Oki's eyes opened to a blurry, dimly lit world. Frowning, the blunet sat up slowly and looked around. He was in his own hut, which was a good thing, but he wasn't alone. That was a bad thing. He'd been around people far too often for his liking in the past few days. Snorting, he stared at Amaterasu, who'd curled up in ball to his left, her hand twitching every now and again. He turned fully, to take a better look at her; only mildly curious. Or so he claimed.

Her brow was slightly creased with a nearly invisible sheen of sweat glinting on her face. What kind of dream was she having? She looked... in pain. Unhappy? Frustrated? Whatever it was, it didn't look like a pleasant dream.

Then her pristine blue eyes snapped open and in one instant she was up and on the other side of the fire from her original sleeping-place. Said Goddess panted, eyes darting from the fire, to Oki, to Issun, who'd crawled under a blanket that had been made for him by Kai. She looked so wild in those few moments Oki almost thought maybe he shouldn't calm her down – for fear of losing an eye. Still, if he didn't, there was no telling what she'd do.

"...Amaterasu?" He inquired, eyes narrowing faintly. The word seemed to bring her back down from whatever cloud she'd been on, as she finally refocused her attention and her eyes lost the confused mist.

"Oki..." She mumbled, looking vaguely puzzled. "Where... what happened?" She asked, rubbing her forehead. The blunet blinked and frowned further, shooting her a quizzical look. Amaterasu slumped back down to the ground, her pallid bangs landing almost directly in her eyes. One might think a Goddess would have more sense than to just, slump, but Amaterasu was different. That much he could tell – though he hadn't exactly met any other heavenly beings before.

In any case, Oki stared, completely at a loss of what to do. Neither moved for the longest time. The two just... stood there. Then the girl sighed through her nose and stood. She looked directly at Oki and fixed him with an intense stare.

"Everything's changed." She murmured, breaking eye-contact and shaking her head repeatedly. The blunet tilted his head in confusion, but wasn't given the chance to ask about what she meant; for he was interrupted by the loud grumble of the earth shifting and crackling. Alarmed, the pair dashed outside – Amaterasu grabbing Issun as she passed – and only just managed to slide to a stop in front of a huge fissure which divided one half of Wep'keer from the other. Gaping, the two stared, hardly able to comprehend what was there before them.

"This..." Oki whispered, face twisting behind his mask. This was horrifying, that's what. The earth was still crackling, and down below, Oki could see only a flame of black, curling and rising upward like the darkest fog. He could feel the malevolence and animosity searing his skin and mind, burning it into his memory so he would never forget the sheer power of what was there, on the edge, the horizon of Wep'keer, waiting to close in on whatever it was searching for. His mind reeled back; trying to digest all that was happening and still keep his calm composure.

Finally finding his voice, he looked at Amaterasu out of the corner of his eye, trying to judge her emotion. "What is that?" He asked quietly, letting his eyes slide back to watching the ebon mist sink over the horizon, tainting the once pure scenery of Komui into an ugly, black trail of ash.

"...Must you know?" She replied quietly, staring blankly in the direction the fog had disappeared at. Oki nodded solemnly, turning to face her. "I hope you chose wisely, Oki." She whispered. Taking a breath, the Goddess looked up. "It's death." Her ghost of a voice could barely be heard. Her eyes trained on the distant horizon, as though if she stared hard enough, the destruction the black fog had left would just disappear.

x x x x

After the ordeal of finding the scattered members of Wep'keer, the tribe had a moment to rest and look over all that had happened within the mere span of two hours. What had happened was the utter destruction of their homeland, that's what. Oki figured most of the others were still in shock – even Narrk seemed slightly shaken by the suddenness of it all. Amaterasu was perched on one of the ledges that hadn't collapsed, her crystalline eyes still focused on the distant nothingness. It was a sad sight for the Goddess, to see such chaos and not have done a single thing to stop it.

Oki could see her frown from where he was standing, but didn't bother to go see her – though he was rather tempted, oddly enough. If she wanted to sulk, she could, but the rest of the land and its people had to work on rebuilding.

Amaterasu, however, was far from sulking. She was trying to figure out just why the earth suddenly split apart like that. It was insane. And curling black mist that she'd seen – that was definitely one of the three forms of the death Goddess, Shinigami. Why? How had she escaped? It was such a confusing matter that Amaterasu didn't really know how to start breaking down what had happened.

Not like she had much of a choice, though.

"Amaterasu?" A soft voice broke through her current thoughts and she turned to face Lika.

"Yes?" She answered, surprised at her own voice. It gave off only exhaustion.

