A/N: A few things that are kind of important. First off, I want to thank loveless996 for giving me the inspiration.
Also, I don't own Bleach, otherwise I would release a hoard of zombies in a room with the notorious Sosuke Azien. Okay, now that the formalities are over with, let's get on with our lives.
Chapter One: Day zero
December 12, 2012
1530 Hours
During those dull hours of class, usually when she was assailed with droning lectures, Rukia had always dreamed of something more than just a monotonous day of school. Maybe she'd always wanted a world full of adrenaline inducing drama, or an adventure that would place her on a wild roller coaster. Rukia wished for the spontaneous...back then. Watching and reading thrillers spurred on her overactive imagination, leaving her hopelessly addicted. But more than anything, she absolutely loved zombies. The grotesque peculiarness of it all was just too much. They were just a phenomena that kept her guessing with a never ending flow of inquisitiveness. The undead was a secret obsession of Rukia's that could have shocked any of her closest friends. Her cockiness of handling any situation was something that she was always sure of. However, none of the movies, video games, or comics that she's read could have prepared her for the real thing.
It wasn't pretty.
An intense wave of nausea overcame her tired body as she assessed her current situation. Rukia was panting heavily with her wooden katana hovered neurotically over her dead friend. Orihime's head caved in where her weapon met the skull, and a thick black liquid started to drain out of her ears. The red headed girl, once beautiful and vibrant, now held a vacant stare, blue veins webbed across her pale face and intestines were falling out of her gaping mouth. Orihime collapsed over a dilapidated Tatsuki, finally silenced under the weight of Rukia's wooded sword. Blood and pus mixed into a pool of rancid medley at her feet, mirroring the horror of death. The putrid smell of excess pustule in the hot air caused her to heave and choke on the bereavement mingling in the atmosphere. Taking a few unsteady steps backwards, she found herself at a loss of words. Her mind was suspended in the air, unwilling to face the truth of her situation, but of course the world was a cruel one, and a state of ignorance was unfeasible at this point. Rukia's mind was spinning as she was thrown back to earth, and the moaning of the undead was enough to set her off. The realization of it all assailed Rukia, throwing her into a dark pit of putrescent reality. However, she was never one to panic and her trained composure took over easily. Reeling in her deranged nerves, she forced her shaking hands to stop, and her breathing came to a fixed rhythm before she could even process a single thought.
Flashback:
December 12, 2012
1400 Hours
"Rukia! Are you coming to Kendo practice or what? Kaien dono said he would tutor us tonight," Tatsuki called over to her friend.
A duffel bag was thrown over her shoulder as she placed an impatient hand on her hip. Rukia frantically scribbled down the last bit of notes before snapping her binder shut. After stuffing the rest of her things in her back pack, she sprang out of her desk to follow Tatsuki.
"Wait up, we have plenty of time!"
She ran out of the classroom, catching up to the taller girl and easily fell into step with her. It was a Friday afternoon, and classes quickly emptied of all students who were eager to head home and start on the weekend. Both girls headed towards the locker room on the second floor, grabbed the customary equipment and headed towards the practice rooms which were located a short distance from the school. A small two story building held a wide variety of rooms from the Sewing arts and crafts club, to the kendo club. Nothing about the day seemed sinister at all. Outside the wind blew a flurry of seasonal snow, and even during the dead of winter, the sun beamed in the middle of the sky. The first students just emerged from the main building, talking animatedly about the day and the menial stresses of life.
Normal.
Tatsuki struck up a conversation with Rukia, "So, we have another competition next week. Are you ready for it?"
"Hell yeah. Between you, me, and Renji, Karakura High is definitely going down!" Rukia grinned.
"I heard they had a good team this year, but I bet Seretei High is way better," The adjacent girl said cockily.
They both grinned as they pictured a favorable outcome for the next fight. The two girls climbed the set of stairs of the Club Building, and passed a few doors before arriving at their final destination. After reaching the doors of the kendo room, they both casually entered to find it empty.
"Hmm...I wonder were Sensei is," Tatsuki muttered.
The girl checked her watched and frowned, "He's never late, and we were supposed to start fifteen minutes ago."
Rukia looked around and shrugged, "That's a good question. I hope nothing came up, I was really looking forward to sparring with him."
Tatsuki looked up at her friend and an amused smirk spread across her face.
"Hah! Are you sure it's not just 'cause you want to see Shiba sensei?" Tatsuki joked.
Rukia blushed profusely, "N-no! That's ridiculous. I simply respect Kaien dono, and besides...he's old!"
