Welcome to the next installment in the Living with the Dead series. In the DEAD of the Night is a sequel to my Blood of the Dead and Living with the Dead as well as the British Marine stories by MarshalZhukov

Revised: 4/15/18

Chapter 1


Ikeijima Island, Okinawan Island chain, Japan. ZDay+50

The road had been long, hard and dangerous, but Sir Harold Anson, formerly the British ambassador to Japan, made the formal declaration to abandon Ikei. The few surviving Royal Marines were tired and too few in numbers to defend even that tiny spit of land against Them.

"I'm sorry, Blake," Sir Harold informed the Sergeant Major. "I have already made arrangements with the US forces on Okinawa. They have secured the island and offer us a place with them."

"Sir Harold, I must protest. To leave Ikei is to undo everything we have worked so hard to achieve here."

Sir Harold gently stroked a vestigial goatee then adjusted his tinted glasses. "I understand your unwillingness to abandon the field, Sergeant Major. I am an ex-professional soldier myself, but you must try and see things from my end. I have the lives of over one hundred souls in my care. I cannot risk even one more should the dead find our last, best place here."

Blake shifted in his parade rest before clearing his throat. "Sir Harold, it would not be a great expenditure to send a small party back to the bridge and ensure the barricade is still in place."

"And if it is still in place?" Sir Harold asked. "From where do you suppose the first of Them came upon this island? Washed up on a beach unannounced, I imagine. No, Sergeant Major. It happened once before, even with vigilant patrols. We are now too few to maintain such a watch."

Blake chanced a glance out the office window behind the ambassador. Through the autumn haze, he saw the small flotilla as it advanced from Okinawa-jima, with all intention of picking up the remaining survivors.

"It would seem the Americans have arrived, Sir Harold." The ambassador spun in his chair as Blake gestured out the window. He stood and beckoned Blake to follow.

Standing on the balcony, the men overlooked the last of the survivors as they gathered up whatever they had, some carrying as little as one plastic grocery sack. The last raids into the village had cost Blake one of his detachment and the man would be missed.

"Blake," Sir Harold clasped his shoulder. "This is not a retreat. We are simply withdrawing to regroup and re-organize. There will come a day, in the not distant future when we shall reclaim this land once again. Have faith in that."

Blake nodded. He turned, saluted Sir Harold and left to rejoin his men.

000

It was sunny and warm on the island that day, but even so, there seemed to be a gloom over the Phillips home. This had been their wedding house and where they had adopted their foster daughters, Alex Schweiger Misa Kinoshita. The downfall of civilization and the outbreak had thrown them together but also joined them in a tight-knit family.

"Mi-chan, do you have everything?" Alex stood next to Misa and shouldered the go-bag. The breeze felt good as it ruffled through her close-cropped ginger locks. Her stature afforded her a clear view over the heads of most of her travel-mates. Misa took the opportunity to sort through her backpack once more. She turned and nodded. Alex returned her naginata then ran a hand through the petite girl's light violet hair.

"Let's go," Sergeant Shaun Phillips said as he struggled with Baby Megumi squirming in his grasp. Alex offered to take the child to which Shaun gladly relented. His wife Asuka slipped in behind him and took his hand. "Right, your group is next, my dear," he said. "Look after the girls until I arrive. I have assurances from the ambassador that the quarters we have been assigned will meet with your satisfaction."

"How long…?" Asuka let her thought go.

Shaun smiled and kissed her gently on the forehead before locking his hazel eyes to her deep green. "I will be in the next transport, not ten minutes astern. I have to remain behind to close out the ryokan and secure it best we can for when we do return. Don't worry; Davis, Edmonds and Sharpe will be with me."

Asuka spared a worried look, but let it soften as she herded her girls aboard the LCAC hovercraft. Miyagi Island survivor Andrea Jensen ran up and boarded as they watched Shaun join up with the remaining British personnel. Megumi squalled as the roar of the engines proved too great a disturbance. Nothing any of the women could do seemed to calm the baby and they simply resigned themselves to letting her cry herself out.

"Mind if I stick with you, Asuka-san?" Andrea asked as she waved at her boyfriend, Lance Corporal Edmonds, on the beach.

"Not at all, Andrea-san; the more the merrier," Asuka replied.

