(Chi)
I finally understood why Amaterasu had truly asked me if I would be able to do this. It was not because of all the demons I would have to slay to get here, or even the retched curse itself. She'd known, as soon as she looked at me, that when I got to this precise moment, that I would be staring straight at a modicum of myself. It was disturbing to see. Once I mustered up the courage to raise my voice, it was an irritated growl rather than a shaken boys' voice.
"You WILL let her go."
Both remained unbothered by my sudden rage. As if they had expected it. Expected me. That only made my anger rise as Misaki still lay silent behind me. The one I now knew was Susanoo, stepped forward, ahead of his silent and straight-faced brother.
"I am so delighted to see that you have arrived here safely, Chi-san."
I gripped the blade tighter in my hand and narrowed my eyes at him. This bastard…
I would only say this one last time. "Let her go."
Tsukuyomi moved forward. And as he did, I slid my left foot back behind my right, closer to Misaki.
"we simply want our sister mortal."
He turned his focus for the first time to his brother. "Susanoo, who is this human and how has he passed all of the demons that have been ordered to guard the sacred entrance?"
"He is my son. Our sister was not the only one to fight unfairly. I created six boys from that wretched necklace. I thought it would be good to possess an asset in both realms. A chess piece if you will. I believe that is what you humans call it yes? His mortal mother was barren, caused by futile human disease. I gave them him," he nodded toward me, "As a gift."
It did not take much to widen my eyes in mock surprise. Ama had told me this already. But to hear it come from his own lips still hit me like a sack of weights. But I had to seem more devastated than that in order to convince Susanoo that Amaterasu had not told me such things. I needed him to believe that I was here to gain some sort of knowledge or understanding from him.
"W-what?"
His straight expression directed itself at me.
"You are my son," he sneered.
Internally, I was battling the rage and the growing screams and pleas. I watched as a true expression of surprise and confusion marred the brothers face. That had to be no other than Tsukuyomi, the eldest of the three siblings.
I stood blocking the way between them and Misaki. Every few inches I slid further back towards the princess. When I was close enough, I bent down, keeping my eyes on the brothers. My hand found her cheek. It was extremely cold to the touch.
Also, why was she clutching so tightly at her eye in this way?
I wrapped my hand around her thin wrist and pulled her hand away from her face. As it began to move, she screamed as I'd never heard her scream before.
"NO NO PLEASE! PLEASE NO MORE!"
My eyes filled with tears of anger as I had never heard her voice in such a tone. I shifted my body behind her, keeping my blade up and ready. I pulled her small frame to me, cradling her. "Hime…. I'm here."
(Misaki)
Could it be him? Could it really be him, or was this just another vile trick? But I did hear his voice. As clear as a bright morning I heard his voice. But I did not see him.
"Chi-san?"
He continued as if he did not hear my whisper. "Princess, I've got you. Please wake up."
His pleading voice brought me to my feet, my legs almost unable to hold my weight. But still, there was only darkness. "Chi-san!" I screamed.
"Open your eyes your highness…I need to see you."
I wanted to see him; I did. But I was afraid and did not trust myself. If I opened my eye and he was not there, it would truly break the last of me.
(Chi)
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!" I roared.
Susanoo rubbed at the back of his neck nonchalantly. "She is in the abyss. I may have broken her spirit marble just a bit, so she will not wake. She trusts nothing in the dark."
My blade raised an inch higher, turning the air around the edges a reddish hue. My anger flowed into the blade through my palm. The sting in my shoulder grew but I held fast. I would slay both of these men, gods or not.
"Princess, it truly is me. I've come to take you home to your father. He waits for you. I know that there may be many things you do not understand now, but I promise to be by your side through any and all chaos. Please Misaki…I need see those eyes," I whispered over my shoulder. I despised lying to her. Even though the detrimental thing was to save her life, I had never wanted to be one who lied to her.
Her mumble sent a fracture through my panic. "Chi…."
(Misaki)
It had to be Chi-san. He had promised me. With my heart lodged in my throat I pushed against the pain and my fear. I pushed hard against it all and fought to only focus on Chi in my mind. I was in the dark, but I allowed his voice to guide me as I stumbled blindly through the nothingness. I screamed his name again and again until I was hoarse. I could hear the two brothers speaking, laughing, and antagonizing tones. I then realized that this had to be real. And that if I did not do something, they were going to hurt Chi. Anger flared anew in me and when I looked down, the palms of my hands glowed a warm
bright yellow light. Immense heat graced my arms and my palms and as I thought of Chi, seeing his face in front of me, the light shot up from my hands into the darkness. It grew until the darkness dispersed completely and the space was filled with nothing but white light.
When my eyes finally opened, I saw him. His armor was covered in black liquid, he sported cuts and bruises along his cheeks and neck as well. I sucked in a breath and raised my shaky hand to him.
