Second Verse, Fifth Line

[inchhighpervert]

[Issun has been wandering the halls in a half-daze longer than he remembers, first from the shock and pain of the burn and losing his barcode, then from lack of food, and then lack of sleep. Not being able to sleep did quite a number on him, and when he finally is able to sleep it's in the middle of some hallway somewhere.]

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[celestial_okami]

[ISSUN! Ammy bristles, running down the hall as fast as she can. Issun was no match for the Ninetails alone, even if she couldn't be hurt. She's got to catch him when he wakes up again.]

[inchhighpervert]

[Issun wakes again in darkness, terrified of the growls and the two strangely glowing shapes of Ammy and his grandfather. His ink brush lies beside him, torn into segments and completely useless.

The growls grow stronger and he tries to run, but doesn't know which direction the fox is in without any sunlight to guide him.]

I don't wanna die! Not like this! AMMY!

[celestial_okami]

[She's coming! His room's much closer to hers, so it isn't long before his door is cut down and she leaps through the doorway, Solar Flare blazing bright enough to light up the room. She bares her fangs, snarling and growling at the demon fox, standing over Issun to shield him.

Come on! She'll get him out of here.]

[inchhighpervert]

[He shields his eyes from the bright light, temporarily blind. When he can see again, Ammy's standing above him but also lying dead along with his grandpa a few feet away, beneath the demon fox.]

A-Ammy? But I thought...

[celestial_okami]

[It's not real, Issun. Neither is the fox. Everything is fine, so come on little bug, it's time to go. She ducks her head, nudging him gently with her nose. See? She's real. This is just an illusion. Hop on, she'll get him outside and they can sort this mess out.]

[inchhighpervert]

Yeah, but... You felt real over there, too. [but he won't say no to a living goddess, so he hops up onto her nose and clings to her fur]

[celestial_okami]

[She turns tail as soon as he's settled and dashes out of the room just in time to avoid an attack by the false Ninetails. Is Issun alright? The latest curse seems to bring everyone's worst fears to life, and it seems the only way to dispel the curse is to come to terms with that fear.

It's hard, she should know. She had to do it too.]

[inchhighpervert]

[is clinging to her stronger than he'd like to admit]

Worst fears? Haha, that's silly, I'm not afraid of anything! ...Ok, that's a lie. [looks back at his broken door]

Since when was I afraid of Nintails? You took her out easily.

[celestial_okami]

[She's not sure. Maybe it isn't a fear of the Ninetails specifically, but something that the Ninetails represents? This is more complex than she can work out on her own.]

[inchhighpervert]

[grumbles]

I don't like this at all. [trying reeeeally hard not to let what false!Gramps said affect him] What if she comes out of the room after us? Do I gotta fight her or something? She broke my brush.

[celestial_okami]

[They can't come out after them, the halls are safe.

And Issun? Her ears flick forward, tilting her head up a little as she tries to focus on him.

Issun's the greatest Envoy she ever had. Out of all her envoys, no matter what anyone says. She'd never have been able to defeat Yami if he hadn't come through and spread the word, she was very close to dying when the prayers of the people reached her.

Thank you Issun, for everything. She's never considered him a failure.]

[inchhighpervert]

[he's not blushing, no]

Thanks, Ammy. But I haven't really helped all that much here, have I? We're still stuck and you're not at your top power like you were then.

I don't think I've been doing enough.

[celestial_okami]

[Don't worry, she won't tell anyone.

It's alright, they've still got time. It's hard to fight against something that devours entire stars as it is. If nothing else, they can try harder next time. She has no idea how to operate this Ark anyway.]

[inchhighpervert]

What if there isn't a next time? What if this is like Yami again? There aren't as many people here as there were in all of Nippon.

[celestial_okami]

[Hmmm, she hadn't thought of that. But it doesn't feel like it's over yet.]

[inchhighpervert]

[settles down in her fur, quite comfortable]

So... You said I gotta face my fears or that fox won't leave my room, right? Could I face her with you along with me, or is that cheating?