It was silent in the island. Parents were tucking in their children, birds feeding their babies, water and wind playing together.
In a bamboo forest. Yumi had her eyes open. She was meditating. Her Katana laying in front of her. Her hands glued together. And she closed her eyes.
Her mind clicked to the last moment she was in Elyngard with the Athena legion. She was talking to Dante. "Hey, 'you sure you don't need help?"
She sighed as she rolled her eyes. Glancing to her side. "I'm sure. I'll be back before anything happens."
"We can always swim there. Or teleport." He tilted his head. "I'll—"
"Dante." She looked into his eyes. And he didn't say anything. But he grinned with a sigh. "Okay then…"
"I'll be counting." He crossed his arms. Smirking knowing.
She had her eyes closed. A little smirk on her face as she nodded and turned around. "Don't count with your fingers. You'll forget quicker."
"Hey! worry about yourself." He shouted. And she let out a dry chuckle.
A man came behind him. He was old enough to be her father. He was fully armored as well. "Are you ready?"
Yumi stood up. And she glanced to the side, looking at him with one eye. "Yes." She turned to go toward him. And the man smiled. "Good." But she only passed by him. And he looked concerned.
"Yumi—" he stuck his hand out. She grabbed his wrist before anything.
"No. I'm doing this only for our people." She glared at him. The man looked at her with loving eyes.
"And what will you do after?"
"I will go to my family." Yumi spoke her truth. The man replied back. "It is 300 men against hundreds of thousands. At least be their leader. Show them your potential—" But before anything else can happen. Screaming was heard. And the two looked back. Eyes wide.
"Amaterasu!" The man yelled. Yumi chants. "To the village!"
She dashes to the scene while men kill several innocents.
One desperately crawls to safety. While one of the men walk slowly. A dead look in his eyes. Yumi watches eyes wide as she watches chaos in front of her.
A man yells near the fire was next. "Please, my lord!! Help us!" He looks at the night sky. Whimpering. "For the people!!" And he gets kicked in the head. Putting him near a bed of flames as the soldier yells at the religious man. "No one is coming to save you."
Yumi narrowed her eyes and grits her teeth. Her eyes flash before her eyes.
She remembers she was upstairs in a house. She was a little girl. She was acting dead for as long as she could. The words of her mother echoed in her mind as she touched her own cheek. Reminiscing of her mother. "Act. Dead. And when you are free, Run."
"Villagers! Run! Or this will be your fate!" A soldier yelled, reminiscing of her mothers last words. Stabbing the crawling villager in the back to end their life. The same way her mother died. And Yumi watched with rage. And roared at the violence.
"NOOOO!!" She dashed into the scene. The first soldier got on a knee to get his blade from a villagers body. But got one into his arm and cut off. The soldier yells at his own blood. Grabbing the empty portion of his arm
She parries a incoming blade. And ducks under another soldiers attack. Spinning reverse as she slices his back. And trips him and gets him on one knee and slicks his spin. Kicking him into the soldier that she just parried. The dead body falling on top of him.
Yumi went up to him as he tried to get the body off of him. But Yumi knocked him out with a storm to the face.
Meanwhile. Men march with their sticks. Holding their queen on top of a moving Throne. And the Queen grins at the chaos she can see. After all. The fire is her own. "Amaterasu. My lady," The man bowed. "What now? Everyone in the Minya village is dead."
"How many is that?" She asked. Uncrossing her legs.
"Our fourteen thousandth kill tonight." The soldier assured.
"That's awful." She grinned. "I like that."
She got off of her throne. Landing on her feet. "launch the solar flares. Make it a hundred thousand more."
"Rgh!!" Yumi slices through an enemy. Something the other army was doing to the other men. PAnd she shakes the blood off of her Katana. And the old man stabs another and does the same.
"There's too many." Yumi told him. The old man got into a stance. "Honor can face them all." He roared back into battle. "No mercy!!" But a fire lit in the sky. It was a solar flare Making Yumi look up.
And it was ready to crash down on everyone. Yumi yelled. "Watch out!!"
It slammed into the minya village. Villagers screaming before impact. And it blacked Yumi out. Falling on her back.
As she fell. She reminisced yet again of the past. But deeper this time.
She was barely a teenager. It was a sunny day. Someone went to wake her up. "My princess, lord Takao wants to see you."
"Mmm?" She rubbed her eyes as the man bowed before her. "I'll be waiting."
Yumi yawned as she got out. "Ahh…" she stretched her arms. She looked down as she walked outside. And she looked in front of her. And there was a row of two samurai in front of her with a red mantle starting. She blinked in surprise. "Excuse me—" she stepped forward. And they moved out of the way as she walked. Surprising her. She took another step forward as she walked past another row. Each moving out of the way for her. Until she was met with Lord Takao. Who smiled warmly. "Princess, Yumi." He had a scroll that he clenched his hand. And she wiped her eyes to see him.
"Uncle." She smiled back. Stepping up towards to hug him back. "My dear." And he hugged her just as tight. Kneeling in front of her. While the samurai got into a crowd on their knees. "What's going on?"
