"Well, thank you," Ushiwaka replied, a sly smile creeping onto his features.
"So, Ushiwaka was it?" Amaterasu questioned as she stood from her spot on the ground.
"Yes, that's correct," the young man with blonde hair answered, his legs dangling from the branch.
"What's it like on the moon?" the young sun goddess questioned, before proceeding to climb into the tree herself.
"Ma chérie," Ushiwaka began, tilting his head to one side. "You did not have to climb up here. I would have joined you below."
"Yeah well, this seems a lot cooler anyway," Amaterasu replied as she carefully lay across one of the thicker branches.
"What was your name again?" the blonde-haired prince questioned. "Ama..ter-asu?"
"Yup, that's right," the goddess answered.
"That's quite a mouthful," he interjected. "I'm going to call you Ammy okay?"
"Okay," Ammy rejoiced. "This tree's boring now. Let's go and see what my brother Susano is up to."
Young Amaterasu smiled warmly as she leapt down from her perch, gracefully landing on the ground afterward. Ushiwaka stored his beloved bamboo flute in one of his side pouches before leaping down as well, carefully landing at the foot of the tree. Smoothing out his tunic, he glanced up to meet his newfound friend's gaze. Furrowing his brow, he tilted his head to the right.
"What?" he questioned as he returned her gaze.
"How on earth can you walk in those things?" Ammy questioned as she pointed down at his getas.
"Easy, like this," Ushiwaka answered as he proceeded to walk in a random direction, circling around Amaterasu as he did.
"You're funny," the young goddess teased as she pushed him sharply.
"Hey!" the prince of the moon tribe shouted before landing on his backside with a rather loud thump. "What did you do that for?"
"I don't know," she answered giggling. "Now come on! As far as I know he's probably sleeping right now anyway."
Sighing heavily, Ushiwaka pushed himself off of the ground and brushed off his clothes before taking off after Ammy. As he followed her back to a rather expansive palace, he noted that even though she ran like a girl would, every step she took, flowers bloomed behind her. Being the boy he is though, he merely rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"Women," he mumbled to himself before they came to an open field just behind the palace.
The field was a rather simple piece of land. The grass was well tended to, and the flowers were few and far in-between. There were also many boulders and straw dummies lying about. There was no doubt in Ushiwaka's mind that this was the perfect spot to practice swordplay and martial arts.
"Susano!" Ammy called out as she skipped into the center of the field. "Brother! Where are you?"
"Hey Ammy!" the young prince called. "You hear that?"
"What?" she questioned as she quieted her breathing slightly.
"Man there has to be either a bear or lion sleeping around here somewhere," Ushiwaka complained as he dug his left pinky finger into his ear.
"No, that's just Susano," Ammy corrected, rejoining him at the edge of the plain. "That's basically all he does all day long. He's supposed to be training to be a great warrior, but the only thing he's apparently good at is sleeping and causing mischief."
"Let's go and wake him up," the young prince suggested, a smirk creasing his lips.
"No, if we do that he'll get really mad," the sun goddess warned as she stepped in front of her friend.
"Oh come on!" Ushiwaka pressured. "Besides, I like to think we'd do him a favor by waking him up."
"Ushiwaka!" Ammy called as she chased after him.
It wasn't long before the two had finally located the rather lazy Susano snoozing under a tall cherry blossom tree. Even though he was technically the youngest out of Izanagi's children, young Susano was the most powerful, and the largest in size. He often favored a dark navy umanori hakama with his large glaive fastened over his shoulder to rest on his broad back. His dark, unruly hair covered his whole head like a dark storm cloud, and contrary to popular styles, was often kept short without the use of ribbon to tie it back or up. Ammy cringed as her gaze fell upon her ill-willed brother, she never really had a reason to associate with him other than bloodline, and she often never chose to.
"Ushiwaka, please," she begged. "Let's leave him be. I don't want to get him angry."
"Oh come on Ammy," the prince teased. "Don't chicken out on me now. Besides, I'm not afraid of this guy."
Upon confirming his feigned bravery, Ushiwaka quickly sprinted toward the slumbering Susano, despite Amaterasu's warnings. Once the youth drew close enough to the slumbering deity, he surveyed the ground before locating a fairly large pebble. Smiling deviously, he glanced back at Ammy's horrified gaze. Furrowing his brow, Ushiwaka turned to proceed with his plan before a massive hand tightly enclosed around his right hand, thus crushing the pebble against his palm.
