Boukou....violence....

Naoki stands at the window looking across to Minako's apartment. When the light comes on in her apartment he moves away & recalls the elderly gentleman saying "Once a flashback happens, there's no stopping it....one can only wait for her to remember everything...." "When will that be?" "10 years, 15 years...." Naoki's phone rings, bringing him back to the present "Hello....oh hi, what happened?" "Tanaka's passed out with a cold....can you come over to Oomori right away?" "I'll be there in an hour...."

Minako opens the door & seeing Kiichiro says "Welcome....ah, 'welcome' sounds strange....sounds different from 'welcome home'....are you hungry?" Minako goes into the kitchen & opens the fridge "Didn't go shopping....how about a beer?" Kiichiro looks out the window across to Naoki's apartment & sees the lights in the apartment go off. Turning back to Minako he asks "What happened?" "Eh?" "The apartment across the street....I saw you coming out just now...." Minako goes up to him "Sorry....I wanted to tell you...." Both of them look outside & see Naoki leaving. Minako says "The fire, the handbill, bothering you at work....all probably done by that guy...." "Eh?" Minako hesitatingly explains "We're childhood friends....2 weeks ago, I went back to my hometown & met him in the forest...." "By chance?" Minako shakes her head "When I saw the letters I got as a child....the autumn I was 27....said he wanted to meet in the forest....it was anonymous so I didn't know who it was...." Kiichiro can't quite believe it "You went just because of that reason?!" Minako says "Before I got married to you....before starting our new life together....I just wanted to clear up my past....I don't like going forward so vaguely like this....that's why I wanted to meet someone who knew me from before...." Kiichiro asks "& then? What did you find out?" Minako answers "Just riddles...."

At his worksite Naoki's changing some lights "This isn't working, change it....get one from that box over there...." Naoki looks & sees Kiichiro coming down the escalator. Naoki tells the guy "It's alright, I'll get it...." & comes down the ladder, walking towards Kiichiro. Kiichiro walks towards Naoki, the looks on both of their faces grim. Staring at each other, finally Naoki grins. Kiichiro says "You're Ito Naoki...." "Uh...." "I've heard everything from Minako...." "Hmm? Finally told her lover....but a little late huh...." Naoki walks over to some chairs & takes a seat. Kiichiro asks "What are your intentions? Following Minako around?" Naoki replies "She must have already told you...." drinking a bottle of water. "Love of course, love....what else is there?" says Naoki with a chuckle. Kiichiro asks "Really just that?" Naoki says "Can I ask something?" but Kiichiro throws back "Answer my question!" Naoki gets up & says loudly "Doing various dishonest things in the office!" & then whispers "I forgot....shhhh...." standing by Kiichiro. Naoki continues "Dealing & entertaining customers, using bribery behind the scenes, going by the back door....doing that just shows that you have no confidence in your own abilities...." Kiichiro says "The article in the magazine....it was you wasn't it...." Naoki says "It'll be better if you transfer to another country & start life afresh....the most important thing in this country is good faith (trust)....better learn that....I'll take care of Minako...." Naoki walks over & gets a light from a box & Kiichiro says with a laugh "Although I heard, but I still didn't think you'd be as weird as this!" Naoki turns around & says mysteriously "You can't handle Minako's 'everything'...." Kiichiro asks "Minako's 'everything'?" "You've been going around with her for 3 years without knowing anything....really a simple person (person who goes about happily in the dark)...." Kiichiro asks "What's with Minako?" Naoki answers "She'll tell you herself someday....but not before she's sorted everything out herself....she's that sort of a person...." Kiichiro tells him "Alright! Listen! Leave that apartment now! Disappear from Minako's sight!!" Kiichiro ends up shouting at Naoki who merely turns around & says "Shhhhh! Everyone's listening...." Kiichiro trying to keep a reign on his temper doesn't say anything. Naoki nonchalantly says "Ah....getting the Yakuza you know from your dealings at work to come beat me up on the way home? & then coming to my place "Get out!"....that's really the job of an elite company employee huh...." Kiichiro loses control & grabs Naoki by the collar. Naoki coolly says "That's right....don't have to ask anyone else (to beat me up)....have to do it yourself, for the woman you love....that's alright, hit me....the one who gets caught will be you....go ahead...." Naoki grits his teeth waiting for Kiichiro to hit him but Kiichiro doesn't do anything. Naoki then pushes him away "If you're not going to do anything then fine....I want to get home early & sleep...." Walking off & then turning around Naoki grins "....in the apartment across from Minako!" Kiichiro yells "Don't come near Minako again!" but Naoki merely waves & walks away....Kiichiro stalks off in a huff....

