InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remembering You ❯ Eyes Wide Shut in the Garden of Eden ( Chapter 15 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Author Notes: Longest chapter to date ppl! Remember that really long chapter `Five Centuries Later (chapter 3)'? Well I thought that was insanely long, but this chapter is twice that length. And I wish I had time to edit it but I really don't. I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow and I don't have time to go through the entire thing, I went through half but not the whole thing. I plan to edit it when I get back. Prepare yourself for this one and open up a nice window of time to read through the 54 pages this chapter makes up. I won't be updating for a month at the very least (although this did take a month and half to be written and posted) so I hope you'll be patient with me. Anyways, many things are revealed here and gets the ball rolling. I hope you enjoy the chappie! Please read and review!

Disclaimer: Inu and Kag don't belong to me, they belong to each other and a wealthy woman name Rumiko in Japan.

“. . .” dialogue

`. . .' thoughts

Eyes Wide Shut in the Garden of Eden

By Hoshi-ni-Onegai

“What are you aiming for exactly?”

Kagome raised an annoyed eyebrow as she lowered her bow and arrow and glared at Inuyasha. “You really aren't helping.”

Sitting on the ground in his extensive backyard Inuyasha pointed toward the hamaya. “I mean, does it really matter where you aim it?” Seeing the continuous glare he shrugged. “Hey, I'm not the one that had one eye closed to line up the shot.”

Rolling her eyes she brought her bow back up and aimed for the sky. Pulling back as far as her strength and bow would let her she kept still for a moment. Then, she let the taut string go and hamaya went flying into the sky in a stream of blue light. “Wait. Blue?”

Leaping off the ground to stand next to her Inuyasha gazed at the blue hamaya. “Uh. . . not to get all technical on you or anything Kagome, but isn't it usually pink?”

Nodding she watched on as the hamaya disappeared into the clouds. “Do you think I should worry?”

He shrugged once again, “What's the worse that could happen?”

“Rain of molten lava?”

“You really know how to depress a guy.”

“Just keeping things in perspective.”

“Good to have you around.”

Looking up at the clouds both waited for something to happen, or for the arrow to come shooting down. They stared up at the sky for a good five minutes until Inuyasha plopped down on the ground.

“Nothing is happening Kagome.”

Sighing she sat down next to him on the grass. “I can't believe this was a complete flop. I was completely convinced this was a good idea.”

“You do realize it was a very random idea, right?”

“It didn't seem too bad. . . they send a hamaya to contact us and we send a hamaya to contact them. It makes sense. . . sorta.”

He laid back in the grass with his arms crossed behind his head. “So what do you want to do for the rest of the day?”

“Maybe I should go into work saying I'm feeling better now.”

“You're not going to use your sick day to have fun?”

“What am I in high school? I take a sick day when I need it, not so I can go gallivanting through the city.”

Letting out an exasperated breath, Inuyasha closed his eyes. “You sound like an old woman. Gallivanting! Who the hell uses that word?”

She poked him with the end of the bow, “Me, so get off my back.” She turned and looked up at the clouds.

Opening his eyes he glanced at Kagome then closed them once again. “If you're waiting for a call back from the gods, you're in for a long wait.”

“Fine, I don't get a response but where the hell did my arrow go?”

“Does it really matter?”

“What goes up must come down, right? So when is it coming down?”

Sitting up he sighed, “Well the rate in which the arrow reached its peak height is the rate it will come down right? Also, take into account the force of gravity and the properties of free falling.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief, “When did you take a physics class?”

“Never did. But While I was in China I met up with a guy named Newton.”

“You met Sir Isaac Newton? In China? When were you in China? More importantly when was Newton in China?”

“Apparently when I was there a few centuries back. He wasn't living there, he was on vacation. He went to one of the martial arts schools I was training at and helping repair. He wanted to know how body motion was effected by the three theories he had. He went on and on about his science, and that's pretty much how I learned English and physics.”

Kagome smiled, “These kinds of things only happen to you.”

“It's not completely exclusive.”

“Yeah, but you're the only one that's not that phased by it.”

“See how well grounded I am?”

“Good to see-” With a sudden shove and roll Kagome went tumbling on the grass with Inuyasha embracing her and on top of her. Blinking rapidly and blush furiously Kagome stuttered, “C-can I help you Inuyasha?”

Giving her one of his famous smirks he said, “Calm down girl. I'm not about to ravage you in my backyard in broad day light.” Easing off her and flipping over he gestured toward the sacred arrow that embedded itself where Kagome had just been sitting.

“Y-you saved my life. . . again.”

He shrugged and reached for the still slightly glowing hamaya, “It's what I do.” When his clawed fingers touched the arrow they were instantly scorched and he quickly pulled his hand back. “Crap!”

She was immediately at his side taking the offended hand within hers for observation. “I'm sorry.”

He gave her a confused look, “What you apologizing for? Not your fault.”

“My arrow, kinda my fault.” She looked up at him apologetically, “You're lucky you're a hanyou, it's already healing.”

“Yeah, but being a hanyou is the reason why your arrow burned me.”

“I'm seriously going to end up killing you one day aren't I?”

He smiled, “I'd like to think you'll be avoiding that for a while.”

“I'll try my best.” She glanced over to the arrow that was embedded into the ground, and her eyes widened in realization. “Inuyasha?”

“Yeah?” He distractedly answered as he examined his injury.

“That's not my arrow.” The hanyou whipped his head toward Kagome as she had grabbed the arrow and pulled it out of the ground. “There's no message tied to it though.”

“It could just be a stray arrow that was flying around. . . in the twenty-first century. Okay, not the most common thing but not the most unusual.”

Kagome shook her head, “No, this has the same design as the hamaya your brother gave me.”

“So you actually got a message from the gods?”

“No, I got an arrow without a message. A message would be helpful.”

“So what do you think it means?”

“Shoot it back at them in spite?”

He shrugged, “If you really want to.”

“There is nothing special about this arrow that sets it apart from the other one.” She notched the arrow and tried to aim at the sky but for some reason the arrow would not allow itself to be aimed toward the sky.

Seeing that she wasn't raising the arrow Inuyasha wondered, “What are you doing?”

Trying even harder to raise the arrow her arms began to strain as if there was an invisible barrier that was keeping the arrow from pointing up.

“Need some help there Kagome?”

“I-I can't aim it.” With a final effort she surged her arms up but had to suddenly let go of the bow and arrow, in fear that her shoulder was ready to be dislocated.

“Don't force yourself. If the arrow won't aim up then maybe the gods made it that way.”

Kagome nodded and rubbed her left shoulder that had been strained the most out of the two. As she was distracted with her arm Inuyasha cautiously reached for the arrow, which despite the lapse in time, still held a faint glow. Holding the arrow within his grasp his hand began to sizzle. It seems that although he meant no threat the sacred power of the arrow would not allow him to hold it. Annoyed that even though he had been fighting the good fight for over five hundred and fifty years the pure powers of good would still harm him, he gripped the arrow. Glancing over at Inuyasha, Kagome finally noticed what he was doing.

“No!” She tried pulling the arrow out of his grip but he refused to let go. “What the hell do think you're doing? ! And give me the arrow!”

He tugged the arrow away from her grasp and growled, “Sit your ass down. Your arms are probably already going to be sore for a week.”

“But can pick up that arrow without pointing it upward just fine. Your hand is burning for God sakes!”

“Will you get-” Suddenly the burning stopped. The glow of the arrow was now pink instead of blue, and soothed the hanyou's burnt hand. With Kagome still trying to reach for the arrow out of the hand Inuyasha adorned a confused look. When he noticed that the miko was practically climbing over him to get the arrow he tried to get her attention. “It doesn't burn.”

She huffed and reached for the arrow again, “Don't be so macho! When it hurts, it hurts!”

Rolling his eyes he gave a shove toward her and she went tumbling to the grass. “Will you listen woman? ! The arrow doesn't burn when I point it up!”

Mumbling from her stumbled position on the ground, that last bit caught her attention and looked over to Inuyasha that held the arrow pointing toward the sky. “What it the. . .”

“My thought exactly. You can't aim it toward the sky, I can't hold it if it points away from it. . . If that's not a smack upside the head from the gods I don't know what is.”

“A smack upside the what? What are you talking about?”

He stared at her with a deadpan look, “You have to be kidding me. It means, Kagome, that you're not supposed to shoot the arrow into the sky. I am.”

“You? Do you even know how to shoot an arrow?”

“I knew my way around a bow long before I met you woman.”

Rolling her eyes she picked up the bow and threw it at Inuyasha who caught it without a problem. “Whatever.”

Notching the arrow he pulled back with apparent skill and aimed toward the heavens. “If an angry goddess comes after me, I'm blaming it on you.” With that he let the arrow fly with surprising speed.

Kagome stood next to him and looked upward. “I didn't know you had some mad skills with my weapon of choice.”

He shrugged, “I know how to use mostly any weapon ever forged, I just like my Tetsusaiga better. Never really found anything stronger than the bakuryuha.”

“How about the atomic bomb?”

“Besides that.”

“I'm just surprised because I've never seen you use anything besides your sword and fists.”

“That's because he is a barbaric idiot.”

During their conversation Kagome and Inuyasha had looked away from the sky, but with the sudden voice that came down from above them they both whipped their heads up. There, floating in the sky was a woman of ethereal beauty. Wearing a kimono in the style that was worn by wealthy feudal era princesses the woman gently glided down toward the grass and stopping six inches before actually touching the ground. Gold embroider adorned her kimono with a sash and hair ornaments. Her hair was a sun kissed golden blonde and her gaze was similar to the fiery amber eyes of Inuyasha.

Kagome's eyes widened, “A-amaterasu-sama?”

The goddess of the sun nodded. Kagome quickly kneeled before the goddess and tried tugging Inuyasha down but he would not budge from his standing position. Amaterasu let out a gentle laugh that seemed to echo around them like silver bells. “Stand Kagome, there is no need to be submissive in front of me. I am your sister after all.”

Standing up she drew a shuddered breath, “Then it's true. I-I'm a goddess.” Tears streamed down Kagome's face, tears that seemed to have been triggered by the already suspected knowledge. Wiping her eyes of tears she let out a desperate laugh, “I'm sorry. I-I shouldn't be crying. . . I'm a goddess, some girls would kill to be able to say the same.” Letting out a half sob half laugh she shrugged, “I should be ecstatic.”

Seeing the love of his life crumbling before him, Inuyasha held her in a comforting embrace. “Shh. It's okay. No big deal, we've dealt with worse.” He kissed her crown and rested his cheek upon it, “We're star-crossed lovers, wouldn't make sense if things got too easy.”

“I know what you both speak of and I understand your worries. The myth that a goddess nor god cannot mate with a mortal is true, we can only mate within the celestial society. But it seems that only Kagome's godly status was revealed.”

Kagome raised her head, “What do you mean?”

