Hi, and we're back!

Jenna: Metaniterocks does not own Okami... just me... *sigh*

Meta: Okay, well CHAPTER START!

(Author's notes end)

"So how do I do this?" asked Jenna. "Well," said Issun, "You kind of do a pulling motion from the ground up with the brush..." He seemed to be demonstrating, Jenna guessed what motion he was doing and imitated it. The world turned sepiatone.

"Okay, now you just hold out your brush and paint your brushwork in. There's a kind of invisible surface called the Canvas that surrounds you when you use your brush. Usually, for me, there's only one technique allowed each time. Oh, and time stops when you use the Canvas. But you can't move," instructed Issun. "Only your spirit can, and it's tough. When you are really focused on a target, though, it's easy to move your spirit around it."

"Oh, cool!" said Jenna.

"Hey, why don't you try out Rejeuvination on that gate?" he said, pointing out said gate.

Jenna looked up. A chunk of the arch was missing. She held up her brush. Her arm didn't get tired as she carefully drew in the missing wood.

"Now, you just lower your brush," said Issun.

"Right," said Jenna, and did so. Her ink dissolved and dripped down from the gate. "What?" exclaimed Jenna. "It is kind of tough," said Issun. "Try again."

Jenna attempted it again, and again, and finally, with a burst of will and energy, managed to restore a piece of the arch. "I did it! Well, some of it..."

"Yeah, good job! You want that I should finish it off for ya or do you want to?"

"I want to finish!" exclaimed Jenna excitedly.

"Be my guest," said Issun. Jenna carefully painted in the rest of the arch and smiled with delight as it filled in completely. "Yes!" she said happily. She watched as down from the gate descended shimmering orbs of red, yellow and pale blue. They floated towards her. She tried to get out of the way, but they followed her and entered her body. "You got some praise!" exclaimed Issun. "It makes the gods stronger, so why did it go to you...? It must be just because you were the one to fix this thing. It's kind of all the happiness that this fixed gate will ever cause in the future..."

They headed up the hill. Jenna paused as they crossed a bridge, staring off to the side, behind the waterfall. "What is it, Jen?" asked Issun. "Uh... is that a chest over there?"

Issun was confused. "What? Where?"

Jenna passed under the falling water, shaking it off on the other side and crouching to stare at the chest. Amaterasu followed, much to the gurgling protests of Issun. Jenna opened it with a gentle tug and reached inside, to the small bead that lay there. "What is it?" asked Issun.

"A stray bead," said Jenna instinctively. "Collect all 100... what does that mean?"

"Eh?" asked Issun, even more confused. "Nevermind," said Jenna. "Let's keep going."

They went back to the path and up a long series of steps. Jenna found that she could use her brush outside of the Canvas and Issun confirmed that the brush could be used that way, but within the Canvas time was stopped and so one had time to be careful and think.

They reached the top of the steps and entered a cave. Upon seeing a statue, Issun stammered "Is this... Is this the legendary shrine? We must be in the Cave of Nagi! The legendary hero Nagi is enshrined here! He vanquished evil 100 years ago with the help of the white wolf, Shiranui!" Jenna started, was he referring to the legend she'd seen before arriving here? "First the River of the Heavens and now this place... Where are we?"

Jenna shook her head. "Uh, firstly, aren't you at all worried about that huge gate which trapped us in here? And secondly, your guess is as good as mine, but I personally think this place is valued by those gods you were talking about. There's something divine about it." Amaterasu panted happily and nuzzled Jenna's hand.

"I guess so, but boy, this place is a wreck," commented Issun. "See? That sword's in really bad shape. The gods sure didn't do much to protect this place," he continued, eliciting a growl from Amaterasu. Jenna personally agreed. She sensed the divine air, but the statue was covered in moss, and the sword was broken off.

