Maria ha mite ita....Maria was watching....

Minako's in her apartment washing up. Finishing she walks out into the living room & suddenly stops. She turns around, looking at her front door, hearing footsteps approaching....tense........the footsteps get softer & she breathes a sigh of relief........

Kokubu lifts the trunk open to see Naoki struggling. Lifting him out, Kokubu carries Naoki into the forest & dumps him on the ground, ripping off the masking tape. Naoki coughs & breathes deeply. With the light shining from the car, Naoki turns to see Kokubu shoveling dirt out from a deep grave he's dug earlier. Naoki says "What are you doing?!" Kokubu shovels on, not replying. Naoki asks again "What are you digging that for?!" Kokubu stops, stares at Naoki & flings the shovel away. Climbing out of the grave he says to Naoki "Get in!" Naoki hands & feet still bound, tries to move away from the hole but Kokubu grabs him to the edge of the grave. Naoki yells "Stop!" but Kokubu merely tells him "Get in!" & kicks Naoki into the grave. Kokubu takes off the locket & Naoki says "So you were the one who stole it...." Opened & swinging in his hands, Kokubu asks "Who's this?" Naoki mumbles "I don't know...." Kokubu sniggers & flings it into the grave next to Naoki. Kokubu starts shoveling dirt back into the grave, covering Naoki. Naoki struggles "No matter what, I want to ask you something when I met you....the murderer 15 years ago was someone else....why didn't you say you were falsely accused?! Why are you going near Minako?!" Kokubu stops & gives Naoki an evil look "Brat!........I was in prison for 15 years....do you know what that is like?! No matter where you look....only walls....living with walls....now, what I'm going to do....I'll tell you...." Naoki looks afraid as Kokubu stares at him & grins "Party!!!" Kokubu starts laughing as he continues to shovel dirt back into the grave. Naoki starts yelling "You were in shock about your girlfriend's death, didn't care what happened at the trial. But that attitude made everyone think that you were guilty....wanted to go after Morita Kimiko (die with her) but you chose to live....you lived within walls for 15 years....what hell is....who do you want to tell!? This is the party?! The real party you want to hold....what is it?!! Answer me!!!" Kokubu finally stops his frantic shoveling & asks "Scared? Huh? Scared?" Naoki answers terrified "Scared...." Kokubu shouts "Scared!!" & Naoki looks at him as Kokubu says "....aren't you....try saying this 'please help me'...." When Naoki doesn't reply, Kokubu tells him "Then rot here!" Kokubu starts shoveling again & Naoki says "Please help me........" Kokubu looks satisfied & starts laughing. Stopping suddenly he jumps into the grave & pulls a knife on Naoki "Don't look for me anymore! Next time, I'll kill you...." & sticks the knife in the dirt on top of Naoki's chest. Kokubu gets in his car, looking at a photograph....it's young Minako. He starts the car forward towards the grave & Naoki turns away but Kokubu backs the car up & drives off. Left in the grave, staring at the knife, Naoki struggles to fight back terror & tears........

Minako walks out in her bridal dress looking beautiful. Kiichiro, waiting for her looks at her as she takes his breath away "You're beautiful, Minako...." Turning her around & looking in the mirror he says "You think so too don't you...." Minako smiles "Picking this....was right...."

At the nursery, Shoko approaches Minako "You've got a guest...." Smiling she turns to see Yuri "How are you feeling?" "I'm fine....thank you.... "It's ok...." "What happened?" Yuri doesn't look at Minako "Naoki's not around....he hasn't returned home, he's also absent from work not informing anyone....when you last saw him, what did you talk to Naoki about?" Minako remembers Naoki confessing "in truth........I wanted to snatch you from Hamazaki........goodbye Minako........be happy........" Back in the present Yuri says "Then, Naoki's giving you up....he's coming back to me...." Minako assures her "It'll be alright....I'm sure...." "Hearing that, I feel better....sorry to have bothered you during lunch...." "No...." Yuri turns to go "Bye...." & then suddenly stops "It's coming up soon....Minako's wedding.... Minako smiles & Yuri goes off....Minako looks sad........

That night Minako stands in the veranda having a drink looking at Naoki's apartment across, all in darkness. She takes Naoki's glove & her voiceover says "The memories I got from him....I want to cherish them....to have the same memories....that I am a part of him....I want to think that....those mysterious memories....how long can I go on having them?....when the shell of my real memories break & appear, will these fake memories fade?" sounding lonely........