"My fruit. It is time I tell you the truth." He put a hand on her cheek. And she watched his lips with intrigue.
"It has been awhile since your fathers death, yes?"
Yumi didn't respond. But she only looked down. "You don't have to worry about that." He lifted her chin. "I want to be your father. Yumi, I want you to be Yumi Takao."
He gave her the scroll in his hand. And she held it with both hands. "These are the documents. And I only want your conscent."
She looks hesitant. As she remembers the death of her family. But he was the one that saved her.
But even at a young age. She respected her family. "I'm… sorry."
"Yumi—" he tries to put a hand on her arm, but she pushes him away. Running away. Tears in her eyes as the old man can only watch her "daughter" go away.
As she runs away she trips. Panting as she lands on her face.
Exactly the place she's in currently.
She pants with struggle while she's bloodied. Blurrily looking around. The little she can see. Is Takao getting dragged by soldiers. She clenches her fist. Trying to crawl over there. "Father…!!"
But he's knocked out to even hear her.
She groans in pain. "No…!" She crawls further. But her wrist is stomped on. Making her yell with a loud crack! grunt loudly after.
"What did you do!?"
"Shut up!" He grabs her by the wrist. Squeezing it as he pulls her up. The goddess of the sun appears. She glares at her with her fiery eyes. Standing in front of her. "Samurai."
Yumi glared back with hers. Men were guarding her every move.
"Did you think you'd save the village?" She smiled sarcastically. "With the few hundred men your uncle had?"
She crouched getting close to her face. "You can't. In fact," She got up. "My men have you in my hold."
Yumi's face curled. As she panted. Her nostrils flared. "Get them off of me. And I'll send you to hell to apologize to the dead." She said breathily. gritting her teeth.
"In my domain?" She grinned. "I spared you years ago. And it was cause of your uncle. What would you be without people? Without your honor." The men picked her up. Dragging her back. "You'd be a girl with a sword."
Yumi squirms as she growls. "Son of a—"
Amaterasu. Squints in pity. "Reputation and Honor don't work here." And sighs, walking away. Putting a shoulder on her soldier. "Knock her out. The Aragami will eat at her potential threat."
Yumi's eyes widened. "I'll kill you!!" She yells. Before she gets a foot across her face.
She lies on her back. Eyes closed half dead.
And The next day…
She was lying on a futon. Wrapped in a robe. Her body was wrapped in tape. And her wrist was taped up.
A man was making tea beside her. Her eyes finally opened. Slowly and nothing was visible on her part. Until she saw a ceiling over her head.
She blinked as she groaned. She slowly looked to her side. Seeing a man with a dark mask on. And her eyes widened. "!!" She sat up. Using both hands to push back. "Who are you?" Yumi hissed. She crawled back with her hands. supporting herself with her fractured hand. Making her grunt. Putting it over her shoulder. As she was against the corner. Looking at him suspicious.
"Many consider me the Aragami." The old man sipped his tea. she observed his face as he spoke. And looked across the room and saw a samurai's armor. And a dark, terrifying purple Katana's aura shining. Fitting the mask. She narrowed her eyes.She stood up. Getting into fighting stance. But the man was still on his knees. "What will you take from me?"
"Please." He bowed. He assured her. "I am not the god you think me to be. I'd like for it to stay that way."
Surprising Yumi.But she only lowered her guard. Her hands clenched. "God?" She asked. And the man put his head down as he spoke. "I am the 'Ferocious god'."
Yumi didn't believe it "Ferocious god? Your bowed seemed spent for mercy."
The Man chuckled. "I have strayed the path of the warrior long ago."
Yumi raised an eyebrow. "Hm. Susanoo?"
Susanoo nodded. "Yes. I saw your body on the Minya village. How could I not pick a warrior up their feet."
"If it's true, I expected you to do the opposite." Yumi clarified. Slowly getting on her knees.
"I do not accept my sisters or anyone ways… I've changed. I haven't seen her in years."
"May I ask for what?" Yumi asked concerned. The man put his tea down. "They are matters that shouldn't be discussed."
Yumi didn't say anything. And bowed back. "Right… I apologize."
Susanoo shook his head. "Forget I said anything. I thought you were from Elyngard? With the great Athena Legion and their captain, Dante Koryu."
Yumi put her hands on her knees. "I am. Just got caught in family businesses. My uncle sent a messenger bird to our home and wanted for a long awaited war with the legion of Amaterasu.
"Well, family always comes first." He poured a cup of tea. Sliding it into her. "I know what happened." He reminded her. "I was with Amaterasu, after all."
She took the tea in her hand. "Why did you really pick me up?" She looked up at him as he got up with a huff, "Surely it wasn't for a talk."
"Aren't you ready." He pulled a map. Spreading it on the ground. "There are people like you and I. Who want Amaterasu's reign of terror up and out of here. But you and I both know we can't just beat a army of men and superhuman legionnaires." He looked at Yumi. "I found those people."
She crossed her arms. "Go on."
"First; Sugi. A wrathful demon. An onna-musha, a female ronin. A mercenary upon our people. Currently with the task to eliminate the legionnaires of Amaterasu. They say she's blind, but she can hear any move coming from you. She uses echolocation to catch the breath of her enemies and steal them from their throat. And her weapons are your pick."
