[Satori Effect] Day 5 and 1/2: The Women Left Behind

Osamu, Satori, and the girls gathered in the courtyard, the morning air chilling their skin. Going off of Yoko's troubled expression, Satori knew Osamu had explained his suicidal plan to the girls. Yoko gnawed at her fingernails as Osamu, Izanami, and Tsukiakari prepared to make their departure to the Underworld.

"The Underworld is going to be crawling with shikome," Tsukiakari warned. "Don't complain to me if being down there scars you for life. Even my granddad hated the place."

"I'll take nightmares over being dead," Osamu said. "Yoko, I'm sorry, but you absolutely have to stay here."

"I don't like this plan at all, Osamu," Yoko said. "It's not much of a plan, it's more like a giant gamble..."

Osamu smiled. "Hey, don't give me that face. Just support your husband, all right? That's all you have to do."

"Return here as soon as you grab Mizuhame's gourd, Osamu." Satori chimed. "Dying is against the rules, you hear?"

Osamu sighed. "Oh, sure. I'll just try not to die in the freakin' Underworld! Want me to weave you a basket with my feet while I'm at it?!"

"That would be lovely, thanks! I prefer lacquer, if you don't mind!" Satori sang.

(Always so cheeky...)

"I imagine the Shikome down there are going to be much tougher than they are here." Tsukiakari said. "Satori has trained the ones here not to attack indiscriminately. Down there, it's a whole different story."

"Sounds like you'll need a bit of a helping hand, then." Satori snickered. "Here, you can take this as well. It belonged to Bishamon."

Satori snapped his fingers, opening a small portal at his feet. A golden sword wrapped in white gauze came shooting up from the ground, handle first. Satori caught it and tossed it over to Osamu, immediately recognizing its golden shimmer.

"Bishamon's sword..." Osamu gasped. "Thank you, Satori. It'll come in handy."

"Can't say it's good to see that damned thing again, but at least it's for a good cause." Tsukiakari groaned.

"Osamu, the underworld is a big place. Where exactly do you think the gourd is?" Izanami asked.

"Huh? I should be asking you that, Izanami. Mizuhame died venturing into the Underworld to find you, so we'll have to trace her steps from beginning to end."

Izanami gasped. "That's right! Mizuhame made her attempt after Izanagi did! She must've known I was by the river of blood!"

"River of blood?!" Osamu recoiled.

"I told you not to complain..." Tsukiakari sighed.

"I-I'm fine. Just make sure I don't get eaten alive down there." Osamu stammered.

Osamu couldn't help but peek over at Yoko, her face turning red and her eyes swelling with tears. She was trying so hard to keep her composure and trust her husband would make it out okay. Seeing her silently endure a barrage of anxiety and heartache was too much for Osamu. The last time any of them spent their days hoping someone was going to be okay, they lost their beloved Isabella. Osamu knew better than anyone how much her passing still hurt.

"Just give me a minute. Get ready to leave, Izanami." Osamu said.

Osamu approached Yoko with a gentle aura around him as he empathized with her worry. The two locked eyes like it was the first time they were meeting. Osamu held Yoko's hands and locked his fingers with hers.

"Don't be afraid. I always come back, don't I?" Osamu asked.

"What if this is the last time I see you? You promised me we wouldn't become widows." Yoko cried.

"And you won't. I'll keep that promise. I love you too much to die down there. If I'm dying anywhere, it's in your arms on a day far away from today."

Yoko scoffed. "You're just sweet-talking me now."

Osamu smiled and kissed Yoko's forehead.

"Tell me you love me, Osamu."

"I love you, Yoko."

"How much?"

Osamu embraced Yoko, holding her as though she was going to fade away at any moment. Yoko realized that Osamu was trembling in her arms. He could barely keep his legs from shaking.

"Yoko, Lucrezia called. Things might get violent here while we're down in the Underworld. Make sure you're in a safe place."

Yoko nodded, careful not to react too strongly in sight of Satori. "Right..."

Osamu backed away and gave Yoko a thumbs up. "I'll come back in one piece. Don't worry. Izanami, Gekko, let's go."

Izanami nodded. "Right."

"Don't worry, Yoko! He's got a war goddess to protect him!" Tsukiakari sang.