"Aaagh!" the prince cried out as he proceeded to pull against Susano's strong grip. "Let go of me you..gigantic..blockhead!"
Without as much as muttering his reply, Susano hurled young Ushiwaka in the general direction of Amaterasu. Landing with a loud thud, the prince coughed as the air was forced out of his lungs. Worried for his well being, the young sun goddess knelt beside his writhing form before glancing up at her brother.
"How dare you urchins disturb my slumber!" he roared as he paced closer.
"Oh give it a rest you big ape!" Ushiwaka taunted as he stood onto his feet. "Besides shouldn't you be training, O Great Warrior?"
"Silence whelp!" Susano shouted as he drew his mighty zanbato. "You have disturbed my sleep, and you shall pay in blood!"
"Ushiwaka, look out!" Ammy cried as she leapt forward to place herself between her brother and the prince.
"Ammy!" the prince called in surprise as the gigantic sword sliced through the air at a swift pace.
The distinct sound of a brisk clang and the goddess's scream erupted over the field. An invisible shockwave coursed over the land, frightening all manner of animals and plant life. The changes in the air also caught the attention of both Izanagi and Lunami who were otherwise engaged in transactions for their trades. The two powerful beings glanced up before sharing a glance of confusion.
"What was that?" Lunami questioned as he followed Izanagi's gaze in the direction of his palace.
"Susano," the deity whispered as he dropped his scrolls to dart off in the direction of his palace.
"Izanagi!" the chief of the moon tribe called before mimicking the aforementioned's actions.
Amaterasu held her breath as she waited, waited for the pain, the tears, anything. However as precious seconds passed, she neither noticed nor felt anything. Cautiously, she opened her eyes only to gasp at the scene before her. Leaving little to no time for a counter move, Ushiwaka had merely drawn his katana, utilizing its upward thrust from the scabbard to block Susano's massive zanbato. However, she was still placed between her brother and the prince, a rather undesired place to be.
"Glad to see...you came around, ma cherie," the prince's rather charming voice replied in a strained tone.
"Ushiwaka..." Ammy sighed, finally releasing the breath she had been holding.
"Sorry to cut things short darling," Ushiwaka began, his strength beginning to wane. "But could you...kindly, move?"
Heading his order, the young goddess quickly ducked and scampered out of the way, just as Susano's blade came crashing to the ground. The blonde-haired prince managed to jump clear of the massive blade's strike following Amaterasu's flight to safety.
"Not bad," Susano remarked as he wrenched his zanbato from the solid ground, hoisting it over his shoulder. "You're quite strong for someone so tiny."
"Never underestimate your opponents," Ushiwaka retorted as he held his sword at the ready, the tip curving down toward the earth.
Preparing for a battle, the young prince shifted his weight onto his left foot, which he then turned out and back, lowering his body into a defensive position. Susano studied his movements carefully before bellowing with laughter. Amaterasu tilted her head in confusion, wondering why her brother found this to be humorous. Practically rolling with laughter, the deity soon breathed deeply before grounding his zanbato.
"What in heaven's name are you doing?" Susano questioned, a few stray chuckles escaping his throat.
"Preparing for battle," the prince answered. "As should you be."
"Hah, you amuse me so," the deity thundered as he retrieved the massive blade from the ground. "I don't need to prepare."
With his declaration complete, Susano swung the zanbato at his opponent. Exhaling quickly, Ushiwaka quickly shifted his weight forward, plunging his katana into the soil long enough to vault him skyward. Using the movement's generated momentum, he released his grip from the hilt of his blade and cleared the low swing of the blade. Thrusting his right foot out, the prince managed to connect a sharp kick to Susano's face before crash landing behind him.
"Ha, is that the best you can do?" the massive deity taunted as he turned to face the prince, his sword ready for another strike.
Quickly jumping onto his feet, Ushiwaka lowered his body into another stance, this time keeping his feet a short distance from each other. Once Susano swung his sword to strike at him again, the prince quickly crouched down before leaping into the air, narrowly missing the blade itself. Timing his descent, he landed precisely on the massive blade itself, creating enough force and weight to throw off Susano's balance, thus sending him crashing to the ground. From the sidelines, Ammy proceeded to cheer and leap for joy.
"You focus too much on offense Susano," Ushiwaka proclaimed, crossing his arms. "Try instead on focusing on your opponent. Use their weaknesses to your advantage."
Following his lesson, the prince stepped off of the grounded blade and over to his own katana still embedded in the ground. Plucking it from its encasing, Ushiwaka carefully slid the blade back into its scabbard.
