Chapter 86

Genji took Moma out from the elk stables to go for a walk. The red elk was waiting for him as Genji lifted the wood beam off the entrance and led Moma out before placing it back. He jumped on the elk's back and started off at a canter into the dark woods.

Genji could hardly see without any light, but he trusted Moma's well-adjusted eyes. All around, Genji could only see darkness and some deep shades of blue even though his eyes were slightly getting used to the night. There was some resemblance to the forests back on Singing Mountain, but it still didn't feel like home to Genji. He knew most every tree in his forests, but the Chinese wilderness looked so alien to him.

…ping…

He stopped Moma on a hill when one tree caught his eye. Out of all the trees around him, that one tree caused him to stop and stare. He itched at the scars on his face as he looked. It seemed like a normal tree in the darkness: thick trunk, rough bark, and long branches bountiful with leaves…

…but something didn't feel right…

I feel a strange ki from here…

He got off Moma's back and walked up to the tree. His heartbeat suddenly quickened, and his demon growled in his ears. Genji swiveled around and darted his eyes in every direction they could look.

There's another demon around here…

He couldn't see anything in the darkness, and he could only hear the night music of crickets and distant cicadas around him. He held out his hand and channeled enough ki to form a ball of light and let Genji look around. There was nothing in the clearing except for Moma and himself. Moma was simply nibbling on some grass off the trail, unconcerned.

Genji didn't see a demon…

He looked back at the tree.

Hmmm…

He put his other hand on the tree, and his demon began to excite his heartbeat and breath again. Genji started to sweat, and he leaned against the tree.

Is there a demon in this tree?

"Oh, Genji. It's only you."

Genji looked up to see Piccolo float from the sky and land beside the boy. Moma looked up at the newcomer with interest as Piccolo glared at the glowing ki in Genji's hand.

"Put that away. That's a waste of ki."

**Sorry.** Genji apologized, closing his hand and extinguishing the light. The clearing was flooded with darkness once again. **I couldn't see…and I felt something from this tree, and I…**

Piccolo put his hand on the trunk, and closed his eyes.

"Look around the roots of the tree, but do not take anything."

Genji stooped down and felt around. He found small pots of water, slightly larger pots of nuts and spiced meat, even a few pouches of solid gold nuggets the size of pebbles. He looked up at Piccolo.

**Offerings?** he blinked. **Is there an Emishi spirits living in this tree?**

"There were boar Gods in the Wolf Jaw, did you know that?"

**Yeah, but they were all wiped out. The boar tribe is completely extinct.**

"The massacre began with a god named Nago, a son of the supreme Okkotonushi. Nago was shot by Lady Eboshi, and his darkness transformed him into a demon. He wandered as a mindless zombie to this place where the Emishi were barely thriving. He attacked, but was thwarted by Prince Ashitaka. Nago died, but what was left of his spirit refused to rest.

"The wise woman and her council performed the funeral and buried his body. A tree grew over the grave, and bloomed. The pollen from its blossoms spread a deadly epidemic through the province. Every plant pollinated by it died, thus killing the Emishi forest and crops. Every spring, when the crop is most bountiful and needed, the tree blossoms and does its damage."

**So, they offer food, water, and even gold to the tree to stop the blossoming?**

"Yes."

**Does it work?**

"No."

Genji stood up.

**So…why bother giving offers if nothing will happen?**

"Genji, these people have a very tragic history. Almost nothing good happened for these people. They were to be destroyed by Imperial forces for their religion, the world of feudal Japan shunned them for their spiritual abilities, a demon has plagued them for six thousand years now…" Piccolo patted the tree. "…But their will to live and their community teamwork have pulled them through this far in time, as it has every Mononoke tribe. They refused to die, and they will do what they believe will keep them alive throughout more eras. This is why they welcome you, Genji. They sympathize with your curse because it is similar to theirs."

Genji took a few steps back from the tree.

**So, the tree is the demon? Why can't they chop the tree down?**

To answer that, Piccolo reached up and tore off a branch. The branch itself melted into a thick gob of tar in the Namek's hand. Where it had been torn, slimy tendrils of a full fledged Mononoke demon snaked out and grabbed at the air. Genji had time to flinch in disgust as the tendrils calmed and oozed down the tree in a thin, burgundy liquid. The demon blood burned some of the offerings at the roots, so Genji ran over to take one of the small jugs and pour them on anything that was smoldering. He held his hand to his excited heart as he did so.

Piccolo flung the melting branch back at the tree, and cleaned off his hand on his cape.

"A demon's will to live is stronger than anything I've seen before. They are fueled by their fear."

**Fear of what? It can't be death; they're already dead.**

Piccolo shook his head.

"They fear being sent to Hell."

Genji rested a hand against his heart.

**So, why is my demon looking foreword to going there?**

"Because he thinks the answer to all his problems is in Hell."

**The answer to all of his…you mean my mother, don't you?**

Piccolo turned away from the boy.

"Genji, you should know by now that you do not have an ordinary demon inside your heart. Yes, it is already dead, but it wants to go to Hell in hopes of achieving some insane ambition." He suddenly smiled. "If you ask me, that bastard hasn't changed a bit."

I can hear you, Namek. And it's not me, it's him! Him, I tell you!

Genji started to get confused, but he decided now was not the time to re-ask questions.

**I think I should get some sleep. Tomorrow's a big day.**

"Sleep well, Genji."

Genji hopped back on Moma's back, and trotted away to the village. Piccolo looked back at the tree, and reached for his water bottle. He knelt by the roots, and refilled the jug Genji used to put out the smoldering offerings. Piccolo put his water bottle away, then clapped his hands twice in prayer.

"Nago no Kami, lord of the boars, please show mercy to the Emishi, and bare no hatred to the boy or his entourage during their stay…"

He put his hand on the tree trunk and the hallow words of Nago's last breath echoed in the Namek's head.

Disgusting little creatures! All of you will feel my hate, and suffer as I had suffered!