Chapter 2: Into the dawn
The burning smell of thick smoke hovering about in the air that could make your eyes tear up, the sounds of people screaming in agony which made the Prison almost seemed like a gate way to hell this was as almost agonizing as seeing the horrific visions in my dreams...
the man had whaled inside the bar perimeter with the captives he threw Ataki inside first along with Oki, then came Korikani and Rinia all stuffed up in that tight box.
"Hey boss, what do we do with this fine looking lady?" one of the men smirked that looked like he was in a mess hall recently, covered in dust, teeth was like rotten flesh with a golden speck on his front tooth.
the leader of the group turned to his attention and replied "Eh put her with the other women that we have" he laughed.
"You bastard! Touch her, and your dead!" Ataki yelled with great anger he just wanted to break the bars but he couldn't for some odd reason, Oki kept him from ramming the cage as the man laughed "Haha better keep that leash nice and tight my good boy, don't worry if this is your wife... well your wife's gonna be busy cleaning up the trash for me and my brothers!" he laughed hysterically then walked away along with the rest of the others. Oki loosen his grasp on Ataki's shoulders saying in a relaxing tone "Ataki...I'm sorry, I known her for a long time too since the day we parted ways, but we will save her-" suddenly Ataki grabbed onto Oki's shoulders instantly slamming him onto the bars "Save her?! why couldn't we save her earlier! I have the power to save the mother of the sun, and you just let them get away with that like some rat caught in a bears trap!" Ataki said growling with his teeth fangs showing, he stopped by then collecting himself, releasing Oki
"...sorry, I...I just thought it's best that I saved her... because I......I love her Oki.... I really do....so.. much, even when I first met her when I was a wolf still yet" he remarked looking down with guilt and sorrow in his eyes.
Oki felt unsure for him so he laid a hand on his right shoulder "Hey..at least you apologized... that's a good thing for a man... don't worry" Korikani knocked into the conversation in a statement "well while you two are chattering... wouldn't it be that hard to know what they don't know?" he said sarcastically flashing key's at them.
they opened the door looking both ways "Ok, so their taking her maybe where they would keep anything valuable... but which place though....." they thought for a minute then both said to each other "the basement!"
the basement wasn't underground but it was called a basement because of what they kept there other wise specifically called holding cells. Mean while the men had Carried Ammy and threw her on the floor inside a metal cage
"You'll make a good slave" the leader giggled evilly and left. Ammy weakly got up with her two hands then peered around her surroundings.
she got up and saw 10 women with her looking at her some of them scared, upset, and sad.
she looked at them with grief hoping there's some way she can help them out, if only she had her tiny insect friend Issun that she can use a celestial brush to slash the bars off, she saw a child badly beaten.
"Are you alright?" she said in a peaceful tone tapping her shoulder, the scared child slapped her hand away trying to run away but Ammy quickly grabbed the child with her soft arms as the paranoid girl struggled to break free "hey stop that! don't be afraid no one's going to hurt you... please.. just listen to me...." she said with a tear going down her eye because most other humans recently mistaken her for what she use to be as a wolf back in the village away from kamikki the reason why the Child was in such a paranormal-estate was most of the demom's would take form as a human.. and she looked like one of them.
the child stopped and looked at her, seeing that Ammy was crying "just...stop..I don't wish to hurt anyone, no more..." she started to loose what she was meant to do. the little girl turned around in her arms within a moment she wrapped her arms around Ammy hugging her with her sad eyes closed, the Tears stopped when Ammy opened her eyes. then more of them went over to hug her, one of them spoke.
"no we're sorry for what we've done, if it wasn't for you Amaterasu... Your our protector, and savior of Kamiki"
she gazed up at an old woman, looking down at her with patient eyes. Ammy smiled and hugged the child "Everything's going to be alright..." with the sun starting to rise, the two warriors sneaked behind two guards wearing knight like armor the two quietly arm bared the guards and pulled them out of sight, and came out wearing their clothing walking off into the hallway.
"Any bright ideas on rescuing the captives? " Ataki resumed remembering what Oki said "Well thing is its just Two people against few 20 others or more, whatever the odds are.. we'll need just a decoy" Ataki raised his finger to his chin
"You really are psyched up in saving Amaterasu, aren't you?"
