Oki was gasping as he dashed up the snowy path leading out of Wep'Keer and into the bowl-shaped valley that housed Kutone's shrine and Laochi Lake. There was no easy or direct way from the cliff tops to the village, but Oki knew he shouldn't be out of breath this much. It was his own fault. As there had been no monsters plaguing the land for a year, there had been no need to run or fight and his old skills seemed to have crumbled. What kind of warrior was he? His head thumped so hard that his eyes made the land around him look as if it was melting.

Stopping, he yanked off his mask to help him breathe easier before bending over in pain as a stitch drove in to his side. Ahead was the shrine and Oki sagged with relief as he saw that Kutone was still in its pedestal. Good. He didn't think he had the energy to reach it.

Somebody laughed softly and Oki grimaced. He'd never hated a voice this much in his entire life. It was softly soothing yet infuriating all at the same time.

"You took your time, my blue-faced friend. If I was a monster intent upon mischief then I would have snatched the sword and already been half way across Nippon by the time you lumbered to the rescue. I feel embarrassed for you."

Waka stood by an icy rock twirling his flute between his long fingers. He didn't seem bothered by his descent from the cliffs and his golden wings were once again folded neatly behind him. "Is that your real face?" he asked, tilting his head and frowning. "No wonder you wear a mask all the time."

Oki gritted his teeth, wishing that he had the breath to reply. Waka may not have looked tired but Oki could see that he was shivering. He was a thin looking man, and with the flimsy pink shirt and blue trousers he was wearing he was lucky not to have already frozen to death, or starved to death since he didn't seem to have any supplies with him other than a tiny pouch at his side. What the heck was he? Nobody like him should be able to survive in Kamui…

But now that Oki thought about it, the Moon Tribe had worn similarly thin clothing, and Waka's sword was just like their arrows. He even looked a bit like the moon boy Oki and Amaterasu had pinned in the snow. They both had young faces, though Oki had a funny feeling that Waka was nowhere near as young as he looked.

Oki took several deep breaths but he knew that his voice still sounded exhausted when he spoke. "What is it that you want? I know you're from the Moon Tribe."

"So?"

"So what do you want! Tell me before I kill you!"

Waka was staring at his flute. He rubbed a finger on it, as if he was brushing away a piece of dirt. He looked up suddenly. "Huh? What was that, blue boy?"

"You heard what I said! Now, answer me before I call the other Oina. Can you fight an entire pack of animals?"

Waka shrugged. "Whine for help then. Makes no difference to my reputation. I'll fight any pooch you throw at me. Weird though. The Oina's so-called greatest warrior can't even take on one man. Is your title self-proclaimed per chance petit garcon?"

Oki drew his sword and gripped it so tightly that it made his fingers ache. "There is no shame in having allies."

"You really are dull. And to think Amaterasu has told me so many interesting stories about you…"

Oki froze. The silence of the cold air was deafening as Waka once again inspected his flute.

"What did you say?" said Oki. "How can Amaterasu have told you anything? Besides, I don't believe she'd ever want anything to do with a man like you."

"Mmmm, really?" For a tiny moment Waka smiled but then he leapt in to the air, spreading his golden wings to catch a gust of wind that manifested so suddenly that it was as if Amaterasu herself had called it. Gliding over Oki's head, Waka landed on the carved stone slabs beside Kutone. He folded his arms and shook his head. "This is pretty poor security. I think I'll just take it with me so that I can be sure it's safe." He wrapped his hands about the hilt.

Oki knew he wouldn't reach him in time. Instead he put a hand to his belt, drew his hunting knife and then threw it.

It appeared that he hadn't lost all of his warrior skills. Waka looked up in surprise and then leapt backwards off the shrine, just as the blade rattled against the stone where he had been standing.

"So you're not completely washed up then? Magnifique!" said Waka, laughing. He landed on the surface of Laochi Lake, his red shoes barely making a ripple. His wings extended and the gold colour was almost blinding as it reflected the vibrant snow…

Oki knew him from somewhere… or not necessarily him, but he recognised the shape with the wings extended from the head. Tuskle had a painting in her hut of the Ark of Yamato that the celestials had fled as it crashed into the lake. Waka looked exactly like a celestial and yet he'd as good as confessed that he was a member of the Moon Tribe. He couldn't be a celestial. Oki didn't believe celestials could be this irritating.

Waka held up his flute and then pressed the palm of his hand against it, drawing the green blade just as he had atop the cliffs. The air fizzed so violently that Oki felt it scraping painfully against his face and bare arms. Slipping his mask on, Oki drew his own sword and then ran towards Kutone, positioning himself between it and Waka. "I won't let you take this sword."

"Tres bien." Waka drew a second sword from the sheath at his side and then expertly spun both it and the green blade through the air with a speed that Oki had never seen before. He held both of them ready. "Go for it then, blue boy. If you've got your breath back that is."

Oki growled, but he didn't move. A year ago he would have leapt in to the fight in a second, but Samickle had taught him to remain calm, or as calm as Oki was ever going to manage anyway. He was furious, but even in anger he managed to think and plan. He couldn't just run at Waka. He had to stay between him and Kutone.