The next morning Naoki, bruised, limps into Chinatown & goes into an apartment across from Harue & her brother's restaurant. Keita, who's been keeping watch says "Naoki! Where have you been?!" "Sorry sorry...." "Yuri was worried...." "Huh? Went for an onsen (Hot spring) bath...." "Liar! What's with that face? Look like my kind of bruises...." "I slipped at the onsen...." "Can even tell those lies!" "What's happening?" "Today, she bought men's underwear & Four Roses Black Label....likely that Kokubu will be returning soon...." Both men suddenly look out the window........

Harue comes out into the street seeing a man off "Thank you very much...." As she goes back in, the phone rings & she answers it "Hello....yes....Shanghai Crab I'm afraid we don't usually serve....if prawns then fine, please tell me when they're in....3 days later....ok, then I'll go...." Hanging up Harue says to her brother "I've ordered a box...." "Is that right...." "I've also taken down the sign....lunch time's over...." Harue goes over to the counter writing something when her brother asks "He hasn't contacted you...." "Right...." "Next week, the parole officer & people from the law office will be coming....as long as they don't know where he is....the police will start moving....if he calls tell him, does he intend to waste the past 15 years....hurry & turn over a new leaf....what I've said....tell him...."

Sitting by a pier, Naoki opens the locket & looks at the photo. Staring at it for a while, he closes it & wears it round his neck. Right then, Keita comes up "Finally found out at last! The Fukushima prefecture detective in charge of the case 15 years ago is now retired & currently working at a security firm in Tokyo....said he'd tell us what happened then...." "When did he say we can meet?" "His parents home is in Fukushima, in fact right now he's visiting his home (for the first time after one's marriage)....tomorrow afternoon, have arranged to meet in front of that house...." Naoki gets up "Then see you tomorrow...." & runs off. Keita looks on....

In a cafe, Keita says "Tomorrow we'll be meeting with the old detective....but then it's about a 15 year old case....can't expect any shocking new facts...." Kiichiro replies "Old detective....Ogura?" "You know well...." "At the time, as a friend of Kokubu I was also questioned....enquired about every little detail about alibis...." "Being suspicious of everyone....that's also the job of the police...." Kiichiro takes out an envelope from his jacket "If you learn anything, tell me immediately...." Keita reaches forward for the envelope "Thank you...." but Kiichiro takes it away "Ito Naoki....where has been?" "Appears to have meddled into some dangerous (risky) business, he's face is covered with bruises...." Kiichiro looks away, thinking. Keita reaches over for the envelop "Thank you...." & starts counting the money in it........

The next day, Keita, Naoki & the former detective Ogura make their way into the old Morita home. Entering, Keita turns on a flashlight & Ogura says "I remember like it was yesterday....report came in at 1935 hours, police from the substation (police post) rushed her at 1942 hours, including myself from the Mikura police station detective department, arrived at 1955 hours....investigation started then...." As Keita steps on old blood stains on the floor board, Naoki asks "The first policemen who rushed here, what did they see?" "The first one to discover this was Kokubu....he was exactly in front of the heater, holding on to the eldest daughter Kimiko...." Walking to a doorway, Ogura says "The surviving younger daughter was exactly here, with a kitchen knife, a weapon in her hands....standing here paralyzed (petrified)........" Naoki walks over & crouches down. Looking about he spots his reflection & says "This is a mirror...." Ogura adds "Standing in front of the mirror....stunned........"

Naoki remembers Minako saying "Me....reflected in the mirror....me....in my hand....I was holding a knife....my clothes were covered in blood....the one who killed my family....was me...."

Back in the present, Keita walks around the room, confirming the positions of everyone "There was Minako....over here her father....here her mother....& here, Kokubu holding Kimiko....yes?" Naoki imagines Minako walking in on the scene, both parents covered in blood on the floor & Kokubu holding Kimiko, crying...." Naoki says "Kokubu escaped after the crime....changed his blood smeared clothes....returned to the Morita home & pretended to be the first to discover the crime....the police thought so........but Kokubu in the beginning....told the police that when he arrived, there were already pools of blood...." Ogura tells them "Everything was in total disarray but his story was logical........"

Ogura remembers that Christmas Eve in front of the house....a sobbing Kokubu says "at the very least, just the Eve, she wanted to spend time with her family....that's why she wanted me to come get her at 12....that's what she told me...." Ogura says "But you came awfully early didn't you...." "Somehow, I had this premonition....felt that her father had find out about our plans to elope & were fighting in the house...."

