Chapter 1

A young girl looked around, it was raining. The day was Grey, just like her life now.

She had lost everything, and everyone.

A deadly virus had spread around the globe and killed the adults, anyone who was 18 and above.

It killed any adult, including her and everyone else's parents.

Her name was Shinobu, and she was 11 years old, now orphaned. She used to live in Kanagawa before the virus, but she flew to Tokyo.

To see if any of her holiday friends was alive, but no, she couldn't find them, and she had given up.

She was on her own from now on.

"Mommy!! I miss you! Please help me!! I want you back!" Shinobu cried out.

There was no hope, no family, no friends, no school, no nothing.

She had been wandering around in Tokyo for about 3 days now, digging in trashcans for food, and looking for something to drink.

She looked for water bottles. She only had found 2, which now was empty, and she was starving.

Shinobu was wearing a brown coat, and a Grey hat.

The coat was full of holes, which didn't make the coat warmer. She didn't have any shoes, she had thrown them in the river when she arrived in Tokyo.

It was her favorite pair, given to her by her mother. She wanted to forget about anything from her life before she came to Tokyo.

"I don't know anyone here, perhaps i should return back home, home to Kanagawa?"

It wasn't that far from The Great Tokyo Area, but she figured it would be best, to never return to home. To many memories there.

She didn't want to go back, not now.

"I'm alone, i don't have any friends, I'm alone in the whole wide world..."

The weather changed from rain to thunder and lightening. Shinobu ran for cover. She didn't stop, she only kept running.

Like there was no tomorrow.

She ran as fast as her legs could carry her.

"What's this?" Shinobu was confused.

"Stairs...where to? To heaven, where mommy and daddy are right now? Wait for me! Don't leave me behind, mommy!!"

She continued to run, up the stairs.

"A...big house..I guess it's not heaven after all. I wonder if anyone lives here, strange place. Maybe it went out of money,and they had to move?"

Shinobu opened the door, and went inside.

"An inn for girls?" Shinobu sighed.

"Cool...but there isnt anyone here, so i guess it's OK if i stay. Awesome! A kitchen full of food! Heaven..!"

Shinobu took one package of bread and cheese and made herself something to eat.

Cheese sandwiches.

Her mother used to make it for her, with a cup of hot chocolate in the evening a couple of times in the week. Shinobu looked for a box with chocolate powder.

She prepared a cup of hot chocolate.

She enjoyed the hot chocolate in the silence. It was like, this place took away her sorrow and fear. Perhaps i could like it here?

Shinobu finished her cup of hot chocolate and went to explore the house.

"It's huge! I could get used to this!

But i hope someone finds this place, and decides to stay, it would be fun to have a friend around here." She smiled.

"Didn't i see a some kinda teahouse just down at the main street?" Shinobu ran to the main street.

And yes, there was a teahouse there, empty.

"Anyone here?"

"Shinobu opened the door and closed it behind her.

So no one would discover her. Shinobu noticed someone moving under the table, closest to the wall.

"Hello, someone there?" No one answered, but someone got up.

It was a girl, on Shinobu's age.

"W-who are you?"

"Don't hurt me, please?"

"I'm not gonna hurt you, I'm a friend.

"Thank you, so much!" The girl hugged Shinobu with tears in her eyes.

"Thank you, for being my friend."

"Shh..it's OK, what's your name?"

"K-Kaolla Su, what's yours?"

"Shinobu Maehara."

"How old are you?"

"12 years old, what about you?"

"11 years old," Shinobu smiled.

"Can we be best friends?"

"Of course," Shinobu felt happy, for once in her life, in a long time, she had a friend.

"Do you want to come with me home?"

"Home? Where?"

"Follow me, up the stairs, right there." Shinobu pointed at the stairs.

"I found the place before I met you, it's awesome, there is plenty of food to eat!"

"Really?"

"Yes, come with me, Kaolla."

Shinobu took Kaolla's hand and hugged it tight, like if she let it go, the world would go under. She laughed, the girl, Kaolla, made her laugh.

She took away the fear and replaced it with happiness. What do you want to eat?"

"I don't know."

"I haven't checked it out yet, but I'm sure there is something we could eat."

"Probably, yeah."

"You're not Japanese, are you?"

"No, I'm not, I'm from the south pacific, one of the islands."

"Cool, but how did you end up here?"