Waka moved first. Oki didn't even have time to blink before he was madly trying to block the blows from both of Waka's swords. In only a few moments he was out of breath again and his arm ached as he tried to keep up. Several times he swore that one of the swords was about to slice in to his face but somehow he seemed to manage to escape death.

Waka moved so easily that it was almost as if he was dancing. Every movement was graceful and he seemed to know what Oki was going to do before he had even moved his arm. Oki never came close to hitting him once.

"Now come on, I fail to believe you're this pathetic. C'est terrible!" laughed Waka, backing away across the lake.

Oki panted. He couldn't breathe. Yanking his mask off he hurled it across the snow behind him. He was covered in sweat but Waka's face wasn't even pink from effort.

"My oh my, what has happened to you, blue Oina man? You fought with ma cherie Amaterasu against those little owls last year. I expected better. I can't clear up all of the Moon King's mess myself but you're going to make a poor ally. It would seem as if this mortal plain, including this iceberg village of yours, will be doomed when the demons come. And I assure you that they will come."

"What are you babbling about?" snapped Oki. "The cold must have frozen that air-filled head of yours!"

"Let's wrap this up. I don't need a shambling wreck of a warrior like you." Waka hurled his sword at Oki. Oki tried to jump out of the way, but as he did he slipped on the steps of the shrine. He grunted as he fell awkwardly. Waka's sword bounced on the stone between his legs.

"Not then, just to put your mind at rest," said Waka, "me taking this sword won't unleash any owls, blackbirds, imps, gremlins or other trifling creatures that you are petrified of. There are no monsters in Nippon...at least for the moment, but when they come it won't be because of this sword."

Oki turned. Waka stood in front of the Kutone's pedestal.

No… Oki wouldn't let him win. He threw himself at Waka's legs.

He expected the Moon Tribe man to use his wings to escape but he didn't move, and the force of Oki's blow sent both of them rolling across the carved stone slabs. Waka's green sword was knocked from his hand and he gasped as he clutched his arm.

Struggling to his feet, Oki ran to Kutone. He'd said he'd never take it again but he couldn't let Waka steal it. The villagers would be devastated. He grabbed the hilt and heaved, easing the metal from the frozen stone. The metal of the blade glimmered and then turned silver, just as it had done the night he'd faced the owls with Amaterasu. It was as if the sword had been waiting for him to take it.

Waka sat up and smiled. "Finally," he muttered. Standing he dusted himself off and then retrieved both his swords. He backed away across the snow.

Oki jumped down from the shrine, keeping Waka in his sight as he pointed Kutone at him. "You will not have this sword," he said.

"I don't want it. I told you; I wanted you to take it. Take good care of it."

Oki frowned. "What-"

"I must be going, but I have one job left to do. Can't have you just leaving that sword lying around again…" Waka sheathed both his swords and then pulled a small silver sphere from the pouch at his side. He seemed to press something on it with his fingers and then there was high pitched whine unlike anything Oki had ever heard before.

"What are you doing?" Oki asked.

Waka tossed the sphere at the shrine. Oki watched the sphere as it fell. There was a tiny red glow on it that flickered faster and faster as it twirled through the air.

Waka spread his wings and jumped up in to the sky. From nowhere, a breeze appeared that he caught with his wings. "Au revoir, blue boy."

The sphere hit the ground, directly in the centre of Kutone's shrine.

And then it exploded. The sound roared through Oki's ears, making him scream as he was knocked to the ground. The air seemed to become a hurricane that roared around him, but just as Oki thought he was dead, everything stopped. The valley was silent, though the sound still echoed in Oki's ears. Awkwardly he sat up and looked back at the shrine.

It was gone. Broken stone and pillars lay half buried in the snow and earth. Oki stared at the sword in his hands.

"Oki? Oki, is that you? What happened?" a deep voice called.

Samickle. Oki gripped Kutone tightly. He suddenly wished the explosion had killed him

"Oki, are you all right?" Samickle's voice was full of concern as he grabbed hold of Oki's arms to help him up. "What was that noise? What's happened to K…" He stopped as he stared at the sword in Oki's hand. Oki didn't know what to say.

And the base of the mountains was suddenly filled with nervous voices. The entire village seemed to have come running. They were all there. Kai holding Lika's hand… Kemu… everyone talking, gasping and pointing at what Oki held.

Kemu stormed forward. "I demand an explanation for what has happened here, Oki!"

Oki glanced at the ruins of the shrine. Tiny flakes of snow were beginning to float through the air, ready to cover up all trace of Kutone's resting place.

"Oki!" Samickle grabbed him by the shoulders, his grip so tight that it hurt. "What have you done?"

"I… A man with golden wings was trying to steal the sword. I had to take it to stop him and then…"

"How could you do this again!" one of the villagers cried. "The demons will return!"

"No," said Oki. "There have been no demons since the ark left."

