II
Amaterasu ran as fast as she could. She had waited patiently in the land of the mortals for a hundred years, and it was time. At long last. Ishaku clung to the white wolf's fur, not wanting to be flown off. The wolf jumped over rocks and ran down the mountain-side, seeing the Moon Cave with her perfect vision. Nagi had to be inside already—he was not there. Amaterasu stopped at the entrance to the Moon Cave. She could feel the empowering force of darkness push upon her. Ishaku took in a breath and looked at the cave.
"Okay, this is it," he stated, looking at the cave with a straight face. "Are you ready?"
The female white wolf let out a confident bark.
"Okay, Ammy, let's move," he stated, pointing right ahead.
The wolf barked and charged into the pitch blackness. Amaterasu was greeted by a long staircase. She scaled it, being careful not to make a sound so the imps would not hear her footsteps. She padded up the walk-way and reached the top. There they saw the eight-headed beast. His scales glowed gold in the moon light. All eight-heads glared at the human, who had his sword up and ready. The white wolf goddess looked at the human, studded and surprised. She jumped up, landing right next to Nagi. The human looked on in surprise. She barked, crouching low and snarling at the eight-headed beast.
"So, you come to fight me?" the serpent inquired, a sly smirk on his scaly features.
The head was the commander of fire. The other serpent heads all hissed and growled, glaring at the human and the white goddess wolf. The gold scales of the dragon's body glimmered in the moon's lights.
"Yes I am!" Nagi cried. "Your reign of terror shall end!"
All eight heads laughed in unison. The main head lowered to look directly at Nagi and Amaterasu. "So, you have the great goddess to help you?" he asked, smirking.
Nagi blinked in confusion as he looked at the white wolf that was crouching next to him. She glanced up, her gold eyes on him. She barked and looked at the eight-headed serpent. Nagi nodded, holding up his sword.
"Let's go."
Amaterasu jumped to the right as she tried to attack the gold monster. She used Power Slash, the attack, she realized, was useless against him. She fell against a rock wall, knocking over a large bottle. It was a bottle of sake. Nami's sake. Why was it here? Then Amaterasu remembered: a demon had stole some for the dragon. The liquid ran down the rock wall and pooled in the serpents' drinking pool. It filled up each pool. Ishaku looked at the scene in front of him.
"Ammy, look," he stated. The small poncle looked at the wolf. "You have an idea?"
The wolf barked and nodded her head. She jumped, using her brush powers to connect the sake to the open serpent's mouth. The fire-head took in the gulp with surprise. One head snapped his jaws at the wolf, grabbing the goddess with his teeth and jaws. Amaterasu howled in pain, her skin being pierced by his sharp teeth. Nagi jumped up onto the head and stabbed his sword into the serpent's eye. The head roared as he released the wolf. Amaterasu flopped onto the ground, her wounds bleeding profusely. Ishaku looked at her, worried and afraid.
"Ammy, you okay?" he asked, looking at the wolf goddess.
Amaterasu howled, and nodded. She stood up and shook off, her blood staining her pure white fur. Nagi landed next to her. "You okay, wolf?" he inquired.
The wolf goddess barked and turned her attention to the dragon, growling. She jumped and used her brush powers to connect the sake to the fire-head serpent's mouth. He grumbled and hung his head, completely drunk. The wolf goddess ran, dodging the other heads. Nagi slashed his sword, the scales of the dragon being completely invincible. Amaterasu used her power to throw sake into another head's mouth. It was the water-head. He shook his head in confusion as he tried to snap his jaws at her. The wolf jumped back, pain shooting through every fiber of her being. She yelped, grunting deeply.
"Are you okay?" Ishaku stated, looking at her with worry.
She smiled wolfishly at him and barked. The wolf goddess leapt back as one head tried to snap at her. She preformed the Waterspout technique on him, sake going into his mouth. He hung back and groaned, getting drunk for the raw spirits. The next head, which was the wind-head, tried to kill the wolf. Nagi jumped, slashing his sword at the head. It did nothing but startle the head. Amaterasu took this as a chance to use the Waterspout move on him sake went into his mouth twice and, suddenly, all the heads fell to the ground. A large, gold bell was visible on the serpent's back. Ishaku glanced at it.
"Ammy, I think that's the way to kill Orochi," he reported.
Amaterasu nodded and went up the neck of one of the eight heads, Nagi followed close behind. The bell was elegant and firm in its place. The wolf then started to attack the item with her rosary. It gonged loudly with each hit. Nagi followed, swiping his sword across the bell. Amaterasu ignored the throbbing pain she felt as she moved. She had one thing to do: kill Orochi. Banish him. The heads started to stir from their small blackout. One head, the poison-head, glanced over, his jaw open and his eyes groggy. Realization dawned on his scaly features as he reached out of Amaterasu. The poison-head's jaws clamped around the white wolf goddess; she yelped in pure pain.
"Hey, let her go!" Ishaku screamed, slashing out his sword.
