Author's Note: Wow, we're finally approaching the finale! I've gotta say, it's been great reading all of your lovely reviews. I've truly put everything I've got into satisfying all of you absolutely wonderful readers. So please, sit back, enjoy, and don't forgot to review!

~ With love, Haachi ~

~ A Recap ~

She spun around, her breathing heavy with the adrenaline that pumped through her veins. Yami let out a low chuckle, his whole body shaking as his eyes narrowed at her.

"So, that is how things are going to be, hm?" He said. "I look forward to meeting you again when the time comes. For now..."

He held his hands out and a spinning ball of pure blackness formed. He smiled at her again and thrust his hands outward, sending Ammy into total and complete darkness.

"I'll be waiting for you…" Ammy jumped at the voice right by her ear and looked around wildly until the darkness cleared, and she was alone.

"T-that was…?" Issun peered out from inside her kimono.

Ammy nodded, feeling another chill ripple along her spine.

"We need to go," She said. "There isn't much time."

( Amaterasu's P.O.V. )

The next days passed in a blur as Amaterasu tried her hardest to locate the rest of the Brush Techniques. Kamui quickly became colder, sending the confused villagers into their homes to keep warm, and the village that had been thriving a few days before was now desolate and empty.

The morning of the third and final day, Ammy looked up from her perch on the hill as the thick cover of dark grey clouds lightened just a bit, indicating that the sun was coming up. She hadn't been able to sleep at all the night before, having been too busy whirling her Celestial Brush through the air in a feeble attempt to hone her skills.

Her jumbled mind wandered to before all of this had started; she had been oblivious up there on the Celestial Plane, the utter peace and happiness up there shielding what was really happening in Nippon. She still couldn't shake the feeling of guilt at not having done her duty as guardian of Nippon, and she would never forgive herself if Yami won. They had been feuding for eons, but she could never remember him being this strong…although she had a fierce determination to protect the world below the Heavens, the reality of the situation pressed down on her shoulders with the crushing force of the sea.

"Amaterasu?"

She was pulled out of her thoughts and her eyes flitted up to see Waka standing there, his blue eyes clouded with worry.

"Are you alright?"

Ammy nodded and stood, brushing the snow off of her legs. Her gaze went out over the twin peaks of Ezofuji, to where the sun could just barely bee seen; only a small amount of sunlight was piercing through the inky blackness now almost completely covering it. She felt considerably weakened, and her legs shook slightly as she made another attempt out of many during the days before to bring the sun out with her brush, to no avail.

"What will I do if Yami wins?" She said almost inaudibly, her face contorting into an expression of sadness and doubt.

"He won't, ma chérie," Waka said, his long golden hair moving softly around his shoulders with the bitter wind. "I have all the faith in the world in you. We all do."

Ammy nodded and took in a sharp breath as the wind picked up, considerably colder and sharper than before. It almost whispered to her, calling her to face her destiny.

"I can feel him," She whispered, her heart beating a bit faster. "He's near…"

"You will overcome this," The Tao Master said. "He's only toying with you."

She remained silent, her mind far away. She let her mind go back through her second journey to Nippon, everything she had been through; saving Kamiki, restoring the faith of the people in Sei-an city, saving the Emperor from Ninetails, and now coming here to correct the mistake she made of not being able to fulfill her duties.

"It really has been a wild ride, hasn't it?" She said eventually, giving Waka a weak smile.

"Indeed it has, ma chérie," He replied with a grin.

The brief happiness at sharing a smile with Waka was snatched away as quickly as it had come as Ammy looked out over the mountains once more.

"I have to end this," She said softly. "Nippon will have its eternal peace."

"We'll be right beside you to help as much as we can, Amaterasu," Waka said. Ammy shook her head.

"No," She replied. "I have to do this alone. I couldn't live with myself if one of you got hurt."

"But, Amaterasu, what if…"

She shook her head firmly and gave him a hard stare. "No, Waka. This is my fate. If I go down, I'm going down alone."

Before Waka could have the chance to argue any more, she turned swiftly on her heel and made way for Laochi Lake, leaving him standing there startled before taking off after her.

"Amaterasu, wait!" She heard him call, but she paid no attention; all of her concentration was trained on her ultimate goal. It was time to end this once and for all.

She didn't stop running as she passed the village, jumping into the air with otherworldly strength over the rocks and up to the peak of Uep'keer.

She could feel the darkness wrapping around her like tentacles as she slowed her pace, her muscles tightening painfully with fatigue. She approached the altar that praised Ezofuji and looked out over the lake, and gasped at what she saw.

