She sat watching he ocean's waves crash upon the rocky shore (No clue if that is what the beaches in Tokyo are like), her long black hair whipping around she small form in the strong wind, her pale skin lightly pink from the stinging ocean spray carried by the wind. She was waiting for him to find her, she had felt the Arigami wake six years before and she felt them stirring again. They might remain asleep or they might wake, no one was sure, not even the gods.
Akina sighed she had been sitting on the beach since early morning awaiting Susano-oh. It was almost sunset when he finally appeared, his wife Kaede at his side.
"You took your time Uncle."
"Ahh, you made it Akina, I'm glad I was afraid your family would make it impossible for you to meet me."
"They stopped trying to control me a while ago Uncle, they learned that it could be hazardous to their health, especially Kisho."
"I'm sorry Akina it must have been hard."
"It doesn't matter Uncle, it was a long time ago. Now what did you wish of me."
"My Lady Kaede and I wish for you to look out for the Princess Kushinada and her Protector. If the Arigami wake they will be stronger and they will be looking for revenge against the one who put them to sleep."
"And you think that I will be able to keep these newly evolved Arigami at bay while the Kushinada and her Protector learn how o deal with them. Why do you think I will be able to stand against the Arigami?"
"Because my dear niece you know the Arigami, in happier times you were close to their King."
"You forget Uncle, I was never close to Murakumo and I have avoided Arigami as if they were the plague since he came into power. His brother I loved, him I hate!"
"I know Akina and I know that it will pain you to be involved in this but your help is needed."
"Please Milady Akina help my sister. She deserves all the happiness this world would give her. If the Arigami wake and attack she will have no way to defend herself."
"I understand your concern Lady Kaede but I am not sure what to do. I once loved the Arigami King, not Murakumo of course, but his older brother. I loved him with all my heart and he loved me but Murakumo shattered our happiness. He killed his brother so that he could control the Arigami and I could do nothing. Uncle you forget that as much as I may want to take revenge upon Murakumo I can't, when I married Katsuhiro I swore that I would never fight against the Arigami, unless the Arigami tried to kill me. I have kept my promise this long and I would like it if I could keep from breaking it."
"These are innocent people who will be hurt unless you help Akina. They will die if you don't help them. They can only fight the arigami if they are given enough time to improve their weapons."
"I realize that Uncle! But there is still the conflict between what you want of me and the promise I made to Katsuhiro."
"What about the promise you made to your fellow Gods, your promise to aid when called."
"Of all things you could hold over my head! What so you wan me to do Uncle? Either path leads me to break a promise!"
"You should realize that you have no choice. Murakumo knows that you are in Japan and you can bet your Immortality that he will come after you even as those who follow him attack the Kushinada and those close to her. I do not believe that Katsuhiro would wish to see innocents die at his brother's hands!"
"You're right, he wouldn't, but unfortunately he isn't here to tell us what he would want. I am not going to try and decide what Katsuhiro would want or wound not want, there is too much room for error!"
"What if you could ask him and he were to tell you that your promise was no longer relevant, what would you do?"
"Laughs Kill Murakumo, killing two birdies with one shot. I would have my revenge on Katsuhiro's killer and the Princess Kushinada would be safe."
"Akina! Think Akina, think. Killing Murakumo would serve no purpose; there are others who would step up to fill his place. The only way to win is to fight long enough for a way to be found to put them back to sleep."
I don't care, one day I will see Murakumo dead for what he did to Katsuhiro!"
I realize that Akina! I am just asking you to wait and help the Princess Kushinada."
If I could I would Uncle! But as I have said I cannot fight the Arigami! That is a promise I will not Break!"
In a bright flash of light they were in the Fortunak Islands of Paradise (I hope that is right, I looked but I have no idea if that is the right name for the afterlife type of heaven, it is supposed to be the home of everlasting life.) and standing in front of Akina was Katsuhiro. Her eyes wide in shock, Akina had to sit down for fear of fainting.
"Husband perhaps we should leave Akina and Katsuhiro alone for a bit, it has been some time since they have seen each other. I am sure that there is much that they have to discuss."
