Shirokane, Minato,
Tokyo

Takeuchi Shou-san already 72 years old, but still healthy enough to take care of his library. He worked at a publishing company in the year of Showa 43 (1968). Earlier when we called and explained that we wanted to talk about an article he wrote in 1970, he welcomed us.

"I stopped writing articles about the third block after I got into an accident. My wife and coworkers stopped me from continuing the investigations about the accidents because they think I may be cursed," he explained. His voice was hoarse as he spoke to us slowly. Rui placed the tape recorder on the table as usual to record our conversation.

Takeuchi-san took a deep breath. "I don't know if it's because of a curse or if it's just a normal accident. I got into a traffic accident while investigating the Miyazaki family."

"The Miyazaki family? The owners of the plot of land also known as the third block before it became a commercial plot?" I asked and thought about the article. "Takeuchi-san, why do you think the land is cursed?"

"At first, I thought it was just a normal case. But, after several accidents, I felt it was strange. " he took a small breath. "I got a testimony from all the victims and most of them said the same thing," Takeuchi-san said while taking some files from his bookshelf. Everything is arranged very neatly. "They said the children who went missing often were talking about a little girl around their age wearing a kimono." Takeuchi-san said.

"A little girl wearing a kimono?" I'm not really surprised. Iwamoto-san said the same thing.

"Yes," he nodded. "Even the police can't solve the case. I tried to track it down and tried to learn everything about the land before it became a commercial plot. I learned that the land was owned by the Miyazaki family. But, the Miyazaki family were not the original owners of the land." Takeuchi-san handed us a document. "The land was originally owned by Fujisima family and I guess that the Miyazaki family is a branch family. After the accident of the Fujisima family, the land was owned by the Miyazaki family." Takeuchi-san gave us another old article. "Read this article. It's all happened exactly in the year Showa 20."

"Showa 20, around 1945, right?" As I looked at the article my eyes widened. "Massacre?!"

"Yes, " Takeuchi-san nodded. "All the members of the Fujisima family were killed on the night of September 21, 1945. The grandparents, the husband, wife, three sons, three daughters, and a daughter in law. Not only the family but the maids and all the workers were killed and the house was burned to ashes." Takeuchi-san explained as he took a deep breath while leaning on his chair.

"Is there a predator?" Rui asked. He said while still continuing to check the documents

"The police can't find any evidence that an outsider went inside the house. After the investigation, they concluded that the accident is a homicide," Takeuchi-san explained, "Through the investigation, the police found out that the father committed suicide by stabbing himself with the same knife used to kill all the family members and workers. "

My chest feels hurt again. Killing all family members is only done by people with a mental disorder. Or...was the husband being possessed?

"One of the maids who manage to escape from the fire said something strange..." Takeuchi-san straightened his sitting position, folded his hands and looked at us. As if wants to tell us that the terrible things will only begin. "She gets stabbed on her back but she still manages to escape but passed away the next day at the hospital." Takeuchi-san said. "She said that the killer was not the husband, but the youngest daughter of Fujisima, Nanako." Takeuchi-san gives us an old family picture. "Take a look at the Fujisima family picture. She is the youngest daughter of the Fujisima family, their seventh child of seven children." he said as he pointed at a little girl with purple kimono standing in the middle row.

"Ah, a little girl with purple kimono!! Just like the rumors said. A little girl with purple kimono, short black hair and wearing an eyepatch!" Rui said a little too loud as if the mystery has been revealed. Well, at least one mystery has been revealed.

"Yes," Takeuchi-san nodded, "She was the youngest daughter of Fujisima family, Fujisima Nanako. She was five years old at that time." Takeuchi-san said.

"How can a five years old girl do a massacre?" I asked, my heart beating fast. Rui averted his gaze from the document in front of him and looked at Takeuchi-san.

Takeuchi-san took a deep breath, "The problem is not about a five years old girl, the maid said that Nanako killed the entire family and workers at that night. But, the little girl, already passed away a week before."

"Heh?!!" we're shocked. Our eyes widened and our mouth dropped open.

"She died from an illness. But, there were a lot of rumors about Fujisima family at that time, especially about their daughter, Nanako," Takeuchi-san sighed. "You saw in that picture that Nanako using eye pack, right? There's a reason to why she is using that." Takeuchi-san looked at us.

"Was she's tortured by her family?" I guessed.

"No. She's a psychic," Takeuchi-san smiled.

"What?!" we're truly out of words after what Takeuchi-san just revealed.

