Amaterasu continues to hold Tails, even after she blooms the tree. The curse zones were gone, but he never looked away from her friend.
"Taka Pass is back to normal now! Without the cursed zone, it'll be easier to find brush techniques! But first, that big windmill has really piqued my interest. Didn't that half-baked prophet mumble something about it? Aw, whatever. It's not going anywhere, anyhow. Let's take a good look around Taka Pass, OK? I'm a bit worried about the people who live around here." Issun said, knowing they had to get moving.
Amaterasu sighs, understanding what Issun was telling her. She carefully puts Tails on her back and started to leave. Little did she know, Waka was still close by and frowns. Without a word, he jumps away.
Amaterasu reenters Taka Pass and started to walk down the path. She hear Tails groan, but didn't wake up. She was still worried and scared for him. For some reason, that form he took looked familiar. Similar to his other, but much darker. It was as if it was trying to break free from the curse areas. She didn't like it at all. If Tails was being infected by Orochi, then she was going to give that eight-head dragon a lesson he'll never forget!
She was so lost in thought, she almost didn't notice someone speaking up.
"Hah! I was just looking for something tasty to put in my pot. You'll do nicely, little mutt!"
She turns to see an old woman with a creepy face on her. Amaterasu could sense something was wrong with her and stood ready.
"You should keep us going until my husband catches us a big beast." Mrs. Cutter said.
Amaterasu dodges the knife before headbutting Mrs. Cutter, knocking her back.
"You must have a death wish, mutt." She said, getting up.
Amaterasu barks loudly, catching the old woman off guard. Seeing that she was distracted, Amaterasu quickly ran from her, keeping Tails on her back.
A bit later,
"Jeez! What was up with that creepy old bag?!" Issun asked after they stopped.
"I don't know. But there's something wrong with her." Amaterasu said, putting Tails down.
Issun was getting more worry about Tails as he hasn't woken up in a while. He was breathing, which was good. However, they were starting to fear something might happen to him when he transform. Issun notices a sign and reads it.
"Spring, what spring? Did it dry up?" He asked.
"I don't understand! The Mermaid Spring's always given us such lovely, fresh water. How can it dry up all of a sudden!?"
Both of them turned to see a Spring Girl crying over the dry-up spring. She notices she wasn't alone and turn to see them.
"We rely on this Mermaid Spring. It's terrible that it's dried up. I don't know what'll become of the animals of Taka Pass now." She said, crying again.
Amaterasu looks around before spotting a Devil Gate. She growls, knowing the demons were behind everything.
"Issun, watch over Tails." She said, getting up.
Issun could see that Amaterasu was mad and guessed she need to blow off some steam and the Devil Gate was her ticket.
"Sure thing, Ammy. Just don't go too nuts in there." He said, hopping close to Tails's body.
Amaterasu enters the gates and fought the demons there. After she defeated the waves, the Spring returned and filled back up.
"It's so wonderful that the Mermaid Spring has come back to life! Maybe it's thanks to the legendary powers of the mermaids. Have you heard the story? This spring's like a path for them. Sometimes they come up from the bottom of the ocean. There are other springs just like this all across Nippon. The mermaids come up to the ground to visit their favorite places. See? Part of the water's surface is shining faintly. If you throw a Mermaid Coin in there, the path will open up!" The Spring Girl said.
Issun shook his head, since she was still a kid, he might as well let it be. He notices Amaterasu kneeing at Tails again, placing his head on her lap. She was still sad and confused about what happened and wanted him to wake up. She closes her eyes, making a small prayer to herself.
"If you throw a Mermaid Coin into the water, a path will open up. And if you jump in, you'll be whisked away to another spring! Mermaid Springs are like a path to far-off loved ones... Er! Um, never mind!" The Spring Girl continues before stopping herself.
'Loved ones?' Amaterasu thought, looking at Tails.
Was that what she felt for Tails all this time? Was she in love with him? She sighs before picking up Tails again. Issun frowns, knowing something was going through the Goddess's mind. He hops to her head, ready to move on, and wait for Tails to wake up.
