"So come on then, Fruitcake. What's going on? Spit it out!" snapped Issun, as he and Waka climbed the slope leading away from the Moon Cave.
The sun had set, but Shinshu field wasn't dark. The night sky was clear, showering the grass and budding cherry trees with starlight. Brighter than anything though was the curved moon. Whoah, Issun couldn't remember ever seeing it that bright before and Shinshu looked strange in the celestial light. Everything seemed too pale, except for the shadows in the areas where the moon's light couldn't reach, which were blacker than usual.
Waka slid the round orb into the bag at his side and then stood at the top of the slope gazing about the field. Issun had never been able to read the prophet's facial expressions, but it almost seemed as if Waka was checking for danger. He looked alert and tense, just like Ammy had been recently. Issun found himself staring about the field as well. He didn't like this bright moonlight. It created too many shadows.
Finally, Waka looked back towards the cave. He shook his head. "No, ma cherie. This little prophecy is just for your envoy."
Issun turned. Ammy had followed them. She must have been trying very hard to make sure she wasn't heard or seen; Issun hadn't even sensed her. She stared at them, her tail drooping.
"Don't worry, ma cherie. We'll be back in a moment. Just go and sit with your blue faced friend for a little bit." He pointed at the water's edge where Oki had sat to rest and wash his face with the cool water.
Ammy stared at Waka resolutely. Issun would never have argued with a look like that, but Waka stared straight back at her. Issun glanced between the two of them. He had the eerie feeling that they could sense what each other was thinking, just like he could sometimes do with Ammy.
Ammy lowered her head and Issun's mouth gaped. No way. She'd given in to Waka? What kind of goddess was she?
"Let's go, Issun." Waka moved further from the cave and started along the path that led down into the main part of Shinshu field.
"Why can't Ammy come? You can't treat a goddess like that! She can do what she wants!" snapped Issun. He looked back, but Ammy wasn't following. Issun couldn't believe she'd given in.
"She is a lady and we're having a man to man talk," said Waka.
"Man to man talk? Hah! You should be so lucky."
"Well, I suppose 'man' is going a bit far for a little bug."
Issun froze. "Why you idiot, half-baked-"
Abruptly Waka turned and grabbed Issun with his hand, encaging him with his fingers. He strode forward.
"Hey!" Issun tried to grab his sword to chop Waka's fingers off but Waka's grip was too strong. Issun could hardly breathe, let alone move.
"I really can't be bothered to exchange barbs all evening before we get to the point so I will make this incredibly simple for your little brain to comprehend. I have a task for you and I will kill you if you fail to do it. Make sure nobody turns Amaterasu into a human. Understood?"
"Let me go, you big fruitcake! Bah, I knew this was a trick!"
"Are you listening to me? Make sure she stays in wolf form!"
Waka dropped him on the grass. Issun gasped, but he refused to lie there struggling to catch his breath. Standing, he yanked his sword free. "Try that again and you'll regret it! Don't underestimate me just because I'm a tiny poncle!"
"Here's my prophecy. I've been saving this one especially for you." Waka's eyes glazed over as he spun and pointed at Issun with his flute. "I see Amaterasu in her beautiful human form on the mortal plain, and I see her destroying the sun and the moon."
Issun paused. "You what?"
Waka didn't answer and Issun didn't think he'd heard him. He looked a bit… weird. His skin had gone pale and he was suddenly clutching his head. His eyes were still glazed, as if he was trapped in his prophecy. "And I see her… No, the rest of it doesn't matter. You've heard what you needed to know." Waka slumped forward and collapsed in the grass.
"Um…" Issun hopped over to him. Was this genuine? Waka wasn't moving. Issun prodded him in the ear with his sword.
"Ow…" Waka tried to bat him away with his hand, but the movement was pathetically weak and Issun could easily jump aside.
"Not that I feel sorry for you or anything, but do I need to fetch Ammy and Oki to help you?"
"No!" Waka sat up. He looked as if he was going to try and stand but he seemed to think better of it. Issun waited, but Waka didn't say anything else.
"Well, what was all that fuss about? You look ill," said Issun.
"It doesn't concern you. The important thing is Amaterasu. She can't use her human form on the mortal plain."
"You're talking rubbish."
"Have I ever given you a false prophecy?"
"I bet you made sure they all came true just to make yourself look good, ya big showoff."
