Chapter 1: Darkness Shall Return.
Chapter Text
Darkness came closer and closer towards her. She couldn't do anything, she was stunned. Two golden eyes and darkness wihtin them was coming closer and surrounding her. She looked around once more, Amaterasu, origin of everything that is good and mother to us all, couldn't move. Godess was in her human form as it was usual in the Heaven.. She looked up from her hands noticing that nothing was holding her and pair of golden eyes spoke:
'Godess of everything that is good, your time has come, you and all other Gods will fall and madness will corrupt your world'
His voice was deep and trembling with lot of anger in it. As darkness and eyes faded away and Amaterasu could feel free again she fell into pit of fair and screams echoed loudly.
Amaterasu quickly sat up, nightmares became more often, she was afraid that it would corrupt her same as it had happened to Bakugami and Tachigami . They tried everything, nothing helped to wake them up from deep slummber. Despite that they were sleeping they were shaking and mumbling something under their breath. She shook of the nightmare that looked so alive. It was just a nightmare, but why she was so afraid? She got up from her bed. Each God had their own chamber. Hers was in East in the side where Sun was rising. Also chamber didn't had any walls but it still was secret how none, of the Gods weren't able to see her. In the middle of her chamber was her altar, where all praises were kept. It was sacred place and it reflected Sunshine from rising Sun. That casted light all over room. To the east of the altar were the bridge where she did her ritual to start the day. Where she called The Sun to shine upon Nippon. She got up from the bed, calming down her body from trembling, and walked towards bridge. With her Wolf ears on top of the head, she could hear someone outside her chamber. They will have to wait as the ritual was her most important duty. She walked on top of the bridge, that lasted few metres from her chamber, and draw circle, with her Godly brush, in the sky and sun started coming from the ground upon the Nippon. She looked from the bridge down on the Nippon and noticed how many small dots, that appeared to be people, started to going out from their tents or houses waked up of the sun. She smiled to herself forgetting problems that was happening here. She heard knocking on the door.
'I am coming wait a minute!!'
She walked to glass door and opened them. There stood little girl with white cat ears and sheepishly smile, her green eyes were shining mischievously it was Kabegami.
'Mother, I guess all this dream stuff that is happening here comes again down from Nippon, may I go and walk around to look for the problem?'
'You have been wanting to go for almost year. We are here only 5 years. And you already want to go back?' Amaterasu asked raising her eyebrow tough she still stood tall and straight.
Kabegami nodded her head happily. Amaterasu sighed and smiled at little happy goddess child.
'Then you know what we need to talk too. But first how are Bakugami and Tachigami?'
'Hmmm... last time I saw them they still were sleeping. Though they started too shake more and more every day.'
Kabegami said seriously. Amaterasu nodded her head sadly. She looked serious. 'I wish Issun would be here'. She thought inside her mind.
'If the answers is in the Nippon then you must found out what's happening. Oh and one more thing if you will want to go down you will must take kerchief on your head to cover up your ears.' Amaterasu showed some kerchiefs that were on her arm.
Kabegami jumped in air and clapped her arms.
'You knew I will ask you permission to go?' Kabegami asked as they walked to main room where every God gathered and talked about jobs for the day. Amaterasu nodded her head and smiled kindly.
When they reached room which had gates of entering the mortal world, Ammy put kerchief on Goddess head and smiled kindly. And Kabegami waved goodbye and went trough gate. As Kabegami went trough she changed into her cat form, she didn't even noticed that kerchief fell off her head, and jumped trough gate. Amaterasu sighed sadly and walked towards main room. She bent down and picked up kerchief. All Gods gathered after few minutes arround the table and took their sitting places, all in their human form. All Gods looked at Ammy. Few days ago there was 15 of them now as Tachigami and Bakugami has fallen in the sleep and Kabegami has fled the Heaven. It wasn't even 12 of them only 11. One more has been gone too. Yomigami wasn't here.
'Is Yomigami also...?' Amaterasu asked but was cut down in the middle of the sentence by Nuregami.
