A/N: Hello, everyone. I am just a newbie here in FictionPress, so please be kind on me... I tried to make this story as historically accurate as possible, but if you find some errors, tell me, please! Constructive Criticism is appreciated, and compliments are adored. I realize some people may have problems with Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the War in general, but it is one of my... favorite (most interested??) subjects. And btw, Japanese terms are defined below.

August 6, 1945

My country is at war, and has been years. The effects of the war can be seen everywhere. There are only old men and boys left, as all able-bodied men have been drafted into the army, including my older brother, Katsuro. The only reason my father, Satoshi, has not been drafted as well was that his leg was lamed in the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War fourteen years ago, when I was just two, and when my brother was six. Now, we are at war again, this time with the “Americans”, whom some call “the white devils”, and there is no end in sight.

Currently, me and the other girls in our high school are tearing down houses to make firewalls to prevent the spread of fire in case of a bombing. Though it’s just nearing 8 in the morning, already I’m starting to sweat. Looking up at the nice blue sky, I wonder how my brother is. What he’s thinking right now. Memories of last night come unbidden into my mind…

(flashback)

“Tadaima! I’m home!” I announced as I entered my house. I just returned from another grueling session of tearing down houses.

“Okaerinasai, I’m so glad you’re safe. When there was the air raid siren earlier, I was so worried about you. You’d think I’d be able to get over it by now, but everyone’s been so anxious… we’re the only major city that hasn’t been bombed yet…” Mother hugged me tight. She’s crying.

“Okaasan, what’s wrong?” I asked, fearing what I’d hear. Then, I spot a letter on the table in the living room. Could it be? I feared the worst. “Okaasan, onegai. Please, tell me what’s wrong!” I plead, desperately needing my mother to tell me I’m wrong, there’s nothing to be worried about, that she’s crying only because she’s happy to see me safe. It never came. Instead, my mother lead me to the living room, and handed me the letter.

Honorable Father, Mother, and little Aiko,

I am honored to say that I have been chosen as a special attack pilot and will begin my training soon. I am proud to have been given a splendid opportunity to die as a man. This is the best way to die.

I am thankful for the twenty years of my life, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for raising, loving, and inspiring me. Father, it was your face I thought of in times I needed inspiration, and the thought of your courage in battle in China gave me strength. I only regret causing grief to you, not only in the past twenty years, but also now. Think well of me, and be proud that your son has given his life for the country.

Ai-chan, don’t grieve for me, I will come back as a spirit and look after you always. I will wait for your visits at Yaskuni shrine. I am proud to have been your brother.

Your dutiful son and brother,

Fujii Katsuro

No… this cannot be! Faint, I fell to my knees onto the tatami floor. Mother wept against Father’s shoulder at the door; Father must have come in while I was reading. The air felt stifling, I needed to breathe. Blindly, I got up and staggered outside. Breathe in, breathe out; I’m panting, as if I just survived a drowning.

With my mind in turmoil, I had walked, with no regard to my destination. My feet took me wherever they willed, my eyes, my mind, they paid no attention. How could this happen? How could I survive without Katsuro-oniisan? Katsuro-oniisan- who looked after me, protected me, and played with me, even when he could have played with his friends. Now, he was going to… going to die… My mind was in shock. This was not possible. My worst fears had come true. Oh, Hotoke-sama, how did this happen? Then, ashamed, I rouse myself. Katsuro-oniisan had said I must not grieve, that I must be proud for what he is doing for our country. I will. With that thought, I had returned home.

(end flashback)

Before depressing thoughts take over my mind again, I force my thoughts to return to the present and to the work at hand. We were nearing the Aioi River, and the Aioi bridge. The other girls are just as grim-faced as me, when in past times, they would have been giggling and gossiping. Well, in past times, we would be in our classrooms, not doing hard labor. We were all forced to grow up too fast…

Then, I spot a black spot in the horizon. What could it be? A bird? As it approached, it started taking on a distinct shape… of an airplane. But the air raid siren hadn’t gone off; it must be a weather plane, surely? Suddenly, however, I saw something fall, and I knew, with sudden clarity, it was not.

There was a blinding flash.

What terrible irony. I, designated to die, had survived, and those who were supposed to be safe, had died. I was prepared to do it, to give up my life. In fact, I had even gone and had been training when the news came- Hiroshima and Nagasaki had been bombed by two bombs of unspeakable power, and the emperor had surrendered to the Americans. With each bomb, a city now lay in ashes. In that one brief moment, my family was taken away from me. Luckily, in a perverse way, they had all died in the first instant, or so I believe as I could not find any trace of them in any of the hospitals, and had not suffered the horrible illness that plagued many of the survivors. I was prepared to die; now I am left alone, alive, with all whom I held dear taken away from me.

Japanese Terms Used in the Story

Tadaima “I’m home”, always said when entering one’s home

Okaerinasai: “Welcome back”, always said in response to “Tadaima”

Okaasan: Mother

Onegai: Please

Yasukuni Shrine: Shrine in Tokyo where the war dead are enshrined; has caused controversy in recent times as war criminals are also enshrined there

Tatami Floor: Traditional Japanese flooring made of woven straw packed with rice straw, or styrofoam (nowadays)

Oniisan: Older Brother

Hotoke-sama: literally, “venerable Buddhas”, refers to dead ancestors, who are sometimes revered as dieties

Aioi River: One of the five rivers that flow through Hiroshima, the Atomic Bomb Dome is located on its banks, and the hypocenter was also close.

Aioi Bridge: One of the bridges on the Aioi River, it’s distinctive “T” shape was used as the target for the atomic bomb; amazingly, it escaped unharmed.