mata kazoku ga kieta

 

~ another family vanishes ~

 

 

 

    Mina stares at the police car stationed outside the front of her home. Later sitting in the kitchen, she glances at the two police officers in the living room questioning her parents.

    Ohta states "Neither I nor my wife have seen the Shindo family in the past four days."

    "I just remembered," Yuko suddenly says with a faraway look on her face. "The same clothes have been hanging out out to dry since the day before."

    "So you're saying that the same clothes have been left out to dry for the past three days," repeats one of the officers.

    "Yes," nods Yuko.

    "Shindo-san has been absent from work without notice, his son absent from school without notice, and his wife has also been absent from her doll making classes. According to Shindo-san's mother, they were not involve in any religious cults, nor does he have any troubles with other debts besides the home loan." The other officer looks at his notes.

    "Ohta confirms. "I can attest to that. I'm sure that Shindo-san had no difficulty with the home loan. If there were any other loans that were outstanding, it would have been apparent before he purchased this resort home."

    "So there's no reason for them to flee in the middle of the night?"

    "We haven't known them for very long so don't know of any reason that could've made them do so." Yuko replies, exchanging looks with Ohta. Ohta nods, both of them recalling the night at the Shindo house.

 

    With Yoji standing stonily in the yard, Moe flings keepsakes onto the ground from the veranda, screaming "Destroy everything! This home! This house!"

 

    The sound of police sirens screech in the air. "Sir, it's him." The police officer walks to the window to see another patrol car pull up in front of the house.

    "He's from the Prefecture Police Headquarters."

    Ohta asks in surprise. "Prefecture detectives are investigating a missing family case?"

    "Do you know anything about Shindo-san's late father?"

    "He was a well known lawyer for the human rights party." Ohta says.

    "He used to be a member of the Japan Lawyers Association. It's because of his wife. She's threatened to get the support of the media, if the police just go through the motions of an investigation."

    "That's the Achilles tendon of this job," sighs the younger officer.

    "They might ask the same questions but please, kindly cooperate."

    At the police officers' request, the Nakagawas bow slightly in acknowledgement. However the police officers' next comment causes eyebrows to raise.

    "He may look like the way he does but there's nothing to be afraid of."

    The younger office asks "Is there any truth in the rumor that the left half of his body was  torn to shreds when he was shot at point blank range by some punks on drugs?"

    "That's just a rumor." The older officer admonishes. "Let's go."

 

    As Atsuta and Honma walk up to the front of the Nakagawa home, the local police officers greet them. "Good day."

    "If any strange questions crop up at the press conference let us know."

    "Looks like it's stirring up a storm."

    "Yeah, it's a parent's specialty." Atsuta mutters with a touch of sarcasm, hobbling his way to the front door. Honma moves to press the doorbell but Atsuta pushes him out of the way with a gruff "Ah..." and hits the chime with the end of his walking stick. Into the interphone, he says "I'm here from the Nagano Prefecture Police Headquarters to ask you a few questions."

   

    Seated on the couch, Atsuta nonchalantly pulls of his artificial leg. "My apologies for this getting in the way."

    Yuko cringes with a gasp and Honma suggests "Shall I put it in the foyer?"

    "Ah, yes please," Atsuta holds out the prosthesis and Honama takes it from him.

    "The light bothers my eyes so I hope you don't mind if I leave these on," Atsuta touches his dark sunglasses.

    "Go ahead," Ohta nods.

    An uneasy pall fills the living room. Serving tea, Yuko tells Mina, peering curiously into the living room "Go upstairs."

    "Well then, I'm sure it's been asked before, what happened?" Atsuta starts without preamble.

    Ohta replies "Ah, what really happened I wonder...."

    Atsuta interrupts, brandishing the end of his stick first first at Ohta and then at Yuko. "No, I'm asking the both of you. What happened with the Shindo family?" Atsuta's expression is unsmiling. Ohta and Yuko steadily stare back at the offensive detective.

 

    The police comb the Shindo home, photographing and fingerprinting items. Outside, the other Motosumi residents look on with a mixture of trepidation and stony expressions.

 

    Atsuta presses on. "At the barbecue by the river, is it true that you had an argument with Shindo-san?"

    Ohta protests "It wasn't an argument.....but it did seem to end up that way."

    Yuko states "You heard that from the Yamajis didn't you."

    Sunglasses nod. "Yes. I spoke with Kimie-san before coming here."

    Yuko looks away, barely hiding her intense dislike for the detective.

 

    Kimie drives pass the Shindo house, taking in the surrounding disturbance. Driving on, she stops when she notices a police car stopped in front of the Nakagawa home. 

   

    Atsuta states "It seems that you have had previous business dealings with Shindo-san, haven't you."