Tatsuki clapped Rukia on the back and feigned pity, "Aww, poor Rukia's in denial and now she'll never get to hook up with our Sensei."
The taller girl burst into a fit of laughter after dodging one of Rukia's attacks. Tatsuki pulled out her practice katana and aimed the tip at Rukia with a mocking smile.
"I challenge you to a duel, Kuckiki Rukia for the right to Shiba sensei's bed," Tatsuki wiggled her eyebrows. She couldn't hold back the flow of giggles, and then fell to the floor weak in the knees.
Embarrassment ate away at Rukia's nerves as her lips pursed into an irritated line.
"Stop laughing!"
At this, Tatsuki shook even harder as she held her sides and squeezed her eyes shut. Fuming, Rukia withdrew her own wooden katana and proceed to defend her honor.
Swinging her sword down upon Tatsuki, the laughing girl barely escaped the blunt weapon by rolling on to her feet.
"Oh, I see how it is. So you do want Shiba sensei," Tatsuki grinned.
Rukia growled as she took a swipe at her friend, but Tatsuki smartly blocked the attack with her own katana. The taller girl charged at Rukia with her blade held high, giving Rukia the disadvantage. She swiftly positioned her sword horizontally in front of her, using two hands to stop the powerful blow Tatsuki threw at her. Rukia skipped backwards and spun around her friend, intending to swing under her knees in order to knock her over. However, Tatsuki saw this coming and jumped high in the air to avoid the wooden blade.
The two friends continued to spar until all their energy was drained, and they collapsed on the floor next to each other, panting.
Rukia gave a weak punch to Tatsuki's arm and huffed, "There's nothing between me and Kaien dono."
"Fine, be that way," the other chuckled.
There was a short intermission of silence as they took time to catch their breath.
"Anyway, I had the strangest morning. I forgot to tell you during lunch...but when I was walking to school, I could have sworn this old hobo wanted to rape me," Tatsuki started to laugh uncertainly.
Rukia didn't catch her nervousness and giggled, "You do tend to attract the creepers, Tatsuki."
"Shut your mouth," The offended girl rolled her eyes.
"But seriously, the guy looked mess up-"
Suddenly the intercom interrupted the conversation, and a shrill woman began to speak, "All students and faculty remain in a classroom until further instructions are given. Secure the doors and do not open them to any suspicious persons. I repeat, no one is to leave the school building at this-Oh my God! N-No…Stay away!"
Tatsuki and Rukia simply stared blankly at the intercoms, and they were met with static. Rukia perked up her ears, and that was when she realized the distant mix of screams and shouting across the campus.
"What the hell's going on?" Rukia sat up immediately, eyes wide with confusion.
"I don't know. Do you hear that? Something's happening outside," Tatsuki said as she got up to her feet.
Suddenly, a blood curling scream pierced the sky, clearly coming from outside the Kendo room. The two girls met each other's eye in alarm, and both took off towards the sound.
Through the small rectangular window, they saw Orihime banging loudly against the door with fear clouded in her brown eyes. A muffled plea came from the other side of the door, "Help me Tatsuki!"
Tatsuki reached the doors first, ripping them open to give sanctuary to the red headed girl. Rukia followed suit and almost ran into her frozen friend. They both fell into paralysis as they witness the scene. A cadaverous student materialized right behind her, releasing an eerie moan before his pale hands blindly outstretched to grasp on to the innocent girl. It all happened too quickly, and then his teeth ripped into her shoulder with such animalistic fervor that a shudder ran up and down Rukia's spine. This seemed to snap Tatsuki out of the stupor, and she made reflexive attack at the crazed peer with her wooden katana held high.
Rukia held her breath as a sickening crack could be heard once Tatsuki placed all her energy into splitting open the assaulters' head. Tatsuki was ambushed with shock, horror, anger, and she was left unable to respond to the world around her. Was the student dead? He had to be, after coming across one of Tatsuki's expert blows. Rukia was unsure if her friend would ever be able to come back, and was debating on what to do before the taller girl snapped out of it. She dropped the splintering katana to the floor, and Rukia could clearly see the twitching of her erratic fingers.
After a moment, Tatsuki was able to overcome her frozen state and turned towards Orihime, who was slumped to the floor with distressed eyes.
Orihime's voice was surprisingly bright, like a little bell as she attempted to smile, "I-I made both of you licorice spinach, and curry...b-but I dropped it. Sorry."