Yoko's heart burned with worry as she gazed upon the three. "You better, Gekko! I'm leaving it all up to you!"

Izanami smiled and summoned her scythe. "Of course we'll protect each other, Yoko! All right, let's go."

Tsukiakari kissed the hilt of her sword, the same one gifted to her by Isabella three years ago. Izanami slammed the butt of her scythe down upon the pavement and a shadowy portal whisked the three away from the courtyard in a flash. Kagutsuchi watched them disappear from the window of the third story room she painted with Osamu. She clasped her hands and bowed her head, sending a silent prayer for their safe return.

Satori chuckled. "I had always wondered how he was able to pull in three women, let alone two goddesses. Now I see why."

Yoko dried her remaining tears with her sleeve and turned towards Satori. Her sapphire eyes pierced right through him. "Satori, if Osamu doesn't make it back, I'll make you regret waking up today. That's a promise."

Satori smiled, tapping his cane against the ground as he walked away. "Remember the Alamo."

The underworld was not of fire and brimstone, nor constant screams and wails of agony. It was a cold, lonely, and silent place. Osamu found himself in the middle of the cavernous labyrinth of the Underworld, the hairs on his arms standing up as goosebumps riddled his skin. It was so dark he couldn't even see his hands in front of his face, let alone Izanami or Tsukiakari.

"Guys?" Osamu called out, his voice echoing down the depths of the caves and his teeth chattering.

"I'm right here, Osa. Hang on." Tsukiakari responded.

Tsukiakari slid her blade from its scabbard, enwreathing it with fire. The amber light of the flickering flame provided enough light for everyone to see a few feet in front of them. While Izanami seemed all too familiar with the Underworld, Osamu looked visibly spooked. The atmosphere was anything but welcoming.

"You okay, Osa?" Izanami asked.

"I knew it would be awful, but I wasn't expecting this." Osamu said, his teeth still chattering. "I can't believe you were stuck here for such a long time. How did you get by?"

"Well, I can laugh about it now, but back then, I didn't get by. It was an awful period for me." Izanami said. "Let's not get sidetracked, though. We're here for Mizuhame's gourd. Let's find it, grab it, and get out of here."

"You mean get the hell out of here." Osamu corrected, to Tsukiakari's vexation.

"Izanami, maybe we should just leave him here." Tsukiakari groaned.

"Sorry, just trying to cope with all of this. Let's go." Osamu sighed.

"Care to lead the way, Izanami?" Tsukiakari suggested.

"Y-Yeah..." Izanami stammered.

"...You don't remember the way at all, do you?" Osamu asked.

Izanami blushed and hung her head in shame. "It's like this place changes with every visit! I'm sorry!"

"It's fine. We'll just have to find our way as best as we can. Maybe as we start walking you'll start remembering all the different paths." Osamu suggesting.

"Yeah, let's start there. Stick together and don't get split up." Tsukiakari suggested.

"You don't have to tell me twice." Osamu said.

Looking around, Izanami suddenly gasped and pointed her finger. "Ah, Osamu, you were right! I think I'm starting to remember my way! We make a right here!"

"I always believed in you, Izanami. Well, let's hope to find that gourd soon. Look out for it as we walk." Osamu said.

"Got it." Tsukiakari affirmed.

(Lucrezia...the rest is up to you.)

Aika, Rei, Shinju, and the Shoku Twins stood before the gilded front gates of Satori's mansion, melting beneath the sweltering sun. Aika's phone went off in her pocket, startling her.

"That must be her. Answer it." Shinju said.

"Hello?" Aika said, accepting the call. Lucrezia answered on the other end.

"It's time. We're assaulting the mansion."

Lucrezia hang up, leaving Aika to relay the order. "Yeah, that was Lucrezia. She says it's time start."

Fired up by the order, Shinju formed a finger gun with her left hand, aimed it at the gate, and blasted it off its hinges. The blast and metallic clang of the gates bouncing off of the garden grounds grabbed the attention of every shikome tending to the flowers. They all stopped what they were doing, dropping their garden hoes and watering cans and turning their attention to the puff of smoke and dust rising from the property's front entrance.

"I suppose this is how Shinju spells 'subtlety'." Akatsuki quipped.

Shinju marched through the archway, her poncho and fiery, orange hair swaying in the wind. "Sorry everyone, but we're crashing this party!”