Chapter 4: Ginko's Plan
As the rays of the descending moon swept over the mountain like a snowy blanket, the mushishi finished laying out his plan to the elders across their now dying, fiery divider.
"And that should bring out the Kagichi which I will then capture in this." Finished Ginko holding out a tiny glass bottle. "Once I have captured it, your leader will regain consciousness and return to the village."
"You are sure this will work," asked Saru once more. "and that it will bring Tazuta back?"
"Definitely." replied Ginko, confidently. "But first we must locate the fake Tazuta. After we accomplish that, I will need the assistance of someone strong to hold him down so I can inject the wax into the ear and lure out the Kagichi."
Saru nodded apparently convinced that the plan would succeed, but Hina was sitting beside him with the same guilty look.
"Ginko-san." She spoke so suddenly that both men stared at her in surprise. "Are you most certain that you do not want us to-"
"ENOUGH HINA!" shouted Saru.
"NO! IT'S NOT ENOUGH ANYMORE!" screamed Hina with tears glistening in her eyes. "He deserves to know! He has every right, Saru!"
The elder sobbed as her husband's face softened and began to pat her consolingly on the shoulder.
What is it that is so important for them to tell me that Hina-sama is so distraught? Maybe I should let them... But at that thought he shook his head. No, right now there is no time for that, we have to locate the fake Tazuta.
"Elders," Spoke Ginko gently as Hina slowly raised her head. "I made a promise. Anyway, the time to discuss those secrets is not now. Now is the time to find gthe fake Tazuta. Do you have any idea where he may be?"
Hina looked at her husband who had a weird look on his face.
"What is it, Saru/?"
"Ginko-san," began Saru, ignoring Hina. "What if the mushi was in the cave?"
"You mean the cave with Tazuta's body?" inquired Ginko as he watched Saru nod his head. "You think it might kill your son?"
"Will that thing..." began Hina, but was silenced by a reassuring smile from Ginko.
"You do not need to worry about that just yet."
"What do you mean just yet?" asked Saru frowning.
"You will only have to worry if my plan does not succeed. Which I assure you will succeed." he added as he saw the horrified looks on their faces.
"I hope you are right." muttered Hina inaudibly.
"Now," Ginko stood up and reached into his coat pocket to pull out another small glass vial and an elegant candle. The mushishi walked over to the fire and held the candle out to the dancing flames, watched it be engulfed like fish food, and caught it's wax into the glistening vial. "Now let's find the faux body."
"But Ginko-san," said Hina. "We do not know where the faux body is. How-"
CRASH!
The sound of breaking glass, cracking wood, and a woman's shrill scream drove all three of their attentions to the door.
What was that? thought Ginko rooted to where he was standing.
"That sounded like Yuki." said Hina, looking at Saru afraid.
"Wait! What did you say?" But before he could get his answer, there was another deafening crash and a high pitched scream as people started arguing.
"There iss no problem." Faux Tazuta's voice came from outside the open doorway as the elders rushed out followed closely by Ginko. The imposter was bearing down on a crouching Yuki who was holding her arm as if it was in pain. Hina and Ginko crouched down to examine her as Saru asked the fake Tazuta what happened.
"Nothing iss wrong." hissed the mushi. "The girl just tripped."
"That's a lie, dear elder," came a voice from the crowd. "Our leader pushed poor Yuki because she was trying to prevent him from disrupting your meeting with the visitor."
"That's right!" called out another. "I witnessed it too. Tazuta-sama grabbed Yuki's arm and pushed her onto the ground where I heard something snap."
Meanwhile Hina and Ginko were helping Yuki sit up and examined her arm.
"Ouch!" cried Yuki as Ginko pressed down gently on her shoulder.
"That must be where he broke her arm." said the mushishi. "We need to get rid of the mushi quickly before he can harm anyone else."
But as Ginko spoke, the fake Tazuta had begun fighting with one of the villagers and hit Saru in the face as he tried to shield the villager from harm. As the fake's punch impacted Saru's face, blood exploded from Saru's nose as the bone made a sickening crack leaving the elder crouched on the ground in agony.
"How DARE you!" It was like a chain reaction as the crowd exploded once more into an explosion of anger. "How dare you hurt elder Saru-sama! He has been like a father to you!"
As the arguing continued, Hina crawled to her husband and examined the bloody damage in horror.
"Saru," her voice cracked. "Are you alright?"
"Nnh." grunted Saru as he shakily sat up to face Hina still holding his bloody nose with his hand. "I'll be vine. How is Yuki doing?"
"Yuki needs her arm examined by a doctor," answered Ginko as he glanced at Saru's crushed nose. "as does your nose, elder. But unfortunately we have to stop the Kagichi first so he won't hurt anyone else."
"But how?" asked Hina "You were planning on Saru holding the body down, but-"
"I'll just have to hold him down at the same time." he answered calmly to the horror struck looks of the elders. "There's no other way."
"But Ginko-san," said Hina. "You could get injured and-"
"It's better that it's me than a villager or you elders." answered the mushishi with a smile. "Beside getting rid of mushi is the mushishi's job. Just stay here with Yuki-san."
Without another word Ginko got up and began to inch his way through the crowd to get around the fake Tazuta. As he maneuvered through the growing crowd of angry villagers. Hina, Saru , and Yuki looked on in anxious fear as Ginko approached the imposter.
"Do you think Ginko-san will be alright?" asked Yuki as she cradled her broken arm.
"I hope so Yuki." replied Hina, watching anxiously. "I really hope so."
But as the elder said this, they heard a blood curtilling scream and looked up through the now silent crowd to witness Ginko being stabbed in the leg with a pitchfork and a steady stream of blood trickling down his leg.
"GINKO-SAN!!!!"
