Call of the Moon
Chapter 11 – Who Am I?
"So that's what happened, huh?" Tsukiyo remarked as she listened to Okami's recollection of everything that has happened.
"Yeah. I left the temple to try and fix the mess I made, but I got my butt kicked horribly," Okami concluded, staring at her feet.
"I see. Well, if you're going to defeat Kamiko, then you need to know something about yourself," Tsukiyo replied. Okami looked up, ears perked.
"But I'm just me! I'm nothing without that sword. I couldn't do anything! I don't want my friends to die!" Okami wailed, tears threatening to spill from her eyes again.
"You know your father found that sword a long, long time ago, right?" Tsukiyo asked. "He told me that it felt heavy upon his back and he could feel an untapped fury trying to escape from it. When he first found it, it was exuding a multitude of emotions; pain, sadness, jealousy… the being seemed to be… heartbroken. Over time, it quieted down, but would still flare up occasionally. But when you were born, the blade quieted down completely. Not a single outburst."
"When I was born? How come?"
"I'm not entirely sure," Tsukiyo replied.
Okami furrowed her brows. She'd need to think about that later, but right now other questions were weighing on her mind. "Mom… why were you sealed? Why was the village razed?"
"Your father didn't tell you this?" Tsukiyo asked, raising an eyebrow. Okami stared at her and shook her head no. "That man, I swear," she muttered, a small smile on her face. "He probably told you the short version because he thought you were too young to know."
"I'm not that young anymore. I want to know what happened," Okami remarked.
"Our race is not as strong as oni, not as fast as tengu, and not as intelligent as kappa. We're one of the more balanced youkai on Youkai Mountain. We specialize in escorts, and thus live close to humans. The humans were fine with this for many generations. But as time passed on, their fear of youkai took over and they held us at arms' length. They looked upon us with suspicious eyes. They seemed to be on the verge of trying to exterminate us even before your father and I became the Alpha Wolves," Tsukiyo explained, folding her arms.
"My parents were Alpha Wolves?" Okami asked, her eyes lighting up.
"Yes we were. But that all means nothing now. About a week after you were born, the humans had had enough of us. They came marching into our village, called the Okami Village, and started a riot outside our gates. You were named after our village, by the way. I was called to go and check out the riot with several others. The humans brought youkai exterminators with them. One of the exterminators used a sealing charm on me, and the next thing I remember, I woke up not far from where you landed."
"Who unsealed you though? I thought that youkai cannot undo seals placed on them?" Okami asked.
"We can't. Someone down here undid my seal. Is there anything else you want to know?"
Okami looked down at her feet again. "What did you want me to know about myself?"
"Ah that's right. I forgot. As a race, okami all share the same ability: to hide themselves from humans when they escort them. In addition to that each individual has an ability unique to them," Tsukiyo started. "Your father's unique ability is to regulate physical pressure, allowing him strength to lift things several times his own weight. My unique ability is to generate shockwaves, albeit only to a certain extent."
"And mine? What is mine?" Okami asked.
"You don't know? That's weird. All of us are born knowing how to use our abilities. With time and patience, we learn to control them."
"I don't know. Father never told me anything about unique abilities," Okami replied, staring at her mother confusedly.
"Oh. Seriously, your father has sheltered you from many things regarding your past," Tsukiyo remarked. "You've probably forgotten how to use it due to all the other means of attack you've had. I think I know what to do, though."
Okami's ears perked up. "Really? What should we do about it?"
"Even if memories are forgotten, they are still buried in your heart. Follow me," Tsukiyo spoke, standing up.
She led Okami down deeper into the cavern. The path opened into an even larger cavern. Okami looked up and could not find the ceiling, but not only that, there was an impressive city lit with paper lanterns to the west and to the east was a large mansion. Tsukiyo headed to the mansion's front door and opened it. Okami followed her inside, looking around with wide eyes.
"Try not to chase any of the cats or the ravens," Tsukiyo remarked when Okami was closely watching one of the cats wandering around.
"Okay."
"Tsukiyo, who is this that you have brought to the palace?" a voice asked. Okami turned her head to the source of the voice. At the top of the staircase in the entrance hall was a youkai with pink hair and a third eye. She began to climb down the stairs and stopped in front of the two wolves.
Tsukiyo and the youkai stared at each other for several moments. The youkai nodded and turned her attention to Okami.. "So you are Tsukiyo's daughter, Okami? It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Satori Komeiji. Shall I offer you tea and a place to sit?"
Courtesy of Satori, Okami had been informed of this palace and was now sitting at the Palace's kotatsu table with tea in hand. Tsukiyo and Satori were also seated there.
"You need me to search your daughter's heart for a memory she had forgotten? I can do that. What exactly is it I'm looking for?" Satori asked Tsukiyo.
"Information on her unique ability," Tsukiyo responded.
Satori proceeded to look at Okami. She stared at her with all three eyes. The young wolf fidgeted in her seat. After several moments, Satori stopped staring so intensely. "Okami, your ability is to absorb and store moonlight for use as energy in battle," she stated.
"Oh that's right. When you were very little, you would shoot beams of energy from your hands whenever you got excited," Tsukiyo remarked.
"I… remember now," Okami muttered. She extended her hand out and concentrated. A ball of energy formed and floated in her hand. "Now that I remember… it feels completely natural…"
"I've also seen many other things in your psyche, Okami. There is a great danger in the surface. You are needed there," Satori spoke. She glanced at Tsukiyo, who was looking at her hands, and then back at Okami. "I know you're afraid of Kamiko, but do not hide here. If you cannot find value in yourself without the use of your sword, then what value have you got?"
Okami closed her fist around the energy ball. The young wolf stood to her feet. "Please direct me to the surface," she requested.
"Fly over the city, past the bridge, and up the cavern at the end," Tsukiyo spoke. Okami hugged her tightly.
"Thank you, mom. And thank you as well, Satori," Okami spoke. She headed out the mansion as quickly as she could.
Satori and Tsukiyo stared at the direction Okami left in. Satori turned towards Tsukiyo. "Why didn't you tell her that you're living as a pet now?" she asked.
Tsukiyo looked down at her hands. "I've lost so much already. I don't think I want to lose the respect of my only daughter," she responded.
"Suit yourself," Satori spoke, standing up and walking out of the room.
