Hey everyone, just wanted to say that now that school has started and other things are happening in my life I won't be posting quite as often. I'll upload when I can, but for now this is the last chapter for a while. Sorry :( DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN OKAMI OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS. Enjoy :3
"So... I'm blind?"
Issun sat and pondered the thought as Miya and Lika watched on. Lika was a young Oina healer who wore a frog mask and walked around quickly and cheerily most of the time.
She spoke up. "The injury to your head must've hurt the part of your brain that recognizes images. So, perhaps you can still see, but your brain isn't receiving the images."
Issun stayed silent, so Lika spoke again. "It's a lot to process, I know, and I don't have any medicine that I think can help... Issun, I'd say it's just better for you to arrange for a way to get back to Ponc'tan... In the meantime, I'm going out for a little while to gather some herbs. Miya, would you like to come? I think Issun needs to be alone right now."
Issun's blank eyes glistened with tears. As soon as he heard the door close behind Lika and Miya, he let the tears stream down his cheeks.
He would never be able to paint again, never be able to see the stroke of a brush on canvas, never be able to see the bright sun or the beautiful Konohana blossoms. Never be able to do anything. He was a useless, helpless little bug.
Nara watched her aunt Lika exit the house from behind a tree some distance away. She waited until Lika was out of sight, reached behind her and took Chibi's hand, and made a run for it.
Out of breath, they flew through the door of the house and slammed it behind them.
"Phew, I thought we wouldn't make it," Nara spluttered as she gasped for air.
Chibi nodded, too out of breath to speak. But he smiled at Nara and stood up straight, leaning close to her.
Nara slipped her thumb under her mask, and pushed it up only far enough to expose her lips. The two kissed, unaware of the green Poncle lying in a small makeshift bed made out of a carved out piece of wood and some small pieces of cloth, just a few feet away from them.
"Who's there?" Issun spoke up. He didn't recognize the voice at all.
Nara squealed and jumped off of Chibi, who jumped back and into the wall.
They both furiously looked around, searching for the owner of the voice. Chibiterasu could've sworn it sounded partially familiar...
Finally, his eyes spotted the dim green glow from the other side of the room.
"Issun? Issun, is that you?" Chibi called. Nara glanced at Chibi with concern.
"Yeah, it's me... Who are you?"
"Issun, it's me, Chibiterasu."
"...Chibi? Chibi, the son of the great goddess Amaterasu?"
Chibi was silent. His mother was the last thing he wanted to hear about.
"Who else is there? I heard another voice."
Nara cleared her throat. "Um, I'm Nara.. Daughter of Oki.. Lika is my aunt."
Issun was shocked. Oki's daughter? Wait... Yes, he remembered now. Lika was the little sister of Kai, which meant Kai was Nara's mother.
"What are you doing here, Issun?" Chibiterasu asked as he moved closer to the Poncle.
Issun lifted his head, in hopes of catching a glance at Chibi all grown up, but then he remembered...
"Issun..." he heard Chibi gasp as he saw the bandages and injuries.
"I... I got into a little fight with some imps. They were more violent than regular imps, it.. It was weird. I was knocked unconscious and brought here. I'm supposed to be headed home to Ponc'tan soon, I guess..."
Chibi leaned down next to his old buddy. "Issun... Can you... see?"
Issun lowered his head to his chest, letting his hair fall in his face and cover his blank eyes.
"Chibi..." Nara whispered. "Lika or my father might come back any moment. We have to go."
Chibi turned back to Issun. "I... I don't know what to say, Issun. I have to go. Best of luck."
He and Nara turned to leave after Nara had gathered up a bag of food and other supplies.
And suddenly realization came to Issun. "Chibi..." he muttered. No response.
"Chibi! Wait!" he called.
"Issun? What is it?" Chibi answered, about to step outside.
"Why are you here, in Nippon I mean?"
Silence. A breath and a sigh. "Reasons... Goodbye, Issun."
And then the Poncle was alone again.
"Abe? Abe, are you ok?!" Amaterasu screeched.
The Tao Trooper had collapsed, falling backwards onto the foot of the bed. He was lying on Ammy's toes.
"Abe!" Ammy tried leaning forward and shaking him, but a pain sparked in her belly and with a whimper she leaned back.
Great, just great.
Ammy closed her eyes and leaned back, letting her hands rest on top of her ever-growing baby bump.
"Find him, Waka.. Find him quick. There's not much time left."
Meanwhile, Waka had troubles of his own to deal with.
The Ark of Yamato had landed in Ezofuji, concealed in a rock canyon, to avoid attention.
After he had bid farewell to Amaterasu, Waka had gotten off the Ark, with the intention to quickly get out of the mountains and begin his search. His only problem, he was lost in the mountains.
He wandered for about an hour, never finding an apparent exit towards Wep'Keer. After another hour, this began to annoy him.
Finally, it seemed as though he found a way out. Waka came into a quiet clearing, and he spotted a pathway leading from it and most likely towards Wep'Keer.
He wasn't two steps into the clearing when something jumped on him from behind.
With a grunt he landed face-first on the dewy grass beneath him. A large, furry figure had him pinned to the ground.
"Who are you?!" it growled.
Waka didn't answer; instead, he summoned his power and with a flash he teleported to a spot a few feet away.
The furry figure fell to the ground, looking around frantically.
Waka lightly smiled. He had the element of surprise on his side. Quickly he drew Pillow Talk, his sword, and leaped forward, hitting the wolf with the flat part of the blade, as to only knock his opponent down and not cut him.
Although it caused minimal damage, the blow was effective and knocked the wolf back into the side of the mountain. It grunted and growled again, getting to its feet fast and snarling at Waka.
Waka stood still, Pillow Talk glowing and ready to strike, this time harder if needed.
The wolf lowered its ears and grunted in submission. It sat down and Waka watched at it quickly and quietly morphed into a human.
He cleared his throat and stood up, nodding lightly to Waka. "This land belongs to the Oina tribe. You are not supposed to be here."
Waka nodded in response. "I know, I'm sorry. I was just passing through, trying to get out of the mountains. If you'll allow me I'll be right on my way and off the land as soon as possible."
He began moving towards the pathway, but the wolf-man stepped in his way. "Who are you? How did you get in the mountains in the first place?"
Waka glanced down at Pillow Talk, still drawn and glowing. With a quick flick of his thumb the glowing blade retracted and he tucked the wooden flute away. He wanted no more trouble, he needed to find Chibiterasu.
"I am looking for a white wolf, from the Celestial Plain. Any chance you've seen one?"
Immediately the Oina tensed up. "White wolf! As if! I would never allow such a vile creature within fifty miles of Wep'Keer!"
Waka stepped back, hesitating whether or not to reach for Pillow Talk again.
"I need no trouble. I, Waka, am here to remove this white wolf from Nippon."
"Waka..." he mumbled. "I am Oki, Oina tribe warrior. I have seen no white wolf here for a long time. Now I insist you leave as quickly as you can, Waka, before I call upon the rest of my tribe to rip you to shreds."
Something about the way Oki spoke, something about the way the hair on his head rose with anger just like a wolf's... Waka felt a familiar tingling sensation in the back of his head. His eyes glazed over and for the first time in a very long time, he received a prophecy.
Blood will be shed before Kutone is born again.
"Do you hear me, blonde man?! Leave this land!" Oki roared.
Waka took a deep breath and looked into Oki's raging eyes with his widened ones.
"Oki, would you be kind enough to take me to the pedestal where Kutone stays?"
Oki was silent. After a moment, he turned and motioned for Waka to follow him.
