Dark Alice in a Dark Wonderland

House

Halo One: House:

Autumn 1983.

Makoto drove down the long dirt road in the countryside.

"Can I look now?" Hya-chan asked next to him. She had her hand over her eyes.

"Not yet," Makoto said. He chuckled as they kept driving down the road. His bride was going to love this. He couldn't believe his luck with this find.

"Can I look now?" Hya-chan asked again.

"Not yet," he said. "I will let you know."

"Okay," she said. Makoto smiled as they kept driving. He found this place about three months ago. It started when his boss took him with him to Tokyo. They were visiting an old friend of his boss'. Or maybe they got lost on the way there. Makoto doesn't really remember. Or maybe it just doesn't matter. The point is he found it and it took work to get it. Just a little bit further.

The car finally stopped. Makoto turned to Hya-chan.

"Okay, you can look now," he said. She moved her hand from her eyes. The young bride gasped. They were parked in front of a large Japanese-style house. It didn't look new on the surface. It certainly had seen better days. Hya-chan turned to her husband.

"What is this?" she asked.

"We're home," he said. His wife looked confused.

"What do you mean?" she asked. Makoto held out his arms.

"This is our new home," he said. At first, Hya-chan didn't understand.

"But... how?" she asked. Makoto tapped the side of his nose as he smiled.

"It's a secret," he whispered. He turned off the car and got out. The man walked around and unlocked the car door for his wife. He held out his hand.

"Come, my lady," he said.

"Oh!" Hya-chan said in a charming way. She took his hand. Makoto pulled her out and swept her off of her feet.

"Whew!" she said. His wife giggled. Makoto kissed her on the forehead and walked her up the wooden steps. Hya-chan reached out and opened the door.

This house had eight rooms. Rather uncommon for a Japanese house in the 1980s. When Makoto first saw it, he instantly fell in love. He asked who owned the house.

"No one," his boss' friend said.

"Really?" he asked.

"Yeah," the older man said.

"Can I look at it?" Makoto asked. His boss and his friend looked at each other for a moment.

"Sure," the friend said.

Hya-chan looked around the house like a child looking at magic tricks.

"Wow!" she said. Makoto walked up behind her.

"Do you like it?" he asked. His wife turned around.

"I love it!" she said. Makoto looked up.

"I knew you would," he said. She giggled and twirled around. They didn't have much furniture right now. Somehow, that didn't matter. This was going to be their house. Makoto happened to see the look on his wife's face. Hya-chan was kind of frowning at him.

"What is it?" he asked.

"How did you get this house?" she asked. "Are we going to afford to live here?" Makoto walked up and gently took her by the cheeks.

"It was a gift to us," he said.

"A gift?" Hya-chan asked.

"Yes," he said. "Your uncle's friend gave it to us. But don't worry. I will have everything covered. I promise." His wife pressed her lips together. Makoto kissed her on the forehead. Hya-chan finally perked up.