Chapter 14: The Battle Begins

I sat there, frozen, awaiting my fate. Issun stayed by my side, and often tried to get me to move. He'd lift me up to my feet, and I'd let myself fall back down. It's pointless, I thought. This is all pointless. Why even try? I knew that I couldn't possibly fight back—I didn't even have the strength to walk anymore, much less hold my own against the shadows.

Issun was very persistent, though—not once did he give up on me. He stopped trying to force me to move, but instead he talked to me in an attempt to motivate me. "Don't give up now, Kiki," he'd say. "If anything, at least try."

That night, gazing up at the moon—now dangerously close to a total eclipse—I thought long and hard about what Issun said to me. It finally dawned on me that he was right—I shouldn't just give up, especially when I'm known for being stubborn. And I might not have had my strength anymore . . . but I still had my willpower.

"Issun . . . thank you," I said.

"Huh?" He looked up, his expression shocked. It was the first time I had spoken the entire day.

"I said, thank you."

"What for?"

"For reminding me not to give up." For the first time that day, I smiled.

"Well . . . I . . . uh . . . I guess y-you're welcome."

I signaled for him to come here; he had been sitting off to the side, while I sat dead center of the sacred deck. He came over to where I was and sat next to me. I leaned into him, glad to have him close to me, there to lend a helping hand. Friends, lovers, or whatever . . . none of that mattered then. I needed someone to be there for me, and he was.

I fell asleep, ending the day, bringing me closer to that day . . .

o~*~o

It was now the third and final day. My time was short, and I wished I could have made the most of it, but I couldn't, not in the shape I was in. Weaker than ever, I could barely hold my head up. All I could do was wait for nighttime to come, the time when he would come for me.

The hours ticked by impossibly fast, and next thing I knew, the sun was already falling below the horizon. And what made it even worse was the fact that Issun didn't even know. He knew that something was wrong, but I hadn't been able to work up the nerve to tell him. Oh, well, I thought. He's going to have to find out sooner or later. I guess I should go ahead and tell him.

"Issun . . ." I said, trying to keep my voice strong.

"What is it?"

"There's something you need to know, but I'm afraid you won't like it very much."

"I don't care if I like it or not. If I need to know, then you need to tell me."

"Okay. Um . . . How can I put this? Today's my last day here."

"What? What do you mean by that?"

"I'm going back to that place, the place where I was before I came back. In the shadows . . ." I would have shuddered at the thought, but I couldn't, I was so weak.

"But . . . you can't! You won't! I won't let—"

"It's okay, Issun. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. But . . . I have just one little favor to ask of you."

"I'd do anything for you."

With every ounce of strength I had left, I forced my hands to move and close around Issun's hand. "Tell everyone goodbye for me." I pulled my hands away, leaving behind my purple ribbon, the one that I cherished so, in his hand.

"But this is . . . ! I can't take this! You love this ribbon!"

"I know. It's . . . a little something to remember me by. Now, go. Leave, before the sun sets—I don't want you to have to see this."

He hesitated for a moment, uncertain of what to do. Then, clutching my ribbon tightly in his hand, left.

The moon was now high in the sky, a black sphere almost impossible to see in the dark night. I could feel the shadows closing in on me, constricting me, nearly suffocating me. I couldn't move anymore, bound by an invisible force, but still I fought. With the force of sheer willpower, I forced the shadows back, but it was a long, tough battle. The shadows continuously tried to fight back, threatening to bind me again, and I struggled to keep them away.

My struggle lasted on into the night when I sensed another presence. It was his presence—the Shadow Lord, as he called himself in my dream. He laughed at my desperate attempt for freedom.

"Didn't I already tell you? This is a fight you can't win. It is useless to resist, so just stop fighting it."

"Never." In a sudden burst of strength and adrenaline, I shattered his spell. I rose to my feet, able to move again. "I'll never let you take me, not again."

"Impressive. You've broken free . . . but I can just as easily put you back under." With a snap of his fingers, the shadows closed in on me again. Once again, I tried to fight them off, but it was no use. This was a battle of wills—my will versus his, and his was stronger than mine. I sank to my knees, trapped once more.

"No . . . NO!" I cried defiantly. "I won't let you! I . . . AAH!"

The shadows won, engulfing me, banishing me to the world of darkness. There, my senses were dulled, leaving me in a dreamlike state.

