Hello again! I had this idea after posting Okami: Spring, and couldn't resist sharing it. As with Spring, if I get five or more reviews (I like constructive criticism, sue me!) I post a new chapter. I realize this is kind of short, but I think once I get rolling the chapters will get longer. Check out my FanFiction profile for a link to my DeviantArt profile, and you can see some of my drawings, and possibly clues to what is coming up next (I'm evil, aren't I? But everybody likes a good cliffhanger. Maybe I'll do riddles.) Enjoy and review!

Amaterasu sat on her balcony and surveyed the Celestial Plain. The cherry blossom trees bent with the wind and the smooth wind caressed the girl's face, yet she sighed sadly nonetheless. Her father, Izanagi, had requested that they meet for an important conversation over a formal dinner, just the two of them. These talks had never ended well. The last time they had spoken tensely like this was the day Amaterasu had "become a woman." With her mother gone, the uncomfortable tasks of a mother had fallen to Izanagi, who made the moments even more awkward with his most of the time inaccurate information. Amaterasu cleared up her unanswered questions with her best friend, Kei. Kei was a celestial, and was very outgoing. This countered Amaterasu's quiet, reclusive, petite personality. Amaterasu's personality reflected her body type. Thin, tiny, and slender, Amaterasu looked as if she had some sort of disease that didn't allow her to gain weight or become any tanner than a pale peach. Kei was a dark sand, with long, twisting blog hair, and looked like she spent all of her time at the beach. Sadly, the closest thing to a beach on the plains was the rocky edge of the Reflecting Pool. The Celestial Plains were covered in lush hills and silver lakes, not beaches. The Reflecting Pool was forbidden to animals and celestials alike. Amaterasu, being the good girl, never had the spunk to disobey direct orders from her father. Neither had anyone else on the island, apparently, for her father was king of the plains. A light knock disrupted Amaterasu's thoughts. It was about time for the meal. Amaterasu's white hair was stunning against her silky grey halter top dress, which draped elegantly against the girls bare feet. Unlatching the door, Amaterasu was greeted by her personal servant, Sudai. Sudai had tended to her ever since she was little, which was a very long time ago, making the servant very old. Amaterasu couldn't understand how she stayed so young looking, when decades had passed since she could remember. Sudai gestured for Amaterasu to exit her room, she complied, passed through the hallway, and descended the stairs. Her father rose from his seat as Amaterasu entered the dining room, which had an oak table resting in the center. The table was filled with mashed potatoes, homemade bread, peas, and aromas that drifted into Amaterasu's nose, pleasing her. It was a holiday come early. She grimaced at the roast turkey that was set in the center. Amaterasu was a vegetarian, and the sight of roasted flesh disgusted her deeply. She felt that taking another life for one's own enjoyment was selfish and cruel. These beliefs could be traced back to Amaterasu's mother, Izanami, who taught her daughter that all life was sacred. Izanagi was a meat n' potatoes man, never adapting to his family's ways. Amaterasu's father stood by his daughters chair. His jet black hair waved around his ears, and his teal eyes bright. He looked tense from the anticipation of the night ahead, as did Amaterasu. The girl took her seat opposite her father, and they sat in silence. Izanagi glanced back and forth, from his daughter to his food. He was obviously searching for a topic starter, and finally began the talk he had put off for so long.

"There is a reason I asked you to dine with me tonight, Amaterasu." Amaterasu refrained from rolling her eyes,

"Do you know where we are?"

"Yes Father, we are on the Celestial Plain."

"And, who are we?" This question puzzled Amaterasu.

"We're… um… Celestial Plain-ers?" Izanagi chuckled.

"Close, but we are Celestials. Do you know what 'Celestial' means?" Amaterasu mentally thrust her palm at her face. She knew they were Celestials, but she was nervous.

"Father, why are you giving me lessons?"

"Answer the question, Amaterasu." Izanagi ordered. Amaterasu was feeling pressured.

"It means heavenly."

"And thus, we are…" Izanagi prompted.

"Heavenly." Amaterasu finished.

"That is what I need to explain to you. We on the Celestial Plain are heavenly. But you and I, we are… more than that." More? She knew they were sort of royal, but her father had never been pompous about his titles. Izanagi realized he had used the wrong choice of words and continued, "What I mean to say is…" He took a very deep breath, "We are gods." Amaterasu was silent. She had never preformed any miracles, she couldn't fly… Could gods fly? She didn't know. She wasn't very religious, "I know this must be difficult for you, but we have responsibilities to our people." Amaterasu attempted to keep her cool. It was proving difficult.

"I find this hard to believe." She stated blankly, "How do I know this isn't a practical joke?" She tried to lighten the tension with a small smile. Her father ignored this.

"This is not a joke, Amaterasu. You cannot avoid your fate any longer. I am the god of creation, and you, my daughter, are the goddess of the sun."

It's hard to do those scenes where everybody talks and talks and talks. Anywho, if you liked this story, review, and then check out Okami: Spring.

Sayonara!

ChattyCat