Mushishi - Memories at dawn

Moonlight

In a village deep inside a forest surrounded by a two rivers lived many people, they were all nice and joyful, until one day a part of the village was engulfed in flames. It spread throughout the entire village and spread out burning everything in its path. The fire stopped at the rivers, but even so it was too late for everyone living in the village for it was burnt to a crisp. Over the land covered in ashes was a little light flying wildly, a firefly of such a pure red that's never been seen, flickering through the night.

As days passed people found out that the village was no more, but they had no idea what may have caused a fire of such proportions, so the mysterious incident came to be known as "Black fire", cause all that was left was the ashes of the village and forest. Months later the people from near villages begun using the rivers for travelling and transport. Ships kept sailing on the rivers and more and more people learned about the "Black fire" and the rumors of it spread across the continent.

A year later, on a cruising ship sailing on the river were many tourists curious of the rumor that shocked and amazed people across the country, the land where an entire village and forest got burnt down to nothing without a trace of what could have started the fire. Among them was a young man with white hair, pale skin and an unearthly-green eye and the man's name was Ginko. As he gazed at the dark land, he couldn't help but ask the ship's captain and crew about the incident, but they didn't know more than the rumors say, even if he didn't know more than the eyes could see that didn't stop him from wanting to find out what happened there. Guided by curiosity he started to investigate the ashes and the ground, as well as the surroundings, for all he knew it could have be caused by a mere fire, but the size of the affected area was still a bit too big to burn everything without no one noticing it, so he kept looking thinking it was more than just a regular fire. As he checked the ground he found a spot where it still smelled like fire was still burning, it felt like his nose was set on fire, he never felt such a particular smell. He followed the smell over the river, through the forest, all the way to a village where the smell was lost, because everyone kept moving around, the wind was blowing hard and rain had fallen last few days making that unearthly-smell vanish at the edge of the village. With no tracks to follow he begun to ask around if they saw anything strange. While asking everyone around he found nothing new, but he kept hearing of a little girl that everyone were saying she's crazy. So he found out from people where she lives and went to her home. He knocked at the door and her father answered.

Ginko: Good evening, sir! My name is Ginko. I am a mushi master and i heard strange things about your daughter and i'd like to ask you a few things.

Aker: Good evening! My name is Aker. I suppose you heard about my daughter from the villagers just like Tenrou.

Ginko: Who is Tenrou?

Aker: He is a mushi master too. He is already inside talking to my daughter. Please come!

Ginko entered the house and saw Tenrou, a middle aged man with brown hair, red eyes. Next to him was the girl, she had red hair and red eyes like fire. Next to her was her aunt, a beatiful middle aged woman with blonde hair and she seemed to have a certain attraction for Tenrou. Ginko joined the discussion.

Ginko: Good evening everyone! My name is Ginko and i am a mushi master. I take it you are Tenrou, the mushi master i have heard about, Akane, the red haired girl everyone in the village is talking about, but who are you? *Said Ginko while starring at the little girl's aunt*

Katsumi: I am Katsumi, Akane's aunt. What are you here for?

Ginko: I am here to find out more about the "Black fire" incident. I have heard from the villagers that you, Akane, were the last person from this village that saw the forest that's been burnt before the incident. They all say you are at fault.