"Well, I'm just thinking a way to save those people..."
"Oh so we're on the Hero part, not lover boy side... I see" Oki insulted
"Tsh, like your the one that has a mouth to say words like those...wait..!" ataki interrupted pushing the both of them up against a wall, noticing there were guards carrying muskets "Look's like an Escort....hm?"
the first captive to come up was, Ammy!
the men walked her to somewhere as Ataki and Oki watched in suspicion
"...ok so they took Ammy and I need to know where their taking her...!" Ataki whispered
"I'll save the others try to give you some time to catch up with those guys" Oki planned, then Korikani came in "and I'll be the support?" he questioned then oki and Ataki looked at him then nodded "..oh this is great...." Kori said in embarrassment wearing a Dress and a wig like mop as a disguise "Don't worry if they try to Attack you when your disguise is blown I'll just simply turn into a wolf and Rip them Synonymously to shreds" the two stared at him "That was a joke don't bother asking.." in fact he must have thought it wasn't funny so he took back what he said. mean while Oki went to save the captivities, Korikani walked up by the men then whispered to his shoulder to Ataki "This, better work... or you are going to get it...!" Ataki tried not to chuckle covering his mouth, the young boy started to flail around dancing like a gypsy then the two guards got distracted and ran after him as the boy ran away, while now was the time, Ataki quickly ran over to a room where they took Ammy then peaked over.
"Hey get up!" the left slouched back old man said hitting Ammy with the butt of his gun hearing her groan slightly from pain to her stomach the guard on the right picked her up by her hair "Get up you little mutt!" then, the unthinkable happens when Ammy starts to glow in a blinding light, it consumed the whole room, Ataki had to look away just that he doesn't get blinded.
"Wh-whats going on here?!" said the leader
Ammy was then lifted up by no one, and engulfed by a red and white ball. "is this the curse of the Demon wolf?!!" after the eye blinding phase, it all disappeared. the ball vanished in thin air, all that was left showed a clothe-less Girl with white hair going down to her shoulder blade, red markings on her back down to her spine, Markings on her arms and leg.
"so its true! it's the curse of the demon fox!"
"hey this one looks even gorgeous"
Ataki made a dash for it, and tackled one of the guards on his stomach then kicked the other directly to the face knocking them both out as he lifted Ammy up to his shoulder, slightly moving her eye to have a look all she could say "...Ataki...." "..Ammy... I promise, I won't let any of this happen again..!" he said gripping her tightly hugging her.
Out of the warehouse, the two on lookers just had to wait to see what will come across... then they saw a figure caring what looked like a female character it was Ataki carrying Ammy in his arms as the two rushed over "What happened?" Oki asked insistently "The curse Nine put on her, most likely was a curse to turn those who are animal into human ..wait..what happened to Issun?"
"Oh yeah I think we left him sleeping..." oki said tapping his fingers together in embarrassment, Ataki pauses for a bit which lasted only a couple seconds "well that's just lovely.."
Then they heard a yell from out of nowhere "Oki! Ammy! Ataki!" it was the voice of Issun seeing a green dot hopping on rocks towards Ataki as he hopped onto Ammy's shoulder "Who's this babe?"
"uhh That's.. Ammy little man.."
"A-Ammy!?" he jerked back " Oh my gosh what happened to her?! did someone hurt her? did she get eaten?!!" Issun was mumbling just words that didn't add up to the statement when he was scared.
"No, she was placed under the curse that ninetail's placed on her" Issun looked down a little "Ninetails?...I thought we smoked that furry nut for good! how is this even possible though.. oh well this place wreaks of chaos we should-" before he even finished his sentence she slightly woke up "Ataki...everyone.." then she looked over at the people "...I've got to help them.."
she said as she slowly got off of Ataki's grip and started to wearily walk looking at her hand "..What..happened to me?" then she stared at the women and children
"...I'm so sorry" she said with tear drops and fell to the ground
the next day Okami had woken up in a hospital looking around with her blurry eyes trying to get exposed to sunlight from the window, she felt a hand holding on to her's and something resting on her, looking down she saw Ataki laying his head down on her lap she smiles holding onto his hand then it startled him a little looking at her "..hey"
"Good morning" she said
"Doctor said you'll recover in about a few minutes" he said peacefully
"That's good to hear" she smiled "Yeah... hey um..I wanted to talk to you when you are feeling better" confused Ammy asked "What is it?"