(-= CJ =- Love the way Naoki handles Kiichiro....chou kakko ii jan!)

At the library, the attendant gives Minako 2 microfilm reels "The reader's on the 2nd floor...." Minako takes them, goes upstairs & starts going through the film. Minako's voiceover "1983 just before the new year, the accident on a highway where a truck hit a family of 4 with a 12 year old survivor....couldn't find the this article anywhere........ 23rd........ 24th........ 25th........" Minako stops & stares at the article "Murder of a public servant's family.... Christmas Eve tragedy.... Morita Kihito, Kazuko, Kimiko....my family! What's does this mean?! 12 year old survivor....this is me! The boyfriend of Kimiko was the university student Kokubu Yoshiharu, he was the first to discover the murders & to notify the police....3 days after the event, he was suspected of being the murderer & arrested....because of objection to his relationship with Kimiko by her parents Kihito & Kazuko, the police suspect that he entered the home killing all 3 people....Kokubu Yoshiharu who killed his girlfriend Kimiko....was thought that it was an attempt to commit 'Shinjuu' (double suicide)........"

At work Minako's working with her mind on the new discovery "At Kokubu's first trial, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor....lodged an appeal but was rejected...." Shoko comes running up "Minako! Minako call!" Minako with her mind elsewhere doesn't hear & finally Shoko yells "Minako!!"

At dinner that night Minako tells Kiichiro what she's discovered "My family being victims in a murder case....I want to verify this...." Kiichiro asks "Then, is it the same as what you remember?" Minako answers "I was a witness to this case....someone who wanted to completely forget the memories of this tragedy...." Kiichiro asks again "Minako, when this happened....you don't remember anything at all?" Minako says "I....was standing in the corridor in the house....blood was flowing towards me at my feet...." "What's that...." "Recently, memories of things that I've never seen before....suddenly remember....whatever happened in my house that time....I'm sure I saw...." Kiichiro points to the article "Then, do you remember seeing the criminal Kokubu?" Minako shakes her head. Kiichiro "But removing those memories & brainwashing....not Fukushima but Gunma as your hometown....could your uncle do all that?" "I don't know....but the one who said that I had to become a new Minako was my uncle...." "But knowing your birthplace, looking at the koseki (family register) you'll know right away?" "The first time I went overseas, everything was handled by my uncle....opportunities to look at the koseki....would be when making passports...." "& making additions to the koseki...." "Someday I would find out....I'm sure my uncle would have been prepared for that....but he decided to postpone that moment for as long as possible...." Kiichiro thinks & then says "So this is it....Minako's 'everything'...." "My 'everything'?" "Ito Naoki said so....he knew this from the very beginning....the relationship between you & this case....coming to Tokyo, what kind of a student you were, graduating from Tandai, where you work....& then after meeting again in the forest, following you, moving to the apartment across ours, he's not following you around like you're his first love....just what is he?" Minako doesn't answer, her voiceover comes on "There is something I haven't told Kiichiro....something that Ito Naoki said to me....'I don't know what's going to happen....What on earth!....Cruel things await you!....Cruel things?'...."

In the car on the way home, Minako's silently thinking "If that's got to do with that case 15 years ago, I don't want to worry Kiichiro any more than this....maybe that's my fate....an ill-matched couple....a wedding that no one will bless....thinking like this, for the sake of a woman like me....I don't want Kiichiro to suffer...." Minako goes "Eh?" Kiichiro tells her "Just having the present & future, people can survive....I'll show you....you have me by your side...." Minako says "Please....don't be troubled because of me...." Kiichiro tells her "We'll suffer together! If we divide it into two, the suffering will be broken into two parts....you only have to suffer half........"

