One of these days, I might actually upload a chapter of reasonable length...
I have a feeling I'm killing Kokari's personality. Then again, he does act like a child in most scenes... until he starts to grow up... and stuff...
Also, is it just me, or isn't Kushi supposed to be something like 3 months pregnant...?
I mean, as of the end of Okamiden... but since this is only a few months later I think we'll be ok xD (Apparrently it doesn't actually become visible until like 5-6 months rofl)
I have not much else to say except...
Time for a game of Spot The Unintentional Titledrop.
"Okay, so you know the plan, right?"
Blink.
"Well, we put it into action now, okay? Target at ten o'clock. "
They both looked in the direction they were aiming for.
"Move quietly and don't let her see you. Try and get all ten of them this time, okay? Ready…"
Step forward.
"Aim…"
Ears alert.
"Fire!"
As soon as he said the last word, Hayabusa raised his head, ears twitching. Then he raced away, barking.
"I said quietly!" Mushi hissed, watching as his dog ran right past the turnip field they'd been aiming for and headed for the bridge over the river instead. The boy sighed, wandering out from the rock they'd been hiding behind. "At this rate we'll never match Amaterasu's record…"
He hurried along the path in pursuit of his dog, towing a bug on a string behind him. The woman standing in the field glanced up as he ran by.
"Mushi, you'd better not be trying to dig up the turnips again!"
"Sure, Mama, whatever!" he called, rolling his eyes. What she didn't know wouldn't hurt…
As Mushi crossed the bridge he could hear more barking. Was there another dog here? Maybe that was why Hayabusa had run off.
"Hey, Mushi!"
"Huh? Oh, Kokari!" he called, noticing his friend entering the village. Kokari's dog Ume had run over to Hayabusa, and the two of them were running around barking. "I haven't seen you in ages! And…" he glanced at the pole he was carrying. "Why do you have a fishing rod…?"
"Ah… self-defence," Kokari said, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Self-defence…? In Kamiki?"
"Well… there were a bunch of imps in the forest last night. My dad sent me here… to find out if there were any demons here as well."
"I haven't seen any," Mushi shrugged. He grinned. "Well, other than Mama, anyway."
"What is this I hear about demons?"
The two boys jumped as a low voice boomed from somewhere nearby, and Mushi glanced around to see Susano striding towards them from his house.
"There were imps in the forest last night," Mushi spoke up with a shrug.
"Hm? Imps?" Susano muttered. "I haven't seen any imps in months."
"W-well, there were some there… so…" Kokari mumbled, obviously slightly intimidated by the middle-aged warrior. He could be quite intimidating when you weren't used to seeing him nearly every day.
"If you're having trouble with imps, the great Susano could always help you out!" Susano boomed, taking his sword from his back and holding up in the air dramatically. A little too dramatically. "After all, I did slay Orochi. A few imps would be no trouble."
"Erm… ah… well… no… its okay… we're fine, thanks," Kokari told him nervously, taking a few steps back.
"Don't be scared of Susano," Mushi rolled his eyes. "He isn't that scary. Apart from when he's had too much to drink."
"What? I… ahem… for your information," Susano added, clearing his throat. "I haven't had any sake for a while now."
"If you say so."
"No no, that's not it," Kokari muttered, glancing at the floor.
"Oh well, if you need any help later, I don't mind!" Susano shrugged, marching back off towards his house.
"So long as you don't mind waiting a few years for him to turn up," Mushi said quietly, nudging Kokari with his elbow.
"Yeah," Kokari sighed, still glancing at the ground. After a moment he looked up, as if checking the man was out of earshot. "Susano… he was Kuni's father, wasn't he? He looks just like him."
"Kuni? Yeah, I think so. But Kuni vanished ages ago, no one's seen him in months."
"Hmm," Kokari mumbled. He looked thoughtful. "You know that woman who works in the rice fields… Kushi? Um, I wanna go talk to her… about something…"
"Huh? Um, whatever, I guess," Mushi shrugged. Why did Kokari want to talk to Kushi? Ah well, it was none of his business. "You know where the mill is."
"Yeah," Kokari nodded. "Ume, come on. Let's go."
The red dog glanced around as he heard his name and came running over, following his master as he walked over the bridge. Hayabusa scrambled over to Mushi.
"Okay, Hayabusa, back to work. We're going to break that record if it's the last thing we do!"
The giant metal ark loomed ahead, casting a massive shadow across the grass, the blades closest to it starting to turn yellow. Faint blue lines snaked across the grey, showing that power still veined throughout the boat even though it had been resting on the outskirts of the Celestial Plain for over a year.
