Ginko looked up into the sky.

Too long has he been wandering alone. Just too damn long. He stared up into the River of Light; the harmless one. He wondered what that would be like, being Mushi. But several times had he almost become Mushi and hadn't taken the chance. He imagined floating along the River as Mushi; no thoughts or feelings or actions but floating along with billions of others around him. He would never be alone. He would never have to stare up into this sky and wish he could because he would be. He could be.

He closed his eyes and inhaled. It wasn't long before he realized he could see it: the real River of Light. He had mistakenly closed his second eyelid he was about to re-open it when a voice appeared in the back of his head. Walk forward, the voice said. It would be so easy, wouldn't it, Ginko? Step into the River of Light. Ginko turned his head so he was looking directly into the River. He could only barely make out the shapes of Mushi; billions of them, all traveling in a pathway that was always alongside you wherever you went.

He just watched it.

He could just look away, couldn't he? If he looked away, all he would have left is the River in the Sky and he could hope and want and never obtain. Or he could step into the River and see what happens after your eyes melt out of your skull. Would he become Mushi? The risk was great. But the reward...

The reward...

Ginko's eyes flew open. He wasn't ready for... for whatever thought had come into his mind. Whatever had made this plan inturrupt his thoughts. He wasn't ready for it. He shook his head until his ears rung and his neck ached and his vision was dark and foggy. He looked up into the sky... and his eyes darted away again. If he looked into the stars and tried to see the stars, he wouldn't. He looked down into the dirt.

Exhausted, Ginko lied down and watched his fire go out. When it was dark, he closed his eyes and slept with the River of Light behind him.

As he drifted off the sleep and dream of being Mushi, the last thought that entered his mind was the first thing he remembered the next morning.

"I wonder if I'll be sandwiched between two Rivers forever."