Okay, lemme get this straight. I type up another chapter for this story, and yet when I check up on it, I haven't gotten any reviews yet?(it's only been 24 hours, but i'm sure that I could've had one review in that time. There are about 20 people reading this) C'mon, guys! I'm going to end up giving up on this if this continues. I'm already discouraged right now, I don't need you all to stop reviewing. I don't care if you don't even have an account, can't you just send an annonamous review? Even just 'cool story' would be fine with me. But I will seriously stop this if I don't have any reviewers, and I feel bad saying that this early into the story. So please, just take a minute or two out of your day to give a comment about this or something. It won't kill you.
Celia: Are you done ranting?
I believe so, yes.
Issun: I'm doin' the disclaimer this time. Desi does not own Okami.
Celia: I'd be in it if she did.
yes, you would be.
Chapter 3-Your objective is…
"Where should we go first?" I asked.
"Kushi." Issun answered. I could imagine a smirk on his face.
"Oh, definitely!" I ran off to the rice field with Susano yelling the entire way.
"Oh, hello Susano." Kushi smiled. "Looks like you've made a good pal there. Silver really likes you."
"Uh…yeah…" An embarrassed blush covered Susano's face. Kushi didn't even seem to notice and went back to gathering rice.
Some comments we heard while running through the village were…
"Boy, you're sure weird, Susano. Is that supposed to be some new kind of training or what?"
"Oh…Susano! That sure looks like fun! But shouldn't you be practicing your swordplay?"
"It better not be you messin' up my garden, Susano! You'll get a good thumpin' if it is!"
"I-I hope you are not mistreating that fine wolf!"
"Susano! Stop frolicking around. The day is meant for work. Come give me a hand if you have time to waste like that!"
"Are you both done yet?" Ammy asked us once we crossed the bridge.
"Yes, we are." And we had a lot of fun, too." I said while Issun once again switched to Ammy's head. We took Susano to the giant boulder and I promptly threw him off my back.
"You mangy mutts!" Susano aid while he got up. "You brought me all the way here just to test yourselves against me?"
"And to embarrass you in front of Kushi." I gave an innocent smile.
"Prepare to taste the wrath of my trusty blade, Tohenboku!"
"H-hold on a minute!" The merchant interrupted. "You're the legendary Susano?"
"Yep! None other than Susano, the greatest warrior who ever lived! And by the way, never interrupt warriors engaged in battle!"
"But I've got a favor to ask you. This huge boulder blocking the path is really getting in my way. Can't you do something about it?"
"What?" The shock was evident in his voice.
"Come on! Please! I mean, you are Nagi's descendant, aren't you? Surely one stone's no match for your mighty skills, right?"
"Hmm…it is certainly not beyond my ability."
"Yeah, right." Issun commented. "He couldn't slash a dummy in half if he wanted to."
The merchant didn't notice Issun. "Really? Great! Okay, then! No time like the present. Go for it!"
"Wait!" Susano started sweating. "A boulder of this size is not very easy, even for me. This will require my utmost focus to magnify the power of my sword. I shall retire to the training grounds to make preparations. Wait for my return." Then he ran off.
"Hmm…I wonder. I've never seen this guy train seriously…ever." Issun said.
"So we're going to go babysit the greatest warrior ever?"
"Yep." When we went behind Susano's house, we found him lying on the ground, staring at an empty jug of sake. He started talking to himself by the time we reached him.
"I know I told that merchant I could help, but a boulder of that size? I don't care if I'm of a legendary bloodline, it's just too big!" He looked inside the jug of sake, then tried shaking it to get more to come out, but it was completely gone. "Oh no! I can't believe I'm out of sake at a time like this! This won't do one bit." He threw it over his shoulder. "That's it for today. I'll just have to train tomorrow. I can't train without sake to fuel the fire, after all! 'Why do today what you can do tomorrow?' That's doing things the Susano way! Hah ha ha ha!"
"Sake? Hmm…" Issun trailed. "Oh yeah! This village has a sake brewing girl, doesn't it?"
"Great memory you've got there, Issun." I said sarcastically.
"Shut up, I haven't visited Kamiki in a while. Let's just get to Kushi's place already."
"Have you forgotten where that is, too?"
"No. It's right there!"
"…um, Issun? That's Susano's house." Amaterasu said.
"Wha-I meant to point over there!" He pointed Denkomaru at the building where Kushi made her sake.
"Close enough." We ran over to Kushi's rice field, where Ammy and I were promptly pet. Yes, Kushi must really like animals.