Back in the present, Naoki asks "The decision that Kokubu was a suspect was?" "Ogura replies "The motive of course....the father a city official, wanted Kokubu banished from Mikura City....he then took revenge....after realizing what he had done, losing all hopes of the future, whether or not he intended to commit shinjuu with Kimiko, that was the investigation department's viewpoint........although, Kokubu, in shock over losing his lover, was a living corpse....pleading guilty to the crime was also natural....during the police investigation, he blurted out....'I want you to kill me'....the detectives could hear him say 'I want to be sentenced to death'...." Keita says "Wanted to follow after Kimiko in death, that sort of feeling huh....but why leave only Minako alive?" Naoki, looking at an old photo of a family in a broken picture frame "Murderer intended to kill the entire family, whether a child or not wouldn't overlook........but right at that moment, the someone comes along to the house...." Keita continues with their speculation "Surprised the murdered....give up the idea of killing Minako....going to the foyer to take his shoes....in a fluster....head for the back door...." Ogura says "The surviving younger daughter definitely saw everything from here....but on orders from the attending physician, she did not take the witness stand....the courts went along with the prosecution...."

Ogura remembers at the trial "The defendant is hereby sentenced to lifetime imprisonment!" Kokubu stands expressionless as Ogura's voiceover says "However, the Kokubu that entered prison, changed....that was the 2nd summer when he was serving his sentence...." Ogura remembers Kokubu telling him "The one in prison....I'm not the only one...." Ogura looks at Kokubu as he continues "The same as I am....there is someone who is linked (with me) by a prison...." Ogura asks "Prison?" Kokubu replies "A prison called fear...."

Back in the present, Keita pacing around says "Kokubu in prison, probably knew who the real murderer was...." Naoki continues this line of thought "The real murderer that pinned the blame on Kokubu....was tortured by fear, concealing himself until the approval of the statutes of limitations....perhaps Kokubu was saying this...." Ogura adds "From then on, it was like he changed into someone else....became a model prisoner...." Keita asks "What's that mean?" Naoki replies "So....no matter what, it was for the sake of getting out on parole...." Ogura says "Kokubu out on parole has now disappeared....I heard from an old acquaintance....have a bad feeling about this...." Naoki looks around & then strides to the back door, going outside....

Outside, the garden is overgrown. Ogura says "Whether the murderer was Kokubu or someone else, the only escape route for the murdered was this way...." Walking out into the front of the church, Naoki looks around & stares at the statue of Mary. The eyes of the statue glitter, looking back at Naoki. Ogura says "At the night of the murders, Christmas Eve mass was being held. Unfortunately, there wasn't anyone who saw the escaping murderer...." Naoki asks "....except for her...." looking at the statue. Keita asks "Her?"

In the church compound, Naoki asks a foreign priest "Excuse me, but I'd like to ask....that statue of Mary, looks like there's something buried in her eyes....what are they?" The priest answers "Diamonds....they were donated from an anonymous follower (in the church)...." Naoki's surprised "Donated?" "An envelope with 200,000 yen in it was delivered into the church's postbox...." "When was this?" "Right after that incident...." Ogura says "That's news to me...." Naoki says "The murderer...." & imagines the murderer frantically running out of the house in the pouring rain, ending up in front of the statue of Mary. Naoki says "After the crime, the murderer's figure covered in blood was seen by the statue of Mary....a sense of guilt & wanting to repent, made the donation...." Keita looks at Naoki "If that's the case, Kokubu isn't the murderer....he was detained by the police so he couldn't have made any donation...." Naoki ponders & stares at the statue........

At Hamazaki's studio, Minako sits, posing for her portrait. On the canvas, Hamazaki has also included a cross. Putting on the finishing touches he says "You thought it strange, didn't you...." Minako surprised "Eh?" "On every painting of my wife, there's always a cross painted somewhere...." "Was that her request?" "In the beginning it was her wish....but without realizing it, putting (concealing) a cross on every painting became my style...."

Hamazaki remembers Makiko posing nude in the studio & he painting her portrait. Makiko says "Christ who was executed, held on to by the Virgin Mary........like Bottecelli's religious art painting the 'Pieta'....will you paint that for my sake?" "If you're Mary, Kiichiro is Christ?" "Yes...." replies Makiko with a smile, looking over at a young Kiichiro playing with paints........ Back in the present Hamazaki tells Minako "The formalization of the adjudication of her disappearance was exactly on Christmas Eve...." "That day, the both of you held a vigil for her...." "Kiichiro came back from Fukushima & we drank all night long...." Minako adds in a sad tone "Exactly that night, I became all alone...." Hamazaki looks away........

