Yami no Jinja (Rei no Kaado)

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Shortly before midnight, the white wolf known as Amaterasu walked up to the Island's only Shinto Shrine. She gave a sigh, and padded up the steps to the shrine. She hadn't had the best day in the world. And as it was, she'd decided she had some things to harass Izanami about, anyways. Whatever would happen at midnight, she would have to see from here.

Amaterasu lay down in front of the honden to wait for Izanami. She knew the goddess was likely resting inside it; it was obvious her aunt relied on it a fair bit.

"Ammy, what're we waiting for anyways?" Issun complained. "I thought we were gonna wait for whatever was gonna happen at midnight?"

There's been a change of plans. I wish to talk about something with Izanami-obasan, Amaterasu said.

[mugenginga]

It was a good thing it was late at night. Because otherwise, the appearance of a "white wolf" walking up and laying down in front of a honden may have attracted attention. Given the location and the beliefs of the region, quite a bit. Not negative, but even more not wanted.

Izanami had actually been aware of Amaterasu as soon as her niece had broken the barrier of the sacred space around the shrine. She had hoped the other goddess would go away. She realized there was no plans of it when the presence approached the honden. She got to her feet and walked to the door. The thing was locked from both sides, and the hinges were reinforced after the stunt Souji's friends had pulled before. In any case, she threw the doors open, and without even checking to see if she's smacked Amaterasu spoke.

"I assume there is a reason you've come here at this hour?"

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Amaterasu gave a wide yawn as Izanami threw the doors open. From the looks of things, she'd actually fallen asleep, and was planning on relying on Issun to tell her when Izanami showed up. It seemed she shouldn't have bothered. She stood up and shook herself before looking up at Izanami.

So, you're in love with Izanagi's avatar, Amaterasu stated. Surprising, but I suppose it's not the first time this has happened.

"So this old lady's Nami?" Issun asked. He wasn't having a stereotypical lovestruck reaction to Izanami, which seemed odd to Amaterasu... until she realized that Izanami didn't have the "melons" to attract Issun's attention.

[mugenginga]

Izanami's temple twitched as Amaterasu mentioned Souji. So she had actually taken her advice and met at least Izanagi. More than likely Souji as well, which lead a high chance to her having met some of his friends. Izanami hadn't even noticed Issun until he spoke, and her attention turned to the small person. She glared at him and then turned to Izanami.

"I see you're still using glorified bugs as envoys."

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Issun glowed red at Izanami's comment, and started hopping frantically around Amaterasu.

"It's Issun! Issun, Issun, Issun!" Issun yelled. He jumped up in front of Izanami's face several times to get a good look at her, and he looked rather ticked as he did so. Amaterasu made no effort to stop Issun.

I would prefer you didn't call him a bug, Izanami-obasan, Amaterasu spoke. Souji seemed rather torn up about the matter when we encountered him before, and with how he was denying the fact that he's a 'god', I doubt it had anything to do with the god he represents. Just what did you do to him in the past?

[mugenginga]

Izanami smirked as Issun flipped out over her comment. She widened it just a bit every time he came to her eye level, to make sure he knew his reaction had been her original intent. She was turning to go back into the building as Amaterasu requested she not call Issun a such. However, she paused when the other goddess continued, asking her questions about what she had done to Souji. She turned back around and opened her mouth just as the time switched over to the Dark Hour. She looked up towards the discolored waxing moon for a moment before speaking.

"I did what humanity wanted and was stopped by the stubborn adamance of a handful of humans," she looked back towards Amaterasu, "The power of hope over emptiness of despair was proven, and I stepped back."

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Amaterasu looked up as the world's colors changed. The atmosphere of this world was different too, and Amaterasu could sense some of the dark creatures that lurked outside the shrine's barrier. Amaterasu gave a low growl as Izanami continued. Her aunt was dodging the question. While Amaterasu didn't doubt that Izanami was telling the truth, she could tell it wasn't the full truth.

That still doesn't explain exactly what you did you him, but it's not my problem anyways, Amaterasu said.

"Wh-What happened to the sky?!" Issun said. He sounded as panicked as he was.

I assume this is what you meant when you said we'd understand at midnight? Amaterasu asked.

[mugenginga]

"No, it isn't," Izanami responded back with a growl of her own. Not as impressive given the avatars, but it was still threatening.