Tatsuki gave Orihime a look of disbelief and shook her head. Her eyes scanned Orihime's wound with startled eyes and turned to Rukia in alarm, "Go into the office and call an ambulance!"
Rukia didn't move. She couldn't.
"Tatsuki. You didn't see them...they're dead. Our friends are dead...our classmates are dead, the teachers...and soon I'll be dead..." Orihime whispered weakly. However, her voice stayed unbelievingly optimistic.
"Don't be so stupid, Orihime! You sound like one of those hopeless girls in horror movies. Have you been day dreaming again?" Tatsuki said agitatedly.
Tears streaked the wounded girls' face, "N-not dreaming…It h-hurts."
An inaudible sigh escaped her lips as she unknowingly uttered her last words, "Save...yourselves."
"You can't be serious…please…O-Orihime!" Tatsuki knelt down beside the girl and shook her shoulders.
She growled, "Get up! Stop playing dead."
There was no answer from the red head except for the buzz of the candescent lights above. Rukia's eyes zoned in on Orihime's wound, which had stopped bleeding and was now festering at an exponential rate. She could clearly see the light blue veins crawling from the corners of her face, and a thick film started to cover her eyes.
"Tatsuki…" Rukia muttered.
"Orihime, Listen to me! Quit it already," Tatsuki choked back a scream.
The tears started to build up in her friend's eyes as she bit back her lip to keep the fear from showing.
"Tatsuki," Rukia recurred.
"Look at me, God dammit!" Tatsuki shouted at her close friend.
She aggressively lifted Orihime's head, only to meet an empty shell with starved eyes.
"Tatsuki!" Rukia screamed.
In the past, Rukia would find herself yelling or ridiculing the stupidity of the characters in zombie movies. She was always the one to point out brainless mistakes or idiotic actions throughout the plot, never understanding why. But now she understood, being placed in a different situation really did change things. She couldn't move her legs. They were fatally glued to the floor and all she could do was watch the carnage unfold.
End of Flashback
December 12, 2012
1530 Hours
They were cold. Dead. Alive. Carnivorous.
It didn't take a genius to figure this one out. She was caught in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.
Tears streaked her face as she stared at the bodies of her nakama, all cold and bloody. Taking slow steps, she knelt beside the corpses and found herself at a lost. With an unsteady hand, she gingerly reached out to close the unanimated eyes of her friends. Staring at their calm faces, she came across the foolish notion that they were only asleep. Maybe she was asleep too, and this was all a dream. She would wake up from this nightmare in the morning, never ever taking the company of her loved ones for granted again.
However, no matter how many times she open and closed her eyes, the same gruesome images appeared. Tatsuki's mangled limbs, the gaping hole in her abdomen, the gushing of intestines falling out of her body...Then there was Orihime. Her innocence was washed away with the blood smears painted across her face, and the flesh stuck between her teeth. She couldn't face them anymore. Rukia somehow found herself running towards the window that overlooked the school grounds, hands balled up in fists as she tried to comprehend the scene. It was the ideal picture of a zombie apocalypse. Unsuspecting students were panicking on the ground, some trying to retreat towards the school, but never making it all the way. It was truly a blood bath that screamed painfully at her. Bodies started to pile on one another, every single one of them a face she once knew. Rukia pushed open the window, and the immediate sounds of agony reached her ears. She could even hear the tearing of flesh between teeth over the hum of the moaning dead. The distant sound of helicopters dominated the skies as the alert sirens of ambulances accompanied the pandemonium.
How could this massacre happen so quickly?
Rukia gave a sideways glance at the door, and hastily slammed it shut. Sliding back against the wall, she wracked her brains for a plan. She felt so alone right now, as if she were the only person left in the world. That could be an unsettling possibility. In a corner of the room, a thick stench of rancid flesh hovered over the dead bodies of once smiling faces, and she turned the other way to avoid looking at them. If she didn't see it, it wasn't real. Letting the katana clatter to the floor, her fingers started to tangle in her hair, pulling aggressively at the roots, wondering if the pain could wake her up from this nightmare. Minutes passed, then hours. Outside the sun began to set, the pastel colors splaying over the horizon tasting sweet and innocent, as if zombies never roamed the streets of the neighborhood. But the moaning didn't stop; neither did the wail of ambulances. That was when she realized that there was no waking up.