The family took a place near the bow loading ramp as far from the engines as possible, but there was still too much noise. They remained quiet for the remainder of the trip across Kinbu Bay.

They were met on the beach by a small platoon of mixed uniforms, all belonging to US personnel. The group were lead up the street to the public library overlooking the harbor. One man Alex immediately recognized as a soldier they had seen before; stepped forward and handed the collected survivors clipboards with information sheets attached. "Please fill these out and be as accurate as possible. This will help us in billeting you and provide supplies and work schedules," he called out.

"Once again, Army paperwork is woefully behind," Alex snickered as she put pen to paper. Misa shared her laugh. Asuka volunteered to hold the baby until the girls had filled out their sheets.

"Didn't we do this once before?" Misa asked.

"I think this is for the Marines," Asuka said. "They are the military government in charge on Okinawa. Besides, every time there is a congregation of survivors from any event, the paperwork has to be done anew."

"How do you know that, nee-chan?" Misa asked.

"I survived the Kobe quake in '95. I was just a middle schooler then, but my mom took me to the shelter. We moved several times as the survivor group grew and each time, we had more paperwork to fill out."

"Are you from Kansai?" Misa perked up at a native name.

Asuka chuckled and shook her head. "I was born and raised in Tokyo. I was in Kobe visiting my father's relatives. Sorry, Mi-chan."

"Shouganai-ne," Misa said. "It can't be helped. Here, I'll take the baby."

Asuka handed Megumi over and completed her own paperwork. The soldier stopped by and noticed Alex wearing her ACU trousers.

"Where'd you come by those, miss?"

"Camp Zama," Alex said. "We were gathered there before being sent to Haneda and then to Ikei. Lieutenant-Colonel Franco gave them to me."

"You mean Colonel Franco?" the soldier said. "The General promoted him to full bird a few weeks after the fiasco at Zama and his quick thinking in saving most of us there."

"What happened at Zama?" Alex stood to full height, just taller than the soldier. "Were you overrun?"

The soldier cast his eyes down, "Just a few days after you all left for Haneda, They got into the wire. Caused a lot of trouble for us and we lost the whole motor pool unit in the fight. We barely managed to get out with light equipment. All our trucks, tanks and heavy stuff are still there, though we get intermittent calls from one of our brigade commanders who says he is working his way down the coast with trucks, Strykers and his Bradley."

It was this moment that Alex took a good look at the soldier she was talking to. "Aren't you PFC 'Little Joe' Savalas? The one who escorted us into the bunkers our first night at Zama?"

"Sure am," Savalas said. "Only, it's Corporal now." He flashed his chevrons with a hint of pride. "When you are finished, I'll take your papers."

Alex and Misa handed theirs while Savalas excused himself to make the rounds. He returned with a stack and collected Asuka's. "How long will we have to wait, Corporal?" Asuka asked. "I want to make sure the baby gets a nap."

"I'll get these over to my captain and he'll get you sorted out right away, ma'am."

The Ikei group milled about the Ishikawa library. Misa handed Megumi to Alex then excused herself and wandered the stacks. She came back with a small book on Okinawan history. "Seems kinda silly, now," she said. "After all that hard work getting into and out of Osaka*…losing the pilot and getting Ah-chan shot. All just to end up here, in a secure location with all the books I could ever want."

Asuka took Misa into an embrace. "You couldn't know what awaited you here, Mi-chan."

"But, I should have listened to you," Misa said. "You even told me to come here. Instead, I pig-headedly set off on a wasteful endeavor and got my love injured for my efforts."

"Now is not the time for self-recriminations or doubts, Mi-chan," Asuka said. "You are now at a time in your life where you need to set aside second-guessing and be strong; for you, for Ah-chan and for little Megumi."

Savalas came up to them at that moment and politely cleared his throat. "If you folks will come with me, the Colonel wants to see you."

Misa put the book on a reading table and took the baby from Alex. Alex and Asuka, along with Andrea, gathered their kit and followed Savalas. The captain stepped out of a waiting Humvee and bade them all enter.

After a short ride into Camp Schwab, the women were deposited in front of Marine HQ where Col. Franco met them on the front steps.

"Alexis," he said with a salute. "When I heard that Ikei had been overrun, I feared the worst. I can see now that you are truly The Major's daughter."

