Unselfish Wish

Chapter 27- Meeting Amaterasu

Fumiko was worried. Amaterasu was an unknown in this equation. Her knowledge of the goddess was limited to historical records and what her grandfathers had felt like sharing. She for sure had a temper and held grudges, but was also fair and tried to make changes to archaic rules so that kami were not so bound by tradition that they fell behind the humans they were trying to help. Since she had appeared while Fumiko was fighting her right hand man, brother, and possible lover, Fumiko was unsure how things were going to go. Tsukiyomi was so sure Amaterasu would help her in Takamagahara, but Fumiko herself wasn't so confident.

Amaterasu was amused as she sensed Fumiko's discomfort. It had been a bold move to challenge Susano'o, but it had not upset the ruler of the kami at all. It meant that Fumiko would have no trouble handling any troublemakers in the palace of the gods. This was a very good thing for the future. She waved a hand lazily.

"No need for bowing, we will be family soon. I do need you to let down this barrier though." She said in amusement. Her brothers both snapped their eyes to her in shock. She nodded. "You guessed it, brothers. She is strong enough to fight me, probably. Maybe even win." Amaterasu grinned.

"Your highness, I would never challenge you." Fumiko swore.

"Not a big deal if you did, it would mean that Tsukiyomi, being the god that has experience and your husband, would have to do all my work." She giggled, as Tsukiyomi's face turned sour. "Though I doubt you'd let him do it alone, am I right?" She queried.

"Of course not!" Fumiko declared.

"Well, Lady Tachibana. Rest assured, your grandfathers are pardoned, you are welcome to join the court anytime before you turn eighteen, and yes, brother, her friends- or should I say both of your friends- may come too." She shot at Tsukiyomi. "The only thing left, Fumiko, is whether you want you parents to come too? I cannot grant them immortality, but I can allow them to stay and slow their aging a bit." Fumiko's eyes filled with tears at Amaterasu's generosity. She bowed twice from her waist.

"Thank you, truly thank you so much, Amaterasu-no-Mikoto." She said fervently.

"Oh my, stop bowing and being formal." She laughed. "You are two steps away from being my sister. Just call me Oneesan or Tera, alright?" Fumiko nodded. "And I shall call you Imouto, perhaps even Fumi? No more formality, not even in public. I want everyone to know you are special." She wagged a finger at Fumiko. "Dare I hope you'll help me in the palace?"

"I... don't know much about how things are done, but if there is some way I may help you, of course I am happy to." Fumiko said. Tsukiyomi rolled his eyes.

"Oneesan, listen. We-" He gestured to Fumiko and himself, "are not going to spend all year in palace. I intend to spend two months there and one away so that I don't go insane. Wouldn't want to kill another goddess and get banished." He snapped.

"Oh, funny story, Niichan, did you know some legends tell a story eerily similar to yours, except I'm the bad guy?" Susano'o piped up.

"It would be more believeable." Amaterasu and Tsukiyomi said at the same time. Susano'o looked hurt.

"Look, I know I've had my bad moments, but do you really think I'm that terrible?" Susano'o complained.

"Um, not interrupt, but we should pull our auras back and go to my house to talk. We're drawing a lot of Yokai attention." Fumiko said. The others nodded, and once Fumiko had retrieved her relics, they teleported right back to the kitchen where Aiko and Fumio were cleaning up. Aiko dropped her broom and bowed, while Fumio smirked and merely nodded. This was his house, and they were guests.

"Greetings, Amaterasu-no-Mikoto, Susano'o-no-Mikoto, and son-in-law. Welcome to my kitchen. It's a popular place to appear suddenly and without warning these days." Fumio quipped, as Aiko elbowed him. "Oh right, this is my lovely wife, Aiko." He said, deliberately misinterpreting her nudge. Susano'o looked bemused, and Amaterasu laughed.

"Your father is a funny man, Imouto." Amaterasu announced. Aiko and Fumio's eyes snapped to their daughter.