"Oh, hello there. I've got a bit of a problem, you know." She told us.
"It must be a pretty big problem if you're telling two wolves and a poncle."
"Hey!"
"Face it, Issun. You're not that great of a help."
"Fine then! The next time you need help, I won't give it to you!"
"That's fine by me."
Kushi gave Issun a strange look before continuing. "I have to polish the rice in the mill house before I can use it. But the mill's broken. A monster broke it the other day. It's hopeless trying to make good sake without clean rice."
"Wow, that's too bad." Issun commented.
"I should have never let that monster try my new thunder brew. A broken mill and flattened crops. That's all the thanks I get."
"Don't go giving monsters sake! They're bad enough sober!" Sheesh…what was she thinking? Anyway, I guess this is a matter of fixing something that's broken, right? Sounds like something that can be handled with a celestial brush."
"Let's fix a mill, then." Ammy walked to the other side of the building, and by the time she came back I could hear the wheel turning again. Kushi apparently heard it too, because she decided to go take a look at it.
"What's this? The mill's been mended! Who on earth did that?" Us, thank you. "I'd completely given up on the idea of making my sake. But now I can get on with polishing the rice. Well, there's no time like the present! I better get started." She walked back into the mill house.
"Does anyone else notice how different her motto is from Susano's?" I asked.
"Well, they do say opposites attract." Issun said. "Heh heh…in that case, I'll have tons of babes chasing after me before long."
"The only differences you share with most girls is your gender and your size." I smirked.
"It's the sad truth." Wait, Ammy was joining in one of Issun and my arguments? Hurry, get a video camera! Post it on youtube!
…oh, wait. Okami takes place in ancient Japan, doesn't it? Darn. I'd have to settle for fanfiction when I got back.
"I feel betrayed, Furball."
"And we should care because…" I looked at him and expected him to answer.
"Because we've known each other for so long!"
"A day is long?"
"Apparently." Ammy said.
"You two can be so mean sometimes." Issun had (fake?) hurt in his voice.
"I'm sorry, Issun." I apologized. "I'll try to stop making jokes about your size, no matter how easy they may be to make." It may have been half-apology, half-insult, but he decided to take what he could get.
"So, are we gonna get some sake, or what?" Ammy and I shared a glance, then went into the mill house.
And of course Kushi had to pet us before talking.
"You're interested in how to brew sake, are you, Snowy and Silver? Well, this thing here's for polishing the rice, you see." I looked over at the weird contraption next to her. "Oh, I'll tell you what. I've got something I think you'll like. Hee hee. It's just some leftover stock from the store, but I made it myself! It's called Vista of the Gods! Oh, but are either of you even old enough to drink?"
"I'm only thirteen, so probably not." I gave a wolf shrug.
"Well, I was alive a hundred years ago." Ammy said.
"Okay then, Furball, looks like you're carrying the sake." Issun said. Ammy already had the jug in her jaws. Then we left for Susano's house again. (I grabbed some rice balls and a few rice bales for out astral pouch. Kushi didn't notice, and out astral pouch was nearly filled) Susano got up as soon as he saw that we had sake.
"Hm? Hold it right there, Fido! That smell…is that Kushi's famous homebrewed sake?"
"Kinda creepy that he can tell simply by the smell of it…"
Ammy tossed him the jug. "F-F-Fido, my friend! Did you bring me some of Kushi's sake? Of, what a glorious day! Ah…good ol' sake! A man without a drink is like a warrior without his trusty sword! In fact, it is said that Nagi himself relied on the power of sake in his battle with the dreaded Orochi."
"It's sad that even a legendary hero can't fight without being drunk."
"Agreed."
"It's all so clear now! Let the training begin! I'll just try a bit of my usual routine. Okay, here I come!" Ammy and I took turns powerslashing the dummies that Susano attacked. He even went after a rock.
"Huh?" He gasped in shock when the rock was sliced in two. But he quickly regained his composure and ran off the entrance of the village. "Hiyaaaah!"
"After him! Quick!" Issun urged. Ammy and I didn't need to be told twice as we dashed off after the warrior. We got there just in time to see him begin his attack.
"Susano-style…Exploding Implosion!" He yelled as he jumped at the rock. With a swish of my tail, the boulder fell apart in two pieces.
"Th-th-that's amazing!" The merchant exclaimed. Susano was just staring at his sword with a bewildered look. "You sliced that huge rock clean in half! You really are something!"
Issun played along. "Wow! I didn't think ya could do it, pops!"
"Me either." Susano replied, then realized his mistake and coughed to cover it up. "Er…I mean, of course I could! After all, I am Susano, the greatest warrior ever!"
