Isashiki looked at the moon from the basement window. He shuddered each time a scream reached his ears. Everyone was dead- one way or another- only a few of his friends remained alive, scattered around Tokyo and fighting their way to him. And he was trapped in Seido, crazy girl at his side.
"For the last time, Haruka." He growled as quietly as possible. "We are not rushing out. You are not fast, you have a broken leg and you are a burden. Tetsuya and Miyuki will come and get us out, alright?"
"But, Jun," Haruka whispered. "You could get away as I keep them occupied."
Isashiki glared at the black haired girl, swinging his bat to point at her.
"Don't you dare say that again!" He thundered, for the first time not caring about the vile creatures outside. "Did you hear me? I will not let you die, Haruka."
"I am already dead, Jun." She whispered, eyes gathering tears. "Blood loss and, well, a gangrene. Can you not smell it? The scent of rot in the air? Of death closing in?"
"That's just those things outside! It is not you! It can't be you!"
Haruka only smiled sadly at the man in denial and opened her arms for him. Isashiki collapsed in her embrace, sobbing in her chest and clutching Haruka as close as possible without hurting her further.
"You are strong, my sweet, sweet Jun." She mumbled, ignoring the pain in her own heart. "You will go on, survive this hell, continue to live then... Then, we will meet again in another place, at another time and I will still love you."
"I don't want to lose you, Haruka."
"You won't." Haruka sniffed. "Not if I'm in your heart."
***f
Haruka died two days later.
Another two days passed and Tetsuya Yuuki was trying to separate Isashiki from the body of his girlfriend.
***p
Months passed, the infected were burned to dust and life moved on. Isashiki visited the monument with Haruka's picture every day, silently crying as he leaned against the black stone.
Life moved on, Isashiki got back most of his friends but... It did not matter.
In the end, it did not even matter because she was not there with him, smiling that one smile of hers, telling him of her crazy ideas and just messing with him.
***č
Years after the apocalypse, Isashiki was still visiting the monument. He could still feel the pain as acutely as before. But, he did move on and had a daughter named Haruka and a son named Eijun after two people dear to him.
"I still miss you, but you were right." Isashiki grinned slightly as he caressed the face of the woman he loved dearly. "Like always. I bet you're laughing right now. My new girl is a bookworm and hates baseball. I love her, you know. But, it doesn't compare to how I still feel about you. I love you."
Tears slipped down his cheek as he turned to walk away, promising to himself to never come back again.
***l
Years passed once more and Isashiki died in his sleep. His daughter, Haruka, buried her father beside the monument of the woman she was named after.