~ A Recap ~
Ammy nodded, a smile gracing her elegant features. "Now, about your eye," She continued, her soft voice back to business. "The people have been talking that you are the reason for the Emperor's illness, but that's not it at all. You have an evil force attached to you, and it's bringing bad luck."
Kaede leaned forward a little to listen closer, urging her to go on. "That fox that scratched you all those years ago…it wasn't just any regular fox. I'm pretty sure it was an ancient monster, known only as Ninetails. I think one of his tails must be attached to you."
"One of his…tails?" The innkeeper repeated. "Is that why I've been feeling this bad feeling in the pit of my stomach for all of these years?"
Ammy nodded. "In order to get it off of you, we need to coax it off. But I'm afraid I don't stand a chance against Ninetails, and I can't lure his tail off of you until I have some of my power back."
"Hmm…a way to get people to believe in the gods again..? How about a festival?" Kaede suggested. "The citizens of Sei-an love a good festival, no matter what it's for. I'm sure we can attract some attention if we do that."
Ammy pondered it for a moment. "Hm…yes, it seems like it could be a good idea. But who do we have to talk to to organize a festival?"
"We'd…have to find a way to get in and see the Emperor," She replied. Ammy felt her heart sink a little. "Well, it seems like our only option…" She contemplated. "Alright then. Let's form a plan."
( Amaterasu's P.O.V. )
The cool night air brushed lightly on Ammy's skin as she sat outside the inn, gazing up at the stars. Her heart still pounded from the nervousness and foreboding that had come with revealing her true identity to Kaede. She needed to come up with a plan…something that would get her into the palace and to the Emperor. But so far, she had nothing; her mind was a complete blank. How was she supposed to get in there without revealing who she really was?
Suddenly feeling cramped in the city, Ammy stood and began making her way back toward Ryoshima Coast, her wooden sandals making small scuffing noises as her long legs moved. The usual bustle of the city during the day had quieted down to only about half as many people walking around, and Ammy didn't have any problem getting back to the large gates that served as the entrance to the city. She walked through them, back up the hill and emerged onto the sandy soil of Ryoshima, the wave of salty air hitting her like a force.
As she walked down to the beach, the sand working its way in between her toes, she took a deep breath and looked out over the dark, calm waters. A century ago, when she had last been here, she had bravely gone to Oni Island and took Ninetails down with her mighty brush. Now he was back, powerful as ever, and she didn't know how to defeat him or even where to find him. She had never felt so lost.
The Goddess continued walking along the deserted coastline, the soft sand making her feet sink slightly. Without knowing where she was going, she continued heading up the path that wound up the steep ocean cliffs, to where the Ankoku Temple Bell stood. Next to the small sacred structure was a small patch of soil where weathered gravestones surrounded by weeds and decaying wildflowers stuck out of the ground, their majesty and honor to the departed long gone. Amaterasu felt herself drawn to one of them; a particularly old one that bore the mark of an honored holywoman – Rao.
The breeze blew gently through her snowy hair as she knelt down to examine the stone; the words engraved into it were so faded she could hardly make them out. But she could feel Rao's presence there, as if she were watching her. She felt the sadness begin to overwhelm her at the reminder of the priestess's terrible fate.
"Rao, I need help," She said quietly, her gaze fixed on the stone. "I can feel Ninetails' presence looming, but I don't know what to do to defeat him…"
She looked up to see a transparent figure smiling down at her. The image of Rao's healthy frame drifted down to rest on top of the stone.
"Amaterasu, creator of all that is good and mother to us all…" She began, her soft voice echoing in the Goddess's ears. "I am honored that you would request my help on your quest."
Ammy looked up to her, dipping her head slightly in a gesture of respect. "Rao, what should I do? I lack the power needed to find and defeat Ninetails, and without the belief of the people I will never regain my former strength. Please, can you help me?"
Rao smiled down at her from her perch on the headstone. "I know that your next step must seem hazy and hard to find, but there is always a way. That was part of my job when I was alive; to keep the faith in the gods and spread it around. I never lost faith in you, Amaterasu, and there are those who still believe. I don't know if this will help you, but the Emperor himself is a very firm believer in the gods. Mine and Himiko's blessings upon the future generations have kept that tradition very much alive."
Amaterasu nodded, milling over that information. "So…are you saying that I may have to reveal myself to more than just my comrades?"
Rao nodded solemnly. "I know that you conquered evil last time without anyone knowing who you really were, but now it is different. People cannot latch their faith onto the gods if they think the gods don't exist anymore. Listen to me when I say that it could be for the best if you reveal yourself to the people."
"I see. Thank you for your wisdom, Rao." She paused, blinking slowly up at the dead priestess. "I honestly think sometimes that I lack the wisdom to be a goddess. I feel like I don't know anything."