"Hmm . . . you're quite the feisty one," I heard him say. "Twice you have dispelled my dark powers with your willpower alone. I must say, I have been underestimating you by a far margin. But I can assure you, my dear, that it won't happen again. Yes . . . now you shall become my slave . . ."

o~*~o

Amaterasu

I woke up to the sound of a scream. That sounded like Kiyoko; she must be in trouble! I thought to myself as I hurried towards the sacred deck, the place where my keen ears determined the source to be.

When I got there, I had expected to see Kiyoko, so I was surprised to find that she was nowhere to be found. I knew that she was there not long ago; her scent lingered there, still fresh. There was also a trail left behind that was even fresher, one that I could easily track. I was tempted to follow it, but first things first—I had to tell the others.

I woke the others and brought them up to the sacred deck. It was only then that I caught another scent mixed in with Kiyoko's—one I didn't recognize. But the very smell made my fur bristle; it was no doubt the stench of evil. I though that maybe she was taken by demons . . . or something worse. Determined to track her down, I followed the trail as swiftly as I could. Though I didn't know exactly where it would lead me, I had a hunch that we were drawing closer and closer to our enemy, and what might be the final battle . . .

o~*~o

I traced the scents all the way to North Ryoshima Coast. I looked over towards the horizon, and stared at the island that looked like a demon—Oni Island. I always had the feeling that it would be there—the place where we would finally confront our mysterious, elusive foe, the mastermind behind all this.

Getting there wasn't much of a problem—Oni Island's defenses, the ones we had to face last time we saw the island, were now nonexistent. Before, the island had an impenetrable barrier, and shifted to a different location each day at sunset. This time, there seemed to be no barrier at all, and it appeared to be in the same place it had been in since the island's return. It was as if he was mocking us, daring us to walk right in and challenge him. Well, that's just what we were going to do.

We made our way to the summit of the castle built atop the demonic island, the enemy's stronghold. Arriving at the castle's peak, I had the feeling that I was being watched. Everything was eerily silent, an atmosphere of stillness hanging in the air . . .

I gazed up at the stormy skies and howled, calling to the enemy, telling him to come out of hiding. The black clouds dispersed, exposing both the moon and the sun. And if that wasn't strange enough, the moon was crimson red, as if it had been steeped in blood. The strange moon brought with it an even stranger sense of déjà vu, like I'd seen all this before. Why does this seem so familiar to me? I wondered.

"Amaterasu . . . It's been far too long."

"Who's there?" I snapped, whirling around to see the face that this unfamiliar voice belonged to. A man appeared before our eyes, materializing from the very shadows surrounding us. Acting out of instinct, I snarled at the stranger, fangs bared, hackles raised, claws out and ready for battle. There was no denying it—this was the man who took Kiyoko, and the opponent we had all been anticipating to meet. "So you're our new enemy, huh? Well, get ready to—" Wait a second. "How . . . How did you know my name?"

"New enemy, you say? On the contrary," he replied. "In fact, I know you quite well, Amaterasu. I believe we've fought several times before."

"What are you talking about? I've never seen you before, much less fought you."

"You don't remember? Hmm, I suppose you wouldn't, considering our new form. Allow me to explain. I am the creation born of the hate left behind by those you have defeated in the past. Those dark spirits, tainted even further by spite and bloodlust, fueled by their thirst for revenge, joined together . . . and thus, we came to be in this form. Now do you see? We've been given a second chance, and we will finally have our revenge!"

"What?" I was taken aback, shocked at what I'd just learned. Orochi . . . Blight . . . Ninetails . . . Yami . . . All of them, revived, every single one of them out for my blood. Their desire for revenge drove them to come back as one new, all-powerful entity.

"Yes, that's right. We're back, and this time, we will succeed in our quest for vengeance. And you can say goodbye to your brush powers—we'll be taking them now."

"Yeah, right! The only time I lose my powers is during the solar eclipse, and that only happens once every 100 years! Sorry, but you're out of luck."

"Ha ha ha . . . foolish wolf! We make our own luck! Have you forgotten already that we have powers far superior to that of your so-called gods? We, too, can manipulate the heavens." He brought out a brush that was black through and through, dipped in blood-red ink. And in the blink of an eye, the impossible happened.

Bending time and space itself, he forced the moon to move in front of the sun, making a solar eclipse of his own. The moment the moon blocked the sun's rays, I felt a sharp, intense pain burning deep within me as my divine powers were ripped from my body. I doubled over, panting heavily, trying to endure it.

