Chapter 3

思い出

Memories.

"Vanilla."

"Yes?"

"It's time to wake up."

"But Mama, I just went to sleep."

"No you didn't silly. Open you eyes and look outside."

Vanilla sat up in her bed and opened the near by window. Her eyes lit up at what she saw. The entire yard was covered in snow.

"Mama! What happened?"

"It's called snow, Vanilla." Vanilla's mother pulled the curtains wider and pointed to the nearest tree. "You father is already out there having fun. If you don't hurry, he'll play with all the snow before you get to."

"What!" Vanilla said turning to her mother. "No fair! Why does Papa always beat me to the fun?"

"Because you're always sleeping." Vanilla's mother said gently.

Vanilla smiled and opened the window. A cold breeze blew in sending shivers down Vanilla's back but she leaned out into the cold anyways and yelled, "Hey Papa! You better watch out cause I'll be out there soon."

Vanilla's father laughed and said back, "Well then, I guess I better get ready then."

Vanilla laughed and leaned back into the house and closed the window.

"Come on Vanilla, let's get you some breakfast."

Vanilla's mother was a slender lady with red eyes, just like Vanilla's. She had long brown hair that came down to her waist and was wearing a yellow long sleeve shirt and brown pants.

Vanilla's father walked in the front door and placed his hat on the hat rack. "I'm home!" he said as he took off his shoes.

"Welcome back!" Vanilla and her mom said in perfect unison.

"And where's my little angel?" He said walking into the kitchen.

"Right here!" Vanilla said with a smile on here face. Vanilla's father picked her up from her seat and spun her around before hugging her. "Happy birthday Vanilla."

"Thank you, Papa." Vanilla's father sat her back in her seat.

"What smells so good Zulu?" Vanilla's father asked.

"Just my special deviled eggs."

Vanilla's father was slightly taller than his wife, Zulu. He had green hair like Vanilla's that came down to his ears. His eyes were blue. He was slightly larger than his wife as well. He wore a deep blue trench coat, a turtleneck sweater and burgundy pants. His name was Rue.

"Papa! Guess how old I am today." Vanilla said.

"Hmmm." Rue pretended to think he didn't know how old his own daughter was. "Are you… twenty years old today?"

"No." Vanilla said laughing.

"Really? Are you sure? I could have sworn you were twenty years old. Well then, that must mean your five years old."

"Yup. Five years old." Vanilla said smiling.

"Zulu, is she really five years old or is she lying to me?"

"She's really five today."

"Yeah, I wouldn't lie to Papa."

At five years old, Vanilla came to her parent's knees. She had short green hair that only went down to her upper neck. She was wearing a pair of green sleep pants and a green shirt that was two sizes too big and came down to her knees.

"Unbelievable. Well then, we'll have to do something special today, won't we?" Rue said as he sat down to eat.

An hour later, the three of them were in the snow throwing snowballs at each other and having a good time. Rue pretended to die whenever he was hit with a snowball from Vanilla causing her to worry the first few times. After about the fifth however, she just hit him with another snowball and laughed while running away. After a good time in the snow, the three went back inside to warm up by the fire.

"You know what would be fun, Rue?" Zulu said.

"What's that?"

"If tonight, we went out by the river to look at the stars in the park."

"That sounds like fun." Vanilla said. "Maybe we could even see the White Moon."

"For you, Vanilla, I would call Shyatoyan-sama and ask her to position it perfectly above the park." Rue said proudly.

"Really? Can you do that Papa?"

Rue laughed and said, "Well, I'm not sure. I've never actually tried. In fact I don't think they would listen to me. But if I was important enough, I would try."

"I think your important enough Papa." Vanilla said leaning her head against his arm.

"I know." Rue said as he brushed her hair with his hand. "I know."

Vanilla giggled and closed her eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep.

Vanilla woke up three hours later in her bed. It was 7 in the evening. She got out of bed, put on her coat and opened the door to her room.

"Mama? Papa?" Vanilla called. No one responded. Vanilla felt around for the light switch she knew was by her door and flipped it on.

"SURPISE!" came a cacophony of voices.

Vanilla jumped in fright and turned to see a mass of people standing in the kitchen. She then felt herself lifted off the ground.

"Happy Birthday Vanilla." Rue said as he placed her on his shoulder.

"You scared me Papa. Don't ever do that again." Vanilla said crossing her arms and making a grumpy face.

"OK. I'm sorry." Rue then turned to the party guests. "Everyone, the birthday girl is finally awake. Let's have cake."

Vanilla looked around and saw only five people.

"Papa. Who are they?"

"Some good friends of mine and your mother's. They've known you since you were a baby. This is Lieutenant Luft Weinzen of the Transbaal imperial army."

"Hello Vanilla. It's a pleasure to meet you. You might not remember me, but I've known you since you were two. Me and your father go way back."

"Really?" Vanilla asked. "Hey Papa, can he get the White Moon to move?"

Luft laughed a big hardy laugh. "Move the White Moon? Darling I've never even been on the White Moon. I'm only a Second Lieutenant. However, I think you might be able to see the White Moon tonight if you look close enough."

"Really?"

"I think so. I'm not to sure."

"Papa, Papa! We have to go see it." Vanilla said tugging on Rue's collar.

