Summary: The city of the Moon is attacked, setting off a chain of events that reach far beyond its source. One of the survivors journeys across Nippon, trying to stop what his people have released.
Disclaimer: I do not own Okami, it belongs to Capcom and Clover. Okamiden also belongs to Capcom.
Last chapter, Waka left Taka Pass to go find Shin (though he doesn't know that yet) and sent Moegami off to the city. Meanwhile, Shin and Kabegami got Kabegami off the Plain with the help of Issun, Chibiterasu, and a flying saucer. Then the wind interrupted, and Shin found that Obieta had left with it.
Really sorry, another late chapter... I've been slipping a bit. The next one will be on time. Probably.
I hadn't looked back. I kept regretting that. I'd just left Shin with hardly a thought of goodbye, without any reason I could share with him…
Now, now, don't be that way, the wind whispered in my ears. There's a reason you decided to come with me, after all. I looked down at the night-darkened grass, overwhelmed by shame. Because it was true. I had abandoned Shin because I wanted to save someone else. That just didn't seem right… No more of that. There's only so many hours in the night. You don't want to be caught out here when the sun comes, do you? I was out in the open, my only shelter a cobbled wall.
No… I don't. But part of me felt that the sting of sunlight would be a punishment I deserved.
Then, let's go~ If a voice could convey a grin, this would be that voice. Smiling, even wider at my misfortunes. I still know what you're thinking, little spirit. Do you really see me that way? I tried to avoid responding. I only want to be your helper, precious one. Your guide.
Let's just get this done.
Fine, then. Be that way. Now I could almost sense… a pout? The beads are inside that temple. I carefully stepped around the wall, looking over at the staircase that led to the building. A large gate marked the steps to the entrance, a tall wall stretching out to prevent entry from any other direction. But, if I needed to, I could Catwalk over it easily. Warily, I proceeded up the steps, crouching alongside the little ledges of cover bordering the stone pathway. I felt exposed, especially as I passed under the gateway and into the temple grounds.
The steps grew steeper and darker. I kept going, through the two thinner, more decorative gateways that marked the true entrance with dull oranges and greens. From the small clearing, I could see the full temple.
To be honest, it wasn't as intimidating as the climb had made me expect. In fact, it looked a little like a less crooked version of the shack I had once taken shelter in, long ago, with Blue… I began to wonder where they could possibly have ended up, where they might be now... That took my thoughts in a different direction, and I could feel the wind huff in irritation.
Tsk. So sentimental, aren't you? The temple's large, dark roof loomed taller than the building itself. Well? It's inside. Go on! I tried to shake off my worries and hesitation, and slunk through the doorway. The moment I did, I froze and had to flinch away, forcing myself to focus on a plain spot on the wall. There was a human. Laying right there. Only steps away. My claws itched for the sensation of its skin between them, to tear into it until the warmth of life faded away. The thoughts made me want to whimper, to flee or curl up until everything went away. The floorboards made a strange rasping, ripping sound as my claws dug into them.
Make it stop… Make it go away… But not even the wind's voice answered. There was only the heartbeat in my head. I let out a quiet cry, pressing my face into the floor. Make it stop… I tried to focus on my breathing, tried to slow it from the panicked panting. Slowly, the foreign heartbeat and those horrible feelings began to recede. I lifted my head.
…Well then. The wind returned in a whoosh, as though a gust passing through the temple.
You could've warned me… No response. I tried to take a step forward, only to find my right paw's claws had lodged in the floor. I stepped backwards and carefully tugged it free. Looking everywhere around in the room that I could look without seeing the human, I found nothing. Where are they? All I knew about the beads is that they were round, and linked together by a string into a circle-like shape… And that they were blue. Distinctively blue. If they're not here… Finally the wind responded.
Over there, with all of the other "holy items". Now I saw the tiny bit of blue atop a wooden blocklike object. Slowly, I walked around the room. When I got there, I looked up at them—above my head. Just being near the beads gave me a tingly feeling of warmth. Hmm. So this is where she wandered off to. What an interesting turn of events... I managed to stand on my hind legs for a moment and, with a paw, batted them down. They fell to the floor with a series of quiet clatters. Behind me, I heard stirring. I froze, beginning to creep away.
