For Mana_Aoi's contest.

*Note: the events in this story are not part of the actual storyline. I just made up the events :p*

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Fire.

Fire everywhere.

I don't remember how it started but I did know that it was too late.

The people that I loved were gone.

Burned to ashes while I was still alive.

I kept asking myself why I was the only one still alive, I didn't understand.

I didn't have anything left to remember them by except one thing.

A lullaby.

~Later

I managed to get away in time before the building collapsed. Just barely. I looked back at the building that was once our home, now nothing but ashes.

I saw something stick out from the ashes.

It was a hand.

I started crying.

Crying because I'm now alone.

Crying because I was weak.

Crying because.......... I couldn't smile anymore.

At least not the way I used to.

After a few minutes of crying, I decided to go out and look for help. I figured that it would be useless to just sit there and cry my eyes out.

It was kinda hard to look for help because I was in a forest. Also since I'm short I can't really see over tall objects but still. I'll keep trying. As long as I have my lullaby, I can do anything.

I hear some rustling in the bushes and I look over. Is it a wolf? A bear? I nervously backed away slowly as to not disturb it. Then I saw a stick near me so I grabbed it in case I might need.

The rustling became louder and I got my stick ready to strike.

A figure came out and I screamed smashing the stick towards the figure.

"OW!" I hear a voice say. I look down and saw a white-haired boy on the ground. "What was that for?!" he yelled. "Oh sorry, I thought you were a bear or wolf." I apologized while lowering the stick. "Oh well in that case sorry for scaring you." he apologized back.

"So what's your name?" he asked. I looked at him for a few seconds before muttering my name "Valt Aoi". "Sorry what?" he asked again. "Valt Aoi" I answered a little louder this time. "Oh well I'm Shu Kurenai, it's nice to meet you." the white-haired boy introduced himself. "Yeah."I muttered.

~A few minutes later~

Me and Shu were chatting a little about why I was in the forest. I didn't tell him about the fire though.

"So Valt why are you covered in ash?" Shu asked. I looked down at myself and he was right, I was covered in ash. "Oh I was just playing with...... ash?" I answered trying to not let him catch on.

He looked at me with a consered face and asked a sudden question.

"Why do you hide?"