Ah, the epilogue. The end. This story was so much fun to write and heck knows I'm gonna miss it xD

I do have other stories to write however~

Well, I hope you all enjoyed this story, and I'll probably be seein' ya soon, knowing me and my obsessive writing xD But for now, enjoy the epilogue~

The sun was gradually rising above the horizon, filling Yakushi Village with light. A statue was outlined against the sunlight, looking down over the village as if keeping watch. It was a life-size stone figure of a wolf puppy.

"Oh, Pooch…" Kagu sighed, resting her hand on the statue's head. The stone was cold, but it was starting to warm up because of the sun.

Eventually Kagu drew her hand back, glancing around to watch the rising sun. It had only been two days since the big fight. Pooch – or Chibi, as Issun called him – had been given his own statue already, just like she'd heard in the stories of Shiranui. Yet instead of protecting the Konohana tree, Pooch's statue was standing guard over Yakushi Village. He'd always wanted to visit this place often, whether it was to see the blacksmith, shaman, or just to go and see the villagers…

Hurriedly Kagu blinked and wiped an eye with her sleeve.

"Its okay, Pooch. You fought for all of us. I trained you well, huh?"

"Kagu? Who are you talking to?"

The miko gasped as she heard someone calling her name and looked around hurriedly, causing her wound to hurt. "Uh—nobody," she muttered, pressing a hand to her shoulder.

"Oh." Ayame walked over, looking intently at the statue. "Huh. This statue looks a lot like that doggie. The one that was with you when you brought the herbs that made me better."

"It is him," Kagu said quietly.

"Really? He looks different though," Ayame shrugged. "He's got all these funny markings now."

"They're not 'funny markings', he has them because he's a god!" Kagu tutted. "And he died saving his friends."

"The doggie died?" Ayame gasped. "Aww… that's so sad…"

Kagu just blinked, realising Ayame really did seem to have no idea what she was talking about. "Well, I'm going now." She wanted to go to Kamiki while she still had the chance to sneak out. Her parents hadn't let her leave the village since the fight because she was wounded.

"Oh, okay. Bye," Ayame waved as she walked away.

Kagu waved back, making her way through the maze of bridges in the village. As soon as she reached the exit she glanced around briefly before hopping down to the path below, heading through the waterfall cave.

Phew. Safe.

She emerged out into Shinshu field, glancing around at the plains which were gradually filling with light. The nameless man was up bright and early chopping wood, and as Kagu scanned the area she spotted another figure nearby.

"Hey, Kaguya!"

"Hmm?" the golden-haired woman blinked and looked around as she heard her name. "Oh, hi Kagu. Shouldn't you be back in Yakushi? I heard you got injured…"

"Ah, it's no big deal," Kagu shrugged. Ow. "Besides, I got bored of being stuck there. I was heading over to Kamiki to go see the others."

"I think something's going on at Kamiki," Kaguya shrugged. "Everyone seems to be preparing for something, but I don't know what."

"Preparing for something?" Kagu echoed. "Like what? It's not another demon attack, is it?"

"No, no, nothing like that," Kaguya shook her head, smiling slightly. "They're putting up decorations."

"Sounds like some kind of celebration," the miko commented. "Maybe it's because we won the battle. C'mon, Kaguya, let's go check it out!"

"What? Oh, okay," Kaguya laughed. "Why not."

"Oki! Oki!"

"Huh? What?" the Oina warrior glanced around as he heard the voice, trying to work out where it had come from. Eventually he spotted a small yellow light hopping through the snow. "Miya? What are you doing out here?"

"Practicing," the poncle chirped, hopping onto a nearby rock. "Incase Ponc'tan is ever in trouble again and I need to get help. Last time I only just made it out of the forest."

"Okay then," Oki muttered, glad that she wouldn't be able to see the confused expression behind his mask.

Miya looked around, her eyes finally coming to rest on the gravestone beside the cliff. "Is that…?"

"Yeah… it's Kai's grave," Oki sighed. She'd been buried near the entrance to Yoshpet.

