A/N: I published a version of this story last year, but I've chosen to rewrite it now that I've developed a much clearer picture of Tsuru's personality and the relationship she'd have with her family.

******

September 1, 1923

A vivid nightmare culminated in Tsuru waking up in a sweat on Saturday morning, and the sight of her sleeping husband brought little solace. She slipped out of bed and carried out the routine that had become second nature to her over the past decade.

After washing up and putting her hair into a simple bun that differed from the more elaborate styles she'd worn as a new bride, Tsuru drifted into the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Her mother-in-law was getting on in years, so the responsibility of cooking now lay almost solely on her shoulders.

The life of a housewife had worn out even a spirited young woman such as herself, and Tsuru wondered if this was the meaning behind her worrying dream. She had encountered Hideo on an empty street at night, and made her way towards him, only for distance to grow between them with each step. In the end, she'd become desperate enough to run, and his elusive figure had evaporated into the wind, leaving her to languish alone in darkness for what felt like an eternity.

******

The time was approximately five to twelve, and Tsuru busied herself with cooking yakitori over the stove so that the children would have a special treat for lunch. So far, the task was proving more trying than she had anticipated. The smell of burning charcoal was more intense than usual, and it was becoming a struggle to keep the chicken from sticking to the pan without breaking the skewers.

As if that wasn't enough, an excited Yukari had insisted on accompanying her grandmother to the market, and there was no doubt that the girl's curiosity was why they had yet to return with fresh spinach.

Oh, well. I shall just have to make do for now, Tsuru thought in resignation.

She slid the pan of yakitori aside to begin arranging them on a plate. As expected, her ever-hungry son Yūtarō came into the kitchen, flashing his uneven teeth in excitement at the delectable sight before him. "Mother! When can we eat?"

Tsuru placed the empty pan aside, and glanced at the stove, which she'd opted to leave burning in anticipation of Yukari and her mother-in-law's return. She focused on Yūtarō again. "Now, what did we say about being patient? It wouldn't be right to start without your little sister and grandmother, would it?"

Yūtarō pouted and turned up his nose to show his disappointment. "Hmph. They always take so long!" He stormed out of the kitchen, having learned long since that no amount of stubbornness would make things go his way.

Although Tsuru loved her only son, she couldn't deny that he was a difficult child to raise. It seemed like the worst aspects of Hideo's character had been amplified in the boy, and the sound of a toy being thrown in the next room was proof of that.

She reached for the nearby pitcher of water so that she could pour herself a drink but stopped just short of grabbing the handle. Ripples were spreading across the water's surface, and it didn't take long for Tsuru to become aware of faint vibrations beneath her feet. She retreated from the dining table as they grew stronger by the second and hurried into the next room to retrieve Yūtarō. He wrinkled his face in discomfort when she grabbed his arm, and together, they rushed into the kitchen just as the shaking came to a stop.

Tsuru relaxed and turned to comfort her frightened son. "It's all right." She placed her hand gently on his head. "Just a tremor."

She remembered the danger of leaving a hot stove unattended and stepped forth to put out the flickering charcoal fire. But it was not to be. The floor began to shake again, followed by the walls around them, prompting Tsuru to throw herself over Yūtarō in the hope of shielding him from the worst. The crashing of plates and furniture thundered in her ears, and her bones rattled with such intensity that she feared her body would rip apart.

I don't want to die, Tsuru thought, tears welling up in her eyes as she and her son were thrown to the floor, unable to get up again. Burning pain shot through her legs, and she squeezed Yūtarō tight out of both a desire to protect him and to bring herself relief.

The very foundations of the house shattered, causing wood and concrete to fall and crumble around them. Tsuru opened her mouth to let out a silent scream before something heavy slammed into the back of her head, bringing a permanent end to her terror and panic.

******

Historical Note: The Great Kanto Earthquake struck at 11:58 am on September 1st, 1923. Many people were in the midst of cooking meals or having lunch, which contributed significantly to the death toll as fires spread everywhere and killed thousands even after the initial earthquake had ended.