Mushishi - Memories at dawn

When Tomorrow Doesn't Come

Somewhere, far away, between the mountains, there is an everlasting green forest. But there is something strange about it. There wasn't even one evergreen tree, yet, during winter, not even one tree lost its color nor its leaves. Each day they seem to start dying, but the next morning it's like they've been born anew. There is something very interesting about it. Among the trees, between leaves, there can be sighted a little village. Filled with people of all ages, preoccupied with work, although something's awfully strange for it seems each day is just like a déjà vu for everyone that lives there. Travelers that passed through that village have spread the word about it. Although the word has spread throughout the world, it became a vague myth. As no one actually knows what is going on in the village, but even so the story about it keeps ringing through the villages far and wide. Its strangeness caught the attention of many wanderers. Many have tried to investigate that area, yet few have returned, after quite some time, surprising everyone they knew. Because everyone that succeeded coming back thought they stayed in that village just one day. Saying that to friends and family you left behind is a bit shocking if you stayed for over three months away and the road time until there takes merely two days. Although the mystery still remains for them, they choose to forget about it because they were too afraid to try again to find out.

As time passed, words about the ones that investigated it and got away spread. One day, those words reached the ears of a middle-aged man. He had pure white hair, an eye of an unearthly green, a color unsighted by mere humans neither in nature nor in dreams. Looking in his eye was just like looking straight at the essence of a forest, overwhelming your soul in an unknown feeling of calmness and beauty, just like looking at a huge forest filled with green as far as the eye can see. Watching the wind blow swiftly through the dancing branches, leaves flying around with such a calm rhythm, such a relaxing view. He always carried a wooden backpack with a lot of medicine, smoked cigarettes pretty often and had an eye for strange stuff. His name is Ginko, at least that's his name now.

When he heard, he felt a chill down the spine, for something like this was never seen and so it got his attention. Although many have tried and failed, it didn't stop him from wanting to get a taste of mystery. So he went towards the village. On his way, he asked many people but none believed it and sent him away and so he learned that it's not something to joke around. As questions kept going around about him and his so-called tale, a young boy heard about it. As Ginko was leaving the village he was passing by to get to his destination, a loud yell could be heard throughout the eastern side of the village.

Boy: White misteeer! Waaaaait! I know something!

Ginko stopped. A swift blow of wind suddenly came out of nowhere on the nice weather, just as he was about to hear something terrible. He turned around his head to the right and stared at the boy while smoking a cigarette. For the youngster to be stared by that glare, of a man that's been turned down from all sides and finally finding something, was a shocking moment, like it was piercing right through him.

Boy (With a trembling voice): I... I... I...

Ginko: If that's all I'll take my leave. (Thinking it might be problematic for the boy to talk about that in front of the villagers)

Boy (Said with a dead serious voice): MY FATHER WAS TAKEN BY THAT VILLAGE!

Ginko (Opens his eyes wide out, being surprised and asks): Is there anywhere we could talk in private?

Boy: Sure, come with me, there is a little glade just next to the lake in the forest in front of the village.

The glade was lighted by the sun in pleasant rays dancing with the branches as the wind blew. Fallen broken trees were lying around just like wooden benches. Ginko sat on a fallen tree while looking at the boy in front of him being very desperate.