Dandy, The Best Forest Deity!

DANDY straightened her white dress and checked her hair if it was braided perfectly before coming out of the old oak tree. She peeked towards the Old tree, making sure that the spirit wasn't there yet. She wanted to be the first one to appear as to not make him wait.

She skipped towards the barrier where it was nearer to the tree. Sat there and closed her eyes. She called this dimension the Life Streams. Every time she closed her eyes this is where she can see every lifeline of the spirits, creatures, and living beings of the forest. Glowing string-like lights of green floating like in the water. It was dark but because of the lifelines, it wasn't that frightening at all.

Then she saw the spirit of the old tree. He just appeared from the top of the tree and slowly descending, the sake and three cups in his hands. He stopped atop the truncated tree and sat there.

When his image solidifies, Dandy opened her eyes and there she saw him. Basking at the full moon as he poured drinks on the two cups.

Dandy watched him as he drank the sake. She didn't say anything as she was afraid that she might disturb the peace that he wanted. And this is what she wanted to do, to make him feel that he wasn't alone in his sorrow.

"Why are you being quiet?" The Old tree then asked. "Don't tell me that you are scheming another trick."

"No. No." Dandy shook her hand along with her hands. "I'll just stay here. I'll talk if you want me to talk."

"Than what good are you then?"

"Companion? A presence to make you feel that you are not alone? Whatever you want to call it." Dandy swiftly answered. "I know that my presence annoys you but this is all I could offer."

"I don't need any help or companion as you want to say."

"Then can you please be happy instead?" Dandy then pursued. "I know that we are different, but being alone is hard especially when you have a heavy burden in your heart. You don't have to be alone."

"What do you know?! You're making the sake taste bad."

Dandy sadly bowed her head when she remembered her past life. "I know cause I've been there," she silently said.

"What are you mumbling about?"

Dandy shook her head. The Old tree doesn't need to know what she had been thru. But she wanted him to experience what she did when Amaterasu found her.

"Nothing, sir. Then I'd be going back inside."

The Old tree scoffed at her before she heard a thumping sound of porcelain.

"Going back inside," he scoffed again. "what use does this cup then?" The Old tree mumbled. "Hey, girl, come back and drink with me."

"But I am just a child, sir," she replied to him but in her heart, she got excited.

"Did I say that you'd drink my sake? Come here and drink this," He then reached for his branch and from there, cupped leaves full of morning dew.

Dandy smiled as the Old tree put down the cup. Offering it to her before facing his back to her.

"Why don't you try to get it yourself, Your Grace?" Tamotsu said. He was up in the tree with Yoshiko.

"But how?"

"Use your powers, My Lady," Yoshiko then urged her. "Ask for Life Energies to helped you."

Dandy nod at him and looked at the cup. She closed her eyes and went to Life Stream. There she coaxed the life energies to assist her to lift the cup and slowly bring it to her.

Wobbly, clumsy but trying. The cup floated in mid-air like it was carried by a small girl. It almost soiled the contents of it when it was almost at her reach. She stopped and carefully corrected the balance of the cup.

"Careful now, my lady. Don't get too excited."

Dandy took a deep breath and continue the 'walk'. She tried to keep her calm but it still showed as the cup started to wobble again.

Dandy giggled when she finally caught the cup in her hand. "Sir Old tree! I got it! Thank you!" she exclaimed excitedly.

The Old tress spirit didn't say a thing. And just continued drinking. "Bring it back once you're done. I'll give you more."

A big smile then curved Dandy's lips as she looked up at her two guardians. And the whole night, they continued to exchange cups and drinking under the full moon.

No words were spoken. But the smile was never absent. The burden in their hearts was lighter. The drinks taste sweet. And a new friendship was starting.

"Kid," The old tree called to Dandy. "If you were here earlier than us or the same time as us, do you think that you'd be able to save her?"

Dandy put down her cup and let it sit in her hands. The illumination of the full moon can be seen in her drink. "Sir, I cannot guarantee that I'd be able to save her. If the Gods decided that she should go back to Yomi, I won't be able to do anything. But I can see myself not stopping making her feel the best days of her life. Making her feel that leaving isn't a bad thing. I'd give her hope that someday, somewhere that you two would meet again. Hope, is all I could offer."

"And I think that would be enough," The Old tree sadly replied. "My only wish now is to find her in our next lifetime."

Dandy didn't respond. Her tears swell out of happiness. Happiness that

her hope that she could reach him was accomplished. Finally, the Old tree was free from the sadness that was tying his heart.

The only wish that she had now was to fulfill her duty to everyone in the forest. Free every spirit from their burden. Care for everyone. Love everyone equally.

*****

Congratulations, Dandy!

dial F-O-R-E-S-T to send message to Dandy~

^_^