"It's pretty quiet out here, don't you think?" Chibi asked as he strolled outside to join the two wolves. His sentence interrupted their mental conversation.
Yes. Indeed, Chibi, it is. Oh wait, did I not say that out loud? Amaterasu asked Oki mentally, now getting used to speaking through her mind, not her mouth.
She cleared her throat. "Indeed it is, Chibi. What brings you out into the cold with us?"
He yawned. "Oh, I was just checking up on ya. Making sure you didn't run off or something like that."
"Why would we run off?" Oki asked.
Chibi gave him a look that said Do I really need to bring up that conversation again?
"Well... we were discussing some things," Amaterasu confessed.
"Like what?"
"Like... traveling."
"Like traveling where?"
"Have you ever wanted to go to America?"
"America? Why there?"
Amaterasu sighed. Too many questions.
I know, right? Oki responded.
Why are we talking like this? Chibi's voice suddenly entered their thoughts.
Dang it, Chibi! We're trying to have a mental conversation here! Amaterasu said, trying to get her son's voice out of her mind.
I realize that. And I'm part of this conversation, am I not? Chibi asked.
Actually, you're not part of this conversation at the moment.
Is that my cue to leave?
Yup.
Okay, he said sadly. Amaterasu could feel his presence leave her mind.
Phew. So, anyway...
"Hey Issun!" Chibi said, trotting back into Kai's hut. "Wanna help me pull a prank on Oki?"
Issun was napping in front of the fire. He stood and stretched. "On Oki? I wouldn't miss that for the world!"
"Okay, but we'll need a plan. And by the way, I think Mom and Oki - well, I guess I should start calling him Dad - are discussing about going on a trip to America."
The Poncle's eyes widened at this. "To America? Why?" Then he paused. "Wait, is this a family trip? If they make me stay here-"
Chibi laughed. "Oh, don't worry. Even if they do, you'll be coming along anyway. We're partners in crime, remember? We help each other."
Issun grinned mischieviously. "Right. And I've also come up with a prank."
"What is it?"
Issun motioned for the pup to come closer. Issun whispered something in his ear, and Chibi laughed.
"That's perfect, Issun!"
I'm going to have to return to the Plains to pack for this. Amaterasu sighed, thinking of how hard that will be with Waka still around.
"I'm guessing that it's not going to be easy. How in the world did you even get here anyway?" Oki asked.
Amaterasu looked away for a second. "Um... it was... hard," she said hesitantly.
"Are you going to need help?"
"Hmm... possibly. Though I don't know how you're going to help with your extreme lack of stealth," Amaterasu said jokingly.
"I will get you one day, Amaterasu. You won't even see me coming," Oki growled playfully.
She smiled. "I would just love to see you try. But let's save that for later. Right now, we have to get back to the Plains so I may gather my things." With that, the white wolf got up and stretched. "Right now our only option is to use the Ark to get back, but I'm sure it will not go unnoticed."
"Then it's going to be pretty hard. You can't just... buy clothes there?" Oki asked.
"No, I can't. And besides, I might as well tell the other gods where I'm going, right? It would be unfair to them," Amaterasu responded.
Oki sighed. "Well, we have yet to get this over with. Come on, let's get Chibi and Issun."
"Wait," Amaterasu called after him. Oki stopped and turned. "I think we should leave Issun here, and make it more of a family trip," she said.
Oki tilted his head sideways, as if debating whether or not he should argue. "That's fine. But we had best not tell him we are planning a trip, or you know what will happen..."
Amaterasu nodded in understanding. "Indeed." She coughed. "Come on. And a warning: Issun will be able to tell that we're hiding something, so you better have some good excuses." She flicked her tail dramatically as she entered Kai's hut again.
Good excuses? He thought, following the goddess inside. I might as well go drown myself in the lake. I am horrible at making excuses!
"You know, Ammy, I can read you like a book. Let me guess-" Issun started to say, but Amaterasu cut him off.
"I'm not going to let you guess. Now come on, Chibi, let's go. We're heading back to the Plains real quick so I can grab some stuff."
Chibi yelped in surprise. "Mom, we can't go back there! Who knows what will happen if Waka-"
She silenced her son with a flick of her tail. "That is exactly why Oki is coming with us. He'll do the fighting and the distracting."
"What?!" Oki yelped. "Why me? Can't you-" he stopped when he realized arguing with a goddess wasn't the best idea. Amaterasu threw a glare at him, which also helped to shut him up. "Okay, fine," He mumbled.
She smiled. "Great, I'm glad that's settled. Now let's go." She trotted out of Kai's hut, the gang following behind her. "Oh, and Issun," she said, turning to the Poncle hopping beside her. "Do give my thanks to Kai when she meets you back at the hut."
The Poncle stopped, unfortunately in front of Oki who accidentally stepped on him. Oki yelped as Issun's sword, Denkomaru, dug into his pad. "Yow!" He licked his paw as Issun snorted.
"That teaches you ungraceful balls of fur to step on me!" Issun said, sheathing his sword. He turned to Amaterasu. "You're leaving me here?"
The look in Amaterasu's eyes showed no sympathy. Maybe pity, but not sympathy. She nodded slowly. "Yes. We're considering it more of a... family trip," she woofed.
Issun sighed. "I figured as much. Well, I'll go give Kai your thanks."
"That was easier than expected," Oki commented, watching Issun leave. Chibi held back a smirk. He was the only one who knew what Issun really was doing.
They walked in silence until the three wolves reached the Ark. This time, there was no rainbow leading a bridge up into it, so they'd have to make-do with the ladder. Of course, Amaterasu could double-jump, so she was all set. As for Oki and Chibi...
"A ladder?" Oki asked. "No problem." He transformed into a human, leaving poor Chibi with no way to get into the Ark. Amaterasu noticed this, and called to Oki.
"Oki, take Chibi up with you," she said from the top of the ark.
Oki turned to look at Chibi, his hand resting on the ladder Amaterasu had thrown down for him. He sighed. Chibi bounded over to him and jumped up into Oki's arms, nearly causing the warrior to lose his footing. Honestly, holding a wolf pup was harder than it sounded, even for Oki. "Dang, Chibi, you weigh more than you look," he groaned.
Amaterasu stared at her son before declaring, "Chibi, you've been sneaking some of my Holy Bones, haven't you?"
"Um... no..." The pup said hesitantly.
"Mhmm." Amaterasu flicked her tail, then turned and disappeared inside the Ark.
After a long ten minutes of trying to get Chibi up the ladder, Oki and the wolf pup finally managed to reach the entrance of the Ark. The walked into the cabin (after some time to get a breather) and found Amaterasu in her human form, sitting in front of the controls. She laughed when they stumbled in.
"You know, I just realized there was another door to get into the Ark," she laughed. "It's right at the base of the Ark, no climbing required."
Oki remained silent for a few seconds. "Are... you... kidding... me?!" He growled. "After all that... you decide to reveal that now?!"
After some time arguing, the three finally settled down long enough for Chibi to get the Ark on the path to the Celestial Plain, where they might have to face the wrath of Waka...