Within the grand island of Nishinoshima Island, Hoshiyo sprinted through the forest, and loud booming eruptions replaced the once-familiar sounds of nature. The air became thick with the horrid scent of smoke. Reaching the mountain's summit, the light kissed her face, revealing the toll time had taken since she revealed herself to humans. Her once youthful features now bore the marks of age.
Hoshiyo gazed in horror at the once serene island of Japan engulfed in the fiery aftermath of Mount Fuji's eruption. Lava menacingly crept toward the fleeing civilians, turning their escape into a desperate struggle for survival. Chaos reigned in what was once a beautiful land of hope and peace.
Her wide-open mouth hung, her large wolf tongue feeling the dry breeze. In a voice heavy with sorrow, she whispered, "All those innocent people, they're all dying."
The Tanuki, perched on her back, crawled up to her head, standing for extra height. He said, "We had no way of knowing. Kami can create disasters, but predicting them is beyond their control, just as it is beyond yours. Don't blame yourself, Hoshiyo."
In the billowing smoke, she swore she witnessed a dragon emerging. Although she knew the island was safe from the eruption, a bit of worry for her father, Hiroshiro, gripped her heart.
"Tanuki, how is my father doing?" Hoshiyo asked.
"He's not going to make it much longer."
"What are we waiting for? We have to hurry."
Descending swiftly into the cavern Hiroshiro had built, she found him lying in bed, a frail figure aged and weakened. Wrinkles etched his once-vibrant skin, and he trembled with every movement. Blind and sickly, Hiroshiro was a mere shadow of his former self.
Emotionally shaken, Hoshiyo approached him, her voice quivering as she spoke, "Father, it's Hoshiyo. Mount Fuji erupted, and I saw the Kami of smoke emerging from it. We're safe here, but I needed to tell you." She longed to share the world-altering events with the man who had shared his love and knowledge with her throughout the years.
Hoshiyo sat by her father Hiroshiro's bedside, the room with a bittersweet atmosphere. His once vibrant eyes were now clouded with time, and he smiled weakly at his daughter—a Shinigami nestled above his head on the second pillow.
Hiroshiro whispered, "Hoshiyo, my daughter, come closer." She leaned in, and he tenderly cupped her furry cheek. "I want you to take the key to my laboratory. The girls will grow independently, but I want you to have my research. It will help you."
Tears welled up in Hoshiyo's eyes as she held her head against her father's frail hands. "I will, Daddy."
Hiroshiro's gaze turned distant as he reminisced, "Your mother and I shared a love that transcended this world. She was the starlight that brightened my darkest nights. And you, Hoshiyo, you are the living proof of that beautiful love."
In the quiet of the room, Hoshiyo asked, "Daddy, what do you want me to do after you're gone?"
Hiroshiro smiled a blend of sadness and contentment in his eyes. "Live, my dear. Live with the same love and kindness that you've shown the world. Embrace the responsibility bestowed upon you, and let your spirit shine as bright as the stars you light the sky with."
The ground shook from another eruption. Hoshiyo nodded with tears flowing through her soft fur. She couldn't stand to hear her father's lungs struggle to function correctly. Her father was going to die, and she couldn't do anything to save him. That thought broke her heart.
Hiroshiro's strength waned. Hoshiyo held him close, and with a final, whispered declaration of love, Hiroshiro passed away.
The Tanuki landed softly on his chest, closing his eyes as Hoshiyo wept in her father's hand. The weight of losing the most important person in her life pressed heavily upon her. Her gaze lingered on the wooden door with a lock that held the secrets of her father's private study. The ache in her heart intensified at the thought of uncovering the mysteries behind that door. Sensing her hesitance, the Tanuki stepped forward, displaying the rusted key. Hoshiyo nodded her consent; he inserted the key into the hidden lock, revealing a dimly lit chamber filled with the scent of aging paper and ink. Dust danced in the air as they stepped into the forgotten sanctuary.
"I'm sorry you had to see that," The Tanuki said.
"I haven't been a child for over forty years, Tanuki. I was grateful to have been there to hold his hand," Hoshiyo said.
"What do you think you'll find in here?" The Tanuki asked.
"Answers," Hoshiyo replied. Her eyes scanned the room, filled with many scientific instruments and dusty bookshelves.
Nine massive tanks loomed in the room, their translucent walls filled with nutrient-rich fluids and delicate fetal forms. Each tank bore a plaque with intricate symbols: a star, a sun, a moon, and six others, each representing a unique experiment. Hoshiyo approached the middle tank, marked with a star symbol, and brushed her paw against the cool glass. Inside, the fetal figure resembled more of an otherworldly being than a human infant, yet Hoshiyo knew that it would develop into something resembling herself with time.
"He told me the star would be my identical twin," Hoshiyo explained softly, her voice tinged with awe. "But the others... he altered their genetic makeup to observe their potential forms. Maybe his journals hold further clues."
"I never imagined such a thing could be possible," The Tanuki murmured, his eyes fixed on the remarkable sight before them.
Tanuki offered silent support as he helped Hoshiyo shift through her father's notes and sketches.
In the clutter, they stumbled upon a series of weathered papers detailing a plan to combat the end of the world. Hiroshiro, in his prime, had dedicated his efforts to preserving the balance of the world.
"Hoshiyo, look at all these papers," The Tanuki said.
"I can't believe it."
Emotions welled up within Hoshiyo as she realized the profound love and sacrifice her father had made for her future.
Tanuki nudged Hoshiyo gently and said, "We can save the world."
Hoshiyo wiped away tears with a determined purpose and started transcribing her father's findings. Every detail and solution was carefully documented on fresh sheets of paper.
"We have to inform the council of the Kami," Hoshiyo exclaimed with determination.
"Luckily, the only punishment they imposed was to confine you to the forest until it fully healed, and you couldn't hide from the humans either," The Tanuki chuckled.
Hoshiyo sighed and said, "Hopefully, now they'll allow me to leave and fulfill the purpose they created me for."
"The forest has healed from the fire, allowing you to join the council as the Kami of stars for the first time. Are you ready?"
"No, I'm terrified, so let's get this over with," Hoshiyo said, walking out the door.
Together, they embarked on a quest to report Hiroshiro's findings to the Kami, carrying the world's weight on their shoulders.