• Chapter 1: A Promise Unfulfilled
    Mr. Yamanaka sat at his desk, made of the finest wood, counting his beloved money. He had earned a vast fortune from investing in all sorts of machinery, and now he had more money than what he knew what to do with.
    He had used up much of the money on his mansion, servants, pleasantries, and on his wife and child. He and his wife spent money left and right, almost as if bragging about their superiority when it came to economic issues. No matter the amount Mr. and Mrs. Yamanaka spent, they always managed to make up for the loss.
    Yet for Mr. Yamanaka, there was never enough money. He wanted more. He grew so obsessed with money that he would lock himself in his study for days at a time, counting his money over and over.
    There was a soft knock on the study door. "Father? You called for me? May I come in?" A young boy with glasses and short, blond hair stepped into the dark and dusty room.
    Mr. Yamanaka cleared his throat. "Yes, Natsuhiko, I did call for you. I wanted to discuss with you the promise that I made." Natsuhiko's green eyes lit up. "You mean the one regarding my 9th birthday?" he asked excitedly. "You have a good memory, my son. I, however, do not. Please remind me what my promise was."
    Natsuhiko grinned. "Silly Dad! You promised that you, me, and Mother would go on a picnic at the park! Just the three of us!"
    Mr. Yamanaka rustled Natsuhiko's hair. "Yes, I remember now, champ. Let's go help your mother with the lunches for tomorrow's picnic."
    As the father and son walked down the many halls of the mansion, Natsuhiko kept staring at his father. "Father?" he asked. "What is it, Natsuhiko?" he replied. The young boy's smile vanished. "You're going to keep your promise this time, right Father?"
    Mr. Yamanaka was puzzled. "Whatever do you mean, Natsuhiko?" Natsuhiko eyes became watery. "You really do have a bad memory. Don't you remember all of the promises you've made to me? And how you've never kept a single one?"
    Mr. Yamanaka knelt down and handed his son a handkerchief. "Listen to me, son. By the end of tonight, I'll have earned so much money that we'd never have to work another day of our lives. We could go to parks all the time. Heck, we could even buy that park that you love so much. So cheer up, okay?"
    Natsuhiko cleaned his face and smiled. "That's my boy. Now then, let's hurry up and help your mother."
    Natsuhiko was glad that his parents had so much money because it made life easier for him. His father was an honest, hardworking man who had earned his fortune through years of work and investments. He wondered, though, as to what it was that his father would do that night in order to increase their sum of money.

    Later that night, Natsuhiko lay sound asleep on his bed. Suddenly, there were loud shouts echoing through the mansion. Natsuhiko's nanny, Vera, barged into Natsuhiko's room.
    "Young master, wake up! You have to see this!" she exclaimed , trying to hold back her tears. Vera shook Natsuhiko violently until he awoke. He put on his glasses. "Vera? Whatever is the matter?"
    Vera turned on the television in Natsuhiko's room and changed it to the news channel. "Vera, is this some sort of joke?" Vera hushed her young master.
    The news channel was having a news broadcast about a casino in the same city that Natsuhiko lived. The broadcast was about a shooting that had occurred in the casino. Natsuhiko worried for his parents' safety. The news showed footage of the events that took place.

    Natsuhiko's parents were in the footage. They had been winning more money that day than everyone else at the casino combined. Mr. and Mrs. Yamanaka became so caught up in the moment of glory that they bet all of their money on a single game.
    The Yamanakas saw their hard work go up in flames when all their money was lost. Mrs. Yamanaka became furious, and she began shouting at the top of her lungs. Her husband tried to calm her down. He insisted that everything would be all right if they sold some of the family's clothes and jewelry.
    Mrs. Yamanaka was outraged by this suggestion. She began to yell insults at her husband, telling him how worthless and crazy he was.
    Mr. Yamanaka could tolerate no one and nothing after having lost his precious money. He took out the hand gun that he always carried for emergencies from his coat. Natsuhiko covered his eyes with his pillow.
    When he looked at the television screen after hearing three loud gun shots, he saw his mother's body laying limp on the floor of the casino, covered in blood. His eyes grew wide with terror when he saw his father's face on the screen.
    Mr. Yamanaka came back to his senses a few moments later. He realized that because he had lost his temper, he had lost two things that he held dear to him. He fell to the floor, grief-stricken. Unable to bear the pain he had caused himself, he pointed the gun to his head...and he pulled the trigger.