As the last of my powers were stolen from me, the pain intensified. I threw back my head and howled from the agony of it. After countless more burning, agonizing seconds, it was finally over. I fell to the floor, powers gone, now an ordinary wolf. Weakened from the traumatic event, I was left helpless. It was now up to Waka and Issun to defeat the Shadow Lord. Both prepared to fight, ready to stand their ground.

"But wait . . . there's more," the Shadow Lord said with an evil grin. "Say hello to our newest servant. I believe you might know her." He snapped his fingers, and the shadows around us converged, forming the shape of a person. The shadows then pulled back to reveal . . . Kiyoko? "Kiyoko, my dear, would you be so kind as to get rid of these pests for me?"

"Yes, my Lord," she replied, her voice emotionless and hollow. Her eyes reflected the blankness in her voice, devoid of any life or sparkle. She must be under his control, I thought. She would never willingly turn on us.

Issun and Waka hesitated; both were reluctant to attack their friend. Kiyoko, on the other hand, struck without a second thought. She went after Waka, wielding her sword against him, slashing and cutting at him. He had no choice but to defend himself with his own sword, deflecting her attacks with it. When Issun came too close, she lashed out at him, as well. He, too, was forced to draw his sword in order to protect himself.

All throughout the battle, Waka never left my side, not once. He shielded me from the crossfire that came my way, while at the same time fighting off Kiyoko. How heroic, I thought, looking up at him. I lost my "voice" when I lost my powers, so I just looked on in gratitude and admiration, ever so thankful to have him here with me.

Meanwhile, Issun was having trouble with Kiyoko. Her swordsmanship, honed through many years of training, was more than a match for him. She easily defeated him, knocking him unconscious. Heaven only knows what must have been going through the poor girl's mind, being controlled like that . . .

o~*~o

Kiyoko

You monster! You'll never get away with this! I shouted to the fiend holding me captive. I was a prisoner in my own body, forced to obey the will of the Shadow Lord. I couldn't speak, couldn't move of my own free will. But even as he made me fight my friends, I fought fiercely, desperately trying to regain control.

Issun lay unconscious before me, a result of the wounds I inflicted on him. I didn't want to, I wished I could tell him. I'm so sorry. I hope you'll forgive me. Then his voice invaded my thoughts.

Now's your chance, the Shadow Lord said. Finish him off.

No! I won't do it! I said, defying him. I'd never kill anyone, much less the man I loved.

Oh, but you will. Against my wishes, I raised my blade, poised to deliver the final blow. Do it now! Kill him!

NEVER! I screamed. Using all my willpower, I forced the sword to stay in place. My hands shook as our conflicting psyches battled for control. The Shadow Lord, angered by my resistance, won over me, and I unwillingly swung my sword. I managed one more act of rebellion, though—I slightly altered the path of the blade so that it just missed.

So, even now, you're still acting against my command? he said, actually sounding somewhat impressed. Well, I can guarantee you, that won't happen again.

Ha! You've said that before, and then it happens yet again! Face it, I'm just stronger than you!

We'll see about that. Once more, he made me raise my sword. I tried to stop myself, but his will overpowered mine. Before I was to deliver the fatal blow, he laughed triumphantly. I am the victor! Your will is inferior to mine! Sorry, my dear.

Issun . . . no . . . Now my blade was just inches from his throat. No . . . ISSUN!

Unable to stand the thought of killing him, I broke free from the Shadow Lord's spell, just for an instant. And in that instant, I moved the sword away from Issun, instead hitting . . . myself.

That's right. I stabbed myself. It was the only way I knew to truly liberate myself from the Shadow Lord's grip. Finally free, my soul left my body. But I couldn't leave. Not yet. The Shadow Lord still had the other half of my soul.

I went over to where Amaterasu was. I noticed that her pretty red marking were gone, that she looked like a regular wolf. Snowflake . . . what's wrong? I asked her. Why do you look like this?

She didn't answer. She only looked up at me, her once fiery topaz eyes now a dull charcoal color. It seemed like she wanted to say something, but couldn't. Then I realized that the sun—the source of her power—was gone, and that her powers probably disappeared with it. I then knew what I had to do.

Kneeling before her, I said, O great Amaterasu . . . Please take my power. It'll give you strength!

Her eyes widened. It was apparent that she'd rather not have me sacrifice myself for her sake.

I returned her bewildered look with a pleading one. Please . . . It's the only way you'll be able to defeat the Shadow Lord! You need it more than I do.

She seemed unsure for a minute, then her countenance changed to that of acceptance.

Okay! Let's do this! I allowed her to absorb my soul and, in turn, become one with her . . .