"I was on a holiday when the virus broke out, and i will be able never return.

Shinobu was shocked.

"Everyone down there, is probably dead by now, mother, father,brother and sister. So, I'm staying here. You see...I'm actually a princess."

"Really?"

"Yes, I'm from the royal family of Mol Mol."

"I don't think i heard about it."

"OK, it doesn't really matter now, does it?" She smiled.

Shinobu and Kaolla stood outside the house, it's called Hinata Sou. Kaolla, i hope you like it here, my friend. Kaolla nodded.

And then they went to explore Hinata, together.

[s0k0_kit4ru]

Very nice!

thank you very much

Chapter 2

Shinobu opened the drawer, and found a DVD that Sara could enjoy.
Sara had gotten abused by her father.
He had hit her when she was younger, and she was still carrying some emotional scars from it.
She was very vulnerable, and she could easily begin to cry.
"I think Sara will have it better from now on, after she arrived at this place."
"Yes, i already noticed some changes with her, and i see a difference, she's happier now than when she came here 3 days ago."
"Yes."
"But Shinobu, we are soon running out of food...we really need to get more water and food, real food.

Shinobu nodded.
"We cant just live on fabricated food, we need energy, we cant get that from sugar and candy."
"I know, but what are we gonna do about it? We don't have a farm, now do we?"
"We could start one, only for vegetables, and maybe some fruits."
"Sounds good, but how?"
"There is probably some trees around here, with apples. Or maybe a whole greenhouse."
"Hmm.."
"You know what, i call this place home now, i somehow feel like i belong here, not anywhere else.
"I have it the same...I know now where i belong, here in Hinata. With you and Sara, perhaps with more people as time goes."
"Then we would be like a big family."
Shinobu giggled.
"I think I'm gonna take a look around in the city, for food and something to drink."
"Good idea, do you want me with you?"
"No, i think you should stay here, watch Sara. Thanks anyway, see you later."
"Be careful."
Shinobu ran down the stairs that lead her to the main road, to the city.
"This place could really need a tidying up, if i got some kids with me. Then we could clean up this area."
Shinobu thought about it.

"The town actually belongs to us now, it means we can do whatever pleases us. We rule this city."
"I cant have too high hopes, we have enough with ourselves at the moment."
Shinobu searched the streets fro something to eat.
She found a box with cookies, and another box with bread and butter.
"I hope its eatable...she found a package with food you only had to warm up in the heater.
"Awesome, noodles!"
And if that wasn't enough, she also managed to find some clothes for herself, Kaolla and Sara.
As she walked back to Hinata, she stumbled across a warehouse.
"I wonder what kinda warehouse this is...perhaps storage for food."Shinobu made sure no one saw her, and ran to the back door.
"Wow! This must be heaven!"
The warehouse was filled, wall to wall, with food, enough for years. If they shared the food between themselves.
Shinobu opened her rucksack, and filled with so much food she could have room for.
"I have to go back later, but i cant go back and forth all day. We should have a food storage, with a key."

"Then we could have the food longer, if we share it." Shinobu hurried back to Hinata, when someone laid a hand on her shoulder.
Shinobu froze, she had heard about criminal youth gangs around in town, that were doing bad things.
"I hope this isn't one of them!"
Shinobu turned around, standing face to face with the person.
"I'm not here to hurt you, I need help.."
It was a girl, around 15 years old.
"With what?"
I havent got anywhere to live, do you know about anywhere safe?
"Um...can i trust you?"
"Yes, I'm alone, and unprotected. I'm just as alone as you, no parents and all."
"What's your name?"
Shinobu was suspicious over for this girl.
"Motoko Aoyama, I'm 15 years old, and i come from Kyoto."
"What about you?"
"Shinobu Maehara,I'm 12 years old, I come from Kanagawa."
"Do you live alone?"
"No, I live with Kaolla and Sara."
"Your sisters?"
"No, I just met them here, Kaolla is 12, like me, and Sara is 7 years old. Shall we go then?"
Shinobu smiled.
"What's in your bag?"
"Just food and such, we were running low on food, I'm sure there is something you could like to eat in it."
"Yes, I haven't eaten in days now."
"You better come with me then, you're better off with us at Hinata,than on the streets."
Motoko couldn't help it, she liked this girl, she was caring and kind. Are you coming, or what?
Shinobu stopped to wait for her.