    Ohta nods. "Yes. My company employees' insurance polices are handled by Shindo-san's company. My company isn't in a position to splurge on theatrical advertising. If there are people who appear to have an interest in owning a home in the suburbs, I'll make a sales pitch. Shindo-san was one of them. The impression I got however, was that his wife was more enthusiastic about it than Shindo-san himself."

    Atsuta counters. "I wonder why someone you knew and had business dealings with would end up having an argument with you."

    Ohta lets out a half grimace of a smile, recalling the day in question.

 

    Yoji looks at Ohta and with underlying hostility says "Nakagawa-san, if I may, that is just a selfish pretext by the people who mercilessly buy up plots of land for consolidation and resale. Weren't you bankers and real estate developers the ones who created the bubble economy in the first place?"

   

    Atsuta says "Did Shindo-san have a grudge against real estate agents?"

    Ohta releases a sign of resignation. "Are you trying to say that real estate agents and the yakuza might have something to do with their disappearance?"

    "Your business consists mainly of obtaining property from auctions. Special auctioned property would have a long history of real estate agents and occupiers to negotiate with. It does appear to be quite a dangerous occupation."

     Yuko gets offended. "What are you trying to say?"

    "Don't get so riled up, madam."

    "It's got nothing to do with an entire family disappearing!" Ohta retorts.

    "I hear Motosumi Resort Home is the lifelong dream of yours. It appears that your dreams are coming true."

    Annoyance in her tone, Yuko asks "What else did Kimie-san tell you?"

    Honma replies " May we ask you, what happened on the night of April 18th?"

    Yuko sighs and recalls the night at the Shindo home.

 

   

    "Destroy everything! This home! This house! I hate it! Destroy everything!" As if exhausted, Moe slides down onto the ground, crying.

    Yoji finally notices the Nakagawas. "My apologies for creating this disturbance."

    Ohta walks up, his voice full of concern. "Shindo-san, what's wrong?"

    Picking up the mess, Yoji answers without emotion. "I'm ashamed you've seen this. I expected this to happen." Upstairs, Moe starts laughing to herself. Yoji continues "She'll be fine by tomorrow." A pause and Yoji looks at Yuko. "Yuko-san?"

    "Yes?" Yuko looks anxious.

    "If it's not too much trouble, could you ask what's troubling her?"

    "I will," Yuko agrees, nodding.

 

 

    "And? What happened the next morning?" Atsuta continues.

    Yuko replies unwillingly "You've already asked Kimie-san haven't you?"

    "Yes," replies Atsuta seemingly taking enjoyment in causing discomfort in others.

    Ohta looks at Yuko. "He's just checking if there are discrepancies in both your statements. As long as there is even a minute discrepancy, we'll be under suspicion. There's standard procedure, isn't it."

    Atsuta grins. "Seems like you know a fair bit huh." Tapping Honma, he adds "Looks like he's been through this before."

    With a sigh of reluctance, Yuko says "Moe-san was suspicious of her husband having an old lover that he used to see before they got married. She found a photograph of her husband's ex-lover when they moved." Yuko recalls the morning Moe relates her fears.

 

 

    Moe says with intensity. "I thought that I'd never be able to measure up to her. There's no way I can fight with her! Because she's dead!"

    Yuko and Kimie look stunned.

    "If she's alive, there's still a chance of fighting. But to be bound by the past to this day, I thought there's no way I can ever measure up to a dead person."

    "How did she die?" Kimie asks.

    "I'm sorry. Please don't ask any more." Moe's voice shakes.

 

 

    "Neither Kimie-san nor I asked her anything else."

    "A dead woman?"

    "Moe-san wanted to start over with her husband so they decided on a home that was recommended by my husband. But after moving here and then finding the photograph of his ex-lover....but I don't think that is the reason for them leaving the home. In the first place, if Moe-san was the only one to disappear, that would be understandable. However to disappear together with her husband and Takuya-kun...."

    "So there would have to be some other reason for a whole family of three to disappear."

    Silence descends as each organize scattered thoughts.

    Atsuta abruptly says "We'll end here for today," and to Honma, barks, "Bring my leg here."

    "All right." Honma follows orders.

    Both Yuko and Ohta release wordless sighs of relief.

 

    At the Nagano Prefecture Police Headquarters, a press conference is being held. Rapid fire questions and accusations are hurled furiously at the panel of investigators.

    "...so that's to say that if there are no bloodstains on the floor it means that no crime has taken place?"

    "That would imply a lack of imagination wouldn't it?"

    "Would a family fleeing in the middle of the night leave the rice cooker timer switched on?"

    "From the state of affairs at the home, leaving traces of everyday life as is and suddenly disappearing, would they be on a family holiday?"

