First Light: Part 12
There was a girl from the mountains, and a girl from the plains. They fought a great evil and triumphed.
I felt a great power flow through me as I touched the swords suspended in mid-air, holding them tightly. My divine mark blazed with light, while Chikane behind me also released all her power. We felt Ame No Murakumo respond to our power, and when we moved, everything flowed smoothly, as we rushed towards Orochi one last time. Beams of light rushed towards us but we pushed through without pausing, slashing down with tremendous power. Orochi's sword exploded into fragments as our sword cleaved straight through it, shattering the armour beneath and rending the flesh apart. Light blazed to the heavens as the dark god collapsed. The purple eye shot from the wreckage, fleeing back towards the ground.
We chased it. There wasn't anything else left.
What we reached was a world painted red, a broken world with no life, no hope, and no existence in itself. Ame No Murakumo's ten thousand-league sight saw only desolation, emptiness and ruin.
"Is this the promised place she fought for?" Chikane said, her voice anguished. "My mother…"
"It was a dream," I replied softly. "Though I don't know her circumstances, perhaps not even a bad dream. But still, never reality."
"But this is too much. Far, far too much."
We arrived at the ruins of Orochi's fortress. The spiral eye floated there, alone amidst the ruined Torii gates. "I will congratulate you." A dozen voices echoed in Orochi's voice, dripping with malignancy. "Though the taking of those eight lives was truly meaningless, to destroy my vassal is impressive. But even if you lend that god your power, his sword can no longer touch me. This has become my world, Orochi's world!"
Ame No Murakumo's sword descended rapidly, slashing down. Orochi split in two, flowing over the blade and materialising above it. We jerked the swords, spinning in mid-air and firing a blast of energy. It passed through the spiral eye without doing damage. We rushed up one more time, two swords flashing, but we shot clean through Orochi and halted above it, sweat pouring down our faces. I panted for breath. No way… even though this is all we have left… we still can't do anything?
There is one way.
I trembled with the feeling, closing my eyes, This rapturous intensity-
Nothing is over. Despair has sharpened you to a fine point. Undoubtedly in this moment you acknowledge my ideal, blades that exist only to kill the enemy without hope or fear or love or hate or any human emotion. In that respect you are perfect. But you were chosen because you were human, not blades, and in that you have faith. Believe in me, who has been your power and won you every battle.
"What is your command?" I asked softly.
You have become everything necessary, and for that reason you have gained a power no human possessed before now. If I lend you all my power, it may be possible for you to achieve the impossible and violate the rules of Heaven. To seal Orochi's power and thereby reverse the flow of fate itself… but the price of interceding in Heaven is high indeed. Will you shoulder that burden and suffer that bane? Not just you, but all your blood hereafter, shall be tainted by the judgement of the righteous gods.
"There's no choice, is there?" Chikane said. "Don't ask ridiculous questions!"
I nodded. "Together, surely. No matter what, we can bear it if we're together."
Very well. Let us walk that path together.
We followed the flow of divine thought, Ame No Murakumo shifting into his true form of a great, descending blade. Orochi withstood the attack, but the sword god pierced the broken earth beneath, exploding with light. We stepped through the sacred realm, now swollen with white rays, and landed amidst the ruin as walls of light raced upwards on all sides. Orochi tried to flee upwards, but the light was faster, sealing the entire realm. "A meaningless defiance! I will break through. I have all the time in the world."
"This has become Ame No Murakumo's sacred ground," Chikane said, raising her hands and bringing them together.
"All your time has run out," I finished, closing my eyes.
"Foolish mortals! It is impossible for you to channel the untrammelled power of Ame No Murakumo!"
We began the chant that came to mind, the ground beginning to crumble beneath our feet. Waves of light washed into us, sinking in deep and filling us with a cold, terrible power and purpose. "Eight-headed dragon of the land, diminish at the blade of the Totsuka sword."