Crouching down to be at eye level with Kagome, Amaterasu cradled the miko's right cheek in her hand. Kagome felt the breezy touch of the goddess and felt herself calming down. Amaterasu let a soft smile grace her entrancing features. “You are not my sister Kagome.”

“But all the legend say that Wakahirume. . . I was your beloved sister. The sister you grieved for so deeply that you hid in a cave behind a boulder bringing darkness upon the world.”

“I do love you Kagome. So much that it pained me when you died. You were like a little sister to me, but we do not share the blood that you think we do. However, you, Wakahirume became the closest thing one can become to a sister.” She glided the hand that was on Kagome's cheek to stroke her hair. Amaterasu sighed. “You are my sister-in-law.”

Kagome's teary eyes widened, “Sister-in-law?” Quickly turning to look at Inuyasha she whispered, “I was married?”

Inuyasha shook his head, “No. I can't believe that. I won't believe it! We're soul mates.”

Kagome hugged him, “This doesn't change that. No matter who I was married to in a past life. I still love you and we're meant to be together.”

Amaterasu let out an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes, “My goodness! You two give pessimism a new name! Both of you accept the worst in every possible situation! No wonder you two think you can't be together!”

“What the hell are you talking about now?” Inuyasha growled.

“Do you even know how you became soul mates?”

Kagome looked up at the goddess, “How? There is a `how?' Don't soul mates just happen?”

Amaterasu smiled, “Now they do. Everyone is born on this earth with a soul mate there for them to find. This whole obsession about soul mates is something new. . . well, relatively new. This concept wasn't around from the beginning of time like everyone thinks. Sorry to put the responsibility on you two, but as corny as it sounds you two started the whole idea of the soul mate.”

The hanyou scrunched his eyebrows, “You have got to be kidding me.”

“I kid you not. And I have one piece of fact that's going to make you the happiest creature in the world Inuyasha.”

“A year's supply of car wax?”

Amaterasu scowled, “Could you be any more moronic? You really haven't changed have you? If you couldn't figure it out yet Inuyasha, you're my brother.”

“You brother? Then that means. . .” A grin slowly spread across his face as he looked down at Kagome.

“You two are very slow on the uptake. Yes, you two were married. But-“

Inuyasha growled, “No `buts'! I don't need any of those.”

“Inuyasha.” Kagome tugged on his shirt.

“No Kagome, I'm not hearing her out on any form of `but.' There are way too many catches that I've had to deal with.”

“Will you just listen? It's not a catch, I'm just telling you your story.”

Kagome nodded, “I was wondering about that. There is no record of Wakahirume getting married, and much less to Susanowo. From what I know, Susanowo killed her. . . er, me. . . whatever.”

“I guess instead of answering all your questions I should just tell you everything that happened. It all started so long ago and so innocently. . .”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Story Mode XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Tsukiyomi!”

The young god that had been lying about in the celestial gardens raised his head from his position on the grass to look toward his young brother. His brother, Susanowo, was the god of the winds, storms, oceans, and snakes. Susanowo had jet black hair, that if loose, would extend beyond his feet and pool on the floor. Dressed in rich robes of silk the young god ran toward his older brother.

“Tsukiyomi!”

Sitting up he nodded toward Susanowo, “What do you want this time brother?”

Skidding into the lush grass Susanowo smirked, “I just met the love of my life.”

Tsukiyomi raised a good-natured eyebrow and laughed, “The love your life? Really now? Then where is she? If I had met the love of my life I wouldn't let her out of my sight.”

“She's with Amaterasu. Apparently she is sister's new handmaiden.”

“New handmaiden? Where is she from?”

Susanowo shrugged, “Not sure, but I heard rumors that she came from up river.”

“From the northern lands?”

“Yeah, but that's beside the point. Brother, she is gorgeous.”

“Gorgeous? That's it?” Tsukiyomi rolled his eyes and lied back in the grass.

Susanowo shoved his brother, “What do you `that's it'?”

“Look, we live amongst gods. We are gods. All of us are `gorgeous.' I don't see what's so special about this girl if she's just good-looking.”

Susanowo growled and lied down as well, “You don't know what you're talking about, you haven't seen this girl.”

Letting out a yawn Tsukiyomi closed his eyes, “Whatever.”

Months passed and Susanowo continued to mention Amaterasu's newest handmaiden that he had fallen head over heals for. Tsukiyomi continued to answer with sarcasm but allowed his brother to continue describing his supposed girl of his dreams.

“. . . and yesterday I saw her in the fields with sister. She glanced over in my direction and smiled. Oh! And what a glorious smile it was!” Susanowo, despite his obsession over the handmaiden had actually never spoken to her nor knew her name.

Tsukiyomi shook his head as he and his brother walked through the celestial gardens at night. “Love has made you a fool Susanowo. You barely even know this girl. Actually, you don't know her at all.”

Susanowo shrugged, “I don't need to know her when there is such a thing as love at first sight.”

“You're being delusional, but I'll support you. Now, go home to sleep. There is no need for you to be wandering about at this time of day.”

The younger god nodded and waved as he left. Tsukiyomi sighed as he continued to wander the gardens. It had been only a week or so since he was forever obligated to be awake through the entire night. His sister Amaterasu had sent him to negotiate with the goddess of the feast. The goddess ended up making him dinner. . . from her nose and mouth. Body part dining was not what he expected and being completely insulted had banished the goddess. Looking back on it, maybe it wasn't the best idea. Amaterasu, upset that her brother did such a thing to her best friend, cried and wished to never see him ever again. And so, the gods decided the best way to go about this would be to make Tsukiyomi the god of the moon. With this solution in place Amaterasu, goddess of the sun, and Tsukiyomi, the new god of the moon, would never meet.

Tsukiyomi yawned and stretched his arms above his head. Forced to wander the nights was not his idea of a good time. The only one awake beside himself was Baku, but he really wasn't a god. Baku was a simple good spirit that went about to the slumbering masses and ate their bad dreams. It didn't really matter that he wasn't a god, but he was too busy to be keeping Tsukiyomi company during the long sleepless nights.

In the dead of the night he heard rustling of leaves then a snap of a twig. Whipping his head toward the direction of the sound he stood still and concentrated. The wind curled around him and the line of trees that was a good twenty meters to his left. Then another rustle of leaves and a quick snap of a twig, Tsukiyomi went running toward the sound.

Okay, so he was desperate. He didn't care if it was an animal for all he cared. As long as there was someone or something else awake along with him, something that should be awake at this time. Slipping in through the trees, he dodged branches and made his way toward where the sound seemed to have originated from. There was another rustle of leaves from the same direction, but this time there was rapid succession of snapping of twigs. Then the sound stopped and silence fell again. Tsukiyomi kept running nonetheless in the direction of the noise and broke through the forest of trees. The air opened up to him and the howling silence of the trees met up with the tranquil clearing completely surrounded by trees from all sides. Grass stood up to his waist as the wind made it move about in waves like in an ocean. To Tsukiyomi's disappointment, there was no one there. The clearing was abandoned and void of life besides the vegetation.

He let out a sad chuckle, “I knew it was too good to be true.”

“What's too good to be true?” A soft feminine voice came streaming from the middle of the clearing.

Stunned he whirled around, “Where are you? !”

Suddenly a head popped up from the tall grass and turned toward him. “Here.”

“A head? !”

The head shook her head, “My goodness you're a moron.” Standing up she faced toward him smiling.

Tsukiyomi was taken aback by the beauty of this woman. Her long hair was mesmerizing intense black that seemed to have an indigo luster to it. Eyes that were locked with his were a fiery golden-red. Despite the darkness, her skin seemed to glow with a sun kissed shine. She could have sworn that with her beauty she would have to be a goddess, but her garbs indicated that she was a spirit.

“You're a spirit?”

“And you're a god.”

“What are you the spirit of?”

Making her way toward him she laughed, “A lady does not disclose such things.”

He raised an eyebrow, “Are you serious?”

“Not really. So, what are you the god of?”

“Hey! I asked the question first! And besides, I'm a god. I have a hierarchy, you should treat me with more respect.”

She rolled her eyes, “That's very mature of you. . . Fine, I'm the spirit.”

“The spirit?” Then it suddenly donned on him, “The spirit? ! But, I thought it was he.”

Shrugging she smiled, “I guess you were wrong.”

“The spirit of Japan?. . . Wait, your name is Yamato?”

She sighed, “I hate that name. Become the spirit of Japan and they want to give you a name, of course it had to be a male name.”

He smirked, “You're a bit odd.”

She started walking passed him toward the trees he had just come out of, “So I've been told.”

Titling his head slightly he followed her, “Where are you going.”

“Not sure.”

“But you're leaving anyways?”

She glanced up toward the god that was a good head taller than her, “You can come along if you want.”

He blushed, realizing that he had followed her well into the woods. And in all honesty, he didn't want to be left alone. He'd had enough of the nightly solitude, and this spirit seemed to be wandering alone too.

Convinced that he was doing her a favor as well he looked down at her, “So, what are you doing awake at night Yamato?”

She smiled and did a sudden twirl amongst the trees, baffling Tsukiyomi in trying to figure out how she was able to miss all the trees.

“I love the night!” She took in a deep breath, “It's so calming and quiet.”

“Quiet? Should I leave or something?”

She grinned and hugged his right arm, “No, I like the company. Oh, and don't call me Yamato.”

He blushed and looked away, “What do you want me to call you then? `Spirit of Japan'?”

“Nah, that's too long. Call me by my birth name, Wakahirume.”

Giving her a deadpan look he sighed, “That's pretty long too.”

“Yeah, but it's better than the name that makes me seem gender confused or stating my job title.”

“It's pretty though.”

Letting go of his arm she walked ahead of him dodging low branches and weaving through the trees. “So, what's your name?”

Only a few steps behind her, he raised his eyebrows. “You haven't figured out who I am?”

Clearing the trees she looked back at him in confusion, “Should I have?”

“I don't know, but I thought it was blatantly obvious.”

“I guess I'm out of the loop. So, are you going to tell me who you are?”

He grinned, “You know what? I'll leave that up to you to figure out.”

And so the friendship started. The two would `casually' meet up in the clearing and spend most of the night together as the walked through forest and celestial gardens. When the sun was ready to dawn they would say their friendly farewells and slip away before the day broke. Wakahirume never guessed for Tuskiyomi's name, but they got along as if they knew each other for ages.

“So what's it like?” Wakahirume questioned as she lie in the gardens looking up at the stars, two and a half months since their first meeting.

“What's what like?” Tsukiyomi said as he lied next to her.

“Being a god.”

He rolled slightly to end up on his side facing her, “Why do you want to know that?”

“Is it everything it's cracked up to be?”

He shrugged with one shoulder, “I don't know. Never really thought about it. I was born a god, I don't know anything else.”

“Do you think it's worth it though?”

“Worth what? I'm not really giving up anything.”

She rolled to face him as well, “Mortality. Sure, gods can be killed and all that but they don't age. No fear of death. . . I mean, that's a good thing, but there is so much gods miss out on.”

“Like what?”

