Chapter 1: Before

Normal POV:

A girl skipped down the sidewalk, her pink mini skirt and her long orange hair swished in the air as if they were dancing. She held a big bag full of sweets.

She skipped into a small shop at the end of the street. "Hello Sakurako-san! Can I get my usual takeaway?"

The young lady behind the counter looked up and smiled. "Hi Momoko, the usual one right?" she asked making sure.

Momoko nodded.

Sakurako started collecting the ordered snacks into a big paper bag.

Momoko waited patiently for her takeaway, but couldn't hide her happy joyful smile. Her heart pounded excitedly, she can't wait to take crunchy bites from all the snacks she bought.

Momoko licked her lips as she imagined the look on her little sister's face when she eats all those yummy strawberry chocolate pudding in front of her, her favourite.

Those thoughts made Momoko's smile – grin – widen.

Sakurako handed over the big bag full of her delicious snacks to Momoko, as far Momoko knows: Sakurako's desserts are the second top snacks. The best snacks are made by her cousin Belle.

Too bad Sakurako's shop cannot post worldwide for everyone to know about these great treats in Japan.

Momoko paid for her things and skipped away, she stopped by the door, turned around and waved. "Bye Sakurako-san! I'll come again tomorrow!" she called.

"Bye Momoko!" Sakurako waved back as Momoko disappeared out the door.

Momoko skidded to a halt and thought for a moment. "Wait a second…if I go home with so many sweets, mom of course will tell me to share it with Kuriko," Momoko murmured to herself; this time she have bought more than what she usually did. "Never mind, I'll go to the park first and eat some of them," Momoko said and ran to the park.

She sat down on the bench and unwrapped one of the milky chocolate bar, she opened her mouth and was about to take a bite but a loud scream made her stop.

Momoko turned and her eyes widened.

Just on the street outside the park, a few blocks away, she could see flames of dancing fire lighting a five story building.

She dropped her chocolate and rushed out the park, abandoning her huge bag of snacks.

She joined the small crowd on the sidewalk opposite from the building. Firefighters have brought their trucks and were trying their best to put out the fire which seem to grow every passing minute.

Right that moment, Momoko noticed movements in the top floor.

Momoko's eyes widened when she saw the slight tip of a boy's head peering out the window.

She looked around but no one seems to notice the boy as they murmured to each other.

Momoko ran across the road and to one of the firefighters. "Sir!" she tugged his sleeve.

But the man just pushed her away. "Sorry I'm busy," he said, not even glancing at her as he rushes off. Momoko tried to tell a few other men of the firefighters but they just ignored her like the first one. Anger and panic raised in her when she saw the fire have turned bigger, not smaller.

'Fine, if they don't want to help the child, I will!'

Without really thinking carefully, Momoko ran to the back of the building where the emergency exit is. She entered the building and the smokes immediately stun her eyes, but she kept running up the stairs till she's on the fifth floor.

She rushed to the first door and turned the door knob. Locked.

Momoko looked around with wide eyes, panicking. Then her eyes landed on the axe in the glass box that's placed there for emergency.

She ran to the box and hit the red button and the small glass door came loose. She grabbed the axe and ran back to the door. She started chopping the wood, after a few hard swings of chopping she had made a slit crack in the thick wooden door.

Momoko peered through the crack and saw the room was empty. Her heart raced with fear as the smoke grew stronger making her cough and tears streamed down her face as the black smoke stun her eyes.

She ran to the next room and did the same, cutting a slit in the door and checking if the boy is in the room, no one. She let out a small cry of frustration and started yelling, "Boy! Can you hear me?! Reply please!" She tried to stay calm and listen for a reply over the burning sound of fire nearing.

"Help!"

Momoko's eyes widened as she ran to the door the voice can from. "Hey! Are you in there!" she banged a few times on the door.

"Yes, I'm in here, please help!" a frightened voice called.

