I do not own Highschool of the DEAD or its characters.
Japanese names will be listed formally with the family name first.
Story revised 10/9/13. Please remember to review and favorite!
Blood of the DEAD Chapter 1
The group from Fujimi High School proceeded slowly down the narrow Tokonosu street. Since the outbreak they had learned to walk quietly and be completely aware of their surroundings. Komuro Takashi led with Busujima Saeko backing him up. Miyamoto Rei, Takagi Saya, Marikawa Shizuka, and Maresato Alice followed in the middle with Hirano Kohta, their gun master following at the rear of the formation.
The little white dog Zeke ran slightly ahead sniffing the ground and looking down side streets before Takashi could see them. A car had crashed into a light pole on the right side of the street they were on and Takashi could see bodies in it. As they approached Zeke froze and growled while he looked up the side street the car had come from.
Takashi raised his hand and signaled the group to stop while he checked on what Zeke was looking at. Five or six undead were slowly moving down the side street toward them but it did not seem to be an attack.
The students had learned that the undead would shuffle along in a kind of search mode till a sound attracted them. Make a loud sound and they would swarm with surprising speed.
Takashi turned and motioned to Saeko for quiet and she turned and passed the sign to the others. Takashi and Saeko moved to guarding positions as the others worked their way past the wrecked car.
Zeke watched for a moment and then started on down the main street past the car. Just on the other side he suddenly barked and scampered away from the wreck. Two undead, hidden by the car, rose up and began moving towards Shizuka who, shrieked with surprise.
Undead from the side street suddenly lunged toward the students splitting them into two groups. Rei stepped toward one of the undead advancing on Shizuka and stabbed it with the bayonet on her rifle, before it could grab the nurse.
There was a sudden scramble as the fighters began their attack. Takashi, trying to keep noise down was swinging his baseball bat as Saeko started her sword dance, cutting through the horde. Every time the onna-bugeisha* swung her katana, a head rolled to the street and blood flew in a spray.
"HELP!" Rei called out. "My bayonet's stuck!" The zombie had twisted as she stabbed it causing the knife to jam in its eye socket almost pulling the rifle from Rei's hands.
Kohta, who had been covering the others with his rifle, turned and advanced to the wreck before calling out, "Firing!"
He took careful, but quick, aim and shot the second creature in the head, dropping it to the ground. Just as he lowered his rifle to check for more targets he felt something smash against his back, throwing him onto the torn metal of the wrecked car. "Aeeee!" he cried as white hot pain shot through him. He tried to twist away but the jagged metal ripped and pulled at him as the monster at his back raked and grabbed, trying to get in close to bite.
"KOHTA!" Saya screamed, as she turned to find her friend pinned down by the walking death. She raised the Luger she was carrying, but froze as she tried to aim it at the thrashing creature.
A violent blur passed through her gun sights as Saeko severed the head from the monster in a single slash. Blood spewed high with the strike, covering Kohta and the car, before the undead dropped to the ground. Kohta jerked himself off the sharp metal with a cry, turned and took about three steps before crashing to the ground.
Shizuka and Alice ran back around the car to where Kohta lay in the street. Alice grabbed his rifle and pulled it aside as the nurse looked him over for bite marks. Kohta lay on the ground moaning, "It hurts sensei!" Saeko stood watch over them as Shizuka pulled off Kohta's vest and coat, handing them to Alice as she did.
"How bad is he?" called Takashi as he smashed in the head of the last zombie in sight.
Rei, finally able to brace her foot on the corpse and pull her rifle loose, turned to where the others were working on Kohta. She found Saya still standing frozen with her gun held out in front of her. The ginger-haired girl stepped close and touched her friend on the shoulder, "Saya? Saya are you alright?"
Saya was shaking with tears running down her face, "I…I could not pull the trigger…I would have hit him…"
Rei reached out, pulled the gun down and hugged Saya close to her, "Its alright, Sensei is with him checking on him."
Takashi, seeing what was going on, came over and wrapped his arms around both of them saying, "It's going to be alright. Saeko got to him before he was bitten."
"Are you sure?" Saya asked as she looked up at Takashi with tears in her big brown eyes.
"Yes I think so, we will know more in a minute. Go see if you can help," he told her. She nodded and slowly started toward the others.
Rei looked up at Takashi with fear, "Are you sure he is not bitten, Takashi?"
