Before I start, I want to say something to a guest reviewer who commented on the last chapter.
I understand that "Echoterasu" isn't the most original name, but as I've said in previous chapters this is a story that I came up with a while ago. The first few chapters aren't that good, but I still want to finish it. Besides, Echo wasn't even originally an Okami OC, she was just a wolf OC I made up. Adding "terasu" to her name kinda adapted her to the story (at the time). I just wanted to clear that up quick. :)
Me: Anyways, the story's about to start what will be its final few chapters (I think)!
Echo: And updates will hopefully start to be faster now! It's summer time! :D
Me: I also plan to finish this before I start high school next year. So, yeah.
Yukishi: Disclaimer: Shay does not own Okami or OkamiDen.
Me: You're actually in this chapter for once!
Yukishi: IT'S ABOUT TIME!
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Five days passed, and Dr. Bluebeard let Kurow and Kagu know that Echo's injuries were finally close to completely healing. Kagu decided that it was probably best for Kurow to let her know where they would be heading in the next day or two.
Dr. Bluebeard's house was smaller than his brother's, but it held just as many herbs and remedies. In the front corner, Echo was lying on a mat, resting. Her bandages had been changed as well.
"Hey, Dr. Bluebeard." Kurow called from the doorway. He turned from mixing herbs and greeted the boy, "Hello, Kurow! Have you come to check up on Echo?"
"Well, yeah.. But I also have, like, something to tell her. It's kinda important." Echo's ears perked up and she raised her head, noticing the urgency in Kurow's voice.
Dr. Bluebeard nodded, "Well, I'll leave you two to talk, then. I need to pick something up at the merchant's place. It's a shipment of herbs from my brother. Let me know if Echo needs anything."
Kurow turned back to Echo and knelt down next to her once he'd left. "So, dude... How are ya feelin'?"
She stretched her legs, "Much better. I'm still a little sore, but that might be from laying in the same spot for God knows how long.."
Kurow smiled, "Well, I do have some good news. Kagu and Miko Cho were looking up some locations where Ninetails might have gone, and they think she might be headed to Kamui in the far north."
Echo widened her eyes with curiosity, "The far north? How are we gonna get there?"
"To tell you the truth, dude, I don't have a single clue.." he replied, "But Kagu's got a map so, like, we're not going to be totally lost."
Echo got up and yawned, "How long until I'm good to travel?"
"Dr. B said you can, like, probably go by tomorrow if you feel well enough."
"I think that should be fine by me. I'm tired of being cooped up in here all day and night..." she scented the air, "Though the herbs make the air quite nice."
Kurow got up and headed out, "Well then, I guess I'll see ya tomorrow, dude! Hope ya feel better!"
"Thanks." Echo smiled, sighing as he left and hoping that the day would go by fast.
The Following Morning…
(Echo's POV)
"Well, I guess this is goodbye.. for now, anyway.." Kagu smiled at Kurow and I as we walked outside the gates of Sei An. Her eyes were tearing up slightly, but she was trying to stop from showing her emotions.
Kurow smiled back at her. "Dude, you know we'll be back to visit soon! We have Ninetails totally cornered. Our adventure will be over before you know it."
That's right.. I thought, Soon I'll be done with all this demon fighting and Okami powers and stuff... At the same time, though, I was hopeful that I would be able to see my family again soon.
As I looked up from my daydreaming, Kurow and Kagu were hugging goodbye (though Kurow seemed pretty flustered), and apparently Kagu wasn't able to hold in her tears for long, because she was bawling.
"D-don't die again... p-please.." she sobbed, "I wouldn't be able t-to handle losing you again..!"
Kurow broke away from the hug, "I'll be fine, dude. I promise. Nothing bad's gonna happen." He turned to me, "You ready, Echo?"
"Yep." I barked happily. Kurow waved goodbye to Kagu one last time. She headed back into the city, and we headed on our way.
"You know, dude.. I've never been to the north before." Kurow stated, "It seems, like, pretty dangerous from what Kagu said.. Are you sure you're ready for this?"
"I have to be. The sooner that we get there, the sooner we can find out where Ninetails is." I looked up at him with determined eyes, "If we wait too long, something even more terrible then the rerise of Oni Island could occur, and I really do not want that to happen!"