"Well...I love-" right when he could say what he wanted to say Waka comes barging out of the blue
"Ammy-chan!" he said amorously "w-waka-san? I thought you were still at the celestial plains" he got up to her holding her hand tapping it "You look so pretty in person I must say I guess my visions have foretold me" he laughed "uh, its nice to see you too?" she said nervously "I also see ninetails is brought back to life, and that she placed a spell on you... No matter! fear not for your beauty defies crimson sunlight!" he said in fashion most likely embarrassing Amaterasu
"Ah yes I forgot I rallied up a few of my friends" he recalled "We're about to have a party for your safe return"
" 'friends' ?" Ammy asked
"Yeah, y'know , Susano, Sakuya, everybody of course!" he pushed Ataki away a little "now Ataki-sama you must go out shoosh shoosh" he repeatedly said Ammy giggled a little watching the expression of Ataki's face turn into a sudden confusion.
"ok now then there's no moment to loose! I waka the tao master also a beauty fashionably shall embrace your appearance!" then issun bumped in "Yeah? and no funny business Buster...!"
a little while later Waka brushed Ammy's hair with his comb "So, what do you think of Ataki?"
"well he's funny, quite cute, and kind" she answered
"mm-mmm it just adds up to men's adoration, like Oki" he replied putting a hair pin on Ammy's hair making a little pony tail almost.
"Oki?"
"I'm saying you two should go on a date!"
"Well.." she blushed "he and I known each other since the day Shiranui died.. but I don't know--" she spoke nervously
"No I insist, or else I should be your date this evening because of the future"
"but it doesn't sound fair Waka! I mean.. even if your future senses is telling you something, it might not happen!" she angrily pronounced "Hm..something tells me your in a bond with that boy...!" he mumbled
"Well you know what, just forget it what I said!" she cried then ran out of the door
"Ammy!" both Issun and Waka called she ran outside to a rocky hill then fell down crying, she gazed up at the skies almost sun set "Why... why am I having this feeling for them? ...what do I offer as love..."
"You ok?" asked a voice of Oki as she looked over seeing Oki standing by her, she blushed a little then wiped off the tears "Yeah... did you come just so that you can tease me how I look?"
"No, my fair maiden you look lovely" he complimented her eyes widened a little looking at him "So you do love me?"
"well.. if you say so" she smiled then hugged him and Ataki saw before his very eyes "..I see...." then he walked off about a mile away from ammy and Oki.
the next few hours the festival started as everyone gathered around "Yata! ok everybody we are now humbled our friend or should I say 'Goddess' has returned from her long journey! Amaterasu, will you stand before this very eyes content?" Waka announced as Ammy stood up with a big smile wearing a Celestial dress marked red and white "she looks so beautiful!" said the grandma "Fsh, figures not even the mighty fine sake makes things prettier on the outside but packs a punch" grumbled Susano even when he was drunk
"Now let's make this a grand party with plenty of food, and drinks!" Waka chanted. everybody clapped, suddenly Ammy took notice of Ataki standing out by the balcony looking up at the full moon. She felt a little worried for him and got off her seat letting go of Oki's hand.
"..Hey, everybody's going to eat you might want to eat before they finish and there's nothing left" she confessed "..no, I'm okay, just a bit under the weather sort of....." he said in a depressed tone "that kind of tone tells me your not in a good mood..whats wrong Ataki?" she asked moving closer to him
"..I think you should go back to your lover Ammy" he said taking a few steps away looking at the stars "..Ataki just because I love him, doesn't really mean that I shouldn't care for you, but I care for everybody--"
"that's not the point Ammy!" he sighed "I just..I don't know, just acting a bit grumpy these days, forget it you know I'll just take a hike somewhere" he exited off into a near pond "..what is happening to me?...suddenly I don't feel right..." she walks off to Oki and sat down.
Ataki looks off from a distance with a gloomy face "..maybe I shouldn't be the one... because she's better off with him...ah what am I saying? I'm just acting like a kid..!"
"Mr. Ataki?" called Rinia
"yes?"