    "Police officers everywhere else would seriously investigate that, your initial investigations  are too slow!"

    "I assure you that the Nagano Prefecture Police have always promptly investigated every missing persons case!" The chief of investigations finally gets a word in.

    Standing aside watching the confusion, Atsuta mutters "One dead women carries off a whole family."

    Honma sighs, picking up fluff off Atsuta's jacket. "That's just like a ghost story."

    "More like a horror story." Atsuta says without expression.

 

    On the evening news, journalist Ishiguro Keiichiro reports. "This resort suburb was developed together with the opening of the Shinkansen, making it within commuting range of the city. An unexpected mysterious disappearance of a family has focused attention onto Motosumi City,  Nagano, causing a commotion and unease among the residents here. The mother of Shindo Yoji, Fukiko-san, is understandably upset at the inflexibility of the police investigation to do more than standard procedure."

    Reporters corner Fukiko-san. "What did you speak to the police about?"

    Politely, Fukiko replies "I told them that I just realized from speaking with their neighbors that things between my son and daughter-in-law were not going well. That it could be related to their disappearance."

 

    Mina enters the living room and seeing Yuko, says "Good night."

    Absorbed in the news, Yuko replies vaguely "Good night."

    Mina pauses and stares at the TV.

 

    "If it's all right, could you tell us more?"

    "What if she was jealous of any relationships Yoji had with other women....and in total confusion......" Hysteria builds up in Fukiko.

 

    Yuko mutters to herself, shaking her head. "That's not true."

 

    Fukiko's imagines the worst. "Maybe she brought Takuya-kun with her and together......maybe like throw herself into the river or something!"

 

    Mina stares at the screen, wordless.

 

    "And what did the police say?"

    "Not to jump to conclusions, to calm down and to wait for my son and his family to return. Only to do that!"

    "They did not offer to search the lower reaches of the river?"

    Unfortunately, Fukiko falls apart and is unable to answer, causing the reporters to hover around her in concern. "Are you all right?"

 

    In his office, Ohta watches the same news broadcast with a stony expression. Standing over his shoulder is Kuzui, who's expression is equally dark.

 

    Flyers with pictures of the Shindo family are posted up, with a heading "Searching for  Shindo Yoji and family". Commotion abounds as the residents of Motosumi prepare to search in the surrounding plains and hills for them. Via a hand speaker, the president of the local brewery takes charge.

    "Now then, I am going to announce the role assignments for the search, please....... listen up. Now first, to the North, Takagi-san. Second, leading the search up in the hills and then to the East, Yamashita-san. Third, leading the search into the forests in the West, Tamura-san. Please follow your leaders' instructions.... "

    Nonomura frowns. "Shouldn't  this be the job of the police?"

   

    Ishiguro Keiichiro reports. "As the Nagano Prefecture Police have classified this as a missing persons case, and thus without any leads, have been  unable to conduct a search in the hills. The police have not reclassified nor have their investigators working on the case but rather, it is Shindo Fukiko who has got a grip on the mass media and the police are compelled to prove its 'trustworthiness'.   

    Ishiguro spots Atsuta and Honma's arrival and makes a beeline for them. "Are the police just going to stand by and keep quiet?"

    Atsuta retorts "Aren't you the same just doing nothing but talking?"

    Honma warns "That's not a good idea Atsuta-san."

    Ishiguro looks at his cameraman. "Did you get that?"

    "Who do you think you're fooling with?!" Atsuta suddenly starts shoving Ishigura and raging. "Stop it! I said stop it!" Honma barely restrains Atsuta.

 

    "All right! Let's go!" The announcement comes over the hand speaker and Ohta turns to Yuko and Mina.

    "Be careful." Yuko mouths from a distance.

    Mina waves and gets a smile in return.

    Kuzui checks the pack of another volunteer and Kimie turns to look at him thoughtfully.

    Kohei tells Kimie "Well, I'm off."

    "Suicides are rare. I don't think that's what happened so be careful."

    "Be careful," echoes Satoru.

    A cameraman spots Kimie. "Hey? Kimie?"

    Kimie smiles and nudging Satoru to Yuko, tells her "Sorry, he's my ex-colleague. Thanks."

    Going over the man says "Long time no see!"

    "So you went back to reporting."

    "You're not by any chance a resident of Motosumi Resort Home?"

    "Mm."

    "Mom, let's go!" Satoru calls out.

    Kimie nods. "I'll be right there."

    "Well then, we're off," Yuko nods.

    "So you're a mother! After you got married and retired, there was no news about you. I can't believe you're living here. Next time we'll get you to do a commentary."

    "Ah, no, not that." Kimie replies apologetically.

    "Just now I saw a man in the group that's heading for the hills. That's......"