Kurow understood, "Okay then, dude. Good to hear!" Abruptly, he reached into the bag and pulled out a green coin with etchings on its surface. "Kagu gave me this. She said there's, like, a Mermaid Spring or something nearby that can transport us back to Shinshu Field if we use this coin."
"Shinshu Field..?" I asked. "But.. That's not even close to the north! ..Is it?"
"No, but apparently there's, like, a passage way under some sort of statue that leads to the north." Kurow explained. "If we can find it, we can get there."
I shrugged. "Whatever you say. You must know what you're doing."
We headed over near the gate to North Ryoshima Coast. As Kurow said, there was what was apparently a Mermaid Spring at the side of the path. He threw the coin in and the water glowed and swirled.
"Here we go, dude."
Leaping through the portal, we ended up in front of the old, creepy dojo in Shinshu Field. Thankfully, nothing else was out of the ordinary and the area was still the same as we left it.
Kurow pointed to the far side of the field. A green statue was on top of a steep hill with a sword pointed to the sky. "See that, dude? That's where we're headed. You up for some flyin'?"
"Sure!"
In a short amount of time, we flew over the field and over to the statue. It towered a good 10 feet above us, and it looked like the base of it could move. In the distance, lightning sparked in the clouds.
I tried using Lightning on the sword to open the path, but to no avail. It sparked around the statue and the base moved slightly, but nothing else happened.
"Is it... stuck?" I asked aloud.
"Frozen would be a better word."
I jumped and turned around to see a phoenix landing in the grass. It carried a pipe in its beak.
"I suppose you are Echoterasu?" It asked.
I nodded, "Umm.. Yeah. Who are you?"
"I am Moegami, Brush God of the Inferno. I've been sent to take you to the north."
"But, what about the pathway?" I questioned. "If it's just frozen, can't you melt it?"
He shook his head. "It's been frozen solid by a demon's curse. One not even my flames can break through the ice. It will be safer to travel there by air." He lowered himself to the ground, "Climb on my back, I'll explain everything on the way there."
Kurow and I glanced at each other, a bit confused, but decided it was probably best just to listen to Moegani. We climbed on his back, and with a flap of his enormous wings we were off.
"This may sound a bit daunting," Moegami stated, "but Ninetails does not expect you to make it very far into the northern lands."
"Why's that, dude?" Kurow questioned.
"The climate is brutal. Not everyone can bare it for long. The snowstorms rarely, if ever, cease. The average temperature is far below freezing and demons walk around more frequently nowadays due to it being a cursed zone." he turned his head back, "You two will want to head immediately to Wep'keer if you don't want to freeze to death."
"Wep'keer? Where's that?"
"I will be dropping you off by the Guardian Sapling. To the left of it there is a path. Follow that until you come to a bridge. Cross it, and follow the path up a hill. The village lies at the top. Most of the residents will know your purpose and welcome you, even though they do not do well with outsiders often." Moegami looked downward, where thick clouds where grouped together. "This is it. Hold on."
We descended through the clouds, snow was falling around us and the air became frigid. From above, the entire land looked barren and lifeless, save for some animals and houses here and there.
The Guardian Sapling stood tall, but withered in front of us. We got off Moegami and looked around, shivering in the cold.
"Echoterasu."
I turned back at the sound of my name.
Moegami raised his wings, "Before I leave, I have a gift. This is the power of the Inferno. Use it to light the darkness and bring warmth to the hearts of the north and beyond." A sphere of light circled around me, disappearing and warming me with a newfound fire.
I nodded my head in appreciation. "Thank you, Moegami." He then took off and vanished into the clouds.
Kurow shuddered as a gust of wind blew through the snow, "L-let's hurry up, E-Echo... It's really cold out here..."
"Sorry!" I whimpered. I revived the Guardian Sapling quickly, expelling the Cursed Zone. The land was still dark, though not as much as before. The temperature didn't change a bit, sadly..
Both of us rushed through the icy storm. It seemed to be getting stronger be the minute. Despite my fur, I could feel the cold air pricking at my skin beneath it.
It the not too far distance, I could see a hill coming into view. A large, frozen lake was in front of it, with the only path over it being a small bridge. "Kurow, we're almost there! I can see the hill... Kurow..?"
I turned around. Kurow was on his knees in the snow, shuddering. I ran back after him, "Come on, Kurow! We can find shelter soon. It's just a bit farther!"