Issun then began to freak. Izanami didn't know if he could sense more than the usual sensible oppression in the air, nor did she care all that much. She seemed to have realized her concentration for the night was shot, and turned around to pull the building door's shut. She was checking the lock when Amaterasu asked her next question. She yanked on the lock once before turning around, taking a few steps, and pointing towards the tower on the horizon. Given the distance from Void City, it was smaller than usual. Giving its visibility, it was an unpleasant reminder of its size.

"The Death of many worlds waits to be summoned by the being atop that tower. It was stopped in the last dimension I inhabited once before, but I doubt the mortal world will get that lucky a second time," she looked down towards Amaterasu, "Your avatar won't survive any better than the rest of the mortals."

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Amaterasu looked toward the tower in the distance, as did Issun. Issun gave a low whistle at its size. That thing had to be taller than Catcall Tower had been, and that tower had reached far into the sky. And even from there, Amaterasu could feel the Death emanating from it. That had to be where this odd feeling had originated.

I wouldn't be so sure this world will perish, Amaterasu said. That blue haired boy... Minato. I believe he can stop the coming Fall. His emotional connection to Nyx's avatar could quite possibly stop the Fall, and save the avatar as well.

"Yeah, if that Minato guy would just cheer up a bit, he could probably save us all!" Issun said.

[mugenginga]

"He is fighting an emotional connection the goddess Nyx holds for the god Erebus. One strong enough she is willing to bring an end to this and all connected dimensions to fulfill," Izanami frowned for a moment, and was about to continue when Issun spoke. She gave him annoyed glare, "I don't support pointless optimism. Love ends up broken more often than not. And that 'blue haired boy' has stopped it once before. I don't suspect he or Nyx's avatar will come through this alive."

The latter part had been extremely bitter. If Amaterasu had held any doubt before, it was pretty clear now that someone still held a grudge. Izanami had crossed her arms by this point and seemed more than a bit annoyed with where the conversation had gone.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Amaterasu didn't give any visual reaction to Izanami's comments other than swiping her tail back and forth. It wasn't a happy wag, like most people associated a wagging tail with, but more like when a cat wagged their tail, as a sign of annoyance.

Izanagi's betrayal of you has poisoned your perceptions of love, Izanami-obasan, Amaterasu stated.

"Poisoned her perceptions of love... wait, I thought we were talkin' about that Minato guy and that Ryoji guy, not Minato and some lady!" Issun said, blind to the truth of that. Well, it wasn't like those kind of relationships were exactly common in Nippon.

[mugenginga]

Izanami frowned at Amaterasu. Fact was, she had no valid argument. She refused to accept that was the only reason. She just couldn't come up with any. Her arms remained crossed and there might have been an awkward silence had Issun not spoken up.

"We are talking about Minato and Ryoji, the avatar of Nyx in human form. We are talking about Minato and the one he loves. The two topics are the same thing," Izanami stated. She turned her focus back towards Amaterasu without granting Issun a chance to answer, "Unless your power is even less than I first expected, you are capable of defending yourself. I would appreciate it if you left."

[Firebreath Fishslap]

"Wait, but... they're both guys.. and... What....?" Issun seemed to be broken. Amaterasu rolled her eyes and threw Issun back on her back.

I will be aiding that group during the battle against Nyx's Avatar. However, I doubt my powers will have much affect against the avatar of a Night Goddess, Amaterasu stated. She turned and started walking out of the shrine. She didn't fear the Shadows that lurked during this time. Should any attack her, she could more than fend for herself.

"...Wait, but... how... why... but they're both.... Eaaaaaaaaugghhhhhh...."

[mugenginga]

Izanami looked rather bored at Issun's reaction. It was not like such relationships were unheard of in Ancient Japan, or Nippon as it were, but they weren't really public. She had herself doubting that Minato and Ryoji had been all that "public" either, but it was all besides the point. When Amaterasu informed Izanami she would be aiding the group, Izanami had a fair bit to say on it. Such as no matter how strong Amaterasu was, defeating Nyx Avatar would do nothing. Someone would have to die, it was almost a given. The first time MInato had stopped it, after all... She wasn't able to get any of her objections out, as Amaterasu had begun to walk off.

It was no skin off her nose. She had no intentions of rescuing Amaterasu or Issun if the world were to Fall. She only planned on rescuing Souji's friends because they were friends of Souji. As for Izanagi's avatar... he had to be rescued. Izanagi would survive this, Souji would not. She frowned and headed towards the main living area of the Shrine. What little chance of concentrating she'd had was now shot to Yomi.