• 1; the new Tao tribe recruit. (To understand some of the things in this story, you must have read the part one of my Okami story)

    I sigh. I look into the lake water, and see Queen Himoko.

    “Waka, return to the city immediately. I have someone I want to show you, tell the person it is a mission. You have something to do that is very…uh……” she trailed.

    “Are you ok madam? I’d suggest you take a break from this world, as in, a…vacation of some sort. Like, not going outside and talking to the people, staying indoors around your palace until you get better.” I say.

    “Waka, how dare you suggest such a thing! I am fine! Now where were we…? Ah yes, the very important thing is to figure out what the ruler of darkness, Yami, is up to. I know you have had a “past experience” with him, so it must be easy.” Queen Himoko says cockily.

    “Fine, I’ll do it, but I need someone to go with moi.” I say.

    “I found a rookie recruit that seems perfect to go!” Queen Himoko says, confidently.

    “Let me check this rookie out. Then I’ll agree. Ok?” I say.

    “Perfect!” she replies.

    “All right, au revoir!” I say.

    “Good bye Waka…” Queen Himoko breaths. I look at her, and something is behind her. It is only her priestess. I sigh in relief. I look at my feet, and then leap in the air. My job gets harder and harder…where are you when I do need you Amaterasu? Gosh, I might as well stop…no. I will never stop believing that some day you’ll wake from your slumber.

    “Queen Himoko, if I must say, I want to check the moon cave before I depart, is that ok?” I ask landing on another surface, seeing her.

    “Yes Waka, that is fine. Just hurry up will you?” She says irritated. I nod and leap over by Shinshu field. I gasp. I see the moon cave, and someone is going in. I run in front of the person.

    “Halt! Who goes there?” I ask.

    “Just… an uh… traveler… yea, a traveler!” the man says.

    “State your name and business with the moon cave!” I order. The man pushes me aside, and I swear, it looked like Nagi, the great warrior, the one who actually admitted his wronging before the great god Amaterasu, once known as Shiranui, turned to stone. I sit there, and blink, but then run into the cave, and then a barrier comes up.

    “Oh no!” I whisper. I run in and sure enough, the man is lifting the sward Tsukiyomi out of its place in the middle of the legendary eight headed serpent Orochi’s body.

    Ok, if you don’t know what I am talking about, I’ll give you a story about the legend of Orochi… long, long ago in a land known as Nippon, there was a small village named Kamiki. That small village was the center of the curse of Orochi, an eight headed serpent that was unleashed into the world of mortals, when the legendary ark the Ark of Yamoto landed in Laochi Lake to the north. It is said that all the monsters in the world of mortals poured out of there one by one. The Calestrials all were all on board the ark, and it is said that they were all slaughtered mercilessly. There was one child who survived, with blood red eyes and blond hair. … Anyway, the dreaded Orochi cursed the small village of Kamiki that on each night when the moon was fullest, one maiden was supposed to be chosen and sacrificed to the dragon. There was an arrow formed by all eight elements, Fire, Lightning, Earth, Wind, Water, Poison, Light and Dark, and was shot into the house of the chosen maiden. For 100 years this happened, until the great hero Nagi’s love Nami was chosen to be the 100th sacrifice to Orochi. But in the process of choosing the sacrifice, a small child was hit. That small child, was the child being guarded day and night by the great god Amaterasu, then named Shiranui. The villagers believed Shiranui was Orochi’s familiar to size up Orochi’s next victim. The villagers all feared her, and with the help of a little “bug” also known as a Poncle who was named Ishaku. Ishaku was a “golden colored” Poncle. When I say golden colored, I mean they look like small little nails with glowing colors. Some are green, some are blue, some are gold ext. ext. The boy was buried next to a little sprout, known as the Sakuya sprout. She ran full speed and grabbed Nami and ran to the moon cave. Nagi fallowed close behind. Shiranui fought Orochi, and when the battle seemed to never end, her just getting him drunk and killing the heads, that were never really killed, the end seemed hopeless, until Orochi went for Nami, ready to eat her. Then Nagi said, ‘Let go of that maiden you foul beast!’ he leaped onto the ground and landed on his feet. Shiranui barked in delight, and then focused on Orochi. Orochi’s head of fire leaned in towards Nagi, and said, ‘O great hero, utter the prayer I wish darkness upon the world, and awaken my true form!’

