It's okay if you forget about me

Even though I sometimes think "What if I had not met you?" ,because it hurts my heart so much.. But still, even if I were to go back in time, I would met you again, and I would fall for you, and I would love you.

[lin-da-lang-1]

[xpcmdi]

[chronivore]

Mujina

The Mujina are shapeshifting badgers that can change form to look like humans. They’re known for jumping out at unsuspecting travelers at roadsides and commanding them to “Drink water, drink tea.” This is legitimately good advice for staying hydrated and it’s the same thing your decidedly non-supernatural doctor will tell you before charging you an outrageous copay.

It should be noted, however, that some versions of the Mujina story describe it as a faceless ghost, which is obviously a lot more disturbing than an apparently regular guy advising you to get plenty of fluids.

http://tokyodesu.com/2014/01/15/8-hilariously-nonthreatening-monsters-from-japanese-folklore/

[ariam-ruzam]

[maskedfeatures]

"That hair. Its unnatural." Gin whispered to a tree spirit as he and the other spied on the pinkette from a distance. Never in his long, long, life has he seen a female or male come through this forest with hair like that. The tree spirit simply chuckled at Gin's reaction to the hair color and made a branch come to life to push the male on over to the female. Most likely to help her get out of the forest before some other, unfriendly, spirit tries to lure her into the depths. 

He went forward, just like he normally did to humans that somehow found their way into the forest, and took a moment before speaking up. "Human girl.. You should probably follow me so I can get you out." 

[maskedfeatures]

A man has ran through my forest.

[maskedfeatures]

Kakashi didn’t question the boy’s revelation that he was some spirit wandering the thickets not verbally anyway. He looked physical enough to be just a normal human being but if that’s what he chose to believe then that was up to him. Kakashi wasn’t one for fairy stories.

Instead he chose to accept the invitation of aid, no ANBU operative would be as forward as this youth and Kakashi was confident enough to surmise that Gin meant him no ill will. 

"I’m heading north towards the border which is a good couple of hours from here." he stated dully as he dropped from the heights and landed with cat like grace at the foot of the tree. It was at that point that he realised he’d demanded a name from the other but hadn’t had the courtesy to introduce himself. 

"My name is Hatake Kakashi of Konohagakure. And please excuse my hostility from earlier. In my occupation it pays to be wary."

"I can get you there." Gin stated as they started their walk to the north end of the forest. There had to be other ways to get to the border without cutting through the forest, right? It seemed kind of silly to have placed one village or home surrounded by a forest. Whoever planned that was simply not thinking properly. 

"Kakashi." He repeated the name to tell that he understood what had rolled off of the man's tongue. "It does not seem like a pleasant occupation you are in. Having to be on edge all the time and trust no one." The younger male just shrugged, hands going into his pockets. "But its not my place to talk. You humans have unique ways of handling situations."

Most of the time Gin thinks that humans are rather stupid. Using violence and war to settle problems throughout the years. His forest was burned down and destroyed during the last war that the lands here have seemed, many of his own died due to the rash actions of the human populations. But other times he was still slightly jealous of the things that they can accomplish and do with their lives.

"Do you have family, Kakashi?" A small conversation starter, Gin thought, just so the two of them didn't have to walk the next few hours in complete silence. 

[maskedfeatures]

A new spirit?

[maskedfeatures]

   Well, it wasn’t a human who usually were the ones to wander about the forest aimlessly, or any of those odd, bothersome yokai she had grown vexed on. This one seemed pleasant, although she did not give him the luxury of knowing so through her words. Instead she watched from her masked eyes, finding a better sitting position as she hung both her feet from the branch to watch the other.

      ⌜☪⌟—”Ah, well it seems they’re not as skilled as they believe,” she chuckled drily. “Do I really need a reason to be here? I suppose it’s the matter that I have nowhere else to go, or I have no choice,” she shrugged. “But say, isn’t it only customary you be the one to introduce yourself first, hm?”

 "It is customary." Gin noted along with a nod of the head. "But after a few centuries of following a custom, you feel the desire to change things up a bit. Plus, humans tend to feel touchy after I introduce myself, mostly children, and I do not tend to die due to a child that feels the need to hug me." He sighed at that thought and the memories of having to beat children over the head with sticks to keep them at bay. "My name is Gin, by the way." The male laid down on the grass, not needing to really look at her to hold a conversation with the other so he took the time to look up at the sky. "But, anyway, you don't need a reason to be here. I was simply curious to how you found here and got here."

