A/N: Derp. Short chapter. Working on original stories for now, so this isn't my primary focus.
Surprisingly enough, her hunch was right. Not all Japanese Gods agreed with the Sun Goddess. After Chang'e's initial surprise of how blunt Amaterasu was at denying alliance with the Chinese pantheon, she and Yue Tu stepped outside to rethink their plans. To their curiosity, they found a familiar figure resting on the side of a cherry tree.
Susano the Japanese God of the Sea, approached Chang'e. Unlike his usual threatening appearance, he looked ambivalent. He looked different as well, his white robes now replaced with dark purple ones which contained a ukiyo-e depiction of a storm. He idly held his sword in his hand.
"Woman," he sneered, "I wish to join your cau-"
Before he could finish his sentence, Chang'e briskly ignored him and passed him by. She had no time for disrespectful Gods, and her thoughts were on ways to leave Japan without attracting attention.
Susano sighed, rolling his eyes. He wasn't one for pleasantries, but he swallowed his pride for the current situation. Clearing his throat, he began,
"Oh heavenly Goddess, Chang'e of the Moon, I ask that you humbly accept me for the Elysian Uprising. My providence over the sea is sure to benefit your cause." He tried his best to not make it sound sarcastic.
That was better, at least he tried to sound respectful. Chang'e turned around, and Yue Tu looked at her with curious eyes.
"Should we? I mean, is that even allowed?" The rabbit asked. Any ally to the Elysian cause was a benefit, but he knew that this could anger Amaterasu.
"And? I bore of inaction. Japan may be safe for now, as there are multiple beings, both good and bad, roaming Japan's lands, but we are against the world. I am willing to betray my pantheon if it means saving my country."
"Hmm..." Chang'e mused. She mulled it over for a second. It was only Susano, but at the same time, it was only Susano. Sending only one Japanese God would look not only bad, but awkward.
She bent down to Yue Tu, whispering in his ear.
"What! You can't possibly think-" Yue Tu paused, nodding and considering her idea. "...Ah, that makes sense!" Yue Tu proclaimed.
Susano stood there with an eyebrow raised as Yue Tu approached him.
"How would you like to join our expeditionary crew?" He asked.
"What?"
"You see, we're on a mission, and that is to recruit pantheons to our side."
"I...see." Susano considered. He'd escape Japan and join the Elysian Uprising, acting as their body guard. It was better than the other option, which was to stay in Japan and guard its waters from foreign enemies.
"You'd be helping our cause, and not to mention that you'd be traveling around the world."
"I assume you need a sword then?" Susano asked.
"Err, yes. While we have combat experience, dancing will not always provide adequate defense."
"You dance on the battlefield? How absurd." Susano disbelievingly looked at Chang'e, who smiled with a sort of pride to the question. The dragon couldn't fathom how she could do such a thing.
"I suppose if that is what is needed to aid in the Elysian Uprising, then you have gained an ally."
"Perfect, now do you know a way off Japan? This requires stealth, so we're relying on our own wits here."
"I can call for allies," Susano suggested. "Some serve me, and as such..."
"No, no, no. We already have you on our side. Calling for more aid would be appreciated, but unnecessary. As I've said before, this is a stealth mission. If we involve more of the Japanese Gods or beings, Amaterasu would have our heads!"
"Good point. Then let us continue this conversation elsewhere."
It was a small inn to begin with, but it did the job of concealing them. Though they were probably still detected because of their immortal status, it wasn't as though they were going to stay long in the first place.
"What pantheons do you believe will join the Elysian Uprising?" Susano asked, sitting on his knees. "News doesn't travel fast in Japan."
Yue Tu contemplated for a moment. "The thing is, the Old Order doesn't consist of all Gods from a specific pantheon. Some have betrayed their leaders, so we can't say that the entirety of a specific pantheon make up the Old Order, since that's not true, just as not all of the Chinese or Roman pantheon are in the Elysian Uprising. If anything, it depends on the God itself. Why do you want to join the Uprising?"
"I'll be blunt," Susano said. "I'd like to escape my sister."
"Ah...you don't really want to join the Uprising, do you?" Yue Tu narrowed his eyes.
"I have no qualms of joining 'humanity's protectors' if it means I can escape my sister's grasp. I do not agree with her rule. However, that is not my primary reason either, as I also believe that Japan will not last if it continues its isolationism." He shined his sword with cloth, eyeing its sharpness. He smiled at the thought of bloodying his sword with the death of some Old Order Gods...