Prologue
The earthquake was devastating.
Certainly, there had been many earthquakes in Japan. But this one was more devastating than the rest, even more so then the other major earthquakes several decades ago. Worst of all, it had happened at night, when all were asleep and were completely unprepared.
It was a strange kind of earthquake. One that did not give a person notice before it hit. It did not tremble in anticipation. It simply hit, and buildings collapsed at the first shudder.
Down tumbled the tall, proud monuments of brick and glass, like dominos, they crumbled one after another, toppling and hitting a tree, causing it to fall as well. Fires erupted from each building and spread as the winds blew, until the night, once clear and quiet, became a roaring thunderous period filled with smoke and ash. The sirens wailed as the firemen jumped down from their trucks and pulled out their hoses, trying to control the flames. Screams pierced the air as the fires shifted more than ever.
Houses turned on their lights and people ran out, still dressed in their pajamas. They gasped in horror, clutching their children as their homes burst into flame. Children cried, the earth shifted again, and the ground and cement began cracking.
Sirens pierced the horror of the moment as all the firetrucks available, as well as the ambulences, gathered to do what they could about the disaster. They poured water on the flames until the underground tanks drained dry. There was no more water.
People dropped to their knees and prayed for any spirit to send help, somehow, in any form, be it rain, or a tidal wave, or anything. They looked on as their loved ones were carried out, some with joy, some with intensity that held on as they realized those were not their loved ones. Some looked at those who were not their loved ones, wounded and burned, and sighed slightly in relief that those they know did not suffer the exact same fate.
By morning, it had begun to rain. It seemed that the gods really did answer their prayers. The flames were unwilling to relent, however, and more water had to be sent. Some dirt had piled on the rooftops of houses and some of the fire was smothered. But most burned on, relentless and ruthless, destroying everything in their wake.
Dawn found Tomoeda in ruins. The houses had collapsed and the people
were weeping. There were still fires, and the smoke choked the sky. The trees had
fallen and no birds sang. Their wood burnt as if they were in a fireplace. Flowers
were crushed. All was silent, save for the curses and weeping of the now homeless
residents.
More water was brought to cool the flames and it was easier and easier to get under control. It was still raining, which proved well for the firemen but ill for the rescuers who were trying to remove the wreckage to save those trapped beneath. Some limbs were found, some dead bodies. Many were wounded but alive.
Most people stared at their homes in despondent longing. They thought of the
dawn before, how everything was so carefree and everything followed the schedule.
Today was the day they lost their homes and will be forced into shelters. They lost
everything. How will they survive now?
More water was poured. It was raining hard now, and lightning flashed, as if the sky, too, was mourning their loss.
Many people looked around for lost husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, children. Brothers and sisters, hoping that nothing had happened to them. Despair was everywhere.
Many people looked after their own interests.
After a time all stared in amazement.
There was a single house. That one house was not burning, nor was it
crumbled. In fact, it stood as if it always stood like that, and there was no
earthquake to begin with. Among the ruins around it it stood like a tall tower, proud
and defiant of nature.
" What house is that?" Voices asked. " Whoever owns it is really lucky..."
" No one owns that house." Voices answered. " A hundred somewhat years ago a
guy use to live there with his son. Think his name was Tsukishiro. Something
happened to his son. Don't know what. The guy was a doctor, and after retiring he
disappeared. No one ever knew what became of him. Some say he was actually an
angel and after he retired he went back to heaven to report of how earth really was.
Others said that he went back to join his son who went back because he was lonely.
Whatever it was, that house was a strange house, and always was. Many people had
tried to go in there to examine its condition. None ever came out."
" A haunted house, then." Someone said.
" You can say that." Voices answered. " Haunted house. But nothing really came
out of it. You can only say that something went in. It's probably an illusion, at any
rate. But it certainly is a strange house, as this incident proved. Some rumors say
that there's a wizard or witch in there that wove his or her spells to create mischief.
Anyways, most people stayed away from that house. Only the most curious ever go
in there. And they never come out."
The house stood amidst the ruins, completely deaf to the rumors around it.