Short chapter. Another to follow tonight.
The first time Akari had encountered the white haired man was early in the summer months. One afternoon, as she was heading out of the forest, he happened to be on the opposite side of the door coming in. After regaining herself from the startle she sidestepped, allowing him passes through (who puts a door on trail heads, by the way). In that brief moment, no words were exchanged, yet Akari still took in his full appearance. His hair was silvery reflecting the moon light, cut in a choppy manner and braided on one side, skin tanned dark from what must have been millennia in the sun- yet it still appeared smooth to the touch. Boots, white pants and a blue cloak covered most of him, silver chains hung from his neck and a small telescope stuck out from his bag.
Akari also managed a glimpse at his eyes as he glided past, bi-colored. His right was a golden hue, somewhat like amber crystallized from tree sap, and the left was as green as the forest. And below his right eye a tattoo decorated his cheek, a solid white line above three downward pointed triangles.
He had quite the striking appearance, to say the least. Akari wondered where he had come from; she had never seen him in town. From then on she only ever found him in the forest, passing him on trails or seeing him reading in a clearing. A kindred soul, she would think.
For the first few weeks of encounters the man didn't seem to notice her at all. He would gather mushrooms and other plants, or read and stargaze like her. Akari found herself visiting the forest more frequently, taking paths that she knew he favored, just to get a passing glance at the man. She found herself intrigued for the first time by a person whom she had never even spoken to before.
Then some point midsummer, their encounters changed. The silver haired man focused his bi-colored hues on her.
Though she sought to find him in the forest whenever she went, the first night of this made her slightly uncomfortable. The nameless man settled himself a fair distance from her with a book, but didn't seem interested with the open pages. Instead, he cast his gaze on her, observing her for sometimes hours.
After a week, Akari adjusted. He never bothered her, and fortunately his presence didn't upset the wild life. So she continued her nights just as before: photography, relaxing and escaping…