Two boys clad in capes of straw stood next to the small dilapidated house.

"Brother... let's go." The younger of the two pulled at the cape of his sibling.

The elder brother was still, as he gazed upon the small lonely house lost in the rain. Their mother lived there...the mother that no longer recognized them or saw them as her children.

At once, the world before him blurred, and he frantically rubbed at his eyes, drying them.

He couldn't cry, if he did, his brother would too.

"brother?"

He looked down at the forlorn face of his little brother, tears already welling up in this wide eyes, and forced a smile.

"Ah! Right then! We must prepare dinner before father gets home."

He looked down at his younger sibling an suddenly noticed a large tear in his s.h.i.+rt. He reached out to grasp the ragged edge as his brother looked down in embarra.s.sment.

"It got caught on a branch while I was playing. Mom said she would mend it for me..... but..."

His words choked into whimpers, tears trailed down his cheeks to mix with the rain.

The elder brother held back his own tears as he quickly grasped his brother's hand and began to walk away.

Everyday, there were more like their mother, people unable to recognize their own flesh and blood, who looked upon their own families as strangers. They were always found unconscious in the fields, as though struck down. They awoke unable to recognize their families and loved ones,.... it was as though they had never met.... as though time had stopped in the distant past, leaving them adrift in an unfamiliar present.

Some people felt grateful, thankful that though their loved ones now looked upon them as strangers they were at least still alive. That alone was enough for some. (translator's note: see any parallels here?)

Life was gift, those that lost their memories were the lucky ones. Some had been found adrift on the sea, forever silent, never to return. (translator's note: in other words, dead)

He tightened his fist.

That shrine....

He had once heard from the village elder that there was something horrifying sealed within.

Centuries ago, a creature arrived, borne to this land by the gales to wreak destruction on the land. It was captured and sealed forever by the white G.o.ddess. There were many G.o.ddesses in Izumo.

It must have been a compa.s.sionate G.o.ddess that felt sad for humanity's suffering, and ended the reign of terror.

But the boy always wondered, "Why hadnt the G.o.ddess simply killed the creature instead?"

If it was dead, mother would not be the way she is now. The little girl wouldn't have been afflicted either. All she did now days was stare vacantly at nothing.

"I dont believe in G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses" the boy thought to himself as he disappeared into the rain.

"If they were real? Where are they now when we need them the most? "