Chapter 1: Engagement

Somewhere in the countryside, in a manor, a garden party was being established. The whole place was illuminated with lights; the water in the fountain found at the center of the garden was lit with lotus-shaped lanterns. Chairs and tables are spread, appetizers were being served, the guests seated, the air was serene, yet full of happiness.

While waiting for the celebrants, the guests discussed about them on their own...

"Well, they pretty much ended up together, as I always say."

"Yeah, they look pretty good together!"

"(sigh) I wish my love life resembles theirs..."

"They were childhood friends, I hear?"

"Oh, yes. Ne, did know that the date was settled will be on the same day at the next festival of this villages..."

"At least there will be double celebration, right? I heard that the girl loved festivals, so..."

All the chitchatting was interrupted by the master of the manor, Mr. Takeshi Maeda. As he called their attention, there was total silence amongst the guests; they were all perfectly listening to his speech.

"First of all, I would like to thank you all for coming here tonight" he bowed, then, facing to them again, continued "I would like to thank our relatives for coming so far from here to celebrate here with us in this wonderful evening. Actually, it is not that easy to part from one's son, but I could never be even happier that he's very much happy, and that he has found, and now engaged, to his love, his childhood friend and constant companion, and that we, his family, are very proud and happy to welcome to our family. So, ladies and gentlemen, my son, Akio, and his future wife and my future daughter-in-law, Reika."

Music filled the air, but the applause of the guests was even louder, and became more when the couple had arrived hand-in-hand.

Akio, the only son and the sole heir of the Maeda Group, has a very handsome face with grayish brown hair, and a pair of ochra eyes which complemented his fair complexion, and at the same time, possesses a great mind and good leadership skills and a good heart, as he was developed by his parents to inherit the company.

Reika, his fiancée, on the other hand, possesses angelic features, both body and personality, and is quite known for her beauty, intelligence, and kindness which stretched across the neighboring towns, by which captured many hearts, especially of young men. She is the only daughter and the jewel of the Inoue residence.

As the young couple seated and received congratulations, the main course was served and the feast began...

-0-

On a table not so far away from Akio and Reika's, sat the parents of the couple.

"I'm so glad of this union, don't you agree, dear?" said Naomi Maeda.

"Oh, yes, I've been planning this for years, and I never thought that this day would come" said Takeshi

"I'm glad that I lived to see my son proposed to her. And I wished that I would see the day of their wedding."

" Now that our families will be united, I could never asked for more but to take good care of our Reika" said Mei Inoue, Reika's mother.

"Oh, yes, and the same for our boy."

"Speaking of those two, where are they?" asked Masao Inoue, the father.

They all looked at the couple's table, and as Masao asked them, they were nowhere to be found.

"Well, they could be on that cave where they used to play" suggested Naomi.

"Yes, they might be. Shall we ask someone to go and fetch them?" Mei said.

"Nay, my dear, let them be. Besides, there's a lot of guests to be entertained and food to eat, and I don't want to interrupt their lovey-dovey, am I right, Takeshi?" Masao said. They always love to tease their children and that they were also long-time friends.

"I couldn't agree more" he answered.

All of them agreed and continued eating and planning for their children.

-0-

On some cave a few kilometers away from the manor, stood Akio and Reika who was panting. The cave was lit with some electric lights, thanks to Akio.

"You always lose, don't you, Rei-chan?" Akio smirked.

Reika always knew that her betrothed possessed superhuman abilities and that he always wins against her, and that she was always determined to win against him, which is quite impossible, so she frequently challenged him.

Brushing all her annoyance, she gazed up and said, "Ne, Akio, remember those times we played hide-and-seek here?"

"Oh, yes, I do. In fact, one of those was the time you cried and accused me that I left you even if I didn't" he smiled at her.

"It was getting dark back then and I'm afraid of getting lost. Besides, you even tricked me that there are ghosts lurking in here..."

"Yeah, and I find the results very amusing... you just cling to me as if we were stuck with glue" Akio teased. "And now, very soon, you'll be stuck with me forever, Mrs. Reika Maeda"

"Hmph! Now you made me regret of having accepted your proposal."

'I know you wouldn't do that"

"Why would you say so?"

"Because" he said, as he held her back while leading her closer to him "you love me so much that you wouldn't leave me."

"Oh! Look who's talking. Aren't you the jealous one when some guy tries to get close to me? If looks could kill, you probably killed hundreds already." Reika said with much exaggeration.

"Because I love you, and that you're mine, Rei-chan" he said while smiling and leaning his head to hers.

"Not yet, we're still engaged..." then, her lips were locked with his.

The moment they broke the kiss, suddenly, they heard a thunder-like sound from far away, followed by a slight shaking of the earth.

"Gee, is the sky and earth against us?" said Reika jokingly.

"Hmm... let me think. Maybe because you threatened to break your engagement with your fiancée?"

"Whatever, Akio..."

They were interrupted with a policeman from the neighboring town nearby.

"Akio! Reika! There you are!" then he panted.

"Why, is there something wrong, sir?" asked Akio.

"The manor...your parents..."

"Oh my goodness, mom, dad!" and Reika ran as fast as she could.

"Reika, wait!" and Akio with the policeman behind him, ran after her.

And so they all ran, and Akio finally catching up and speeding ahead her, but this time, there is no contest, for they felt something bad happened. He arrived first, and when he saw Reika coming, he ran to her, hugged her, so that she may not see what he just saw.

"What are you doing, Akio! My parents... let me go!" Reika said as she struggled.

"Please do not do so, Reika, you'll only get hurt..."

But then again, Reika managed to escape his grip, and went to the manor.

But all she saw was its charred ruins...