Welcome to Gaia! ::

(Taken directly from the game)
Long, long ago... A tiny hamlet known as Kamiki lay nestled in a
grove of proud and beautiful cherry blossoms. Each and every tree around the
quiet burg was honored as a god. However, the village was not without its dark
secrets.
To satiate the appetite of Orochi, a fearsome cave-dwelling beast, a young
maiden was offered as a sacrifice at the annual festival. With a body like a
mountain and 8 heads mounted on necks the size of tree trunks, its blood-red
eyes alone were said to curse anyone who gazed into them. No one dared disobey
the horrific beast.
When the night of the sacrifice drew near... A mysterious white wolf appeared
outside the village. This wolf, its coat as brilliant as snow, was dubbed
Shiranui. The wolf kept a watchful eye on anyone who ventured outside the
village, and made a habit of patrolling the streets at night. People assumed
the wolf to be a familiar of Orochi.
One villager took it upon himself to face the fearsome Shiranui. The warrior
Nagi attempted many times to challenge the wolf. But his attempts were thwarted
by Shiranui's swift movements.
Before long, the night of the accursed festival had arrived. A white plumed
arrow heralded the coming sacrifice. Piercing the sky, the arrow sunk its shaft
squarely into the home of Nami, the village's most beautiful maiden. Nagi,
harboring a secret love for Nami, was enraged by this sign. Determined to put
an end to Orochi once and for all, Nagi traveled to the beast's cave in place
of his beloved.
The Moon Cave, a place as dark as evil itself, served as Orochi's home. As Nagi
stood bravely before the entrance... A beast appeared, eyes glowing crimson
upon 8 thrashing necks. Orochi stood tall before him, anxious for another
sacrifice. Nagi leapt with incredible grace, swinging his blade valiantly. On
and on he sliced, well into the moonless night... but Orochi's hide was like
steel. The blade left nary a scratch.
At long last, Nagi, his energy spent from the intense battle, dropped to his
knees, fatigued and gasping for breath. He knew he was staring death in the
face. It was then that the wolf appeared. As if to protect Nagi, it stood its
ground before Orochi. In the darkness of the cave, the wolf's coat shone
brilliantly. Alas, it was Shiranui, the wolf that dwelled outside the village.
Baring its fearsome claws, Shiranui leapt toward Orochi. Orochi reared its
terrifying heads, readying its fangs for battle. The two beasts struggled
wildly, thrashing in the darkness.
Mysterious and terrifying, the spectacle continued. Shiranui summoned gusts of
divine wind to counter Orochi's flames.
As Orochi closed in on Shiranui, sharpened claws glistening... A gigantic tree
suddenly sprouted forth, shielding the wolf. Shiranui fought gallantly to gain
the upper hand. However... Orochi, protected by a mystical power, was not
easily bested. Shiranui, covered in gashes, majestic coat dyed crimson, stood
exhausted before the mighty Orochi.
Orochi saw a chance to strike what would be the final blow. But Shiranui
refused to give in. With its last ounce of strength, the majestic wolf gazed
heavenward and unleashed a mighty howl. Suddenly, the black clouds overhead
dissipated. The light from above glinted off Nagi's sword as a beacon of hope.
Guided by his sword, Nagi, who had been taking shelter in the shadows, stood
proudly to face his adversary. Channeling all his strength into his scarred and
battered arms, he leapt ferociously toward Orochi, his sword poised high. The
golden sword danced in his hands like a puppet on a string. One by one,
Orochi's fearsome heads separated from their owner.
Orochi's broken body collapsed in a lake of its own blood. In that instant, the
curse that plagued the villagers was lifted. As the battle subsided, the sun
shone once again in the sky. Shiranui had succumbed to Orochi's poison and
struggled to breathe. Nagi scooped the beast into his arms and returned to
Kamiki.
When they reached the village, Shiranui was no longer moving. The village elder
gently stroked the wolf's head. In response, Shiranui let out a hoarse and
pitiful bark... Then closed its eyes and drifted off as if into slumber.
Peace had at last returned to Kamiki Village. In honor of Shiranui's heroic
exploits, the villagers erected a shrine and placed a statue of the wolf within
it.
Nagi's sword was christened "Tsukuyomi" and placed inside the Moon Cave. The
villagers all looked forward to an age of endless peace...
However, this is not the end of the story... There is more to this tale than
most people know. 100 years had passed since Nagi and Shiranui's heroic
exploits. It happened so quickly that no one in the village even took notice.