Perhaps now with things back to normal in Sei-an city, Amaterasu could find something to do.
As Amaterasu left the palace, she found Kaguya, staring off into the distance.
Kaguya seemed upset that she worried Me.Bamboo, but something was bothering her.
She felt the need to return to a place in her memory.
However, before Amaterasu and Issun could find out what it was, she left, but before leaving, she mentioned how she needed to go to Sasa sanctuary.
Before going after Kaguya though, Amaterasu looked around Sei-an city, amazed with how beautiful the place looked when it wasn't overrun by people struggling to live due to the deadly mist.
While exploring, Amaterasu found someone in need of something.
Apparently, they needed a Golden mushroom which reminded Amaterasu of the one she currently had.
As she gave it to the chef, Amaterasu helped the man light the fire in the stove.
It was with that, Moegami, god of inferno appeared before her.
"Ah...Amaterasu, origin of all that is good and mother us all, my power had slowly begun to diminish while you were away, but with that man's zeal and your pure heart, my power has been restored, with that, I have now harnessed his energy to bestow upon you a new power, unleash your wrath on your enemies with a mighty fire burst."
With that, Amaterasu learned a new ability with inferno.
She knew she needed to go to Sasa sanctuary, but before going, she explored Sei-an city.
After finishing up in Sei-an city, Amaterasu went to Sasa sanctuary to find Kaguya.
Upon finding Kaguya, Amaterasu let out a sigh of relief but soon noticed Kaguya talking to Mr.Bamboo.
"The gods be praised, could it really be you, Kaguya, I thought I've never see you again after the emperor decided to suddenly summon you to Sei-an city."
"Well now, I thought you guys would eventually run into each here sooner or later, I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm happy for you two!"
"Oh Kaguya, lets lice together now, happily ever after, granddaughter and grandfather, besides, we could sell my bamboo ware, just you and me."
"Grandfather."
"Hm, is something wrong Kaguya, do you need to return to the emperor?"
"No, it's not that, it's just, well....I can't live with you grandfather."
"H-Huh, why is that, I mean, just what are talking about, Kaguya, your not about to elope or run away from something, are you?"
"I honestly didn't know you were here to begin with grandfather, for you see, it might have been best if we had not met before I departed."
"Depart, well where ever could you be going, Kaguya?"
"To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure myself, but this Royal Crest here that's been carved into the earth that lies within Sasa Sanctuary, it calls to me."
By some force, Kaguya managed to make a hole appeared in the ground which left Mr.Bamboo and Issun shocked, but Amaterasu only stood there, waiting to see what would happen next.
"Kaguya, just what exactly are you doing?!"
"Grandfather, it's like I'm being driven by some kind of invisible force, for you see, below this crest, far below into the earth, something that's been linked to my mysterious past awaits me, I must go, I need to know what it is, I must see what lies within this hole."
As Kaguya jumped into the hole, Mr.Bamboo and Issun were already worried as it, but Amaterasu knew it was too dangerous for Kaguya to go alone by herself, so Amaterasu jumped in to help her.
Amaterasu dug a safe path for Kaguya until eventually, they found what Kaguya was looking for, a giant rocket ship.
"U-Um, Bamboo girl, just, w-what the heck, I mean, this look like a bamboo shoot, but it's metal and insanely huge!"
"This, this thing here, it's been calling me, this was what was calling me, I believe that this is the link to my mysterious past."
"Kaguya...I knew...I knew that this giant bamboo shoot was buried here all this time in Sasa Sanctuary."
"G-Grandfather, you did, but, why?"
"You see Kaguya, many years ago, I decided to come her to cut down some bamboo and turn into my bamboo ware to sell, but suddenly, this giant bamboo shoot that you see before us appeared right before my own eyes, it was then that I saw your cold and nearly lifeless body tumbling out from the giant bamboo shoot, it was then that the giant bamboo shoot disappeared back into the ground, when I saw you, I was honestly worried, you were cold as ice and looked like you'd die at any second, it was then that I decided to raise you, which is why I quickly picked you up and rushed you home, as you know, your late grandmother and I nursed you back to full health, in fact, we always wished that we would have a child, in fact, finding you was like a gift from the Gods, while you did bring joy into our lives, I knew that one day, I'd had to tell you this story, despite it being a hard task for me to, for you see, me and late grandmother feared that if you found out this secret, you would try to seek out this strange bamboo shoot, we were afraid that if that was the case, it would take you away from us forever, so please Kaguya, I'm begging you, don't go, even your grandmother would say the same thing, please don't leave us."