"D-Dude... E-Echo.. Just g-go on and g-get there... I'll c-catch up..." I pressed against him to keep him warm. "Kurow, c'mon! We have to get moving or..."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement. It was faint, but I saw a shadow. I let out a warning growl.
A demon attack now of all times..? My ears drooped. Kurow was in no condition to fight, and we were out of our element anyway. Fighting now would be suicide...
"Kurow.. There's something out there.. Get up.. Please.."
Footsteps sounded behind me, and I kept my eyes on the figure. It was animal-like, holding a thin weapon, most likely a sword. Silent and quick. Kurow could see it, too.
I growled furiously at it, but to no avail. It kept walking closer and closer, getting just feet from me. Then it paused.
"Who are you?" It asked sternly.
"Who are you?" I retorted angrily.
"I do not reveal myself to those I do not know.." It took another step forward.
I tried to keep my cool, "E-Echoterasu.. and this is my friend and partner, Kurow. Please.. We need to get to Wep'keer and find shelte-
"Wep'keer?" it said, shocked. "Why there?"
I explained, "We're looking for a demon by the name of Ninetails. She might have fled here. However, we need shelter, and Moegami said we could find some help there.. is that true..?"
The figure stepped into view. It was a light blue wolf with a black, curly mane flowing behind it. Its eyes were blue and it had a black tail with a mask on its head mimicking its facial patterns. It put the sword into the sheath on its back. "My name is Yukishi. I belong to the Oina Tribe that lives in Wep'keer, though.. I haven't been there in sometime.. I live mostly as a loner..."
Kurow blinked at the she-wolf, confused, but didn't say anymore.
She motioned for us to follow her, "I'll take you to my home. Get your friend and hurry, or you'll freeze to death."
I quickly lifted Kurow onto my back and he held on. Yukishi and I ran as fast as we could up the hill. Struggling to keep my grip on the icy surface, I slid across the ground behind her.
We entered the center of the town. Houses built on icy cliffs surrounded us. All of them had smoke coming from their chimneys, signaling warmth. Yukishi lead us to her place towards the right of the town.
The place was a bit disorganized and dusty, but it shielded us from the weather. Suddenly, the she-wolf morphed into a human, her mask covering her face. She placed some wood in a fire pit in the center of the room, then grabbed a blanket for Kurow.
"Th-thanks.." he shivered. Sitting carefully on the floor, the two of us warmed up by the fire.
"So," she started, sitting in a chair by the fire, "You're like the legendary Amaterasu, hm?"
"In a way." I replied, "I'm not nearly as strong as her or the Brush Gods, but.. I'm trying my best.." I explained the whole ordeal I had been through since the beginning.
Yukishi was surprised, "You're quite strong, then.. I wouldn't have thought that from the way you almost froze out there!" She raised her mask from her face. "These things protect your face from the cold and all, but it get stuffy under there.." she muttered.
Kurow blushed at her, "D-do you have, like, any idea where Ninetails could possibly be?"
The girl paused, "Hmm.. We could check Wawku Shrine. Lechku and Nechku caused a lot of trouble up there when the demons first started showing up again about two years ago... Ninetails might have taken refuge on top of one of Ezofuji's peaks..."
An abrupt knock on the door startled us all. Yukishi pulled down her mask and drew her sword. When she opened it, a man with a dark blue mask like hers entered.
"Calm down, Yuki! It's just me!" he said, noticing Yukishi's weapon.
She put it away, "Sorry, Oki. You never know who's out there these days, even in Wep'keer.."
The man noticed the two of us by the fire. "Are these friends of yours?"
"Travelers.. Well, more like heroes. They're here to hunt down a demon named Ninetails who may have taken refuge at the top of Ezofuji."
"Ninetails?" Oki said with disbelief. "If Ninetails is here, that explains the recent events with Collida..."
Yukishi fell silent, then asked, "Collida...? I'm not familiar with that name.."
"Neither were most of us up until a few days ago when Kemu told us the story." Oki replied. "Collida is the guardian deity of the mountains of Ezofuji. 200 years ago, she brought the mountains to life with fire so that life could thrive beneath them, then rested at their peaks to regain her strength. When the twin demons came, she was unable to fight them off and sealed herself within the volcanos, forever letting their fire burn. Apparently now she's awoken again and is causing problems for an unknown reason. Have you noticed the skies lately?"
