First of all, thank you's are in order. I would like to give a great shout out to all of my fantastic reviewers, who encouraged me to keep this story going. Secondly, Merry Christmas (or Hanukkah)! I am finally on Winter Break, so I hope to write more throughout these next few weeks. Lastly, enjoy the chapter! I realize it's a bit shorter than the others, but it's been really stressful lately. So next time, I'll go for longer.


Amaterasu forced her way through the confused and angry crowd. She greeted her father with a look of worry and turned towards the gigantic ship. It stood as if it had a right to be there, tall and proud, but it remained closed. Izanagi would have nothing of the sort.

"Akio, Juro, I want you to get the weapons! Ko, Sadao, Takumi, round up the civilians behind a perimeter. Tsuneo, tell general Yuu to get his ass down here, now. And- Amaterasu Omikami get away from this area! Sudai, get her out of here!" The king ordered. His underlings bowed their heads and scurried to accomplish their tasks. Sudai, as old as he was, put Amaterasu with the other nervous people behind the perimeter. Izanagi unsheathed his sword and stood in rank with the other remaining soldiers. The two men returned with blades, cannons, shields, and much more battle equipment. Amaterasu struggled to get a view, and she eventually managed to score a front row seat for the show. She witnessed her father screaming orders, the king's men floating around the ship aimlessly, and, causing quite a commotion, steam flowing lazily out of the giant ship. A few children started to sob. Some women screeched in pure terror. Even the bravest warriors trembled. An enormous staircase was lowered onto the cold dirt, and it silenced the viewers. Izanagi straightened his posture as much as he could, and held his sword in the air as a sign of confidence. Once the stairs sat still on the ground, a figure tumbled out, with long blond hair tumbling after him. Amaterasu couldn't stand on the sidelines after she saw the thick, red, liquid trail that he left behind. She hopped the rope railing and pushed past the guards, her father, civilians, everyone. She held the boy's face towards hers, and saw his beautiful features. His golden hair framed his face, and his eyes were squinted closed in pain. Amaterasu realized this was the most handsome man she had ever lay eyes on. This short moment was fleeting. Izanagi and his men would not allow a royal near any possible threat. It took not two seconds before Amaterasu was pulled from the golden-haired boy's arms, and he himself was placed on a stretcher of sorts, but it was more like a floating bed. Amaterasu kicked and screamed and protested, but the strength of highly trained men overpowered her.


She was confined to her room with no contact unless father gave the word, which was unlikely until the king calmed down. Amaterasu paced back and forth, determined to convince her father to tell her what he had learned, but his stubbornness usually prevailed. Amaterasu threw herself onto her bed, and thought. She thought about her role as savior to a people unknown to her, she thought about her overprotective, controlling father, and she thought about that bleeding golden haired boy who was likely to be mistreated in the hands of threatened citizens. She thought until she was overcome by a headache, and fell asleep with her face down in the pillows.

The young goddess had accidentally rolled out of bed at approximately two in the morning, and found that her door was unlatched. She groggily stumbled out of her room and into the hallway, and found that a bit of candlelight could be seen from downstairs. Amaterasu followed the light until she came across the dining hall, where her father was leaning over whatever document he had to sign or a peace treaty to be made, but whatever it was, it must have not been too intriguing, for he had dozed off. Amaterasu tip-toed around him and blew out his wax based light gently. She set a light hand on his shoulder briefly, comforted in the dark by the body heat. This moment ended, and Amaterasu reverted back to her rebellious self and snuck quietly out of the little castle. She knew the boy would either be stowed in the medicinal hut, or a jail cell, but the cell was leaning a little more towards a torture chamber. She dearly hoped that it was the former, for that delicate boy wouldn't last too long in that room. Amaterasu shuddered at the thought of the single time she lay eyes on a horrible corpse being extracted from the chamber. Amaterasu hadn't the courage to ask for that man's appalling deeds, but that was before her father's peaceful rule. Her great-great grandfather, who's name was yet to be revealed to Amaterasu, and who lived remarkably long, was the main user of the chamber.

Amaterasu reached the flap of the hut in a matter of minutes, but couldn't bring herself to enter. Her entire reputation, no, future as queen of the celestials might be thrown to the wind if she risked a conversation with the foreigner. Oh, well. At least if I'm beheaded it'll put me out of my misery. The princess thought. She let out a short breath, rolled her digits into a fist, and entered the hut.


You know what to do! Read and review! And remember, five reviews equals new chapter. Oh, and by the way, I think that this chapter will qualify me for Beta-ing, so if you noticed how much of a grammar Nazi I am and want my help, feel free to ask!