[maskedfeatures]

~Another human~

[maskedfeatures]

He suddenly felt uneasy as he asked. “Why? Are wonders not allowed to pass though? I mean your forest no harm…” Menma wasn’t stupid enough to start a fight with the other boy because he could feel the power coming from him and he didn’t want to cross him so he slowly looked away from him and looked up at the sky in the tree tops. “Ahh what a lovely day.” He said as he tried to show the other he meant no harm but his expression changed quickly to a hurt and broken one as he heard those words…it shot through him like a bolt of lightening, causing him to flinch and frown. 

“What are you?” 

Even out here so far away from those who had hurt him all his life and made fun of him and beat him because of what he was…..in that moment he learned all to well that no matter where he went that other people and creatures could tell he was a freak of nature. He tried to control his emotions because he suddenly felt his anger surge and his sorrow increase as well and he slowly backed away from the other as he watched him stand up and walk towards him as he heard those words. 

 “You do not seem like the others that have passed through here and I do not know if that is a good thing or bad thing.”

His  expression changed as a low growl slipped from his lips as he put his mask on to cover his expression. He then stopped backing up and stared right at the boy as he said. “Do you often ask the ones who come through here what they are? Let me ask you the same thing, What the hell are you?”  He stood his ground and clinched his fists as he said in a aggravated tone.  ”Names Menma…I am the host of The Nine Tailed Fox Demon Kurama…at the moment I’m a half- Demon…just a half..not full..I don’t have to power yet to become a full one yet…”

Gin noticed the mask that the other pulled out look somewhat like his own did. It made him question if some spirit had given him one too as a child just as Gin had gotten his. He didn't speak until after he heard the explanation of what the male was and gave a small nod. Though Gin was centuries older than the other, this was his first time meeting a demon..or well half demon. 

After hearing what, and who, the other male was, Gin shared his part. "I'm a spirit, or well.. ghost-like if you would rather think of me like that." He shrugged, not caring how he was thought of as many humans thought of him as one or the other. Or as nothing at all. "My name is Gin. Just Gin. No last name." He had to have had one at some point, but as the years went on he simply forgot it. 

Since the other was not human, or fully a human, Gin had wondered if he would be able to touch the other's skin and still be alive. Though he did not want to risk such  thing. He has lived through many things and this will not be his downfall. "I'm sorry if I angered you, Menma." Gin bowed his head in an apology, not meaning to be disrespectful. "I am rather protective of my home and the beings that live in this forest."

The male's hands went to his own mask, pulling it off to the side a bit to let the other see the small, friendly, grin that he was giving off before sliding it back into place to cover his face. "You are welcomed to stay here, since you are not fully human and the spirits will not get angry at me for not getting you out."

[maskedfeatures]

A new spirit?

[maskedfeatures]

 Spirits could be so nosy sometimes. Naoki sighed as she watched the sky, not finding particular beauty, for she had been sitting upon the same branch for a long while, and now she had grown bored of the celestial color it gave out. She’d heard the whispers of the other youkai blabbering about her, and yet did not even bother to scold them or scare them off as she would with the humans. She’d just let them gossip before she gave them a piece of her mind.

      ⌜☪⌟—She spotted another instantly, too tired to tell this one off, so she simply ignored his presence and continued staring ahead. That was until she heard a formal greeting. Her head instantly shot down to meet with another masked individual. A glint of interest sparked within her as she leaned her body to the side for a better view. “Well, that’s a better greeting, I guess,” she mumbled. “I assume you’ve been witness of the gossip, haven’t ya’?”

 Hearing her voice chime through the air was rather delightful, though it sounded just like a normal voice would. Maybe it was just the setting making everything seem more beautiful than they really are. Yes, that must be it. "I have." Gin admitted, having not been the one to lie since there is no real reason for it. "These spirits here tend to run their mouth a lot, but its usually about more important things than a new visitor."

Feet gently walk over the blades of grass to stand himself in front of the female so she would not have to twist in such a way to see him, and this allowed him to see her clearly through the holes in his mask. "Though they chatter," Gin goes on. "I do not think I picked up your name or why you are here." Legs bend and he sits himself down on the grass, leaning back just a little to be able to stare at, and study, her.

[maskedfeatures]

~Another human~

[maskedfeatures]

He could feel the power around him and he craved the feeling but most of all the feeling of peace away from those who searched him. A runaway who had been given power, more power then he could control and dark power and energy. Mismatched eyes looked around at the forest, it was beautiful and for the first time in weeks he felt at peace with himself as he took in a deep shaky breath and continued to walk through the woods wondering through it with no idea what he was going to do now.