"Do you want to rest...? Kai said you've been out here too long." The young girl explained, offering a hand. The pallid-haired Goddess shook her head and gave a small, sincere smile.

"I'll come back in soon, Lika, tell Kai not to worry," She replied, though Lika looked far from convinced. Still, the ebon-haired girl nodded and sauntered away. Amaterasu chewed on the side of her cheek, letting out a loud, frustrated sigh. If that really had been the death Goddess, they were all in danger, because she would come back to her original cage to seal it off – and after that she'd never be caged again. They needed to act as soon as possible, for the threat that all of Komui could be wiped out was too great a risk to take any more time than necessary.

That was her first and only thought as she dashed off into the forest, following the trail of destruction the mist had left. Perhaps this was what Shinigami wanted – a chance to meet with her former nemesis.

x x x x

Issun seemed rather on edge, Oki mused, watching the Poncle tap his knee impatiently where he sat. He was grumbling to himself, looking far more on anxious than usual. The blunet felt himself frowning as he flicked the smaller of the two.

"Quit fidgeting, it's annoying." Oki muttered, shooting him a glare. If Issun saw him, he really didn't care that Oki had just threatened him – and that in itself was a strange thing. "What's on your mind, bug?" He tried again, curiosity invisible due to the mask. Issun blinked and looked up.

"I can't sense Ammy." He muttered, frowning deeply.

"What do you mean?"

"Just that, you stupid mutt!" Issun retorted, hopping onto his head and settling in and amongst Oki's long hair. "I'm Amaterasu's Celestial Envoy, I can sense her anywhere and everywhere, no matter if it's in the mortal or heavenly realm," The Poncle explained diligently, "And now I've completely lost track of her aura."

"And that means...?" Oki inquired, having a terribly bad feeling about where Issun was going with the conversation.

"That means she's one of two things," He began, in an entirely too-serious tone, "In a place I can't sense her – that would be a place of complete danger, or she's... or she's dead." Oki blinked, frowned, and shook his head.

"Impossible. Amaterasu can't die, she's a Goddess," Oki argued, crossing his arms and picking the Poncle off his head and setting him on a wooden stool where they could talk eye-to-eye.

"Wrong," Issun said loudly, as though it would make a point, "She can die, but it's not how we mortals see death. When a heavenly being dies, they become part of the Celestial Plain to keep a safe place for the living ones. After that, it may take hundreds of years for them to reincarnate again, and by that point, we'd be dead." Issun paused to let Oki digest the unfamiliar information. By the looks of it, none of what Issun had just said was easy to swallow.

"So... you're telling me Immortals aren't really Immortals at all?" Oki asked slowly, eyes glinting behind his mask.

"Not entirely. They are Immortal, in a sense. They don't suffer the side-effects of age, nor do they die as easy as mortals do. So yes, they're Immortal. Humans are just misinformed." Issun replied, adjusting his over-sized green hat. Oki snorted, wondering just how many other things humans had been 'misinformed' in. He didn't bother to guess.

"In any case," Issun continued, growing serious once more, "I have a hunch."

"And?" Oki inquired, eyes narrowing.

"That black fog we saw earlier – the stuff that split Wep'keer in two, is actually a Goddess." Oki's jaw dropped. "Shinigami. What we saw there was her least powerful form, the fog."

"Least powerful? I sure as hell don't wanna know what damage her most powerful form could accomplish, then." Oki commented, seething about the ridiculousness of it all.

"-Anyway," Issun snapped, annoyed at being interrupted, "Her second form is that of a black fox which is said to be able to walk in dreams, and control the varying elements around her. As for her final form – well, no one really knows. Anyone who's seen it is dead. All that's left are folk-tales parents tell their children before they go to sleep." The Poncle explained, letting out a long sigh toward the end.

"...Why? Why was she in the earth then, and not on the Celestial Plain like all other Gods?" Oki demanded, a sudden, nauseating revelation coming to mind. Issun grimaced, as if to confirm Oki's dread.

"Shinigami was banished from the Celestial Plains and encaged at the core of the earth long ago for committing treason against the Gods and taking a side with the Dark Lord." The hat-wearing Poncle murmured, avoiding Oki's gaze.

"...the Dark Lord." Oki repeated. Issun nodded. "As in, Yami, the Dark Lord? So we're dealing with someone as powerful as Yami?" Another nod. Well wasn't that just peachy? "And I didn't deserve to know this earlier!?" Oki snarled, standing up abruptly. Issun swallowed the foul tasting words he was ready to spit back, and instead replied with:

"You're not even supposed to know that much, Oki." That one sentence shocked the wolf-hybrid into silence.

"...What... what's that supposed to mean?" The blunet asked, after collecting himself once more.

