Well, its been an eternity but I finally started to think that I should probably get what I have uploaded here. I might come back to it in the future but if I don't, I'll be sure to get out a summary to finish up what I didn't so people who were interested could hear how I planned this entire thing to go. Who knows? Maybe I'll get back into it in about six months. I wish my cat didn't have to lay on my hand every time I work on the computer, it pisses me off so much…
After two straight days of traveling, Issun began to get grumpy. Sure, they were traveling much faster than Issun would on foot but…
"Oh my gods, Ammy. My butt hurts from sitting on your spine for two days. Lets take a break…" Issun complained loudly.
Amaterasu whined. She didn't want a break, she wanted to keep going.
"You may not be tired, but I am. I have limits, you know! I'm not a god." Issun hopped off of her back, mid-run, and laid down in the grass. Amaterasu stopped and walked over to him, licking and nudging him with her cold, wet nose to get up again.
"Not a chance, furball. I'm staying here until all the pain goes away." Issun said adamantly. Making matters worse, Issun's head was starting to throb lightly from being jarred around on Amaterasu's back. He knew that he should have rested a bit before heading out with Amaterasu, but he would give up a leg before he stayed at Madame Fawn's house for any reason.
Amaterasu grabbed the leg of his pants and tried to drag him to their destination.
"What are you doing?" Issun shouted, holding onto his pants so she didn't pull them right off. "Let me go, ya psychotic wolf!"
Amaterasu gave him one big tug and dragged him over the grass further.
"I told ya, I'm not going! I need a break!" Issun shook himself free of the wolf's jaws and crawled back to where he was laying before. "You should rest too, Ammy. You've been at it for a while. Even gods need a break sometimes."
Amaterasu whined and sat down hesitantly.
"There you go." Issun pulled his hat over his eyes and lay still. He was fully aware of the fact that Amaterasu was watching him expectantly, but he wasn't going to give in. His people were notoriously stubborn and he was even more so.
After a while, Amaterasu grew tired of watching for Issun to get back up. She laid down beside him, curling close to his side for companionship and warmth. The two rested peacefully for about an hour until a traveling merchant passed by.
"Excuse me, sir…" The merchant prodded Issun's now sleeping body to make sure that the large wolf had not done him in. "Are you alright?"
Issun grunted and lifted his hat groggily. "Whossere…?"
"Just a traveling merchant, sir. I saw you just off the rode and wanted to make sure you were alright. There are a lot of monsters running around lately, especially in Kusa Village, Kamiki village, and the capital."
"The capital? Sei-an city?" Issun sat up, much more interested now.
"Yes. They are having some troubles with very difficult demons. I've heard that they are much more powerful than any human that's ever walked this earth…" The merchant said nervously.
"Don't sweat it! Ammy and I are on something of a grand monster extermination. None of these big baddies with stick around for long once we find them." Issun said confidently.
"I see…" The merchant said, not exactly sure if he should trust the word of a young man and a large wolf.
"That's a pretty spirit wolf you have there, nice white fur." The merchant said to change the subject.
Issun paused for a moment, the man must not be able to see Amaterasu's true divine form. People had a habit of ignoring or not recognizing divinity at work.
"Yeah, she's something else." Issun scratched Amaterasu's snout.
"Spirit wolves come from the ancient forest in the center of Nippon, don't they?" The merchant asked. "I hear all the animals there have grown to very large sizes from feeding on the plants blessed by the power of the gods… but I've also heard that they aren't too bright for some reason."
Issun looked over at Amaterasu. He was usually good at talking with and understanding animals but every time he looked at her, there was nothing but a big blank.
"Yeah, that would explain a lot." Issun muttered to the merchant. Amaterasu growled a bit at Issun.
"Business has been really poor lately. Lots of trading has been shut down due to monsters an natural disasters…" The merchant coughed.
So that's what he was up to this entire time… greedy little slime ball. Issun thought to himself, his face falling in disapproval.
"I don't suppose that I could interest you in some of my merchandise…?" The merchant asked slowly.
Issun heaved a large sigh. "Fine… we'll take a look."
The merchant eagerly opened the large basket on his back and pulled out his wares. Nothing seemed too interesting to Issun, all of it was unnecessary for their travels. You can only take with you what you can carry when you lived life as a nomad. The merchant, however, found something that caught his attention.
When Issun leaned forward to look at all of his things, a necklace slipped out of his shirt. It was a strange blue fang with strange markings on it and a purple tip.
"You have a monster fang!" The merchant grabbed the necklace to get a better look at it while it was still on Issun's neck.
Issun had a moment of panic. He snatched the necklace out of the merchant's hands and held it protectively to his chest.
"Its not for sale!" Issun took a step back. Amaterasu lifted her head curiously and inclined it in Issun's direction.
"With the increase in monsters, there is a larger amount of monster fangs and, equal to that, more collectors." The merchant eyed the fang clasped in Issun's hand greedily.
"Collectors?" Issun stuffed the fang back down his shirt while Amaterasu tried to stick her nose down it to sniff the fang. He pushed her away but she was determined to get a good smell.
"Although monster fangs represent evil, many have become infatuated with them. They see the fangs as a symbol of power and some will pay ANYTHING to get their hands on them… There are even some ways to turn the evil imbedded in them into good luck charms or magical artifacts with mysterious power, but the art of doing so is said to be dead." The merchant explained.
"…You don't say…" Issun commented nervously, clasping his hand over his shirt where the monster fang was hidden. Amaterasu cocked her head at Issun.
"Well, I guess we now have an easy way to get money." Issun smiled mischievously at Amaterasu.
"There is a certain way that you have to extract monster fangs or they will lose quality." The merchant explained.
"What?" Issun exclaimed. "You mean we can't just smash them out of their faces?"
The merchant shook his head. "They might break."
"Then how do you get them out?" Issun asked.
"If I knew, I wouldn't be a merchant anymore…" The merchant sighed distantly.
"Well, after you're done goofing off there, we have to head back to Agata Forest to restore the place. That merchant also mentioned problems with the Kusa village, Kamiki Village, and Sei-an City so we should go to one of those three next. If we're lucky, we might be able to find a few more of your techniques." Issun said. Amaterasu seemed to agree with this plan of action.
Issun jumped onto Amaterasu's back. Amaterasu looked back at him questioningly.
"Well, with all this evil going on it would be selfish of me to postpone the work of a god. I'm better now anyway." Issun patted her on the head. "Lets get going."
And, with that, Amaterasu and Issun continued further on their way to the Ancient Forest, unaware of the secrets that they would uncover once there.