"Why's it all the way out here?" Miya questioned, her voice sounding uncharacteristically sympathetic.

"You know Kai," Oki smiled half-heartedly. "She loved to race through Yoshpet."

"Oh, right. Umm… any chance of a lift to Wep'keer?" Miya asked sheepishly. "I haven't seen everyone there in ages and travelling around when you're really small is hard work…"

"Hah, fine," Oki laughed, rolling his eyes. He morphed into his wolf form. "Hop on; I was heading there next anyways."

"Yay! Thanks, Oki!" Miya cheered, her yellow light glowing brighter as she jumped up onto his head.

"The people around here sure look happy now, huh, Kamo?"

"Yeah. Everyone's settling back quickly," Kamo nodded as he and Abe walked along the main street of Sei'an City commoner's quarter. "Dr. Bluebeard is looking out for anyone who's injured and the guards are all alert incase anything else attacks."

"Well, what do we do now?" Abe asked. "Now that evil guy's gone. Do we just go back to our old lives in the city?"

"Waka said that there were probably still some smaller demons around after everything that happened recently," Kamo told him. "So the city could still use our help to defend it incase any of them come here."

"Wait, when did the captain say that?" Abe blinked.

"I saw him yesterday," Kamo shrugged.

"Why didn't you tell me!?"

"He's got a broken arm. I don't think he needs you trying to hug him when he's injured," Kamo joked, giving Abe a friendly punch in the shoulder. "Anyways, he insisted that he's not our captain anymore since he was gone for so long."

"But… what do we do without a captain?" Abe persisted.

"We haven't had a captain for the past year," Kamo reminded him. "Anyway, we used to serve under Queen Himiko as well, before she died. We just need to help whoever's in charge protect the city, and right now that looks like some of the mikos."

"Okay then," Abe muttered, glancing around at the commoner's quarter. "Hopefully nothing will happen for too long."

Issun let out a contented sigh as he sat back on Amaterasu's head. "Ah, Kamiki Festival. Good thing we cleared up that mess in time for the party, huh Ammy?"

The wolf barked, tail wagging. She had no scars to show for the scrape they'd been in even though it was only a few days back; the wound she'd got had healed already. Lucky furball. Still, at least the scars Issun had got from fighting Blight were starting to disappear now and he was almost completely recovered from when Tero burnt him.

Issun looked up at the starlit sky above as the first few fireworks exploded into colour. They'd spent the day watching the villagers make preparations for the festival, helping out when they could. Now that the celebration was officially underway, people from nearby were pouring into the village. Kokari and his family were there, as well as Nanami, Kaguya, and most of the people who were staying or living at Yakushi Village.

From where they were sat near the river, Issun could see Kushi selling sake from the stall she'd set up earlier – Susano had tried to help but failed miserably. Hayabusa and Ume were racing around the village barking, and Kokari and Mushi were talking together near the unguarded crop field.

"You guys better not be plotting anything!" Issun called, grinning.

"'Course not!" Mushi protested. "Mama's got eyes like a hawk. If anyone lays a finger on her crops, they're dead meat. We're still gonna beat your record one day, though. You won't be the hole-digging king forever!"

"Hah! Dream on," Issun laughed. He looked down at the wolf; she already looked like she was falling asleep. "So, Ammy, what ya wanna do first? Since you're a wolf I guess getting any of Kushi's sake is out of the question."

The goddess lifted her head, let out a loud yawn, and rested it back on her paws again.

"Aw, c'mon, Ammy, get in the festival spirit! If you don't wanna hang around here we could always go and see Sakuya."

Giving a quiet grumble, Amaterasu got to her paws, stretching, and padded off along the path.

They headed up the winding trail towards the Konohana tree, Issun watching the sun deck to see a somewhat drunk Mr. Orange dancing.

"Keep on tearin' up the dance floor, gramps!" he shouted, though the old man didn't appear to hear him.

Suddenly Ammy gave a bark and, not expecting the movement, Issun fell off her head, landing on the path.

"Oof!" he gasped. "Furball, what the—furball?"