Momoko started chopping with all the strength she has but quickly turned her aim at the door knob, thinking that way it'll be quicker. She could feel the heat around her rising quickly as more smoke filled the hall, choking her.

Finally the handle broke off as the door swung open. A boy stood there about the age of six or seven. Momoko immediately grabbed his hand and ran towards the stairs. She skidded to a halt and froze on top of the stairs.

"No….." she whispered when she saw fire flaring on the stairs right below them. Momoko jotted out of her shock when the boy's grip tighten on her hand. She spun around and ran back to the room. She rushed to the window and opened it. "Help!" she screamed and waved. "Up here!"

Hope flared in her when she saw the people have spotted her and firefighters started to lift up the electrical ladder behind one of the trucks, one of the firefighters on the end.

"Onee-chan look!" the boy suddenly cried and pointed upwards. Momoko looked up and gasped. The roof was about to collapse, but the ladder was still lifting, there's not enough time!

'We'll both die!' she thought but anger suddenly boiled in her. She looked out the window, she cannot jump or else she'll still die. The ladder is almost here but when Momoko glanced up she could already see the ceiling falling.

'ONE OF US HAS TO SURVIVE!'

She suddenly grabbed the boy and flung him out the window and the firefighter caught him, the ladder was still many meters away. Momoko leaped back as the ceiling crashed down by the window where she had stood a few seconds ago.

Through the flames she saw the firefighter and the boy staring at her with wide eyes, unable to reach her anymore. Momoko forced a smile for them as the fire burned bigger. She looked around and all she could see was fire, fire everywhere.

She bit her bottom lip when it trampled as more tears ran down her face. She closed her as she felt the heat rising even more.

'At least the boy is saved.' She thought.

She threw back her head and screamed as she felt the fire burning against her skin. The heat and pain was unbearable, she had never felt so much pain.

She swung her hands around but it was no use. Her long scream rang with pain as she was burned slowly to the ground.

….

A brown haired girl suddenly jotted with unknown fright. Her hand has stopped stirring the wooden spoon in the pot as she froze.

She blinked; her lavender eyes slowly lowered and stared at the fire that is boiling the pot. She doesn't know why she's staring at it but there was a sound of terrible scream echoing in her head for unknown reason.

"Cousin Momo…..ko," she whispered. She had never used her cousin's full name and usually only calls her Momo, but for another unknown reason she don't know why she suddenly whispered her name.

The fire flickered as she stared at it, still frozen in her position.

"Belle?"

The girl snapped out of her trace and looked at the lady standing next to her. She immediately smiled. "Lucy! More orders?!" she asked cheerfully.

Lucy shook her head. "You just suddenly spaced out, are you ok?"

Belle quickly started stirring her wooden spoon again. "Fine, fine! Thinking about a new idea for spicy moshi soup!"

Lucy smiled. "You're always thinking of new recipes."

"The more food here the more people will come to our restaurant!" Belle sang and spun in circles towards the window. She stopped spinning and looked out from the 67th floor's restaurant kitchen of the building at the city.

Then her eyes landed on smokes that are trailed in the air from a building far away. Somehow her chest tightened with an unknown emotion.

"Lucy! Lucy look!" Belle pointed out the window.

Lucy came up and stood beside her, she frowned and murmured, "The building is on fire, let's hope no one is injured." Belle nodded with agreement, today she couldn't feel her normal energy to be her usual self.

"Belle your pot!" one of the other cook called.

Belle rushed over to the stove and quickly poured the soup into three bowls. She picked up the tray and trotted out the kitchen door.

"Who ordered moshi soup!" she called out with her bright smile.

The costumers all looked at her and smiled. One man at a table waved, two other ladies sat opposite him. "Over here Belle!"

Belle skipped to the table and set down the soups neatly and quickly without spilling a single drop of the precious mixture.

"Belle!"

Belle turned and saw the waiter frowning at her. "I told you countless times, I'll bring the order. You cannot just come out and call out 'Who ordered this!' That's not how we're supposed to do things here," the waiter scowled.