It did absolutely nothing. But Ishaku felt like he had to defend his closest friend. Amaterasu squirmed in the grasp as the head shook her like a rag doll. Nagi growled, and jumped at the poison-head, and slashed his sword. It did nothing. The head threw the white wolf into a rock wall. Amaterasu slid down the wall, her blood smeared the wall. The wolf dropped to the ground and groaned. Ishaku slid down the bridge of her nose.
"Ammy!" he cried, bending down to look at her.
Her wounds were profusely bleeding. She smiled wolfishly as she stood up on shaky legs. Nagi saw this display of bravery and jumped at one head, the earth-head. He opened his jaws and Amaterasu shot the sake into his mouth. He gulped it down in surprise and shook his head. Another head, the water-head, spat out water. The area filled with water. Nagi gasped in disbelief as the water rushed over him and the white wolf goddess. When the water touched the wolf's open, bleeding wounds, it stung. Nagi wadded in the water as the water-head dunked his head in the liquid, enjoying every bit.
Amaterasu swam in the water, trying to get to the large dragon's head. The white wolf jumped up onto the head, sinking her teeth into the serpent's skin near the eye. He howled in pain as the water vanished as if it was not even there. The water-head roared and Amaterasu connected the sake into his mouth. The water-head gulped it down in light surprise. Nagi looked at his clothes—they were completely dry now. It was like he never got wet. The serpent heads lunched themselves at the white wolf, who was growling and spitting like a rabid animal. She had to win this battle. She just had to. Tonight was the night. Minutes blended into an hour, and the battle was still raging. Amaterasu was gasping for air, blood splattering out of her mouth and nose. Ishaku slid down her snout, looking in pure worry at the white wolf.
"Ammy, are you okay? You look rough," Ishaku stated, gripping the wolf's fur.
Amaterasu forced a smile on her face. Nagi took in shaky breaths as he staggered to the wolf's side.
"Damn, that beast just won't fall!" he cried in rage.
But, Orochi did look weaker.
The fire-head reared over, glaring daggers at the duo, but had a smirk upon his lips. The scales were dull and blood flowed freely from under his scales. Amaterasu smirked wolfishly, trying her best to stand. The bell was cracking. The glowing gold sake was almost gone. Amaterasu howled and used Waterspout to connect the drink to the serpent's mouth. The wind-head gulped it down. Nagi charged, slashing his sword, barely scratching the dragon's hide. The white wolf goddess followed the same technique until the dragon was out. The wolf grunted until she charged up the neck of one of the eight heads. Nagi followed.
They attacked the bell.
It gonged with each hit. Then suddenly, it broke. It shattered. There was a tremble, and the barrier from the dragon faded away. The serpent sunk into the ground. Amaterasu and Nagi jumped from the back of the dragon and the eight heads stirred awake. All eight heads realized what had just happened.
They lost their barrier.
Orochi growled at snapped at the duo. Amaterasu growled, using the Slash brush power across the snout of one of the dragon's head. A deep cut formed and blood seeped out. This would be easy. Nagi attacked one head, slashing his sword. The head withered under the hits and slashes. Blood splattered. Amaterasu smiled. This would be the end of Orochi and his reign. With one final slash, one head was down. It thundered to the ground. The other heads looked at the fallen one.
"You bitch!" Orochi cried.
Well, she was a female wolf. Amaterasu smiled. She jumped at the closet head as Nagi finished the wind-head. It lumbered to the ground. Two down. Nagi jumped at the water head as Amaterasu went to the earth-head. The white wolf-formed goddess drove her teeth into the scales, ripping them off. The serpent roared, trying to shake her off. She held on fast. Amaterasu used her divine powers to kill off that head. She helped Nagi with the water-head as the other heads tried their best to stop her. They plucked off each Orochi head until there was the last head; the fire-head, and he was tasting death. Blood flowed from his mouth, and he glared at the wolf goddess and the mortal.
"Disgusting goddess," he growled. "I will be back."
Ishaku laughed, standing at the tip of Amaterasu's nose. "I highly doubt it!" he cried.
Orochi smirked and there was an earthquake. Nagi glanced around as rocks and boulders fell from the ceiling and walls.
"I will be back," Orochi stated, until death took him.
The rocks fell and one came right for Nagi. He screamed up he felt no pain. He cowered until he realized that the rock had not even touched him. Amaterasu was now above him, her back pressed against the rock. She pushed it off, using the last of her strength. Blood left her mouth and she gagged and chocked. Nagi looked in surprise, but he reacted fast. He picked up the wolf and dashed off as the Cave began to fall into itself. The human rushed outside and entered the cold stale air. Ishaku fell off the white wolf and into the cold water. He surfaced and looked as Nagi placed the wolf on the gravel. He looked at Amaterasu.
"Shinaru?" he questioned. "Y-you saved me."
The tired wolf smiled until she could no longer keep her eyes open. She slipped away.
The great sun goddess was dead.
Ishaku bowed his head, trying his best not to break down. He dropped to his knees and punched at the ground. Above at the top of Moon Cave was Waka. He looked down as a silent tear rolled down his cheek.