"Huh…? Wha…. Rao's ….?" And then, with a soft breeze of wind, the human quieted again. Without much thought, I nosed at the beads until the string slipped over my head, then scampered out of the building.
As soon as I got to a seemingly safe area—at the crook of the wall, where it and the temple shielded me from all eyes except the stars—I stopped. Awkwardly, I shifted the beads around my neck, worrying they would tangle with the string of the Astral Pouch. But they didn't, and they weren't heavy either, just pleasantly warm in a way that made me feel safe and at home. It must have made me bold, because I addressed the wind.
"How could I understand what it was saying? Who's Rao? What did you mean about the beads?" I wanted answers. Things weren't lining up right. Was this some sort of trick? How could a human speak the same language that Yomigami had taught me? Who was this "Rao" that both it and Ninetails had mentioned? Or was "Rao" just a common word I didn't understand?
The wind only gave a derisive chuckle, as though mocking my confusion. Despite all my questions, the only thing it said was brief and direct:
Show me to the shrine.
Even within the humming interior of the ship, Chibiterasu shivered. Issun wasn't much better, having burrowed himself into the fur of his neck. Kabegami stood like a statue, seemingly unaware of the cold. Even so, Chibiterasu could tell that her skin was chilling. Under his fur, he felt Issun stir, and then the familiar green glow—though slightly fainter—bounced out.
"O-o-okay th-then… L-let's get going again…" The ship was hovering above the wintry island of Kamui. "S-so…" Issun mumbled to himself, hopping up to the control panel. "I think Wep'keer is that spot over there…" He started the engines again, tipping the saucer to dislodge all of the fallen snow from the glass. Chibiterasu stumbled, but was quickly on his feet again to catch Kabegami, who had toppled over without reaction. The brush god's skin was clammy and cold to the touch, but still she didn't shiver to warm herself. The puppy curled up next to her, trying to share what body heat he could.
All three of the occupants were sluggish with cold by the time the ship touched down near the edge of the village. The glass popped open, and a biting wind rushed in. Chibiterasu managed to rouse himself and tried to help Kabegami out of the saucer. Issun bounced atop the edge of the saucer, shouting for help. Chibiterasu began to bark, too, and soon a small pack of wolves approached. They each transformed into one of the Oina, and as Issun tried to explain the strange series of events, they took up Kabegami to carry while Chibiterasu stumbled alongside them. Finally he gave in, legs failing, and he felt arms lift him up.
So cold… He couldn't even shiver anymore. All his vision could focus on was that small green speck that seemed to sway in the endless swath of white.
Back and forth. Back and forth. Growing dim…
Then he woke up. Everything was warmer. A fire was crackling. Chibiterasu looked around. He was in a small hut. Furs covered the walls. Kabegami had been laid down nearby, wrapped in a thick blanket. There was a faint medicinal smell around her part of the room, but still she remained motionless.
He stepped towards her, looking for any signs of waking, and his paw brushed on something. He looked down. There was a piece of paper that he hadn't noticed before, which he bent down to read.
"Hey Chibi,
I'm going over to Ponc'tan. Maybe old Ishaku will have some idea about what's happened to the brush gods. I'll be back in a few days.
Stay safe!
Issun"
Chibiterasu reread the note, then was going to curl back up on his blanket when a strangely blue-furred wolf strode into the hut. He felt a sudden surge of recognition.
'You're… Samickle?' The wolf blinked in confusion.
'Who are you?' Chibiterasu fidgeted. Right. He looked like a puppy now, didn't he? 'The Poncle says you are the son of Amaterasu.' Chibiterasu shook his head. 'How do you know me?'
'I am Amaterasu.'
There was a long silence, filled only by the occasional crackles of the fire.
'It's a long story… Somehow, I was transformed into a puppy, and… Issun told you what happened to the other brush gods.' He pointed a snout towards the unconscious one in the room.
'Then why does he think you are a descendant of Amaterasu?'
'I can't talk to him! He doesn't understand anything I say!' Chibiterasu paced in frustration. Samickle watched.
'Do not worry. The answers will come. Until then, I welcome you again to Wep'keer.'