Please be real, please be real….
His skin felt soft beneath my fingertips and when he whipped his head down to look at me, I could see him with both eyes! His dark irises were like glass as he stared down at me with concern.
"Kitsune…" he breathed.
"Chi-san…"
"There are those beautiful eyes," he chuckled, while sporting a smile. I thought I would never see that bright smile ever again.
(Chi)
Her hand found my cheek and just like that I was at a loss for any words. I reveled in her touch as it came, she sat up quickly and wrapped her arms around my neck in a tight embrace.
"Chi…I've missed you terribly," she sobbed. I clutched at her back, pinning her body to mine with no intention of letting go. Our moment was broken as Susanoo's voice rose and my mind took note of how Misaki's body went rigid. What had he done to her?
"So, the girl has a bit of willpower after all. This certainly has grown interesting. Hasn't it brother?"
"Yes quite. She seems to have some attachment to the boy."
Susanoo snickered at the comment made by his brother. "I expect nothing less of my son. He has kept the enemy very close."
Misaki's eyes widened as she listened to his words. "Chi, what is he-"
"I will explain later Kitsune. For now, we need to get out of here."
It was Tsukuyomi's turn to belt out laughter as he pointed to the wound on my shoulder and the sword in my hand. Using what strength, I had left in my left arm I pulled myself and Misaki to our feet. I pushed her gently behind me as I stared down the two in front of us, blocking our way of the door.
"He has been bitten Susanoo. How is it that you are still alive…" he tilted his head in true curiosity. It made my stomach turn.
"And you must not forget Tsuku, he wields the cursed blade of Muramasa Sengo." He took a step forward. "tell me boy, have the voices taken hold of your mind yet?"
I gave no reply, keeping my expression emotionless. I felt Misaki's hand on my arm, but I could not lower my guard now.
"You have surely gone to great lengths to save her. Even sold your very own soul to the Muramasa. The curse will quickly turn you into something other than yourself. The man you are now will disappear, and all of your…" his eyes shifted minutely to Misaki, "worldly possessions will fade out of importance. You will seek to find solace in calamity."
"Chi-san what…"
"I can teach you to control it. You are my son after all. Pledge fealty to me and I will educate you in all the ways of the gods."
Smirking, I flicked my wrist and the blade turned outwards. "There is nothing that I want from you. However, if you want to kill her, you'll need to go through me to do it."
A sword formed from black smoke and took solid form in Susanoo's hand. "Ungrateful wretch. No matter. I will kill you both all the same. And then I will destroy my sister for her treachery."
Susanoo pivots forward, moving quickly across the cave floor, his feet barely touching the ground. I grabbed Misaki's wrist and shoved her back hard before bringing the screaming blade quickly up to deflect Susanoo's blow. The blade in my hand began to pulsate as my hatred grew. This god would never be my father. I knew who my father had been, I needed no other.
He came at me again, this time unrelenting in his blows. They were quick and powerful, but the sword was strong in hate against his power.
(Misaki)
No, none of this could be true. Chi was cursed? And
Tsukuyomi seemed surprised that he was not dead already. And what voices was this tyrant referring to?
I got no chance to ask these questions before the fighting ensued. While Chi-san fought of Susanoo, I watched Tsukuyomi. His eyes were fixated on the fight. When Chi landed a blow to Susanoo's shoulder Tsukuyomi's eyes narrowed and I saw a thin long blade, hidden in his right hand. He was going to try to kill him while he fought his brother.
Seeing what was happening before me I remembered what he'd shown me while in the dark. I mimicked her movements as best I could, quickly forming the symbols. Yellow mist, like the one I'd seen form around Ama in the clouds took shape around me.
Mother… if you can hear me, please, gift me the protection you possess in this war. Allow me to defend what I love, as it defends me.
Tsukuyomi paused in his advance towards Chi as I struggled to control the rapidly growing mist as it swirled between my hands. It was warm and strong, almost like raging fire breathing life into itself. In the mist, a broad sword materialized and solidified. Quickly I grabbed a hold of it, pulling it from the mist. The color dissipated until it was like it had never been there at all.
"That cannot be!" Tsukuyomi yelled. "She does not have the power to call forth this weapon!"
Susanoo paused and looked at the sword in my hand before he roared in anger. "That blade belongs to me!"
"The grass blade of Susanoo…our sister seems to have some tricks of her own," Tsukuyomi grimaced.,
Chi's body disappeared only to appear beside me. "Princess…"
"Don't. do not tell me to run. I will help you in this Chi-san.
Please…"
I saw the worry in his eyes. He wanted no harm to befall me and I wanted no harm to befall him. I nodded to him, understanding to stay close at his side. As we looked to the brothers we lunged forward together into battle.