. Mad Dash of the Living .
.9 carry you
.
Megumi's part dragging, part carrying a semi-conscious, very dazed Hirose and Taisuke's fending off 'some kind of rabid boar-mutt' with a random stick he picked up off the ground. They are running for their lives.
Hirose tries very hard to figure out whether or not this is a good thing, on one hand, he gets to whiff Megumi's hair, on the other, they stand a very good chance of being ripped to shreds by his neighbor's Doberman-Bulldog hybrid of doom.
"Damn dog-pig on steroids. Hah! You missed me. Eat this asshole!" Taisuke shoves the stick up its nose.
Hirose sighs," You're only making it angrier, Taisuke."
And through it all: the sweat, the frantic running and the occasional muttered curse from Taisuke, Megumi's soft laughter rings through the air. This is them and that's all there is to it, she thinks it oh-so-funny.
Taisuke shouts, "What the fuck are you laughing at, woman? We're dying here. Now shut the hell up and run for your goddamn life."
Eventually, Hirose opts for life over love, grabs both of their hands and makes a mad dash for their salvation.
Megumi's still laughing, Taisuke's still cussing, and Hirose's only thought is on how the hell they'll survive this.
.
"Megumi's lost it. Remind me to take her to my sister for a check-up. I think she has rabies."
Hirose nods.
And though his breathing comes in ragged gasps, he grips their hands tight and runs even faster. Behind them, the hellhound pursues.
.
The nightmare hasn't caught them yet.
And so they run.
I quite like the whole Hirose-Megumi-Taisuke dynamic.
I miss the old days.