Okamikaeru
Chapter Four: Living in Death
Waka stares at Amaterasu's unrecognizing gaze. She had looked upon Shishi and Shisa with a playful, wolf-grin, but seems cold and hateful towards himself, Issun and her own son. Chibiterasu whimpers as he presses closer to his mother's side, but Amaterasu simply shies away from his touch, hackles raised.
"Ya really don't recognize us, furball?" Issun asks, his constant bouncing halted in his surprise and confusion. A touch of hurt warps his voice.
Amaterasu whines, seeming both apologetic and defensive. She tilts her head while gazing at Waka and her animal look only makes him want to cry. The Sun Goddess' tongue lolls as she pants, even if she hasn't moved all that much. Waka had forgotten how warm it could get in this region of the Plain.
Shisa clears her throat and, addressing Amaterasu, says, "Mother Amaterasu, I suspect you would be more comfortable in your bipedal form."
Amaterasu looks at the Celestial, grin disappearing. She just stares until Shisa understands her message. "You can't?"
When Amaterasu barks, Shisa wails, "Oh, I'm so sorry, Mother Amaterasu!" She falls to the ground, and Waka thinks how dirty her white gown must be getting, when she kneels on the muddy ground like that. "If we hadn't let you go to fight Orochi, maybe you wouldn't be like this. Forgive me."
Amaterasu whines again, nuzzling the Celestial's hands away from her tearful face. After doing so, she looks at Shishi meaningfully, as if prodding him to say anything if he wishes. The Celestial simply shakes his head, looking grim, and Amaterasu looks back at Issun.
Poncles can understand Gods, in whatever form may take. Issun understands her message, albeit slowly, his ability rusty from disuse. "You wanna know who we are? You gotta be kiddin' me! We saved Nippon together, furball. How can you forget a good looking guy like me?"
Amaterasu simply stares at him. Issun gives in after a few moments, sounding none too pleased. "The name's Issun. The fruitcake over there is Waka," Waka is surprised that Issun doesn't curse him by introducing him with an odd name, "and that's your kid, Chibiterasu." Chibiterasu barks at the mention of his name, tail wagging hopefully. "Chibi."
Amaterasu tilts her head at Waka. Issun seems taken aback by what he understands. "You wanna know 'bout us? I'm an artist, Chibi is a chip off the old block and saved Nippon a few hours ago, and the half-baked prophet..." Issun stops. Waka can tell he's being surprisingly sympathetic.
Waka clears his throat weakly. "I would tell you, ma chèrie, if we can speak in private." He certainly wasn't waiting an entire adventure simply to tell her something so important.
The wolf gets to her paws and lopes easily and slowly behind him as they make their way to a nearby rock that hasn't been touched by the still roiling Cursed Zone. Waka stops once he's certain they're out of earshot. He feels the familiar sense of dread, guilt and fear as he looks into the expecting eyes of Amaterasu, who now sits at his feet. It's hard to believe he had been gone a few moments to simply find Amaterasu's Domain, and everything had changed. "I am a member of the accursed Moon Tribe, ma chèrie. It was I who lead the Celestials—those who remained after Orochi's attack—to their doom." Tears wet his lashes, like all those months ago. "I am so terribly, utterly sorry."
When he looks back Amaterasu, she has this odd looks to her. She leaps at him, and he shuts his eyes, expecting her righteous teeth at his throat, but what he gets is her forgiving tongue on his cheek.
Sometimes, it hurts to smile.
When they come back to the group, Chibi greets his mother eagerly, as if hadn't been away for just a few moments. She doesn't shy away this time, but watches him curiously.
Issun bounces to rest on Amaterasu's head, and sighs. "Ah, I missed ya, furball!"
It is decided that Shishi and Shisa are to accompany the group back to Amaterasu's Domain, but are to remain there when they move on.
Shishi is the one to tell their story.
"After you dragged Orochi down to the mortal realm, along with the other Gods," he says, "and after all but a few Celestials—mainly Chiefs, for all eighteen stayed—left, we were taken captive by a woman who I now assume was a demon or was possessed by one.
"She killed any regular Celestials right away, and took us Chiefs to your summit, Mother Amaterasu. There, I'm afraid, she slaughtered us."
Issun interrupts. "She killed you? But you're alive!"
Shishi shakes his head, as if this is the same thing he has wondered before. "I do not know. But I know for certain that she had us killed. I remember the knife taking to my throat too well."
Both Amaterasu and Chibiterasu whine simultaneously. They had arrived at the foot of the great mountain.