So, to explain why I deleted Chapter 1, it is because it wouldn't fit the prologue, exactly. I changed the prologue a bit to add a bit more drama and to show that Ammy isn't the 'Golden Goddess' we all know and love. Plus, it might lead to a bit of a character development for her.

Also, I now have a job at Chick-fil-A! I am currently under training, though, and there's another week of that. But it is official.

Anyway, that's all I wanted to say.

Reijiko raised an eyebrow at the white okami seated cross-legged next to her as they observed a petite, skinny boy being cornered against a wall. A small pool was what the wolf used to monitor the mortal world below her during her duties as sun goddess. Said goddess returned Reijiko's stare and grinned cheekily.

"Yes?"

Reijiko huffed and said, "Are you certain he is the one, Amaterasu? He seems…" she spared a glance down at the pool and caught a glimpse of the boy taking a fist to the face before looking back at the okami. "Insignificant."

The white wolfess in question let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head as she adjusted her position, bringing and settling her tail onto her lap and stroking it absentmindedly. "Oh, ye of little faith. Of course, I am sure, Reijiko. In fact, one might say I am 'overly confident' that this boy, however small and weak he is perceived to be, is the one from the prophecy." Another chuckle escaped from her elongated, toothed maw as she smiled, showing off the sharp, pearly-white teeth.

Reijiko rolled her eyes and returned her gaze to the pool. "I have my doubts and concerns, my lady." She shot an adamant glance at Amaterasu. "Does the prophecy call for a thin twig of a man to face off against hordes of demons and bring peace to the world?"

Another chuckle from the okami sun goddess. "Of course not! He is but a boy, Reijiko. He will soon grow to be a strong man, the one from the prophecy."

"But for him to be a foreigner?"

Amaterasu opened her mouth to reply but quickly shut it as Reijiko had a good point. It was a surprise for the sun goddess when she read through the texts. To have someone not of Nippon - or Japanese in these modern times - descent fulfill a prophecy and save the mortal and spiritual world was certainly unheard of. Almost forbidden, even. But the ancient texts never lied. So far.

After a brief moment of silence, she finally spoke, resuming the stroking of her tail. "I admit, I was both surprised and, dare I say, disappointed to find that it called for a 'mortal not born of Nippon'." She shrugged dismissively. "But I dare not ignore such a prophecy. Remember the last time one was ignored? By both kami and mortals alike?"

Reijiko nodded. "Yes, Nippon was nearly destroyed by a weapon nearly as powerful as the sun itself." She visibly shivered, and Amaterasu did the same. "All of those people, happy and living their life peacefully… gone in an instant." Her ears folded back against her head, and she hugged herself tightly. "It was horrible, Ammy. To hear thousands of voices fall silent all at once in a flash of light brighter than the sun. And it happened not once, but twice. Twice, Ammy." The eight-tailed, golden-furred kitsune stifled a sob, which came out as a whimper.

Amaterasu reached over and placed a comforting hand on Reijiko's shoulder. "It's been nearly a century since that happened, Rei." The kitsune sniffed and nodded solemnly.

"I know," she whispered meekly.

Then the okami smiled brightly and directed Reijiko's gaze to her. "Speaking of centuries, it's almost your ninth one, isn't it? Don't you get your ninth tail this summer?"

Reijiko immediately perked up, and all the somberness and grief were gone in an instant. "Y-yes! I do! I nearly forgot! Thank you for reminding me, Ammy. Mother is currently preparing for the ceremony itself and has requested for my assistance in the following months…" she faltered when she noticed the beaming smile on Amaterasu's wolfish face. "What?"

"Nothing," she fibbed with a shake of her head, keeping her widening smile. "I understand from your reaction that it is a wondrous occasion?"

Reijiko nodded eagerly. "Yes! It is!" She paused and collected herself, turning serious. "Ahem, I must apologize for the sudden departure, Amaterasu. But it was a pleasure to see you again."

Amaterasu smiled and nodded once. "The pleasure is all mine. Good night, Rei. Have fun at the ceremony, won't you?"

Rei smiled and hugged the sun goddess. "I will. Good-night, Ammy."

Amaterasu returned the embrace before pulling away to allow the kitsune to stand and depart from her dwelling. But just as Reijiko was about to cross the threshold and journey back to her home, she stopped in her tracks and turned to Amaterasu with a concerned and worried look on her delicate, vulpine features. "I hope you are right about this human, Ammy. If it turns out that he is not who the prophecy says, then the entire world would be at stake. All life, mortal and kami, will be destroyed until Yami and his demons remain."

Amaterasu narrowed her golden eyes at the kitsune before looking off to the side. "You don't know if it's Yami, Reijiko. And neither do I."

"Then how come the prophecy explicitly depicts Yami, the 'Lord of Darkness,' in that scroll, Amaterasu?" the kitsune questioned almost accusingly.

Amaterasu shook her head and replied feebly, "The Lord of Darkness could be anyone infused with Yami's power, and not the Akuma himself. Kyuubi is such an example. She was merely a vessel of Yami, with only a fraction of his power, and I was able to defeat her with relative ease."

Reijiko shook her head and took a step towards the sun goddess. "That is your arrogance speaking, Amaterasu. You may be a kami, but you are still very much vulnerable. That much was proven when you fought Orochi the first time, as well as Yami." She paused, waiting for the wolfess to retaliate, but no reply came. She then continued, "You cannot ignore the signs, Amaterasu. Demon sightings have increased ever since this perceived chosen one was born, and all of them were seething with Yami's power. In fact, one of my sisters reported that, before their demise, one imp proclaimed the return of Yami and-"

Amaterasu whirled on the eight-tailed kitsune, her golden eyes burning bright with fury. " I defeated Yami and cut him to pieces , Reijiko!" she snarled. "He is dead ! There is no possible way that he's alive. All of those imps and chimeras are delusional! They speak of a time long gone! Yami is never returning. And even if he does, I'll be the one to stop him."

"But that isn't what the prophecy states!" Reijiko protested. "You said it yourself that we cannot ignore it! If he is who you say he is, the boy is the one destined to defeat the armies of darkness. Not you."

Amaterasu growled and flashed her teeth warningly. "Get out."

Reijiko shook her head, stamping her left foot affirmatively. "No."

"I said, GET OUT!" Amaterasu lashed out without a second thought and realized what exactly she had done too late.

Reijiko screamed and fell to the ground, holding her right cheek in her paw, a crimson liquid seeping through between her fingers. Amaterasu gasped and stared in horror at the damage, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to apologize.

"Reijiko..." The wolfess's ears splayed backward, and she hid the offending appendage against her bosom, staining her white fur dark red. "Reijiko, I'm sorry. I...I couldn't help myself."

The kitsune looked at Amaterasu with wet eyes, sobs shaking her prone form. "You..." she spoke, her voice hoarse and barely above a whisper. "You're a monster, Amaterasu."

With that, Reijiko disappeared in a flash of gold light, temporarily blinding Amaterasu. When it had died out, Amaterasu was left by herself to deal with the consequences of her actions.

The sun goddess looked down at the hand that had dealt the blow and stared at it in disbelief. It was coated in her former-best friend's blood from the tips down to the second knuckle. The sight of red against her snow-white fur brought a wave of nausea washing over Amaterasu as the guilt finally caught up to her. A sob slipped from her muzzle, and the tears flowed freely down her cheeks. Tears clouded her vision, her throat tightened, and she fell to her knees before she curled into a ball.

"What have I done?" she asked herself with a whimper, clutching the bloodied paw to her chest. "I'm so sorry, Reijiko. I'm sorry."