He was to meet up with his new Master who had given him even more power then he had before. He was on guard though because he could feel the energy of something following him but it didn’t seem to mean any harm so he tried to ignore the feeling. That didn’t last long though as he saw something in the corner of his eye and he stopped in his tracks as he heard those words.  “What are you doing here?”

He fully turned to face the one speaking to him but said nothing for a long moment before speaking up in a low tone. “Heh, just passing through I suppose….not quite sure yet…”

During the few moments of silence after the other had spotted him, Gin just studied the appearance of the other and thats about when he felt something rather off about this human. 'No.. he isn't human but he isn't a spirit either..' Gin narrowed his eyes under his mask, unsure of what to think about this new being in his forest.

He had many things to ask the male. Wanting to know where the other was going. Where he came from. Who he was. If he was harming the forest and spirits here. But what came off his tongue was something he didn't really plan to ask. "What are you?" 

Standing up, he moved across the distance between them for a few steps.. still highly careful of the distance as if he got too close, and the other was a human and touched Gin..Gin would die and the spell would be broken. "You do not seem like the others that have passed through here and I do not know if that is a good thing or bad thing." He was protective of the forest. Every blade of grass and every dust molecule that lived in this forest was a memory of the centuries that Gin has been spending here and the remainders of some of the humans that he befriended throughout his lifetime. 

[maskedfeatures]

A new spirit?

Gin has seen the girl, and heard about her from the other spirits, and wanted to go see her for himself. It was common that spirits passed on through the forest to get to a new home or a different destination and need a small place to rest but never has one brought up so much commotion. 

It was easy to spot her, for she was the only other human looking spirit here as the others tended to stick to their natural forms. His eyes locked on her hair, first of all, as it was fairly long and being gently picked up and caressed by the breeze that danced on through the little clearing. 

He spoke up after a few moments of staring, knowing that she might have already felt him there. "Hello." Was the only thing he said right now, unsure what type of spirit this is and if she is as friendly as she looks from the behind. 

[maskedfeatures]

Sumiko traveled down the river bank watching the fish move through the stream.  It was the first warm day in so long or at least warm to her.  The flowers were finally coming into bloom and the wildlife was out.  It was just lovely.

She came upon a stream and stopped when she noticed some beautiful wildflowers sprouting from between the river rocks.  She crouched down then grasped the petals between her fingertips.  They were so lovely and she could admire them all day or at least till someone spooked her.

Sumiko shot strait up then turned to the hidden figure.  She took a few breathes before gathering herself.  ”U-Um, I was just admiring their color is all.”  She said putting her hands up showing she hadn’t taken any of the flowers.

Gin almost laughed at how quickly she got up at the sound of his voice, but he held it in and simply smiled under his mask. "They are pretty, aren't they?" He walked closer, keeping a steady eye on her to make sure she doesn't make any movements closer to him that he doesn't want but soon made his way across the clearing to the flowers as well. "The flowers are usually wonderful this time of year." Gin picked one of the flowers out of the ground before standing up to face her.

Moving his fingers to the very bottom of the steam, so they fingers will not touch or even barely brush against each other, he handed it to her. "The forest will not mind if you take one for yourself." Gin enjoyed having company here and there during the year and it was slowly starting to become the season where humans wander into the forest for one reason or another. 

Behind the mask, eyes locked onto her hand as it made its move to his and the second that the steam was touched by her fingers, he released to not take any chances with their skin touching. There was no way that some random female was going to be the reason that he dies. "What are you doing out there, other than staring at the flowers the forest births."

[maskedfeatures]

A man has ran through my forest.

[maskedfeatures]

"Not the same as me?" he repeated sceptically. It went beyond doubt that Gin was indeed very strange with his strange aura and his strange explanations that raised far more questions than they actually answered.

Though he was surprised that the boy had actually seen the weapons he concealed on his person. Perhaps it was a lucky guess, who knew? Though it seemed Gin was not of shinobi kind so what was the harm of answering a few harmless questions. 

"Without my tools I am useless as they are useless without me. A shinobi must carry weapons at all times during travel. I mean no harm to you or your wood. I’m merely passing through."

Leaning forward on his branch and taking stock of the youth, his strange clothes and the mask he was reverted back to what he’d told him only a few moments ago. 

"So, if you’re different to me, what exactly are you?"

Gin found the talk about the weapons rather odd and brought more questions up into his mind but he didn't go there, the human world seemed more complicated than he thought it was. It was nice to know, however, that the man was not planing to harm to him or the forest. 

"What am I?" The younger male sighed out into the distance between the two, leaning back on some in the grass. "I am not human, to make it simple. I was at a time, for a sort time, but not anymore. Now I am a spirit here, or more like a ghost if you would rather think of it like that." Gin held up his hand to the other to show that he did, in fact, have flesh that was not see through and probably felt like normal human skin but he will never know that for sure. 