Takashi looked down at her with his eyes dark and hooded, and shook his head. "No Rei; I'm not," he replied. "But she was about to break and we can't have that right now. We have to move and soon."
Shizuka got up as Saya crouched down beside Kohta, and walked to where Takashi and Rei were standing. "Takashi," she said in the firmest voice either of them had ever heard out of the nurse. "We need shelter right now. I did not find any bites, but his right arm and shoulder are deeply cut. He needs stitches, but I need hot water, and clean linen or he runs the risk of infections that I can't fight with what I have."
Takashi nodded, "I think the best thing is to move up this street and see if we can find a house to hole up in." He walked over to where Saeko and Saya were helping his friend off the ground and asked, "Kohta? Can you walk?"
Kohta nodded with sweat and tears running down his face, "I'll damn well walk out of here." He stumbled a little bit but with Saya on his left side, he was able to start up the street. He looked around and asked, "Where's my rifle?"
"I have it big brother." said Alice.
He looked down at her and asked, "Do you remember what we talked about, Alice-chan?"
She smiled up at him and replied, "I remember big brother. Safety on, sling over my shoulders, carry it across at port arms so it will not be heavy to me. Keep my hands and fingers away from the trigger. If we are attacked make it ready and give it to one of my big brothers or big sisters if needed."
Kohta nodded, "Good girl. If it gets to heavy tell one of your senpai's." Alice nodded and walked forward putting herself behind Saeko in the marching order.
Takashi stared at Kohta who shook his head and muttered, "Let's get out of here, Komuro. I don't know how long I'll be able to stand." Takashi nodded and headed up the street, watching behind them also.
Within a few minutes, they had moved into an area where the houses looked in good shape and had fences with gates. Takashi fell back and told Saeko he and Zeke would run ahead and try to find one they could get into. She nodded and told him good luck.
Checking several and finding them all locked he finally came to a large stone house on a corner. It had a six foot high fence around it with steel gates that were unlocked. He entered the yard and climbed the steps to the front door, before quietly knocking. Hearing nothing, he tried the door and found it unlocked as well. As he opened it he saw a sheet of paper blow out from between the door and the jam. Picking it up he read what was on it.
"To Whom It May Concern, we have evacuated to the park with the rest of the area. If you are friend or family you might find us there. If you are seeking shelter welcome! P.S. Please feed the Koi."
Takashi chuckled and scratched his head. Looking down at the little dog he said, "Well Zeke, looks like we may be home for a while. Let's go get the family!" Zeke woofed and they headed back down the walkway to the street.
A quick search found none of Them in the yard and the party stopped on the front steps until Takashi and Saeko cleared the house. Saeko came back to hold the door open, as Takashi helped the others carry Kohta inside.
Outside, the house had a very European look to it with stone walls and heavy windows. Inside and out back was another matter altogether. Traditional shoji screens divided the rooms and living spaces while in the main room there was a sand pit with grates for a fire in the center. In the rear of the house was a modern kitchen, as well as a large bath and laundry area. Upstairs was more of the same though there were western beds as well as futons.
"The power is off but there are gas cook tops, the water still works and looks good and clear," Takashi said as they eased Kohta down on the living room floor.
"Wow," said Kohta looking around as he lay back. "This is nice! I hate to bleed all over this place."
Saya spun on him to chastise him, but stopped as she realized the bandage on his arm was soaked and dripping blood. "Shizuka-sensei we need to get to fixing Kohta, right now." Saya said as Shizuka stood looking around the room.
Shizuka nodded, and pointed to a spot across floor, "Takashi, I need blankets and a sheet placed over there where there is good light. Rei, find a clean pot and start boiling water. Saeko, look for alcohol, the stronger the better." She unbuttoned her bloody top as she continued, "Alice-chan dig into my clothes bag, and get me a clean t-shirt I can work in."
"What about me?" asked Saya as she sat on the floor and put Kohta's head in her lap.
"Just keep doing what you're doing Saya-chan," Shizuka said with a smile. "Keep the patient calm and quiet until we are ready to move him." Saya nodded as she looked back down at Kohta who was smiling slightly with his eyes closed.
He looks so pale! She thought as she reached out to move his bangs from his eyes. She stopped when she saw her hands were still coated with blood from Kohta and the…a freezing cold shiver went up her spine as a thought hit her. Her head snapped up looking at the nurse with fear in her eyes, as she held her hand out showing Shizuka the blood.
