Disclaimer: I do not own Okami or any characters, settings, or ideas affiliated with Okami.
Mon Loup
I
Keeping watch over Nippon from the heavens was rather like watching a very long play. One of those Kabuki affairs, except with rather less makeup. The people themselves were not exactly equivalent to actors. Rather, entire societies acted as one. The mainland was like a looming entity on the horizon, the far west a fascinating and mysterious sort of character. Nippon was the hero, of course. Waka had always been rather bored with plays and the like. Especially now that he was physically distanced from it, little things like graceful geishas and noble samurais had become so tedious and impermanent. To the humans, life was all about love affairs and courage, sake and death. It had been like that for Waka too, once, a very long time ago.
Waka turned away from Nippon and surveyed his home. It had been many months on Earth since he and Amaterasu had returned to the Celestial Plain, but only a week had passed here. Time moved more slowly in those immortal realms between life and death. Waka had hoped to find peace in the Celestial Plain, but he often found himself melancholy and restless. He wasn't like Amaterasu. She breezed dreamily about the plain, often lingering to appreciate the sunlight or the flowers or the moon. She would gaze down at Nippon and glow with the fullness of her heart. She never grew tired of watching over the people who worshipped her and she was diligent in granting their prayers when she could. She was the reason the sun rose on Nippon every morning.
When Waka was with her, he was both awed and frustrated that she could not share his dispassion. It wasn't that he missed Nippon, as he was sure some small part of Amaterasu did. Two hundred years spent largely in hiding had not endeared him to the place. He was certainly old and in some ways he was even tired, but he was not content, and Amaterasu seemed to be oblivious of this, mostly because Waka sought seclusion during the long days, even though he often wished to be by her side. It was just that, when they were together, he didn't know what to do with himself. He felt constantly that he wanted something from her that she could not give him. He assumed it was just a part of his general frustration.
The sun was setting. Waka meandered through the tall, waving grass and watched the mountains go all crisp and golden, the sun a disc of crimson dipping below the horizon. It was so beautiful here, so unbearably perfect. In the distance, Amaterasu's clear, melodic howl ushered forth the full moon. A shadow passes over the moon and engulfs it. And there's a girl trembling clutching a baby to her breast with fear in her blue eyes, and a roar like thunder…
...
The assembled brush gods bowed low as Okami Amaterasu entered the throne room of the Sun Palace. The doors swung open for her and a sweet-smelling fresh breeze wafted in as she passed by. The walls were composed of thin rice paper that let in the golden sunlight in brilliant shafts that shone blindingly on her white flanks. Amaterasu reached the end of the long stretch, turned about, and sat on her haunches, facing the twelve lesser gods.
This was an informal ritual of theirs, gathering at sunset every evening before night fell. It helped to keep abreast of the goings on, so to speak. Kabegami was the first to break the silence.
"Mother Amaterasu," said the cat. "I climbed a fantastic wall today. Would you like me to show you the spot tomorrow? It is a divine place to nap."
Amaterasu acknowledged her with a tip of her graceful head and Kabegami purred with gratification.
Kazegami, the wind god, cleared his throat importantly. "Mother Amaterasu," he said, "I am certain you have witnessed the quiet but steady intrusion of a foreign ideology upon our fair Nippon."
Amaterasu pricked her ears.
"Yes," continued the horse, "yes, I believe it's called… Confusion-ism?"
"Confucianism," corrected Tachigami in his small, piping voice. "Comes from the mainland. It is supposed to teach people to work hard and obey their betters… I imagine the human dignitaries enjoy it."
"Horrid," interjected the water goddess, Nuregami. "Absolutely despicable. I have observed this, this… must I call it a religion? I cannot condone the promotion of the idea that women are inferior to their male counterparts."
"Well…" interrupted Kasugami, who was fairly tipsy by this time of day. "They do have those things…"
All twelve gods turned their heads in her direction. "What?" they said collectively.
"Those… oh, you know, those, eh… kimonos!"
"What of it?" snapped Nuregami.
"Well, they can't run properly, can they?" Kasugami said sensibly. "What use is a human if it can't even run?"
The gods blinked around at each other for a mystified moment, then Kazegami stamped his hoof. "I think we're getting off topic here," he asserted. "I only brought it up because Confucianism discourages prayer. What are we to do if people begin to lose their faith?" There was a grave pause.
"Oh, why can't the mainlanders keep their ridiculous theories to themselves?" exclaimed Bakugami.
"Now, I'm sure there is some merit to this Confucius character…" reasoned Yomigami uncertainly.
"Have you been listening?" retorted Nuregami.
"Naturally, serpent," replied the dragon petulantly. "I was merely-"
"What about the prayer issue?" said Kazegami. "If we aren't careful, these mainlanders will destroy the fabric of-"
"I hear tell there is a magnificent wall in the mainland."
"What is it with you and walls, Kabegami?"
Amaterasu watched the animals bicker in thoughtful silence. She was about to intervene when Waka burst through the heavy double doors. "Mon amie!" Amaterasu looked up at the sound of his voice. "I had a vision. The moon will be cursed. The moon princess is in danger."
"Kaguya?" Yumigami, goddess of the moon, piped up. "Mother Amaterasu, we mustn't let her life be extinguished. She is the last of her people!"
Waka gave the rabbit a pointed look.
"Oh! Well- hm. I meant-"
"I know what you meant, little lapin. I'm quite aware of where I stand."
Amaterasu stood and the company fell silent. She tilted her head at Waka.
"You wish me to go with you, ma cherie. I…" Waka had not returned to the Moon in a century- a few of them, actually- and Amaterasu knew he had never intended to return. He had no desire to relive his past. But he felt, as always, an inexplicable pull to follow the white wolf, wherever she may go. He folded his arms and shrugged. "Why ever not?" Amaterasu wagged her tail.