Yumi's eyes widened at the mention. "She's my friend. I had no idea she was up to the task."
Susanoo approved. "She's appropriate to it."
"Second; Yoshio Kuranosuke. Leader of the Ronin. A warrior, master of the masterless. He's already fought many of Amaterasu's men. He's just waiting to end it permanently. And All of his men are powerful.
"Of course, and what about the Yokai?"
Susanoo almost made the mask smile. "Ah, i was getting to there."
"Third; Nuraihyon. A legendary supreme commander of the beasts. The Yokai. Leader of all monsters known to man-kind. He's taken a tank to his army with all of Amaterasu's focus on diminishing them. But we should get the others. And show them that working together can achieve great things."
"Right." Yumi put her hand on her chin. "I should get going then." She got up, "Where's my armor."
"I don't think you're going to be using broken armor that for long." Susanoo crossed his arms. And Yumi launched her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
A few minutes later. Yumi tilted her head. "Remnants?"
Yumi stood, the armor clinging to her like a second skin. The golden dragon shoulder plates shimmered with faint purple veins, catching the light with every slight movement. The black hooded mask framed her face in shadow, lending her an air of mystery and menace, the edges of the hood flowing seamlessly into the armor's shoulders.
Her pants were loose, dark indigo, etched with a black dragon curling sinuously across the fabric in an elegant S-shape from front to back. Each scale was outlined in purple, and the dragon's pink eyes seemed to glimmer, following her as she moved. The black sandals on her feet completed the ensemble, grounding her in both practicality and stealth.
The armor wasn't just clothing—it moved with her, reacting almost instinctively to her posture and breath. There was a subtle weight, a living presence she couldn't quite place, as though something powerful had been waiting inside the metal and fabric for a wielder like her. Even without a word, it demanded attention; even without action, it radiated power.
When Yumi shifted, the dragon across her back seemed to coil in response, the golden shoulder plates gleaming with every flex of her arm. In that moment, she felt untouchable, yet aware that this armor carried secrets she was only beginning to understand.
Susanoo crossed his arms. "This is a cursed armor. Ryujin's soul was put into this armor before he died. But it has no equal."
Yumi grabbed her Katana and put it on her back. Looking at her fractured wrist "Ryujin… I will put it to good use." She grabs it gently. Looking toward Susanoo. "Not only with that." Susanoo shows his arm. It had a Oni marking it with its mouth open. He opened his hand and the strings attached to his fingers opened to pop a knife out. And it shocked Yumi. "Woah."
Susanoo advised her already. "Use it for swordless situations." He snapped it onto her. "As well as theses." He said as he wrapped rope around the arm to store Kunai.
Yumi didn't really like the idea of the knife for a samurai. Looking at him as she tries to take the blade off. "Susanoo—"
But he stops her and puts a hand on top of her hand. "Don't thank me. Thank me when you've killed her."
Yumi stood silent. Looking at the blade. But she closed her heart to her honor. And popped it out. Grabbing the blades handle in her grip. Before spinning and popping it back in.
"You seem excellent with a blade." Susanoo admired. "Let's get you to your horse."
Her vision blurred, as if the world itself swam around her. She remembered another time—
The sea spitting her out onto foreign sand. Her body half-dead, crawling through the tide like a broken shell. Salt burned her lips. Her hand dug into the shore, trembling, refusing to die there.
Then, the window blew in front of her. Making her look up. A shadow of a woman—radiant and unyielding—descended over her. Athena. Her voice was calm, resolute, as if she had been waiting for this moment.
"Even the sea could not claim you, you've been on a boat for days." Athena said. "Why are you here?"
Yumi pulled her hand forward. Barely being able to move. "I was gonna get a replacement…"
Before Yumi could speak, she saw it—her katana, driven into the sand before her, upright as though the gods themselves had placed it there. Its hilt shimmered, waiting for her hand. With the last strength in her bones, she reached for it. The grip was warm, alive, welcoming. She looked at Athena. "Who are you?"
"I'm a woman of few words. I see something in you. Something I won't replace in you. And I can only make it better." She stood her hand out. "If you let me, that is." She smiled.
And just like that—
The memory bled into the present. Yumi's hand clenched again, this time around the saddle of her horse. She pulled herself upright, eyes sharper than ever, her resolve unshaken by gods or men.
Susanoo was right beside her. "My best guess is that Sugi is currently hunting army territory. There will be soldiers looking for a fight."
"I'm just as ready as they are." Yumi pet her horse. Neighing in approval. Susanoo nodded. "Then show them."
She nodded back and snapped her horse to run. "Let's go!" She leans forward. Flying through the path. Susanoo only watched with his arms crossed. "…She sure is a reminder of the past."
Yumi was flying with her horse. She was in the middle of spider lilies. With birds almost as navigators. She looked at the map wrapped in her hand. And she muttered, "I'm coming, Amaterasu." And galloped into the distance of smoke and battle grounds. Thunder strikes as she does so.
Legions of the Gods:Fabrics of Tsukinoshima.