    "Yes, from way back then....." Kimie nods, looking at Kuzui's receding figure.

 

    Ohta's group of men head into the hills, shouting at the top of their voices.

    "Shindo-san!"

    "There's nothing here!" Nonomura shouts back.

    Cries of "Shindo-san!" and "Oi!" fill the air as folks tie yellow pieces of chord around tree trunks as markings.

    Suddenly Nonomura calls out to Kohei "Yamaji-san!"

    Kohei turns around to see Nonomura pick up a shoe, looking aghast. "It looks like someone hung himself here!"

    Looking around, Kohei says "When the bubble burst, the people who were caught with the land did this..." indicating that they hung themselves.

    Walking through a stream, Ohta misses his footing and quickly, Kuzui is on hand to steady his boss. "Sir, are you all right?"

    "I'm ok."

 

    Up on the plains, the women and children walk in line, searching the ground, crying out "Shindo-san!" and "Takuya-kun!"

    Suddenly Kimie comes running up. "Yuko-san, I'm sorry. I told the police about the little encounter at the barbeque between Nakagawa-san and Shindo-san."

    "Don't worry about it, it's all right," assures Yuko.

    "I thought that it would be better to just tell the truth about how we three families got along since we came here to Motosumi."

    Yuko merely nods with a weak smile.

 

    "Takuya!" shouts Satoru.

    "Takuya..." echoes Mina when she suddenly spots something in the grass. Running up, she picks up a toy robot. Satoru comes running up and she asks "I wonder if this belongs to Takuya."

    "He doesn't play with that." Satoru turns away and continues shouting "Takuya!"

 

    With Kimie alongside, Yuko yells "Shindo-san!"

    "Hey, your husband went up into the hills, has he climbed before?" Kimie asks as if with some hidden agenda.

    "None whatsoever. He's depending on Kuzui-san."

    "Kuzui-san was in the Self-Defense Forces wasn't he? I wonder why he quit."

    "Well, I don't know much about that. I heard that when my husband was still with his former company, he employed him. Why?"

    "Mm." Kimie shakes her head.

    Their leader calls out "Let's spread out a bit more!" and the ladies return to their search.

 

    At the River Runs management office, Ohta gives an update to the residents. "As everyone knows, a search into the hills has been conducted by the local fire department and the city officials for two days running. Unfortunately, no signs with regards to the disappearance of the Shindo family have been discovered. The police are still treating the case as a family who's just left home but.....

    Yuko looks around the room and rests her eyes on Kimie and Kohei.

 

    Looking at Kimie and her husband's faces

I suddenly feel suspicious

but I had a reason for that

 

    Yuko recalls what Kimie said to her during the search up on the plains. "You're the only one I can confide in..."

    Yanagiba asks "So does the police think that the family has committed suicide together?"

    Ohta rejects vehemently "I personally, absolutely do not believe that."

    However, the comments amid condemnation and worry from the residents. "The people who live in Motosumi City have lived here a long time and they look at us Resort Home residents like we're the plague. It's tough going every day." "The tourist agencies are taking advantage, calling this a city where folks disappear on TV. It's a discredit to us." "After an incident like this, would the remaining 12 households really move in?"

    Ohta stoically replies "I'll be frank, there are clients who have asked to be able to reconsider signing their contracts.'

    Murmurs sound around the room. "Everyone will start moving out in droves." "If half of the homes aren't sold, won't this place turn into a ghost town?"

    Suddenly Nonomura bangs his hands on the table. Getting to his feet he spits out at Ohta in anger "In actual fact, you know who's fault this is, don't you!"

    Stunned, Ohta asks "What's the meaning of that?"

    Nonomura fires back "The people you offended while developing this place, they're the ones who created this trouble to get back at you! Even the police are thinking that you are the cause of this in the first place."

    Indignant, Ohta gets to his feet "That has nothing to do with this!"

    Suddenly from the back of the room, Kimie springs up to defend her husband. "Please! Please believe him. We want to live here together with all of you, to build a hometown for everyone....that is my husbands dream. The Shindo family will come home, I believe that. No, not just believe in it, I'll do everything that is possible for that to happen."

    Nonomura bites out sarcastically "Oh, what can you do? A housewife detective, can you find a missing family?"

    Yuku mutters "That's..."

    However, Ohta calmly nods at her "Yuko. It's all right." Yuko sits back down and Mina besides her, holds her hand in comfort.

    Ohta speaks to everyone. "Please, I ask of everyone again. It doesn't matter how trivial, does anyone recall anything that is possibly related to the disappearance of the Shindo family?"

 

    A biker on a motorcycle comes roaring into Motosumi Resort. Screeching to a stop on the gravel, the biker stops and looks up the road. Walking side by side with bags of groceries, Mina says to Yuko in admiration "You were so cool Mom."