With the most serious look Saya had ever seen from her, the nurse raised a finger to her lips and shook her head slightly. Saya's eyes went wide and her mouth fell open as the truth sank in.
Saeko walked back into the room carrying two bottles. "Everclear and Bacardi 151," She said as she holding them out to Shizuka. The nurse nodded and pointed, "Everclear to clean the wound; Bacardi to kill the pain." Saeko nodded and knelt beside Kohta, as she twisted the top off the bottle.
Saya leaned forward and said, "Kohta? Open your eyes; you need to drink this."
He's eyes fluttered open and he said, "Time for a drink huh? Okay I'm ready."
Saeko smiled as she glanced up at Saya, "Smart man. He knows we don't have any anesthetic."
It didn't take much before Kohta was well on his way to feeling no pain. The others had finished prepping and moved him to the clean bedding as Shizuka scrubbed down and put on rubber gloves. Instruments sterilized and ready she knelt next to the boy and asked, "Ready?" He nodded, and slowly she began cleaning the wound with the Everclear and gauze.
Those were the worst moments for Kohta. He had never felt pain like that before in his life. It was a relief when she stopped and actually started sewing the wound closed. The tug of his skin as the needle went through was an interesting feeling to him. He could feel it, but as drunk as he was the pain no longer registered.
He looked at Takashi who was holding his legs down and said, "This is going to be a bitch in the morning huh?"
Takashi smiled and nodded, "Don't worry, there is plenty more booze."
"Hai…" Kohta muttered before passing out.
A while later they gathered in the main room after Kohta had been moved to a bedroom upstairs. Dinner was cooking and bloody clothes were soaking in a laundry tub as Shizuka paced around the floor.
Takashi came down the stairs and said, "Alice-chan and Zeke are watching him."
Saya looked up at Shizuka and asked what no one wanted to, "Is he going to turn? He had Their blood all over him. We know a bite will kill you, but what if their blood gets into an open wound?"
Shizuka shook her head as she paced and patted herself on the cheek with her right hand, "I just don't have enough info to guess Saya. Plus on top of that I'm worried about regular infection also. The wound was almost to the bone, I had to remove some pieces of metal and I put thirty-eight stitches in him. I gave him some tablet penicillin I had, but it will take several doses to get it into his blood stream."
"The muscle was badly torn," she said. "And I don't know if he will lose any motion in that arm. Tetanus is another worry because the metal that cut him was rusted and greasy. The school made sure all of your immunizations were up to date so you had your tetanus boosters, but I still need to watch for signs of it."
"Takashi, I'm sorry but I need supplies," she said. "I used most of the gauze and my tape is getting low also." The nurse sat down on the floor and sighed, "I hate to say it, but we need to raid a drug store or a clinic. If we can find one that hasn't been wiped out already that is."
Takashi nodded, "It's too late tonight, but we can try tomorrow. I think we should light a fire in the hearth and get ready for the night." His eyes drifted up the stairs and he frowned, before voicing the next part, "I also think we need to tie Kohta down to the bed tonight, and keep a guard on him."
Saya started to say something, but Takashi cut her off, "I think I know what you are going to say Saya. We must take the precaution and if anything happens…I'll be the one to take care of it."
Saya's face turned red and she balled up her fists. Her voice shook with anger as she growled, "Takashi, don't you ever again think you know what I'm going to say. I'm a gen…" she stopped and bit her lip for a minute before continuing. "I was going to say you're right, and I will be the one to guard him tonight, that is all I've got to say on the subject." With that she turned and stormed out of the back of the house.
Takashi stood with his mouth open as he watched the pink-haired girl storm away.
Shizuka said, "Ah…I'm going to check on Alice-chan and Kohta-kun." She turned and headed up the stairs, making a tsk, tsk noise.
Saeko patted Takashi on the shoulder and said, "I'll go talk to Saya-chan. Rei, he's all yours,"
Saeko stepped quietly out the back as she heard Rei began to tear Takashi a new one. She found Saya sitting down next to the Koi pond resting her head on her knees. Looking around, she saw a small garden shed in the corner. Inside she found food for the fish that were swimming in the pond. Getting a scoop full she went back, set down next to Saya, and began to throw food in small handfuls.
As they sat like that, Saeko could hear Saya sniffle every once in a while, before she finally lifted her head to watch the fish. "He can really be an ass sometimes." Saya said quietly.
Saeko nodded and said, "I am not going to make excuses for him, but I will ask you to listen when he comes to apologize."