    Natsuhiko clutched his pillow tightly. Vera, weeping for Natsuhiko's parents, tried to hug and comfort her young master. But Natsuhiko ran out of the room as fast as his legs could take him.
    He ran outside of the mansion. "Why Father?!" he yelled to the sky at the top of his lungs. "Why did you and Mother abandon me?! What did I ever do wrong?!" Natsuhiko fell to his knees. He whispered silently, "What about...the promise you made?" Natsuhiko wept the rest of the night until he could weep no more. He cried himself to sleep and was later found resting in a puddle made from his tears.

    After his parents' death, Natsuhiko had little money left, even when he sold the family valuables. He could not run a business, so his money reserves began to diminish day by day, little by little. The month that followed, the servants abandoned him one by one and began seeking new employment. Even Vera, though reluctant, eventually left.
    The only servants that remained were five middle-school children-three boys, two girls-who had been given part-time jobs at the mansion. All of them were orphans, but they had never felt what it was like to lose their parents because they were far too young at the time. They all felt sorry for poor Natsuhiko, yet they also needed to consider whether they would stay or leave.
    The eldest of the orphans, a boy named Cedric, called his fellow orphans for a meeting with their young master one sunny afternoon. They were to meet at the deceased master's study room. Natsuhiko was reluctant to go to his father's study or any other rooms that his father loved. In the young boy's eyes, his father no longer seemed like a kind and caring gentleman, but rather a despicable man who cared of no one but himself. But after much convincing from his servants, Natsuhiko attended the meeting.
    "The reason we are all gathered here today is because we servants have an important decision to make," Cedric exclaimed. "Should we, or should we not continue to serve Young Master Natsuhiko?" he asked.
    Natsuhiko sighed. "You can leave for all I care. I have little money left to offer, and that is why all of the other servants left. You'd be better off leaving me now than risking unemployment later."
    Cedric slammed his fist on the table. "Do not kick out just yet, Young Master! The reason why I asked for this meeting to be held is not because of petty squabbles over money, but rather to see the true feelings you hold concerning the recent events that have taken place!"
    Another servant, a dark-skinned boy named Bala, added. "You seem very upset, Young Master. Before, you were always smiling and full of life. It is rather depressing to see someone become so...depressed."
    "Agreed," said the young cook named Regina. "Though he doesn't wish to admit it, there is no denying that the young master needs our help. I vote we stay."
    Natsuhiko stood up. "Are you guys idiots?!" he yelled. "I've realized that being rich isn't all fun and games! It takes work and organization! People aim to kill you for influence or money!
    "Someone as deluded as me deserves to die! I don't want your help..." Natsuhiko was overwhelmed by the pain of his parents' mishap. He clenched his fist; his entire body shook. Tears began to slowly flow from his eyes.. "So why is it...that you keep insisting?"
    Cedric stepped closer to Natsuhiko. The two stared into each others' eyes for a moment. "It's crying..." Cedric said. Natsuhiko stood puzzled by Cedric's words. "Your soul...it's crying out for help, even though you aren't. I can see it in your eyes. It is proof that you want us to stay. However, the choice is ours."
    Cedric turned to face his fellow servants. "All in favor of staying, raise your hand and shout 'I!'" All of the leftover servants yelled "I!" as loud as they could.
    Natsuhiko was unsure of why those servants would decide to stay. Cedric knelt down and said, "Do you see, Young Master? We wish to stay by your side. But we'll need strong leadership and high morale. So the least you can do is keep a smile on your face."
    Natsuhiko wiped the tears off his face. "Do you promise that all of you will always be with me?" he asked worriedly. Cedric smiled. "I give you my word, Young Master. And a man is only as good as his word."
    A new light shined in Natsuhiko's eyes. He opened the curtains of his father's study and looked up at a rainbow in the sky. For the first time in weeks, the young master of the Yamanaka household smiled.