"Then your task is to make sure this one doesn't come true. Can you live in a world without the sun or the moon?"
"Uh, I suppose it would be difficult…"
"Nothing on this mortal plain would survive."
Issun sat on a small rock that protruded from the grass. Waka was a fruitcake, but he sounded serious. Whenever he'd given a prophecy there had always been an amusing glint to his eyes, but this time he just looked plain miserable. And there was that odd pale tint to his skin, as if the prophecy had sapped most of his strength. He'd always seemed to enjoy prophesising. It was a bad omen.
Issun thought about the prophecy. A world without the sun or the moon… If there was going to be no sun, did that mean Ammy was going to die again?
He swallowed. "What does this have to do with the Moon Tribe?"
Waka glanced at him, as if deciding how much he should tell him. Issun swore he'd stab his eyes out if he tried to act mysterious, but Waka couldn't seem to be bothered with any mysterious act. He was still rubbing his head.
"The man who calls himself the Moon King hates Amaterasu. He always has. The Moon Tribe are supposed to serve the gods, but that changed when Vel took the throne. The sun obscures the moon during the day and he wants Amaterasu destroyed because of that."
"That's a bit overkill isn't it? The Moon Tribe are all a bunch of idiots."
"Some might say Poncles are a bunch of bugs."
"Why are you so defensive? Didn't they throw you and Ammy off the moon?"
"Vel had Amaterasu and myself cornered. And just because the Moon Tribe are too afraid to oppose him doesn't mean they should be destroyed. I won't let Amaterasu destroy them all, but I even I don't understand how everything ties together yet."
Issun glanced up at the moon. Waka had to be wrong. Ammy mauled monsters. She didn't hurt people. Plus, if she destroyed the sun then surely she would destroy herself? It didn't make any sense. He glanced at Waka, but he certainly didn't look as if he was joking. Again Issun traced over everything Sakuya had told him about gods in human forms. Would Ammy be capable of destroying the Moon Tribe if she was human?
But even then, something would have to make her damn angry.
"Why would Ammy destroy everything?" he said. Waka stared at the ground and Issun frowned as he watched him. "You know. Well, you'd better say something. If the world is going to be destroyed then this important. What pushes Ammy over the edge?"
Waka stared at his flute, just how Issun knew he always did when he had no intention of answering a question. Gods, this guy was irritating.
"Hey! You need to tell me everything! What the heck is going on with you and Ammy anyway? Why are you suddenly best friends? I saw the way you were hugging earlier."
"She's a wolf."
"Not on the celestial plain. Besides, you're a bit of a weirdo so I wouldn't put it past you to hit on a wolf anyway."
Waka glared at him. Hah, he was so funny to wind up. Issun hadn't realised it was so easy. Mr Calm and Arrogant wasn't as cool as he acted.
"Remember what I said. Don't let anyone change her into a human." Waka stood and spread his wings. "And now, I must be off. Au revoir."
"Huh? Where are you going?"
"Leave Vel to me. Just keep an eye on Amaterasu."
Issun looked around the field. Ammy was still nowhere in sight so she'd probably done as Waka told her to and stayed with Oki by the Moon Cave. Darn it, she'd be upset if Waka just left. Issun may not have liked the prophet but Ammy did, and Issun didn't like a sad Ammy.
A wind rushed across Shinshu Field. Waka leapt up to fly. And then a golden arrow went straight through his chest.
"Ugh…" Waka crumpled to the ground.
Issun leapt onto the highest thing he could find, which happened to be Waka's head. The field was pale with the moonlight. He couldn't see anyone, but he recognised the arrow and the way it made the air fizz. The Moon Tribe.
"We need to get out of here," said Issun.
Waka gasped. "Je crois qu'il y a un petit problème parce que je ne peux pas-"
"What are you babbling about? I don't speak gibberish."
"I can't… move."
"Can't you do your vanishing act?"
"Kinda painful..."
And there was no way Issun could carry him. Again he looked around the field. Uh oh. He could see movement to the right by a group of cherry trees. Between the pale blossoms he thought he saw a hint of golf. Closing his eyes, he desperately thought of Ammy. Their bond wasn't nearly as strong as it had been a year ago, but maybe she'd still hear him.
Waka groaned. "You need to go… Take this with you, or at least hide it."
