A/N: wow. i'm one of the first ten for okami fics...awesome. So, if any of you have read my other story, or if you care that i haven't updated that one, sorry. was too busy, then i felt like writing this. but i am working on it. so, everyone, read, enjoy, review, and expect more (unless story is considered to be ball-sucking in nature).

Disclaimer: ...like i need to say it? they're not my characters. none of 'em.

Shiranui woke up, finding herself amidst a hot, sunny day. She yawned and stretched, bringing her paws straight out in front of her as dogs do. Walking out into the town, allowing the sun to shine on her glistening fur, she waltz about, eventually running into a tall, busty woman, looking to be in her early twenties.

"Bout time you got up, lazy mutt." Rao looked down at Shiranui, fox mask pushed up to keep the sun out of her face. Strapped to her back, was the nine-tipped glaive, that Rao aptly named "Kubu." "You know if we don't get there soon, they're done for."

Shiranui tilted her head to the side and whimpered slightly, a look in her eyes that seemed to say "So negative. We'll get there in time, I know it."

Rao sighed, understanding perfectly well. "Fine, let's just get out of this city. Blight's gone; the sickness is healed, so there's no reason for us to stay, right?" Rao turned and walked away, seeming somewhat ticked at the city in general. Shiranui walked along side her, sensing instability of emotions from Rao, though slight and well-hidden. It was enough to know that Rao was not annoyed, rather that there was another issue.

Shiranui ran a little ahead to sit in front of Rao, and barked, probably meaning "You know you can tell me what's bothering you."

"Nothing's bothering me, OK? The others are in trouble, I'm a little tired, and I can feel all these bastards undressing me with their eyes. I just wanna go." said Rao, as she continued to walk past Shiranui. The unbalance emitting from her was even more chaotic.

Shiranui turned and made a soft howling sound, meaning something along the lines of "It's not your fault, Tsuzurao."

Rao stopped, practically frozen in her tracks at Shiranui's words (or howls, maybe?). "Yes, it is." she finally said after a long pause. "I couldn't keep it controlled...I killed the first queen, and I killed this one too...it's all my fault." Unfrozen again, she continued to walk past the gates of Sei-An City.

It has been a little over 100 years since Shiranui first came to the world, and in those 100 years, Amaterasu destroyed the ruler of darkness known as Yami, bringing the Celestial Plains to its former glory. But it was only for a short time. A few years later, a betrayal took place in the Plains, setting into motion its destruction. At the climax of this terror, the gods began to fade away from the Plains, sealing themselves back into the mortal realm for their own safety. Shiranui did the same, sealing herself and her power into her old body. This is where Rao, head priestess of Sei-an City.

Unsealing the other 12 gods was a priority of Shiranui's mission, yes, but comforting her should come first, otherwise it could be a problem later. Shiranui walked out of the all too familiar gates of Sei-an City toward the distraught Rao. This was the only way to do it, she thought. It worked out before, it'll work out again. Orochi, Yami, and now this.

Shiranui sighed, as she started to think about her former lives spent in this world. The bonds made to this world the last time were very strong, as although it had been so long since she had last been here, Shiranui had one thought when she first open her eyes in the physical world: I am the third incarnation Amaterasu Omikami, Sun goddess and savior.

A/N: that's it, hope it was worth your time