Issun had never liked the ark. Not when he'd first heard about it, not when he'd seen it floating above Laochi Lake, and not now. It was just so… evil. He'd stayed away from this place ever since he arrived on the Celestial Plain.
"Well, we're here," he muttered. "Now how do we get in?"
"Simple," Waka shrugged. The prophet walked towards the ark, and as soon as he got close to it the door opened, the rainbow-coloured path appearing from the edge of it and stretching out until it reached the wilting grass.
"Freak," Issun mumbled as Waka smiled in that way that always made the poncle think he was up to something. He probably just did it to annoy him. "C'mon, Ammy. Mush!"
The goddess gave an irritated grunt before racing up the path at top speed, Chibi following as fast as he could.
As Amaterasu halted outside of the ark, Issun jumped down onto the metal platform. He couldn't help but remember the last time he'd been here… staring gloomily at the darkness beyond, he wondered if he'd be able to pass through the entrance this time.
A few moments later, Waka landed on the platform, the wings of his hat folding behind him and the draft nearly blowing Issun away.
"What's the matter, Issun? Afraid of the dark?"
"Wha- no! Don't be stupid!" Issun snapped. "But there might be a barrier again."
"Jamais peur, there isn't. I removed it."
"You re- hey, wait a second!" the poncle cried. "You mean you can actually do that?" He started to bounce around angrily, his green glow turning red. "You could have removed the barrier and let me into the stupid ark last year instead of leaving Ammy to face those darn demons alone with a creep like you!"
"Excusez-moi, but if I hadn't kept you out then you'd never have become a Celestial Envoy, and Amaterasu would never have been able to defeat Yami."
"But… you… argh!" Issun angrily hopped back onto Ammy's head. "Piss off, fruitcake."
"Language," Waka tutted. "Anyway, once we get inside we have to find the controls."
"The what now?"
"The controls for the ark. They're around somewhere inside. It looks a bit like that ship you and Chibi came here in, Issun."
"Yeah, yeah, we have to look for a spaceship, got it," Issun grumbled. "Let's split up because I don't want you anywhere near me. Let's go, Ammy."
The goddess glanced briefly at Waka and Chibi before stepping into the darkness.
"Oh, and also," Waka added as an afterthought. "You'd better watch out for any demons as well."
"Hello?" Kokari glanced through the open door of the mill. He had to shout just to hear his own voice over the noise of the waterwheel rattling from the back room.
And yet still there was no response. He couldn't shout loud enough to be heard above the wheel…
Then Ume stepped inside and started barking.
"Ume!" Kokari gasped.
"Huh? Is someone there?"
He glanced up as a young woman looked around the doorframe of the room the wheel was in. Her black hair was put up into a comb shape, meaning Kokari recognised Kushi immediately.
She hurried over to the door and stepped outside. "I'm sorry, Kokari, I didn't hear you arrive. The waterwheel's been getting very loud nowadays." She smiled sweetly. "Anyway, did you need something or did you just come here to visit Kamiki?"
"Erm, my dad sent me here… there were some imps in the forest last night and he wanted me to ask if anyone had seen any demons here either, but Mushi and Susano said they haven't, so…"
"Well, I hope you'll be okay then, if there are demons in the forest." Kushi tipped her head to one side. "So what did you need me for?"
"Well… um…" Kokari stuttered. He'd known what he wanted to tell her, but now he was wondering if it was still such a good idea…
Ume gave a quiet bark and nudged his hand. Well, if Ume thought he should tell her…
"You… I mean… Kuni's your son, isn't he?"
Something flashed in the maiden's eyes for a second. "Yes, he was… kind of. He was my adopted son. He left on his own journey to try and find out who he was."
"Who he was?" Kokari echoed, confused. "But he sounded like he'd been kicked out…"
"Hm? You mean you've seen him?"
"Yeah, he stayed at our house last night… he was there when we got attacked by imps."
"Is he okay?"
"I think so, but he looks like he's been living outside for a while. If… if you wanted to go see him, I don't think dad would mind…"
Kushi was silent for a moment. Then she shook her head. "As much as I'd love to see him again, he probably wants to stay away from us since he hasn't returned to Kamiki yet… but when you go back, if you get the chance, could you please tell him that he's welcome to come back here?"
"Okay," Kokari nodded.
"Especially if there are demons around now," Kushi sighed. "I hate to think of him out on his own when the world is so dangerous."