Dear Ikko, Day 86
Mere words cannot describe the horror of today.
I was walking (more like "limping") down a road "much less traveled," when, strange enough, I could see someone walking down the road ahead of me in the opposite direction on the opposite side of the road. As he approached me, that strange feeling of familiarity began to make its way down my spine.
We continued to walk until we could see one another's faces. Then we stopped. I examined him the best I could, but the hood on his long, black jacket cast a shadow on his face, so I couldn't see much. I calculated that he was a ninja by his build and I could see the glimmer of a metallic headband under the hood, although I couldn't make out which village he was from. He was tall and generally muscular, maybe a few years older then me. I could see parts of his face from the brow down. It was pale and weary from travel and yet, I saw a very different expression that was beginning to cross his lips. I looked into his eyes—his cold, gray eyes. He smiled only partially and continued slowly down the road, holding up his hand to me in salute to his fellow shinobi. I did the same to him and also continued past him.
But, as we crossed next to each other, I heard him mutter something. A terrible fear suddenly entered me. I felt the pain return to my chest, ears, and tail. It was twice as intense as the last time. I doubled over. I tried to cry out, but the pain was constricting me, squeezing every last drop of energy out of my body.
He continued to walk in the other direction and as he grew farther from me, my pain grew weaker and weaker. Very soon it left me completely. I stood up quickly and turned around to face him, but his figure had vanished into the horizon.
I believe this was my first, physical encounter with my enemy. The demon that has tormented me far too long.
-Ippiki Ookami