::Does a dance:: Yay! Restoring Faith has passed the 50 review mark! Many thanks to everyone whose read and/or reviewed. I love you all!
It was my goal to finish this before my birthday (Oct. 3) and somehow I managed to do it. So here's Chapter 7, my birthday present to myself!
Restoring Faith
Chapter 7
Waka gazed sadly at the wreckage of what had once been his home. Rotting wood and climbing vines were all that was left of the shrine that Mika had tended in his absence. While he had not spent much time at the shrine, preferring instead to be in the midst of all the gossip in the capital city, it had nonetheless been a place of happiness and memories.
It had been relaxing to return from a hard mission and find Mika had collected another dozen or so stray animals as 'pets'. (Even if Waka did force the priest to release most of them.) And there had been the time when Mika had almost burned the shrine down trying to boil water (the priest being horribly inept at cooking), and the time when Mika had panicked because he had ruined a load of Master Waka's clothes by dying them all green…
Waka's grin, which had appeared during his stroll through the many 'episodes' of his past, dropped from his face. He silently wondered what had happened to the loveable, clumsy priest. From the looks of the shrine, Mika was long gone, and had been for decades. Waka could only pray that Mika had departed long before Sasori's coming,
Turning from the depressing scene, Waka strode purposefully towards the Moon Cave.
Amaterasu watched the prophet go silently. She could feel that the destruction of the shrine had been a hard blow for her friend. She had felt something like it when she had seen the destruction of Sakuya's tree. However, she had not stayed long enough to create memories like Waka undoubtedly had of this place.
Amaterasu remembered the funny little priest that had lived in the shrine when she and Issun had been traveling. The goddess could not help wondering what had happened to him.
The wolf goddess glanced in Waka's direction before summoning the powers of her Celestial Brush. Using the Bloom technique, the area that had held the destroyed shrine soon became a beautiful clearing.
Waka, feeling the surge of Celestial energy, turned back to watch the goddess work. He smiled at the results.
"Thank you, my friend." Mika would have liked this, he thought. Mika loved flora, even if he failed grow anything of his own.
Amaterasu yipped quietly before trotting to the prophet's side. Waka glanced down at the white wolf, making out Issun nestled, sleeping, amongst the soft fur. That explained the silence…
Together man and wolf made their way to the remains of Orochi's lair.
-.-.-.-.-.-
Waka wiped the sweat from his face as he rested on one of the larger rocks protruding from the lava that surrounded Orochi's lair.
Amaterasu and Issun had been surprised at the state of the place. From what the Poncle had said, Waka had guessed the area had not looked as it did now on the pair's last trip. Waka himself was not surprised. With as many monsters as there were roaming about, it should have been expected that some would have settled down in the eight-headed demon's lair. It was an ideal habitat for demons.
It seemed, however, that the new inhabitants had disliked the crystal caves, replacing them with the lava pools they were currently traversing. Waka hoped the creature was strangled by its own organs.
Waka glanced over to where Amaterasu was walking across the lava. The goddess had replaced the Water Tablet with the Fire tablet and was finding the crossing easy. Issun had remarked how nice of change this was. Last time they had had to leap from rock to rock. It was undignified.
Waka had accidentally flicked some of the molten rock in the artist's direction. Issun had NOT been amused.
Waka breathed a sigh of relief as he spotted solid ground ahead. He had no trouble crossing the rocks, of course, but the whole area was unbelievably hot.
Remembering Kamui, Waka wondered what he had done to deserve this. And laughed at the irony.
Waka landed silently on the burnt earth, Amaterasu trotting up beside him. Waka drew his blade as the trio entered the main hall.
Immediately the found themselves set upon by a pair of imps. Waka destroyed the first with a few swings of his sword while Amaterasu dispatched the second with her glaive. The pair leapt for the shadows as soon as the imps crumpled, using the opportunity to observe.
The hall was filled with demons. Waka feared that they would not be able to reach the remains of Orochi without fighting every demon in the place.
"That's a lotta demons," Issun stated. Waka rolled his eyes.
"And what should we do about it? Should we try to avoid them?"
Issun bounced with excitement.
"No way! I've missed kickin' demon butt. Hey Ammy! It'll be just like the old days! Leap before ya think and all that!"
Waka stared in amazement as Amaterasu yipped happily in response. The goddess's tailed wagged and her eyes sparkled in a way that Waka had not seen in years. An evil feeling burned in his belly as he watched Amaterasu and Issun interact. He shuddered at the feeling, tried to deny it, refused to name it. For the time being, he pushed it to the back of his mind, to be examined later.
The prophet gave himself a mental shake. Amaterasu was now gazing in his direction, waiting for his approval. Waka sighed.
"I suppose there's no talking you out of it. Just… don't get in over your head. It would be troublesome if I had to rescue the bug."
Issun pouted before drawing his sword. Amaterasu crouched, tense, before leaping for the nearest monsters. Waka watched from the sidelines. He would, of course, interfere if necessary, but he wouldn't spoil their fun.
The white wolf had, by now, defeated the first batch of enemies. Issun had left the safety of her fur, choosing instead to search the imp corpses for anything of value.
The Poncle was cackling over his treasures. Hearing a warning bark from Amaterasu, Issun glanced over his shoulder. His vision was obscured by an approaching imp. The Poncle closed his eyes and braced himself for the incoming attack.
Amaterasu raced for her friend, hoping to reach him in type. As the imp raised its weapon, the wolf let out a grief-filled howl.
After a few moments, Issun, feeling no pain, cracked open one eye. Waka was standing before him, blade drawn, dead imp at his feet.
Issun was frozen in shock as Amaterasu approached them. The goddess quickly examined the Poncle before covering the small artist with happy licks. It was enough to snap Issun out of his daze.
"Why did you…?"
Waka wiped the blood from his sword and replaced it in its sheath before replying.
"I may not like you, but that's no reason to want you dead. Besides, Ammy would be displeased with me." Waka glanced at the Poncle over his shoulder. "You're so troublesome, bug."
Issun silently accepted Waka's reasoning, taking the blow to his pride. The artist hopped silently onto Amaterasu's head. Amaterasu herself led the way to the central room.
The trio encountered countless skirmishes while making their way inward. Waka rarely had to interfere, drawing his blade only when the number of enemies was overwhelming. Upon reaching the center hall, Waka withdrew the pendulum given to them by Kaguya.
The pendulum swung freely for a few moments before tugging towards the pit in the center of the room.
Issun snorted. "Figures. Irony always had a thing for us." Amaterasu huffed in agreement.
The white wolf quickly dispatched the imp at the crank. Waka gripped the crank, lowering them slowly downward. Amaterasu froze the platform in place.
Waka led the way as the group wound their way up the stairs to what used to be Orochi's throne room. It was not long before they could hear angry cries, echoing towards them from their destination. Waka sighed at the sounds, but did not lessen their pace.
Eventually the trio reached the top of the spiral path. For a moment they paused, gazing down at the fire-spiting creature they would be forced to confront.
"I had hoped that we would face no opposition," the prophet commented, "But I suppose that was asking for too much."
"Who's complaining? We get to kick demon butt!" the Poncle replied, bouncing with eagerness.
Waka glanced down at the wolf by his side. Her eyes were bright and her ears quivered in anticipation.
Silently, Waka replaced the pendulum in his pocket and drew his swords. He nodded at Amaterasu, and simultaneously, Tao master and wolf goddess leapt down towards their foe.
To Be Continued…
There might be a bit of a wait for the next chapter, as I shall attempt to write my first proper fight scene and it. Will. Not. Suck. (I hope…) So, just a warning.
Please review!