"What's going on here?" Izanagi's voice sounded as he and Lumani approached the three.
"Oh, just a little lesson in sword fighting," Ushiwaka answered, a smile claiming his lips.
"Oh really?" Lumani continued as he glanced back and forth between his son and Susano. "Well be that as it may, you're going to have to say good-bye to your friend now."
"What?" the two young ones proclaimed in unison.
"The transactions are complete," Izanagi informed.
"But dad," Amaterasu whined as she clung to her father's robes. "Can't they stay a little bit longer please?"
"I'm sorry Amaterasu," the deity answered as he placed one of his large hands on top of her head. "But they have a long journey back to their tribe. Not only that, but currently those people are without their leader and protector."
"Yes, with the search for a new Tao Master still in the works, our people are quite paranoid of an attack," Lumani interjected.
"Then can't Ushiwaka stay?" the young sun goddess persisted. "He can be a big help around here, and he can help train Susano! Please dad?"
"I'm sorry little Amaterasu," the chief answered as he ushered his own son over to his side. "But he has work of his own to do back home."
"Besides, we meet to trade every time there is an eclipse," Izanagi informed. "You'll see each other again before you know it."
Amaterasu sighed heavily as she bowed her head, the thought of her vocal defeat eminent. Though she really wished circumstances between the two could be different, in the meantime she would just have to play along. Glancing up at her new friend, she mustered a smile before enveloping him in a tight embrace.
"I'm going to miss you Ushiwaka," she whispered as they separated.
"I'll miss you too," he replied. "Don't change too much before we meet again."
"The same for you!" the sun goddess shouted as the two proceeded to return back to their ship. "Take care of yourself! Bye!"
"Bye Ammy!" the prince called before turning around, his father resting his right hand on his right shoulder.
...
Meanwhile, deep in the darkest recesses of the universe, a collection of sinister, dark and foreboding clouds swirled slowly in a controlled chaos. From within, a dark figure wriggled loose from the crushing gravity that kept the ball together. However, by the time the vile creation wriggled completely out of gravity's grip, its head had shattered into eight different copies of itself. Relaxing momentarily in the aftermath of freedom, the serpent inhaled deeply before bellowing a harsh roar.
"Orochi!" a sinister voice called from deep within the vortex.
"Yes sire," the beast answered, all eight of its heads yielding attention.
"Do not disappoint me," the distorted disembodied voice informed. "I want each and every one of those stars, planets, and galaxies blotted out! Do you understand me?"
"Clear as crystal my liege," Orochi responded before slithering off into the universe.
"That fool, he only thinks he's all-powerful," another voice proposed.
"Well, we shall see how all-powerful he is," the first voice replied.
...
Years passed and eclipses came and went, however Amaterasu had yet to see her beloved friend again since that day so long in the past. By the present time, she had matured into a young woman and reigned over the Celestial Plain as its caregiver and protector. The plain had also accumulated numerous beings known as Celestials. Even though they lived on the Celestial Plain and had the ability to fly, they were not immortal. Amaterasu sighed in sorrow at the fact that even the Celestials died when their time came. The only good thing about being a Celestial was the slightly expanded life span and immunity from all forms of mortal disease.
As she sat upon her own throne, being charmed by the sounds of many lute and flute players, she still longed for the adventitious youth with golden blonde hair. Her brothers had also left the plain in search of their own lands to conquer. Tsukuyomi had descended to earth in search of culture, however upon doing so became mortal. His quest was soon cut short when he was ambushed by a gang of thieves, the vandals taking more than just his possessions.
As for Susano, the wily warrior was banished from the plain for his acts of violence and destruction toward Amaterasu herself. The only thing age had managed to bring him was a violent temperament, and after years of training to better Ushiwaka, he had grown immensely powerful. However the sun goddess won many of her battles with him using her wit. One such account came from when they agreed to solve an argument using their god-like powers to change ordinary objects into living beings. However, the contestants would have to transform an object that belonged to the other person. Amaterasu had chosen to transform his sword into three women, while Susano had transformed her necklace into five men.
Reacting quickly, Amaterasu claimed that the five men belonged to her, since they were made from her necklace, thus declaring her the winner of the challenge. Angered from the loss, Susano had gone on a rampage, ending with nearly all of her palace rooms destroyed, and some of her handmaidens dead. Hearing both enough of his complaints and of his destructive habits, Izanagi had banished him to Yomi. The sun goddess sighed heavily at the chilling memory. It was then noted that as Susano descended upon the mortal world, a ravaging storm swept across the land, taking in its wake many innocent lives.