'Yes, Mother, he has fallen too. We tried to wake him up but nothing helped. We tried everything. We all are afraid to fell asleep. And we saw how Kabegami left too.' Nuregami was short cute girl with also golden eyes and white dress. She had red marks on her body and her clothes as every other God.
Amaterasu sank into her thoughts as she heard deep voice in her head.
'Watch as you will fall, filthy Goddess. No one will save you'
'Did you hear that? What was that?' Kasugami asked with drunk voice.
'I think we all heard it and I must say I don't know.' But Amaterasu knew that it was same voice that she heard in the nightmare.
Minute after her words everyone started discussing what it could have been. As low whooshing started too spread from the back of Ammy. She tried to listen with all the madness going from the table.
'Shush you all.' Everyone stopped discussing loudly. 'Listen'
And swarm of blackness came from back as all kind of animals formed from the dark cloud. Every God turned into their animal form and started fighting against dark mist. They stopped fighting with each other when the three sleeping Gods came out from their chambers. They didn't looked usual. They were in their human form and had glittery red eyes they quickly turned into animal form. Tachigami jumped on Yumigami knocking him down. He tried to escape his friend's grasp as he didn't wanted to harm him. He started to shout for Tachigami to wake, but everything Yumigami did was for nothing. The dark mist started to come up his mouth entering his inside and it seems that it was taking control of him. Then suddenly Tachigami get off him and quickly turned to other Gods that was busy fighting animal mist. Amaterasu saw whole thing and at the same time she tried to fight the demon with yellow eyes back that appeared right after mist spread into heavenly palace. Each God was fighting again, ones with their friends and others with mist.
'We won't hold for much longer, Mother, you have to leave!!' Kazegami screamed loudly as mist started climbing his body also. Horse God tried to shake it off, but he couldn't as mist affected him same way as it affected others.
Ammy looked in disbelief as her friends were falling into trap of Demon.
'Everyone, jump down from the Heaven it's a command!!' She yelled loudly and strongly in her Wolf form.
'My dark nightmares of fear- don't let them escape so easily, consume them and bring their soul to me!!' Demon still hiding in dark mist roared and more dark creatures started surrounding other yet free Gods.
Ammy ran towards three flora Gods and threw all them away from Heaven palace. Glass wall was gone now, it seemed like Heaven knew the danger that Gods was in. For some minute later Ammy wasn't able to hear their falling scream nor see them. She looked back at the Gods to see that they were in big trouble. As they killed one mist creature another reappeared in it's place. She noticed that Kasugami and Itegami had fallen into the dark side, with red, furious eyes. Sun Goddess tried again to attack Golden eyes demon as he hasn't yet revealed who he is. But she got knocked down by Gekigami.
'Amaterasu, run we need you more alive than dead. If you won't go by your own will, I will knock you as you did to Sakigami, Hasugami and Tsutagami.' Tiger roared at her. Amaterasu roared back angrily at him.
'I won't leave you all alone.'
'You will.' And he knocked her down from the Heaven.
She started fall down trough the clouds. Goddess noticed her friends, other Gods, who weren't taken by darkness, falling with her or being turned into slaves of darkness. Her fur, as she was in her Wolf form, got wet from the raindrops in the clouds. Raindrops quickly started to form into small ice cubics which left bruises on her skin. She quickly turned back to human and while falling, as she had kerchief in her hand, put it on top of her head. She heard loud roar probably from enemy and also saw falling down Nuregami and Gekigami, they were unconscious. Amaterasu noticed Kazegami riding trough the sky with the help from the wind. He nodded as if he had heard something in his mind. At each of the falling God, Horse released strong whoosh of wind that separated Sun Goddess from other Gods. She tired to draw wind back to him, but as he was wind God Amaterasu couldn't defy his power with hers. She was directed into different side than other Gods which led to snowy place. Blizzard started too fall into her face scratching her skin and leaving bruises. Goddess saw that she was directed towards the snowy mountains. And after seeing the white mountain cliff blackness obscured her mind as she fell down into the Earth while being unconscious.