“Life. Humans, mortals, they go through life trying to accomplish everything they want to accomplish because their time on earth isn't forever. They can't put things off for too long.”

“So the gods aren't in a rush. What's the big deal?”

She sighed and rolled back to look up at the stars. “Maybe I'm wrong.”

Resting himself on his elbows he partially sat up to look down at her, “What's with the sudden interest in the procrastination habit of the gods?”

“Gods never seem to be in a rush to fall in love. Actually, they seem to act as if it might come about one day, but if it didn't nothing would be lost.”

“That's a problem?”

“No. . . yes. . . I don't know. But after this way of thinking and acting since the beginning of time, what do you think makes a god fall in love all of a sudden?”

“I don't know. . . maybe the right person comes along and everything falls into place.” He smirked down at her, “So what's up with the random topic of conversation tonight.”

“I. . .”

“Yeah?”

“I think there's god that's in love with me.” It came out in a rushing breath as she blushed a bit in modesty.

Something within Tsukiyomi sparked. He wasn't sure what it was, but there was grinding feeling in his heart and he could have sworn that his blood began to boil at the mention of someone falling in love with Wakahirume.

Looking away from her and back at the stars he said snappily, “So who is it?”

“That's the thing. I don't know.”

“You don't know?”

“I don't know who it is and I've never met him, but Iki-ryo told me that there's a god in love with me.”

“Iki-ryo? The spirit of anger and envy? You know him?”

“He is another spirit.”

“I've heard he's dangerous. . . that he can cause harm.”

She shook her head, “More emotional harm than physical harm. Anyways, he told me about a god that's been getting jealous over me lately.”

“Jealous of what?”

“About not having the courage to talk to me. . . he supposedly gets jealous every time any male has any contact with me.”

He raised his eyebrow, “Isn't that his problem?”

“Yeah, and it's really creepy.”

He laughed, “I can see why you would think that.”

She punched him in the arm, “Hey! Don't laugh! How would you feel if you had a girl watching you from the shadows? I mean, it's ridiculous. He doesn't know me and loves me nonetheless?”

“Is this scaring you?”

Taking in a breath she sat up and looked toward patch of ever-blooming gardenias. “Should I be?”

He sat up along with her scrunched his eyebrows, “Do you think he'll actually do something?”

“I don't know. . . but what's to stop him? He's a god.”

“That still doesn't give him the righ-”

“It does give him the right! It gives him all the right! It's like how you once said, the gods are higher up in the hierarchy.”

He stared at her and realized the possible gravity of the situation. A protective instinct that he wasn't familiar with came over him. Going upon said instinct he pulled her into a comforting embrace. “I won't let anything happen to you.”

Wakahirume smiled sadly pulled back slightly to look at him, “That's sweet, but you're only here at night. What happens during the day?”

Tsukiyomi frowned at the thought of something happening to her just because he wasn't there to protect her. What she said was true, if the god wanted to act upon his desires he could. Under the rules of Takamagahara, the world of the gods, Wakahirume would be forbidden to defy a god, no matter the circumstance. The only solution came to him, a measure he was willing to take but the question was if she was.

“Are you really that worried about this? And are you willing to do anything to protect yourself?”

She answered with a confused face, “As long as no one else got hurt, yes, I would protect my self. Isn't my fear and worry justified though?”

Taking in a breath, he gulped then spoke, “Promise your self to me.”

Eyes widening she whispered, “W-what? Are you sure? That's not something people take lightly.”

“I know, but if you're promised to another god no one can even try to approach you. I'm sorry if you love someone else, but if it's not a god it won't work. If you were promised to another spirit, or someone else along those lines, this god that's in love with you can easily override that promise.”

She shook her head, “I can't do that to you. A promise is bound until death and a god being promised to someone that isn't a god is looked down upon.”

He tilted her chin up and smiled, “I don't mind, heck, if I was to be promised to someone I can't think of anyone better.”

“But. . .”

The more he thought about it, the more he warmed up to the idea. Was he love with her? He honestly didn't know, what the hell was love anyways? Either way, he knew he cared for her deeply and would protect her no matter the cost. Unlike her, he was willing to let others go into harm's way, as long as she was safe.

Seeing that she still doubted he questioned, “Are you in love with someone?”

Blushing she hesitantly shook her head. With her answer he grinned, “Then who better to fall in love with than me?”

“Fall in love with? That's not a requirement to be promised. And you're such a pompous ass thinking I'll just fall head over heels in love with you!”

He chuckled at her antics, “Being promised is forever, and from the way things are between us I think it was only a matter of time before you were in love with me.”

Steaming with embarrassment but mostly with anger, she shoved him causing them to tumble a bit through the grass; laughing as he ended up on top of her as she continued to fume. Then suddenly, just as soon as their eyes locked, he leaned down pressed his lips to hers. Too surprised to react either way she just stared at him as he pulled back.

“Wakahirume?”

Blinking slowly she tilted her head to the side and blushed, “Tsukiyomi. . .”

Surprised he pushed off the ground and sat up, “Y-you know who I am?”

Shaking herself out of the trance she had found herself in she sat up along with him. “It wasn't hard to figure out. I realized an hour after I met you. The nocturne and lunar designs of your robes gave it away. . . and the fact that you could only appear at night. The only two that should be awake are Tsukiyomi and Baku. It left you, since I knew you were a god and I knew Baku personally.”

“Why didn't you say anything?”

“Maybe I was waiting for the right moment?”

Out of his shocked state he reached over and pulled her toward him by encircling his arms around her waist. “And me kissing you was it?”

She huffed, “About that. Why did you do that? You have to give a girl a little bit more warning than that.”

“Like this?” Again their lips met, and just as before, they quickly parted.

Reaching her hand up to stoke his cheek, she searched his blue-silver eyes. “Do you love me?”

Closing his eyes and leaning his face toward her hand he sighed. “I don't know.”

“But you think you'll love me someday?”

“And that you'll love me in turn.”

“. . . I'm sorry. . . but I don't want to learn to love somebody just because I'm promised to them.”

“Learn to love? No Wakahirume, it's not about learning to love each other. I don't know about you, but I'm already in the process of falling in love with you. After all these nights together and getting to know each other. . . I don't know how I've lived without you in my life all these years. When thinking about the future, I think of you. It angers me, scares me, and kills me thinking that you might want a future with someone else. . . but I'll let you have that if that will make you happy.”

She threw herself onto him and wrapped her arms around him afraid to let go. “Even with all that you don't know if you love me or not?”

He smiled and returned the hug, “I've never been in love before.”

She pulled back to stare into his eyes with her golden-red gaze, “I haven't either. . . but if what you just described is love, then maybe I'm in love too.”

He laughed, “The knowledge of the world is around us, but the inhabitants of Takamagahara don't even know what love is.”

She smiled, “I, Wakahirume, promise myself to you, Tsukiyomi, for the rest of my days. Only to be relinquished of this promise upon one of our deaths.”

Nodding, he took off the lowest piercing on his left ear as she did the same. The earring that he now held within his fingers was a simple stud with a small sapphire-like gem, much like it's twin that still adorned his right ear. Wakahirume's earring was instead a small hoop earring with smaller ruby-like stones along the edge. Exchanging the jewelry and snapping the earrings into place they stared at each other for a long moment, unsure on how to react.

She took a deep breath, “That's it.”

“Yeah.”

“Part of my essence is in that earring I gave you, same as the one you gave me. . . we're bound forever.”

“And no god will approach you with that on, the stud indicates that it belongs to a god. . . Well, specifically me because that is my signature stone.”

She reached toward the new earring and stared at her own that rested on his ear now. “I'm sorry.”

“For what?”

“The hoop earring. . . it's a sign of a spirit. All the gods will know.”

“That's what you're worried about? I told you, I don't care! Let them stare and criticize. You'll be safe and you're mine forever.”

“Yours?”

“Yeah, yeah, don't objectify women.” He pulled her to him once again and smirked, “But if not mine who's are you?”

Shaking her head she let out a exaggerated sigh, “Then I guess you're mine. . . my goodness, what on earth did I get myself into?”

“Maybe the best thing to ever happen in our lives.” With that he gave her a searing kiss.

The next morning when the sun was out and Tsukiyomi fast asleep, Wakahirume was walking through the gardens with her close friend. Unlike most mornings there was a silence between the two, yet to exchange any words. Wakahirume fidgeted under the kind gaze of her friend, knowing that she was waiting for her to speak. Wakahirume sighed and looked toward her lady, “May I speak freely Amaterasu-sama?”

The goddess of the sun, and the older sister of Tsukiyomi, smiled and nodded. “I tell you every time that you need not ask. Wakahirume, I grant you permanent permission to speak freely with me, as I have done everyday since meeting you.”

The young spirit nodded and gestured toward the stone bench that they came upon. Both seated, she turned toward the goddess and bowed her head. “I am deeply sorry for disloyalty. I should not have promised myself to another god when I was promised to serve under your ladyship.”

Amaterasu let out an exasperated breath, “My goodness Wakahirume! I have told you time and again that you do not serve under me, nor are you the handmaiden everyone thinks you are. You are my best friend Wakahirume and there is no obligation you must fulfill to be in my company.”

“But you are the goddess of the sun, the most important of all Takamagahara.”

The goddess tilted her friends face upward to look at her, “And you are the spirit of Japan, equally deserving in respect. Now, I want you to forget about the silly hierarchy, and speak to me about you promising yourself to my brother.”

Wakahirume blushed, “How do you know it is your brother?”

Amaterasu pointed to the blue earring that the spirit now adorned, “That is my brother's stone.”

“It happened so suddenly. . .”

“Why don't you tell me how you met my brother? He's only awake at night.”

She nodded, “Well, I am awake all day long.”

The goddess' eyes widened, “You do not sleep?”

“I am the spirit of Japan, I can never be asleep. Although the citizens maybe asleep, there are animals and nature to tend to.”

“You're a busier woman than I am, but how do you tend to your duties?”

“Obviously no one has explained the mechanism of spirits to you.”

“Are you not like gods? Represent whatever you are assigned to and intervene from time to time?”

Wakahirume shook her head, “No, a bit more complicated than that. . . Let me put it this way. When you are changing in the mornings do you think of other things? About what you might do during the day or what people you will meet?”

“Yes.”

“Well, instead of planning to do other things I am capable of tending to things with my mind. Multiply the thoughts you have in one second during your mornings by infinity and you have a slight understanding of what a spirit must do.”

Amaterasu smiled, “I never realized a spirit had so much to do.”

“Comes with the territory.”

“Now, again, my brother.”

“He happened upon me one night while I was laying in the grass. After that we would meet every night and talk until the day threatened to come. He would go away to sleep and I would continue on my day.”

“And you fell in love?”

Wakahirume froze at that. Did she fall in love? Yesterday, both of them talked about how neither were sure if they were in love. But could she tell Amaterasu about the god that seemed to be stalking her? Would she understand? She was her best friend. . . but might try to separate her and Tsukiyomi if she found out it was for convenience. Convenience. . . but a good part of her was happy that she was promised to her nocturnal friend.

