the monitor.
"You know, I've always wondered where my Wormhandlers went, ever since we separated."
"Ah, last I heard they were going throughout all the lands, Nausicaä, spreading your story and bearing witness to your deeds."
"I see." My great lie, the Princess thought. An awkward silence fell once again about them, and, finding it unbearable, Selm spoke.
"Nausicaä? Have you... you know, thought about my offer?" He turned to gauge her reaction and was surprised to find tears tracking down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry..." he quickly apologized.
"No, it's not you," Nausicaä explained. "I... I never thought I'd hear you say that again. I thought I was going to be lost forever. You don't know how lonely I've been these past days..." She turned to him and, keeping her face averted from his sight, embraced him.
"Oh, Selm... I've been so afraid. I wanted to cry but couldn't, because I had someone depending on me. I feel so old, Selm. I still feel old now. Where did my youth go? Where did I misplace it?"
"It's okay to feel like that, Nausicaä, but just remember, you are still young, and you still have years ahead of you." He brushed her hair away from her face. "If it's any recompense, you're here with me now, and you can cry all you want, if you want to." And she did just that.
Aozora ni Seishun
Please bring back to me
The blue sky of my youth
Take away my louring clouds
Blow away the smog that mars my sunshine.
Please take me back to
The springtime of my youth
Let me remember what it was like
To run and laugh and be free.
Please let me remember
The memories of yesterday
'Cause I've long since lost them
The years have taken them away.
Please bring back to me
The springtime of my youth
And take me to where
The flowers eternally bloom.
Please let me remember
What yesterday was like
And please let me run in the fields
And be free.
THE END OF GHIBLI TRAVELERS
Read the comments on this episode
(Posted Thu, 07 Jul 2005 17:16)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.