Arriving outside their apartment, the both of them look up at Naoki's apartment which is in darkness. Kiichiro asks "You sure you're going to be ok alone?" Minako assures him "You said we'll have to hang in there....no matter what happens, can't allow him to do any more strange things...." Kiichiro says "I think I should move in...." "No way! You have a lot of things you need to do before the wedding....on top of that, I don't want to lose to that overconfident, sarcastic, 'always hiding behind walls' guy....I'm not going to run away from him....will drive him back (away) myself....on the 24th December will start a new life with you here....it will be that way for sure...." "That's like the real Minako!" "Thanks for sending me back, goodnight...." "Goodnight...." As she goes in Kiichiro says "Minako! Feels like I'm being kept under your thumb!...." "Severely!!" says Minako with a smile as she goes in. Kiichiro lights a cigarette "The present & the future...." & gets into the car. He starts the engine, looks into the rear view mirror & sees an image of a woman walking in the street. He turns around to look but no one's there. With a shrug he drives off. Driving along he suddenly sees something in the rear view mirror again, slams on the brakes & gets out of the car. There's a woman all dressed in white walking away from him down the middle of the road. Kiichiro stares & mutters "Mother...." It's all in Kiichiro's mind, the street is deserted........ Minako comes out of the building the next morning & her voiceover says "What I want to make certain is as huge as a mountain....it's as Kiichiro said, there's nothing mysterious to be afraid of........" Minako goes to Naoki's apartment. He opens the door & Minako asks "Is it convenient now (to talk)....?" Naoki says "Perfect timing...." & grabs her hand. "What?" "Just wait...." & Naoki puts her hand to his forehead. Minako says "High fever!" Naoki says "Yeah? Can you give me a hand?"

Naoki lies down in bed on an ice pillow & says "Feels good! Sit down, you want to talk don't you...." Minako says "I'll come again...." "Why?" "Cause you look terrible...." "I feel terrible....so can I ask you a favor?" "What?" Minako ends up cooking porridge in Naoki's kitchen. He says "Just a little salt will do....beat up 2 eggs & add it in when it's done...." Minako mutters "Why am I do this...." Naoki continues "In the fridge, there should be some sake....if it's possible can you make some tamagozake (eggnog) it'll be great...." All done, Minako says "Here...." Naoki says "Itadakimasu" & starts eating "Delicious! A good wife huh...." Minako says "Don't you have a girlfriend to come cook porridge for you at this time?" "Haven't had a girlfriend for 2 weeks...." "Just broke up huh...." "Said I was in love with someone else & made her cry....maybe that person I love is you...." Minako says with a sigh "So you say...." Naoki eats & says "Egg's are really smooth....this is the best....I'm also good at doing this porridge....my mom used to be very weak (ill), I used to make this a lot for her....when she was in the hospital I used to make this & sneak in....really made the nurses angry...." Minako asks "What was wrong with her?" "Her heart....old problem...." Minako says in surprise "My mother too....I used to rush to the hospital right after school....mom used to love apples so I'd get some from the orchard on the way...." "Ah! Apple robber! I used to do that too....but when family members are in the hospital, my skill of peeling apples & pears seems to get better...." "Used to be a special ability as a child...." "Me too....I used to peel them 1cm width, could peel everything off properly...." "Me too....during a field trip I was praised by my teacher...." says Minako & then pondering asks "Why do we have this in common?" Naoki answers "Coincidence...." "Favorite Oden foods too...." "Kon'nyaku ribbon rolls? It's cute...." "I am a part of you....you're talking about these things?" "Don't get too profound....I'm a man that talks about various things....here, seconds please...." Minako dishes out another plate saying "I heard you met Kiichiro...." "Uhm....I thought he was going to beat me up....he's not that weak is he...." Minako answers "He did karate in high school...." "Scary...." "I don't mean to scare you but I think he'd be pretty terrifying when he gets serious....apparently there are a lot of stories about him when he was in Malaysia...." "You're scaring me...." "If anything happens to me, he'll come save me...." "I'll remember that...." "You told him 'you can't handle Minako's 'everything'...."....my 'everything'....15 years ago my family was murdered by someone called Kokubu Yoshiharu....do you know about that?" Naoki remains silent & Minako says "Don't keep quiet! You said so didn't you....it'll be alright if I'm reborn now....not only to forget about the past but you want to destroy my present....said you'll bring me to the future which we can't see....why can't you not do that?" "Isn't that love?" "The future that you bring....what sort of happiness will there be? What do you know about the murders 15 years ago?" Naoki evades the question "Sorry, I'm going to bed...." "Don't run away...." "I'm not....I'm really not feeling well...." "Wait!" "Ah, where's the tamagozake?" "In the pot...." Naoki pulls up the covers & Minako tells him "When you're feeling better, you'll tell me won't you...." Naoki mutters "Yeah....I understand...." Minako says "Take care...." & goes out. Naoki throws off the covers & mutters "It's already the limit...."

Coming out of the apartment her voiceover says "I wanted to ask more....it was eerie....uncanny....although you're someone I detest....when I'm with you, I get this feeling of nostalgia....why? Like you said that I was a part of you....I feel it....why?"