Meanwhile on the distant and obscure world known as the moon, its inhabitants flourished from their prospects and harboring of both vital sunlight and nutrients supplied to them from the Celestials. From the many years that had passed, Lunami was but an old, decrepit shell of his former self. He often relied upon a thick shaft of bamboo that had been supplied to him from the Celestials many years prior when his back had started to fail him. However thanks to his heritage, he was now aged well over five centuries. When it came to question whom the next chief would be, Lumani would always reply with his son's name in high praise.
Ushiwaka on the other hand had other plans in store for his own future. During his continuous distance from his beloved friend Ammy, the young prince had often taken to training and studying to rid his mind of the frustration that often arose whenever his father forbade him from participating with another trading session. As time passed, he quickly grew from a young, adventurous boy into a wise, and powerful man. When he wasn't training martial arts or swordplay with his various gaggle of senseis, or studying, he was often locked in a deep meditative trance. These episodes often allowed him to tap into the very fabric of time itself, thus gaining knowledge of the future.
"Ushiwaka," a soft elderly voice called, disturbing the young man from his meditation.
"Yes father?" the prince replied, his concentration broken.
"I need to tell you something," Lumani began as he slowly hobbled his way toward an open window. "You are aware of the trials are you not?"
"Trials?" Ushiwaka reiterated, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"Yes the trials to determine who is worthy of the title of chief," the elder ruler informed.
"But father, our blood line has served through countless generations ever since this tribe's creation," the man with blue eyes recounted. "Why is there any such need for a trial?"
"To prove that you are in deed worthy!" Lumani declared. "Listen Ushiwaka, I know you think that just because you are of blue blood means you automatically get the title. However just because you are worthy by bloodline, does not mean you are worthy as a ruler. Why should the tribe put its welfare into the hands of an unfit ruler when they can put their trust in a strong and wise warrior who will fulfill his or her destiny as tribe ruler."
His father's words struck deep in the young prince's mind as he sat down on the floor to contemplate their deeper meaning. On one hand he could face the trials and lose completely, or he can train and study to the point of exhaustion and have a chance at winning. However when it really boiled down to the bitter truth, if he would ever win the title of tribe chief, he would be forever bound to his duty, and that was just one thing he hated.
"Well Ushiwaka," his father began, interrupting his son's thoughts. "I'll leave you to your meditation. I know you'll make the right choice."
...
"Ugh, what is taking him so long?!" a sinister voice whined as another shadowy form emerged from the vortex of darkness.
"Patience Kamunari," a deep voice boomed. "The universe is a massive place is it not?"
"Well you'd think we'd hear the screams of countless victims by now..." Kamunari seethed, the shadowy mass molding and taking shape.
"Perhaps the world he attacked was uninhabited," the deeper voice suggested.
"Eh, whatever," the second voice retorted. "I'm off to cause my own brand of chaos."
In a flash of dark amethyst light, the mass of dark matter molded to form a winged black and crimson horse. Its mane was woven of poisonous serpents and its tail etched out of diamonds. Its razor-sharp hooves were also made out of diamonds, the rounded edges razor sharp. With its eyes burning a fiery red, the creature screeched loudly before galloping off into the distance.
"Foolish Kamunari," the disembodied voice shunned as the swirling vortex took shape.
The shape it embodied was a runic sphere with crimson markings that betrayed a crazed face. Inside the massive sphere held a small capsule with an unknown embryo floating within. As the embodiment of evil and darkness itself watched a second disciple meander off to unexplored territory, a gigantic blue and silver ark appeared from out of the darkest recesses of the universe. Upon discovering the mass of darkness, the ark released a mechanical hand, which enclosed around the sphere, shocking it into submission.
"We located another one," the voice of one of the crew aboard the ark announced to the captain.
"Good, store it away in the hull," the captain ordered.
"Yes sir!" one of the crew replied.
...
"My lady," a soft voice sounded.
Slowly, Amaterasu opened her eyes, revealing one of her handmaidens standing before her. Stretching her limbs, she slowly rose to a seated position, rubbing the sleep from her eyes afterward.
"Yes what is it?" she questioned as she stifled a yawn.
"We have received an urgent message from the moon tribe," the young handmaiden informed.
"Oh, let me read it then," the sun goddess answered as she stood from her blankets.
