Sorry this has taken so long. It's only a short update but I wanted to give you something before the weekend. One of my pet rats has been really, really poorly with a respiratory illness so I've been looking after her. She's made an amazing recovery though : ) Hopefully she should be OK now.

A monster was hunting Amaterasu. The goddess was fast, but the creature following her was determined and relentless in its pursuit. It couldn't bound across the land like she did but it also didn't need to rest and it could go for days on end without eating. It chased her night and day, drifting closer and closer while she meandered about the land unsure of what to do with herself.

And she was very unsure of herself. The monster could sense her awkwardness. Her uncertainty. Her pain. All of the emotions would be invisible to everyone around her, but it could feel them. When it reached her it would know how to hurt her the most. The Moon King had told the monster everything it needed to know.

It wouldn't be long before it found her. Its progress had been slower than it should have been, hampered by the group of moon men it had been ordered to stay close to, but it was drawing near now. The anticipation was agonizing. The monster pictured the inevitable fight, imagining what it would say and do to hurt the goddess. It had been told not to kill her, which was irritating but acceptable since the Moon King had promised to reward the monster with its freedom. After the fight with the goddess was over it would be free to roam the land and kill whoever it wished.

Easily it weaved through the undergrowth of Agata Forest, invisible amid the dew-drenched grass. It was close to her now… so close.

It was also close to the prophet the Moon King had told it about. Like Amaterasu, the prophet was not to be killed, which was frustrating since he was following the monster. He was using his wings to stay high in the treetops. He'd made no move to attack. He simply watched and followed, keeping pace with the monster's swift movements as best as it could.

The monster tried to ignore him, even though it didn't like being followed. He wouldn't be a bother for much longer. How the prophet had managed to spot it amongst the grass it didn't know, but it was certain that he hadn't noticed the moon men. Foolish prophet. So concerned with tracking the monster that he was blind to the true danger.

He'd find out soon enough how much trouble he was in.

"Ahahaha! I knew you would come, wolf! Tired of lazing in heaven, eh?"

Susano grinned broadly as he stood at the entrance to Kamiki between the aisle of cherry trees. The buds of flowers hadn't yet bloomed, but of course that changed as soon as Amaterasu saw them. Issun knew she wouldn't be able to resist. He felt her staring at the trees and concentrating, drawing them in her mind the way she wanted them to look. Abruptly the buds between the leaves opened and the tree turned pink with flowers so quickly that Issun didn't even see it happen.

Susano looked around him at the pink petals that were suddenly flittering above his head and laughed. "You have not changed, Fido."

Ammy wagged her tail as she surged forward, whining and barking as she leapt up and licked Susano's face. He grunted. "What are you doing, Fido? Get down! The greatest warrior, Susano, should not be covered in wolf slobber! Down!"

Giving him one last, long lick, Ammy sat, her tail still wagging furiously. Issun leaned close to her ear. "You know, Furball, you really shouldn't slobber all over people like that. I mean, it's not very hygienic is it? You dunno where they've been! Besides, Susano looks like the kinda guy that hates baths more than we do."

Ammy didn't look as if she cared, and Issun supposed he couldn't blame her for being so pleased. It felt good to be back in Kamiki. The journey from Kamui had been long and almost unbearably dull. Issun hated to say it but the land was boring without monsters. Ammy had seemed agitated too. Issun knew she loved seeing everything so peaceful, but he also knew that after whatever had happened to her on the moon she was tense and ready for a good fight.

Susano coughed as he stood up straight. "That's better, Fido. Now then, I have a gift for you, brother…" He frowned. "Or is it sister? Amaterasu is a female deity so I suppose that makes you a woman does it not, wolf?" He glanced at her uncertainly. "Well, anyway. I have this for you." He reached into the pouch at his side and withdrew a large bone that was still heavy with raw meat.

Ammy barked happily and then reared up on her hind legs.

"You're a god, Ammy! Ya don't have to beg!" said Issun, rolling his eyes. Why was she always so greedy? She ate everything in sight and yet she still acted like she'd never been fed. Typical Ammy. He could hear her drooling.

Grinning, Susano held out the bone and Ammy snatched as it so fast that Issun was surprised she didn't take Susano's arm off in the process.

"Good woman, wolf. A warrior is always ready to feast!" said Susano, standing back and laughing as Ammy growled and savaged her present.

"Hey, what about me? Where's my pressie?" said Issun. "I'm half-starved." Ammy ate everything. She never left him anything and he usually had to grab hold of her ears to hold her back and remind her that he still needed feeding too when they were travelling.

Susano glanced at Issun as if he had only just noticed him. "Oh, you. Yeah, he said you would be here too. I didn't think to bring you anything."

"Bah! Nobody ever thinks of poor Issun! You'd think…" Issun suddenly froze as he realised what Susano had said. "Wait, who told you we would be coming, pops? We didn't even know we would be coming. We've kinda just been wandering around checking for monsters."

"Uh..." Susano folded his arms and puffed out his chest. "The greatest warrior ever, Susanno, knows all."

"Too late to try that now! You already said 'he'. Who was it?"

Susano deflated slightly but then he coughed and quickly puffed up his chest again. "Ah, now that I think about it I recall a madman with gold wings. I, uh, bested him in combat and forced him to tell me what he knew."

"Uh, sure. Bet you bested him real good," said Issun, noting the sweat on Susano's brow. The poor guy probably couldn't fight a mouse nowadays. He was a bit chubbier than Issun remembered, which suggested his training had gone right out the window.