Belle pouted with a cute irritated expression written on her face.

The man who ordered the moshi soup laughed. "Belle is doing nothing wrong, her cheerful attitude really lightens up things here so don't get mad at her, she's still young," he said to the waiter.

The waiter sighed. "I know but….she's still a cook after all."

"Belle!" another customer called.

Belle rushed off as the waiter sighed again. "And she's off to take orders now even though she's the one supposed to cook," he murmured then bowed to the man. "Call me if you need anything," he said and walked off.

After taking the order Belle danced back into the kitchen and set off to make the food.

...In the 35th floor of the

-building…

"Give the money or else we'll explode this whole building!" the man with sunglasses yelled and kicked over a chair.

"We won't just give money to gangsters!" the manager shot back.

The man with sunglasses pulled out a switch-like remote from his pocket. "Are you sure? There's a bomb hidden in the air condition system of floor 45, if I click this button the whole place from floor 45 and up will fall apart, I'm sure there's a lot of guests and workers up there," he threatened, his thumb hovered above the button. The manager's eyes widened with panic as he gulped. "Okay, let's make a dale can we?" the manager said.

"Boss!" one of the gangsters ran up to his boss but he tripped over the carpet and crashed into his boss's back, causing him to press down the button.

"You fool!" the boss roared and punched the gangster who pushed him.

"Now what have you done!" the building's manager cried out as he waited to hear the sound of the building collapsing, but it never did. "Is this some kind of joke?" he asked and crossed his arms when there was no sign of a bomb going off.

"Boss! I was just about to tell you we bought the wrong bomb!" the gangster said.

"What?!" the gangster boss screeched. "Then what did you buy?!"

"Poison gas; and it's spreading right now!"

"Let's get out of here!" the boss yelled and fled with his gang, leaving the manager to rush to the intercom. "Attention ladies and gentlemen," the manager said as calmly as he could, "Attention, please leave the building immediately, floor 40 to floor 50 take the emergency stairs immediately! Poisonous gas is spreading throughout the building! Please no pushing and help each other!" the manager's voice echoed through the building.

…back to floor 67's kitchen…

Belle's POV:

"Poison gas! How could this happen!" Lucy cried.

I looked around at all the panicking cooks and waitresses. Then a thought came into my mind. I ran into the store room and pushed aside one of the big box, revealing a trapdoor. I opened the trapdoor and pulled out a dusty wooden box. I dragged the box outside and opened it.

"Here's some poison-proof mask!" I yelled and immediately started handing out the masks; I've never been so serious in my life.

After taking the masks the cooks and waitresses rushed to the elevator and started to pile in. The costumers rushed into the second elevator.

"Quick!" one of the cook yelled, half-standing through the elevator door and had already wore his mask. The second elevator has already gone down.

I pulled out the last mask and handed it to Lucy.

"But what about you?" she asked, glancing into the empty box.

I smiled and held a thumb up. "Peace and crackers, no worries!"

We rushed to the elevator but there's only space for one more people.

"Belle you go first, you don't have a mask!" Lucy said.

"No! Lucy go first! More masks in the store room!" I said and pushed Lucy into the elevator.

"No Belle–" Lucy started but I didn't give her time as I pressed the button and backed away as the door of the elevator closed.

I smiled. "You must live…"

I stood there for a long time, smiling at myself….because the truth is….there's no more poison-proof masks, I gave Lucy the last one.

I walked back into the empty kitchen and looked around; some of the stoves and ovens were still on.

I sniffed and smelled a foul scent. I turned and my eyes widened, I could see the poison gas already leaking through the elevator door.

I closed my eyes and thought for a moment, I gasped as an idea came into my head. I rushed to the freezer box and switched off the electricity.

I pulled open the door and quickly went in, shutting the door behind me; hoping the freezer box will keep out the poison gas since it's always sealed not allowing the coldness out. It was still freezing cold in the freezer box but I'll have to bear with it.