“Yeah, it was sudden for us. He asked me to promise myself to him and here I am with his earring.”

“A god and a spirit. . . do you know what this means? Does he?”

“Yes. . . well, I think he does. I tried telling him but he didn't care.”

Amaterasu smiled at that, “That sounds like my brother alright. He never cared what others thought of him.”

“Should I tell him to-”

“Don't worry about him. No insult can penetrate that thick skull of his, everything just rolls off of him. . . or bounces off. . . I'm not sure which, maybe both.”

She smiled at that, “You always know what to say.”

“That's what I'm here for.”

Later that day when the sun set and the world was cloaked in darkness Tsukiyomi awoke to start his night. Sitting up in bed in his temple he stretched his arms out then scratched his head. Swinging his legs over the side he walked over the basin of water. He blindly washed his face and toweled it dry. Looking up, something caught his eye in the mirror and noticed that it was a small red hoop earring.

“What in the?. . . Oh yeah. . . Wakahirume.” A slow smile crept across his face. “We're together forever now.”

“Glad you didn't change your mind about that after you slept on it.”

Surprised he turned toward Wakahirume that was standing in the doorway. “Wakahirume? What are you doing here?”

Giving a brilliant smile, she ran toward him and jumped into his arms as the surprised Tsukiyomi hugged her back. “Well I thought I should check out my husband's home. . . and well, my new home.”

Pulling himself back a bit he raised a confused eyebrow, “Husband? Home?”

“I know, I know. `Husband' is a human term but that's as close a word as I could think of. Also, about calling this home. Since I'm a spirit and without a home I just figured. . . Should I have not figured?”

Seeing that the light in her eyes dimmed a bit thinking that he wouldn't wanted her there, he shook his head and kissed her on the forehead. “Figure away.”

The smile returned to her face, “So, husband. Where's my room?”

He chuckled, “Well wife, I thought we shared a room.”

She shrugged and left him to go explore around the room. “Doesn't really matter to me. I mean, spirits don't need rooms. . . or homes for that matter.”

“I've heard about that. Supposedly you guys just wander around.” He walked behind her as she looked out the window. Hugging her from behind he whispered in her ear, “Wander no more.”

The spirit blushed, “Don't you find this odd?”

“What?”

“Yesterday we were on friendship basis and now we're mates for life? That's a huge jump. And also, I know I initiated it with the over eager hug, but aren't we really touchy touchy for a couple that got together on grounds of protection?”

He stepped away from her slightly upset, “Well don't I feel used. . .”

She shook her head stepped back toward him and gazed into his eyes, “You know you're beyond that. If I wanted protection I could have just tried to seduce Bishamon.”

“The god of war, justice and protector of the law?”

“What? You memorized his resume?”

Ignoring her smart aleck comment he continued, “You know him?”

“We run into each other a lot when it comes to war. People fight with the spirit of Japan and all.”

“You would have seduced him?” He asked jealously.

She giggled, “Of course not, with you around who needs the god of war?”

Rolling his eyes he gestured toward the door. “So are you going to leave or am I going to have to change my clothes in front of you.”

She laughed and bounded toward the bed and sat down. “Come on mate! Give me a show!”

Blushing he feigned an annoyed look and walk toward his wardrobe. “So I'm assuming I get to watch when you change?”

Wakahirume scrunched her forehead, “I don't feel comfortable with you watching. . . Oh, so you want me to leave don't you?”

Pulling out his usual hakama and gi, he glanced toward her. “If you don't mind.”

“Fine.” She hopped off the bed and exited out the door.

The rest of the night was spent as usual in the garden as they walked about. However, instead of the usual side-to-side walking, they held hands. It was just as Wakahirume said, odd thinking their relationship changed so quickly, but it also felt oddly comfortable. And so it went for good few weeks. They would continue the way they were before, but as Tsukiyomi had predicted, they were slowly falling in love.

One afternoon when the sun was setting and Tsukiyomi was stirring awake, Wakahirume watched him sleep. It was something she did from time to time and couldn't get over how peaceful he looked in his sleep. As he roused from a deep slumber she stroked his hair and whispered in his ear. “Tsukiyomi.”

His eyes lids opened he slowly blinked away the sleep from them. Seeing Wakahirume sitting on the bed next to him, he gave a soft smile. “Good morning.”

She smiled back and continued stroking his hair, “Good night Tsukiyomi.”

He chuckled and pulled her down to lay next to him, “Yeah, good night. It's been months since I became the god of the moon but I still can't get used to that.”

Snuggling into his chest she sighed, “My morning is when you wake up so it's also `good morning' for me.”

He smiled, bent his neck down for a kiss but her hand got in the way as she clasped it across his mouth. “Mmmphmm pm?”

She smiled, “Morning breath. Trust me, no man is worth suffering through those effects.”

Removing her hand he sighed, “Fine, I'll go gargle.”

She grinned in response but letting her guard down he sudden let out a deep hot breath in front of her face, “Eww! Oh god! That's worse than I expected!”

Laughing he leapt out of bed and out of her hitting range. After a moment she looked over to Tsukiyomi, who was now distracted with washing up, and her eyes saddened a bit. She worried that she would hate her after she told him what she had kept from him. In reality, it was nothing that major but Tsukiyomi was one that believed in complete loyalty and trust. It had been months since she first met him and yet he still did not know about her daily outings with Amaterasu. She understood that the two gods did not get along and that Tsukiyomi might feel betrayed that she was a good friend with a sister he hated so much.

Looking across the room he saw Tsukiyomi comically gagging out the water he had just been gargling. She smiled, he had never been one to hold a grudge anyways.

She blushed as she saw that Tsukiyomi was beginning to change in front of her. Over the past few weeks he had grown accustomed to her and did not seem to think twice of changing his clothes in her presence. They had yet to consummate their marriage, but they had gotten farther than their chaste kisses of before.

With his gi loosely tied he walked over to the bed and bent to be at eye level with her. He smirked then let out a deep breath like before, “Better?”

Still blushing she responded, “Much.” With that Wakahirume wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a searing kiss. Surprised by her unexpected passion in the kiss he was taken aback for a moment but quickly returned it with full fervor. Long minutes later they broke away and she held him even tighter around the neck.

She was acting strange that morning, as if she was trying to say goodbyes with her actions. Attempting to pull back yet not allowed by her iron grip he whispered the question of her name in her ear. “Wakahirume?”

She gripped him tighter still if that was possible. This time, it was she that whispered into his ear yet hers was not a question but a statement. “I. . . I love you Tsukiyomi.”

Pulling back, he searched her gaze for the meaning of the sudden confession. It was the first time either had spoken such words to each other. Still trying to register what she had said he was unable to give a response.

She began sitting up, forcing him to do the same. Gulping down the knot in her throat she took his hands and took in a deep breath. “There are some things I have to tell you. . . and after I say them I doubt that you will love me.”

“Why would you-“ Pressing her lips to his she silenced him, pulling away she gazed into his icy blue eyes. “Wakahirume.”

“I wanted to kiss you just one more time.”

“What are you talking about? Just one more time?”

She took in a deep breath. “There are some things I haven't told you.” Seeing that she wasn't going to get interrupted, she began. “You know I don't sleep. It's just not something spirits do, or are capable of doing. So while I'm awake during the night with you, I'm awake during the day as well. And I was waiting for you to ask me how I spent my days, but you never asked.”

“Should I have?”

“It's nothing horrible. . . I think.”

“What is it?”

“Do you ever wonder why Japan is associated with the sun?”

A confused expression ran across his face, “It's believed to be the first land in the world to receive the sun in the day. . . but what does this have to do with anything?”

“Japan is knit so closely with the sun because I am.”

“You are? You are what?”

“I'm closely associated with sun. I'm your sister's handmaiden. . . companion. . . well, she says best friend.”

“Y-you're Amaterasu's handmaiden?”

“No. . . I'm not, but people think I am.”

Eyes widened he sunk down even farther on the bed, “Oh god. The. . . the hell did I do?”

“I'm really sorry about not telling you.”

“I can't believe this.”

She scrunched her eyebrows. “Look, I know it might be a bit of a surprise but it's nothing that drastic. I know you don't get along with your sister but I was hoping you could see passed that. I thought me lying. . . holding the truth. . . would be what upset you.”

“The god. . . that's in love with you. . .”

“What does he have to do with anything?”

“. . . He's my brother.”

In a shaky voice she questioned, “What?”

His eyes widened with a blank look, “Susanowo is in love with you.”

“What? Wait. . . How do you know this? I don't even know who it is.”

Getting up from his position on the bed he shook his head in denial but continued to explain, “He's been telling me about you for months. . . and I didn't make a connection, then again there really wasn't a connection to be made until now. . . he said it was love at first sight, that he fell in love with Amaterasu's handmaiden. . .”

She adamantly answered, “But I've never met him. I don't even know what he looks like!”

“He never got the nerve. . . I've been pushing him to talk to you for months now. . . What am I going to do?”

“What are you going to do? What do you mean by that?”

He stared at her with teary eyes and anger at the new situation at hand. “How can I be with you now? !”

A hurt expression crossed her face. “You can't be serious. Before, you were willing to live out your life with me and now that you know it's your brother-”

“Exactly! He's my brother! I can't let a girl come between us!”

Her face calmed and her normally fiery golden-crimson eyes steeled over, “Fine. I get it, I understand. You're not going to let some ordinary girl get between the bonds of brotherhood.”

“Hey, I didn't say it like that!”

“But it's what it comes down to.”

He growled at her, “You're putting words in my mouth.”

“But not implications.” With that, she closed her eyes and dissolved away.

Fear coursing through him he ran toward where she had stood but there was no sign of her. “Wakahirume!”

Worry set in, as he was not sure what happened. Had she faded into nothing? Or was it a power she had? He assumed it was the latter, and became infuriated by that.

Her roared in anger, “Where the hell did you go Wakahirume! ? Get your ass back here!”

There was no response, nor an apparition of the spirit. “I'm not kidding Wakahirume! Come back!”

Growling he ran outside the temple with his gi still loosely tied. “Wakahirume!”

He ran about the grounds in a godly speed as he continued to roar out her name. Off the temple grounds and sprinting through the forest he searched for her. Dodging trees and still with no sign of Wakahirume he raced toward the gardens they usually walked through. The celestial garden was empty as he whipped his head around looking for his mate. “Wakahirume!”

Then something caught his eye. There on the bench that they had spent countless nights talking upon was a small object that caught the little light there was and sparkled. Slowly walking toward it, he realized what it was and dreaded seeing it up close. But there it was, his stud earring that he had given her all those weeks ago. This time, her name came out as a whisper. There was a reason why promising one's self was forever. Taking the exchanged piecing off to break off the promise meant a slow and painful death.

