We will still staring at the bird head in shock when Sam landed in the middle of our group; Sakuya clasped safely in his arms.
“Thank you!” Amy rushed over and hugged them both together.
“You're very welcome.” Sam placed Sakuya down gently. “But let's not tarry; that bird had several friends up there who are now circling.”
Our gazes turned toward the sky warily before we began a rapid pace towards the lightening horizon. Although the birds circled above, it took them awhile to work up the courage to attack us. By the time they did, Odin and I had shifted back into dragon forms, and all of us were prepared for the attack.
“Guard your eyes!” Amy shouted.
The flock descended in a rushing wind of wings and flashing beaks, and just as they came within our reach, Amaterasu held out her arms wide, and her whole body flared with the brightness of the Sun. We covered our eyes until the glare died down, and then made use of the advantage. The blinded birds were easy prey, and with the Four Horsemen, two dragons, and two goddesses, we took down enough of them to send the rest flying away blindly with their tail feathers in a twist.
After the Battle of the Birds, the sound of screeching ceased, and we made it out of the dark unscathed. Just a few feet away from the bird-terrain, there was another empty throne, and beyond that were six Japanese torii gates; red columns supporting a sloping center brace. Between the columns of each gate, the air shimmered into a blue haze that made it impossible to see what lay beyond it.
“Here is our path to other territories and realms,” Amy said. “One gate will take us back to the Human Realm, but the others will take us further into the Buddhist Territory.”
Amaterasu swung Kagu-hana's head around and removed his rope gag. He was blinking furiously.
“You couldn't have shielded my eyes before you did your sunlight thing?” Kagu-hana whined. “I'm still seeing spots.”
“But can you see well enough to know which portion of the realm you fall into?” Amy asked him.
“Yeah, just get it over with,” Kagu-hana grumbled.
Amy smirked and tossed the head through the first gate. She let him fall, and then drug him back.
“Beasts!” Kagu-hana declared fearfully. “That was the Realm of Beasts.”
“Okay,” Amy said before she swung him through another gate.
The next gate led to the Human Realm, but Amy had to toss Kagu-hana through three more gates before it became obvious that the last gate led to Jigoku. It was lucky for Kagu-hana, though; he didn't have to experience Jigoku, even briefly.
“What do we do with him now?” Ted asked as he waved toward Kagu-hana.
“Once we're gone, he'll be able to access his full form,” Amy said as she untied Kagu-hana. “He can make his way back on his own.”
“You can only have a whole body when no one's around?” Sam asked in shock.
“That's what the myths have done to me,” Kagu-hana growled.
“Looks like you have the right to be a dick,” I noted.
“Well, not having one for most of my life has had that effect,” he grumbled.
I chuckled. “Fair enough.”
“Thank you all, for your help,” Amy said warmly. “I'm going into Jigoku now to rescue my souls. I don't expect you to come with me; you've done more than enough by coming this far. Use the torii to trace to the Human Realm; I'll take it from here.”
“You've said that before,” I noted. “I think we'll stay with you this time and see it through.”
“Hold on,” Ira growled. “You don't get to make decisions for all of us, Vervain.”
“Ira, if you want to leave, there's the gate,” Azrael said. “Vervain's not deciding for you; she's deciding for herself.”
“Then why did she say 'we?'” Ira shot back.
“Because she knows that Odin and I would follow her through any hell in any of the realms,” Azrael said calmly. “Look; I'm grateful that all of you came with us, but—just as Amaterasu said—this is far enough. Go home; we have it from here.”
“Fuck me,” Ira huffed as Sam and Ted just stared at him. “Fine; it's not like we haven't been to Hell before.”
“Not this Hell,” Amy said. “And there's no way out of it; we'll have to journey back here to take the torii gate out.”
“Amy, I don't do things half-ass,” I said. “I've come this far; I might as well see all of the Japanese Underworld.”
“Now that you mention it,” Ted said, “it would be cool to be able to say that I've walked through Jigoku.”
“I can't wait to rub it in Cid's face,” Sam added.
Ira chuckled despite himself. “Why do I hang out with you morons?”
“Because your magic forces you to.” Thaddeus smirked.
“Oh, right.” Ira nodded. “I forgot.”
“Are you all certain you wish to do this?” Amy asked with deadly sincerity. “You'll see things in Jigoku that will haunt you. I truly won't think less of any of you for leaving.”
“My son's soul was torn in two before he was born,” I said softly. “I felt every second of it, and there isn't anything that could possibly be worse than that for me.”
“I can't argue with that; it sounds truly terrible.” Amy sighed and then looked at Sakuya.
“No,” Sakuya said resolutely. “I'm going with you this time.”
“You are more loyal than my blood-relatives,” Amy said sadly as she kissed Sakuya's cheek. “Thank you.”
“You have been just as loyal