"I take it you won the challenge, then, daughter?" Aiko queried. Fumiko nodded, and she clapped in delight. "I knew you had it in you."

"So now, it's time to discuss what happens next." Amaterasu declared. "I have offered to bring the two of you with your daughter and her friends to Takamagahara. You'd be part of Tsukiyomi's court, of course. I can't grant you immortality, but I can extend your lives and slow your aging to allow you more time with your family. I don't doubt with the ardour my brother has for your daughter that they will lack for offspring." Fumiko gasped and Tsukiyomi blushed, while Aiko and Fumio just laughed.

"Indeed." Fumio answered, looking at his wife, who nodded. "We don't have much holding us here without our daughter, so we would be happy to come along." Fumiko clapped in delight, her embarrassment about babies forgotten. Tsukiyomi, however, was thinking about babies with great concentration. As much as he wanted them, he supposed he was more interested in the practicing to obtain said babies. He was shocked to find all eyes on him and some question had been asked.

"What?" He said. Susano'o giggled, which was weird sound for him to make. Tall, wild, curly black hair and deep brown eyes with an intimidating physique. This guy giggled? Amaterasu scowled.

"I said, when should we start bringing people for their blessings?" She intoned grumpily.

"Oh. Well, let me see when everyone's birthday is. Should we bring them all at once?" He refocused, saying something half-coherent.

"Best to do it all at once, yeah. Well, brother, up to you to get that sorted out. It's been a pleasure to meet my in-laws." She grinned. "However, I must be returning soon, and before I do, I want to speak with my new Imouto privately. Shall we?" She gestured to Fumiko, who nodded and led her upstairs.

Susano'o looked at Tsukiyomi and winked, while the moon god could only sigh.

After they entered Fumiko's room, Amaterasu sat on the soft glider rocker next to the window seat. She gestured for Fumiko to sit in the window seat itself, almost as if she knew that was her special spot. They were silent for a moment as Amaterasu's eyes explored Fumiko's personal space. There was not much individuality, she noted. Almost as if Fumiko knew intrinsically that this was not where she belonged. Fumiko fidgeted uneasily. She knew Amaterasu was a friend, it was just quite intimidating to be her sole focus.

"So Fumiko." Amaterasu said as she leaned forward with her elbow resting on her knee, and her hand on her chin. "Tell me about my brother." Fumiko looked at her, startled. "You see, he has avoided the palace for the last, oh, six hundred years or so. Before that he was exiled, but I was sure that after I forgave him publicly, he'd return. Only he didn't. Even Susano'o, who I frankly had worse dealings with, eventually came back after offering the Imperial regalia. Can you believe we had nine children as a result of a fight?" She giggled. "Not the traditional way, obviously. I bet he was terrified that you were going to end up with offspring the same way and that Tsukiyomi would kill him and force reincarnation." She was full on laughing, while Fumiko's mouth hung open.

"Well... " She started when she recovered from her shock. "He is surprisingly impatient and impulsive for someone that's lived so long."

"He did wait eleven years before making a move on you." Amaterasu defended.

"Can you imagine asking a six-year-old to marry?" Fumiko countered. "While that may be a sign of some type of patience, he gets far too upset when things don't go his way. Did he tell you he planted dreams to make me build him a mini shrine to near obsession?"

"No way!" Fumiko nodded that indeed, he had. "Well, it is Tokyo. Finding you would have been a little trickier than usual."

"Did he happen to mention that he was jealous of himself?" She asked. When Amaterasu's mouth fell open in surprise, Fumiko apprised her of the whole story and the goddess could not contain her mirth.

"Why didn't he just tell you, my goodness. Men can be so silly sometimes!" She bemoaned. "Well, this has been wonderful, and I'm glad he chose you. I can tell that you will be good for him. I must be going now, my dear Imouto." After kissing Fumiko's cheek, Amaterasu was gone.

How delightful it was to have a kind sister, she thought.