Disclaimer: Mai-hime belongs to Sunrise.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait! And thank you for those who reviewed. I have also revised chapter 1, you read it again first before proceeding with chapter 2. And also, please ignore the timeline of HOTD and this story.

Warning: Character death. Which one's already dead, which one's going to die... I don't know yet. But it's a zombie story therefore, someone is definitely going to die or already dead.

CHAPTER 2 - Afternoon with the dead

It's already been five days since the outbreak. Five days of running from both living and the dead. It's a shame to witness what a person can do in time of crisis. At first, people were helpful with each other; giving aid, Tending the wounded and providing food and shelter. However, as they realized the after effect of the wounded caused by the bite of the undead, people became scared. Infected or not, family or friend, they didn't care anymore. In less than a day, it's everyone for themselves.

It usually took me five long freaking hours to reach Kyoto. Four if I decided to break every possible traffic rules possible. Five long hours of joy ride, which I really enjoyed a lot, will reward me the presence of my most important person... Shizuru. She left Fuuka for Kyoto not only to study but to also shadow her ageing parents in managing their business. You see... my best friend and most important person was the sole heir of the Fujino Enterprise, one of the most powerful companies in the country. They came from old money, heck Shizuru can live in luxury without lifting a finger. She once told me that she's not interested in inheriting their company. "Errr... if you're not interested, then what do you want to do?" I asked her, after she told me her displeasure in returning back to Kyoto permanently. It was then she cocked her head to her left and made her famous thinking pose as if she wanted me to believe that she was thinking... but knowing her, she already knew what she wanted. She looked me in the eye and said "I want to be Natsuki's wife!" Whether she was joking or not... my heart sank.

But now, it's been five days and I'm not even half way there. Fives days of agony and pain. Five days of sadness and sorrow. Five days of longing and emptyness. Since the day that she left for university, I felt that a part of me has disappeared. I knew she's just hours away but it's still felt different when she's constantly around me. It's funny... thinking back... a few months before this craziness... I was all alone. And then there was Shizuru, the person whose always been surrounded by people. She's like a fire that attracted moths, but instead of burning them, she welcomed them. I on the other hand was as cold as an ice... lone wolf... ice princess... those were the names that I hear them call me. And now, it's been five days and I don't even know if Shizuru's still alive... I wanted to lose hope, to just give up, to just put a bullet in my head so I won't turn into those mother fucker. But I knew, Shizuru's strong. She seemed careless but she's an extremely sharp individual. And I believe just like me, she's fighting her way to find me... and maybe... just maybe... we can find each other sooner than expected.

It pained me to witness people turned against each other. Just the other day at the house that I temporarily sought shelter, I saw a father and daughter trying to seek refuge in one of the houses with the lights on. He banged and banged the door begging for help while trying to kill the walkers behind them. At the rate he was going, he attracted more attention to the walkers and put themselves into more danger. After I heard him made a few more shots and then there was none. I assumed that he finally ran out of bullets. Poor thing. I pitied them... both him and his daughter... especially the child whom I believe was only around 7 to 9 years of age. She was young and so much more to live. Darn this cruel world.

My fingers itched as my desire to help them deepened, but studying the area, there's no way in hell that I could make it to them alive. I don't even know how long would it take me to hide in this house in order for those walkers to move on. In the five days that I've been surviving, there's one thing that leaned... you can't save everybody.

I can still remember the lunch that we had that afternoon, Mai like always cooked us a hefty meal. Feeding Mikoto was like feeding a dozen pig. That child really got a bottomless fit. Always hungry. It's just a good thing that she burns those calories fast, heh... I really can't imagine a very fat Mikoto. I was enjoying my mayo sandwich as usual when the ground shook. After exchanging words, we decided to leave it be. For all we know, it can be some government project trying to fix something in the drainage or sewer. But even if we decided to let it pass, I sensed the concern in Mikoto and Nao's eyes.

I decided to skip the afternoon class and went back to my apartment. It took a few months for the whole building to be fixed. No thanks to Nao and her child for destroying it in the first place. But I can't really blame her, we were all manipulated by the Obsidian Lord. Mai took me in. I shared a room with her and Mikoto. "Why don't you just live with us. The dorm's closer and you don't need to worry about being late." She said. "You can have Mikoto's bed." I raised a brow at her statement. Why was she giving me her room mate's bed. Noticing the confusion in my face she explain. "Mikoto doesn't use it anyway. She always ended up in my chest the next morning." And that sounded even weirder. If I have know better, I'd think that she's cheating Tate for Mikoto... but that was not Mai and Mikoto's too innocent for those stuff. I smiled and gladly accepted her offer, but only until my apartment was fixed. I do love my privacy.