Alex blushed and choked a tear at the mention of her father, "Thank you, Colonel, and congratulations on your promotion."

"A field promotion doesn't mean much, Alexis. Not until the top brass stamps their approval, but thanks."

"I hate to interrupt…" Asuka cleared her throat.

"My God, where are my manners, please come inside."

Franco led the women into the officer's mess and offered them a late lunch. The offer was gratefully accepted and they all ate their fill.

"It's good you all are here," Franco said as he blew over his cup of steaming coffee. "A couple of weeks ago, just before Ikei fell, I received an official summons from the Imperial Palace."

Asuka and Misa both cocked their eyebrows. "When you say, 'the Imperial Palace'…" Asuka said.

Franco smiled. "It would seem the Emperor of Japan is blessed with phenomenal good luck as well as highly skilled and dedicated retainers. The Palace has been relocated to Tokashiki Island, to our southwest. We are on friendly terms right now, seeing as how we are the only power left in the region with the resources to hold this portion of the islands. There is a plan on sweeping the rest of this archipelago and retaking Ikei."

"Forgive me, Colonel, but you mentioned a summons?" Misa said. Megumi had fallen asleep in her arms, so she was careful not to wake her.

"Ah, right. The summons," Franco took a sip of his coffee. "I hopped a bird over and I'm met on the tarmac by a couple of officials, the top brass as it were. One asked if I knew of anyone matching your name and description." Franco nodded to Alex. "I said yes, I met you once and that you were on Ikei, last I heard from the British. The man smiled and handed over a scroll and asked me to present you with an invitation to visit. I have it in my office." Alex and Misa glanced at each other as Franco smiled. Asuka cleared her plate and gathered those of everyone else. "You want to see it, don't you?"

"By all means," Alex said, her curiosity piqued. She took the baby from Misa and cradled it in her arms while Misa took the opportunity to stand. The four women followed Franco to his new office and sat wherever they could. Franco opened the wall safe and handed over a very impressive scroll.

Alex frowned as she struggled to read the formal script. "May I?" Asuka offered, her hand open. Alex handed over the scroll and sat next to Misa on a loveseat. Asuka cleared her throat.

"By the Grace of the Heavens, the Emperor of All Japan decrees it be known by his hand.

The Minister of Domestic Affairs and Master of the Personal Bodyguard, the Lord Protector, extends his personal welcome to Sergeant Shaun Phillips, serving Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, his family and those who dwell with him, and offers them sanctuary within the compound of the Busujima family, should they choose to accept.

Be it known, by the Hand of The Emperor."

"So, um…" Alex mumbled. "We're going to see the Emperor?"

"It would seem so," Misa said.

"But what about this Lord Vader, or whatever," Alex snickered. Misa gently backhanded Alex on the shoulder with a playful scowl. "The name Busujima, I haven't heard it since…well, I wonder if they have something to do with Saeko-senpai?" she let herself trail off.

"I can get you on the next flight out," Franco offered.

"We would be honored," Asuka said. "But I am still waiting on my husband. I don't wish to be separated from him for too long."

"Understood, ma'am," Franco said. "I'll put y'all up in the MEQs until he gets in, then put you on a bird."

"Thank you, Colonel," Asuka stood and bowed. "Once again, we are thankful for your graciousness."

Alex helped Misa stand.

"What did he say?" Misa asked Alex as they followed Franco to the door. "All that military jargon went right over my head."

"My apologies, Miss Kinoshita," Franco called over his shoulder. "I forget that I'm dealing with civilians. MEQ is married enlisted quarters and a bird, in this case, refers to a helicopter. Really, it's any flying craft."

Misa bowed her head. "Thank you, Colonel."

Once they reached the main door, Franco told the driver to take them over to the base housing and to make sure they get whatever they need.

Asuka paced the walk just outside the house as Andrea sat on the stoop. Alex and Misa took Megumi into a bedroom and placed her in another makeshift cradle and took turns watching over her.

000

The US Marines consented to spare an Osprey as it would not be just the Phillips' household, but the entire remaining complement of Royal Marines flying on to Tokashiki.

"This is a familiar ride, eh Corporal?" Shaun called over to Davis.

"It is," Davis said. "Only this time you are with family instead of trinkets."

"The greatest gift of all," Shaun said, smiling at Asuka and the baby she carried within her.