    "I wanted to speak up even louder. I wanted to say "Believe him! Believe what the person that's most important to me is saying!"" Yuku smiles.

    "So you love Papa that much huh!" grins Mina.

    "Well, excuse me..." Yuko makes a face, pretending to be offended.

    The biker comes roaring up and stopping in front of Yuko and Mina, giving them a scare. The biker flips up his visor of his helmet and looks at Yuko. "Hey sis."

    Yuko lets out a sigh of relief while Mina grins "It's Tohru-kun! So you bought a bike."

    Tohru removes his helmet, nodding "Mm. Got some days off so I decided to come by."

    Mina looks up "Do you have any new computer games?"

    Tohru ruffles her hair affectionately "I do."

    "That's great!"

    Yuko chides "Mina, after you've done your homework!"

    Tohru looks at Yuko. "Mom and Dad saw the news, they're worried."

    Yuko nods in understanding.

    Mina says "Tohru-kun, the house is completed so come and see!"

    "Mm."

    Everyone heads up the street.

 

Thanks to this little brother of mine

there's still a bond between our parents and myself.

My father worked in a stockbrokerage firm.

Swept away during the bubble economy,

he had an affair and trouble started in the family.

I left my younger brother alone who was still in high school then,

and had fun roaming around Roppongi every night.

My father was finally driven out of the financial world and lost his job.

When I got the job at the publishers and started to live alone,

I wanted to make up for not looking after my family all this time.

So through my brother, I provide them with a monthly allowance.

I want to be filial to my parents

but I am a daughter that isn't worthy of her parents.

Even now, my relationship with my parents is awkward.

 

 

    Mina's voice suddenly breaks into Yuko's reverie. "Mama!"

    "Hm?" Yuko looks up and seeing a car parked outside their home, stops in her tracks.

    Tohru turns back and asks "Who is it?"

    Apprehensively, Yuko replies "The police."

 

    The door opens and Atsuta clumsily gets out of the car and limps towards them, calls out "Good day Nakagawa-san! My apologies for calling on you when you're about to prepare dinner."

    Yuku merely stares back with a frown, not saying a word.

 

    Mina comes out into the living room in time to see Honma placing Atsuta's prosthesis on the bench by the foyer. Both exchange looks before Honma goes back into the living room. As Mina passes by the living room, Atsuta suddenly says "Hello."

    Mina replies quietly. "Hello."

    "How old are you?"

    "9." Mina keeps her head down and slithers into the kitchen.

    "Hmmm. Ah, my apologies." Atsuta turns his attention back to Yuko.

    In the kitchen, Mina says to Tohru, who's seated at the table "I guess we can't play any games."

    Tohru nods "I guess so."

 

    Atsuta gets straight to the point. "I tried calling your husband's cell phone but it appears he's in Tokyo. Is he staying the night at the office?"

    Serving tea, Yuko replies, albeit defensively. "He goes to Tokyo twice a week. It's nothing unusual."

    "I had your husband checked out." Atsuta states flatly.

    Yuko stares at him and then looks into the kitchen, signaling to her brother.

    Tohru says "Mina, come show me your room?"

    "Sure," replies Mina and they both head upstairs.

    Looking on, Atsuta continues "I just wanted to verify with you if the information we have gathered is correct. After all, you would be the one who would know him best."

    Matching Atsuta's taunting tone with sarcasm, Yuko replies "And you would  believe what I say?"

    "I'd appreciate if you'd let me look at your expression when you speak."

    Defiantly, Yuku turns and faces the sun-glassed detective face on. "Go ahead."

    Atsuta glances at Honma, who then fishes out a notebook from his coat pocket. "When the bubble burst in the early nineties, your husband decided to start his own company. Then in 1994, he set up a company called River Runs."

    "That was three years after we got married." Yuko stares at Honma without flinching.

    "At around the same time, due to non performing loans, financing for the property auction business was obtained through a dummy company."

    Yuko retorts "I'd appreciate if you do not associate that with my husband's company. I will admit though, that River Runs did get financing from the bank."

    Atsuta interrupts, his tone ever scornful. "Your husband then continues to auction off mortgaged property one after another. Seems he was quite the industry's hero in troubled times. That was the time wasn't it, that he employed the former Self-Defense Forces member. He needed a tough man like Kuzui-san, someone who could handle antagonistic occupants of those properties."

 

    At River Runs in Tokyo, the staff greet Ohta and Kuzui's return to the office with "Welcome back". The place is a bustle of activity.

    Ohta instructs one of the ladies "Get in touch with the lawyer, I need to discuss some matters."

    "All right."