After taking a power nap, I made a decision to visit Shizuru. I knew that it was her turn to visit me. She should be by my door first thing tomorrow. Even if she's too busy with university and work, she has not failed to visit. "Natsuki's my energy source. Just by seeing you makes all tiredness go away." Her words were simple but full of meaning. As I stepped off from the shower, I heard commotions from the outside. I ignored it, thinking that it were just some punks being an ass. I slip on my riding suit which I knew Shizuru adores. Not only that I looked like a badass but I must admit that I did look damn sexy on it.

When I was about to leave my unit, my phone rang. I already knew the caller because of the ring tone. It was Mai. I'm sure she found out that I played hooky. Well, here goes the nagging. "Hello." I said as a normal response, maybe she called for another reason.

"Natsuki?"

Her voiced was different. It's not motherly. She sounded like she was crying or about to cry. Darn Tate! But wait, it might not be him. I knew he loved Mai so much to hurt her.

"Natsuki?"

She asked again, it was clearer this time. She doesn't sounded hurt... but scared. I can feel her fear through her voice and I can imagine tears running from her eyes.

"Mai! What happened? What's wrong?" I asked, raising my voice. Back then, I don't really care about other people but myself. But as I gained friends, I became protective. Mai was one of my best friend, next to Shizuru of course, and I really care about her. "Calm down! Where are you? What's happening."

I heard her took a deep breath before she replied to my inquiry.

"Me and Mikoto were walking back to the dorms... and then... and then... people started eating each other."

What the hell? I though. Is Mai on drugs? If Mai's voice doesn't sounded scared, then I may have think of something perverted on her statement. I shrugged at the thought and decided to lisFive. Mai would never play prank on me. "Mai... I don't understand. What do you mean people eating each other? And where's Mikoto. You have to calm down and tell me exactly what happened.

"Natsuki... I stayed after school of bake more cookies after everyone at the cooking club left. I know Shizuru-san will be visiting you tomorrow and I wanted to give you the cookies so you can offer something healthy to snack on tomorrow. Of course, I also made more for Tate and Mikoto. So while I was cleaning up, Mikoto showed up to fetch me stating that she was very hungry."

Mai paused for a while. I assumed she's gathering her thoughts.

"And then, as we were walking to the dorm, there's suddenly shouting. I saw students running in every direction. Screaming for help. I panicked. I thought it was the first district again. Without my HIME powers, I'm useless. Unlike you, Mikoto, Shizuru-san, Akira and Midori, I don't have any combat skills. But Mikoto calmed me. She fetched a nearby branch to be used as a substitute for a sword."

As Mai talked, I heard commotions in the background, loud banging and screaming. It was then that I decided to peak on my window and was shocked to witness chaos. People were running everywhere. At the corner of the street I saw a man wielding a bat to another. He took a swing at the man but it was of no effect... as if the man was Superman and the hit didn't matter. What surprised me was the next event. A woman from behind suddenly bit the man with the bat on his neck that tore the flesh and blood gushed out. The other man proceed to 'eat' the fallen man too and a few more seconds, other men surrounded and 'ate' the fallen man. I blinked once... twice... I rubbed my eyes to ensure I wasn't hallucinating. Hell! I even slapped myself to ensure I wasn't dreaming. It was like I'm on a movie and or in a role playing game.

"And then this student suddenly grabs me... he was about to bite me when Mikoto saved me... "

Shit! I forgot about Mai being to the other line. If I'm right, then those things were zombies and if those movies were correct, no one can survive a zombie bite. "Where are you and Mikoto? Were anyone of you got bitFive?"

"I'm at the dorm, in our room. Mikoto manages to get me us in here. But she left, saying that she needed to find Nao and get herself a weapon."

"I need you to stay put Mai. I'm coming." A ended the call and a sudden thought struck me. "Fuck! Shizuru!"

I pressed the speed dial on my phone as I opened my cabinet. Hidden at the back was a big box that contains my own personal collection. No... not lingerie... my 'other' collection. I cursed when I heard my call went to voicemail. I tried again as I opened the box. I smirked as a twin desert eagle greeted me. I bought those babies a few weeks after we lost our HIME powers. It's supposed to be for emergencies. I never really thought that this day will come.