Then the Canvas appeared. Jenna wondered if Issun was trying to restore the sword. Again, a starry brush of light and dark appeared in front of Amaterasu and moved up and down carefully. A line was painted both in front of the brush and also three-dimensionally upon the sword. The world's color was restored, and Issun exclaimed, "That really WAS your brushwork all this time, Ammy! How'd you get so good? Exactly who are you, anyway?"

Jenna stared at Amaterasu, thinking about how Yomigami had spoken to Amaterasu so respectfully, and called her 'mother.' "Hey, there's another constellation!" exclaimed Issun. "This one looks like a..." His voice trailed off. Amaterasu drew in the star and the god emerged. A mouse with a sword... thought Jenna. The name of the god rang in her head. Tachigami...

"Well, well, well... if it isn't mother Amaterasu. It's been a long time. But with all these monsters around, the only place I could hide was in this shrine dedicated to ancient heroes. If there is anything I can do to assist you in your endeavors, I'm at your service. Make good use of this sword, as it was designed to conquer evil." Jenna stared, wondering how the mouse was able to sit on that sword like that. Then Tachigami turned to her. "I have something for you also, Starseeker."

He jumped off the sword, grabbing it, and swinging it around in a quick spiral. He soon was back up on the sword, and a pouch lay on the ground. "Your throwing feathers. Had you thought them lost?" Jenna stared. "What? I never had any 'throwing feathers'..."

"Be assured that they are yours. I have kept them for you faithfully, and they are as sharp as ever they were!"

"Uh... okay..." said Jenna, picking up the pouch. She opened it and investigated. Within was greyish down. Jenna stared. "Uhhh..."

"Please, take one out, Starseeker. Perhaps you shall see what I mean."

Jenna reached in. As her fingers touched a piece of down, she felt it stiffen and lengthen. She took it out, and there was a stiff, pointed pure white feather. Jenna observed that it was too stiff for an ordinary feather; the fibers maintained their smooth shape even when she ruffled them.

"You see? They are just the same as when you left them. Take them with you, Starseeker, and may your aim be unwavering!"

Tachigami vanished into a floating kanji, like Yomigami had, and flew around and into Amaterasu. As the landscape faded back to that of the cave, Issun said, "Hey, that was the god, Tachigami, master of the Power Slash technique." He bounced over to where Jenna held the pouch of down and the one white feather. "What are those things for, anyways?" "I really don't know," said Jenna. "Wait a minute." He turned to Amaterasu. "Ammy... if you're getting all these powers... Then you're just like that Shiranui! You know, the wolf who fought and died alongside the great Nagi."

Jenna paused. It would make sense... Shiranui was a white wolf like Amaterasu. However, Amaterasu was covered in divine markings.

"When Shiranui died, the wolf's power was split into the 13 brush gods. This is crazy. Shiranui and Nagi? It's just like the legend." Issun shook his head. "Well, anyway, I've never seen this Power Slash technique myself. How 'bout showing your stuff off on that boulder over there? Lemme see you slice it in half by drawing a single line! I won't believe it till I see it!"

Jenna turned to watch. The starry brush appeared in front of Ammy and cut the boulder with a line of ink. "Wow! I'm not even in the same league as you!" exclaimed Issun. "Guess I really overestimated myself." He paused. "Hey, furball... Er... I mean, Amaterasu... I've made up my mind. If you're Shiranui reborn, that means you can master all 13 techniques, right? In that case, I think I'll tag along until I'm as good as you! Lucky you!" Amaterasu complained with a shake of the head. "Heh heh. There's no use trying to change my mind." Jenna put the feather back in the pouch, and felt it shrink back into soft, fluffy down. "Okay, well, now that that's settled," she said. "Could we get out of this place?"

(Chapter ends)

Jenna got a weird pouch thing~ Oooh what is it~

Next chapter... enemies, I guess... and probably Kamiki Village.

Jenna: WHAT ARE THESE FEATHER THINGS?

Issun: Shut up! Spazzy OC.

Jenna: Just 'cause you're in the actual game-

Meta: NO FIGHTING!