The dark smoke thickened, swallowing the daylight and forcing them into an eerie twilight. Hoshiyo led them through the dense forest, where colors had vanished into the gloom. The acrid smoke left a sour taste in their mouths. Everything was silent; not a single animal or Yokai was in sight.
Navigating through the murk, Hoshiyo followed the dirt path up the mountain, struggling to see anything ahead. Hayato walked beside her, guiding them through the choking air.
Behind them, Rei coughed and asked, "Is the smoke poisonous?"
Hayato shook his head. "Don't worry. Orochi spreads this darkness to deter people. The smoke is harmful, but it won't kill you."
"I wouldn't know which is worse," Ceres said, coughing. "I'd rather die slowly and painfully than be slain by Orochi."
Motoko coughed and replied, "You'd prefer a slow and painful death over a quick one?"
"A quick death wouldn't let me embrace the field of flowers around me as I lay dying. I want to smell the sweet scent of cherry blossoms and feel the warmth on my skin," Ceres said.
Hayato scoffed. "Everyone dreams of a happy ending, but in reality, most of us will meet our end with our heads on the chopping block, watched by the world."
Silence fell over the sisters, the grimness of the conversation quelling any desire to speak. The surrounding darkness seemed to mock the idea of a happy ending. Hoshiyo couldn't shake the fear of a bloody fate, the only warmth being that of their blood and the metallic taste of iron. Yet, they pressed on, determined to find their mother.
A loud grumble broke Hoshiyo's train of thought. She turned to see her sisters staring at Seiko, whose stomach groaned again.
Blushing, Seiko said, "Sorry, I haven't eaten much since I was trapped in that prison."
Hayato sighed. "You've all come a long way. Maybe we should take a break."
Hoshiyo frowned. "We can't afford to waste any time. If we don't find them soon, someone could die."
Ceres clutched her stomach. "For once, I might agree with her. How can we eat in these awful conditions?"
Hoshiyo nodded. "We don't have any food with us anyway."
"No food?" Hayato questioned. "You should always carry provisions on a long journey."
He rummaged through his old, makeshift bag and pulled out a sack of cooked rice. The rice began to mold rapidly when it was exposed to the air. In disgust, Hayato threw it to the ground as it turned black and disintegrated into the dirt. The girls screamed, startled by the eerie transformation.
Rei wrinkled her nose, fighting back gags. "What just happened?"
Hayato stared at the dirt pile that had once been his rice. "We need to get out of this forest," he said quietly.
Without another word, he bolted forward, passing Hoshiyo and the others. Panic-stricken, the sisters hurried after him, trying to keep up as they navigated through the trees and thick bushes. Rei sliced her cheek on a branch, wincing as she wiped the blood away.
"Are you okay?" Hoshiyo called back.
Catching up, Rei replied, "I'm fine. But we need to stop him!"
Hoshiyo nodded to her sister and sprinted to catch up with Hayato, who was running for his life. She leaped forward, rolling in the dirt to land directly before him. Drawing her katana, she faced him as he shook with fear.
"Explain yourself," Hoshiyo demanded, frowning.
Hayato cried, noticing the wrinkles and dark spots spreading on his skin. "Please, we have to leave the forest," he pleaded.
"What's going on?" Hoshiyo asked.
"I underestimated Orochi. The dark smoke steals away months and years of your life. If we don't leave, we'll cease to exist."
Hoshiyo's eyes widened as she lowered her weapon. "You grew up on this island. Get us out, now."
Hayato ran on his aging legs without hesitation, the sisters desperately following. Rei examined her arms and hands as they ran but saw no signs of aging. "Why aren't we physically aging like he is?" she asked.
"I don't know," Hoshiyo replied. "But we must escape this fog at any cost."
Takeko, tearing up, caught up with Hoshiyo and Rei. "Do you think our mother is caught in the fog?"
"We can only hope she's safe for now," Hoshiyo said.
The darkness gradually lightened as they ran, but the fog grew thicker, fighting against a powerful light in the distance. Hoshiyo felt a deep fear gnawing at her, but she refused to let it show. She needed to stay strong for her sisters. Family was not a burden to her, though it took an emotional toll on her. She was constantly obligated to care for every issue, no matter how small. All she wanted was to lead them to a better life.
"What's going on with the fog?" Rei asked.
Hayato felt the overpowering sensation of decay reduce like the ebbing tide. He smiled and said, "The Kami are fighting back. The closer we get, the lighter the fog becomes."
Takeko took a deep breath and smiled. "I can breathe again."
Hoshiyo, running faster than ever, shouted, "Good, keep going. We're almost out of the fog. We can do this!" She panted heavily, sweat dripping from her body. Her calves burned with intense pain, but she persevered, determined to save her sisters.
Hayato's pace slowed, his body becoming more brittle with each step. Wrinkles deepened on his face, and one of his eyes turned pale. As they continued forward, Rei glanced back, noticing his gradual deterioration. She turned to Hoshiyo and shouted, "I'm not sure if Hayato can make it out of here alive. We might have to stop."
Hoshiyo frowned and replied, "No one is getting left behind. We are all going to make it through alive."
"I'm much stronger than you think. I can keep up," Hayato said.
Rei nodded, though doubt lingered. "If you say so."
Soon, the dark clouds faded to light purple, revealing a blue sky above. Hoshiyo looked up and asked, "I can see the sky again."
Hayato uncovered his mouth and breathed in the fresh air, smiling. "The Kami successfully sealed him away. I wonder who could have helped them."
