Chapter 12

One Who Collects, One Who Steals (集める者、奪う者, Atsumeru Mono, Ubau Mono) is the 12th chapter of the Fumetsu no Anata e manga.

This is the start of the Post Spirit Bear Arc.

Summary
After leaving Ninannah, Fushi continued walking to search for the next stimulus. Mostly, Fushi will end as a wolf, likely to the end of sniffing out to its destination. It did not take the form of the bear because it would give so much pain to him. It also took the form of the boy to some extent. When it became hungry, it took the form of March, because it is the best when climbing trees and obtaining fruits.

While wandering, it reached a familiar scent. The old woman from the prison recognizes March and asks to where she had run off to since the old woman has been looking for her since she disappeared. The old woman rants that it annoys her that she was looking for her for three days and she was starving and stranded in the area. Not answering the old woman's questions, Fushi enters in at the wagon they used to escape the Yanome prison and sits. The old woman asks if the girl Parona or the immortal is with her. Fushi then transformed into the boy's form much to the old woman's surprise. Fushi not responding suddenly walks away and leaves the old woman. However, the old woman shouts and tells Fushi that it can't leave her there all alone. While walking through the forest, the old woman says that she can't understand what's going through its head, she asks when did it take March's form and what it think of them, she also asks if it has feelings. The old woman then says that even though there is no way the immortal can express its feelings, she would want to look into its heart sometime. Changing the topic, the old woman exclaims that she is hungry and hasn't eaten for two days and suggests for them to rest. Due to the old woman's hunger, she mumbles meat and water and suddenly bites Fushi's leg, exclaiming it as leg meat. While the old woman bites Fushi's leg, it turns into its wolf's form. The old woman then begs to let her just cook and eat Fushi. The old woman then proceeds to chase after Fushi for food, while Fushi manages to avoid her bite, Fushi transforms into March's form and climbs a tree. Fushi then grabs a fruit. Looking down on the old woman, Fushi eats the fruit. Witnessing this, the old woman begs Fushi to give her some fruit. Fushi then throws some fruit at her, and the old woman proceeds to eat it. Fushi then says thank you, the old woman gives her thank you to Fushi.

After the ruckus, they find a map and find that there is a nearby village though it's a hundred ri away. While copying the information in the map, the old woman then suggests if they should go to her hometown which is only beyond the ocean. Fushi then snatches the script and writing tool and writes on the script, The old woman then asks it Fushi is interested in the script and proceeds on how to write "ri". She then asks Fushi is it wants to learn more, then Fushi should follow her and she will teach Fushi about language, script and how to live as a human. The old woman then continues to show Fushi how to write other scripts including her name "Pioran".

The next day, while at the port, Fushi points to different things while saying what it is. Pioran then tells Fushi that it is now capable of speaking. Fushi then answers Pioran that it will grow up and learn more things. Pioran then asks what was Fushi doing before it met March. Fushi replies that it was walking, met, and don't understand his name.

While on the sea, Pioran tells Fushi that they are going to Takunaha. After arriving, they continued to walk and spends the night in the forest. While sleeping, something attacked Fushi which cause branches to emerge from its body. Fushi suddenly transforms into the wolf and a strange thing appears. A black hooded figure also appears and approaches Fushi and asks how does it feel to lose of itself and says he was stolen by the strange thing. The black-hooded figure then urges Fushi to fight and defeat since it is his enemy. Fushi then charges forward.

Chapter Notes

 * A Nokker first appeared in this chapter in the form of the Nameless Boy.
 * The creator of Fushi showed its appearance.
 * Pioran tells Fushi her hometown, Takunaha.