The Sound of Footsteps in the Grass (Episode 26)

The Sound of Footsteps in the Grass is the twenty-sixth episode of the anime series. It is also the last episode of the first season.

Synopsis
When Ginko was a child, he lived for a while with the Watari, a group of nomads, which every year visited a mysterious mountain. Among the nomads, there is another boy, Isaza, who befriends Taku, the son of the family who owns the mountain. Their friendship grows despite them barely seeing each other.

Plot
A boy named Taku watches as figures in the distant walk up a mountain obscured by purple fog. The nomads show up before the rainy season and leave by the time the storms pass.

Later, Taku is fishing by a waterfall basin when he is called by his caretaker to go home to see his father. On the way home he remarks that the fog surrounding the mountain is a pretty purple color, but the caretaker responds that it looks white to her. Back at their home, it is revealed that Taku and his father own the mountain. his father says that the nomads have been coming for a long time and they posed no harm. He doesn’t know what exactly they do, but they seem to know about many different places and always have interesting stories. Taku is concerned they might take water from the basin, but his father says its ok for them because they just need enough to survive unlike villagers who want it to water their crops. Taku says he still doesn’t like people going near it but the father says to not be stingy.

Taku, is again fishing at the basin and a nomad boy named Isaza shows up. Taku has not caught any fish while the traveler has caught a whole basket full. Taku tells Isaza to not take so many fish and that the mountain belongs to him. The traveler asks if he is the "Master" of the mountain and he says his father is. Isaza agrees to give the fish back to the master but asks to keep one for each nomad. He expresses surprise that the master's son is bad at fishing.

The next day Taku trips over a snare tied in the grass. The snares were set by Isaza, who shows himself from a tree and says that his grandpa told him that the Taku is not the master's son. Taku says his ancestors bought the mountain. Isaza says buying it doesn’t mean he’s the master but Taku responds saying his family knows the mountain is special and protects it. A Mushishi told his ancestors to protect it, lest the mountain gets sick. Isaza realizes that Taku also holds mountain dear and decides to drop the issue.

They go to the river and Taku says he wants to pay Isaza back for the fish. He later asks Isaza what is the “Master” that he refers to and he tells him it’s the big catfish in the basin. The grass growing on it marks it as the master. Taku remarks that he’s seen the mater before. He also asks Isaza if he’s seen the colored fog before. Icaza responds saying he has; it is caused by a Koumyakusuji, a channel for a Koumyaku, that gives life to the land. Taku catches a single fish. Isaza asks for information from the boy in return for telling him about the master and Koumyakusuji. The next day, Taku tells Isaza a rumor he heard from his uncle of a boy with white hair and a single green eye living two mountains south. Isaza says he might see him as that's the direction he’s going in. He will be leaving the mountain soon depending on its mood. When the fog is blue, the mountain is stable, when it's red its unstable, when it's gold, the mountain is in a good mood and it’s an optimal time to set out. Taku is jealous of Isaza’s freedom because his life will be dedicated to fighting over the mountain.

Later, Taku sees the travelers selling maps and information to a Mushishi. He is angry because Isaza didn't tell him what rumors he gathered for him were for. Isaza couldn't tell him the purpose beforehand because he needed to know what was normal for the village. The rainy reason draws to a close and the fog turns gold, signaling the travelers to move on.

The next year the nomads return with the young Ginko in tow. Taku and Isaza are meeting by the master's basin when the caretaker rushes over to tell them the Taku’s father has died. The mountain was left to Taku but his relatives decide to ignore it and sell out to the villagers.

Isaza visits to give his condolences, Taku tells him about his relatives’ plans for the mountain. Isaza says the mountain is very upset. The Koumyaku is shifting, and the nomads will follow it. Taku asks if the nomads can take him with them. Isaza says he’ll ask his grandfather and to meet him by the basin tomorrow. The next day the fog is plain white and at the pool, Ginko is there but Isaza is not. Ginko tells Taku the Koumyaku started moving overnight and the nomads had to move. He also tells Taku that he should also move soon.

After that day, the fog never changed color. Six months later the mountain, which was a volcano, erupted. The plants burned and the basin turned into a swamp. The catfight remained but it didn’t have grass growing on it anymore. Over the next ten years Taku worked to revive the mountain but it never returned to its former glory. The children that were born were frail. Taku continuously waits for Isaza to return.

One day Ginko visits the village and to cure the children. He is recognized by Taku and goes to his home. Ginko tells him that the most of the mushi left with the Koumyakusuji, only the ones that fed off humans stayed which is why the kids are so weak. The previous generation was born with the Koumyaku’s blessing, but the current children were not. Ginko prescribes nutrients and mushi repellents for the children. Ginko doesn't remember Taku but he does remember Isaza. Ginko tells Taku that Isaza was the one who told him to come here and that he would need to bring medicine.

Ginko visits the mater's pond and sees a large catfish. He remembers that he has been here and remarks that Taku and the mountain sure have changed.