In front of the old Morita house, Ogura remembers "Following the stretcher that was carrying the younger daughter....was me...." Ogura holds out an umbrella over a young Minako being carried away on a stretcher, police & curious onlookers crowding around. Ogura tells Naoki & Keita "At that moment, she muttered something...." Naoki & Keita, both staring at the statue turn around & look at Ogura who adds "No....her father dying in front of her eyes was a certainty....she must have been confused...." Naoki asks "What did Minako say?" "Facing all the spectators gathered in front of the house, she muttered something....one word...." Keita asks "One word....what?" Ogura answers "Father...." Naoki's expressions changes as Keita repeats "Father?" Naoki asks "That's....the truth?" Ogura confirms "Yes, in a thin voice...." Naoki realizes the implications....knowing who Minako's real father is. Keita says "Hey Naoki, you don't think....that 'father'....is the real father that was written in the diary....that night her real father was here?" A strong wind starts to blow & Naoki wraps his coat around him tighter........

At the Hamazaki studio, Kiichiro walks in "Finished?" His father answers "For today, let's finish here...." Minako stands up "Alright, thanks for the hard work....then I'll make something....I brought groceries to make meat croquette...." "Look forward to it...." Then may I use your kitchen?" "Go ahead...." Minako goes out & Hamazaki says to Kiichiro "It's been a long time since I had such a creative desire to paint...." Kiichiro answers "Really...." "Always painting to sell........it's been a long time...." Kiichiro sits down & looks up at his mother's portrait "Dad...." "Hm?" "What if Mom's still alive today, would you forgive her?" Hamazaki laughs "What?" "Just saying if........maybe she's been watching us from somewhere....sometimes I feel that...." "Since leaving home....it's been 22 years....if she's still alive, she would've been seen somewhere a long time ago....don't think such nonsense!" Kiichiro doesn't saying anything & looks up at the light coming in from a window up above. He hears noises & turns to look at another window & sees a white sheet flying by. He runs outside of the house & into the street. Turning around, he sees his mother Makiko standing some ways down the road, a smile on her face. As Kiichiro starts walking towards her, she takes 2 steps back & Kiichiro stops. He runs a little forward, she moves back again & he stops. Kiichiro says "Welcome home! Dad's waiting for you too...." Makiko doesn't reply, just smiles back. Kiichiro says "Mom, I want you to tell me....that night, where were you?" Makiko answers "The Christmas Eve 15 years ago........" Kiichiro just stares, not saying anything. Makiko sees someone coming & her expression changes....smile disappears. Kiichiro hears Minako say "What's wrong?" He turns to see Minako & turning back to look down the street, Makiko's gone. Minako says to Kiichiro "You weren't around so I wondered what happened...." Kiichiro replies "Nothing...." & walks to go back into the house. He stops when he sees something on the hedge. Minako takes the white cloth & looks at it "Apron? Where did this come from?" Kiichiro looks on in fear........

On the way, driving back to Tokyo Keita says "The fact that Kokubu is after the real murderer who pinned the blame on him....that's for sure....but it's a shocking new fact....the night of the incident, Minako's real father was at the scene....rushing to the scene when he heard the news would be way too soon....perhaps, her father is the murderer? But then again, returning & appearing in front of the house would put him in a defenseless position....to be seen by his own daughter....ahh....don't know....this is futile........"

Naoki pulls up at his work place & both of them get out. Keita says to Naoki "Anything else I'll call you...." "Alright...." & both go their separate ways. Naoki puts on his white coat & runs up "Sorry I'm late...." His boss looks at his watch "This late....how about going for dinner first?" Naoki suggests "Please go ahead, I'll do this...." "Then take a look at the lights & the FX...." & then to the other guys "Hey, go ahead & have dinner first...." Everyone leaves & Naoki's all alone....

Keita waits at the taxi stand muttering "No taxis...." when he spots Yuri with a piece of paper in her hand, looking around. A taxi arrives but Keita doesn't get on........

Naoki starts testing out the system, putting on music & lighting up the place. Looking up he spots Yuri approaching. He ignores her & carries on working as Yuri says "Found you at last....really awful when you disappeared....didn't go back to your apartment?....it's ok if you're not by Minako's side anymore?....Minako has Hamazaki by her side so you don't need to help (save) her anymore?....then next, will you help (save) me?" Naoki finally looks at her & then without a word, switches of the music & walks away, Yuri following "When you're not around I feel like I'm going to die....save me!"