Chapter Text
Amaterasu heavily opened her eyes. Everything around her was dark and frozen. Goddess felt shiver running down the spine. She had fallen into a big snow dune. Her body was full of cuts and bruises. Sun Goddess felt how some bones had been broken. She tried to turn back into her wolf form but it didn't worked. All her power was gone.
“Not good” - She thought- “I can’t stand the wounds and cold winds with this weak human form”
She hardly stood up, making sure the kerchief still covered her wolf ears. This was a snowy road. She must have fell down somewhere in the north. And after some minutes while she was dealing with wind and snow, she finally realised where she was. In front of her there was a very large frozen lake. The memories of 5-years-ago adventure came in her mind. This is where The Ark of Yamato used to be, where darkness used to hide and spreaded over whole Nippon and also where she said goodbye to her friend Issun. This was Laochi Lake, Lake of Demons.
“I will need some help, but first of all I have to go to Wep’keer and warm myself” – She tried to keep her mind clear and conscious.
But before she could do anything else, a sword appeared right next to her throat. There was a group of people that suddenly appeared right behind her. Sound of wind blowing from behind her made made it hard to realize that there were people surrounding her.
'Who the heck are you? How did you get here?' man wearing lion mask asked her angrily.
“They came from Oina Tribe, I guess. But I haven’t met them. I can’t tell them that I’m the Sun God. They won’t believe me if I ever told them that I am.” – Amaterasu thought in her head.
'I’m lost, but please don’t worry I do not have any bad intention towards all of you. I’m a friend of Oina Tribe'
'Nonsense' He angrily shouted 'No way a normal girl could have come here. Outside people can’t go into Wep’keer for now. And you magically appeared here. You must be a demon that was turned into a girl to kill us from the inside.'
'No, I’m not...' Amaterasu tried to explain calmly while they still kept their swords next to her throat. But then she was interrupted.
'Everyone please keep calm. It Seems like she can’t attack us right now. She seems injured. If she is a demon we can still ask her something about what's happening in the world' Other man with snake mask said.
Everyone immediately became silent and serious. This man must be the most powerful one here. Members of Oina tribe were wearing masks that beared animal faces that reflected their inner personalities. Wolf’s instinct inside Amateras told to herself that this strange man somehow is very dangerous. She knew that she has to stay away from him. At least for now, while she is injured.
'My name is Ouma'- His voice was smooth and gentle, like a spring breeze, that left good impression on Goddess. She felt like being hypnotized by his voice 'Can you tell me your name?'
'It’s Amate… You can call me Ammy' she stuttered those words that came from her mouth.
'Okay, Ammy. Sorry that I scared you, but we have to be careful. Until we make sure that you’re harmless you’ll be kept in jail. If you don’t want to get hurt, please don’t resist us.' He was so polite.
She knew it must be done, if village had suffered harm, they wouldn't let stranger running free as she was now in her human form. He, man with snake's mask, was such a kind man that you just couldn't hate. But Amaterasu still had chills running down her spine. She couldn't explain why though. She just kept silent and followed those men to Weep’ker. She couldn't do anything else, and she had to find someone that she knows in there. The village hasn't change much, she remembered the houses and the roads, they were still covered with white snow, but the atmosphere was scary and dark. Something must have happened here. Amaterasu knew she must be prepared for anything.
They brougt her to jail in the mountain side. It also had fireplace that made everything better at least this place was warmer and lighter than outside. But the wounds still made her quite dizzy. She needed to know what is going on in Wep’keer, why Oina Tribe was so alert when she appeared and the most important thing, she needs to find the way to take back her power and come back to heaven. Everything was got going by plan, which she didn't had, she was scared that all other Gods have been caught by this dark mist. The whole world is in danger while heaven is taken by enemy. The only one who can save the world is her, but now she is just a normal girl- worried and injured.
