A/n: Tada! Chapter 8! OMG! I'm not sure just how much writing I'm gonna be able to get in over the next few months! I'm moving into one of the university dorms on Sunday and then starting classes the following Thursday! O.o Hopefully I'll be able to make some time for writing but who knows how college-life is gonna treat me lol wish me luck! :P

Disclaimer: Tekken = Not mine v.v

Chapter 8: Home Life

Shrieks of contented laughter were the first thing that Verity heard the morning after she had arrived in Japan. The sun glinted through the crack between the two dark blue drapes that adorned the window and it's rays reached her closed eyelids. Slowly, Verity pulled the warm sheets away from her and sat up in bed.

"My goodness….How can those kids be so loud?" she wondered as she rubbed her sleepy eyes. "And this early?"

She looked at the clock on the nightstand and realized that it wasn't early at all.

"What?" she gaped at the glowing numbers of the digital face. "Eleven thirty A.M!"

All of a sudden she felt the need to jump out of bed and get out of the room. Verity couldn't believe that she had slept in so late. What would her hosts think of her sleeping so freaking much! Afraid of being marked as a lazy-ass, Verity dug through her still-packed suitcase and found a change of clothes for the day. As soon as she had put them on and fixed her wild mane of hair, she almost dashed out of the bedroom. Descending the stairs, she heard Julia trying to calm down one of her sons.

"Enough, Kenji!" Julia half-laughed, half-scolded. "You'll wake up Verity!"

The year-old toddler let out another peal of laughter and his twin brother quickly responded with the same sound. Verity stopped at the foot of the stairs and dared a peek around the corner. Across the room, Jin was holding Kaleb and he, like Julia, was trying to get the boy to settle down. Verity laughed as she saw the twins trying to wriggle out of their parent's arms. She stepped out into sight and laughed.

"What did you feed them this morning? A bowl of sugar?" Verity said outright, with a smile on her lips. All four individuals turned to look at her and the kids seemed to simmer down for a moment.

"Verity!" Julia exclaimed. She hoisted up Kenji so that she could more easily hold him. "Oh my…they woke you up didn't they?"

"Just a tad," Verity responded as she watched Jin being mercilessly attacked by his overly-excited son. The sight was inexplicably amusing. "Well?" She continued through fit of laughter. "Did you or did you not feed them straight sugar?"

"No," Jin responded with a smile as he sat down on the couch and set Kaleb down in his lap. "And I would not like to know what catastrophe could possibly ensue if we did."

Verity laughed and continued, "And speaking of food. What's for breakfast?" She clapped her hands together and grinned.

"Don't you mean, lunch?" Jin retorted with a smirk.

Julia smiled, "There's some food in the kitchen, on the stove. Just stick it in the microwave and you should be good for brunch."

Verity nodded and made her way into the massive kitchen where she found her brunch. After reheating a plate, she wandered back into the living room and took a seat in the recliner. She propped her feet up on the coffee table and began to chow down. It was surprisingly difficult to eat as she kept giggling through bites. Kaleb and Kenji kept trying to break free of their parents' grips. They desperately wanted to go greet their new visitor and seemed about ready to stop at nothing until they had done so. In that moment, the doorbell rang and, with some difficulty, Julia managed to get to the door.

"Lars!" Julia exclaimed in surprise.

"Hi Julia." Jin's uncle stood at the door and almost instantly began to chuckle. "It looks like you've really got your hands full today."

"You can say that again," she smiled. "Come in!" She stepped aside and Lars made his way into the living room. The boys let out another squeal as their grins widened. They looked ready to charge at their uncle.

"Hey kiddos! How's life treating you?" He rubbed Kenji's head and then did the same to Kaleb. Lars glanced at Verity, who was trying to swallow the last bit of food that was in her mouth. "Hey! Verity! Long time no see." He walked over and reached to shake her hand.

"Hey Lars! Yeah, definitely long time," she grasped his hand.

"What brings you around, Lars," Jin said as Kaleb tried to turn around in his arms.

"Not much really. Just felt like dropping by. It's my day off and I don't have much to do, so I decided to come and see what you guys were up to. There's never a dull day around here," he sat down on one of the couches.

"I have no problem believing that," Verity commented.

Before anyone else could continue with the conversation, a sudden dreadful feeling overpowered the previously cheerful atmosphere. The twins instantly fell silent and Jin grew pale. Verity felt the hairs on her neck stand on end as chills ran through her spine.

"What was that?" she said, trying to rub warmth into her arms. "Jin you look like you've been dunked in a pool of ice-water."

"I have a really bad feeling," Jin said in a low voice.

"Well, isn't that the understatement of the century," Lars claimed.

Out of the corner of her eye, Verity barely caught a glimpse of vague movement. She turned her head to get a better view and shrieked.

"Oh hell! What the fuck is that?" She pointed at a sudden distortion in the air.

Everyone spun around and the distortion slowly took on a more solid form. The thing's billowing cloak swayed around it was clearly hovering in the air. No one moved. Not even the recently over-excited twins. It was clear that this being had left them terrified. Not even the demons from the previous year could match the abysmal sensation that had overtaken them. The wraith-like creature turned to face in Jin and Lars' direction. Then suddenly, it spoke. Or rather, it whispered.

"you are family of my beloved reaper, are you not?" The apparition faintly gestured in the men's direction.

Jin and Lars quickly glanced at each other and then back at the ghost.

"What?" They said in unison.

"reaper's family," it repeated.

Jin didn't know what this thing was but apparently it knew his sister.

"I'm her brother," he said, "Who the hell are you?"

Julia and Verity stood aside speechless. The twins were watching the creature with a surprisingly calm curiosity.

"i am death."