Mushishi 32

For J.A.C only. Don't mess with the crabs. >:3

Page 52:

Girl: All right....
that'll do.

Page 53:

Mirror in the Mire

Page 54:

Mother:
...Masumi?

Where did you go?

...Oh, no!

What on earth is this...?

Page 55:

Ginko:
...The sound of water?


Page 56:

Ginko: ...Your daughter.

Has she been...well?

Parents:
It's true that recently she's been having some health problems.

Page 57:

Dad: We know what's behind the cause of it.
It's not something Mushishi or Doctors could cure though.

Mother: She can't see the man that she loves anymore.

She's become so depressed,
that's it even begun affecting her health.

It's happened before, but...
this time it's gone on longer than usual.

Ginko: ...however...

She isn't simply lovesick.

Page 58:

...Which means?

Ginko: ...Firstly

Can you fetch me a bucket filled with water?

Please,
look at your reflection in this

Page 59:

...Her reflection,
has been stolen from her.

...What?

There's a mushishi called a "mizukagami"...
[Tn: Water Mirror]

which lives in the stagnant water of the pond.

Page 60:

Basically, it's natural form is a body of water.

When the images of animals are reflected on a lake containing a Mizukagami,
it mimics the shape and comes up onto land.

Then it follows the original around,
weaking it
little by little.

The more the original animal weakens, the more solid the Mizukagami becomes.

Until the original loses it's solid form.

Eventually...

The Mizukagami will replace the real one.

Page 61:

The Mizukagami needs minerals from the water to survive.

It uses it's host body to search for water with a high mineral content.

It it's natural form, the Mizukagami is unable to move.

So it wants a body it can move around in freely.

We can't have that!

Is there anything we can do to stop it?

During the moment when the Mizukagami attempts to take over the host body..
it takes a form which is visible to everyone.

So...
at that moment, if it's image is reflected in a mirror,

It reverts to it's original form.

Page 62:

That's it? That sounds easy enough!

Hey, Masumi, where's that hand mirror of yours?

Huh?
It's all cloudy...

Here, I'll clean it for you...

No!
This mirror is precious to me!

I'll do it myself.

Page 64:

Sorry, I'm just going out for awhile!

Eh?

Hey!
Where're you going, Masumi!?

It's already gotten so cloudy again?

Page 65:

You always clean it so well I didn't clean it myself.

Hey, Masumi...

Lately, there hasn't been as much work around here as there used to be...

I'm thinking of moving my buisness somewhere else...

...Oh...

But when will I see you again?

...I don't know. I'll be back someday, you know.

Page 66:

You can't!

It's not like I want to.

But I've gotta eat somehow,
you know?

Then...

I'll come with you!

I'll be your wife!

I'm not ready to be married yet.

Then...
I'll wait until you're ready to get married!

So..

Page 67:
I couldn't take a flighty girl like you back home as my wife...
I oughta marry someone a little more adult.

...So that's how it is.

I don't know when I'll be back here again,

so next time your mirror gets dirty, you'll have to polish it yourself.

Page 69:

...What's that?

...Are you...
back there?

Page 70:

You really...
want to be me?

Why would anyone...
want to be me that much?

...so,
you've started to hear the Mizukagami's footsteps?

Have you polished that mirror yet?

Page 71:

You'd be clean it soon,
otherwise it'll take over and you'll disappear.

...Who knows?

Maybe it'd be better if it took me over.

What?

I'm sick of being me.

So if it wants to try, I'm willing to let it.

...Hey...

If you act so recklessly now,
you won't be able to regret it later.

Page 72:

If you change places with the Mizukagami,
you lose your very sense of self, not just your body.

You lose...
Your free will, your ability to think, even your ability to make an impact on this world. Do you really intend to give those up so easily?

So it'd be like...
I don't even exist anymore?

Yes.

Then...
It's just like it is now.

My existance meant that little to him.

Page 73:

Nothing I say.
Nothing I do.

Nothing about me matters at all to him.

So my body...
doesn't matter either.

So that's...

what made you so sad.

Page 74:

But there's,

an even sadder place in this world.

You'll drift formless in an empty world,

Just like a mushi.

They,
are like creatures of nothing, wriggling about in the darkness.

Mushi don't have souls.
They just crawl towards the light.

It's...
a very lonely place.

Page 75:

That creature...
Is merely a wraith-like creature which will vanish on seeing it's own reflection.

Compared to it, anything real and flesh-and-blood...
is incredibly powerful.

But...

As soon as you change places with it, that situation is completely reversed.

It just wants a stronger body.

If you ever want to go back home again,

You'd better start trying to protect yourself a little.

Page 77:

Her pulse is weak...

Did you clean your mirror?

...Yes...

Good.

Always keep it with you.

Soon the Mizukagami will reveal itself.

It has to be reflected at that moment.

Don't miss your chance!

Page 78:

Where are you going?

Oh,
Just to the bathroom.

Will you be alright on your own?

Yes.

He's back...?

Page 79:

He isn't here...

Page 83:

Text: The mirror's gone...?

Why is it over there...?

My body...

it won't move...!!

Page 84:

If I don't do something...

It's going to change places with me!

I'm going to become like it...

Page 85:
Mimicking other animals, drifting in darkness forever...?

No...

That's just...

so lonely...!

What are you doing!?

Don't copy me!!

Page 87:

Really...
I'm fine! Nothing's wrong with me!

Page 88:

What are you talking about, you silly girl!?

You're going to take it easy for the next week!

But...

Why did it disappear?

I don't know...
But you managed to do it somehow.

Page 89:
That's it!

Your eyes...!

The Mizukagami might have been reflected in your eyes!

So...
All I had to do was open my eyes?

I didn't need a mirror after all?

...As I thought...

Flesh-and-blood humans...

possess an incredible amount of power.

Page 90:

...What? What is it?

I didn't realise it untile now...

but you're pretty handsome...
Tn: Bitch, don't you dare. He's mine~ >:3

...Huh?

Your hair's weird though. Is it a family trait?

Where's your home town?

...It looks like she's completly cured...

It appears that way.

Page 91:

Well...
I've got places I'm needed.

What!?
Can't you stay just a little bit longer?

I haven't yet found a way to show my thanks...

Masumi!

Hasn't your past expierences taught you anything!?

Page 92:

So, this is the place?

Page 93:

I thought you might return to your original home.

Follow me if you want.

I'll take you to a place deeper in the moutains.

Sorry, but I'm not going to make you real.

Page 94:

Don't look so disappointed!