"Just that," Issun muttered. "Mortals are specifically not to know of such things. Anything involving the Dark Lord is entirely top secret. The only reason I know is because I serve as Ammy's Celestial Envoy."

"So, Issun," Oki began wryly, "Seeing as you know it all, do you have a plan as to how to find Amaterasu?"

"As a-matter-a-fact, I do." And so, Issun explained his plan. The Poncle has used his knowledge of his once furry-friend to assume she'd gone to fend off Shinigami herself. He said she wouldn't want anyone else involved. 'What a martyr,' Oki had commented. Needless to say, Issun had agreed whole heartedly, but weren't all Gods martyrs?

So, they decided they would have to find Ammy before she reached Shinigami and convince her she would need back-up to defeat her. After all, if the sun Goddess had difficulty defeating Yami, what type of long, hard battle would they be in for this time? Issun couldn't help but worry.

It wasn't difficult to follow the two Goddesses – seeing as there was a trail of destruction left in Shinigami's wake – much to Oki's surprise. The frustrating part was trying to stay hidden and keep their energy low enough that neither of the heavenly beings would notice them. Quite right, Issun had informed him of yet another Godly power he'd not been aware of; spiritual sensory. Apparently, every living thing had some kind of spiritual energy that ranged from high to low, and all Gods and Goddesses could sense this energy and from it can tell whether you're an Oak tree, a wild dog, or a human with high spiritual power. Everyone of Wep'keer would be easily sensed by both Amaterasu and Shinigami, so Issun had taught him a clever trick to disguise his energy. It was usually an enchantment that one would meditate on for an hour, however, seeing as they didn't have any time to lose, Oki settled for using the spell without the meditation. That was probably a bad idea, seeing as he had the possibility of looking like a moving plant, but they didn't have much of a choice.

"Issun, is this honestly going to work?" Oki asked quietly, slinking along in his wolf form. The Poncle atop his head shrugged, though Oki wouldn't have seen it.

"Honestly?" Issun asked, and felt Oki nod. "Then I have no idea." At this, Oki frowned and let out an unintentional growl.

"So what, are we going on some wild goose chase then? And what if Amaterasu doesn't even want our help, hm? Had you thought of anything before we left you stupid bug?" Oki snarled, tail lashing. Issun snorted, but it lacked his usual fire.

"The correct term would be wolf-chase," Issun muttered before settling back into Oki's fur. He couldn't really argue with his wolven friend because he hadn't thought anything through. All he really knew was that Ammy was in danger and he had to be there. He wouldn't abandon her, not after the Ark of Yamato, and not after what had happened in the Celestial Plain. Never again. Ammy was not only the Goddess that had redeemed all humans; she was his closest friend. She was the one that inspired him to start painting again. They were partners in crime; accomplices; companions. She knew all about him, and he knew everything about her. What was really important, though, was that some part of him loved her, but not in the way one would assume when they heard the word love. It was that special kind of love that you know means more than anything in the world, and yet, it stays almost completely non-existent. It was everything and nothing at the same time.

A loud, hissing growl on Oki's part snapped the Poncle out of his thoughts. They had halted at the very edge of a small clearing. Something felt off.

"Why'd ya stop?" Issun demanded, yanking a blue hair.

"Shut it." Oki snarled, lifting his head. "Do feel that?" He asked, eyes narrowed into the distance.

"Feel what?" Issun asked, suddenly aware of the hair on the back of his neck pricking. He frowned and glanced around the clearing, trying to locate the source of his discomfort. A loud snap was all it took.

"Shit," He heard Oki mutter, crouching down on his haunches in preparation to attack whatever was hiding itself in the woods. Issun was very aware that there was an evil presence he'd not been aware of until now surrounding both the clearing and them. He wondered why he hadn't noticed it.

"Oki," Issun paused, "Wait until it shows itself otherwise –"

"Are you crazy!?" The blunet hissed back, crouching further.

"No, you idiot, you are!" The Poncle snapped, cutting off any arguments. "If that demon happens to be stronger than you, what do you suppose will happen? I sure hope you're not assuming we'd live by some miracle, because we wouldn't!" Issun took a breath before continuing. "Now sit your furry-ass down until we can see what it is." Angry but compliant, Oki sat down, hidden among the tall stalks of grass.

And oh, they saw it alright. And it's friends.

"What the..." Was the only sentence Oki could muster. Or more, the only one he was able to before the wind was knocked out of him by one of the giant red beasts. How they had sensed the pair was beyond both of them. The wolf let out a strangled cough, eyes locked-on to the devilish red thing that had hit him. It looked rather like a huge bull with cat-like paws. He didn't have much time to react.