"Are you alright?" she asked curiously
"Yes I'm fine Rinia.. thank you for asking" he smiled a little
"hee hee, okay" she smirked running along by the river as Ataki watched, then he saw Korikani fishing by the rocks and felt a slight headache and remembered a thought "Hey don't go too close to the edge" a mother said "No mommy I can handle this!" said a boy gracefully then suddenly he slipped off the rocks and fell down a water fall..
"...oh no...!" Ataki said to himself
"Kori!!" as Korikani looked over then moved his right leg slipping off the rocks then falling into the deep rushing river.
"Kori!" Ataki jumps into the water as Ammy runs over "Ataki!" she looks side to side then runs through the trees following the two boys down the river to aid them
Korikani was unconscious when he bumped his head on a rock, he sunk into the freezing water then Ataki dives in to the rescue grabbing korikani's shoulder pulling him up to the surface.
Ammy ran over to a shore and all she could do was watch to see if they made it out, all she could hear was the sound of rushing water, and the sound of crickets then suddenly
"Ammy!" it was the voice of Ataki as she looked and saw him Carrying Korikani over to her "Ataki!" she cried happily she rushed over "are you okay?" she asked rubbing his cheeks with her soft hands "Yes, but Kori's unconscious hang on"
he laid Kori cautiously on the soft rock and started pushing against kori's skinny like body "come on Kori don't die on me!"
it took about three times then a cough of relief came from his lungs he was going to be alright as Ammy looked at Ataki happily "....well no need to thank me--" she hugged him as tight as she can "No, I'm just glad you two came out alive"
"well, guess we should head on back" Ammy nodded, Ataki lifted Korikani onto his back and walked off with Ammy by his side.
"So, they're still alive... pity I was afraid they would rot in the warehouse... oh well another time I get to mess around with the cute one" said a voice of nine.
"Ammy... what took you and Ataki so long?" asked Waka insistently with curiosity in his mind "um, Ataki left so I had to go after him but everything is alright now" then Rinia shows up by her side "and what happened to Kori? he's a little damped in moisture don't you know.."
"He had an accident at the river, fell into the pond and hit his head on a rock" Ataki added "ah.. well let's not time waste over here! let's continue out with the ceremony!!" he cheered as everybody clashed drinks together in happiness, Ataki looked over at Ammy smiling while Ammy closed her eyes and smiled back with the piercing moonlight shining half of her face her hair blustered like glowing diamonds the two sat by a near-by table drinking a few shots of orange sake "So, why were you gloomy a while ago?"
"Well......" he said nervously looking from his side "...go on, you don't have to be afraid, or are you?" she teased with a smirk just as when she was a little drunk "N-no I'm not! what make's you think that I'm af-fraid?" he gibberish pronounced while drinking the sake "Well just tell me why were you so grumpy then" she giggled. Ataki collected himself taking a deep breathe "Ok, I got to tell her this, just this once.." he thought to himself then commented "Ammy, remember when you were still in statue? we separated when we were pups still"
she tilted her head "I, don't remember.."
"Well...one of the shaman told me, the only cure for my curse--"
"Curse?"
"the curse of the crimson tears, if the year of the Dragon arrives... I become a monster... then I will die the day after the mark spreads"
Ammy was shocked to hear what he said but she acted as if she was still drunk but it came to her senses she was already drunk
"..because they said, the cure is if love from nature's goddess sun.. and that goddess... was you...Amaterasu.... even when I was suppose to protect Korikani along with Rinia, I realized that it was almost a set up for me.. to meet you like the time your mother gave birth to you, and I was one of the very first pups to see a goddess born, you were still a few days older than me though"
Ammy catches on remembering the time she was a born pup and Ataki was there when her mother gave birth to her along with other wolves observing with curiosity "it was you Ataki?! oh my god! you...I...I didn't know that-"
"no, its ok we were still friends" he grinned with a big smile "and friend's never leave friends even when things get rough" she smiled with her teary eyes and pulled Ataki by his shirt collar and kissed his forehead "Ataki.. if I am the cure for your curse.. then so be it"
"...I'm just glad I can finally see you again...my love....." he said in a polite low toned voice as the crimson moon sailed about in the snow covered rocky mountains.