I hugged myself, trying to find some warmth. I sniffed again, I could still smell the poison. I looked down and gasped, the poison was slipping through the bottom of the door.

I backed away from the freezer door to the back of the freezer box, watching as more poison coming in.

I pressed my back to the wall and slide down so that I was sitting. I pulled off my backpack that I always keep with me and took out two dolls that I keep with me all the time.

I smiled. "Mina and Jackie," I said and giggled, hugging the two dolls close to me. "Together forever," I giggled and started humming a song.

Watch as the purple poisonous gas slowly coming into the freezer box, I shivered from the coldness.

"Let's see," I said, "New moshi soup must add hot spicy spice or what kind of spicy?"

"Oh I know!" I squealed and picked up Mina, holding her high in the cold air. "Don't add spicy but eat with bread! Hot-cross bun or salt and pepper bread?!"

I pouted and set down Mina next to me. "Mina must talk! Jakie too!" I huffed and poked Pumpkie Head Jack.

I looked up and pressed my back against the wall as the poison gas closed in on me. I smiled and looked up at the dim light from a small light bulb hanging from the ceiling.

I held Mina and Jakie's hand with each of my own. I started humming again. I took a deep breath and the poison gas immediately invaded my lungs.

I coughed but only to breath in more of the bitter gas. My chest tightened as I wheezed for air.

My vision blurred with the purple gas as my eyes watered.

I coughed violently and felt very dizzy. I couldn't breathe as I gasped with effort. My whole body trampled with both coldness and painfulness as my body slowly goes numb.

I giggled as I closed my eyes. "Cousin Momo will be so happy know about new recipe. Momo always happy to be first to taste my food," I whispered, "Lucy will be so proud….Master Cook too."

I slightly opened my eyes as some tears came out. "Right Mina? Jakie?"

I took my last breath before everything went black.

Miyako's POV:

"Granny!" I ran up to my grandmother and wrapped a jacket around her. "You'll catch a cold!"

She smiled and patted my head. "Thank you Miyako-chan," she said then turned back to stare out at the sea once more.

The ship rocked as stars slowly came out in the night time sky.

"Are you ready to see your mother and father again?" Granny asked.

I nodded. "Of course, it has been a while now."

"It certainly has," my granny agreed, "They'll be overjoyed to see you."

I smiled as wind blew over us. "It's sad that I cannot spend the holiday with my friends, but I'm sure they'll be fine."

Granny nodded. "Let's go back inside, it's getting cold," she said and started walking back into the ship.

"Yes granny," I murmured and looked out at the sea again. I frowned when I got this uneasy feeling.

"Miyako-chan!" I heard my granny calling.

"Coming!" I called back, glancing one last time at the sea before hurrying back inside.

….

I jotted awake and sat up in the bed.

I turned and saw granny was still sleeping. I glanced out the window, it was still dark.

I got out of bed and grabbed my jacket before going outside.

I stood by the edge of the ship as I stared out at the sea again. Everything was still and quiet.

The uneasy feeling earlier came back and settled in my stomach.

"What's keeping you up so late miss?"

I turned and saw the Captain of the ship walking to me. "Good evening captain," I greeted, "I couldn't really sleep, probably because I'm going to see my parents for such a long time."

He smiled and adjusted his cap. "I'm sure they'll be happy to see you."

I giggled. "That's what my granny also said."

We stood there watching the sea for a while. My uneasy feeling started fading away but…..

"Captain!" a man rushed to us.

"Hush! A lot of people are sleeping!" he captain said.

"Captain, there's a problem! There's a large crack at the bottom of the ship!" the man panted.

"What how could that happen?!" the captain demanded.

"We don't know but at this rate the ship will sink!" the man cried.

"Is the crack really that bad?!" the captain asked. The man nodded.

Suddenly the ship shook, I have to grab the railing to stop myself from falling.

"Raise the alarm! Get everyone on the escaping boats!" the captain commanded. "Yes sir!" the man said and ran off.