The swordswoman leaned over and put her head on Saya's shoulder. "Is this where I tell you I know how you feel about Kohta and you get mad at me for pressing you on the subject?" Saeko asked.
Saya sniffed and looked at Saeko out of the corner of her eye. "Maybe," she replied sullenly.
"Takashi is scared Saya," Saeko said. "He has already killed one friend and tonight, he might have to kill another. On top of that, he knows it will affect all of us, and you most of all. He will do it, because he is a man and knows it's a man's job."
"I know," Saya said. "He just pissed me off saying it the way he did. His mouth works faster than his brain sometimes, though he has gotten better."
"He is learning to be a man and think like a man before it was time," Saeko sighed. "We are all having to grow up very fast. Even at her age Shizuka-sensei is still just a big kid in many ways."
Saya nodded, "Yeah but she really surprised me today. She is so bubble headed about some things, but when it mattered she really came through."
"I know," Saeko said. "She surprised me also. When I beheaded the one on Kohta, I didn't realize he was pinned to the sharp metal on the car. My heart almost stopped when he fell to the ground."
Saya sniffed again, "I couldn't help him Saeko. I raised the gun, but when I went to pull the trigger I saw his head in the way. I just froze; I couldn't do anything but watch. I've never been that scared."
As Saeko nodded, she glanced over her shoulder. "Here he comes," She said. "Are you ready to talk to him?" Saya nodded and stood up.
Saeko got up, walked over to the shed, and replaced the fish food scoop. As she turned away she noticed a coil of yellow rope on the work bench. She picked it up and took it with her as she started back towards the house.
She bowed her head slightly as she passed Takashi, saying softly, "Gently Komuro-kun, she is fragile right now."
"Hai," Takashi replied as he walked to where Saya stood waiting.
He stopped in front of her, placed his hands on the front of his thighs, and made a half bow to her, "Takagi-san, I would like to apologize for how I treated you; I spoke before I thought. You were right; I should have listened first."
Saya sniffed and said, "Baka*. Come here." She reached out and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him close, putting her head on his shoulder. For a second Takashi froze, then put his arms around her. He lay his cheek on top of her head and just stood like that for a minute.
"You know in all the years we've known each other, I've never seen you hug anyone but your mother," he said.
"Don't read anything into it," she told him. "I care for you like a brother, but that's it." She turned her face up to him, her eyes moist. "It's a new world Takashi, and I think the time of hiding feelings and thoughts is behind us. We have to adapt to what life brings us, and live more for the moment rather than the future."
"I thought you were the one that wanted to lay out a plan and stick to it?" Takashi asked and they stepped back from each other.
"Oh I do," she said. "I still think we need to get out of the city as soon as we can and find a place to hole up until whatever happens does. This roaming from place to place has not worked well so far. Everywhere we have gone things have fallen apart. It seems like when we stay together and away from others, I feel safer. I want us somewhere safe, alone and together," she told him as they started toward the house, "I know I'm not a fighter and I don't want any of you in danger because I froze up like I did today."
He put his arm around her shoulders again, "Saya you haven't even fired that pistol once yet. I think you did the right thing not firing instead of taking the shot."
As they stepped up onto the porch at the rear of the house, Saeko appeared at the door. With a grim look on her face she said, "Shizuka sent me for you. His fever has gone up."
They found the others upstairs in the hall, outside the bedroom Kohta was in. The door was open and Shizuka was sitting on the bed washing Kohta's face and chest with a wet rag. As Takashi walked up she took a thermometer out of Kohta's mouth and held it up to look at it.
She sighed and shook it before putting it back into her bag. "104; if it goes much over that we have a real problem."
"Is there no way to cool him off without medicine?" Takashi asked.
The nurse shook her head, "We could put him in a tub of luke-warm water to try to break the fever, but I would rather wait to see if he gets worse. I'm going to crush some aspirin into a powder and make a paste. I'll put that in his mouth a little at a time so it will not choke him and it will get into his system faster that way." She stood up and said, "Right now I think you should tie him down."
Takashi turned and looked as Saeko walked in with the coil of rope in her hand, "I found this in the garden shed. I think I know how we can do this and not hurt him if he thrashes around."
Takashi nodded and they went to work.
Saya watch the pair for a few moments, but with tears welling up in her eyes, she turned away. Seeing the water bowl sensei had been using to bath Kohta with, she took it downstairs to get fresh water in it.