Once the events finally sunk in, Rukia stood up to analyze her options. It was no use sitting in a corner building a rood of denial over her head. She thought of her family. Well, there wasn't much of a family to begin with. Byakuya, her brother was halfway around the world on a business trip in New York, America. Rukia wasn't completely sure what was going on. Was she facing an epidemic, or a pandemic situation? Either way, she had faith in his survival abilities. He was the epitome of perfection, and she believed nothing could kill him. Rukia's mind immediately shifted to her sister, Hisana. She was currently sick and took residence at the Karakura Hospital. The place was a half hour drive from the school. Her surviving ability was a zero on a one to ten scale, but she was smart and Rukia could only hope she was still alive at this moment. Something from the back of her mind flashed brightly across her head.
Rule number one of survival: don't risk searching for family and friends.
Rukia couldn't deny the truth of the statement, but not a single cell in her being would allow her to carry out such a selfish rule. She could never abandon her sister, no matter how futile the attempt would be. So her first mission was to get to Karakura Hospital. She would figure out all the details afterwards. Now that she had a purpose, what was next? Well, she needed something better than a wooden katana. Tatsuki's katana started splitting after one good strike to the head. Rukia needed a double barrel shotgun, a sniper rifle, an AK 47, or better yet, a bazooka. It was too bad schools weren't stocked to the brim with zombie killing weaponry.
Currently facing the nadir of her frustration, she pulled her brows together attempting to creatively find a suitable arsenal. A baseball bat? No, she would rather stick with the wooden sword. A text book? No, this was getting ridiculous. What would be useful? The school teachers practically treated them like preschoolers who could barely handle scissors. But, there had to be something...
"That's it!"
Rukia rose to her feet and paced to the back of the classroom towards her ex teacher's office. Displayed high upon the plaster wall were two authentic katanas. They sat gingerly on the shiny holsters so skillfully crafted that they gleamed. The first was snow white, its attractive sheath promising an impressive blade, and the circular hilt held intricate designs that accented the beautiful sword. The second was pure onyx, the hilt was fashioned as a swastika, and a thin chain was attached to the end of the handle. The best part was both treasures were sitting tauntingly behind a thick layer of plexiglass. Rukia stood on the tips of her toes and couldn't stop her from pressing her nose against the impossible screen.
BANG!
The walls shuddered against the impact, and then a moment later a wail resonated through the wooden doors.
"Shimatte," Rukia cursed.
BANG!
The doors creaked against the force, almost whimpering against the assault of the undead. Rukia realized that she had to escape the school as soon as possible, no question. Using her pent up vexation, she picked up the stapler sitting innocently on a desk and hurled the object at the plexiglass. The thing rebounded off the surface without imprinting a scratch on the surface of the panel. In a snarl of vexation, she started picking up miscellaneous and launching them at the impenetrable glass, all in vain.
BANG! BANG!
She could hear the beginning of a fissure on the exterior of the door that was her only guard. There were more than just one of the creatures on the other side, and the moaning increased to an uncanny volume. As a sign of desperation, Rukia began to hammer on the dense panel with her fists, until her hands were decorated with blood and the blooming of fresh bruises. She wasn't going anywhere without those shining katanas just beyond her reach. No, one look at them and she knew that they were destined to be hers. However, the situation was looking grim, seeing as the barrier keeping the weapons from her reach looked newer than before. Rukia slammed her palms against the partition and let out a strangled growl. She looked longingly at the jewels from the other side of the glass until her eyes landed on a tiny key hole placed just below the glass, hidden from view.
"A key…" She whispered.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The top frame of the door gave away, and the repulsive faces of the undead peered into the room looking for their next victim. Rukia's head swiveled towards the barrier; it still kept them out, barely. Their hands blindly reached out for human flesh, grasping at the air in wanton movements. One glance at the half dozen zombies and she knew her wooden katana couldn't stand a chance. Rukia had little time as she frantically searched the office for anything that remotely resembled a key. Tearing the room in two, she ripped open drawers, swept through files and raided every inch of the once proficient office. She chewed painfully into her bottom lip and looked outside the office once more.
Think Rukia…
"Before Miyako passed away, she sent me these. They are very rare, seeing as the maker died only a few years ago," He muttered with a rather distant look in his eye. His gaze touched over a cheesy, heart shaped picture frame sitting casually on his desk, and he allowed himself to reveal a melancholy smile.
"People definitely don't make them like that anymore. Figured I might as well keep them here at school, although the school administers were against it at first, I finally convinced them that keeping the Katanas here served as a great motivational tool for the kids. Those old guys just want to make sure I have these babies locked up nice and safe. So, what do you think of the Katanas, Kuchiki? Pretty neat, huh?" Kaien grinned down at her.