At the Hamazaki house, in the studio, Kiichiro stares at his mother's portrait & recalls seeing her walking in the street. His father voice brings him back to the present "Minako's coming here next week isn't she...." Kiichiro says "Yeah....2 hours on her day off...." "In any case with you so busy, she must be lonely....I'll be her companion, don't worry...." "Did mom...." "Hm?" "Did mom leave because I had no artistic talents?" "Talking about that again?" Kiichiro stares & walks towards his mother's portrait "I feel very apologetic to that person's nude body, moonlight making her lose the glow on her skin....flabby body....but I had to paint a beautiful picture, holding on to the brush....but in the end, I couldn't do it well....that's why on that Christmas day....mom disappeared walking down that slope....I've always thought that....a lot of things have happened in the past...." His father says "Kiichiro! Be happy! With Minako...." Kiichiro smiles with a nod "Ah...."

Keita's walking along the streets in Chinatown & talking on his cell phone "The man that was in jail with Kokubu Yoshiharu....have news that he's now working as a chef in Chinatown....yeah, checking up on it right now....I don't think he'll be here though....probably wrong...." The woman Kokubu was staying with runs down the street pass Keita as he says "What? You've got a cold?" The woman runs into a restaurant "I'm back!" A man asks "How? The apartment...." She doesn't reply, shaking her head. The man says "He's on parole, where is he? People will be out looking for him soon...." The woman says "Ni-san (Big brother)...." "Huh?" "What is he hiding from me? What is he doing?"

Kokubu is out searching for Minako. At a nursery he asks some people "Excuse me, I'd like to ask....is there an Oba Minako working here?" "Oba? Don't know...." "She said she was working in a nursery in the city so I came to look for her...." "We don't have any female employees here...." "Is that so? Sorry to have bothered you...." Kokubu takes out a piece of paper & crosses out a name of a nursery. Further down the list is written "Orchid Square"........

Naoki's working on his computer at home. Yuri says "I've made porridge...." "You didn't have to...." "You should have called....don't get angry with Keita, I forced him to tell me....bully her, make her suffer, make her flustered & then comfort her....that's what you're doing Keita said....if you do that, do you think a woman's feelings are that strong? That's just completely bullying the woman you love....just like a kid...." Naoki mutters "Probably...." Yuri finishes up & says "I'm going...." Naoki surprised goes "Huh?" Yuri replies "Where you're staying now I know....was really nervous when I came here....I was thinking that if you said "Go home!" I'd be hurt again....so before you say "Go home!" I'm going....bye...." Going out the door she stops & says "You have to have some nourishing food! Bye bye...." Naoki goes to the window & looks out the window, watching Yuri walk away down the street........

Minako's pushing a trolley of orchids & waits at a crossing. Across the street on a truck, 2 men remove the covering on a glass panel & the reflecting sunlight blinds Minako. Immediately she has a flashback to when she was a child but this time she sees more than the blood flowing towards her feet. As she comes into the living room her father's bloody had reaches out for her & falls to the ground....she sees both her parents lying in pools of blood on the floor.... she hears her sister scream & struggle......Someone bumps into her & Minako falls to the ground, bringing her back to the present. Her wallet & cell phone falling on the grown. Shakily she reaches for her cell phone........

At the office Kiichiro's in a middle of a discussion when his cell phone goes off "Hello....hello, who is it?" "It's me...." "Minako? "What happened? Where are you now?" Kiichiro grabs his jacket & giving a document to his colleagues he says "Take care of it...." & goes out. His colleagues yell at him "What are you doing? What about the discussion with the designer?

At their apartment, Minako says to Kiichiro "The intervals are getting shorter...." Kiichiro asks "The intervals?" Minako explains "The times when I remember things....the past that I've completely forgotten....it's coming closer to me...." "Your whole family....in front of you...." "Kokubu Yoshiharu was grabbing my sister's hair....bringing her back into the room....really intended to commit shinjuu?" Kiichiro says "No, cannot be....must be a lie just to appeal to the extenuating circumstances in court!" Trying to calm her down he says "Sit down...." As he looks out the window Minako says "Just to live for the present & the future....I've thought about it....but maybe people who don't have a past can't survive (live on)....no matter how cruel the past is....for example, if one failed in the past, people will be careful not to do the same mistake again, & grow up like that....if there were successes in the past, people will have dreams of succeeding again....even if one encounters setbacks (frustrations), people will grow...." "Yeah, that's true...." "No matter what past, that's a person's signpost for carrying on living....I don't have that, what sort of parents, what sort of family happiness there is....I have to hang in there & find out....that's because I'm getting married to you.... becoming part of a family...." Kiichiro asks "What are you going to do now?" Minako says "If you trust me, I'd like to do this alone....I want to make certain of all this alone....I want to find out who I really am....& then get married to you....although it seems a little risky (dangerous) but I'd like you to just watch over me...." Kiichiro says "No way! I'll go with you!" Minako shakes her head but Kiichiro insists "Minako! For the sake of the future, you're searching the past....your future is also mine! I said before, share any sufferings together...." Minako says "For me....how can...." "Minako! If you keep talking like that I'm going to get mad!" Minako looks at him. Kiichiro says "In any case, let's go back to the place you thought was your hometown all this while, Gunma....I'll go with you....ok...." Minako nods & Kiichiro says "Alright! As that's decided, I have to finish work today....tomorrow morning, I'll come by & pick you up...." Minako nods with a smile....