"OK, OK. you'll kill Papa if you keep tugging like that. We'll go see it after everyone has left."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

An hour and a half passed before everyone had left the house. When everyone had left, Zulu asked, "Well, shall we go?"

"I think so." Rue responded. "Dress up snugly, you don't want to catch a cold Vanilla."

"OK."

Vanilla stepped out of her room. She had her hair pulled back into a small ponytail and was wearing a pink cap on her head. She wore the blue coat that one of the guests had gotten her for her birthday.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

"Then let's go."

The three of them walked for about fifteen minutes until they reached the bench in the park by the river where they always sat. The sky was partly cloudy making it difficult to see the sky. The park had lamps lit up lining the sidewalk.

"You can't see the sky Papa."

"That's not true. You can see parts of it."

"Are we not going to see that White Moon tonight Mama?"

"I'm not sure Vanilla. Lets wait and see."

Vanilla let out a sigh. Her breath could bee seen in the light of the lamp near by. Vanilla got up from the bench and began to play with the snow that was still on the ground.

"You know what we could do while waiting?" Rue said standing up.

"What's that?" Zulu said.

"Make a snowman."

"You are so childish, Rue."

"I know. But that's why you love me."

"I know."

"Mama! Papa! Look!" Vanilla said pointing to the sky. "It's the White Moon!"

Sure enough, the White Moon was in the sky that night. The three of them looked at it with awe. Its white surface reflected the light of Transbaal's sun while the golden streaks embedded in it gave off an artificial glow. "It's so cool! Thank you Papa. You really did it! Thank you so much." Vanilla said running to and hugging her father.

"Your welcome… what did I do exactly?"

"You got the White Moon in the sky for me!"

"Well, I mean I…" His wife nudged him in the shoulder. In her eyes he could tell that she was saying, "Just take credit for it."

"Yeah, it was me all right."

"I told you were important enough. Thank you Papa. This is the best birthday ever."

"One more thing though Vanilla." Zulu said as she reached into her pocket. She pulled out a small box and opened it. Inside was a small locket with a chain attached to it. It was oval shaped, was silver, and had gold trimming along where it opened. "This is for you Vanilla."

"It's so pretty."

"Open it." Vanilla did as she was told and inside was a picture of Zulu and a picture of Rue.

"This is for you to carry around with you wherever you go. And if your ever feeling lonely or sad. Just open that up and there we are. Now we really are with you at all times. No matter where we are, we'll never be far away." Rue said placing his hand on Vanilla's head. "There is nothing your mother or I wouldn't do for you Vanilla. We love you." Rue placed the locket around Vanilla's neck and let it rest on her body.

Vanilla held it in her hands and looked at her parents and hugged them. "I love you too."

"EEH-UM!" The three jumped at the sound of someone clearing their throat. "I hate to break up the tender moment, but you know there are no civilians allowed in the park after eight." A man in policeman's attire was standing a few feet from Vanilla and her parents.

"Oh. Sorry." Zulu said. "We were just here to…"

"Mam' please. It's best the three of you get going. There are plenty of gangs that run around here at night."

"Thank you for the warning. We'll, be on our way then." Rue said.

"I wish you could." A voice from behind the policeman said. "But unfortunately, your not going anywhere." The policeman turned around to shine his light on the voice behind him but was struck in the head by a crowbar. Blood spattered on the snow as the policeman fell to the ground. The man raised his crowbar and brought it down on the policeman's head one last time spattering more blood around. The man that had attacked the officer was also wearing an officer's uniform. He put his fingers in his mouth and whistled very loudly. From the darkness, rough and grizzly people emerged and slowly encircled the three.

"Papa. What's happening?" Vanilla said clutching on to her father's leg.

"Stay close Vanilla. Don't worry." Rue turned to the man. "Hey, what's going on here? Aren't you an officer of the law?"

The man smirked as he took off his policeman's hat and threw it in the pool of blood around the policeman's body. "Kinda. I'm an officer of my own law and my law states, 'anyone caught in my turf is dead.' Get'um boys!"

"VANILLA! RUN!" Rue yelled as he pushed Vanilla out of the way. She slid down the slop that led to the river and stopped just before the freezing cold water.

"PAPA! MAMA!" Vanilla shouted back. "LET THEM GO!"

"Get the brat!" One of the gang members shouted. "Don't let her get away!" The man with the crowbar yelled. "I want that one alive." Vanilla hesitated to run not wanting to leave her parents.

"RUN VANILLA! RUUUUU-" Rue's shout was cut off by a gun shot. Vanilla ran. She ran as fast as she could. And as she ran, the tears she cried froze on her face. Vanilla was suddenly stopped and fell down when she hit something in front of her. She looked up to see the man with the crowbar.

"Jeez, if you want something done…"

"No." Vanilla said crawling backwards away from him.

"…you gotta do it yourself."

He reached down and picked Vanilla up by her collar holding her inches from his face.

"No. Papa." Vanilla cried reaching back toward her parents.

"I'm gonna' have fun with you." The man said. "Let's go boys. Back to the station with these delinquents." The man then reached into his pocket and pulled out a syringe and stuck it in Vanilla's arm. "Don't worry, doll. You'll be asleep in no time." Vanilla struggled to stay awake but quickly lost to the power of the drug and was rendered unconscious.