"Grandfather!"
It was then that Kaguya started crying as she hugged Mr.Bamboo, to try and console him.
Just the sight was so sad that it made Issun cry.
"Grandfather, I always thought highly and dearly if you and grandmother as my real and true family, and while that feeling shall never fade, and though I may leave this place, my heart at least remains with you and grandmother, so please, remember that Grandfather, but you must also understand that I can't stay here with you any longer, the mysterious force calls for me, I can't resist it, I must go to what's calling me, I must discover, no, I need to discover where I came from, so don't worry Grandfather, I promise you that I'll come back to you, I'll return to live with you like always, we'll be a happy family like we always were, but first, I need to know what's been calling me, so Grandfather, please, I'm begging you, grant me my last departing wish, I want you to see me off, with a smile on your face, smile like you always did Grandfather, whenever it be when you and Grandmother would spend time with me, whenever you'd make your bamboo ware, even in Grandmother's last days, you at least saw her off with a smile on your face, and I want you to do that to, I want you to see me off with that wonderful smile you always have Grandfather."
"Alright then Kaguya, I will, go wherever you may, but I only ask that when you get there, to at least remember that your my precious grandchild, and nothing in the world is going to change that, never forget it Kaguya, for you will always be and you always are, my dearest, my mid precious, my most wonderful grandchild."
"Grandfather!"
With one more hug, the two of them cried into each other's arms.
This departure truly was a sad sight to see.
"His precious grandchild, huh, oh I wasn't thinking about my home or anything Ammy, not in the slightest!"
"Issun, Amaterasu, thank you, I'm forever in your debt, while I may be unable to thank you enough for what you did for me, I at least the very request that you accept my departing gift."
As Kaguya handed Amaterasu a fire tablet, she had to use all of her strength to not cry.
While she may have not known Kaguya for long, this departure truly was saddening to her.
"Amaterasu, Issun, my departing gift, it was the sole link to my mysterious past, but now that I'm returning home, it is no longer of use to me, may it help you in your travels, now then, it's time, it's time for me to depart now, thank you, you two, and thank you to Grandfather, now, farewell, certainly and hopefully, we may meet again someday, Amaterasu, Issun, Grandfather, you all shall be in my prayers, for Amaterasu and Issun, for safe travels, and for you Grandfather, for good health, goodbye everyone."
It was then that Kaguya got in and left.
With that, Amaterasu soon realized she got side tracked and quickly continued with her main quest, trying to find the queen.
Amaterasu left Sasa Sanctuary And quickly returned to the palace to confront the queen.
When Amaterasu made it into the palace, she was quite surprised to see that the pathway to the Queen Himiko was in front of a pool of lava.
Amaterasu questioned how the place hasn't burnt down yet, but then again, all bad guys do something that aren't logical.
Even so, with the fire tablet, Amaterasu was able to safely swim across the lava and when she made it to the queen, she was already on the defensive, waiting for the queen to attack her some kind of way.
However, hearing the queen say Amaterasu's name let her know that it's not like the queen is gonna try to hurt or anything, so while she may have eased up on the defensive stance, she was still ready for anything.
The queen seemed to be crying though, upset about all the people suffering, but even so, Issun wasn't having it.
He thought the queen was lying and was hiding behind the fact that she cares, but even so, as the queen turned around the curtains lifted, she revealed her face.
It was love at first sight when Issun saw the queen's face.
In fact, this queen was none other than Queen Himiko (ひみこ) of Sei-an city.
"As a ruler, I can't just stand by and watch my people suffer, for I, Queen Himiko, will not allow evil to torment Sei-an city, for my prayers shall never cease until we are rid of this curse, I must locate the stronghold where these monsters reside, Oni (おに) island."
Issun and Amaterasu were rather confused at first but even so, Queen Himiko explainer the details of Oni island to them.