Why would she take it off? There was no need to end her life over something like this. He gripped the jewelry in his hand and solemnly swore to himself that he would find the foolish spirit. She was acting on the passion of the moment and definitely not thinking clearly. The girl was going to live, whether she liked it or not.

“Tsukiyomi!”

The call of his name made him whip his head in hopes of seeing Wakahirume but was disappointed when realizing it was male voice and that of his brother on top of that.

The laughing Susanowo ran up to him giving him a brotherly hug. “It's been a while brother!”

Tsukiyomi stepped away from Susanowo with widened eyes, “What are you doing here?”

Susanowo laughed, “I knew I could expect a cold greeting like that from you brother. I've returned from my journeys.”

“You were on a journey?”

“Amaterasu told me to. Said that since I'm the god of the winds, storms, oceans, and oddly snakes. . . I should travel the lands to see what I'm dealing with. You and sister get the heavens and I get the land.”

Tsukiyomi disbelievingly questioned, “How long have you been gone?”

Susanowo shrugged, “I don't know. . . two moons?”

A good two weeks before Wakahirume promised herself to him. Shaking his head he turned away from his brother to continue on his search for the spirit. “I have to go.”

Grabbing his arm Susanowo halted his brother's movement, “What's the matter with you? I come back from a long journey and you act as if-” His words died in his throat as his brothers hair moved and revealed his left ear. There, on the ear where Tsukiyomi's second stud earring should be was a small red hoop earring. The exact earring that he had wished to adorn for months now, the one with the stone that held the essence of the love of his life. Gripping his brother's arm in a death grip fury engulfed him, “Why do you have that?”

Ripping his arm away from Susanowo's grip, Tsukiyomi covered his left ear.

“There is no need to hide it brother! I know to whom that earring belongs to! How the hell did you get that?”

Tsukiyomi sternly dismissed him. “I don't have time for this brother.”

“You will make time!” Susanowo's face scrunched in anger and pain caused by betrayal. “You knew I loved her! I've told you about her since the day I met her!”

Angered as well Tsukiyomi whipped around to glare at his brother, “You've never met her! You were too afraid! Like a foolish boy you watched her from afar and claimed you fell in love! It was not love you felt Susanowo. It was basic attraction that grew into an unhealthy obsession.”

Susanowo struck with his right fist connecting with his brother's cheek. “So you swept in to take her away from me.”

Tsukiyomi turned to face his younger brother as he wiped the blood that was trickling down his mouth. “I did not take her away from you. She was never yours. I met her and grew to know her as a friend. I asked her to promise herself to me, and she did.”

“You had no right to ask her!”

Something snapped within him and he yelled, “I had every right! I'm in love with her!” Tsukiyomi froze at his words. He was in love with her? He knew that one day he would fall; however, he had no idea that he would fall so hard and that it had happened so many months ago. With the new found realization he ignored his brother and was about to run in search of his love, when again his brother impended his actions. “I have to find her!”

“She is not yours to find!”

This time it was Tsukiyomi that struck Susanowo. “She is mine to find! At the moment she put herself in danger and I have to find her.” Stepping up to the shorter god he glared down at him, “I will fight for her if I have to.”

With that, Tsukiyomi raced off into the night. At the moment nothing mattered but saving the life of Wakahirume. Speeding through the lands of Takamagahara he frantically searched for her but with no results. At the foothills of the mountains he stopped at the river panting for breath and sweating bullets. In reality he could transport from one place to another like Wakahirume, but in all honesty, he had no idea where she was. Not wanting to skip over a single inch of Takamagahara, he used his godly speed to hunt the impulsive spirit down. Taking in a deep breath and taking a gulp of water from the river he set out again in his search.

Hours later he came upon the last place that had yet to be searched. The temple that rested in the farthest corner possible from his own: the temple of the sun. Looking up at the temple that was good deal larger than his own he took in deep breath. Normally he would turn his head and avoid walking up to the temple doors; however, this was not a moment to worry about pride. Climbing up the steps to reach the massive doors he incessantly banged on the door. Few short seconds later the door creaked open and he slipped in.

“Amaterasu!”

The annoyed goddess came before him, “What are you doing here brother? I told you not to come before me ever again. And further more, what will the people say if the moon suddenly disappears?”

He growled, “Let them think it's a lunar eclipse. I have a more important question. Where is she?”

Still rubbing the sleep from her eyes she gave him an even more annoyed look, “Where is who?”

“Wakahirume! I know that she is your friend. I have searched all the lands and haven't found her. She has to be here!”

Confusion filled her as she walked toward her brother, “Now, calm down. Tell me what happened.” Even with all the differences they had between each other, when it came down to it they were still siblings.

“I messed everything up.” He allowed his fist to open revealing the earring he found on the stone bench.

She gasped and shook her head in disbelief. “That's not. . . why would she do such a thing?”

“I think I may have implied that I would give up on us.”

“Why would you do such a thing?”

“I found out that Susanowo is in love with her too.”

“So?”

Tsukiyomi looked toward his sister in surprise. “What do you mean `so'?”

She rolled her eyes, “Do you love her?”

“That's not even a question.”

“From the way I see it you love her, she loves you and that's all that should count. Forget about everyone else, forget about Susanowo.”

“I already told him I'm willing to fight for her.”

She patted his back in the way she used to, much like the times when it was still just little brother and older sister. “Now, go find your girl.”

“I've looked everywhere. If I don't find her soon. . .”

“She probably transported herself to place you had already searched. Now think, where would she go?”

He growled at her again, “The hell am I supposed to know?”

She sighed, “Where would you go to die?”

His eyes widened and he stood up without a farewell, then suddenly he faded away.

A tear trickled down her cheek. “Wakahirume. . . what have you done?”

Tsukiyomi whipped his head from side to side attempting to catch a glimpse of Wakahirume in the tall grass.

“Wakahirume!” He shifted through the grass in search of the spirit that had little time left. “Wakahirume!”

Suddenly a weak voice came from center of the field, exactly where she had met her the first time. “Ts-tsukiyomi?”

Rushing over to her he frantically called for her. “Wakahirume!” Coming upon her he pulled her into his arms. She had been lying there limply and weakly. “Why did you do this? We've fought before! Why did you have to do something so impulsive and stupid?”

She gave a pained smile, “You have no idea how much I've been regretting taking that thing off. It's been hell since I took it out.”

“I'm just glad I found you in time.” Taking the earring he put on her ear and he smiled whispered, “You're going to be okay.”

Wakahirume's smile disappeared as she brought up her hand to stroke his cheek, “I thought you knew. . .”

“About what?”

She took in a difficult breath and coughed, a bit of blood coming out. “Spirits and gods don't work in the same way. . . The reason why people look down upon us being promised to one another. . . When a god tries to break off a promise, the feeling of near death is like a warning bell. . . But for a spirit. . . it's not a warning.”

His eyes widened as they tears welled up in them. “That can't be true.”

“We get one chance and one chance only. . . it doesn't happen when it's between two spirits. . . but when it's between a god and a spirit. . . the lesser being, me, must die for disobeying our superior.”

“You knew all this?” He got a nod in response, “Why did you do it then? This was supposed to be forever! Forever isn't just a few weeks!”

She closed her eyes and tried to take in a deep breath but instead ended up coughing even more. “I always knew my spontaneous nature would be the end of me. . . but this was definitely not what I had in mind.”

“Don't make jokes at a time like this!” Tsukiyomi yelled as he let a tear slip down his cheek.

“I wish I wasn't so foolish. . . I didn't want forever to be this short either.”

He cradled her in his arms as her body got colder, “How am I supposed to live without you?”

“The same way you made it all those years without me.”

“I don't even remember how I went though a day. . . I don't really remember a time without you.”

She smiled in his hair, “We've only known each other for a few months. Months I wouldn't trade for the world.”

“How can you just die? What about Japan? What will it do without its spirit.”

“We're not like gods. . . when a god dies there is no one there to take its place. . . a spirit, however, is easily replaced. The moment I die another spirit will be born and be given my name, Yamato. Goodness, I hope it's a boy. I wouldn't want another girl having to live with that name.”

“Where will you go? What happens to your soul?”

She sighed, “I'll be reborn. No one is ever sure what they will be reborn as.”

He pulled back and locked eyes with her, “I'll find you. I'll search every minute of every night until I find you.”

“You wouldn't recognize me.”

He shook his head, “I'd find you even if I were blind.”

She smiled, “What do you think I'll return as?”

He stroked her hair, “A beautiful crane: the symbol of Japan.”

“A crane. . . I would very much like that.”

“You'll live to be ten thousand years old, just like they say in the old saying.”

“That's a thousand. The saying is `tsuru wa sen nen, kame wa manen.'” (translation: a crane is for a thousand, a turtle for ten thousand)

He let out a pained chuckled as another tear trickled down, “Then you shall be a turtle.”

Her eyes closed, she shook her head. “No, I want to be a crane. That way I can fly. . . I'd be closer to you. . .”

“This can't be it can it? There has to be a way of saving you.”

“My actions have consequences, and I'll have live. . . die for them.”

“How much longer do we have?”

“A minute? I feel myself fading. . .”

“That's not enough time. . . there is so much I need to say to you. So much I need for you to hear.”

She tiredly opened her eyes and looked into his silver-blue eyes one last time, “Maybe you could say a few things you want me to hear.”

“I don't know where to start.”

“Maybe it's for the best.” Wakahirume gave soft smile, “Tell me when you find me as a crane. . . I love you Tsukiyomi, please don't forget that.”

Suddenly the life left out of her and her eyes became blank. Her body began to fade into nothingness and he became frantic. “No. No! You're not supposed to die yet! You're supposed to hear me say it first!” He embraced the disappearing lifeless body into his arms and let out a gut wrenching cry of pain. “You're supposed to hear me say that I love you Wakahirume! More than anything else in the world! I love you! Wakahirume!”

He collapsed onto the ground as her body faded away and he roared out in desperation to the rising sun and the coming day.

The sun risen, Tsukiyomi's nocturnal body was incapable of staying awake outside a temple. Slumbering, plagued by nightmares, is how Kukunochi found him. “Tsukiyomi?”

The tall god of trees scooped up the heartbroken god and hefted him over his shoulder. As he walked through the forest the trees parted for him until he reached the gardens, then it was quick walk toward the younger god's temple. Taking the god inside he set him on the bed and tried to shake him awake.

“Wake up Tsukiyomi.” Kukunochi towered over him as he continued to coax the god to wake.

“. . . Waka. . . hiru. . .” He struggled in bed as something plagued his dreams.

Worried the tree god violently shook him. “Tsukiyomi!”

Stunned awake he stood up and backed away from the older god. Eyes widened he checked his surrounding then saw that light was streaming in through the drapes. He looked toward the other god, “I-it's day. . . What happened brother?”

Kukunochi shrugged, “I don't know. I found you out in the clearing in the day light, you know you can't be out there for too long. What were you thinking?”

“I was outside. . . What was I. . . Wakahirume!” He grabbed the front of the other god's clothing and questioned with frightened eyes, “Where is she? !”