The space where the Ark of Yamato had once been and the sign deep beneath the ice were now gone, the ice completely enveloped in a pitch-black heaving mass of absolute darkness. It writhed hungrily as if it were a starving animal, feeding off of the energy around it. Above all of this floated none other than Yami, the Overlord of Darkness, an oddly peaceful expression on his face as he tamed the dark mass below him.

As if sensing her there, Yami opened his snakelike eyes and smiled oddly.

"Ah, so you've arrived," He said, his exhalation causing the darkness to shrink back a little. Ammy hopped out onto the ice, her legs moving gracefully over the slippery surface as she approached her adversary.

Yami crouched down a bit and hopped out over the dark mass, floating down to land gracefully on the ice in front of her.

"And here I was mistaking you for a coward," He taunted, that odd smile still there. Ammy snarled and tensed her muscles, ready to spring.

"It's time to end this, my old foe," She said, her voice dripping poison. "Once and for all."

Yami chuckled a little as he slowly began to pace, walking around her in a circle. She kept her eyes locked on him, ready for any surprises he may have.

"Ohoho, all of that will come in good time, my friend." He replied. Amaterasu looked at him in confusion, but her eyes narrowed within a split second.

"What are you talking about?" She demanded.

He stopped and absentmindedly began twirling a strand of icy white hair around his long, slender finger. "Oh, that's right~ I haven't informed you of my plan yet. Silly me."

Plan? She thought, her mind racing. This is his plan! Or is it…?

"Haven't you noticed that there weren't nearly as many of my minions wandering about this dreadful place as last time you graced us all with your divine presence?" The way he emphasized this only infuriated Ammy, his teasing voice tugging at her nerves.

"You were foolish enough to leave the Celestial Plain completely unprotected whilst on your little escapade to Nippon, were you not?" He continued. "What with your Celestials just barely getting back on their feet and those mangy Brush Gods scattered."

Amaterasu's stomach leaped into her throat as she listened intently to what he was saying. "You mean…?"

"Yes," He hissed. "Your precious Celestial Plain has been overrun by my demons in the time you were here, slaying those foolish monsters and regaining the faith of the people. And of course, Ninetails and the others were simply a distraction to keep you busy."

Ammy's eyes widened in horror, her shoulders slumping as she tried to take all of this in. "N-no…it can't be true…"

"Oh, but it is!" Yami snarled, his voice suddenly rising in hysteria. "I'd be a fool to send you on the same path twice, but this…this has worked out just perfectly. I lured you to Nippon with the talk of monsters arising again and lulled you into a false sense of security with the thought that your Plane was safe. Now that the heavens have fallen and the sun is completely covered by my darkness, you are near powerless. You have fallen right into my trap."

He chuckled again, his eyes fixed on her, challenging her. "I really must say, I expected it to be harder to fool you, but you've still the intelligence of a stupid mutt."

Ammy let out a roar, her entire being filling with rage. "You monster! I'll kill you!"

Divine Retribution was in her hands in a fraction of a second, and she ran at him with all of her might, slashing and spinning the powerful instrument. But even as she gave it all she had, he dodged her blows easily, nearly dancing circles around her as she fought blindly.

It was only a matter of time before she grew tired, her breath coming in short gasps as her blows slowed. Yami flew over her head and landed lightly in front of her once more.

"Come now, is that all you've got?" He teased, a smile of amusement coming to his face. "I thought the Great and Powerful Amaterasu would put up more of a fight than this."

She summoned back up all of her energy and ran at him once again, but it was no use; he dodged it so easily it was like she hadn't even thrown the blow. Her heart sank as she realized the futility of it all; the Celestial Plain overrun by demons, her beautiful radiant sun shrouded in deep darkness. She felt so stupid, having stumbled right into Yami's trap.

Please, if there's anything to help me win this, She thought as the final feeble rays of sunlight were blotted out by darkness. Let it come to me, and soon.

( Waka's P.O.V. )

Sharp winds and ice like needles showered Waka as he ran as fast as he could through the now waist-deep snow, the entrance to Uep'keer still so far away. Issun sat perched on his shoulder, yelling words of encouragement over the howling wind.

"Atta boy, Half Bake!" He screamed. "Go, go! We have to find Ammy!"

Waka felt a scowl come to his face, but his annoyance with the little Poncle was drowned out by his worry for Amaterasu. She had disappeared so fast, he hadn't known what to think, and he had hightailed it as quickly as he could to Oki's hut to fetch Issun and warn Oki to protect the village.

Now even his ability to soar through the air was hindered by the thick darkness in the atmosphere, making it hard to breathe. He trudged on stubbornly, desperate to get to Amaterasu. She was indeed strong, but not nearly strong enough to face this on her own. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he just sat back and watched Amaterasu meet her downfall.

We'll be there soon, he thought. Don't give up yet, Amaterasu.