Once Susano-oh and Kaede had walked off Katsuhiro sat down next to the still shocked Akina. As she was recovering from her shock he sat there and just looked at her. Drinking in the sight of the one person he loved more than anything. With a slight hesitation, bore from being apart; Katsuhiro pulled Akina into his arms. He sighed; it felt so good, even just to hold her. It had been so long, and even if they were together forever it wouldn't be enough time. As Akina began to relax in his arms Katsuhiro held her tighter pretending that it was like before, that they were in Japan and that he was still alive. It was Akina who moved first, she leaned back in his arms and looked him in the eyes, searching for something. Satisfied she leaned forward and kissed him. A simple kiss filled with longing and all the love she felt for him. They were both breathless when they finally broke apart and were content just to be in each other's arms, as if time waited on them. I was Katsuhiro who finally broke the silence.
"I know what is going on Akina, and your Uncle is right I don't want to see innocents die because of a promise you made to me long ago, so I release you of it." All this was said in a hurry, so he was slightly breathless by the time he was finished.
"Katsuhiro! What do you mean?"
"I release you of your promise. I want you to fight against those Arigami that are waking."
"But why? They are your people and I know that you do not want to see them hurt!"
Katsuhiro turned Akina around so she was facing him; with his hand resting on either side of his face he forced her to look at him. Her teary emerald eyes met his warm chocolate eyes and he spoke:
"Why? Because I love you Akina, you are my world, my reason forever having existed. Without you my life would have been empty, meaningless. You filled my life with joy and sunshine and love, the likes of which I had never imagined. It was for you that I was born."
He pulled her to him in a crushing embrace.
"And it is you I have missed every second of everyday since I was taken from your arms. I have counted the days since I died, waiting to see you again. Now that I hold you again I don't ever want to let you go and yet I know I must."
"Oh Katsuhiro, I don't want to let you go either! I can't bear to lose you again!"
Sobbing she pulled away to meet his eyes and as the first tears began to run down her checks there was a blinding flash of golden light. Once they could see again they saw Kameko standing before them. Her eyes shadowed with the pain she felt for her daughter.
"Akina let me help you, return to the Heavens and I will give Katsuhiro back his mortal life."
I can't mother, my place has never been in the Heavens and even if it had been I could not stand to be apart from Katsuhiro knowing he lived, I love him too much. I will love him until time stops and I would do nothing that would be denying that love."
"I had hoped that your love ran that deep it makes what I am about to do so much easier. The love you share makes it so that death is a small obstacle if the two people who share it wish to be together. Your souls already reside together so bringing your bodies back together will be the easy part. That is of course if you except."
"Of course I except Lady Kameko, I would be a great fool to dismiss a chance to be with Akin again in all ways. And for all that I am, I am not a fool."
"Of course you aren't Katsuhiro. I all that I ask in return is that you do your best to protect Akina and to help protect the Kushinada, Japan needs her."
"I will do so to the best of my abilities Lady Kameko."
"That is all that can be asked."
As Kameko began to return Katsuhiro to his mortal body, after a thousand years, Susano-oh and Kaede returned, the showed little surprise at seeing Kameko there with Akina and Katsuhiro.
"Ah, they are to be together again I presume?"
"Yes, despite what the others say it is for the best. Even with her powers as a Goddess Akina cannot protect the Kushinada by herself, and despite what she thinks she needs to be protected from time to time."
With our warning there was another flash of light and Akina was once again sitting on the beach, only this time she was in Katsuhiro's arms. It was a while before Akina could make herself move from the comfort and warmth of Katsuhiro's embrace to stand. She could not bear to break the contact completely and so she kept a hold of his hand as she stood. Tugging him up to stand beside her. Together they turned to face Susano-oh and Kaede.
"I will protect the Princess Kushinada and her companions from Murakumo and those who follow him, for however long I am needed. I cannot promise anything beyond that."
"I understand Akina, and Kaede and I both thank you. We had better hurry though, I fear Murakumo and his followers are beginning to wake and I would have the Kushinada and her protector know that you are on their side before the battle begins."