The Legend of Shiranui
(Kurama Love Story)
Chapter. 3
Awakening
The day had been quiet, and peaceful, as usual, a typical day. Before too long, the sun had begun to set, and the full moon began to rise ever higher into the now midnight sky. After tucking my beloved canine companions into bed, I too retired to my bedroom, and went to sleep, the moonlight bathing me in it's heavenly light, the light breeze warm against my skin, as it blew. Suddenly, the earth began to quake beneath me, and I immediately rose from my bed, and ran into the other room, my beloved canine companions already awake, and alert to the present danger. "Princess Fuse`! The Earth is quaking! Something's wrong!" Yelled Tei, one of my canine companions. "Satomi Canine Warriors, to the shrine, now! We must ensure the safety of Shiranui if we are to await her return!" I commanded, rushing out of the house, and running towards Shiranui's shrine, the Satomi Canine Warriors, (my beloved, and faithful canine companions), following behind me. 'Please, be alright!', I thought in desperation, as we finally rushed up the hill, finally stopping at the top, only to realize that the ground had stopped it's irratic trembling. "Princess Fuse`, look, the statue of Shiranui, it's gone! The pedestal is empty!" Came the alerted voice of Chu, another of the Satomi Canine Warriors. "Look before the statue. Something's lying there." Gi replied, pointing his nose at the ground in front of the empty pedestal where the statue once stood. As we careful, and cautiously approached the statue, we noticed the body of a young girl, curled up on the ground before the pedestal. 'Could it be...?' I thought, kneeling beside the fragile girl in front of me. "Gi, check for a pulse. Wake her, if you can." I commanded, and Gi stepped forward, pressing his nose against the girl's skin. "She's alive, but, her heart beats faintly, and her skin is pale, and cold. We should take her some place safe, and wait for her to awaken, for now." He replied, gently lifting the girl until she was on his back, her head resting on his shoulder. Gi gently carried the fragile girl until we finally reached the Satomi house. "Lye her down in my room, I'll look after her." I replied, pointing to my room. "Yes, Princess Fuse`." Gi replied, carrying the girl into my room, and gently setting her down on her back, grabbing the blanket, and pulling it over her. "There, now, that should make her more comfortable." Tei replied, sitting at the girl's bedside. "Satomi Canine Warriors, report to the main room. We've much to discuss. The girl should be fine, all she needs is rest." I replied, ushering the Satomi Canine Warriors out of the room, gently sliding the door shut, behind me. Everyone took their seats at either sides of the room, as I took mine at the head of the room. "So, who do you think she is, the girl, I mean. It's so strange of her to appear right after the Earth stops quaking under our feet." "Mm, yes, and even stranger still, that she should appear right in fron of the pedestal of Shiranui's statue, which, ironically, too, has gone missing." "Yes, everything seems to be happening all at once, and without reason." Gi, Tei, and Chu all replied, looking to eachother for answers before turning their attention to me. "This girl, she's so young, and fragile. Who is she?" Came Jin's response. "Alright, everyone, calm down. Now, listen, I know all of this is very unusual, but, we must focus on the more pressing matter at hand. This girl we've suddenly come upon can only be one being, alone." I answered. "You don't mean-!" "You don't think-!" "Could she really be-!" "Is she really-!" Gi, Tei, Chu, and Jin all gasped. "Yes. Just look at where we found her, and the surcumstances, under which, we found her. This girl can be non-other than Shiranui, the mysterious, white she-wolf, who brought down the horrid demon-surpent, Orochi all those years ago." I answered, nodding my head. "But, wasn't Shiranui a wolf, not a girl?" Tei asked, confusion clearly evident in his voice. "Well, yes, but, you forget, upon her death, Shiranui became the goddess, Okami Amaterasu, and upon being bestowed her godhood, Amaterasu was also given a human form, a fail-safe for survival." I answered once more. "Princess Fuse` is right, I mean, just look at the girl, long, white hair, red markings dawning her face, and body, and white, and red robes on her body. Plus, her scent is not that of other, living beings. She possessed a scent far more divine than any I've ever smelt before." Gi replied, looking to my closed bedroom door. "Gi is right. Satomi Canine Warriors, this girl is the legendary sacred treasure of Kamiki Village, and the savior of our world. The fate of this realm rests on her shoulders, and is in her hands. However, she must be protected, we mustn't allow her, or her power to fall into the wrong hands. Do you all understand?" I replied once more. "Yes, Princess Fuse`! We shall honor our most sacred duty, and protect Amaterasu with our very lives, and assist her in whatever ways we can!" The Satomi Canine Warriors all answered in unison, pledging their undying allegiance to both myself, their cause, and most importantly, to Amaterasu, herself. "Very good! Now, then, I think it is time for us all to retire for the night. There's no telling when Amaterasu will awaken. I shall stay with her for the night." I replied. I tucked all of the Satomi Canine Warriors into bed before retiring to my room, myself. I sat in a chair, at the sleeping Amaterasu's bedside, before resting my head on the side of the bed, and falling into a deep sleep.
The next morning, I awoke with a start, to the sound of Amaterasu stirring. I quickly alerted everyone in the Satomi house, and called the Satomi Canine Warriors to my room. They all sat in great anticipation at Amaterasu's bedside. Slowly, she opened her eyes, and looked around herself, taking in her suddenly new surroundings. "Wh-Where am I? Who are you?...Wh-Who am I?" Came the soft reply of Amaterasu. 'What?' I thought, alarmed, as everyone's eyes widened in shock, as the red markings that once dawned her face, and body slowly vanished from her features. 'Amaterasu has finally awakened, yet, she doesn't even know, or remember who she is, or where she came from! What's worse, is her heavenly Kami markings have completely vanished from her features! Could she have lost her godhood? But, how can this be?'...