Hoshiyo's eyes widened as she faced her sisters. "Our mother is with them. She helped them stop Yamato-no-Orochi."
Hayato frowned and said, "If she is who you say, the Kami must have transformed her. That means you are the children of the legend."
"Our mother is the Kami of the Stars," Hoshiyo explained. "Once human, the Kami gave her the role of saving the world. Knowing she couldn't do it alone, she created us."
Rei stepped forward. "She instructed us to learn the ways of the worlds between ours to help save it. Yoko sought to learn from the most powerful swordsman, which happened to be you."
"I see," Hayato replied quietly with a sigh. "I'm sorry, Yoko."
Behind him, Yoko clutched Seiko's robes for comfort and nodded, acknowledging his apology. Around them, the mist turned pure white, bringing life back to the plants and tall trees. The grim grey colors shifted to a vibrant maroon tint as everything slowly returned to normal.
Suddenly, Ceres and Motoko's eyes began to glow, catching everyone's attention.
Hoshiyo stopped and asked, "What's going on? Are you two glowing?"
Ceres stared into Motoko's eyes and nodded. She turned to Hoshiyo and replied, "We can see the living and the dead. We sense a strong energy of something both dead and alive nearby."
"The Kami," Hoshiyo said.
Motoko nodded. "They're close. We can find them through the eyes of those who live here in the forest."
Takeko smiled. "Amaterasu might be there too. We have to try, right, Hoshiyo?"
Hoshiyo glanced at her sisters, who silently pleaded with her. She hadn't expected them to seek her permission for something so small. With a smirk, she nodded, encouraging the twins to do what they were born to do. They looked at each other and nodded back.
An electric shock coursed through their bodies as they locked fingers. They could see beyond the human realm, invisible roots spreading around them, clutching large bushes and trees until they found a cluster of Kami far away.
Ceres quickly opened her eyes and yelled, "This way, quickly!"
She led them off the path through the thick forest and massive leaves blocking their way. Hoshiyo followed closely, her mind racing about what might happen when she met their mother. Would she push her daughters away or welcome them with open arms? Her fearful thoughts outweighed the more realistic possibilities.
As they emerged from the mist, they faced a pack of wolves, bloodied and battered from a prior fight. Some held magnificent swords known to history, while others lay barely breathing.
Hoshiyo and Yoko drew their swords, ready to protect their siblings. The wolves snarled and growled, cautiously approaching.
Hayato bolted between them, holding out his arms. He yelled, "Stop, we are not here to fight. I know who you are, Susanoo-no-Mikoto."
"Susanoo?" Hoshiyo questioned.
Hayato pointed to the daughters and said, "These are the daughters of the Kami of Stars. They've traveled from the Land of Stars to meet her."
As a white wolf, Susanoo didn't speak to the humans; instead, he sheathed his sword behind him and gestured for the pack to move aside, revealing a massive black wolf lying on the ground. Hayato continued his one-sided conversation with Susanoo as the sisters rushed to their mother.
Lying on the dark dirt, their mother's eyes fluttered open, revealing her blood-red eyes.
Tenderly, Hoshiyo stroked her mother's fur and whispered, "Is that you, Hoshiyo?"
The wolf's eyes widened awake as she noticed the nine girls surrounding her. She quietly asked, "How is this possible? All nine of you are alive."
Ceres frowned and said, "Were you expecting some of us to die in those tanks?"
"No, I wasn't expecting to see all of you here in the Land of Swords, so far from home. Why are you here?" the mother asked.
Hoshiyo said, "We are here because you gave us clear instructions to save the world, but we need your guidance."
"My guidance?" the mother replied with a giggle. "Your sisters don't need me to guide them; they need you, Hoshiyo. You are who I was supposed to be."
Her mother gasped, and her flesh oozed blood. Hoshiyo lifted her hand in front of her face to notice the palm of her hand was covered in blood. Tears streamed down her face as she asked, "I can't lead them alone. I'm not ready yet. You can't leave me all alone."
"You won't be alone," her mother said with a serene smile before fading into a deep slumber.
"Mother," Rei yelled out.
"Hoshiyo, is she dead?" Takeko asked, her voice trembling with fear.
Tears continued to cascade down Hoshiyo's face as she stood frozen, both in her mind and with her words. She whispered, "I don't know…"
A shining bright white light pierced through the mist, revealing a sparkling white wolf adorned with red robes. It was Amaterasu, standing on the other side of their mother with a somber expression etched across her face. Despite her sorrow, her royal manners shone through.
"Amaterasu?" Takeko whispered in awe.
"She's not dead," Amaterasu replied, her voice firm and resolute. "If you hurry, she could survive if you bring her home."
"Home? Where?" Hoshiyo asked, her voice filled with urgency.
"Carry her to the mountains of her rebirth, but you must hurry, or it could be too late," Amaterasu instructed.
"The mountain?" Hoshiyo questioned, seeking clarity.
"Go, now," Amaterasu commanded.
Rei removed a layer of her Yukata and laid it on the ground beside their mother. Hoshiyo grabbed their mother's back legs while Rei took the front, and together, they carefully moved her onto the Yukata. They lifted her with all their strength, carrying her back to the village before anyone had emerged from their homes, and dashed towards the beach.
As they reached the shore, Yoko glanced back at the village and asked, "What about Hayato?"
Seiko touched her shoulder and replied, "He'll come find you when he's ready, but don't get your hopes up. He might never teach again."
Yoko pouted but stepped into the fishing boat. The sisters prepared to embark on their journey back to the Land of Stars, fully aware that time was not on their side in their race to save the Kami who had given them life.