    On the phone, another colleague calls out to Kuzui "Regarding that Tatsuragi property, could you take the call? Line 4." 

    The lady follows Ohta "Sir, there's was a call from....."

    Ohta nods "I got it."

    "Please sign these documents too."

    Ohta nods and disappears into his office.

    Kuzui takes the call. "This is Kuzui. Tanaka-san, if we are to continue further it will be coercion. The compensation will be removal fee plus 100 thousand. Any more than that we're not interested."

 

    Atsuta continues. "Auctioning is easy money from evicted property. Your husband made steady profits for the company and then set out to fulfill his long time dream of building a resort home."

    Yuko replies without emotion. "That's the husband I know."

    "How did you meet?" Atsuta asks point blank.

    "Do you need to ask such a personal question?" Yuko stares at the detectives in disbelief.

    Atsuta's frankness is abrasive. "Just in case you're hiding something."

    Yuko stares at the unrelenting sunglasses. And then with a reluctant sigh, says "I graduated from college with a major in the Japanese language and got a job in a publishing firm. It was still the seller's market at the time so I managed to get the job I wanted. My dream was to produce an illustrated book. A homebody looking for a part time job, said the guy I was seeing then. However, even though we were dealing in juvenile literature, it wasn't a place that was scoured and clean." Yuoko pauses, the look in her eyes in the past. "I was sexually harassed by my boss. Asking for a transfer to another department wasn't his idea but mine. It felt like I just lost to a male dominated world. At my new position, I got to learn about real estate and there, I met Nakagawa Ohta. In 1991, the end of the real estate industry could be seen, it was the final days of the bubble economy. That was how we met."

    With a defiant glint in her eyes, Yuko turns and glares at Atsuta. "Shall I tell you about the marriage proposal too?"

    Coolly, Atsuta replies "No thank you, that's fine. I see. So that's how you've lead your life."

    With an ironic smile, Yuko says "From just a little conversation like this, you can tell how one has led one's life? You're some detective."

    The detectives for once, have nothing to say. As Atsuta reaches out for his tea, Yuko adds politely "My apologies, I have to start preparing dinner."

 

    As both detectives walk to their car, Honma sighs. "Atsuta-san, she's not a very pleasant woman."

    "Honma-kun, when you marry, marry that kind of women." Atsuta replies.

    "What?" Honma looks at his superior in surprise.

    Atsuta grins and then moans "Ahhhhh, I'm thirsty!"

 

    At the kitchen table, a bespectacled Yuko works busily away at a couple of manuscripts. Her younger brother Tohru comes out of the bathroom, wiping his wet hair with a towel as he saunters into the kitchen in a huge track suit.

    Yuko looks up. "How's the track suit?"

    "A little baggy," replies Tohru heading for the refrigerator. "Can I have a beer?"

    "Ah, get one for me too," Yuko adds.

    "All right." Tohru gets one for her and hands it to her at the table. "Here."

    "Ah, let's go over there." Yuko points to the living room.

   

    Tohru sits on the sofa and opens the can, toasting his sister. "Congratulations on moving in."

    Yuko smiles "Although it's turned to be not much of a celebration." Clinking cans, they take a big gulp.

    Tohru says "You became friends with Moe-san after you moved in here didn't you? Don't you have any idea what could cause an entire family to just vanish?"

    Thinking, Yuko answers "There was some problem with her husband, but it's hard to imagine the whole family disappearing together."

 

    Yuko recalls the scenes at the Shindo home when she discovers their disappearance. The laundry's hanging out to dry, the rice cooker is on, remnants of dinner is on the dining table and kitchen sink.

 

It was a home that had been promised a tomorrow.

Something out of the ordinary had happened,

and it looked like a home

that had the signs of life suddenly severed.

 

 

    "When I think that the same thing might happen again, I get the shivers." Yuko looks at her brother.

    Tohru looks around the house and ponders, "People disappearing from their home. That's scary."

    At Yuko's faraway look on her face, Tohru calls out "Sis!"

    "Hm?" Yuko looks up.

    "You're got something on your mind only you know, haven't you."

    "What?"

    "I've often seen that look on your face when you're hiding something....during high school when you would come back the next morning, who you were with, no matter how hurt you were when you came home...."

    "Don't bring it up, it's all in the past," Yuko smiles.

    "Did Moe-san say anything to you before she disappeared?"

    Yuko smiles. "No, it's nothing like that."

    Tohru turns away, not pressing the issue further, leaving Yuko deep in thought.

 

 

    My brother's always been sharp

 

 

    In the dark, Kimie stands outside her house, staring at it in silence. Kohei appears at the front door. "What are you doing? You'll catch a cold."

    Kimie holds out her hand. "Come here."

    "What's the matter?" Kohei walks up to her.