    ‘O great gods, lend me your power!’ Nagi said. Then, as if on cue, Shiranui howled, and the clouds parted, showing the full moon. The light glittered, and floated onto Nagi’s sward Tsukiyomi and then the sward started glowing gold. Nagi lowered it, and lunged for Orochi’s head of Poison. Then sliced it in half (-) and then went for the head of Water, but he was even more magnificent because he used no help from Shiranui. Finally, he landed in front of the head of Fire, and it turned, watching as its partners fell. He roared, lifting his head up, and Nagi lunged. Nagi started at the head of Fire’s head, and sliced down until he hit the ground. After the body fell at his sides, he stood there, laughing. But a boulder formed above his head…

    ‘Look out Nagi!’ Nami shouted, but it was too late. The boulder fell, crushing him…but it failed in the process. Shiranui, jumping in the way, caught the boulder on her back. She whimpered in pain. Nagi felt guilt set in to him, but Nami urged him to leave her to die in that eerie cave. Nagi pushed the boulder off of the wolf, and Shiranui fell with a thud. She lay there, panting, and Nagi gathered her dyeing body in his arms, and ran to Kamiki, Nami fallowing, not happy. With his head bowed in anger and sadness, he carried the wolf to the side of the Sakuya tree where the child was not buried.
    ‘This wolf saved my life… I was so blind. This wolf is the hero, not me. She is the true hero of this story,’ he said, turning around he continued, ‘We mustn’t forget Shiranui. I did the final blow, but Shiranui did most of the work and in the end, she sacrificed herself to save me. She caught a boulder that was going to hit me on her back, and tried to lift it off of her. Shiranui…is the real hero. If she hadn’t have acted so fast, I would have had an early grave with Orochi.’

    ‘But you did the final blow!’ a woman shouted.

    ‘That…dog…always…loved…my…my cherry cakes… she came every night to eat them…I…I don’t know what I’ll do now…’ Mrs. Grapefruit cried.

    ‘Shiranui will be remembered as a hero just like you Nagi. You both did what you were supposed to do, unfortunately, she changed the future. She knew you were supposed to die at that moment, but she could not bear to see another child, like that little boy, to die around her. She caught the boulder risking her life to save yours…’ I said.

    ‘Who are you?!’ Mr. Grapefruit asked.

    ‘God’s gift to man, my name is Waka, bonjour,’ I announce, ‘it is so troubling when the gods leave…. That is why I lived. You see, it is my job to protect the people and slay monsters when the gods are “away”…’ I looked up, and saw that the brush skills, every last one, had left Amaterasu, and she turned to stone, growling at the crowd.

    ‘That is my cue, I must part, glad we had this little chat. Au revoir baby!’ I said then left…

    But no soul knew how I really felt about that wolf. I bowed my head, as I walked to tell Princess Himoko the sad news.

    Please don’t tell anyone this, but the moon tribe created every single monster on the world of mortals. They sewed up little dolls of what they looked like, and once the Ark of Yamoto, they threw every single one onto it. They shifted into real things, and the ark was sent to the Calestrial plain, the home of the gods. The gods created Amaterasu from a doll, along with all of the brush gods. When the Ark of Yamoto reached the Calestrial plain, they all ignored it, because nothing was coming from it. Amaterasu shifted from doll to wolf, and kept a good eye on the ark. When monsters started to come, someone said it would be a good idea if they all go on the ark to get away from all of the monsters, unknowing that the ark had them far worse then on the plain now. All but one died, and the god Amaterasu survived, while all the brush gods went into her, making her unstoppable. …

    I leap for the sky, but something grabs my leg, in my calf to be exact. Teeth sink to my bone with ease, and I shriek in pain. The thing flings me on the cave ground below. I open my eyes, and there, above me, are blood red eyes and scales as black as Coles. I look, and I see eight heads looking at me.

    “Not even the gods can stop me now, you are weak, and I am as strong as a rock…” Orochi starts.