The next morning, coming out of her apartment she sees Naoki coming back. Naoki stares at her & as he walks by asks "Continue our discussion?" Minako nods without saying anything. Naoki asks "Where? Your apartment or mine?" Minako doesn't answer & Naoki walks towards his place, turns around & says irritably to Minako just standing there "What are you doing?" Minako goes to his apartment....

Throwing out a pillow on the floor for her Naoki says "I'm sleepy so hurry up & say what you want...." "It happened again....terrifying things are coming closer....it's beginning to show itself...." Naoki asks "Flashback?" "The blood flowing at my feet was my father's, my mother covered in blood & my sister fleeing towards me....the killer grabbing her hair...." "& then?" "It ended there....it's like a circuit's broken in my head...." Naoki gets up & says "To be continued....look forward to the next installment....really some memory...." Minako says to him "1983 December 24th, I was 12, you were 10....where did you go? That pouring Christmas Eve....what happened there?" Naoki smiles "You're asking me?" Minako says "The things that happened to me were only those in the newspaper? Or what about the things that the newspaper or police never found out....you know those things don't you...." Naoki remains silent as Minako continues "Where my memories were changed....you know for sure....the memories of the murders....where & how were they changed to a traffic accident?" Naoki doesn't reply & finally Minako says "I thought that asking you would be useless....I'll pursue it, my memories...." Naoki asks "How are you going to pursue this?" "I'm going back to Gunma one more time...." Naoki's face changes as Minako adds "Uncles & other people....I'm sure they know something about me....I'm going to find out...." Minako starts to leave but Naoki gets up "Don't!" Minako asks "Why stop me? If I find out something will that cause problems for you?" Naoki tells her "Being born now that's fine!" "I don't want to hear that any more!" "Next year you'll be 1, year after 2...." "It's because you won't tell me anything that I'm going alone to find out! Promise me! If I find out that you've been hiding something from me....when I get back from Gunma, I don't want you around! No matter what I find out, I will marry Kiichiro, will be happy with him....that's why I don't want you around! ok? I hate you....bye...." Minako walks out the door but Naoki loses control & grabs a hold of her & flings her down onto his bed. Holding her down he yells at her in a mad rage "Don't want me around?! Don't want me around?!! Getting married to that guy....I'll do it! I'll be the one who'll make you happy! Any complaints!? Huh?! What about it!!" Suddenly Naoki gets a flashback to the day Minako left Gunma, running & seeing Minako driving away, young Naoki says "You're not alone....I'll always be with you...." Minako pushes Naoki off of her & runs out of the apartment. Naoki sits next to the bed, shaken by his own actions....

Running out of the apartment equally shaken, Minako walks back towards her apartment. Suddenly Kiichiro pulls up "Good morning....I'm a little early...." Minako nervously shakes her head. Kiichiro asks "What happened?" "Nothing...." answers Minako, unable to look at Kiichiro. He looks up at Naoki's apartment "What did he do to you?" "Nothing really....I got up early & was waiting....I'll be right back...." says Minako going into apartment. Kiichiro looks up at Naoki's apartment....inside Naoki's still sitting on the floor....finally Minako comes back down & with a bright smile syas "Sorry to keep you waiting....let's go...." & gets in the car. Driving in the car, Minako's voiceover comes on "I've got a premonition....is the truth asleep in the Sleeping Forest?" Their car speeds towards Gunma........

At the Orchid Square nursery, a Kokubu asks Shoko "Excuse me...." "Yes?" "Sorry, is there someone by the name of Oba Minako working here?" "Yes....but she's been on vacation since yesterday...." "Is that so?" "Is there anything?" "No....that's fine...." answers Kokubu. Scrunching the list of nursery names, Kokubu's expression changes to a grim smile....he's found her........