"Oki, move!" Issun snapped at him, yanking the hair on his head. Its impish minions had launched their own attacks, using various weapons. The smaller demons weren't so difficult to deal with, but the larger monster was most definitely a problem. It was a coward, he noted. It only came up from behind when it was absolutely positive Oki was distracted, and when it did, he dealt a great amount of damage. Then it would retreat behind its followers and wait for the next opening.

And Oki hated cowards with a passion, demon or not.

Snarling stridently, Oki deduced that the only way to disband the large group of demons would be to take down the ring-leader. He figured the red beast was said leader, so he plowed his way through the smaller ones to launch forward and onto its back in one smooth motion.

"Oki!" Issun shouted above the roar of the beast, having had a sudden epiphany about where he'd seen the beast before. "Go for the shoulder!" And that was all it took for Oki to dive at its exposed shoulder.

x x x x

When it fell, it's followers scatters, just as Oki had predicted they would. One thing, however, still puzzled the half-wolf.

"How'd you know the shoulder was its weak spot?" He inquired after treating his wounds, none of which were terribly serious, seeing as Oki healed quickly and well. Issun faltered as he sat down around the fire they'd built.

"Lucky guess," The Poncle said, shrugging. The blunet scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"C'mon, Issun, don't you have a better excuse?" He demanded, eyes narrowed against the black smoke that curled upward in slow, graceful wisps. In any case, Issun didn't reply. In fact, he didn't do much of anything, which was strange because Issun, as everyone knew, was always doing something. Whether it was annoying local ladies, or threatening resident demons. "So it's that bad." Oki deadpanned. Issun frowned and stood up.

"Of course it is, you stupid, stupid mutt!" The Poncle seethed, beginning to pace back and forth in front of the flames. "Can I point out a few things, so you'll understand just how hopeless this is?" Issun asked, sarcasm laced through his words. Oki didn't bother replying, having decided it would be best to let the Envoy vent. "We're trying to hunt down two Goddesses, one of which completely disappeared off the map. Ammy told me that if I was ever not able to sense her to just leave her be – but how the hell 'm I suppose to do that when she's obviously in danger! The old man Ishaku told me that there had only ever been one occasion when Ammy got out of his sight and that was when she came back nearly dead!" He paused to breath. "And that... that thing you just fought, that was one of the few surviving Gyuki. Shinigami worked closely with that particular demon after she turned against the Celestials and teamed up with the Dark Lord and – ...Oh. This is bad." Oki, who'd been listening quite intently, blinked and looked up when Issun stopped.

"What?" Oki asked, eyebrows raised curiously.

"You weren't supposed to know that, either." The Poncle muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose in a very un-Issun-like manner. Oki realized that the situation they were in was bothering Issun a lot more than normal, and as such, the blunet found himself worrying as well.

"You never could keep a secret, Issun,"

Issun blinked, frowned, and he was pretty sure he cursed, too. He knew that voice. That, oh-so high and mighty voice he'd come to despise on Amaterasu's last adventure to restore peace to Nippon. Oki, on the other hand, had no clue who it was so he whipped around and fixed the intruder with the coldest glare he could muster.

"I imagine you would be intimidating if I were a human," The blond male commented, dismissing Oki's cold greeting.

"Who is this freak, Issun?" Oki asked, growling.

"A half-baked prophet, that's what. He couldn't give Ammy or me a straight prophecy if his life depended on it, actually." Oki blinked at his words.

"...Am I missing something?" The blunet asked ears pricked forward.

"Quite a lot of something, apparently," Chimed the blond.

"...Care to fill me in, then?" Oki asked, sitting back down. Issun sighed heavily and took a seat next to Oki.

"Yeah, yeah, gimme a second would you?" The Poncle asked, rubbing his forehead over-dramatically. The wolf-hybrid glanced between the pair and sighed. Why didn't anyone tell him anything these days?

x x x x

Long time no see? Well, at least I updated. Anyway, yes, that's right, I copped out of the fight scene. Quiet you. I honestly didn't know how to go about the fight. It was, however, mandatory to move along with the plot. Speaking of which, guess who~? That's right ladies and gents, Waka is in the room. Told'ja he'd jump in randomly. Anyway, as the plot thickens, we have yet another mystery on our hands. At least, Oki does, because he hasn't the foggiest idea as to who Waka is. And Issun has a headache. Waka didn't make it any better. All in all, I can't wait to see how this plays out.

Add one green bug + one snarly mutt and prepare for the worst. No literally. It's the duo-from-your-future-doom. Now add a half-baked prophet and what do you get? The trio-from-hell, of course.

---Ritzs-your-resident-cracker.