The captain turned to me. "Go and get your grandmother to one of the boats!"

I nodded and ran back inside just as the alarm went off, red light flashed on the walls.

People rushed out from their rooms, looking around with panicking, confused eyes.

"What's happening?!" I heard a cry.

"Everyone calm down!" I shouted over the ringing alarm. "We have to get onto the escaping boats! The ship is about to sink but please down push!"

"Sink?! *screams* we're all going to die!" I heard another woman's cry.

"No!" I yelled, "Everyone, to the escaping boats now, no pushing please!" I guided them to the escaping boats as quickly as I can.

"My child is not here!"

I rushed to the lady. "Are you sure ma'am?"

"He must still be in our room!" she cried and was about to get out of the boat.

"What is your room number? I'll look for him!" I said. She looked at me with teary eyes. "Room 46."

I immediately ran back inside. I searched furiously for room 46 and after a while I finally found it. There was suddenly an earthquake-like shake and the ship was slowly tilting to one side.

I swung open the room door and found a boy crying on the bed. I ran to the boy and grabbed his hand. "Let's go!"

"No!" the boy pulled away. "Who are you and where are you taking me?!"

I kneeled down next to the boy and rested a hand on his head. "I'm Miyako, and I'm taking you to your mother now," I said in a gentle voice.

He relaxed and smiled, my smoothing tone calmed him down. He nodded and I raced out the door, pulling the boy along with me.

I made my way back outside where the small boats are waiting; most of them were already lowered into the water.

"Mommy!" the boy cried and ran to his mother when he spotted her.

"My child!" the lady scooped the boy into her arms and bowed at me with gratitude. "I thank you greatly."

I bowed back. "My granny said we must help each other always," I said and my eyes widened.

'Granma must still be inside!' I thought and started running back inside.

"Where are you going!?" I heard the lady yell. I stopped and turned.

"My granny is still inside!" I called back, "Go first! I'll take the next boat!"

I raced back into to our room. I rushed in and saw my granny sitting on her bed. She looked at me with confused, tired eyes. "Miyako-chan, what's with all these rackets?" she rasped.

"Granny we have to go now," I said and pulled her to her feet.

"Go where?" she asked.

"Granny," I murmured already leading her out. "The ship is sinking."

"Sinking?"

I smiled sadly, her mind is foggy again. But it was a good thing she isn't freaking out.

We got out just in time as the ship tilted more, I almost slipped.

We quickly got onto a small boat and one of the sailors handed me a lifesaving jacket. "That's the last one," he said as our boat was lowered into the sea.

I thanked him and slipped the jacket onto granny, fastening it firmly. I watched as the last people on the ship getting into small boats before the whole ship sank.

Suddenly big waves started to rock our boats as the wind blew hardly making the rocking even worst.

Suddenly a huge wave splashed into our boat, I lost my grip-hold and was swept out from the boat.

"Miyako-chan!" I heard my granny's scream.

I gasped as I fought to keep my head above water. Some of the people tried to reach for me but the waves pushed them away every time they neared.

I coughed and gulped down mouthfuls of salty water that I didn't want to. My nostrils stun as I looked through narrowed eyes.

I wave of water pushed me under but I kicked out, resurfacing.

My whole body burned with exhaustion and numb with coldness. The boats were just swept further and further away from me.

Then my eyes locked with Granny's. I couldn't hear what she's saying over the roaring water but I could read her lips as she yelled out my name.

I coughed up a few mouthful of water and smiled at my granny. "It's OK, everything is fine," I whispered.

Another wave of black swarming water pushed me under but this time deeper.

I kicked but lost sense of direction which way is up or down. Bubbles escaped my mouth as I felt myself got pushed around in the dark water without mercy.

My lungs screamed for air but there's nothing I could do. Even in water, a few tears escaped my eyes into the sea.

The last bit of air left my lips as I slowly plunged into the darkness.

Please review and tell me your thoughts

~Blackrose in the Moonlight