Here's chapter 3! Sorry that there's not much happening as of now; I promise it'll pick up soon. c: Hope you enjoy anyways!
Amaterasu stretched sedately, gazing down upon the Celestial Plain. She had long since restored order to the heavens; doing so had granted her a human form, which had been her original form until she had come into the world as Shiranui the white wolf. Her thick, pale hair cascaded over her shoulders and down her back, stopping at her waist. Two long strands in the front had been tied with bright crimson ribbon and hung down in front of her shoulders. Her long white kimono sat loosely around her, exposing the tops of her shoulders, and was embroidered with the red markings that had also formed on her skin.
Despite having gained a human form, the goddess still was not satisfied. Although evil had clouded her horizons down in Nippon, at least her life there had been filled with adventure. Each day had held a new surprise, a new person to meet, or a new monster to fight. She missed Kamiki Village, with the proud and beautiful cherry blossoms gracing every ridge, every islet, and every field. She missed looking out over Lake Harami at sunset, bearing witness to the sun's demise upon the furthest reaches of the water, staining the waves with shades of fuchsia, violet, and crimson.
Most of all, she missed Kamui. She missed the untamed wilderness and the rogue winds that sifted through her fur, sending snow scattering over frozen water. She missed the towering pines, weighed down by gleaming icicles, which stretched far above her, making her life seem small and insignificant.
Amaterasu had seen many beautiful things and restored many beautiful places on her travels. But even a fertile land graced with the presence of cherry blossoms and fresh breezes couldn't compare to Kamui's beauty. Kamui was harsh, wild, unpredictable, and dangerous - and she had loved it.
She remembered what it had felt like to board the Ark of Yamato. She remembered walking up the rainbow bridge, feeling as if a large part of her heart was being left behind with every step. She remembered Waka appearing, spoiling her solemn entrance. She remembered looking back towards the altar and seeing Oki, gazing at her with unfathomable red eyes from behind his mask.
Suddenly, it felt as if a boulder had lodged itself in her throat. Ammy blinked and swallowed, trying to make the agony in her throat go away. At first, she had thought of him only as a warrior, as somebody she would want to have on her side in a fight. But at Wawku Shrine, the way he had looked at her, flicking her a brief glance from his brilliantly red eyes, made her feel as if she were floating.
She had fallen in love.
Ammy would never admit this to anyone, not even herself.
Time and time again, she would lay awake in bed during the night, gazing up at the star-patterned ceiling of her throne room, wondering if he would feel the same way were she ever to confess her feelings to him. And time and time again, she would tell herself that it didn't matter, that she would never see him again.
Unless...
Ammy shook her head. She had been left in charge of the Celestial Plain; she couldn't just leave.
It would only be for a little while, she thought, trying to convince herself. I could see Kamui again. I could see Oki again.
It only took a moment of internal debate before Amaterasu got up from her glittering marble throne and wound her way through her palace in the Celestial Plain, finally ending up at the door leading to the Ark's landing bay. She opened the hatch and was greeted by the sight of the iron ark, bathed in sunlight and glowing faintly. The turquoise engravings on the side swam with various shades of blue, as if they were alive.
Amaterasu boarded through the side hatch and stood over the slew of control panels. She had only seen the Ark activated once, when Waka had taken her to the Celestial Plain. She began pressing buttons, hoping she was doing it in the right order.
By some miracle, the Ark hummed to life, holographic screens flickering. Ammy smiled with her bright red lips and punched in the coordinates to Ezofuji, the sacred mountains of Kamui.
The Ark's sails caught the Celestial Plain's perpetual breeze. It lifted slowly into the sky, the exterior glittering as rays of warm golden light hit it.
The Ark of Yamato didn't need a pilot to control it, so Amaterasu returned to the ship's helm and stood at the very tip, feeling wind rush past her face, blowing her hair into wild snarls, sometimes gusting so hard that tears came to her eyes.
And just like that, Kamui came into view.