    "Hold me."

    "Here?"

    "Yes." Kimie takes two steps forward and puts her arms around Kohei.

    "What's wrong?" Kohei asks.

    "I'm scared. I'm scared that worse things are going to happen. Hold me, tight."

    Kohei puts his arms around Kimie. "Somehow it feels like I just got hugged."

    Kimie smiles, tears in her eyes.

 

    On the football pitch, Kohei is lost in thought. The English coach is furiously yelling instructions to the players. "Faster! Go! Go! Pass the ball! Do it again! Yeah! Yeah!" However, instead of interpreting, flashes of his home appear in his mind.

    "Kohei! Kohei! What's wrong with you?!"

    Finally Kohei is shaken out of his reverie by the coach. "Oh, sorry!"

    "Line up aggressively and pass the ball quickly with accuracy!" yells the coach.

    "Be aggressive, attack! Faster!" "There's no need to protect your team mates!" Kohel yells back to the players.

 

    Kimie comes out onto the veranda with a basket of laundry in her arms. As she's about to hang them up, she notices smoke rising from the ground by the Motosumi Resort Management Office. Walking up, she sees Kuzui alone burning the trash. Kuzui notices Kimie's arrival and greets it with silence.

    Kimie glances around and says "We're finally alone together. You haven't forgotten who I am. Over ten years ago, I was a TV reporter. I was the director who oversaw the interview of the Self Defense Forces. You remember, don't you."

    Kuzui remains silent, merely putting more papers to burn.

    Undaunted, Kimie presses. "During an exercise, there was an accident in Amagisan. Putting your lives on the line while training with you was a young member who died. There was other evidence at the scene but the official report stated that the cause of death was a fall. But we couldn't continue with our interview because we were under pressure from the Self Defense Forces. I was very disappointed with the TV station. Perhaps getting married was a way out."

    Finally Kuzui turns and asks "What is it you want?"

    "What happened during the exercise? Why did you have to leave the Forces? Why are you with Nakagawa's company?" Kimie's questions come out rapidly but Kuzui interrupts.

    "You've mistaken me for someone else." Kuzui walks away but Kimie grabs his arm. Suddenly aware of her actions, Kimie lets go and Kuzui merely says "People can start a new life." Kimie stares at him as he adds "....that is why the man you once knew is no longer around. Excuse me." Kuzui walks away.

    "People can start a new life." Kimie murmurs to herself.

 

    In the dimly lit bedroom, Ohta leans over and gently gives a sleeping Mina a kiss on the forehead. Yuko says "Up until a while ago she was awake waiting for you."

    "So looking at the sleeping face of one's child in the middle of the night is a family man's greatest joy, huh. Well then, I'm going to take a bath and then get some work done." Ohta walks out of the room.

    "Mm." Yuko nods and giving Mina a caress, turns out the night lamp.

 

    On the news, Ishiguro Keiichiro reports "It has been a week since the Shindo family's sudden disappearance and there has been no new development. Although one could say it is just for show, but at this very moment long time residents of Motosumi and the newcomers from the City to Motosumi are joining hand in hand in the search for the family."

    Ohta turns of the news in disgust. "Making their rounds I see."

    Yuko joins him in the living room. "It's all so one sided. It's really cruel." Looking at the notebook on the table, Yuko asks "What about the company's homepage?"

    Ohta hits a button on his notebook and brings up the company's bulletin board. "My aggressive sales tactics caused a family to disappear, River Runs has something to do with the Shindo family's disappearance etc etc. The critics are having a field day."

    Yuko tries to encourage him. "You can't take it personally. They're wearing masks and throwing stones."

    Ohta walks to the fridge for another beer. "Ah, I almost forgot. I had a password set up for accessing into the company's database, just like you said to."

    "It's better that way.  It's dangerous if anyone can just access the company's home page and database. It's like a safe box in mid air."

    Ohta comes back with his beer and punches the password into the computer. "It's a word I took from a book I read so it shouldn't be a problem."

    Yuko smiles. "Mmm. What kind of book?"

    Ohta pours his beer into a glass and teases "It's a secret."

    "Hm, a book you read as a kid?"

    "You could say that."

    "I wonder what kinds of books you read growing up..." Yuko ponders.

    Ohta smiles but doesn't answer.

 

 

    From those kinds of conversations

I could learn about my husband's youth.

But then again....

 

 

    Yuko smiles changing the subject. "Shall I make something to eat?"

 

 

I didn't want anyone asking about my past

so I didn't press further.

 

 

    Yuko gets up to go into the kitchen but Ohta suddenly grabs her arm. "Mm?"

    Ohta looks at her. "I'd be happier if you'd give me a shoulder massage."