"I have noticed that it's been darker out lately."
"That's Collida's doing, apparently. She clouded the skies so barely any sun gets through." Oki said with worry. "It's getting colder and colder every day. If Ninetails is here, perhaps she has taken control of the guardian?"
Yukishi nodded. Turning to me, she spoke. "If you really are here on a quest like Amaterasu, then you will want to head to Ezofuji's peaks. For now, rest up and stay warm here. I'll be back after I tell Kemu about your arrival."
The door shut, leaving Kurow and I alone. I let out a yawn and stretched my legs, lying down on the floor.
"I've never felt this cold before, dude.. It's crazy.." he shivered a bit.
"We should have thought of bringing coats or something.. Either way, I think you'll be alright now, Kurow. We're in a sheltered place with heat. Plus the snow really didn't help.. My fur is drenched!" I shook it off slightly.
Kurow laughed, "At least we're in good spirits, dude."
Eventually, Yukishi returned with some stuff we would need for our journey, but the two of us had fallen fast asleep.
The following day when we awoke, Yukishi took us to the elder of the village, old man Kemu. Kurow was given an extra coat that one of the villagers had, so he was ready for travel in the cold.
"Old man Kemu? Are you here?" Yukishi called. A short, elderly man walked forward from the back of the house.
He squinted at her, surprised. "Yukishi..? Is that you? It's been quite some time since you've come to visit."
Yukishi sighed, "The village gave me too many bad memories.. I could stop thinking of my mother, and I thought if I got away from it it might help."
The old man smiled, "Your mother did the same thing after your father died.. You really are just like her." He suddenly took notice of us. "Shiranui, you must have heard my prayers! Thank you for finally coming! ..Who's your strange looking friend?
"Who's Shiranui...?" I asked with a boggled expression. Kurow looked a bit offended at being called strange.
"This isn't Shiranui, Kemu. Her name's Echoterasu, and her friend is Kurow, a boy from the Moon Tribe. Apparently Amaterasu sent them to slay a demon named Ninetails who may have taken refuge on the peaks of Ezofuji."
Kemu nodded with understanding. "If you're going to be following Ninetails, then I'll need to open the gates that lead to the mountains. Head to the right of my house and I'll let you through. Good luck!"
I nodded, "Thank you."
We were lead up to the gate by Yukishi. A horn sounded through the snow and the gates opened, revealing a long, winding path. We followed it to a stone pedestal which held a faintly glowing sword overlooking a lake below the mountains.
"That's the guardian sword, Kutone." the Oina girl explained. "Oki used it to help Amaterasu slay the twin demon owls atop Ezofuji. When he returned it to its pedestal, the Ark of Yamato rose from the lake that it had been frozen in for a 100 years."
Yukishi turned to face us. "That was the last time that anyone saw Amaterasu in these lands. Her and a prophet named Waka boarded the Ark and flew to the heavens right after she fought the Emperor of Eternal Darkness, Yami."
"I've totally heard of that story before, dude. It was on a scroll that Issun gave me and Chibi." Kurow said. "Apparently no one knows how the fight ended, or what exactly happened, but, like, Amaterasu had to have won! Or else none of the past years events could have happened..."
Yukishi nodded, "Exactly. But with all these demons running about, it's hard to believe that she defeated Yami in the end. It's possible that he's still alive somewhere, waiting to exact revenge."
I glanced up at the sky, noticing a faint, almost full moon in the sky between the clouds. When I first came here, that moon was just barely a crescent.. That means.. It's been nearly two weeks since I first arrived here. It seems like so much longer though..
"Yo, Echo!"
Kurow and Yukishi were already treading up the mountain to the Wawku Shrine. I sprinted after them and we headed forward.
"Now I must warn you, the journey ahead will be a tough one," Yukishi advised, "Once we enter, there will be no turning back. This place is like a deadly maze, and with Collida causing trouble, there's no telling what could happen..."
I smiled with determination. "I'm ready for whatever this place can throw at me."
"That's what I like to hear." Yukishi grabbed hold of one of the gates and pulled. Slowly, it opened, letting out a frigid gust of air. She unsheathed her sword, "Let's do this."
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Me: Alrighty guys! Next up will be the battle with Collida, and then I might be taking a small break to sorta out how to write the ending (probably only two or three more chapters!) D,:
Please review! :D It's much appreciated!
