Ammy woke up with a stiff back. Her long white hair fell over her eyes as she sat up in the passenger seat of the Ark of Yamato. For a minute, she strained to see the person operating the flying ship as her vision cleared. With a wide stretch of both arms, she howled a mighty yawn.
"Goodmorning, ma cherie," smiled Waka, glancing at her out of his peripherals as he navigated the skies.
". . ." Ammy squinted at him, the sun all but burning her eyes out of socket.
"What is it?" he inquired, his light eyes flashing with concern. Most often, he would mock her, making even the most serious situations facetious.
Without a word, she took out the celestial brush and painted the moon in the sky. This was one of many things she could manipulate. Others included flow of time, weather, and nature. Smiling warmly, she laid back down and covered her legs with her tail.
"What an irresponsible goddess you've become. What if the ark gets damaged or attacked? Then we'd both be doomed with you asleep. Tres bien?" Waka said to himself.
"Stop adding in random French and speak plainly for once," mumbled Ammy groggily, "and you're fully capable of fending off any attacks. You're a member of the Moon Tribe, remember? You even almost defeated me on several occasions."
Since they had entered the plain, Ammy's job had become much easier. It was a great upgrade from having to slay demons and rejuvenate withered wildlife on Earth every day.
Waka would have fumed, but it was very unlike him to get flustered. That was what unnerved Issun about him from the beginning. He thanked the heavens that the traveling artist had decided to pursue his work elsewhere.
"Why the sudden decision to stay in human form?" he asked, trying to keep her awake.
"Why the sudden concern?" Ammy shot back. Before her battle with Yami, he had lent her no support whatsoever other than his vague predictions of the near future. For their first few encounters, he had challenged her to duels to test her worth. The first time he nearly bloody killed her. His form of encouragement had been to tell her he was disappointed that a once highly revered goddess had gotten so rusty.
He had no retort for her response, but it did cross his mind that she hadn't said a single word to him in the time that she was traveling with Issun. Be that as it may, it wasn't like Issun left room for anyone else to speak…
"Are you really going to sleep?" Waka said after a long moment.
"...No," Ammy said.
"Good, because there is something coming up ahead."
Instantly, Ammy rolled out of her chair, drawing out her celestial brush as she assessed the area up ahead.
Waka pulled a small lever near the dash board of the ship and tilted the steering wheel gently until they landed on a strip of land nearby.
"Could that be...?" Ammy said, standing up in surprise. She ran off of the ark before Waka could raise up a hand to stop her.
A gigantic white snake and dragon that shared her red marking uncoiled their long bodies along the large strip of land. It was Nuregami and Yomigami, gods of watersprout and rejuvenation, who had taught her their abilities to draw from water sources and instantly rebuild any object. They had been the first and sixth brush gods she had encountered on her journey the previous year.
"Amaterasu, goddess of the sun and mother to us all," Yomigami greeted as he changed into human form and grasped her delicate hand. He carried with him a large green scroll and dragon horns protruded from his temples. His silver hair was much longer than Ammy's waist length white hair. It was also pin straight where hers was wavy.
Nuregami also transformed into a human holding a large flask of water on her back, her shoulder length curly mermaid hair half covering her wide mouthed smirk, "What an honor to see you again, Mother Amaterasu."
Ammy often felt awkward and undeserving receiving such greetings when she was one of the youngest gods of the celestial brush. If anyone deserved such praise, it was her previous life Shiranui.
A moment later, Waka exited the ark and placed a hand on Ammy's shoulder protectively. Yomigami smiled politely and withdrew his hand.
Ammy spread her lips thin and looked away.
"We have some news for you both," Nuregami cleared her throat.
"What is it?" Waka now completely ignored Yomigami.
"Kaguya, the bamboo man's adopted grand daughter, resides on the plain but makes annual visits to her human friends. She, too is a celestial like Waka and the crew of the Ark of Yamato. Also, she has a request for you to meet her in Kusa Village so that she may discuss some things...concerning Lord Yami," Yomigami hesitated.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me," said Ammy flatly. She wasn't much of one to curse, but after everything that she had been through to make sure Yami was gone, she was reasonably unamused.
"Amaterasu slayed Yami, and she slayed all of the dark entities. That's why the land of Nippon is cleansed and not overrun by demons," Waka interjected.
"Believe us or not, Waka. Kaguya has seen evidence with her own eyes. How long has it been since you two visited Nippon?" Nuregami asked as if to make a point.
"Mother Amaterasu," Yomigami bowed. The two gods returned to their animal forms and left the strip of land without another word.
Ammy seemed conflicted and deep in thought for a good minute.
"Ready when you are, ma cherie," Waka offered a hand when he hopped aboard the ship and she solemnly accepted before following.