(-= CJ =- Shitsukoi onna da ne, Yuri ha....dai kirai!)

Naoki ignores her as she says "Want to be together forever...." Naoki merely picks a spotlight & continues working. Yuri says "Proposal's from my side (woman's side)....for sure I don't want to just be just given everything from you....I want to give to you too....I want to help (save) you too!" Yuri's words finally get to Naoki & he stops. Yuri runs up to him, hugs him tightly from behind & Naoki's hat falls to the grown. The look on Naoki's face is one of pain, tears in his eyes. Yuri says from over his shoulder "Just like this....becomes a little warmer....I won't become cold....if it's cold just like this & we'll be warm....if there's pain, the pain will be halved....whatever joys you have I want to share it too....living together's like this...." Yuri cries "I want to go on living like this....with you...." With tears falling down his face, he listens as Yuri says "To the point of helping (saving) you....I can do it...." Naoki grimaces & then turns around, hugs Yuri tightly neither of them saying anything. Watching from a distance, Keita sees & hears everything Yuri has said. Tears roll down Keita's face & finally after a while, he turns & walks away, the spotlight throwing the shadow of Naoki kissing Yuri up on the wall........

In their apartment Minako says "Dad looked like he enjoyed the meat croquettes, I was happy...." Kiichiro says "Said next time to cook some sesame dishes.... "I'd be happy to, anytime...." Kiichiro asks "Ito Naoki....what happened since that time?" Minako replies "Haven't seen him...." Kiichiro says "Disappearing like that....it's a little worrying...." Minako remains silent for a while & then says "Ever since then, I've been thinking....going to Mikura & finding out all that....thinking about it, could it be possible....Mom had an affair....Dad refusing to forgive her & abusing me....by any chance am I, Mom's & the person she had the affair with....their child?" Kiichiro says "If your real father is still around, would you like to meet him?" Minako doesn't answer....

It's late at night & someone arrives at the cottage in the forest. Inside, Ito is sharpening his axe when he hears a noise "Naoki? It's cold isn't it....coffee's over there...." Without turning back, facing the fire, Ito continues sharpening his axe. When there's no answer he says "What's wrong?" Naoki asks "The Christmas Eve 15 years ago, where did you go?" Ito doesn't reply. Naoki continues "I remember well....said you had work in Tokyo so you were out that night....only left me a Christmas present....that glove...." Ito replies, drinking his coffee "Gave you lonely memories....in the end, didn't even play catch ball with you once...." Naoki cuts him off "Never mind about that....where did you really go?" His father says "Probably went to see an acquaintance at the university hospital....a long time ago...." Ito starts sharpening his axe again & Naoki, without a word, takes the locket, opened, holds it out in front of his father & drops it onto the sharpening stone. Ito puts down the blade to see an old photo of himself in the locket. Naoki tells him "That's not mine....it's the most important thing of 12 year old Minako....but Minako buried it in the earth....I dug it out....that night 15 years ago, Minako saw her father among the spectators....Minako saw her real father standing among the spectators in front of the house!" Naoki imagines a young Minako being brought out on a stretcher saying "Father...." as she sees him standing in the crowd.

Ito takes the locket & closes it. Naoki says "Why Minako was the only survivor in that incident, I understand at long last....Kokubu came along, the real killer had to escape without killing Minako....I thought that was the case all along but I was wrong...." Ito starts sharpening his axe, not saying anything. Naoki looks at his father & says "It wasn't that the murderer didn't kill but couldn't kill....couldn't do it huh....cause Minako was....your own daughter! Why you wanted to erase Minako's memories I understand too....you wanted her to forget didn't you! Everything Minako saw........whatever Minako say & your face too! The eyes of the statue of Mary, the 200,000 yen donation that put light in....beautiful eyes! Don't keep quiet, say something....if I'm wrong say I'm wrong...." Ito doesn't say anything, just continues sharpening the axe & finally Naoki yells "Say I'm wrong!!!"

In their apartment, looking at Minako's wedding dress hanging up, Minako ponders "The man that mom loved....I wonder what sort of man he is....just once, I'd like to meet him...." Kiichiro says "He's the bride's father...."

Back in the cottage Naoki says to his father "What can't you say anything? If this is wrong, what can't you say so? Why can't you say it's wrong?! That's because you murdered a whole family isn't it!!!" Ito stops & slowly turns around....the light from the fireplace throwing dark shadows on his face, giving him an evil looking expression as he stares at Naoki............