Work Text:
I can barely speak; black and white bedsheets.
… Wake, I can't resist, could I be dreaming this?
It was the time of myths and legends. Gods were alive, and Shinigami, while envious of their sister, had not yet become enraged. There was peace - mostly, anyways. Balance and order were held, and the people of Nippon were happy…
… But something was off.
The sun had long since set, but Shinigami found themself alone in the Plain, peeking out of their den - below the mountain and dug just slightly under the ground. Their rosaries made a soft sound when colliding, calming their nerves if slightly - but something was, certainly, not right.
Amaterasu had not returned home.
Perhaps it was nothing. The wolf, surely, could hold her own - the God of Death hummed and shrugged, slowly lowering back into their den and closing their eyes.
The slight feeling of unease only grew.
Pressure on my lips, I'd die for just one kiss…
I feel the air retreat, I know you're here with me.
She’s dead.
It was the only thought running through Amaterasu’s head as she ran, ran as fast as she could, away from the developing city; her trail of flowers, surely, would lead the imps away - judging by the sound of shrieks and bellows behind her, she was correct.
She’s dead. Etsuko is dead.
Why hadn’t Shinigami come yet? Surely they, the God of Spirits and Dead, would feel a gap in the universe filled too early! Amaterasu even checked with them - Etsuko was meant to die of old age, ruling her people - and such was the only reason the wolf had even dared make friends with her.
A sharp sting on her tail made her pick up speed, taking a leap when a mountain wall sprung out through dense trees and scurrying up the edge with Catwalk. The demons, cavorting, followed suit, jeering their amusement.
Am I far enough away from the city?
A quick glance behind her when she reached the peak answered her question, and, satisfied with the distance, she spun on her forepaws and backed away from the edge, lowering herself into a crouch and baring her teeth as the princess’ killers rose up.
Shinigami, please hurry.
How do I fake it with another man?
How do I love him on the weekend?
The unease grew.
Shinigami shifted on their paws, struggling to find sleep, but none would come. All four tails gave an irritated twitch before they just gave up, climbing out of their self-made hollow with a groan before summoning their orbs and shedding the rosaries. The immortal souls within seemed to whisper to them endlessly, but tonight they all spoke the same - at different times, naturally. It made them impossible to understand, despite the fox’s best efforts, and when they failed to register the words, they merely rolled their eyes and began to climb up the mountain’s slope.
“Be silent.”
The souls persisted. Shinigami let loose a huff, but did not try again to shut them up, merely taking in the roughness of the stones beneath their paws and the clean smell of the air in the Plain. Below, sounds were slowly ceasing to exist, the Celestials only now taking rest - and judging by the smell and slightly melted snow on the peak of the mountain, Yumigami - still getting used to her own moon-raising duties - had only just left.
Shinigami gladly took her place, staring down at the Plain before lifting her attention to the sky. Night was always beautiful, and the stars twinkled brightly up above - the dance that all dead would forever take part in. The stars were Shinigami’s pride.
This was why they were so confused to see a difference in the mapping of them.
They squinted, hoping their eyes were playing a trick, but the patterns stayed the same; the only thing unchanged about the endless march and river were the constellations of the Gods, who were far less vague.
… What’s going on?
How do I listen to another man?
How do I get off on the weekend?
These were the first demons Amaterasu had ever fought, and she had gravely underestimated them.
Assuming they would only be as bad as a poacher who lacked enough faith to notice her divinity, she hadn’t fought too hard at first; now, it seemed, she was starting to need to use the people’s faith to her advantage, especially as the first group called their friends to assist them in fighting the all-mother.
Now, she was fighting tooth, claw, and reflector, using every brush technique she had to overpower them - but they seemed ready, even delighted, to battle her, matching every one of her hits with two of their own and dodging with agility that she hadn’t known possible until this night.
On and on into the night they fought. She had never known herself to be able to get weak - though, years later, she would look back on this and laugh pitifully about just how foolish and weak she truly had been. But here, and now, she stumbled, holding up her reflector as a shield and panting heavily. Blood stained her pelt and blurred her markings, but she did not fall until a large demon appeared, bearing fangs sharper than those of Gekigami and eyes of blood red.
When its’ teeth dug into her flesh, the wolf too late to react and defend herself, Amaterasu gave up.
She screamed.
You're in my heart, in my heart…
There was no denying it. Shinigami had heard it loud and clear.
Their sister was in danger and pain.
Suddenly, the Plain was abuzz, but Shinigami couldn’t have cared less, ignoring the other Gods’ questions and allowing their own power and share of faith to bleed off of their form. Though the grass wilted with every step they took, they kept a steady pace, speeding up just before leaping off the island in the sky altogether.
In a flash of bright sparkles, they landed safely on the ground in what would later become Kamiki Village, and continued their sprint, following their sister’s divinity across the country. Into Ryoshima Coast, their tails making a bright multicoloured stream despite the crimson, violet, and black streaks their paws left on the ground behind them. Brilliant white light bled into the darkness of Nippon, shocking the demons when they appeared on the same cliff face.
One look at their sister, battered and bleeding, was all they needed to let loose a roar and attack, not thinking twice.
The demons, who had before had taken joy in beating up a God, now regretted their actions; though they tried to overwhelm the fox, it was all for naught, and they all ended up either exorcised or chased off; those who Shinigami managed to reap were absorbed by one of their empty orbs - only one - when their physical forms disappeared.
Finally, when the last of their sister’s assailants were gone, Shinigami calmed, the white shine disappearing and markings slowly returning to normal. It was then that they turned and joined Amaterasu, nosing her lightly.
“Sister, are you going to be alright?”
“... Etsuko…”
“What?”
“Etsuko, Shinigami! The princess!”
Never before had Shinigami seen the wolf cry quite so violently, but now she was in tears before them, letting out a wail that pierced through the night and left a hole in their heart.
“What about her, what happened?”
“You don’t know? She’s dead , sibling! They ripped her apart, ate her, everything!”
“... But… That’s impossible! She wasn’t meant to die tonight!”
“It’s my fault!”
“Sister, no, you couldn’t have seen this coming. You must have lost copious amounts of blood. Calm yourself - let us return to the Plain to heal you. We will tell the people of Etsuko’s death come sunrise.”
Amaterasu shut her mouth, sniffling and nodding before pushing her head against Shinigami’s. She relied on the fox for support, leaning slightly on them before matching their paces, leaving a trail of blood behind.
Shinigami fell silent as well, gazing at the orb that now held cursed and evil energy.
Something told them that this would not be the last battle with darkness.
… In my head.