Lost

I suppose, in a way, the ritual worked.

It did not take us back to the real world, however.  We are now in...Erebus.  I believe that is what Alanna-san called it.  A flat, black expanse of nothingness.  I simply kept watch.  My skills were of little use in attempting to discover how to move on, and one can never be certain a beast will not attempt to strike at us, even here.  Aren-chan tried her own abilities to divine the path.

I am not sure I am entirely happy about what she discovered.  She claimed there are three ways our path can go.    The Asphodel Fields, Nifilheim, or Yomi.  I would hope for the last, if only because my mother's name may carry some weight, there.  The others, I do not know.  There is little that can be done other then simply marching ahead, at any rate.

We are taking the civilians who aided the ritual with us.  There is no other choice, leaving them here would be death and madness.  I only pray that this journey is over soon.  I miss the sun.

Purpose

There was a great deal of talking, and planning.  On our ways out.  We've decided on one attempt, now.  Moira-san and Alanna-san have ventured back into town while, for now, myself and Aren-chan wait behind at the hill.

I suppose that particular honorific comes with a beginning understanding of many things.  The chief of which is, I believe, part of why Mother sent me to this band in particular, instead of one composed of other children of the Amatsukami.  Something that now seems incredibly simple and obvious, now.  It is that I must learn and grow, to be an honor to my family and my home.  That became abundantly clear today, finally seeing everything get dumped on Aren-chan, and how I had treated her since the incident under the mountain.  Hiding behind my native language, as well, when I grew angry about it...as I told Aren-chan when we spoke.  It was an act of abject cowardice.  I do it far too much, even with the others.  It is..difficult, not to simply default to the language I know best.  But many times it has been me hiding.  And I was taught better.

Given the choice between discovery and death, and what she did and possibly recovering the relic, Aren-chan did what she had to do.  Had I not just reacted, I would have realized that far sooner and avoided all of this.  But I have apologized.  It seems so little, and there was no way to justify my foolishness.  I think Aren-chan understood, though.  This does make me happy.  I consider her a friend, a good one.  Of the three of the others, she understands me best, I think.  Alanna-san does as well, but I suspect that is more warrior to warrior.  Moira-san, at least, tries, though I suspect she may be missing the mark.

I have little enough to repay Aren-chan's kindness and to help make up for how rude I was.  So I have decided to teach her Japanese.  Alanna-san can translate for Moira-san, so this way, Aren-chan won't be left out.  I can still wish I had more to give.  But all I can do is teach her the language of my home, and be sure to look after her-

The others are returning.  I had best pack up, I hope their plans will be enough.  I tire of this place.

All Worked Up Over Nothing

Moira-san took me to a local Japanese restaurant.  It was...not home.  They tried, I will give them that, and I was good about holding my tongue about their errors.  All the same, I appreciate the gesture.

 We gathered in the town square shortly after.  Aren-san...well, won the crowd over quite easily, without the need for anyone else to demonstrate our particular abilities.  After the stunned silence wore off, Aren-san took over.  Laid everything else on the line and found a handful of volunteers to help coordinate what the town will need for an extended stay.  As it seems likely we will be here for longer then a few more hours.  Or at least, best to assume the worst.

The others handled the rest of the sorting out.  With little else to do, I did what I seem to do best, settled back and took up watch.  After we were ready to head down into the Titan structure, I told the others what I had learned from the blade we recovered from the Tengu.  Nobody seemed...ruffled about it becoming a rescue mission too.  I suppose it's silly to think they would, given the situation.  Especially the three I am with.  They are all utterly, completely mad.  But they are loyal and valorous, even if some may not be trained to fight a war to the knife.

With my light guiding the way, we descended.  One of a trio of kamaitachi led us directly to the cells and the prisoner, Hamasaki Hiraku.  He is a blood-son of Hachiman, but fostered by Susano-o.  I admit to being curious about the story of how that occurred, but it would be impolite to ask.  I returned his blade, and we spoek for a time.  The two most important points are that Hiraku-san was wounded, somehow, and cannot stand.  The second is that the trio is down one, and the little ones cannot sense their companion.  It would seem to imply we are well and truly cut off for the time being.

We also learned that the two Tengu we destroyed were the only two Titanspawn here.  I admit, I am...disappointed.  My greatest store of talent lies in the martial.  It is nothing...stereotypical of my people, it is just what I know I am good at.  And I am without supplies for painting in either case, so without the ability to, as Alanna-san would say, 'smash the crap out of something', I feel a bit lost.  It will make the recovery of Hiraku-san's relics easy, though, especially with the aid of the kamaitachi.  The two, Kama and Ita(I do hope poor Hiraku-san was not responsible for their naming.  Even I could be more original then that.) are quite friendly.  Perhaps I could convince them to play a prank on Moira-san for her joke about painting the Batman symbol on my mirror.

We did not speak of much else at the time.  I helped Hiraku-san to his feet, and we were headed to the surface.  The rest of the story will come.  At least they have not tried to set me up with Aren-san for...at least an hour.  I believe that is progress for Moira-san and Alanna-san.