Prologue:
The calm breeze, sweet air, and warm sun put any weary traveler under their spell, have him stop to rest. He soon found himself in a deep sleep, oblivious to all cares and earthly-bound worries. Unfortunately, for one particular traveler, his troubled slumber was about to come to an abrupt end.
Chapter 1: Long Forgotten Memories
As one closes one's eyes, they are not shrouded in utter darkness, but led into a portal of memories.
"Nui!" called a young brown-haired boy who looked vaguely familiar. "Where are you?
The boy was searching frantically, looking everywhere around him until he saw a white figure.
Crunch.
The boy reached closer… Crunch… as he reached the ghost-like figure… Crunch… he realized… Crunch!
The traveler jolted awake as a young woman with light chestnut hair approached the tree where he was resting. He watched her approach cautiously; when she reached him she sat down.
"Are you the Mushishi named Ginko-san?" she asked.
"Yes."
The young woman let out a long sigh, apparently very relieved.
Ginko looked at her very carefully. "May I ask who you are?" he asked.
"Of course. My name is Yuki from Ryuuvillage. My elders have requested that I find help from a mushishi that I was told was traveling through out mountain. MY village is in grave danger for we fear that our leader has been…" she suddenly stopped as a silent tear rolled down her cheek and looked at Ginko with a begging look on her soft face. "Ginko-san, I ask of you to help us."
There was a long pause as Ginko relit his cigarette and exhaled a deep breath of smoke and interlocked his fingers together. There isn't much information about what happened to their leader. But I wonder if going to her village will give me the answers I am searching for. Noticing that Yuki was watching him curiously, Ginko let out one last puff of smoke and looked up at her.
"I will help your leader."
Yuki smiled, thanked him, and led him farther up the mountain to Ryuuvillage, her home.
"Nui. Wait… NUI!"
"Ginko-san, are you alright?" the voice sounded very distant. "Ginko-san?"
They had paused by a sparkling, flowing stream but as soon as he sat to rest, the brown-haired boy had come back into his mind like a ghost of a memory long forgotten.
"Yes." He replied, slowly standing up. "I'm fine."