CHAPTER 3

They were a happy family, even an idiot could tell that from one glance. Two happily married parents kept their family in check. The ever so proud father, Morishige Takuma, a former J-League soccer player for Bolt Osaka, now the owner of a soccer facility that trains up-and-comers. His wife, Morishige Lisa, was a professional actress in Hollywood and now is a famous producer for a popular animation studio. Together they were a killer combo of a couple, and they supposedly had never fought in the entirety of their relationship. After a few years together, their love was brought to a new level with the birth of their twin babies; and these babies became a testament of twenty years of pure affection for each other. The first child, Miyu, was safely brought into this world with ease and a beautiful smile bright enough to challenge the sun itself. Koji, on the other hand, was a different story all together, and his delivery was more intense than his sister's. Before he was even delivered, the air in the room had dramatically changed. The pain coursing through Lisa intensified and she clenched the blanket as if an outside force was ripping her apart. The doctor in charge of the delivery was sweating furiously, but he gave his all for the both mother and baby's sake. After about 15 grueling minutes, the baby boy was finally brought into the world, and both of them were perfectly healthy afterwards. "Look, Lisa, our two beautiful babies. They just might be prettier than you, mother." Takuma said holding the told newborns. "I'll be okay with that, since they will grow up to be twice as great as you are, father." "Haha, hey! You're probably right on that one, HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Everyone in the room was laughing and laughing nonstop like a pack of hyenas.

It was seven years later and the Morishige family had decided to clear their busy schedules, in order to take a trip to the mountain. "Ahhh, just take in that wonderful Japanese air," Takuma said, "As fresh as the ocean is beautiful, I say." "Stop it, honey. If you keep talking like, you'll turn into an old man," Lisa interjected. She had everyone in stitches with one of her signature comebacks. "Ha, you might be right on that one, dear." Both of them were enjoying each other's company, and the children were just as happy as they could be. Little Koji ran up to his father yelling, "I want to climb up Fuji-san, papa! I want to go to the tippy top, papa!" "Sorry, Koji, we're going to mount Katsuragi today; and besides that, Fuji is back near Kawaguchiko, but maybe another time." "Whaaaaat!? But I wanted to play with my Kinnikuman figure," said the boy, pulling out an action figure from his travel bag. "I'll make sure to bring you and your toy to Fuji, the next time I'm on a business trip over there, ok?" "YAY YAY YAY!" "Ok, you two. Hurry up or me and Miyu will beat you to the campsite." "Oh yeah!? Let's show those two with our guy power," Takuma exclaimed. The boy heard this and starting running with his father, chanting, "GUY POWER!" The girls followed suit and chased the boys up the mountain trail, so as not to lose their lead. Both sides were neck and neck, while this casual walk transformed into a heated race to the top. "Sorry girls, but it's time to unveil my secret weapon. Koji, COMBINE!" And in an instant, the boy was hoisted on his father's back, allowing Takuma to bolt to the finish at full speed. The race was over in an instant, and the words "Boy's rule" echoed like thunder throughout the surrounding areas. "Ok, ok, huff… I thinks that's enough exercise for one day, alright?" said Lisa in-between breaths. "Ok, if you say so, Honey. Koji, Miyu. Come help daddy with the tent." "Yay!" shouted both the children. "I bet I can help papa better than you, Koji," said Miyu. "EHHHH? Says the girl who always makes me do her chores when she's tired. Plus, there is no one who is more super-duper as me!" Replied the now irritated Koji. "EHHHHH!? And who always cries to me when they wet the bed at night?" "I told you not to tell anybody, Miyu!" "Bed wetter, bed wetter, bed wetter, bed wetter!" "Lazybones, lazybones, lazybones, lazybones!" The two were at it like two warring nations trying to get the advantage over the other. "Are you two going to help your father, or will you guy continue to fight like a bunch of cranky crabs," Lisa asked with a hint of irritation in her voice. Embarrassed by their actions, the two apologized and continued to help build the tent as a team. It took a while, given the fact the twins would bicker occasionally, but the job was eventually finished by nightfall. Takuma started a fire and made some s'mores as a reward for a job well done. " Ahh, that was great, if a do say so myself. I think it's about time we all get ready to hit the hay," He says between yawns. The other three nod their heads and the family goes into the tent. After a few "good nights" were said, the group had finally found themselves in a state of peaceful slumber. Though for this family, the night would prove to harbor a darkness that would change their way of life in unfortunate ways.