Feeling like that gave enough answer, Gin stood up once more and tried to make the other join him down on the ground so Gin can help the man out, unless he would rather stay which wouldn't be all that bad either. It'll be company for sure. "Now, do you have more questions or can we go on our way?"

[maskedfeatures]

Gin has never noticed this girl before and when he first saw her step into the forest, he was attracted towards her in a curious way and wanted to figure out why she was here. 

He followed her from a great distance and occasionally dared himself to go up a few more feet before retreating when he thinks she has noticed him. But when the girl stopped to stare at some of the purple flowers that were growing by the forest's river, he stepped out into the clearing to watch and study what she was doing. 

"Don't think about stealing those flowers from their home." Gin called out to her direction, not really minding if flowers are taken as long as they are taken gently and with care. 

[maskedfeatures]

A man has ran through my forest.

[maskedfeatures]

He noticed the boy’s shoulders stiffen after Kakashi had raised his concerns, and he’d also noticed that his initial question had been sidestepped and noted down as a denial of aid. Just because one knows an area well does not make one a friend. If anything it gives them to potential and power to snare their target deeper into their net. 

Even so, there was something about the youth’s tone and his talk of forest spirits that piqued Kakashi’s curiosity, that and mask covering his face. It was best to get the simple questions out of the way first.

"Your mask," he drawled now parking himself on his branch allowing his feet to dangle over the thicket. "Where did you get it?"

First let’s establish that this Gin was not affiliated with the black operatives. 

Seeing that the other had no intentions of coming along, Gin plopped himself back down on the grass and just stared up at the man. This was not going the way it normally did, but change was good. Right?

It did not seem right that he was being questioned in his own home by a man that certainty did not belong here but it has been a while since he has had a conversation with a human that was old enough to carry a proper, or close enough to proper, conversation. Children did not have the mind capability to do that.

"My mask was given to me as an infant." Gin spoke up, keeping his voice loud enough so that the wind can carry it up to the one ear that was in view. "It clarifies that I am not the same as one of you and that I belong here." Something in his mind told him that it would be easier for that man to trust him if he showed his face, but Gin rarely showed it to people that only visit once and do not befriend him.

'If that man can ask me a lot of questions, then I might as well ask a few back.' It didn't take him long to think of a question, for he had many, and soon enough his mouth was moving behind the mask. "Why did you bring weapons into this forest?"

[maskedfeatures]

Forests near Konoha should never be easy to get lost in. There should always be a way out, if you came in. However, there were stories going around, stories of children who never came home. Hanabi had heard many of those stories where someone abducted children and wanted them something bad.

However, she wasn't the one to give up. With her byakugan activated she tried to find the training spot she had been on, before running off. She hoped the small squirrel, she tried to help, had got home to its family.

Her train of thoughts were interrupted when she heard a voice, and she turned around rapidly to face a white fox.

"Who are ya?"

He was slightly stunned by how straight forward this girl was, asking who he was right away. The last child that he helped ran over to him and tried to hug him out of joy for being found. This girl was certainly something else.  A corner of his lip pulled up into a smile, though hidden by the mask, as he replied with one simple word. "Gin."

Gin did notice how her eyes were different, strange even, but growing up in this forest.. he had learned that there were strange things out in the world and learned to not question them. "Do you want out of here? The forest is no place for a child to be alone in." The male tilted his head as he questioned the small child once more. He wanted to learn more about the unusual girl. He wanted to know why she didn't look scared about being lost here. He wanted to know where she was from. There was a lot of things Gin wanted to learn about this girl. 

[maskedfeatures]

A man has ran through my forest.

[maskedfeatures]

There was something strange about this boy, though the wood itself was strange as a whole. Though the information being fed to him seemed a little difficult to digest. But the burning question remained, even as Kakashi stood upright and dropped his weapon back into its holder. 

"Tell me, Gin,” he started with the folding of both arms across his chest. “How can I be expected to trust a young boy wandering the wilderness by himself, hm? Don’t you have a home to go to?”

Gin paused his steps to turn back to the man, and although no one can see it behind his mask, he wrinkled his forehead to think on the question given in his direction. No one has not trusted him, or maybe they have but still would rather have gotten out of the forest rather than taking their chances in here when the sun goes down. 

"The forest is my home." The second question was much easier to answer than the first. "I grew up in this forest and I know every tree and every blade of grass. That should be enough reason for you to trust me." Feet moved backwards to move his body. "I do not mind you denying my request to help you out of here but some of the spirits here are not all that friendly."