    “Yea, before it gets blown up!” I shout, “even if the gods are taking a nap, they will defeat you Orochi. Even if Amaterasu isn’t as strong as she was, I have complete faith that she will defeat you, just like she did 100 years ago.”

    “Why you little pest! No matter, I will just spread my curse and kill you first.” Orochi roars. He lifts his head of fire, and inhales some air, and is about to spit fire at me, but a strong wind blows. I look in the direction the air is blowing in, and standing there is Shiranui. I stare in awe, and then rise to my feet. I leap in the air, and head towards the capitol. I wince in pain, my leg……

    I land in front of Queen Himoko’s palace. I limp past the guards, who fell asleep. I look at Ryoshmia Coast; the curse has spread to it… that fast? Amazing… but bad. I limp up to the elevator, leading up to Queen Himoko. I walk on the lava (thanks to my shoes, I can walk on any body of liquid) that guards her. I sigh, my leg… I get to a platform where I can walk to her room entrance, and step on. I lift my pant leg and see the damage. I see my bone. Blood is streaming out of the teeth marks, down my ankle, and I quickly cover it up. I shudder. I look at the curtains ahead of me. I push one aside, and walk to the next. There were about, five doors like this, and then I get to the doors that are wooden, but as you approach, move aside. I step through another like, five doors like that before I see the one with the marking ‘咲いている花’ on it, which means blossoming flower. I sigh. I push the doors aside and step (more like limp) into the room.

    “You summoned me?” I ask.

    “Don’t get cocky with- wait, what happened to your leg?” Queen Himoko starts.

    “It’s…nothing.” I say.

    “Sit. Let me see the damage.” She says. I limp to a chair and sit down. She walks over to me and lifts my pant leg. She gasps.

    “I want you to go see a doctor after I give you your quest, ok? I want you to check out these rookies. They all look suspicious, the one you trust most will go with you on your ‘trip’” Queen Himoko orders.

    “Yes ma’am,” I say, “Au revoir Queen Himoko.” She stands, and helps me out of the chair. She doesn’t let go of my hand. I look at her, and she pulls my head down to hers, and she kisses me. Now, normally I would pull away at that moment and never speak to that girl again, but Queen Himoko is different. We have known each other from the time she could remember. She loves me. I don’t feel the same way, I think of her as a friend. I pull away and walk to the door, saying nothing.

    “Wow. Orochi got you good didn’t he?” The doctor asks.

    “Yea, he did,” I say, “I forgot to thank you properly last time.”

    “Don’t sweat it! You were a kid, I couldn’t let you die.” The doctor says. I smile, as he puts on a bandage, my leg all healed. I pat him on the back, and walk out, leaving ten yen on his desk. I walk to a puddle, and leap up from it. I land on my head quarters, in the sky yes, where the Tao tribe live. I land, and I see a guard at the door.

    “If you see a white wolf, with a divine instrument on her back and crimson shadings, let her in. or, if it is a white wolf with an extra white coat, let it in.” I say.

    “A un expected visit,” the Tao says, “But ok. I’ll let the dog in.” I smile, grimace more, and then walk in. everyone is chatting excitedly.

    “There he is! Capt. Waka!” I hear.

    “Front and Center, now.” I say. Everyone moves into formation. I walk to the top of the line.
    “You, patrol. Take Atsuo, Daichi, and Hajime with you.” I say. The Tao leaves. I walk down and see one who looks like he’s about to faint, and one is missing.

    “Where is Yuuta?” I ask him.

    “He was assigned guarding your room in the night sir. He is asleep.” The Tao flatters.

    “You will go on day watch, since the other one turned out to be a spy. For the rest of you, clean up this place. I would like to see everything in order when I wake from my ‘nap’.” I say. Everyone nods. And they all go to their stations. I look at the Tao trooper who guards my room in the day, and I hear him and Yukito talking.

    “Aw! How cute, the little girl gets to guard her love’s room!” Yukito says.

    “Shut up! If Capt. Waka finds out, I am dead!” the trooper says, in a girl’s voice.
    “Get to your station,” I start, “Young miss.” I add in a quieter voice, so she could hear, but no one else. She runs up to me and then guides me to my room.

