Amaterasu was beloved, radiant, and of a steady-mind. As such, she was the natural heir of heaven's throne. Susanoo could not accept this fact. Impetuous, moody, and deceitful, he longed to supplant her. Often he raged over the sea, causing huge storms and needless loss of life. The Council of the Kami had had enough. Finally they met in Heaven to discuss Susanoo. After much deliberation, they decided to banish him to the underworld - Yomi - so that he would stop causing so much destruction. Amaterasu was hesitant to exile her other brother, but agreed to enforce the will of the Council.

Suprisingly, Susanoo agreed to go to Yomi peacefully - on one condition. "I will have a private audience with my sister first," he demanded. The messenger kami informed Amaterasu of her brother's request, and she agreed. After all, he was still family.

Amaterasu did not trust her brother, however. And in preparation for his visit, she prepared for battle. She tied her hair into knots and hung jewels in it. She slung her quiver of five-hundred arrows over her back and donned her armor. When Susanoo entered the throne room, Amaterasu held her bow in one hand and her sword in the other.

Susanoo approached his sister meekly, bowing low so that his long beard grazed the bejeweled floor. "Forgive me, sister, but I had to see you one more time before descending to Yomi forever." Amaterasu was not convinced. "I wanted to make peace before I left and I have brought you a gift." With that, Susanoo drew a silver comb from his robes.

"It's good to see you, brother. But your behavior will win you no reprieve," Amaterasu stated. With that, the guards escorted Susanoo away. He gave his sister one last look over his shoulder and smiled ominously.

The next day, Amaterasu sat with some of her hand-maidens weaving. Suddenly a high-pitched whistle sound filled the room. Everyone looked around questioningly. Inari, one of the hand-maidens of whom Amaterasu was most fond, picked up the silver comb had been sitting on the table beside the loom. "I think it's coming from the comb," she said. Immediately Amaterasu knew something was wrong.

"Inari, drop the comb!" she cried. But it was too late.

BAM. The comb exploded in Inari's hand, shooting one of its silver barbs deep into her neck.

"No!" Amaterasu wept, cradling Inari's head in her lap, as she shut her eyes for the final time. Amaterasu ripped the half-finished cloak off of the loom. Wrapping it around her whole body, Amaterasu concealed her radiant light. The sun was blotted out from the sky. Weeping for the treachery of her brother and the death of Inari, Amaterasu fled heaven for the darkness of the earth.