"You weren't just showing off when you said you're Nagi's Descendant! Someone like you'd have no problem righting off monsters, huh?" Susano started to sweat. "Well, anyways, thanks a lot. Now I can start doing business again."
"Did you say, m-m-monsters?" Susano stuttered. "Oh, uh…of course! No problem! This is a job for the most skilled warrior in all of Nippon! Yes! I shall rid these lands of their vile presence! Just sit back and watch the great Susano work his magic!" And then he ran off to Shinshu Field, cackling the entire way.
"He shouldn't get all puffed up. He's nothing without us." Issun commented. "Think he'll be okay?" The monsters outside the village are nasty."
"He'll be fine." I said. "People that cocky just never seem to die."
"True that."
"Ah…glorious Amaterasu…and Celia, too." We all turned around at the sound of Sakuya's voice. "What a pleasure to witness your heroic deeds! I am in awe. When you cleaved the boulder in two, my heart skipped a beat. To see both your skills with the brush is to be witness to great art."
Issun jumped off of Ammy's head. "Yeah? So do we get a reward or something, lady?"
"I hardly think your participation had any impact, little bug." She wasn't amused.
"It's Issun! Issun, Issun, Issun! Stop calling me a bug!" His aura was red. "I'll crawl back into your kimono if you say that again!"
Sakuya protected her chest with her arms. "My word!"
"Aw relax, lady. Furball here's more comfy anyway." Ammy turned her head slightly, trying to see Issun, who had jumped back onto her head a little earlier. But then he jumped onto the ground again. Make up your mind already!
"Let's get back to that reward thing you were talking about." Amaterasu squished Issun with her paw. "C'mon, Ammy. Put your paw up or something. Go on, shake!" I couldn't help but laugh.
"I must apologize." Sakuya started to speak again. "I would like to reward you, but I'm afraid I haven't the power. I can barely muster enough strength to make a flower bloom." She gestured to her tree. I finally noticed that it was completely bare. There were no pink petals, or even leaves for that matter, on it at all. It was a depressing sight. "Though my body stands firmly here within the confines of the village, my roots spread far and side, protecting the remote areas outside. These parts of me are known as guardian saplings. They collect the praise and adoration that gives me strength. The recent evil is eroding the guardian saplings…if this continues, I will wilt away as well, and my power will vanish. Worse yet, the dark power grows stronger with each passing day. Life as we know it will be consumed utterly in no time."
"That doesn't sound good…" I couldn't keep the worry out of my voice.
"Aw, man…this is getting' heavy." Issun agreed.
"Great and powerful Amaterasu and Celia! Could I be so bold as to request your assistance in rejuvenating these guardian saplings by lifting the curse that enslaves them?"
"We'll definitely help!" I barked.
"I shall mark the locations of nearby saplings on your map."
"Wait, we have a map?" I asked. Sakuya handed me a scroll, but I could only stare at it. Wolf. No hands.
"Here, I'll take it." Issun grabbed the scroll. It kinda made me wonder how he was actually able to hold the thing, considering he was a poncle.
"I have grown tired…I haven't even the strength to speak now. I hope that my request has not fallen on deaf ears…" No, just wolf ones. And tiny ones. "Amaterasu…Celia…may the fresh scent of flowers protect you always!" She said, then disappeared.
"Bah…I'm always itchin' for a good fight, but…I sure don't wanna poke my nose into this mess!" I heard Issun talking to himself. I just sat there and listened. "Still, I'm stuck with Furball and Fluffy here until I get all the brush skills…" Ammy yawned and sat up. I suddenly felt jealous that she got sleep and I didn't. But I didn't have long to think about that, because Issun jumped on Ammy's nose and started to talk again. "Anyway, Ammy's a god and all…what could possibly go wrong? Furball, were you listening to her? You two can get the rest of the brush techniques to save the world, and I'll learn 'em! Yeah, that's the ticket!" I rolled my eyes. "At any rate, let's start by following these marks on the map."
"Okay!" Ammy barked.
"Wait!" Amaterasu looked back at me.
"What now, Silver? We should get going!" Issun said impatiently.
Hypocrite, I thought. "There are probably more animals in Kamiki to feed."
"Good point." Ammy looked over at the merchant. "Let's see if we can buy some feedbags."
4 sold treasures, 16 bought feedbags, one found exorcism slip s, 15 fed animals,(including Hayabusa)and 34 praise later…
"All right!"
"Let's go!"
"Shinshu field, here we come!"