"Since Kutone was replaced!" snapped Kemu. "That was when peace was restored!"

Some of the villagers shouted in agreement and Oki felt as if he was in a nightmare. They hated him. They wanted him gone.

Samickle's expression was unreadable behind his mask. "If there was a man here then why didn't you call for help?"

"There was no time."

"There is always time! You should have changed in to your beast form and howled. I would have come!"

"I'll rebuild the shrine myself and replace the sword. I'll work day and night. I won't rest."

"It won't matter!" someone shouted. "We're cursed!"

"Indeed, the damage is done," Samickle murmured.

Oki looked at the crowd. He couldn't tell what any of them were thinking behind their masks but he could see the anger in all of their eyes. They had been angry the first time but they had also seemed to understand that he had wanted to help. This time they couldn't see that. They saw him as a greedy fool that wanted the sword, no matter the cost.

Samickle slowly removed his mask. His face looked tired, disappointed. He glanced at the villagers and then at Oki. "Oki, you give me no choice. You must leave the village. A mistake made once is forgivable, but making the same mistake twice…"

"He was going to steal it!" shouted Oki.

"Leave, Oki." Samickle lowered his voice so that only Oki could hear him. "It gives me no pleasure to do this, but the villagers will not stand to have you around. They will tear you apart. Please leave. Take the sword with you. Even with no monsters it is a dangerous land outside of this village. I do not want any harm to come to you, but you cannot stay here any longer. Goodbye Oki. You are banished from Wep'Keer. I'm sorry."

Oki wanted to argue. He wanted to scream. Samickle cleared his throat as he informed the villagers of his decision. Nearly all of them cheered, except poor Kai who looked horrified. Oki looked between them and Samickle. The village chief was right. He couldn't stay. This was no longer a welcoming place for him.

Silently he grabbed his fallen mask from the snow and then started down the path that led back down in to Wep'Keer, ignoring the taunts and curses that were thrown at him. Once he would have yelled right back, perhaps even raised his sword at them, but not now. He understand their actions. He wouldn't take his anger out on them.

Waka, on the other hand would not be so lucky.

And he saw him again the moment he stepped out of the village. The winged man was standing by the village sign.

"You!" Oki ran at him, but Waka seemed to have expected the attack. Gracefully he used his wings, flying to a ridge on the side of the cliff that was safely out of Oki's reach. Oki growled as he thumped the icy rock with his bare fist, ignoring the burning pain that roared across his knuckles.

"It's not such a bad fate and your future will be brighter then you think," said Waka. "Remember, I prophesised a beautiful girl for you. She'll be almost as beautiful as Amaterasu, which should make you happy since I feel you have a soft spot for the goddess. Your girl will be lovely too, or at least I think she will. It's hard to tell since I only get fleeting glimpses of the future. And of course none can ever be as lovely as a goddess."

Oki grabbed a lump of snow form the ground and hurled it at Waka who ducked. "Childish," said Waka. "You're not listening to a word I say."

"Because you're talking rubbish and you don't make any sense!"

"'I have this sword because the time has come to wield it'. Didn't you say something along those melodramatic words, blue boy? Well, you were wrong. Back then wasn't the time for that sword, though it did come in useful. The time to wield that sword is now. Danger is coming. The Moon Tribe seeks to destroy Amaterasu. You must defend her."

"You say that you know her and have spoken to her. Why don't you defend her?"

"I can see the future. I won't be able to help her because… because I won't be around, so she will need all of her former comrades. That includes you, as feeble a warrior as you've become."

Oki paused. Waka wasn't looking at him any more. The prophet was staring at the floor dismally and for the briefest of moments Oki almost felt sorry for him.

Waka shook himself. "I have a lot to do so I shall bid you adieu. You also have a lot to do. Find Amaterasu. I sense that a monster is looking for her."

"How do I know you're not the monster?"

"You don't. Perhaps I will be the monster in the future. The problem with fleeting glimpses is that it is never enough to tell you everything. Maybe the future can be changed and maybe it can't, but I'm going to try."

The wind appeared. Like Amaterasu, Waka seemed able to summon it. He spread his wings and then he was gone. Oki grabbed another fistful of snow and hurled it in to the air after him, even though he knew he'd never reach

Tiredly he leaned against the rockface. What the heck had Waka been talking about? It still didn't make any sense, even as Oki tried to trace over it in his mind. What a bizarre man... so irritating, and yet for some reason Oki felt sorry for him, even though he knew he shouldn't after what he had done. Waka had sounded miserable as he'd spoken about helping Amaterasu and he'd seemed genuinely worried about her.

Oki glanced back at the village. He wasn't sure if he should leave. Even though he was banished he could still protect it by keeping watch on Kamui. He gripped Kutone. No, he should go to Amaterasu. Waka's words circled his head, as did the half-crazed prophet's misery. Something was going to happen to the goddess.

And as Oki marched forward he told himself that his choice to help her had nothing to do with him being too fond of her… She was a wolf and Waka was talking rubbish.

Utter rubbish.

Finally got you an update. Hope everyone likes it!