Chapter 5: Ginko's Past Revealed

"GINKO-SAN!!"

"Ahaha!" laughed the Kagichi as he observed Ginko bent his knee in agony. "Thiss iss what happenss when you disobey me, a punishment just asss thiss fool hass. Now-ugh."

"Who's the fool now?" asked the mushishi grimacing slightly as he slammed his body into the fake leader and pulled out a slim glass bottle filled with a golden substance and began to pull the stopper off as the mushi desperately tried to pull him off.

"Get off of me!" screamed the Kagichi locating the pitchfork that Ginko had pulled out of his leg and thrown to the ground. With a great amount of struggle and difficulty, it grabbed the pitchfork and began to reach backwards, scratching Ginko's cheek, sending him backwards on the ground.

As Ginko shakingly got back on his feet, there was an eruption of yells as several of the villagers tackled the mushi to the ground.

"What are you fools doing?" demanded the Kagichi angrily.

"Protecting our village!" answered one.

"by helping Ginko-san!" replied the others.

"Everyone." whispered Ginko slightly shocked but then smiled as he pulled off the stopper and poured the wax into the fake Tazuta's ear. "Thank you."

As the wax entered it made a spluttering noise as a black, rectangular shape flew out and landed in Ginko's outstretched hand.

"What was that?" asked a tall, blonde man.

"The creature that was in the fake Tazuta's body is a mushi called a Kagichi that's now in my hand." answered the mushishi. "Not many people can see them, it's a mushishi's job to get rid of them. In this case, this mushi is a Kagichi that hides in the dark, small spaces and will only appear during a full moon. During the last full moon this Kagichi attacked your leader, copied all his memories, constructed a faux replica, and stowed the real Tazuta in a cave outside the village. Now that the mushi is extracted, the fake body will disintegrate, and Tazuta should be awake and walking here as I speak."

As Ginko finished, he walked over to the elders and Yuki as the fake body turned to sand, crumbled into pieces, and was swept away by the wind.

"Ginko-san!" exclaimed Yuki. "Then that means-"

"Look! It's Tazuta-sama!"

"W-what?!" gasped the elders turning their heads.

"Hey!" called Tazuta. "Anybody wanta tell me what's going on?"

"Tazuta!" cried Yuk, tears in her eyes as she ran to him.

"Thank you Ginko-san." whispered Hina gratefully. "Now I believe it is time you learned about your past.'

"But what about Saru-sama?" asked Ginko.

"No. Hina is right." said Saru a little shaky. "I-It is ti-me. I-I'll wait for Tazuta. G-Go with Hina."

Ginko just nodded and followed Hina through the crowd. They went into the forest to a small clearing with a pool of water shimmering from the sunlight coming through an opening in the trees.

"This was Nui's favorite spot as a child," explained Hina to Ginko's curious look. "I thought it would be proper to explain your past here."

"How do you know so much about Nui?"

"Haha. Because I am her twin sister."

Ginko's single green eye widened in shock but somehow he already knew. No wonder her eyes are so familiar.

"Since we're twins I have seen her memories of a young boy named Yoki. He traveled with his mother but one day they were caught in a mudslide and only Yoki survived."

"But how did he survive?"

"Nui was walking home and found him hurt, so she decided to take him home. As he healed, Yoki got attached to Nui and did not want to leave here. But Nui, after losing her husband and child, did not want him to meet the same fate."

"What fate was that?"

"Nui lived near a pool of one, green eyed fish that lived near mushi who took your sight if you stared at them too long. If both of your eyes are taken... you die."

Suddenly, Ginko realized that he knew what would happen next as his dream flashed before his eyes.

"One night," continued Hina sadly, "Nui entered the pool and Yoki chased after her ghost-like figure. As Nui was about to disappear, she saved the boy by closing one of his eyes. The boy woke up with white hair, a green eye, and no memory of what had happened. He was found by a caravan and the boy was named... Ginko."

It was like a giant jigsaw puzzle had all the pieces it was missing and it all clicked together, clearly for the first time.

"Ginko-san?"

"Hmm, oh sorry." he said, looking up...

"I know it's a lot to take in."

"No, I'm fine. It's just great to know about my past. Thank you for everything Hina-sama. Now," he smiled as he stood up and threw on his pack. "I must get going."

"Are you sure?" Hina asked as he walked away.

"I am a mushishi after all." He smiled and then he was gone as smoke blew behind him from a newly lit cigarette.


Epilogue:

As whispery smoke enclosed his head, the traveler sighed in relief. It was always refreshing to regain lost memories. Now, when one closes his eyes he sees himself blissfully happy with a long lost friend.