    "Sure." Yuko goes over and kneads Ohta's shoulders.

    "Ah, feels good."

    "You shoulder's sure are stiff."

    A pause as Yuko continues kneading his shoulders and then Ohta says "Did I....."

    "Hm?"

    "....build it for them? Even if just for a minute?....Shindo-san's hometown."

    At her husband's pensive words, Yuko replies "You did." Putting her arms around him, she smiles "So let's hurry and get them back?"

    Ohta nods. "Mm."

    "Shall I, I wonder..."

    "What?"

    "Change from a mother into a woman."

    With a sigh, Ohta closes his eyes, turns and kisses Yuko passionately.

 

    Just outside the Shindo home, the reporters are doing their irritable best at hounding the remaining residents. The Yanagibas find a microphone thrust into their faces. "Yanagiba-san, have anything to say?"

    "We have nothing to say to you," replies the retired professor evasively.

    "Don't say that! Ma'am!" The reporter persists ingratiatingly but shielding his wife, Yanagiba walks away furiously.

    Next, forcibly stopping the Yuzui family in their bicycles, the reporters asks "Excuse me, what do you think of the Shindo family's disappearance? What do you think?" only to be totally ignored but the entire family on wheels.

    A car honks and an annoyed Nonomura confronts the reporter. "Hey you guys! Stop it! We have nothing to say! What are you doing?!" Nonomura and his wife and up in a tussle with the reporter and camera man.

 

    From a distance, Yuko sees the commotion and lines crease her forehead. Nodding a greeting to the passing Yangibas, Yuko walks on in silence.

 

 

    There is something that I have hidden

from them, from the police, and even my husband.

 

 

    Yuko recalls the day of the search on the plains. The leader shouts "Thank you for your help! Representatives of the fire department, could you please collect all the bags from everyone! That's it!" Everyone bows "Thank you" in return.

    Yuko gives her bag to a representative "Thank you very much."

    "Thank you."

    Walking off with Mina, Yuko says "We didn't find anything huh."

    Mina mumbles "Yeah."

    Kimie approaches with Satoru. "Yuko-san!"

    "Yes?" Yuko turns to look at her."

    "Can I talk to you?"

    Yuko nods. "Mm."

    Kimie looks at her son. "Satoru, can you and Mina go on home first?" Looking at Yuko for permission, she adds "Is that all right?"

    Yuko nods and Kimie tells Satoru "Well then, go on."

 

    Left alone, Kimie says tentatively. "You're the only one I can confide in..."

    Yuko looks at her enquiringly. "What is it?"

    "I'd like you to keep to yourself what I'm about to tell you. Even to your husband. Promise me?"

    Yuko nods.

 

 

    Kimie-san told only to me

a clue as to the Shindo family's disappearance

 

 

    As Yuko walks past the Yamaji home, she hears the phone ringing persistently. When it continues to ring and no one answers, Yuko stops in her tracks and stares up at the house. As if by some premonition, Yuko recalls a scene of the abandoned Shindo home. Giving a gasp of horror, she races up to the house, noticing the empty parking lot as she heads towards the front door.

    "Kimie-san!" Yuko frantically rings the doorbell. "Kimie-san! Kimie-san!" Yuko tries to look inside from the veranda where the newspaper in the postbox, laundry still hanging out to dry.

   "Kimie-san!" Yuko calls out, at the same time trying the door. She freezes when she realizes the door isn't looked. Pulling the door open, she enters. "Kimie-san? Kimie-san!" Entering the living room, Yuko finds the television set on with the morning host saying "Good morning, this morning we're at the south shopping mall....." Yuko heads for the phone and after a moment's hesitation, picks up the phone. "Hello?"

    "Finally! An answer!" A male voice answers at the other end.

    "I'm a friend of Yamaji-san's wife. The phone kept on ringing, that's why...."

    "What? You mean Yamaji-san's wife isn't home either? I'm calling from Yamaji-san's workplace at the club. He didn't show up for training yesterday and I've been calling countless times since last evening. I was wondering what happened since no one answered. This puts us in a spot. Can you get in touch with them?"

    Yuko suddenly notices her own reflection in a mirror and gives herself a scare.

    The voice adds "Hello? Are you listening? Hello? Hello? Hello!"

 

    Terrified, Yuko turns and looks around the home; the ceiling fan is spinning, opened magazines on the table, the television turned on, the sink is full of dishes.

   

    Another family......

   

    Flashback to the plains where Kimie tells her "I'd like you to keep to yourself what I'm about to tell you. Even to your husband. Promise me?"

    Yuko gives a wordless nod.

    "The dead girlfriend of Shindo-san, I think my husband might have known her. Moe-san...."

 

    Back in the present, Yuko looks around her in horror....