A few minutes later it was done. They had put two loops around Kohta's waist and tied them in the back. Then they cut two short pieces, tied them to his wrists and to the ropes around his waist. They left some slack so he could move his arms a little, but not enough for him to untie anything. They then tied his ankles together and tied that off to the end of the bed.
Takashi rubbed the back of his head as he looked over their work "That works really well! How do you know to do it this way Saeko-san?"
Saeko blushed slightly as she turned to leave the room, "Girls don't just watch love stories all the time Komuro-kun."
Takashi's mouth fell open as he watched her leave the room, her hips swaying provocatively in the kimono robe she was wearing. What did she mean by that? He wondered as he shivered with the thought of the swordswoman watching some bondage movie or hentai.
He stepped out into the hall where he found Saya holding a fresh bowl of water, watching Saeko disappear down the stairs. She looked at him with one eyebrow raised and a pout on her lips. She snorted as she walked by and said, "If you two are through I'll take over now."
Takashi rubbed the back of his head again and said, "Umm…yeah, call out if you need anything." He proceeded down stairs for some long awaited supper.
Saya set the bowl on the bedside table and dipped the rag into it. Wringing it out, she felt Kohta's forehead and then placed the rag there. She felt his cheeks and chest and wiped them down with the rag. He's sweating and I think he's starting to get the chills. She thought to herself as the door opened and Shizuka walked in.
"How is he looking?" the nurse asked, as she walked over carrying a small dish in her hand.
"I think he is starting to get the chills," Saya said as the nurse put her hand on Kohta's cheek and forehead.
Shizuka nodded, "The fever is fighting the infection, and the body is fighting the fever. Cover him with a blanket when he starts to shake, but take it off him as soon as you're sure he has stopped." She set the dish and a bottle of water on the table, "Take a little of this aspirin paste on this tongue depressor and place it in his mouth, rubbing it on his tongue. His natural reaction should be to suck on it and swallow the paste. I crushed four aspirin so give him about half over the next few minutes and the rest a couple of hours from now. If he wakes up, try to get him to take some water, but don't worry if he doesn't. With the alcohol and meds in him I don't really expect him to wake until sometime tomorrow."
Saya told her ok as she tucked the blanket around Kohta. Shizuka patted her on the shoulder and said, "I'm going across the hall with Alice and try to get some rest. Come get me if you need to."
Saya nodded as the blond stretched her arms above her head causing her boobs to almost fall out of the bottom of her shirt. "Oooo, sometimes they just have minds of their own!" she said as she rearranged them and started out the door.
Saya watched her with raised eyebrows and thought, Suddenly the bimbo is back! She shook her head wondering where the doctor in the woman's brain wandered off to.
The house grew darker as the last of the day drifted away into night. Saya stood at the window for a while just looking at the city with no lights. "The stars seem so bright now," She thought looking up at them. What was that saying from that movie? 'We will not go quietly into the dark', She wondered if she would ever see a movie again as she curled up in a wing-backed chair and tried to doze.
Throughout the night, she got up several times to check on Kohta. She gave him the rest of the paste, and even got him to take a little water once. She tried to doze more, but the chair was hard, so she finally gave up and went to lie on the bed on his uninjured side.
As she lay in the dark, she watched his face in the moonlight coming through the window. She smiled slightly and took his hand in hers thinking, Fat otaku, you get to sleep in the bed with me and don't even know it. I bet that would give you a nosebleed!
A/N: I want to thank JM1681 and MarshalZhukov for the help they have given. I'm dyslexic and really have problems with spelling and commas.
Please Review and Favorite! Also take a look at my Black Lagoon and other stories.
*Onna-bugeisha - female samurai
*Baka – Fool
Music I listened to while writing this.
Heroes – Shinedown
It's Not Easy – Five for Fighting
Drops of Jupiter – Train
Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
It's Not Over – Chris Daughtry
Far Away – Nickleback
Fighter – Christina Aguilera
Numb – Linkin Park
Click Click Boom – Saliva
TNT – AC/DC
Call Me When You're Sober – Evanescence
Bring Me to Life – Evanescence
Broken – Seether & Amy Lee
Hurt - Christina Aguilera
In he Deep – Bird York
Savin' Me – Nickleback
Somebody Save Me – Remy Zero
Waiting on the World to Change – John Mayer
It Ends Tonight – The All-American Rejects
Prelude 12/21 - AFI