From the sounds of things, it seems like the island changes location at sundown.
That's why Queen Himiko was praying to the crystal ball that she has.
She was hoping that the crystal ball would one day show her the location of Oni Island.
I mean, if it showed her that Amaterasu and Issun were soon coming to the palace, than certainly it could show her the location of Oni island.
However, before Issun could go up to Himiko, he was struck down by a barrier.
It seems the barrier that Queen Himiko  has protects her from misfortune.
Himiko couldn't really do anything about the water dragon herself, that's why she requested that Amaterasu deal with the water dragon.
For the key to entering Oni island, the Fox rods, is actually inside of the water dragon.
Queen Himiko entrusted Amaterasu with the border key, in hopes that Amaterasu could find some way to calm the water dragon.
So with the border key in hand, Amaterasu went off to find a way to calm the rampaging water dragon.
When she found a dock, as she tried to check it out, a big fish came up to her.
Apparently, the fish's name was Orca and was the method of travel to get to the dragon palace.
However, Amaterasu has to prove that she was worthy of going to Dragon palace.
While she had no idea what to do, she thought to herself that maybe, just maybe, by exploring the islands with Orca, the way to get to the dragon palace would be revealed.
However though, while searching the islands, Amaterasu continued to head the same sound over and over again, echoing throughout the area.
At first she thought nothing of it, but as the sound got louder, she began to wonder what it could.
Her curiosity soon got the better of her as she decided to investigate the source of the sound which seemed to be coming from a giant tower.
The Dragon Palace will have to wait, this mysterious sound needs to be checked on first.
Who knows, maybe the tower holds the secrets of the entrance of the Dragon Palace?
Upon getting close to the tower, Issun soon chimes in.
"Hey, what's that meowing sound, hmm...I think that sound is coming that tower, while it's creepy though, but let's go and check it out."
With they're next objective in mind, Orca brings in Amaterasu and Issun to the island so they can find out what the meowing is all about.
As they begin to explore the island, they soon run into some cats, but, could some cats be making such a loud meowing sound?
Whatever is meowing has to be further in the island, perhaps maybe on top of the tower.
"Hm, it really does sound like that annoying meowing is coming from the top of this tower, look, there's even paw prints on the tower, doesn't that mark look familiar, wait a minute, that's the mark of catwalk, one of the 13 celestial brush techniques, but then that means, this must be catcall tower, so whatever is at the top, must be the next brush God!"
As Amaterasu runs up to the tower to climb it, a Poltergeist, 3 sickle wielding weasels that attack in a circle, soon attacks Amaterasu.
The monster covers it self in fire, to prevent Amaterasu from hurting it, but with Amaterasu's reflector and glaive, the monster is slain with her graceful attacks and brush techniques along with Amaterasu prematurely defending at times, yet even so, with this mistake, she's still lucky enough to be able to counter it.
As Amaterasu looks up at the tower, she knows she has a long climb ahead of her.
As she looks up at the sky, she notices that it's starting to get late, considering how tall this tower is, she's hoping to make up the tower by morning.
By the time Amaterasu makes it to the top, it seems to already be morning like she thought, but when she sees a cat, Issun speaks up about it.
"Hey Ammy, look at that, there's a kitty cat over there, gotta wonder what it's possibly doing all the alone up here on this tower, I mean, it couldn't have climbed all the up here on its own now, could it, surely there couldn't be any reason for why it would want o come up here, I mean, there's nothing to eat up here at all."
As Amaterasu goes up to the cat, she gives it a fish feedbag that's she's been keeping on her and feeds it.
With the cat satisfied, it soon lays down and sleeps, but it seems by feeding the cat though, a constellation appeared in the sky.
As Amaterasu fills in the stars, she soon meets the next brush god.
"Ah...Amaterasu, origin of all that is good and mother to us all, the monstrous swirling whirlpool of evil below has drove me up to this height, at this perch that I stand, I oversee the world below and it's slow descent, for if my powers are needed then nice again, I, Kabegami (かべがみ), god of walls, shall gladly offer a bridge of hope to the realm below."
With that, Amaterasu gains the next celestial brush technique, the technique that allows her to climb walls, catwalk.