"Haven't you realised the futility of your actions? This act of petulance will resolve nothing. No matter what bonds you place on me, there is nothing that can prevent me from returning and claiming this empty world!"
"With Takemi Katana No Kami, Iwatsutsu no O no Kami, Kanayama Hiko no Kami, Kanayama Hime no Kami…" The light resolved itself, fading from sight. Ame No Murakumo's vassal itself broke apart, leaving only the purity of an incredible power radiating from our words.
"Being mislead and spent by that god, you are no different from my disciples! Recognise your own power! Cast it out, and we can create a new world together! A world that realises your every desire!"
"Eight million other Gods' powers."
"A world of peace and harmony, where humans live side by side without regret."
His voice, I could unmistakably hear it at that time.
"The heaven-violating sword of an august god descends."
"A world without all these mistakes, where we can live together again."
Chikane exhaled heavily, her voice shaking for a beat. "Chains of time bind you in this mortal world."
"A world for you two alone, unending."
So the First offered.
"Gods of Gods shall witness these words-"
Orochi roared, descending violently towards us.
"Become stone and sleep forevermore."
Orochi froze instantly, the spiralling eye becoming as rock and shattering in that instant. The malicious aura died instantly, replaced by emptiness and silence.
Not yet. Nothing is over yet. Return to my shrine while my power lasts. There we will rewrite this fate. But first, etch this world into your eyes. It will be your resolve.
We opened our eyes, looking across a dark world, back to back.
"It's strange," Chikane said softly. "Though we always fought to protect the world, so much of it was meaningless to anything but the abstract. How can I cry? I've shed all my tears for all my family. I'm not that gentle a person."
"We've lost many beginnings, though," I said. "Though it was hard and imperfect, full of misunderstandings and tragedies, it was a world where people lived. People always carry in, and what they possess is the hope that they will meet someone who can understand them, just a little. There aren't any stories any more. That's meaningful even to us."
"Though it feels like you alone are plenty," Chikane said. "I was tempted."
"You didn't fall," I noted.
"The weight of the dead is too heavy, even for me," Chikane said. "Revenge, no more or less…"
"That's fine." I smiled wanly. "That's the only way a just sword can exist. Perhaps we can't protect, nor can we change the world. Ame No Murakumo no less than us. But we can cut through those who cut, and end those who ended." I looked at my hands. "Is that the reason why this power exists?"
"Perhaps." Chikane turned as I did, and we faced each other for a few moments in silence.
"One more time," I said. Chikane nodded back.
We stepped into the light.
The shrine materialised around us, and we stood for a few moments in the silence, looking at each other again. Finally we turned to face the shrine.
This world can be recreated, though I cannot reshape heaven and earth. So before, so again, so it shall be, just as the darkness turned back before the world began was turned now and will be turned again. But this final task requires the weight of a sacrifice.
"What do you intend?" I asked. In my heart, I already knew the answer.
One must die by the other's hand. Only then can you obtain revert all that has crumbled to dust.
"We will find each other in the new world, right?" Chikane said sharply. "If it's just a copy, that should be possible. No, we will find each other."
You two alone cannot be forgiven.
"What are you saying?" Chikane shouted, stepping forwards. "Don't screw with me! For what reason do you think I was fighting until now?"
The sacrifice will find only oblivion. The spare will wander for a time and die in that same hell. This is the judgement of heaven that will fall upon you. I, too, will become as nothing, worse than neverborn.
My blood turned to ice, my hands trembling with fear. But I had known that, as well. I'm sure that Chikane too knew without saying a word, and was only denying and defying what her innermost soul was screaming out in despair.
"That judgement, I don't accept it! We've given everything, shouldered every sin, but it wasn't for this! At least give us some time!" Chikane's voice broke with the strain. "That was… that was the meaning for everything…"
My power is already fading. It must be now.
I turned and began to walk away.