000

Tokashiki Island: Imperial Palace compound of the Emperor of Japan,

The Osprey touched down outside a posh inn consisting of several individual villas. As the bird powered down, the ramp opened and the party was met by several men, each dressed in Victorian-inspired high collar military dress uniforms. One man broke from the others and approached.

"I am Sergeant Kurita Hohiro, aide de camp to Lord Busujima," he said with a bow. "I bid you welcome to the Imperial Palace."

Blake stepped forward and offered a formal salute. "I am Sergeant Major RJF Blake. On behalf of my men and those in my company, I accept your most gracious offer."

Kurita bowed once again and gestured the group follow. They were led to a small complex of villas apart from the main buildings. "Here are your quarters, gentlemen," he bowed once again to the Royal Marines. "As honored guests of the Emperor, you will be given that which you need to make your stay comfortable. A fresh set of clothing, bathing supplies and bedding will be made available. Please relax. A messenger will be along shortly to escort you into the Divine Presence." Kurita turned to Shaun and his family. "Sergeant Phillips, if you and your family would please follow me."

Shaun, Asuka and the girls followed Kurita a short distance to a larger villa. Kurita bowed and opened the door. "This will be your home for as long as you wish it so."

Shaun bowed to Kurita. "His Imperial Majesty graces this family with far more than can ever be expected, or repaid."

Kurita smiled, "The Emperor knows of your service to his people on Izu Peninsula. He wishes for you to honor The Presence with your audience that he may thank you in person."

"Please relay to His Majesty that the honor is mine and I await his summons."

Andrea took the opportunity to clear her throat. "Where do I bunk?"

Kurita cocked his head slightly, "I presumed you are a member of the Phillips' household. Is this incorrect?"

Andrea smiled and blushed slightly, "I wouldn't say that," she said. "More like a friend of the family."

Kurita scratched his head before he bowed. "I apologize for my error. I will see to it the Ladies of the Court find you suitable accommodations, Jensen-san. Please accompany me to the main villa."

Andrea smiled and fell into step behind Kurita and his retinue.

Alex and Misa wasted no time in finding a room that suited them. They staked claim to one overlooking the sea, a private door opening onto the verandah that encircled the whole house. Misa took Alex's cue and made up a cradle from spare bedding and put the baby down to sleep. Asuka surveyed the suite, and while not as nice as the home she shared with Shaun on their first nights, it was far nicer than military housing and equally as spacious as the home she had secured on Ikei. She took the family's belongings into what would become the master bedroom and proceeded to sort through everything. Finished, she made her way into the bath and drew the tap.

"Anata," she called out to Shaun as he surveyed the cliffs falling away from the lawn. "I have the bath ready for you. Come inside before it gets cold."

"Be in shortly, my love," he called back. "Give me a chance to lay out a few things while there is still daylight."

"I'm sure the Imperial Guard has matters well in hand to keep us safe for one night," Asuka chuckled. "Rest your mind and your body for your meeting with the Emperor."

"Yes, ma'am," Shaun laughed as he bounded into the house. He swept Asuka into a brief hug before she broke free and undressed him.

000

Sunset came and the knock at the door was hardly unexpected. Asuka opened it to greet Kurita and one other man. Kurita smiled. "I see you are dressed properly for such a formal occasion."

Shaun settled the seams to his light grey hakama and fiddled with the collar to his haori. Asuka straightened the hem of her tastefully simple peach kimono and helped Shaun adjust everything. "Alex and Misa will be staying behind," Shaun said in answer to Kurita's unasked question. "They are looking after the baby and it's been a very long day for all of them."

"Then we shall endeavor to keep our visit short," Kurita said with a slight nod.

000

Shaun knelt on the floor as befit his station near the center of the reception hall, while Asuka assumed a keeling seiza two paces behind. To either side of them, similarly garbed men in semi-formal kimono, all with the chrysanthemum embroidered on their breast and matched long and short swords tucked into their obi, lined the hall. At the single ring of a brass gong, the retainers turned to the dais and bowed. A second ring and the curtains covering the dais opened, revealing a man, barely into his forties with graying hair, sat lightly upon a richly embroidered cushion.

"You are Sergeant Shaun Phillips, of Her Majesty's Army, are you not?" the young Emperor spoke in impeccable English.