~~~~~~~~~~~
'Please let me meet Oki. He will know who I am' She asked as the stranger came to the view, she really needed ally right now.
'How do you know Oki? And he is not here anymore' Stranger answered to her.
Oki, the owner of Kutone sword, the warrior that payed all his life to protect Wep’keer is no longer here?? What the heck is going on??
'Then how about Kemu and Samickle? I know them too' She was astonished as warrior wasn't here. He was the chief of Oina tribe after all.
'Don’t you know that Kemu is dead? And Samickle…' He answered while not facing her.
'Enough!!!! We shouldn’t tell her from outside too much information about us' -Ouma spat the word "her" like it was bitter– 'All people she mentioned can’t help her right now. Just keep her here till tomorrow and then we will decide what to do with her'
Everyone bowed him and went away. The snake man glanced at her one last time then moved out too. Although he was wearing a mask, Amaterasu could feel angry smirk spreading on his face at the moment. Kemu is dead… She felt like a heavy rock squeezed her chest. That old man?? The great-grandfather of Oina Tribe?? Even though the first time they met, he’s already was old and weak man, she couldn't believe he has gone. And what happend to Samickle? Did everyone she knew left this place?
'Kai. Is Kai still here? She is my friend. Let me meet her'- Amaterasu said to the solider watching her from above.
'Keep silent. You’re not allow to give request here'- He muttered angry.
'Leave her to me. Give me some time alone with her'- Ouma suddenly came back from corner.
This soldier listened and went out without questioning him. Maybe when Kemu and Samickle died, he took leadership upon Oina Tribe. He stood in front of Amaterasu, then slowly took his mask off. Something was wrong here. Members of Oina Tribe never put their mask from their face in front of others. As he took his mask she noticed that Ouma was very young, and good-looking too. He was a handsome man with mischievous look and was deep in his thought. An unprecdictable person. He didn't said anything for a while, just kept his deep purple eyes on Amaterasu, like he was measuring her. It felt like his gaze was going trough her soul that he could read her mind. Then his beautiful lips draw into mocking and little disgusting smile. He waved his hand, and then the kerchief on top her head fell down, revealinh her wolf ears. This wasn't power of Oina. Or was it?
'You look so poor, The Sun Goddess Amaterasu'- His voice was thin, like sound of a bell rings, or an autumn wind, that bring down leaves from the tree, but it immediately send shivers down her spine. He was truly a venomous snake.
'How did you knew? And who are you? What’s going on in Weep’ker?'- She carefully asked, after all she was in prison and to weak to fight.
'Hmm, I guess if I don’t tell you, you will get information later' -He whispered more too himself, but Ammy still could hear him clearly –'Then all you need to understand that now demons controls over the Nippon. I must say Oina Tribe was very admirable, even when I had disguised and taken all their faith away from them. It’s pretty hard to make them surrender. But soon, darkness will swallow the world and our Lord will dominate all and Oina tribe will no longer exist.'
“These words was spoken with such angry passion… He must have been this dark mists ruler”- She thought-"But how did he tricked them?".
'It’s easily to trick human, you just have to let some demons attack Kemu and Samickle, then appear in the right time to save them like a hero. But how bad when the hero comes too late to save Kemu’s life, and Samickle is still unconscious by his serious wounds'- Ouma said, like he could read what was in her mind - 'Wirhout lead Oina Tribe loses it's head. Actually they still have Oki, but this bastard left the village and followed to kill the demon that took Kemu’s life. Haha, he is so easy to read. Then the others had no choice but only to believe in the strange hero. That is me'
Amaterasu trembled in fury. Every drop of her blood boiled in just 1 second. If she was in her wolf form, she would use her fangs and claws to open his throat immediately. She knew from the beggining that he is untrustworthy, but now she really wants to kill the man in front of her even though she is a Goddess, she never thoyght about hurting human before. But is he a human? None human being could do such terrible thing.
'Our Lord was very angry when you escaped, you know? Luckily, you’re here. Just take a good sleep tonight, because when I will bring you to Lord, you will drown in nightmares... forever' He laughed madly saying last words.