Again Susano coughed. "Yes. He told me you were coming."

Ammy suddenly whined and reared up on her hind legs, her tail wagging so hard that she seemed to have trouble keeping her balance.

"What's up with you, Ammy? Looney wingsy your pal?" said Issun.

She barked and she seemed almost anxious as she jumped up at Susano, waiting for him to say more. Issun frowned. There she went again, being very unAmmy like and more human-like. Ammy wasn't supposed to get anxious.

And Issun was beginning to get a horrible feeling as to why she was acting like this. A madman with wings… "Mad as in a bit half-baked?" he asked Susano. "Was he a skinny, arrogant pretty boy with a freaky sword that he liked to show off with?"

Susano frowned so hard that his entire face creased. "An arrogant show off? Certainly. Pretty… Well, Kushi said…" His voice turned to a mumble.

Oh gods. It was him. Issun glanced at Ammy who was still whining and begging. He whacked her hard on the head with his fist until she yelped. "Oi! What you acting like this for? We hate that half-baked prophet don't we? Don't we?" He pulled on her ears frantically.

Ammy didn't reply but she tilted her head slightly, as if she was trying to peer at Issun on the top of her head. He could feel what she was thinking. She didn't hate Waka. She never had. Now that Issun thought about it he remembered that Ammy had never really growled much whenever they'd run into Waka. Issun grimaced. "Eeeewwww… just eeewwwwww! You were supposed to eat him on your way back to the celestial plain as a travel snack. How can you and him be pals? Blech! You're a real traitor, you know that?"

As if she was ashamed, Ammy lowered her head. "I should think so too!" Issun snapped, folding his arms. "I take it that freak was the one who fell from the moon with you? Ugh, and to think I was worried. I feel all dirty inside."

Ammy shuffled her feet nervously and Issun whacked her on the head again. "And stop fidgeting. I don't like it when you do that. Wolfs don't fidget and you're freaking me out. Don't fret your little fluffy head, 'K? We'll find that idiot prophet for you. I'll even help you."

She barked happily and wagged her tail. Issun could sense that she wanted to slobber over him to say thank you, but luckily he was out of reach on top of her head. How the heck could be friends with Waka? It was a good job she was back with Issun. She seemed to lose all sense of herself when he wasn't around.

"Snowy!" someone called.

Issun looked up quickly at the sound of Kushi's voice. She was coming towards them as fast as she could, but she was walking awkwardly. It was only as she got closer that Issun saw the size of her belly. She was pregnant.

"Wow, that was quick work, pops," Issun said, grinning at Susano. "What do you think? Boy or girl?"

"He wants a boy," said Kushi as she reached them. "I don't mind which, but I'll never hear the end of it if it's a girl."

Susano was still frowning as he put his arm around her. He pulled her close.

Kushi smiled at Ammy, who sat wagging her tail. "Snowy… Or I suppose I should call you Lady Amaterasu." She curtsied, though Issun had no idea how she managed it with how big she was. Kushi glanced at Susano. "Have you told them about that lovely man that was here a few days ago?"

Susano grunted, his frown deepening and his hand tightening around Kushi's shoulder. She laughed as she playfully prodded his chest. "You're not still jealous because I said he was handsome are you?" She giggled.

"Good grief, not you as well," said Issun. He glanced between Kushi and Ammy. "I suppose Sakuya is ready to get on her knees for that half-baked Waka too is she? Yuck! You all need your heads examining!"

Kushi frowned. "Who's Sakuya?"

Wait. Normal people couldn't see wood sprites could they? Issun had forgotten. "You don't need to worry about her, sweetie," he said to Kushi.

"Well that man was lovely," said Kushi, smiling. "I was out walking in Shinshu and an imp jumped out at me. I don't think it was going to hurt me – there's not many around any more and they usually keep to themselves – but I was very frightened. That man appeared and chased it off for me, and then he helped me back to the village."

"I could have saved you had I know where you were going!" said Susano, folding his arms grumpily. "You should have said you were going for a walk. I would have come with you."

"You were napping and I didn't want to disturb you. Besides, it doesn't matter now. Me and the baby are safe and I won't go in to that field alone again. And there's no need to be jealous, Susano. That man was so handsome that he probably has his own lady friend." She laughed.

"He wishes," Issun muttered. "Where is he now?"

"I don't know. He said he had things to do."

Issun patted Ammy's head. "If he wants to find us, Ammy, then he will. Seems pointless us turning the land upside down to find him. He'll turn up." Unfortunately.

"He was mad," said Susano. "He said-"

"Susano, you're being very rude," said Kushi. "You shouldn't keep Lady Amaterasu waiting on the edge of the village like this. There's sake and rice cakes at our house." Grabbing Susano's arm, she pulled him forward.

Whatever Susano had been about to say, Kushi had obviously wanted him to stop. She was even whispering urgently to him. Issun shrugged. They wouldn't keep any dark secrets, though he had to admit he was uneasy about Waka's reappearance. Ammy seemed to trust him though, and Issun trusted her. He glanced at her as she followed Kushi and Susano. He wondered what had happened on that ark. He'd wanted to ask for a while but it had seemed useless seeing as she couldn't tell him. He could usually sense what she was thinking but he only ever caught the odd word or feeling. She wouldn't be able to tell him a whole story.

Well, Ammy may have been blinded by that irritating pretty boy but Issun would be watching him very closely when he appeared.

Sorry it's so short. I'll update more as soon as I can. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far!