Shaun bowed his head, "I am, your Majesty, Corps of Royal Engineers. My wife and I are humbled and honored by your invitation."

"We would extend our thanks to you for your service in establishing a safe haven for our people during these apocalyptic times. That a soldier from foreign lands would place himself in such grave danger to help those he has no attachment to pleases us immensely."

"Your Majesty is far too kind," Shaun said. "I am merely a soldier doing his duty. As for going into harm's way, I would dare say the lot of the US personnel was far more dangerous than my own. It was they who ensured I could conduct my work in relative peace and their sacrifice for my efforts weighs upon my heart greatly."

A soft laugh emanated from the dais, "Your humility is pleasing to us, Sergeant Phillips. We have made our gratitude known to the US Forces stationed on our islands. Their answer to us was as yours. Though, we are curious. Is this sense of, shall we say chivalry, as common among Westerners as it once was among our warrior clans?"

"Among fighting men and women, your Majesty, it is a trait common to us all. We give our lives to protect that which we love most; family, country, honor; and we give our lives freely so that those we cherish most may live in peace."

Another soft laugh, "The British are always so charming and charismatic. The Throne is most pleased to have you stay as our guest and we invite you to remain with us as long as it pleases you."

Shaun again bowed his head. "Your Majesty is again far too kind. My family seeks respite and stability, rare things in these troubling days. In return for your gracious hospitably, I cannot, in good conscience, remain idle and I humbly submit my name to your duty rosters."

"We shall take it under advisement, Sergeant Phillips," the Emperor said. "For now, enjoy your respite and stability with our compliments."

At that moment, Kurita appeared and led the Phillips' out of the reception hall.

The walk to their new home carried on in silence, the crashing of waves upon the rocks their only companion. Asuka turned the knob to the door and stepped inside, as Shaun turned to bid his escorts good night.

"We shall call upon this house tomorrow at dawn," Kurita said. "My master has expressed interest in meeting with your daughters."

"I mean no disrespect, Kurita-san, but could you tell me who your master is? The name Busujima is familiar to me, but the one I know is a long way from here," Shaun said.

Kurita smiled and leaned closer and spoke quietly into Shaun's ear.

Shaun nodded, smiled and shook Kurita's hand. "Thank you for the heads' up. I'll be sure and let them know about the meeting."

Asuka looked puzzled as Shaun closed the door behind him, a smirk on his face. "What was that about?" she asked, "Why is who wants to meet the girls a secret?"

Shaun whispered the information in her ear and Asuka covered her now smiling mouth to stifle a giggle. "Now I see! This will be a surprise for both of them!"

Shaun nodded as he pulled his wife close, "It's funny sometimes how things like this come around to connect people in this world."

000

A week later:

"Come on, Miss Schweiger, you can do better than that!" Corporal Davis said as Alex threw Private Sharpe over her shoulder.

Sharpe grunted as he hit the ground and rolled back to his feet. "That's still better than she could do a few weeks ago," he said.

Alex nodded and looked over where Misa was working with Edmonds and Andrea. The Marine was in a fighting stance and holding a rubber practice knife, as Andrea showed the teenager pressure points to disarm him.

Looking the other way, she watched as White, Pegg, Nelson and Williamson went through dry fire exercises with the M700 rifle White was now using to snipe with.

As she turned her attention back to Sharpe she noticed a flash of white on the ocean horizon. She paused for a moment, puzzled before a grin split across her face. Pointing to the distance she called out, "Sail ho! Ship to the southwest and coming fast!" she grinned at the others, "I always wanted to say that!"

"Say what?" Davis exclaimed with a frown on his face as he turned to look where Alex was pointing. He was surprised to find she was right, what seemed to be a set of white sails were drawing closer as he watched.

"Four-masted tall sailing ship," White called out as he looked at it through the scope on his rifle. "She's flying the Japanese flag."

"That would be the Kaiwo Maru," a voice said behind them. They turned to find Sergeant Kurita walking up. "She is going to tie up to the docks just to the south of us." Turning to Sergeant White, Kurita bowed slightly, "I must retrieve the ship's captain and bring him to the Emperor. Could I trouble your group to be honor guard and escort, Sergeant White?"

White nodded, "Certainly, Sergeant Kurita." Turning to his company, he shouted, "Alright you lot! Form up and try to look like Royal Marines for once!"