With bright eyes she gazed at the lovely objects, "They're amazing! I wish I could have my own katana…"
"Huh, maybe one day you just might get your hands on one," Kaien patted her head affectionately.
Nothing. Rukia didn't understand the arbitrary memory that came to mind, and she couldn't parse it. It was just a bunch of mindless chatter, aside from the fact that he mentioned where he got the swords. What was so significant about it?
Wait…Her sharp eyes spied a picture frame lying on the floor. Picking up the broken object, she flipped it over and found herself staring at the picture of Kaien's late wife. Captured in the borders, a beautiful women in her mid twenties stared back with large brown eyes, she was being held close by an equally handsome man who seemed to be laughing heartily. It was hardly noticeable, but behind the photo, there was a small outline of a thin object. Rukia tore open the frames with her fingernails, and to her utter luck, a small silver key was wedged between the photo and the back of the frame. With on hand she tucked the picture in her front pocket while her fingers fumbled with the small key in her other hand. A sheen of sweat started to gather across her forehead as she prayed that the door would hold a bit longer. A particularly loud bang caused the key to jump from her grasp, and she cursed to herself. The metal object slipped out of her nervous hands and she cursed violently. Rukia grabbed the key off the floor and tried again, feeling naked with her back turned against the carnivorous corpses.
BANG! BANG! B-SNAP!
The key finally found the entrance and Rukia gave it an anxious turn. The plexiglass reluctantly pulled away at last. Rukia grabbed the jet black sword first and simply slipped it between her belt. Then, she hastily picked up the second sword and fluidly unsheathed the weapon with nimble hands. The sword was surprisingly light, and as the blade slid out of its beautiful sheath, she barely had time to admire the pure white that shined before her violet eyes. The door finally gave in to the abuse, and zombies started to flood into the room, running straight towards her. Without flinching, she gripped the hilt tighter in her grasp before impaling the first zombie through the eye socket.
The impact of the thrust vibrated up her arm, sending alarming signals to her brain. Her mind was telling her to stop, that this was wrong, but her instincts were ordering her to kill. Pushing the limp body away with her foot, she withdrew the sword; its once pure and innocent surface now defiled with the deep color of sticky red and gray matter. Rukia stepped out of the office before she found herself cornered, and began slicing away at the animated corpses. They were a lot faster than she imagined. Being freshly dead, their reflexes and agility were still intact, meaning they were harder to kill. Rukia tried her best to focus and pretended it was just sparring practice with Kaien and Tatsuki. Somehow, it managed to work, there were just more special effects involved. Her mindset quickly analyzed both positions and drew up the best way to defeat her enemy. She found that decapitating them right away was easier said than done. Despite the razor sharp end of her newly acquired blade, slicing through bone was hard work. The density of the compact material was tough, and not easy to break, therefore taking time whenever piercing the thick skull. Rukia found it easier to cut away the muscles of the legs, revering them handicap instead of killing them one by one. Once she slowed them down, it would be easier to put them to rest. So she danced around them, cutting away at the dozen zombies with lethal grace. All throughout the fight, Rukia avoided their faces as she raked her katana through the soft decomposing tissue, not stopping until they all lay crawling helplessly on the floor. Finally, she ended them by taking the time and mercy to put her peers out of their misery. The aftermath was quite gruesome.
Rukia could taste the coppery substance in the air, and as she stared throughout the room she felt the unpleasant sensation of bile threatening to spill. A black liquid oozed out of the bodies in puddles, chunks of flesh littered the floors, and worst of all, she was covered in most of it. Her heart was pulsating almost painfully against her chest, and her brain was in disarray as she tried to comprehend what just happened. After a few moments, Rukia was able to collect herself to some extent, and her instinct alerted her of the other dangers haunting the school. She kept her Katana at the ready, no longer hesitating to protect herself.
"Dammit! Help me!" a cry came from within the school.
It came from right outside the room in fact.
Rukia found herself rushing over to the outcry, almost too afraid of what she would see.
Death Toll:
Orihime Inoue
Tatsuki Arisawa
Total (2)
A/N: So I decided that a break was inevitable between me and my life, and that fanfic was the escape I dearly needed. Just warning you: I'm not dedicating to anything. If there's enough interest though, it might fuel some inspiration. Hint, wink.
Review if your little heart so desires, it's how I abdicate whether to continue or not.
Constructive criticism/ love is greater than Mindless flames