As Ammy stood and proceeded to stretch the rest of her muscles, a messenger rushed into the room carrying a scroll. Untying the ribbon around the parchment, she slowly unraveled the message.
Dear Amaterasu,
Please send help either with transportation or an army! This is urgent; our entire civilization is under attack! Please send help!
Ushiwaka
"Oh dear!" the goddess exclaimed.
"What do you propose my lady?" the handmaiden questioned.
"Send them an army!" she ordered. "Right away!"
...
"Ugh, back, back you demon!" Ushiwaka shouted as he cleaved yet another demon in two. "Father, there's too many of them!"
"Don't give up Ushiwaka," Lumani reprimanded. "Focus!"
"Father look out!" the prince cried only to watch his beloved parent become skewered before his very eyes.
"Yes run!" a demonic voice cackled. "Run like the frightened maggots that you are!"
As if to put force behind those words, a massive demonic horse appeared before those still alive after the initial assault. Its massive crimson wings creating a gale storm of cursed wind, choking the life out of the very young, and elderly. Pleased with the destruction of the civilization, the demon roared with satisfaction, its massive hooves fracturing massive craters into the otherwise pristine surface the moon once held. By this time Ushiwaka had slain countless numbers of demons, only to receive wave after wave of resistance. Exhausted mentally and physically, the fleeing body of a young woman provided enough force to knock him over.
"Oh, Ushiwaka," the female exclaimed. "You're still alive!"
"Yeah, but now's not the time to shoot the breeze Hanasami," the prince retorted as he quickly struggled to his feet.
"Come on Ushiwaka, this way!" Hanasami commanded as she latched onto his wrist.
"Hanasami, what are you doing?" Ushiwaka questioned as she pulled him into a small cave.
"Here," the moon dweller commented as she handed him a small child wrapped in a dark blue blanket. "I need you to look after her for me on earth."
"Hanasami, what are you talking about?!" the prince shouted as he held onto the child.
"Use this to make your escape," she commented, unveiling a hidden button.
Depressing the small button, Hanasami activated a hidden mechanism that produced a steel rocket ship from within the moon's surface.
"Take good care of her and yourself," the moon dweller commented before surging out of the cave.
"Hanasami!" Ushiwaka called only managing to attract the attention of another army of demons. "Oh damn!"
Shrieking a chorus of wails, the demons charged into the cave, making quick work of Hanasami. Thinking quickly, Ushiwaka placed the young child in the rocket's capsule and engaged the airlock, sequencing the launch afterward. Drawing his sword, the prince proceeded to lay waste to the demons, creating an invisible barrier between himself and the rocket as its thrusters began to spark and ignite.
"Come on fire already!" he shouted as a random demon sank its teeth into his right arm. "Aaagh! Get off!"
At long last, the rocket's thrusters had fired and thrust the rocket forward.
"Yes, yes!" Ushiwaka shouted. "Go! Fly away!"
A cynical chuckle soon erupted from his throat as the rocket disappeared into space. He wasn't sure exactly where the rocket was heading, but he could at least breathe a sigh of relief in knowing that he had saved a life. However his moment of triumph was short lived as a large, black, clawed hand burst through the cave's roof. He barely managed a gasp of breath before the clawed hand tightly encased his body. The sound of a sinister roar soon pierced his mind as the form of the demonic horse appeared before him. Snarling, it glared savagely at the young prince.
"Your attempts at saving your people are futile!" it bellowed. "Your efforts only serve to amuse me!"
"Oh no you don't vile witch!" a nameless voice called as a purified sword was hurled at it's outstretched hand.
The sword struck its target electrifying the beast with pure energy. Recoiling in pain, the beast relinquished its grip on the young prince, the exhausted warrior crashing back onto the moon's surface with unforgiving force.
"Come on Ushiwaka," one of his Tao troopers commanded as he quickly retrieved his nearly lifeless body off of the ground.
"Where are you taking me?" Ushiwaka panted as more surviving Tao troopers banded together to assist in the removal of their leader.
"Yamato, the ark that just returned from deep space," the trooper answered.
The young prince knew full well that the Ark of Yamato was specifically designed to harbor all kinds of evil or dark beings that if released would cause hundreds upon millions of deaths and accounts of destruction. However, that is what makes the ark so versatile. The ship itself is the embodiment of the heavens, each panel, each adhesive, every last fiber of the runic ship's creation was designed and made of holy and blessed materials. A sly smile crept onto the prince's features before his exhaustion began to over come his body. He had just made it onto the ark when his legs gave out and he collapsed.