Surprised Kukunochi smiled a bit, “The deity?”

With a confused face he shook his head, “Deity? No, you must be wrong. The Wakahirume I know is a spirit.”

“The spirit Wakahirume? I'm sorry, I've never heard of her.”

“No, she doesn't go by Wakahirume when it comes to her duties. I'm talking about Yamato.”

“She was replaced just this morning. A new male spirit was born and he is now the spirit of Japan.”

A tear escaped Tsukiyomi's eye that he quickly wiped away and he gave a struggled smiled toward the twice as tall Kukunochi. “A boy huh?”

“Yes. Everyone expected another girl but this time it was boy.”

He nodded and looked away from his older brother, “I'm glad to hear it.”

Seeing that his brother wished to be left alone, Kukunochi stood up, slouching to not bang his head on the ceiling. “I'll be leaving now brother, but if you need someone to talk to you know where to find me.”

Tsukiyomi looked toward his brother, “Thanks.”

With that the god left and Tsukiyomi was left alone to his thoughts of sorrow. He walked toward the window staring out into the sunlight. He sighed, he shouldn't be awake. Even within his temple his body was screaming at him to be asleep. Whoever heard of a moon that was awake during the day? It didn't really matter anymore. She was gone. What was the whole point of sleeping now? He used to sleep away the day so that time felt shorter until he could see her again, but now he had nothing to look forward to. Sleep was plagued with nightmares of Wakahirume fading from his arms. He would avoid sleep if he could.

As he stood there at the window dizziness came over him. There was a reason why he slept through the days. Unable to hold himself up any longer on his legs he grabbed onto the window drapes. Breathing hard he tried to maintain balance but his legs gave out and he collapsed onto the floor pulling the drapes along with him. While limp on the cold marble floor, his skin became clammy as the sheer drapes billowed onto of him. Eyes widened, he gasped for breath and grabbed his chest just above his heart.

The drapes out of the way, sunlight streamed into the temple with inhibition. Sunlight didn't affect him, but if he didn't fall asleep soon he would suffer more than just a tired body from a sleepless night. Judging by the sun it was noon, well past the time he should have been in dreamland.

Tsukiyomi closed his eyes in defeat and tried to keep his mind blank so that sleep could come over him. Slowly, he was able to slip into slumber and his body was at peace.

Hours later and the day over he roused from his sleep to find himself in bed. He also noticed that the drapes were still covering him. Struggling he tossed them away and was met with the complete darkness of the night. His eyes adjusted quickly and he could make out things in the room. That's when he noticed it, the figure that stood by the door.

Leaping out of bed deftly he crouched down in fighting stance facing off the figure in the corner. “Who the hell are you?”

The stranger did not answer and slowly approached him with surprising grace. Angered that the figure did not answer, he growled and charged at it. His punch was unexpectedly blocked and he was pulled into a fierce embrace.

Eyes widening he stilled, “The hell?”

He could feel the tears that were streaming down the dark figure's face. Whispered sobs were by his ear until he heard it, the voice he thought he would never be able to hear again. “I can't believe I get to hold you like this again.”

He pulled back and disbelievingly questioned, “W-wakahirume?”

Nodding she smiled with tears still in her eyes, “It's me Tsukiyomi.”

“How? What?” He grinned and picked her up and twirled her in the air, “God I don't care! You're here and that's all that matters.” He pulled her down into a kiss that he thought they wouldn't be able to share.

She smiled into the kiss as she pulled him closer. Parting after a long while she leaned her forehead on his. “Thank your sister.”

“My sister?”

“When you went to her before I died. . . faded away, she realized that I had little time left. Although she didn't know everything about spirits she did know one thing that once we attempt at breaking off from our promised mate we can never return. She sent you to be with me for my final moments, then she went to Takami-Musubi to ask for a favor.”

“The primordial god of the sky? Sister actually had the galls to ask a favor from him?”

She nodded, “Yeah, and don't forget that he is also the creator of all living things. Anyways, he granted her the favor because they got a long or something along those lines. So when he felt my body fade and about to travel to the ether, the place where the souls go to before being reincarnated, and just as I entered into it he extracted me from the group of souls. As long as he prevented my soul from reincarnating he could put me in any living from. He couldn't get the body that they gave me when I became a spirit back, but he could bring me back the body that I was born with.”

He gulped, “You're human? Is this some kind of goodbye just before you're shipped off to the mortal realm?”

She laughed, “No, I'm not human.”

“Then what are you?”

“Your sister pleaded for me to become a being that lived in Takamagahara, so he folded in the end and anchored me to your sister.”

“Anchored?”

“There was no other way, I had a matured body that was being pushed into Takamagahara without any celestial powers.”

“You spent your life being a spirit though.”

“My body didn't go through that, my spirit body did. . . it's too complicated to explain but think of it as if a spirit abandons its body to live with a new one.”

He scrunched his brows in his characteristic manner, “Sure.”

“But the point is that instead of spirit robes I'm to wear these now.”

Not able to see her garbs he paused her a moment and commanded the lanterns to be lit magically around the room. When the soft glow of the lanterns encompassed her he could see her clothing, making his eyes widened.

She did a small twirl for him and smiled, “I was made into a goddess.”

He smiled and laughed with joy as he pulled her into another embrace. “A goddess! There's nothing stopping us now, we're together forever. And this time forever became a lot longer than a few short months.”

She sighed and her smile dimmed a bit, “Aren't you going to ask me what I am the goddess of?”

Grinning he drank her up with his eyes, “Sure. Then my lady, what are you the goddess of?”

“Before I tell you. . . just know that your sister did everything she could.”

“What do you mean?”

“I'm the goddess of the dawning sun.”

“You're kidding right?”

“I know, I'm sorry.”

After a moment of painful consideration he shrugged and held her, “I'll take whatever I can get. Before you were dead, and now you're not. I'll take any strings attached as long I can keep you in my life.”

Sighing in his embrace she began to doze off, “I'll be falling asleep soon.”

“I know.”

“You're awake at night and I'm awake just before dawn, dawn, and just a bit after dawn if I'm lucky.”

“How are you awake now? You should have been asleep hours ago.”

“I was turned into a goddess only an hour or so before I came over here.” She let out a yawn and blushed, “I guess it's taking a while to kick in.”

“Should I take you to your temple?”

She shook her head sleepily, “I don't have one. . . and probably will never be given one.”

Seeing that the new goddess was unable to stay awake and remain on her feet he scooped her up to hold her bridal-style. “Why not?”

Closing her eyes she answered as she cuddled toward his chest, “Who would come worship at the temple of Wakahirume, the goddess of the dawning sun. They can go to Amaterasu for their problems and leave me out of it.”

He chuckled and laid her on his bed, “Want to stay here then?”

She smiled, “That's what I was planning.”

He brushed away a loose strand of hair that draped across her face, “I have to go out. If the moon doesn't show up in the sky what will people think?”

Slitting open her eyes a bit she pulled him into the bed and held him with a surprising iron grip. “Not tonight. I want you to stay here with me.”

“What will people say when they talk of times when the moon disappeared suddenly for one night?”

“You could do this few weeks, make people think it's part of some lunar cycle or something.”

“A night without the moon?”

She shrugged, “No one will miss it.”

“Hey!”

Closing her eyes once again she snuggled into him, “Just as long as I have you in my arms I don't care what other people think.”

With that she fell into a deep slumber. He smiled down at the girl he thought he had lost and kissed the crown of her head. “Same here.”

Tragedy supposedly behind them, Wakahirume and Tsukiyomi lived out their days quietly waiting for dawn. During the night Tsukiyomi would wander as she slept soundly in his bed, then with the coming dawn he would make haste toward the entrance of his temple and wait for her at the bottom of the steps. Like clock work she would step out from behind the temple doors. Spotting him, a face of joy would cross her face as if she hadn't known he would be waiting for her even though he was there at the bottom of the steps every morning. Rushing down the steps and stumbling at least once, she would fling her self into his arms and steal a passionate kiss from him. The two would stay at the bottom of the steps or walk around until the sun began to rise. As the sun was peeking over the horizon, they would make their way up the steps. Standing outside until the final moments he was physically able, he would slip inside and she would follow soon after when the sun had finished rising. Both their bodies begging for sleep they would lie in bed already changed into their sleeping garments and hold each other as their minds drifted off.

The coming of sunset Tsukiyomi would awaken and begrudgingly leave his sleeping love as he had to tend to his duty of staying outside during the night. However, once every four weeks he would allow himself the pleasure of remaining with her in bed as he watched her sleep. Those were his favorite days, when he was able to see her awaken from slumber. She would stir awake languidly as her eye lids slid open. Seeing him there she would give him a soft smile and pulling him in for their daily kiss. Afterwards, he would complain jokingly about morning breath. Soon she would have to go to the door and go out for dawn; however, instead of going down the steps she would stay by the door and talk to him through it.

They were contented with that for a while, for it was more than they thought would be possible after her death. However, like all things it soon felt more like barrier to be with each other for such a short time. Unable to spend enough time together awake and unable to consummate their love it became difficult for the two, a year and a bit later.

“So what are you doing today?”

Wakahirume smiled toward her mate, “I'll be weaving with your sister.”

Sitting upon the steps and her leaning back against him between his legs he chuckled, “Weaving?”

“She wanted to make a tapestry and wanted some company.”

“So you're making a tapestry too?”

“Might as well.” Leaning back into him even more she glanced toward the sun that threatened to rise, “Any requests on the design?”

“Anything but a dawn motif.” She sat up and stared at him with a hurt look, catching it immediately he shook his head. “I don't mean it like that. . . It's just that. . . dawn is like a double-edged sword. . . on one end, I love that I can see you every morning and see you smiled. . . but on the other, it's that dawn is also our time to say goodbye.”

She looked down at her hands sadly then tilted her head to side to look back up at him sheepishly, “It won't be like that forever. . . My body is able to stay awake until a little past noon. One day, I might be able to stand the entire day.”

He extended his hand to stroke her cheek, “Maybe.”

“I'll see you at dawn and sunset then. It'll be a little easier for us right? I would wake up earlier and fall asleep later than when the sunsets. And you could try holding off sleep until a bit later and wake earlier as well.”

“Yeah, it will be easier.” He kissed her forehead gestured for her to stand. “Come on, the sun's rising.”

Climbing the steps and standing by the now open temple doors Wakahirume frowned, “Why does feel like goodbye?”

He chuckled, “Because it is?”

She shook her head, “No, not like always. . . not good night.”

Embracing her and burring his nose into her ebony tresses he sighed, “It's just in your head. I'll see you tomorrow morning and the morning after that.”

She nodded and threaded her fingers through his silver hair, “I'll see you tomorrow morning. I love you Tsukiyomi.”

Pulling back and smiling, he whispered into her ear like he did every morning. “I'll be waiting for you in my dreams. I love you Wakahirume.”

With final passionate lip-lock he slipped in through the temple doors and away from the day. Facing the down the steps she had finished climbing she sighed, another day until noon to complete.