"I don't care! The world, my family, all those hopes and dreams, they don't signify a thing." Chikane's voice was hoarse. "You never taught us to love those things. But my love for Himeko, my only pure emotion, the only thing I can sincerely call my own without you. How can you expect me to give that up? We promised!" Chikane turned to me. "No matter what, we'd spend our futures together. Right, Himeko?"
I knelt, picking up the First's mask and turning back. I smiled wanly. "Please kill me, Chikane."
"I won't!" Chikane said desperately.
"I know," I said, my eyes watering. I walked slowly forwards. "I know it's hard. But I think I knew this long ago. That's why I'm selfishly putting the harder part on you. The pain of being cut, oblivion, those things are nothing compared to the pain of striking you, the loneliness of living without you."
"Just what are we sacrificing ourselves for?" Chikane demanded. "What has the world done for us? We've only been twisted and used, with everything weighing down on us. Even so, we bore all the losses and all the pain without regret. We will be neither regarded nor remembered. Where's the meaning in dying for that world?"
I approached her slowly, blinking back tears. "I know. I know it's always been hard. You're so pure; it would be hard to bear. I also suffered. But we can't turn back now. I wouldn't be myself if I turned away from this. I couldn't remain the Himeko you love." I stopped in front of her, framing her cheek with my face. "For that reason, please… end this loving and believing in me, as I love and believe in you."
Chikane looked at me, wordless and terrified, a moment's breath from breaking down. "Why…"
I brought the mask up to her face, concealing her beautiful eyes. If I looked at her anguished face any more, I'd fall into the uttermost hell to take that despair from my sight. "If it's by your hands, I know I won't feel pain."
Chikane said nothing for a long moment, then her hands shook as they were raised, pulling the mask into place. "I swear I will never change. I won't offer meaningless platitudes. I will be destroyed without you and I will bear no resentment for you."
"I know." I turned and walked away.
At last we faced each other across the short distance of the shrine itself. Chikane drew her sword. I raised my hands, opening myself up to her as she charged.
She pierced my mark and my heart both, and I fell into her arms as she caught me. Chikane pulled off her mask, revealing an anguished, tear-stained face. I raised a weak hand to touch her cheek, smiling weakly. Making me see such a lonely thing… "I will keep my promise," I whispered.
I fell into darkness.
I walked up the valley to the ritual site. A cold wind blew through my hair.
The guards stared down at me in disbelief as I approached. "Who goes there? A Himemiya?"
"I am looking for Himeko," I said coldly. "That's all."
"This is sacred land," the Ogami began uncertainly, putting his hand on the hilt of his sword. "We cannot permit you to-"
I stepped forwards, blurring into motion. Within three seconds I was standing behind them. "For as long as this power lasts, you cannot reach me. After that point nothing matters anyway."
I stepped into the ritual site itself. The tree was withered, but even so they prayed there. I could see them all. Uchito, Isaki, Asuna, the man I knew as my father, Shuu… and a girl I didn't know, with short blue hair, sitting between my parents. My replacement, perhaps. And the Ogami family, as well. But she was not there.
"Give them to me." I stopped in front of them as the camp began to react in confusion, folding my arms. "Uchito, Shuu, Tsuzumi, give me your swords."
"Who are you?" Uchito demanded, rising with the others and staring at me. "Those features are undoubtedly those of Shuuya Himemiya's blood, but there are none others but us. Speak!"
"I am a ghost," I said. "But slenderly I linger here. With this time I have left, I will seal your Ame No Murakumo. You will not be able to stop me. For that cause, then, give me your swords."
Asuna stepped forwards, laying her hands on her swords. "Leave this to me, Uchito-sama."
I blurred forwards, punching her in the face before her weapons were fully drawn. Asuna spiralled backwards, crashing down unconscious. I looked down at her regretfully. Though you achieved your vision in the end, it's more than hard to think of you as I could before. Nor do you remember me now.