She'd vanished already.

"Ammy?" he called, continuing along the path. "Oh come on! Don't go disappearing again!"

"Don't worry, Issun. She just headed into the Cave of Nagi; there's no danger there."

"Oh, heya Sakuya!" Issun smiled as the wood sprite appeared nearby. "I see you're just as beautiful as ever! Heh heh!"

"I must admit," Sakuya continued. "I did have my doubts as to whether you'd be able to save Amaterasu. But you succeeded, and for that I am thankful."

"Heck yeah I succeeded. Though to be fair I did have a lotta help," Issun admitted. Then his face fell. "Ammy's gonna have to go back to the Celestial Plain soon, ain't she?"

"Yes, and I'm afraid you must stay here, Issun," Sakuya shook her head sympathetically. "The work of a Celestial Envoy is very important. But never fear; I'm sure you'll see her again some day."

"I'll see her again as soon as I find her," Issun shrugged. "Oh, hey… Sakuya, honey, do we get a reward or anything? For savin' Ammy?"

"What do you mean?"

"Can I jump in your clothes again?"

"No."

"Aww."

Amaterasu sped along the moonlit paths inside the mysterious area of the Cave of Nagi. Very few people even knew of this place's existence so as usual everything was silent.

She slowed her pace as she reached the path leading up to the shrine. She'd picked up the scent outside but hadn't heard a sound other than her own pawsteps since she came in here. No familiar sound of a flute…

As she reached the top of the slope the shrine finally came into view. Moonlight seeped through the ceiling of the cave, illuminating the large statue – which looked slightly different than when she'd last seen it – as well as golden hair at the end of the ledge nearby.

Waka glanced around as he heard the sound of her claws tapping against the stone floor. "Ah, bonjour, ma chérie."

The wolf padded over to sit at his side, tilting her head questioningly.

"If you're asking why I'm out here, festivals aren't really my thing," he muttered. He was sat on the edge of the cliff, and Ammy wondered how long he'd been out here alone. She hadn't seen him since they left Kamui days ago. Right now his left arm was in a sling and because of this his kimono was draped over his back, making it easy to see all the bandages he had on from the multiple wounds he'd collected recently.

Nudging his shoulder – on his right – she let out a quiet whimper.

"Don't worry, Amaterasu, I'm okay," Waka smiled.

Glancing at the flute which was resting on the ground, the wolf nudged it with her muzzle, rolling it towards him.

Waka caught it to stop it from rolling away but didn't pick it up. "Sorry, ma chérie, I can't. You need both hands to play a flute," he sighed. "I'd better stay clear of any demons for a while too, I can't draw Pillow Talk either."

Letting out a dejected sigh, Amaterasu flopped down next to him, resting her head on his lap. Ah well. If anything did attack then she'd protect him.

"Thank you, Amaterasu," he smiled half-heartedly, running a hand through her fur. "And… I'm sorry. For getting you captured. If it wasn't for me none of this would have happened…"

She glanced up at him in surprise, shaking her head. It wasn't his fault. Yet Waka just glanced away, unable to meet her gaze. No matter what she thought, he would still believe that everything was his fault…

Knowing that there wouldn't be any way of convincing him, Ammy just reached up and licked his cheek.

"Ack! Hey!" Waka laughed, wiping the wolf slobber from his face. "Honestly, ma chérie, you can be so ungodly sometimes…"

She just blinked at him, tail wagging.

"Speaking of gods," he continued, "hopefully the rest of the brush gods will be okay looking after the Celestial Plain for a while. I can't pilot the ark with one arm, so we might not be able to get back for a few weeks."

Amaterasu shrugged, glancing up even though there was nothing to see other than the roof of the cave and the night sky. There was no immediate danger to the Celestial Plain, so the place would be fine without her for a while, especially with the other brush gods guarding it.

And now that they'd beaten Tero, Nippon was a lot safer as well. People had gone back to their ordinary lives and there were a lot of old friends that she wanted to see.

With little danger around, there was no longer any reason to be afraid of the dark.