The Moon Illuminates a World of Fancy

Chapter One: we were both young

All this for a loaf of bread??? 

The soles of Ryuunosuke's bare feet were aching and seconds away from bursting open and bleeding, but he didn't care. The loaf was probably crushed against his chest, but he didn't care. His parched mouth watered as the smell of warm bread wafted over him and his stomach twisted at the scent of melon.

The one from whom he stole the loaf was far behind him. Sagging, he sighed and pressed his back against the wall. The plastic bag was still hidden inside the folds of the old black jacket he wore, the bread slightly squished.

When he heard more footsteps getting closer, he darted away, alert, the trembling in his legs forsaken. As he rounded the corner, he heard someone running---- in the direction he was heading. 

Ryuunosuke stopped as the person came into view. Or rather, stumbled into view.

"Whoa.... whoa whoa whoaaaaa!"

Ryuunosuke's eyes widened. A girl?

The girl's back collided with him so she let out a grunt, and both fell backwards. Ryuunosuke cushioned the strange boy's fall, his view obscured by a head of choppy silver hair. The strange female scrambled off him and stood up.

"Sorry," she squeaked, offering a hand to the fallen Ryuunosuke. "Are you alright?" she asked kindly.

Ryuunosuke found himself gaping like a fool at the stranger. Anyone would note that the girl was pretty, in a unique way. Her hair, although short and choppy, was the color of the finest spun silver thread, and it seemed to shimmer in the light of the setting sun. He was momentarily stunned by her eyes. What an odd shade of gold and purple, he thought for a second before hesitantly accepting the outstretched hand. 

"...I should be the one asking you that," said Ryuunosuke as he recollected himself. 

The girl pointed at herself. "Oh? I'm fine. That fall was nothing compared to getting fried on an electric chair, if I do say so myself."

Wait, what? "Must you bring up a graphic example  like that?"

The girl shrugged innocently as she dusted off the backside of her pretty kimono. "Well, it was the most excruciating experience of my life. It's not my fault."

He jolted when he heard someone shouting vulgar words after him. Ryuunosuke could hear his own pursuers grumbling as they looked for him nearby.

"Ah," the girl remarked. "You're running too?"

Ryuunosuke bit his bottom lip and held the loaf of bread closer to his body. "Can you blame me for stealing so I can provide for my sister?" He brought a hand up to shield his mouth as he coughed. The girl winced at the noise. 

"I know a safe place for us to hide," she offered. "We're not far from it, so..."

Ryuunosuke never put his trust in strangers after all they did to him and Gin. But this one, this girl he just met for a few minutes... from the looks of it, she wasn't scheming to do something. There was not a hint of apathy or cunning in them, nothing to hide.

Only kindness.

"Lead the way."

The two took a shortcut through an alley, past a drugstore, then out into the woods behind the city. Ryuunosuke was a little worried of them getting lost, but the girl was sure of where they were headed, confidence in every bounce in her step.

They came to a certain part of the woods, a small clearing that was actually a hidden sprawling garden, with a lone sycamore in the midst of the flower beds. The people of Yokohama did not know of its existence, hidden away by massive trees that curtained the place in plain sight.