The others drew their swords and charged. I caught my father's blade between the palm of my hands, kicking him in the chest and throwing his sword aside before jumping and landing on the edge of Uchito's blade. My right hand grabbed the hilt as I flipped; kicking him in the face and jumping clear with his sword in my hand. I spun, blocking my replacement's attack idly. I punched her in the chest before she could recover, knocking her down. Uchito's sword slid into my sash as I walked forwards to face the others. Shuu charged, his sword stabbing directly towards my chest. I caught it between two fingers of my right hand, pulling it upwards and hitting him in the face. In one smooth motion I let the blade flow between my fingers without drawing blood, sliding into my sash. The Ogami surrounded me on all sides, stabbing towards me. I disappeared, reappearing by Tsuzumi and grabbing her sword arm. I twisted her wrist, catching the sword as it fell from her fingers and sliding it into place next to the others.
The remainder stared at me in disbelief. "I lied," I offered coolly. "I am Ame No Murakumo."
I stepped into the light before they could reply, reappearing at the shrine itself. The name Chikane Himemiya has already ceased to exist. Letting their legends live on is fine. I stepped forwards, drawing the First's sword and driving it into the ground to the left of the shrine itself.
What is your intention?
"You have a little time and power, don't you?" I said calmly, placing my mother's long sword next to it. "At the least, until the godless month is over. If I seal you with my remaining strength you will be hidden from the sight of heaven. That should permit you to survive until Orochi comes again."
Do you understand what you are doing? Without the Solar Priestess to assist, sealing even a weakened god is an overwhelming task. Your very life itself will be spent in the process.
"That's why I was surprised you didn't ask yourself." I drove her short sword into the ground, moving sideways and beginning again on the right. "This life is meaningless. If Himeko died to protect this miserable world I will die to protect its future. But I'll find her, even so."
Even though it was I who commanded you to make that sacrifice.
I drove Uchito's sword into the ground. "Himeko asked me to do so. No more or less. Nor am I doing this for your sake."
You have always known more blasphemy than faith, Lunar Priestess.
"You don't care. You want nothing more than power and resolve." I took Shuu's sword, gripping it with both hands and stabbing it downwards. "I'll tell them as well. The Ogami and the Himemiya. Just what you demanded of us."
They will forget. They will forget me as well, when my power fades from this world. Our existences will disappear within the gaps of space and time, and only Orochi's timeless despair will be remembered.
"Do you think so? I doubt that." I looked at Tsuzumi's sword thoughtfully. "It's a painful story. It might be remembered for that reason, in this world."
None will be thanked. Nor can we return. I am an eternal exile. Your wishes will not be realised for as long as this world exists.
"Neither of us are acting out of kindness. You chose a disciple in your own image, in me. Himeko suited you less." I stabbed down, putting the final sword into place. "Goodbye."
I began the chant, and she spoke no more.
I sat in the darkness, and waited. I can feel the blade through my chest, feel my blood endlessly flowing down the cold metal, feeling the agony without relief of dying without death. Even so, I opened my eyes and looked into the darkness without flinching.
What is your intention?
"I will see Chikane again," I said. "Though I don't know when or how, no matter how much time passes, I made that promise. I won't ever betray her."
Do you understand what you are doing? You will find only pain unending here in this dark shrine. I am being sealed and will fade, leaving you alone. Even if you continue to exist, heaven will not forgive you. At worst, you will be bound in this chain of fate forever, a meaningless sacrifice.
"Otherwise that weight would pass to those of our blood," I began. "Or so I'd like to say. I'm not nearly so kind as that. But even if I have to suffer, I want to see Chikane again. And I have to believe that one day we will be together without this cruel fate tearing us apart."
So you hold onto a nonsensical hope with no foundation? Oblivion would be far gentler than the punishment you are choosing of your own free will. What is the meaning of these decisions?
"A god knows the power of belief well," I said. "And I made a promise I have to keep. If you can't understand that, then it won't be possible for you to understand. But that shouldn't be surprising. I don't understand you."
No matter how long you wait, you will never be free.
I smiled. "I know. But I will see her again."
