Falsehood

I spoke to 'Mother', in this strange place.  I...do not believe it was truely her.  It was very convincing.  There were a few things that bothered me, but given the circumstances, I ignored them at the time.  She seemed...more openly disdainful of the others.  Even if she truely felt that when she sent me on this mission, I do not believe she would have allowed it to show now, regardless of how she felt about them.

I defended my companions against the various accusations, when I could.  They are not as bad as 'Mother' made them out to be.  And perhaps she was correct in that I should be more wary of the Lie-smith's daughter, and Hel-sama's words.  But as I said, I can think of no reason for whatever forces Aren-chan uses to divine the future to mislead her in this, nor for Hel-sama to.  Under other circumstances, certainly, but this?  I cannot believe it.  I know this one thing to be truth - Aren-chan is my friend.  

There are other things that make me believe this could not have been Amaterasu-Omikami.  Primarily, she knew details of what I saw that only three beings in any world truely know - myself, the elf-ling, and Aren.  I had never entered them down in these pages.  And then...the being before me called into question the education  Mother arranged for me.  I do not believe Mother would have done so...nor did she fail.  I was trained to be wary of the very tactics she claimed Aren-chan was using.  Furthermore, the being lost her cool.  Mother, even if I was being a foolish, petulant child, would never have done so.  The being grew angry, however...and would not, or more then likely could not, name the things Mother would know, but not an illusion or trick.  

To compound the matter, the scenary...flickered.  From Ise to the Empire State Building lobby.  This, to me, was the final straw in the shattering illusion.  I called the being to name itself and prepare to stand before justice.  Then the apperant illusion of Ise broke completely, leaving me standing with the others.  

I do not believe it was truely you, Mother, for I know you also can read these pages as I write them.  But perhaps it is simply my growing paranoia in the face of the battle ahead, or from being away from home, and the last family I have left, and everything I really know.  There is just a nagging feeling it truely was you, and I have been a terrible fool.  If that feeling is true...Mother, I will make amends to you.  Either I will bring the artifact itself to your hands in Ise, or I will return and present to you the Reza-Shouten, which I recovered from the Titanspawn several days ago.

Scattered

I have, at least, partially redeemed myself in my training.  One stroke cut down the final tengu.  Vincent-san is....fitting of the stereotype of New Yorkers.  Loud, obnoxious, but...he seems nice enough, otherwise.  He does not have any sense of how to properly behave.  It will take a great deal of work to turn him into someone I would feel comfortable taking to Japan.  Aren-chan I do not have to worry over, at least.

We traveled to the Empire State Building.  After the destruction of the World Trade Center buildings, it is the tallest building in the city.  There were roadblocks, no doubt work of the Titanspawn, but given that we had taken to the rooftops, it was not very difficult to evade them.  At the door we met Náttráðr, again.  Just as arrogant and infuriating as he was in the mountain.  I offered to allow him to surrender himself, his armies, and the artifact.  As you may guess, he did not take me up on the offer.

I tuned out the taunts he and Aren-chan threw at each other.  It is best that way.  I called upon Reza-Shouten's kami.  And...I once again discovered another person who could speak Japanese.  Vincent, this time.  I must stop underestimating those I encounter.  It is a bad habit.  It also seemed as if we would finally be able to put an end to Náttráðr's evil....

Then we entered the building itself.  I seemed to find myself transported to Mother's shrine in Ise.  Yet there were no people.  I was entirely alone, and Aren-chan and Vincent-san were nowhere to be seen.

Apples

The climb, as I predicted, was not too bad.  Cold, but I gather that's to be expected.  I don't think Aren-chan enjoyed it as much as I, though.  We did, though, finally reach what we would later learn was Central Park.  After she used her ability to try and read fate, we basically proceeded at random.  I should note to myself...Aren-chan is at least a very quick learner when it comes to swearing.

It didn't take long before we ran into a man being chased by tengu.  The scion we were no doubt meant to meet.    I have not taken enough time to properly train.  I will have to do so when there is time, as I am growing rather tired of not performing up to my own standards.  The Tengu seemed not to have any better luck.  They were unable to so much as harm me, and when they struck Aren-chan, she simply...I am not sure.  Phased out of her clothes?  It left her rather...ah...nude, leaving our unnamed 'friend' to comment.  I shall have to smash his skull in later for leering.

The annoying man struck down one of the tengu with direct, unarmed combat holds.  He is strong, if nothing else.  My next strike took another of the tengu out of the fight by tearing it's throat out with my naginata's blade.

I will continue the rest later.  For now, I need the time to clear my head.  Dealing with...everything has been difficult, and I have no great desire to finish the tale while I cannot concentrate on it.