    “Please don’t tell anyone! Don’t let me quit! I am just as-” she starts.

    “The only reason why I don’t let girls into the Tao tribe is that they might fall in love with one of the others, or even me. If we die, which we almost do on a daily basis, they will become depressed, and would not focus, and eventually degrade into nothing. I am a kind man, so I don’t want any girl getting hurt, emotionally and physically. Now, I will let you stay, as long as you don’t use your girl voice, even around Yukito. I will tell him. Ok? By the way, what is your real name?” I say.

    “It… it’s Tamiko.” She says, taking off her mask. I blink twice. She has the face of the heavens. No wonder her name fits, her name means most beautiful child…

    “What name do you go by as a Tao trooper?” I ask.

    “Tomoya.” Tamiko replies. I nod.

    “When we are just the two of us, I will call you Tamiko. Otherwise, you will be Tomoya. Got it?” I say.

    “Why?” Tamiko asks.

    “…Because your name is most important. I see something in your future that requires you to use your real name. If you only go by this fake one, you will forget your real name. Names say a lot about a person, like yours. It says you are beautiful, and it is true. … Wake me up if I start to have a nightmare. If you don’t, I might never wake up.” I say. I walk to my bed and lie on top of the covers.

    “How?” she asks.

    “Any way, yes even kissing me if necessary. Once I start to have one, I can’t get out. They trap me and I might sleep to my death. I’m counting on you, don’t let me down.” I say. I close my eyes and fall fast asleep.

    Ha! Foolish gods. They cannot stop me! A ball says, isn’t that right Waka?

    Yes Yami. My child version says to it, they are no match for what I created. Why, the Calestrials hope their little doll of a dog, I think named Amaterasu; will protect them from your wrath. Create your minions Orochi, Spider Queen; Crimson Helm, Blight, Ninetails, and finally the twin demons Lechku and Nechku!

    Hold on child. Create what they look like first. Yami says.

    “No! Don’t!” I cry. Of cores they can’t hear me. I see my younger self sit down, with fabric, string, needles, fabric dye, buttons for eyes, many different kinds, feathers, top hats and monocles, ext. Ext. I sewed up the first monster; the spider queen.

    The Spider Queen has no eyes, pinchers on the sides of her mouth, a tattered dress, long black hair; hands for feet, and on the back, there are hooks where a vine could hook onto. She has in her ‘flower’ on her back, eyes where you hit them to kill her. She protects them well.

    I finished the second monster, Crimson Helm. This dude is not a kidder. He has the fire head of Orochi on a Minotaur’s body. He holds two swards, and he has a cow- like skeleton, but the armor that he wears protects it. If you knock off the armor, use the power of wind to take out his ‘force field’.

    The third, Orochi. With blood red eyes and coal black scales, you do not want to mess with the head of fire. But with Water, wind, poison, dark, light, earth, and lightning backing the head of fire up, you do not want to meat this guy in a dark ally. His heads connect to this island with a gate. The gate has a bell hanging down from it.

    The fourth Blight. This guy is tiny, like a virus, and will plague a whole aria. He can put one person so sick, it’s like they are in a coma. He only chooses people who snore, so other people are safe… but not for long. His deadly curse makes a strange green mist affect a city where he is in the body of a person. The people slowly die because of the mist. Few survive. He has a head like Orochi, but it’s just the helmet that Orochi wears. He has 99 swards in him, the 100th he uses to fight people who try to rid the body of his deadly wrath.

    The sixth; Ninetails. This dog has a fox body only ten times a usual fox, she has nine tails, all marked with a pacific victim. But, Ninetails is only powerful with a thing called the Fox rods. Eight foxes lay in there, all the form of Ninetails, only wearing masks, with ought the power of the Fox Rods. She uses a sword with nine little bars that sort of make a backwards L on it, and they can be electrocuted.

    The seventh and eighth; Lechku and Nechku. Lechku is a golden owl, with a brown goatee, a golden top hat, make out of bars, and a monocle in his left eye socket. This is the demon of time, and he as a non digital clock that ticks, resembling his life. He carries a brown cane that curves like a candy cane. His twin Nechku is a silver owl, with a black French mustache, a silver top hat made out of bars, and a monocle in his right eye socket. Nechku has a digital clock, resembling his life. Nechku carries a cane that fancy rich men carry, with a ball on top with a pole that goes down.