Issun glanced down at him. Waka was pale, even paler than he had been after his prophecy. In his hand he held his flute. His fingers loosened, letting it drop to the grass.
"Your weird sword? But-"
"Just go! Don't let them get Amaterasu… or that guy with the blue face."
Why was he suddenly worried about Oki? He'd barely shown any interest in him, which meant Waka definitely knew more about the situation then he'd told Issun. Why did he keep all this stuff to himself?
There wasn't any time to moan about it now. The Moon Tribe was coming. Issun could see them clearly in the moonlight now they'd crept out of the shelter of the cherry trees. He glanced at Waka. He didn't like him, but to just leave him here…
"Issun, go! They haven't seen you!"
Issun grabbed the flute. It was huge and awkward to carry, but poncles could carry an awful lot more than people thought they could. Issun would be able to get it out of sight before the Moon Tribe came. As he bounded away though, he thought of Ammy. Couldn't she hear him?
Stopping to pant for a moment, he looked back at Waka. Somehow he'd managed to sit up and was trying to draw his other side. Was he going to fight? He really was a fruitcake.
Issun tried to start moving again, but he found he couldn't. He just... couldn't. Again he looked back at Waka. "Bah!"
Dropping the flute, he buried it with some grass and then drew his sword. Hurriedly he bounced back to Waka.
Waka stared. "What-?"
"Shut up you half-baked prophet! There's only four of them. I'll manage." Issun held his sword ready.
Suddenly there was a growl. Ammy. Issun turned, just as she leapt over him and Waka to meet the oncoming Moon Tribe.
"Go, Ammy!" Issun cried.
She howled as she landed in front of them and a moment later she was joined by another wolf; the beast form of Oki. The cheer in Issun's throat died quickly as he noticed the shake to Oki's legs. The poison had done its work.
"That's why you shouldn't have let him get poisoned!" he hissed in Waka's ear. "Think twice next time, huh?"
But the Moon Tribe didn't seem to notice Oki's weakness. Issun saw all four of them freeze.
They all looked the same. Oddly young faces and long blond hair that would have looked so much better on a girl. One of them, especially, looked terrified. Was that the boy Ammy had almost eaten in Kamui? Issun almost felt sorry for him as he stood quivering like a leaf.
Ammy howled again and again, as if she was calling to someone, and then she ran forward snapping. The Moon Tribe drew their swords and Issun frowned. The blades were exactly the same as Waka's green sword, except they were blue…
And suddenly Issun realised something. The accent Moon Boy had had in Kamui was the same as Waka's. Waka even had the same young-looking face and…
Issun peered at his forehead. Waka was still breathing but his eyes were closed. Issun didn't know if he was conscious or not. All he cared about was the blond fringe that protruded from Waka's eagle cap. He was one of them?
Ammy had to know who he was too, but she didn't seem to care, Determinedly she ran at the Moon Tribe. Issun watched as they jumped out of her way. Only one of them swung his sword at her and he was immediately shouted at by one of the others.
"Don't hurt her!"
Snapping and growling, Ammy chased them as they tried to retreat. Right behind her was Oki who snarled just as fiercely as the goddess. Issun watched the fight until it spilled out of sight over a slope in the field. Weird. What were the Moon Tribe after if they didn't want Ammy?
Again Issun peered at Waka's face. His skin had gone grey. That wasn't good. He bounced to his chest where the arrow was. There was blood on the grass. Issun swore. What did he do? He'd heard you weren't supposed to pull arrows out, and Issun would never have dared touch that crackling thing anyway.
"Hey! Half-baked prophet!" he said, prodding Waka's face.
Waka didn't move. Darn it, he was out for the count. Issun peered around the field, straining for any sign of Ammy or Oki. He could still hear their faint growls, but even they were beginning to fade. Issun prayed Ammy was all right. The Moon Tribe may not have wanted to hurt her but that didn't mean they weren't going to lead her into some kind of trap.
"Issun! Issun!" someone called.
Issun looked round. A shape was coming towards him, not from the direction Ammy and Oki had disappeared in but from Kamiki. A dog.
"Hayabusa!" Issun called, bouncing up and down. "Over here!"
"I heard Okami Amaterasu's call! Susano's coming too. Amaterasu said someone was dying…"
Issun glanced at Waka's blood glimmering in the moonlight. If he died, Issun would be the only one who knew about the prophecy.
And how on earth was he supposed to stop it from coming true?