Kusa Village,
"Yikes! What's this creepy evil atmosphere in this village!? There's no cursed zone here, but I definitely sense evil." Issun said once they stepped into Kusa Village.
Amaterasu frowns. This had a different feeling than the curse zones already. She couldn't even see the sun. She tried to draw it, only for her powers to not work.
"No go, furball. Your Celestial Brush ain't gonna work in evil power this strong." Issun told her.
She frowns before feeling Tails move a bit. She carefully puts him down and looks at him.
"Tails? Can you hear me?" She asked, hoping he'll wake up.
"Am...at...era...su?" Tails groan, slowly opening his eyes.
"Oh, thank the gods!" Amaterasu said, happily.
"You had us worry, Fox boy!" Issun said, smiling.
"What happened? Wait, where's Waka?" Tails asked, sitting up.
"You beat that half-baked prophet and send him packing. You pass out after that." Issun said, making Amaterasu look at him.
"I think it's better if we don't tell him everything. We still don't know what happened to him." Issun whispers.
Amaterasu didn't like it, but Tails was having a bit of trouble remembering a few things. Still, she was happy to see him awake. She hugs him, hoping her powers would keep the evil at bay.
"Where are we?" Tails asked, looking around.
"And what is this evil feeling?" He added.
"No idea, but we should check out that Windmill. Waka said something about when you passed out." Amaterasu said.
Tails nod, slowly getting up. Amaterasu helps him, still glad to see her friend was awake. It took Tails a few seconds to get his feelings back into his legs, and they decide to head off. They spotted an Inn, thinking it could give them some answers.
"What now!? A wolf!? And a fox?! Another non-paying customer is all I need! That guy who came the other day has been a complete disaster. I let him stay because he claims he's a descendant of Nagi. But he's hardly a monster killer! He sleeps in the woods all day! And he makes an awful noise crying out in his sleep at night. Maybe you could try chasing him off for me!" The owner said, sounding upset.
"Wait, you don't think?" Tails started.
"It is." Amaterasu sighs.
"That guy who's always asleep back there says he's from Kamiki. I remember hearing that some descendant of Nagi lived there. But it's hard to believe old tales like his nowadays. Legend is legend. Imagine there being no monsters in the world!" She added.
"Does she not see what was going on out there?" Tails asked.
"Humans have their own beliefs, Tails. Might as well leave it be." Amaterasu said.
With that, they headed outside, spotting the person they thought they'll see.
"Uh... Ah... No, no... Not that...By the gods, I vow to... You won't ever..."
"Hm? It's Susano! He's one tenacious dude. Wonder what he's doing here. I bet he's having a nightmare about getting beat up by monsters. He seems rather frantic. It'd be funny if it weren't so sad..." Issun said, a little worried for him.
"That dream again! Is there no escape!? I thought by coming to the village..." Susano said, waking up.
"Hey there, pops! Floundering around in your dreams, too? Must be nice to be able to nap in the middle of the day like that. Greatest warrior ever, my foot!" Issun said, taping a jab at him.
"Hm!? Poochie? Foxy? And little bug!? Oh, uh... Here to disturb my meditation again? Even in my dreams, I'm hard at work devising strategies for defeating that crimson something or other. I came here to pray for victory at the Gale Shrine, but... Lo and behold, that crimson something or other occupies the shrine! Well, with my invincible sword, there's no need to pray, but... Mankind's fate rests with me. I must be fully prepared. First, I must sit here and come up with a well-thought-out plan. Hm... Now where was I..." Susano said before falling back asleep.
"Plan? Yeah, right! That's just your excuse to sleep!" Issun said.
"Might as well leave him. He running from something, but he has to face it sooner or later." Tails said, already knowing what Susano was doing.
Amaterasu nodded. For some reason, every time she sees Susano, she's reminded of the man that fought beside her. She remember how brave he was fighting against his enemies and not once turned down a cry for help. She could sense that Susano carried the same will, but refused to act on it. Sighing, Amaterasu took Tails's hand and they left the inn.
Later,
They continue down the village before spotting someone that looks to be fighting something within themselves.
"Oh, this is most unfortunate. I have been possessed in a momentary lapse in vigilance. And I was trying so hard to defend this village... Now it shall be reduced to a horrid cursed zone. Alas, my strength... it wanes. All is lost..." She said.