    My younger child presented his work to Yami, and did something eerie. Yami saw he had more than one form. My younger self created this; a green form, a blue form, and a yellow form to go with is original form; red. The green could break up into slits and attack you. The blue form was a slot machine, where you could pick your doom. The yellow form was a human like form, with arms and feet. There was a mouth that opened up, reveling Yami’s true form; a baby dolphin with crimson shadings just like Amaterasu, only some blue. I also show him one that I am ashamed about.

    What is the last one? He asks.

    It is you when you suck out all of Amaterasu’s power with your yellow form. You are a hand, connected to an orb. The palm of your hand has the baby dolphin in it, but you have all the powers, fire, thunder, ext. ext. My younger self explains.

    Excellent! Yami says, now we can take over the Calestrial plain. You need experience killing a god, so I ask you, kill Amaterasu.

    Yes sir…my younger self says.

    The sine changes. I am laying on my back, a small child, in the Ark of Yamoto.

    How dare you defy me! Yami screams

    You do not control moi! My child self shouted back. Yami’s head opened, letting out the baby Dolphin. The lazar formed, and then I was about to get hit when I felt something strange. I felt… lips. I paused, waited, and they were on mine. I opened my eyes and pushed Tamiko off of me. I sit up, dazed.

    “You were shouting in your sleep.” She said, in her girl voice, “You shouted ‘I am not your minion.’ And ‘leave me alone’ and things like that. What were you dreaming about?”

    “It’s nothing…” I say. I realize I am trembling. I blink.

    “Is it those nightmares?” Tamiko asks.

    “It is. But it is my past, not night mares. They taunt me. I… I can’t sleep at night; seeing the horrible things I promised to do but never did…… do you want to know?” I say. She nods.

    “Well, I created Orochi. He was once a doll I made for a dark thing called Yami. He wanted strong minions, and I gave them to him. I… I…I went to the Calestrial plane, and saw Amaterasu. I was supposed to kill her, but she had a bone in her mouth. ‘Amaterasu wants me to kill her?’ I thought. She dropped the bone at my feet and stepped back. I picked it up, and almost hit her upside the head with it, but she ran back a little, like how dogs run to play fetch. I threw the stick, and watched her go and get it. She came running back to me, wagging her tail. After a few turns of it, I liked it. I saw Calestrials glaring at me, but Amaterasu trusted moi. She knew where I was from, but didn’t care. I treated her like my pet. One day, Orochi broke free. I ran out, Amaterasu there, fighting him.

    "‘What do you do boy? Do you kill Amaterasu while she is weak, or do you betray the ones who own your soul?’ Orochi asked moi. I had my flute then, a gift from a dying Calestrial, and made a sward from it, I spun it, then when I stopped, it shrank, and then I ran my hand over a specific length, and a glowing green sward appeared.

    "‘Your time ends now Orochi.’ I said. Amaterasu barked in delight, and we fought, side by side, until I was pushed onto the Ark of Yamoto, the ark where I created those monsters. Amaterasu close behind me, and I was being attacked left and right. I… I betrayed my ‘god’. I was knocked onto the ground, on my back, by a mallet.

    ‘How dare you defy me!’ Yami said.

    "‘You do not control moi!’ I shouted. The baby dolphin, his true soul, charged up energy, and fired. I flinched away, too weak to jump out of the way. I look up, and Amaterasu caught the lazar with her mirror, and fired it back. I blinked in awe, and then felt sick. I lie down all the way, and sigh. I feel us enter a lake, and the door opens, letting out millions and millions of monsters into the world of mortals. I limp out, sealing the door with a glowing silver sward. I stick it in a pedestal, and turn to the Oina.

    "‘Never, remove this sward for whatever reason unless you get permission. Leader; I will give you this prophecy which should never come true; the wall of ice shall be shattered once Kutone glows silver.’” I tell. I shudder. I don’t tell any more. I lie down under the covers and fall asleep again.