"Nanako was born with two different eye colors. Her left eye was red and rumors said that she could see the dead's spirits with her left eye," Takeuchi-san explained. "That's why she didn't live in the main house with the rest of the family, but they left her in the annex." Takeuchi-san took a deep breath and leaning back to his chair.

"But, the rumors spread quickly," Takeuchi-san looked at us. "One day, there was a rich and prestigious family who want to use Nanako's psychic powers. This family just lost their grandfather. But, ever since the grandfather died, a lot of misfortunes happened to them. So, they want to know if Nanako can talk to their grandfather," Takeuchi-san sighed, "And according to Nanako, the grandfather was angry because his family didn't give the land he promised to one of his mistress sons. The grandfather already promised before he died, but his family ignored his will."

"Did they believe what Nanako said?" Rui asked.

Takeuchi-san nodded, "They did as Nanako said and after that, misfortunes never happened to the family. They even get a lot of prosperity after that. So as thanks, they gave a present to Nanako. Since then, a lot of people believed in Nanako's powers. The Fujisima family gets a lot of richest from that."

"So they took advantage of Nanako's psychic abilities?" Rui asked.

"Almost everything she said was true," Takeuchi-san took a deep breath, "They build a new house separated from the main house for Nanako. A nice one. They thought that she must live alone to purify herself," he shook his head and sighed, "But, since she was treated like that, she couldn't go outside or play with kids her age. But, one day suddenly the condition got worse."

We both stared at Takeuchi-san. We believed this is not a good truth to hear.

"Suddenly a lot of misfortunes happened to Fujisima family. Their only spin factory set on fire and burn to ashes. Not only that, they owned a farm and all the vegetables rot right before harvest time. Even some of their suppliers and buyers cut off the contracts with them," Takeuchi-san sighed again, "The rumors said that Fujisima family was using Nanako's power to threaten other people." Takeuchi-san said.

"They're cruel!" Rui glared, "Not only they treat her like a stranger, but they also used Nanako's powers for bad things!"

"Well, the police managed to catch the perpetrators, he was one of the men the Fujisima tricked. He burned down the factory and after that, he spread poison on the land." Takeuchi-san shook his head, "I think that because everybody was greedy, they didn't want to believe that they lost everything because their own fault, they made Nanako take all the blame." Takeuchi-san sighed.

"What exactly happened to Nanako?" I asked. An uneasy feeling makes my chest hurt. But, there is nothing we can do.

If Nanako's spirit still wandering around, there must be a reason for that.

"No one knows for sure," Takeuchi-san shook his head. "But, the girl passed away several days after the spin factory burning. She died from illness, it's what the family said. But, the rumor said the family killed her with poison. And a week after she passed away, the massacre happened," Takeuchi-san takes a box from his desk drawer. "And about my accident, once I heard that the Miyazaki family were the ones that take care of everything. I was sure they knew something. I was planning to meet with them after I send them a telegram. The head of the family at that time, agreed to meet with me. But, on the way to their house, I got into a traffic accident." Takeuchi-san chuckled.

"Are you still in touch with them?" I asked.

"After I got into the accident, I send them a telegram to tell them my condition. And they said it's better to not envelop with Fujisima family," Takeuchi-san sighed, "After that, we just lost contact. But around 10 years later, the telegram comes to me to inform me that the head of the Miyazaki family passed away due to illness. It's his son who sends me the telegram."

"I see." I just nodded.

"Do you really think that the curse of the third block comes from Nanako's spirit?" Takeuchi-san asked, looking at both of us.

"We don't know for sure. But, if you talked about the grudge, all the victims of the mass murder who died in a cruel way, maybe not be resting in peace either." I started thinking about it.

If the spirits who died are still trapped in the Fujisima's land, this would be difficult. Expelling that many spirits won't be easy.

"I get the point. Don't they say that if someone died with a lot of regrets, a curse will be born." Takeuchi-san smiled.

I nodded, "The spirit that are floating around for too long can change personality because they absorb too many feelings around them. Hate and jealousy, they can absorb that feeling and become an evil spirit and put a curse," I explained. "Takeuchi-san, can you still get touch with Miyazaki family?" I asked.

"It's was a long time ago. But if you want to meet with them, just bring their grandfather telegram with you and said that you're my disciplines. I'm sure they will talk to you. Here is the address," Takeuchi-san gave us some paper from the box.

"Thank you very much." I said as I smiled.

"At that time I was not scared about the curse, but the people around me always make me scared. So there nothing I can do. But, young people these days aren't scared about anything, right?" Takeuchi-san laughed.

"I guess you're right." Rui chuckled.