Rao smiled gently at her. "You are human now, Amaterasu, and with the form you have chosen you have taken on the uncertainties that come along with it. Part of being human is having doubts and worries, so do not fret. All that you need to know will come to you in time. But remember that myself and your other allies will always be with you, to provide you with guidance and support."
"Oh, and about Ninetails," She said after a moment. "I think that the Emperor's illness and the disappearance of his wife both have something to do with the fox. Follow the signs, and I am sure that you will find what you are looking for."
Ammy nodded her thanks once again. "I will try to avenge your name, Rao," She said, dipping her head. "You really have suffered a terrible fate."
The priestess nodded sadly. "Yes, but it is in the past now. Now my goal is to assist you as much as I can. May you be blessed in your journeys with wisdom and good fortune. I bid you farewell, Amaterasu."
With that, her ghost disappeared, leaving Ammy alone. She stood and, brushing herself off, took a deep breath of the sea air. Rao was right; in order to get anywhere, she would have to reveal herself. She just hoped it was for the best.
As she turned to head back toward the city, she heard a scuffling sound behind her. Fearing the worst, she whirled around to see a figure crouched near the stairs that led up to Ankoku Temple. Slowly she approached, and as she got nearer she saw a man, huffing on the ground from exhaustion.
He looked up at her, his eyes dull with pain. "H-help me…" He croaked, before collapsing onto the ground. Ammy tensed as a vision appeared above him; a demon attached to his back.
Without thinking, Ammy let out a savage growl and in a split-second Divine Retribution was in her hands. The demon screeched and bared its dripping fangs at her before leaping off of the man's back and landing hard on the ground in front of her. It was one she hadn't seen before; it had the composition of an imp, with long arms that dragged on the ground on either side of its hunched body. It was covered in long, black hair that hid part of its face, and glowing red eyes that pierced Ammy as she lunged for it. It swung at her with long, hooked claws, narrowly missing her face as it tried to deal blow after blow.
Ammy snarled viciously and let her Divine Instrument slash its way through the beast, and soon it slumped over with a groan and disappeared in a puff of flower petals. Once it was gone, she hurried over to the man, who sat up slowly, rubbing his head.
"Ugh, what came over me? I felt something pounce on top of me when I walked by the stairs and then it was like my energy was being drained away." He looked up at Ammy. "Did you save me?"
Ammy didn't answer, she simply reached out to give him a hand up. Once standing again, he brushed off his traveling kimono and gave her a deep bow of thanks.
"In all of my days I've never seen anyone fight off a demon like that…" He said, studying her with his dark, intelligent eyes. "Anyway…my name is Saburo. I'm a personal assistant to the Emperor of Sei-an city."
As soon as Amaterasu heard him say this, she felt her heart leap. "You can call me Amaya," She said with a small bow. "No need to thank me."
He looked at her in surprise, his upraised eyebrows causing a few faint wrinkles to show on his forehead. "Oh, but there is! I've never felt a sensation like that…you must truly be special! Please tell me there is something I can do to repay you!"
Ammy mulled over the opportunity for a moment; if she played her cards right, she could get in to see the Emperor easy. "…You said you were an assistant to the Emperor, right?"
Saburo nodded proudly. "One of his most trusted advisors. I was out on Imperial business when that thing pounced on me."
"Would you, by any chance, be able to get me and a friend of mine in to see the Emperor? You see, we have something very important to discuss with him, but what with his illness and all, we've found it to be quite a task."
Saburo fixed his wise eyes on her and after a moment, nodded slowly. "Yes, I suppose I could do that…but may I ask why you seek counsel with His Imperial Majesty?"
"Well, we've been wanting to plan a festival of sorts," She replied. "One to honor the gods."
Automatically the advisor's eyes lit up. "Oh, finally! Someone who still has faith! You see, I think that the reason His Majesty hasn't healed is because nobody is willing to pray to the gods anymore. Oh, what a wondrous occasion! I'm sure the Emperor will be quite pleased."
Amaterasu gave Saburo a courtly bow. "Thank you very much," She said as he exchanged the gesture. "My friend and I are truly grateful."
"Of course, m'dear," He said happily. He pulled out a small scroll and a brush, along with an ink stone and an Imperial Seal. "Just give this to the guards at the gate that leads to Gojo Bridge tomorrow and they will happily give you an escort."
As he finished writing out the request and marked it with the Imperial seal, he blew on the ink and then rolled it up, holding it out to her. She took it and placed it in her satchel carefully.
"Now, if you'll excuse me I have business back in the city. I will be seeing you soon, hm?"
Ammy nodded and couldn't help but smile at the man's bubbly nature. She let her hand run over the small bulge of the scroll in the bag as he walked away, a bounce in his step.
"Lady Luck must be smiling on me," She said quietly to herself. With that, she began making her own way back to the city to deliver the good news to Kaede and Issun.