Finding her way to the Heavenly Weaving Hall she found Amaterasu sitting at the main loom with a spare one next to her. Sitting down next to her friend Wakahirume greeted her. “Good morning Amaterasu-sama.”

The older goddess laughed and shook her head, “I keep telling you to call me without the honorific.”

Wakahirume shrugged, “And I might actually listen to you one day. So, what theme are you doing for your tapestry?”

“Fire, lightening, and war.”

She raised an eyebrow at her sister-in-law. “Morbid much?”

Amaterasu sighed as she unwillingly continued weaving, “Remember Futsunushi?”

“The god of fire and lightening?”

Nodding she passed the shuttle to the other side, “Well, I recently made him a general and now he can add `god of war' to his resume.”

“Isn't Bishamon the god of war?”

“He still is, he just now has partner in crime.”

“So you're making it for him?”

“He wanted a tapestry for his temple. He was going to ask one Amnotanabatahime but I volunteered instead.”

“You told him you would weave it instead of the goddess of the weavers?”

Sliding the shuttle once again she used her foot to push the peddle, “When I realized what needed to be woven I couldn't have Amnotanabatahime do it, she's far to kind and gentle of a person to do it.”

Wakahirume laughed and faced her loom to string it and set it up, “Maybe you're too kind to be doing that too.”

Amaterasu smiled, “Oh well. So did you choose what you're going to weave?”

“A sakura blossom tree. It will soon be spring and when the flowers fade I want something to remember them by.”

“How did my brother end up with someone like you?”

She smiled, “How did I end up with someone like him?”

Allowing a comfortable silence to surround them, they were soon pulled out of it from the commotion that was caused at the entrance of the hall. The other weavers were screaming and running away from the entrance frantically. Wakahirume and Amaterasu both quickly stood up to see what was going on. There at the doors of the hall was a piebald colt that had been obviously abused for it had marks of lashings that seeped out blood onto the floor. The horse was mad, running about the trampling anything in its path. Charging further into the hall Wakahirume ran in front of Amaterasu.

“Run my lady! Go to safety!” Wakahirume faced back toward the sun goddess, a move that proved fatal. With her head turned she failed to see the colt raising its front legs.

“Wakahirume! Watch out!” Whirling around to face the horse again her eyes widened and raised her hands in defense. Legs veered up the horse stamped them down, one leg hitting the ground with a resounding clomp and the other connecting with Wakahirume's chest. The wind knocked out of her and a good many ribs broken and bruised she lost her balance and fell backwards. In the event of distracting the animal away from Amaterasu she found her self standing in front of her loom, the same loom that fell upon. Once fallen, the horse galloped away to terrorize others leaving the young goddess.

Rushing to her side Amaterasu questioned fearfully, “Are you alright?”

The goddess lurched forward and coughed up blood. She fell back onto the ground and gasped out, “Last time I coughed blood, it didn't turn out too well for me.”

“Don't talk, it'll make it worse.”

“One thing.”

“Don't talk.”

“Something is piercing my pelvis.”

“Your pelvis?” Amaterasu delicately reached for the red soaked kimono but retracted when hearing the younger goddess wince. “Oh god. . .”

“I'm not going to make it am I?”

“Don't say that.”

Wakahirume gave a struggled smile, “I've been through this once already, this is kind of how it felt. . . at least it's not my fault this time.”

“I think it's the shuttle.”

“I really shouldn't leave those lying about.”

“Don't joke.”

“You sound like your brother. . . he said the same thing.”

“But this time it's different right? You're going to make it through this. Someone has already gone for Sukunabiko, he will heal you and all will be well.”

“Not even the dwarf god of healing can save me now.”

“No! You will live! I need you in my life!” Tears poured down Amaterasu's face as her words trembled. “Y-you are my closest friend Wakahirume.”

“You'll find someone else to accompany you.” She coughed up even more blood and began taking uneven breaths.

“Wakahirume!”

Gulping down blood so as not to choke on it the younger goddess let out a pained chuckle, “I always thought each person was designated one dramatic death scene. . . I'm onto my second.”

“It's not a death scene!”

“Don't deny it Amaterasu-sama, I don't want my last few moments to be trying to convince you of the truth.”

She cried even harder but let a smile creep across her face looking down at her dear friend. “Amaterasu. I told you to call me Amaterasu. No `sama' just Amaterasu.”

“Amaterasu. . . Tell. . . tell Tsukiyomi that I love him and that I'm sorry.”

“Sorry? What on earth do you have to be sorry about?”

Closing her eyes Wakahirume sighed, “For leaving him alone again.”

“You have to stay for him. . . what will he do?”

“You'll both be fine, I'm not that important. . . I love you both so much. . .” Her voice coming out weaker Wakahirume's body went limp and her breath stopped.

Amaterasu's eyes widened and she shook her head frantically. “Wakahirume! You can't do this! Wakahirume!”

A few moments later Sukunabiko came upon the dead body of a goddess and a goddess in hysterical sadness as she sobbed over the body.

Near the gardens of Takamagahara a god awoke covered in sweat as if from a nightmare. Panting for breath his arm automatically searched for the slumbering form that never failed to be there for that past year. But when his hand found no one there his eyes became frantic as he searched around the room. “Wakahirume? !”

Glancing out the window he saw that it was night, well past the time that she could stay awake. Jumping out of bed and getting hastily dressed he stood by the temple doors. He had to go out and find her. If she was perfectly fine he would be making a fool of himself, but at least he would know she was okay. Nevertheless, there was a nagging feeling that something was wrong.

Out the door he noticed that there was frantic movement everywhere. It seemed that all mythical creatures were still awake and panicking about something. Seeing his brother Kukunochi running toward his temple Tsukiyomi met him half way.

Looking up toward the taller god he questioned with worry, “What's going on? !”

“I knew you wouldn't have heard, it happened while you were asleep. . . actually I'm surprised you're awake now.”

Confusion covered the younger god's face, “What do you mean? It's night, I'm supposed to be awake.”

Kukunochi shook his head, “It's not night. The day is only a little after noon.”

“What?”

“Your sister. She's went into hiding after what happened to Wakahirume.”

Eyes widening even farther he demanded an answer. “What happened to Wakahirume!”

“I'm sorry brother.”

Tsukiyomi shook his head in denial. “No, there is nothing to be sorry about! She is fine! She'll come home tonight and I'll see her every morning!”

“Brother. . .”

“Where is she? !”

“At the celestial crypt.”

Anger slipped out of him as quickly as it had come. A blank look adorned his face as he slumped slowly to the ground. He had lost her again, and both times unable to protect her. This time, not even there at her side. Not even glancing toward his brother he whispered, “Can you take me to her?”

Without hesitation he hefted his heartbroken brother upon his shoulders and made quick work to reach the celestial crypt. Once inside the great hall, lined with the impressively designed wooden coffins, the sea of gods and goddesses parted noticing who had entered. No one that was not a deity could enter and it seemed all who could had come. Walking past the people blankly he reached the body of his beloved that had been cleaned and redressed since her death. A sheer material draped across her, she looked to be asleep instead of dead.

“Wakahirume.” Her name fell from his lips as a whispered prayer.

The silence echoed through the room as the gods and goddesses bowed their heads, paying respect to the fallen comrade.

Tsukiyomi broke the silence in a fit of rage. The anger that had disappeared returned ten fold as he glared at the crowd with completely silver eyes that were usually tinged with blue. “Who dares kill her? !”

No one answered lest they had to suffer the fury of the god.

“Answer me! How had she fallen? !”

Amatsumikaboshi, the god of evil, spoke up. “She was trampled by a piebald colt that rampaged through the Heavenly Weaving Hall. Falling upon her own shuttle after being kicked down she died from the wounds.”

“A piebald colt? ! Why was such an animal in the hall? !”

Again the god of evil responded, “It was your brother.”

Tsukiyomi approached the god in frustration and Amatsumikaboshi took the equal amount of steps back. “Which one? !”

The god looked away from the enraged deity and whispered out the name of the one at fault. “Susanowo.”

Tsukiyomi froze, “What? He wouldn't. . .”

“He was envious of you. He wished to have Wakahirume and win her back. . . he got a piebald colt and whipped it making it mad, then set it loose in the hall. Susanowo hoped to sweep in and save her, seeming like the hero.”

The other gods and goddesses gasped at the tale.

“How do you know this Amatsumikaboshi? No one else here seems to know this much.”

“I am the god of evil. Any intentions based upon evil I know about, and ironically am powerless to support and prevent anything from happening.”

“Susanowo. . .” Tsukiyomi gave a final glance back at his dead love then marched back toward the door. His voice dripping with vengeance he whispered harshly, “I shall kill him.”

Kukunochi grabbed him by the arm, “Do not be foolish Tsukiyomi! Justice will be done, but not by your hand.”

Ripping his arm away from the taller god's grasp he yelled out, “You are going to let this slide? ! I loved her more than anything! I'm not about let her killer get away, my brother or not he will die!”

Bishamon stepped forward, “I will administer the punishment for it is in my jurisdiction.”

Tsukiyoi growled then crossed his arms and looked away, specifically at Wakahirume. “Fine.”

The god of justice and the protector of the law nodded. With a booming voice he orated over the crowd, his words carrying over all the lands of Takamagahara. “Susanowo is to be banished. Sent away to the farthest province, Izumo, he will be driven out without anything with him. He will leave with no possessions except for the clothes on his back.”

Tsukiyomi huffed, “That's it huh? No death.”

Kukunochi shook his head, “We cannot kill him. Excluding you and your sister he is the most powerful god. We have more important things to worry about, your sister for one.”

“My sister?”

“She witnessed Wakahirume's death and was devastated by the loss of her dearest friend. . . Amaterasu has hidden herself in a cave behind the bolder, Ama no Iwato.”

“Let her hide. . . She needs time to morn much like I do.”

“But darkness has fallen over Takamagahara and the mortal world! In the short time that the sun has been gone the demons have taken advantage of it!”

“I don't care! The world will have deal without the sun and the moon!”

“The moon. . . no, you cannot plan to go into hiding as well.”

Tsukiyomi let out an exhausted breath and turned to walk out the door, “Leave us alone. . .”

Kukunochi yelled at his brother, an act surprising from the usually quiet god. “Don't be childish! I am deeply sorry for your loss, but you cannot abandon us not can you abandon human kind! The world is over run with demons! The tranquility they once knew will be lost forever if we do not have Amaterasu return to the sky!”

Tsukiyomi stopped in his tracks but did not turn to look at the crowd of deities. “Get a mirror. Hold a festival just outside of Ama no Iwato. . . Amaterasu should come out in curiosity. . . she was always so curious. . . When she comes out take the mirror and hold it in front of her.”

“You actually think this will work?”

He nodded, “She has never been allowed to look at her reflection. . . if she does, she will realize how brightly she shines and how vital she is to the world.” With that he left the hall leaving the gods and goddesses in silence.