As the men fell into formation Alex stepped closer to Kurita and bowed slightly. "Excuse me, Kurita-gunso, but would it okay if Misa, Andrea and I go with you? Personally, I have never seen anything like that up close before."

Kurita smiled and nodded, "Certainly, Schweiger-san, it would be a pleasure for the three of you to join us."

A minute later the group had shaken out into a patrol formation with Sharpe, Nelson and Williamson in a triangle on point. Alex and Misa came next with White and Pegg behind them. Davis and Kurita followed with Edmonds and Andrea bringing up the rear. They spaced out three to four meters apart where there was room to fight if they happened to run into any of Them.

After walking a few minutes Sergeant Kurita glanced at Davis and asked quietly, "Corporal Davis, what is your assessment of how the young ladies are coming in their training?"

Davis thought for a moment and replied, "I think they are ready to progress to the more intense weapons training. They both have the basics down pretty well and really just need sparing practice to develop further skills."

Kurita nodded, "Good, my master is eager for them to be in the dojo with us. We have evaluated their knowledge and they are rough, to say the least. The forms are there, but the finesse is not."

Davis nodded, "I have seen Ms. Schweiger as well as Ms. Busujima in action and can see the difference. The first time we saw Ms. Busujima in action she saved my life and then supported us in eliminating some soldiers that had been turned. She was most impressive, floating like a dancer as she killed the zeds."

Kurita smiled, "It has been several years since I saw Lady Busujima compete, but she was the same way then. To hear she was alive and how well she has done was a joy to my heart and lifted my master's spirits greatly."

Davis smiled, "When we saw her work Edmonds asked me then if I thought Ms. Schweiger could do what she did. Then we were all shocked when Alex…went off the reservation, so to speak on Ikei. I don't know how many she put down but it was…dozens. We were very worried about her frame of mind at the time, but she seems to have settled down and is a bit more level-headed now."

Gazing ahead at the girl in question Kurita said, "The mindset of the samurai in battle can be a dark place. I have experienced this myself the first time I drew live steel with the intent of destroying the enemy in front of me. It was disquieting, after so many years of training to finally be released to kill with my bare blade and no restrictions. Yet it was also…liberating. I can easily see how she, or Lady Busujima for that matter, could slip into a battle rage and lose themselves."

Davis nodded, "The trick is to teach them how to pull back from that edge of darkness. Ms. Busujima has Komuro-san to draw her back; Ms. Schweiger may not have that limiter at this time."

"Lord Busujima will find some way to handle that I am quite sure," Kurita said as they rounded a corner to find the tall ship drawing itself into the dock with ropes. Several men with rifles and pikes already stood guard near the end of the pier.

Kurita went forward and answered the guard's challenge with a countersign before the Marine group was allowed past.

The group stood looking up at the web of ropes and masts that seemed to reach to the sky, as Kurita and White went aboard to meet the captain.

"Wow! I would love to be able to climb up there and look across the ocean!" Alex said as she and Misa looked skyward to the mast tops.

"Ugh…too high for me!" Misa exclaimed as Andrea laughed.

Alex also laughed as White, Kurita and an older man with gray hair and beard, dressed in a white peaked cap, a blue long coat with white pants and black shoes, came down the gangway.

"Attention on deck!" White shouted in English. The Royal Marines snapped to attention and presented arms. Alex, Misa and Andrea bowed in respect.

The older man smiled and bowed to the girls, "Well, well Sergeant Kurita, I see not all of your personnel consist of grizzled war dogs!"

Everyone laughed as Sharpe looked at Davis and asked, "I'm grizzled? I'm not even thirty yet!"

Kurita bowed and said, "Please allow me to introduce the master of the Kaiwo Maru, Captain Tsugumo Hanshiro."

The Captain nodded and bowed slightly, all the time smiling as everyone was introduced. Turning to Alex he said, "If you young ladies would like a tour of the ship at a later time I will be happy to oblige you."

Alex beamed, "Thank you, Captain! I would love to!"

He nodded, "Well, for now, I think we better get started, we don't want to keep the Emperor waiting now, do we?"


A/N: Please Review, Favorite and Follow!

EN: 1st posted 5/17/15

Revised by Draco38: 4/15/18