"Amaterasu!" Tails said, knowing what was happening.
"Right!" She said, letting out a howl.
The demons were forced out of the woman before attacking the two. Tails and Amaterasu easily beat them and went to check on the woman.
"Hm!? Have I been freed from the evil curse? You have saved me, but I do not know how." She said, seeing Tails and Amaterasu.
"What the heck happened, sweetness?" Issun asked for them.
"Oh... Are you familiar with my family, the Satomi House? No...I can see now that you are not. Still, you may be of great service to me yet. Will you not listen to what I have to say?" She said before looking like she was about to beg.
"You just keep talkin' pretty lady. Issun's listening!" Issun said, smirking.
Tails snatch him from the air before pushing Issun into his fist hand, knowing what he was thinking.
"Oh, thank you! I am Princess Fuse, priestess of the Gale Shrine." The Woman said, not bothered by what just happened.
"The Gale Shrine stands atop Mount Kamiji. Kazegami, the god of wind, is enshrined there. The wind blowing down from there keeps the monsters away. Known as the Divine Wind, it is venerated as our protector. However, it suddenly stopped blowing one day. And that has allowed the monsters to sneak into our village. Even I, the last remaining priestess here, was nearly slain. That horrible monster is behind all of this!" Princess Fuse said, making Amaterasu prey for that souls.
"Will you hear the rest of my story? There is only one explanation for why the Divine Wind stopped. It is that horrible monster, Crimson Helm! The beast now dwells within the Gale Shrine. The monsters in this area have all been under Crimson Helm's control ever since he appeared in Taka Pass 100 years ago. My people, the Satomi House, keepers of the Gale Shrine, have been battling the beast and his minions ever since... But last year, the fiends attacked and killed the head priest while he was weakened by sickness, and the Gale Shrine fell into their hands." She continues.
"I remember hearing that story. It was big news in these parts." Issun said, popping out of Tails's fist hand.
"If only I could vanquish Crimson Helm and free the Gale Shrine... But I am no match for the evil barrier that now bars entry. There is only one hope now. Only the warriors who serve the Satomi House can right this wrong! Our last remaining hope for defeating Crimson Helm is... the Satomi Canine Warriors! The Satomi Canine Warriors have protected the shrine and served the Satomi House for ages, but alas... They are now scattered throughout Nippon. If we could bring them together again, they could break the barrier and retake the shrine." Princess Fuse explains.
"Really!? Then why don't ya just summon those puppies on back?" Issun asked, hopping on Amaterasu's head.
"I have already tried... But I have yet to receive any word of their coming. I sense their presence nearby but have yet to find them. What if they were attacked and injured, or even worse... I beg you, would you please sniff out their whereabouts? You might find this useful..." Princess Fuse said before pulling out a charm.
"I sense 5 of the Satomi Canine Warriors here in this village. They're a temperamental bunch and don't take kindly to strangers, but they should return to me once they see the Canine Tracker. The Canine Tracker will guide you in their direction. Please use it, along with your strength, to find them!" She begs.
Amaterasu took the charm before nodding. Tails also nod, wishing to help as well.
"Leave it to us, sweetness! We'll get 'em all back without a scratch! Can't wait to see how she thanks us, Ammy! Heh heh heh..." Issun said, causing Tails to grab and throw him away.
"Geez, you think he'll get the idea that not all girls for him to stare at." Tails said, sighing.
"Well, let's go find these warriors. I do not like how this village is under such evil." Amaterasu said, sighing.
She took Tails's hand again before placing her head under his chin. Tails smiled and hold her close. The love between them still growing.
And that ends this chapter. So up next is the Canine Warrior quest. I think this was one of the few things people dislike about Okami? I haven't played it in a long time, so I don't recall how bad or good it was.
So Tails finally woke up, and Amaterasu is refinding her love for Tails. I'm still taking my time with it, though! No point in rushing, right? I'm also trying to make it seem like Tails and Amaterasu could only take so much of Issun's pervertedness toward beautiful women by doing harmless things to him. Though Tails threw him at the end, Issun will be fine.