The gentle expression on his face and that laugh just made Amaterasu more disgusted and more angrier than before. Ouma has been gone for a while and the solider, which came back when Ouma left, was watching over Amaterasu. She just kept quiet, even though her mind was on a fire. She can be caught by this dark mist anytime. Though he mentioned morning, so she still has time. But how to escape? And how to show the whole Oina Tribe that new comer that they appreciated so much is an enemy? Everything was hopeless now, she couldn't think of any solution. She thought about other Gods, her friends, and her beloved humans all over Nippon. While she was deeply confused, all of the sudden a girly voice falls into her ears:
‘Let me in. I know the girl that is inside’- It was Kai, the Oina girl that helped her go trough Yoshpet- the cursed forest.
‘Kai, you have to come in, can you see me?’- She worriedly asked, Kai never had seen her in her human form before.
‘Yes of couse I can see you, after I heard some warriors talking about a girl named Ammy, I knew our Goddess had came back. Issun always called you by that name. And you always come when we need you.'
‘Sadly I am to weak to use my powers. And Kai, I have to get out of there right now. There is a danger in Oina Tribe’
‘Kai, what are you talking about? Get away from her, she is demon, You shouldn’t stand near her. Maybe she can control your mind'- The solider grabbed Kais shoulder and pulled her back.
At that moment Kai quickly hit his head. He fell down unconscious.
‘I trust you Amaterasu. Please let me know if I can do anything to help you’ Girl told to Goddess.
Kai broke the lock down, then helped her to stood up. Then Amaterasu told her everything about what happened in Heaven and what Ouma have told her. Kai sighed and slowly shooked her head:
‘I can’t believe it. Kemu must have been very disappointed in us, that we couldn't see trough that mask. It will be hard for you to get out of here. Soliders are everywhere. Even I can’t get out of Weep’ker without permission’
‘I wish Issun was here. He grumbles so much but he always have great ideas for difficult situations’ Goddess sadly shook her head.
‘That’s right! Issun! He must have able to help you with something. Let’s go to Ponc’tan and find him’ Kai smiled kindly.
‘Ponc’tan? We will have to go trough the dark forest Yoshpet’
‘Don’t worry I will lead you trough it. In this form you won't be able to survive in this forest alone’ Kai looked at Goddess.
‘Kai, they will think you’re a betrayer if you will go with me. Just help me get to Yoshpet’s gates'
‘How can you tell me to stay here and do nothing when the whole world are in danger? Don’t worry, they wouldn't hurt a member of tribe. Hurry up, it’s nearly morning, people in village will get up soon’
Amaterasu knew she can give all her life to this girl. Kai told her to cover wolf ears and to wear her coat. They easily went trough the village. Kai knew the village very well, she could avoid every spot that soldiers were guarding. But when they nearly reached Yoshpet, man stoped them:
‘Kai, what are you doing here at this time? And who’s this one?’ He asked suspiciously. When Kai tried to explain that this girl was her cousin, loud voice echoed behind them:
‘Catch her! She’s a prisoner!!’ He pointed at Ammy They knew that Amaterasu has escaped.
They have probably checked her prison cell. Having no choice, Kai turned into a wolf form and jumped unto the man in front of them. She shouted:
‘Go, Amaterasu, go and find Issun. Don’t worry to leave me behind’ Amaterasu used all her strength and ran towards gates of Yoshpet.
She couldn't do anything to help Kai out, she still was too weak after the fall. Kai’s right, the most important thing to find Issun. She had to ignore yells behind her while running as fast as she could.
“Kai, please. Be safe. I will come back to save you”- She prayed in her mind.
After those words she entered gates of Yoshpet- the cursed forest. Leaving Kai to fight the enemies off Amaterasu's tail...
Notes:
Here is another chapter. Hope you will enjoy it.
Leave comments and kudos it motivates us to write faster and better :)
Naturally on Chapter 2 Tue 12 May 2020 04:37AM UTC
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