Days later all of Takamagahara held a festival at Ama no Iwato. Just as Tsukiyomi had predicted, Amaterasu came out of hiding and light brought back to the world. However, just as Tsukiyomi promised, he did not come out at night for many weeks.

Much like Wakahirume's first death, he expected to see her there. Reincarnated once again, retaining all her memories and more importantly in his arms. He kept hoping that Takami-Musubi would grant another favor to Amaterasu and all would be well. Yet, he knew it was too late. Too much time had passed, Wakahirume had been reincarnated, this time she was not a being in Takamagahara. Everyday at dawn he expected her to come creeping in to the temple and climbing into bed like she always had done but in the end he would have to slumber in his cold bed alone.

Then, there came a morning when there was a banging at his door. Tsukiyomi faced the door quickly and opened the door allowing the light to stream in, hoping beyond hope that Wakahirume would be behind the door. Disappointment clouded his eyes when he saw Amaterasu standing at the door. “What do you want?”

Seeing the tired form of his brother Amaterasu sighed, “I want you to live again. The moon hasn't shown itself in weeks. The tides are becoming unbalanced, there are storms across the globe.”

“You let demons go wild in the mortal realm when you hid. Don't come pointing your hypocritical finer at me sister.”

“Then stop being the god of the moon.”

Tsukiyomi growled, “I'll get right on that.” Letting go of the sarcasm he slumped against the large temple doors, “You know I can't do that. A god can't just give up their position so quickly. . . only death can separate us from out duty.”

“Are you willing to do that? Die?”

He stared at her in confusion. “What are you talking about? Are you planning to kill me?”

Amaterasu nodded, “If you're willing to go along with a proposition I have for you.”

“You want me to give up my life? Just for the sake of ocean tides? You're insane.”

“No, for the sake of Wakahirume.”

“What?” His eyes narrowed at what she said.

“Takami-Musubi allowed me to choose what being she would be reincarnated as.” Seeing the hopeful look in his eyes she shook her head, “But I was not allowed to choose a being that resides in Takamagahara. I didn't know what to decide on. . . what would make her the happiest.”

He let a sad smiled cross his features, “A crane. . . she told me once she wanted to become a crane so she could fly near the moon. . .”

“A crane? Oh how I wished I knew that a few weeks ago.” Amaterasu became pensive and seemed to forget that her brother was still there.

A few long moments passed and she did not continue Tsukiyomi broke the silence. “So what did you choose?”

Brought back from her thoughts she gazed into her brother's eyes, “I. . . I sent her back as a tree.”

He gave her a disbelieving look, “A tree?”

“Not just any tree, a god tree that will grow in the heart of Japan.” She smiled, “She was the spirit of Japan and goddess of the dawning sun for all her celestial life, she loved Japan so dearly. . . I wanted her to stand tall looking over the nation she loved so much.”

He smiled at the thought, “She must be happy.”

“I hope so. . . but I also sent her as a patron of the new line of mikos.”

“Priestesses? For what?”

“While I was hidden demons took over the world, then when I came out the human fought back. The world is tipping into chaos. . . I sent a densetsu no miko to balance out the world.”

“So the world can easily be saved by one little girl?”

“No, but whenever the scale tips another densetsu no miko will appear. . . and so will Wakahirume.”

“What do you mean?”

“The final calling of the densetsu no miko will be that of Wakahirume. She will return back to the land of living complete a calling. . . actually, two callings. Then she will join us once again in Takamagahara.”

Tsukiyomi smiled in elation at the thought, “She must still only be a small sprout.”

“Actually, she's a sapling.”

“Already? How?”

“I asked Kukunochi for a favor. I wanted to make sure she would survive, I sped up the process from a tiny sprout to a slender sapling.”

Tsukiyomi nodded, “Thank you.”

“This wasn't just for you, I did this for myself as well. It gives me peace of mind knowing that she will be alive and well in the mortal realm. . . and I want to be assured even farther.”

“What do you mean?”

“I want you to die and reincarnate into a being that could protect her.”

“A being that could protect a tree? You want me to become human?”

“No, I need something stronger.”

He scrunched his brow, “A demon? You want me to become a demon?”

She shook her head, “I can't risk you being a demon, but what would you say to being a half demon?”

“A half demon? Such a thing exists?”

“Yes, they are rare and almost always in hiding from man and demon. They are never accepted by neither side. Ridiculed and shunned for their entire lives.” She stared into her brother's eyes with all seriousness, “Can you live like that? Are you willing to go through a life like that if you can be by her, even if she is a tree?”

He thought it over for a split second and genuine smiled adorned his face, a smile that had been missing since the death of his love. “So where do I sign up?”

“As soon as possible. I have gotten the permission of the gods to kill you when you are ready.”

“Who will take care of the moon?”

She smiled, “Do not worry about that, I will take on the responsibility of sun and moon.”

Tsukiyomi nodded and stood before her with his arms outstretched. “Then kill me now so I can be with her again.”

Amaterasu closed her eyes and allowed all the energy of the sun of the world to gather about her. “I will miss you brother.”

He smirked, “What are you talking about? We fought all the time. I always kind of knew I would die at your hands.”

She smiled, “I truly will miss you. . . and treat her well. Although it may not be in the form you want it to be in I hope you find happiness at last.”

The light engulfed him and his flesh began to burn away. Closing his eyes he smirked, “I'll make sure of it.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX End Story Mode XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“. . . you faded into dust and was reincarnated into the half dog demon you are now.”

Inuyasha and Kagome sat in stunned stupor as Amaterasu finished telling her tale. A long tale at that. Judging by the light in the sky, it was well past noon.

Seeing that neither of them were going to speak up first Amaterasu smiled, “You probably still have some questions. I'll answer all of them to the best of my abilities.”

Shaking her head out of the dumbfounded expression she found herself in Kagome began with the first question. “When did I go from being a god tree to being. . . me?”

“Well, when I sent you to the mortal realm I sent you as a tree. . . specifically, the Goshinboku.”

“I was the Goshinboku? !”

“Doesn't that make sense though? The connection you both felt toward the sacred tree. How you, Kagome, never felt complete without it by your side. The reason why Inuyasha thought he was attracted to Kikyou.”

Kagome flinched slightly at the last statement, but Inuyasha was there to grasp her hand in comfort. He growled at Amaterasu for bringing up something he had been trying to bury, pardon the pun. “What are you talking about?”

“Kikyou was always near the Goshinboku. The soul of Wakahirume within the tree was what drew your soul, not Kikyou.”

He raised a skeptical eyebrow. “I fell in love with a tree?”

She smiled, “A tree fell in love with you.”

“What?”

“The reason why Kagome is here at all is because she fell in love with the hanyou that ran about and protected the forest she was in. She saw you being shot again her and pinned to her. She wrapped roots around you to protect as you were dormant for fifty years.”

Inuyasha chuckled a bit and glanced at Kagome, “Thanks.”

Kagome smiled, “Any time.”

Amaterasu shook her head, “You two don't change at all. Anyways, when Kagome crossed the well and released Inuyasha from the Goshinboku, she saw that there was another being with the exact same soul. The Goshinboku stood by and watched over you two, watching the love blossom. It watched over you two as you said your final farewell and when Inuyasha lived in the well for five years.”

Kagome's eyes widened, “You lived in the well?”

“In my defense, I was hoping you would come back.”

“That's sweet. . . I think.” The young miko faced to the goddess, “But why did I get reincarnated twenty-two years ago? The Goshinboku is alive and well, it's not dead.”

Amaterasu nodded, “That's the part that I can't explain very well. The Goshinboku stood at the Higurashi shrine for so long, and when this era came about it saw that your parents were wanting a child. . . it willed itself to die and transfer its soul into the yet to be conceived child. The Goshinboku remembered of Kagome Higurashi and was waiting for your time to reincarnate. . . Does that make sense?”

Kagome tilted her head, “Barely. But what about the Goshinboku? It's still alive.”

“That's the odder part, it was soon taken over by another soul without it dying. A feat never before completed.”

Kagome's eyes widened in a realization that just clicked, “My dream. . .”

Inuyasha looked at her in confusion, “Your dream?”

“Yeah, my dream! The dream of having my soul mate shot against me and beating his last heartbeat. . . It wasn't a look into the future, it was a memory from my past life as the Goshinboku.” Grinning Kagome flung herself into the startled Inuyasha's arms. Everything that was standing between them had been eliminated in the meeting of Amaterasu. Pulling back slightly she gazed into his eyes, “We can be together now. The world can't stop us now.”

Amaterasu smiled upon them kindly, “I should be going. I've been here too long as it is. I'll clarify two things for you before I go.” Taking their attention from each other, the couple look toward the goddess. “Do not worry about Susanowo, he will not be a problem. Both of you probably know the legend of the eight-headed beast and finding the love of his life. Also I know you might be wondering what might happen to you after your second calling Kagome. You will join us back in Takamagahara, but so will Inuyasha. Think this life to be a way to make your way back to Takamagahara.”

Kagome's eyes watered and pulled herself away from Inuyasha. Situating herself on the ground with her legs folded under her and her arms set before her on the grass she bowed her head until her forehead met her overlapped hands. “Thank you so much. I am forever in debt to you.”

Amaterasu kneeled down to be able to touch Kagome's cheek to have her look up. “You bow to no one.”

Kagome closed her eyes and a tear escaped down her cheek and nodded, “I thank you nonetheless.”

The goddess floated back and gazed at the couple that had finally found each other once again. “I miss both of you so very much, but it warms my heart knowing you are together.”

With her parting words she faded into the clouds leaving the couple with newfound hope.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A/N: The reason why the arrow was blue? No mystical reason, just making fun of other fanfic writers that change the color of Kagome's powers. I've heard green, blue, purple, and once even orange. I know fanfics are a freedom of expression but let's stick as close as we can to the canon people.

Did Isaac Newton ever go to China? Uh. . . probably not, but I'm saying he did

When I say god of moon and goddess of the sun I'm avoiding the whole idea of how the sun and moon actually are in the sky at the same time. . . think more night and day. . . don't bother me with technicalities please.

The explanation Wakahirume gives of how she deals with her duties is taken from an idea used in the movie “Meet Joe Black”. . . although a movie with bad reviews, I really liked it *shrugs*

The reason why there is more sibling bonding between Amaterasu, Tsukiyomi, and Susanowo is because they were born pretty much at the same time and in that order. The other gods were born from Izanami when she was still alive and married to Izanagi. Amaterasu, Tsukiyomi, and Susanowo were born after Izanami's death and from Izanagi. Amaterasu and Tsukiyomi from his eyes and Susanowo from his nose. . . don't ask. . . So, in other words, these 3 are the younger gods and then there are a bunch of other gods that are half siblings (?) that are older by a good many years

Thank you to all past and future reviewers! I read everyone of them, but I didn't have time to respond to them this time. But I'll try my hardest next time!

Thank you for going through this excruciating long read. I would appreciate it if a review was left, this took many long nights to finish and hope to hear about what you think. Till next time!