I dialed Shizuru's number again while I discarded my riding suit. I wore a much comfortable jeans, a tank top, button up shirt and a jacket. If I'm going to war, I better look like a bad ass. I knew time was an essence and Mai was waiting, but it only took me a few minutes to gear up. If what was happening was real, then it's better to be prepared. After I holstered the dessert eagle, I took all the extra rounds and placed them in a backpack. I cursed again as my call to Shizuru went into voicemail. "Fuck!"

I reached for the remote control and hoped that the news can somehow be helpful. But I was wrong. Every news channel showed chaos. The police were useless. I watched them waste bullets to both living and the dead. Really... haven't they watched zombie films? The best way to kill them was to blow their brains out. But hey, that's fiction and this was reality. "Darn it" I almost wanted to throw away my phone because I can't reach Shizuru. I needed to get to her. But what about Mai? Darn it! Darn in all!

The decision I made was hard. Shizuru or Mai. Of course that's a stupid option for I will always choose Shizuru. But given the circumstances, I do not know where SHizuru was. I can't reach her via phone. Based on the chaos outside, mass panic has started and I believe all roads should be jammed nor close. I knew for a fact that Shizuru's strong and smart. I just hoped that she was not taken by surprise. I grabbed my keys and hoped that I can find my way to Mai using my bike. Besides, if I was to journey to Kyoto, I will be needing all the help I can get.

I was thankful that I did not encounter any issue on my short flight from my second floor apartment to the parking lot. I proceeded with caution as I opened the parking door. I sighed in relief to find it empty. I ran towards my bike and started to revved the engine to life. I started my journey towards Mai.

The best thing about sneaking my into the school was that I knew the ins and outs from my apartment to the school. I used the back road, a hidden path in the forest. It is there where I always hid my bike. I felt lucky as I was still unable to encounter anyone, be it a living or dead however, I clearly heard the screams of my fellow students.

I crouched while I ran towards the dorm. I paused and hid behind the bushes. I saw the dorm and the place was in chaos. Students and teachers were running for their lives. In a not so distant I saw a familiar figure trying to fight off the undead. It was Tate, still wearing his kendo uniform. He was already in a pinch, he has been surrounded, in any moment one of those undead can bite him from behind. His hits were strong but, he his goal was only to incapacitate and not to kill, which was completely wrong. Those mother fuckers were already dead.

Unholstering my weapon, I successfully shot the undead that was about to bite him from the side. The sound of shot echoed across the field that attracted the undead. However, that's not only my problem as other people came rushing to be. They must have thought that I could save them. They were wrong.

"Tate! Run!" My voiced seemed to shook Tate from his shock. I pointed to the direction of the dorm and we both continued to run until we reach the entrance. I observed some students ran inside maybe to barricade themselves, some ran outside in an effort to escape. I tighten my grip to my gun as I nodded to Tate to continue forward. Unfortunately, we need to climb seven floors inorder to reach Mai.

The corridor on Mai's floor was empty but messy. We ignored everything and focused on getting to Mai. I reached for her doorknob and it was locked. I knocked once. "Mai..." whispered then knocked again.

"Mai!" It was Tate this time. His voice was full of concern. What if Mai panicked and did not stay put. What if we missed her. What if... But before I dwelled on every possible what if scenarios, we heard commotions inside. I heard something was being pushed or pulled. Maybe Mai barricaded herself.

"Natsuki?" I heard her scared voice.

"Yes Mai! It's me. I'm with Tate. Open up. Hurry!" I commanded her and the door slowly opened.

Mai then engulfed me into a tight embrace before the door even swung fully opened. She then cried hard. What the hell happened? I gushed her to go inside and nodded Tate to follow us. I released Mai, it was then that she only realized that I was with her boyfriend. She must not have heard me told her earlier. I secured the locks on the door and proceed to block it with the couch. When I turned around, I saw the two love birds engaged in a tight embrace.

"You're safe!" I heard Mai said while pounding Tate's chest. "I can't contact you! I can't reach you! God! I was so worried!" She continued to cry.

"Shhhhhh..." was Tate's respond. "I'm here and safe." He assured her and Mai continued to sob. "I'm sorry my mobile phone's not with me during training and when all hell broke loose, I didn't have anytime to fetch it, instead I ran directly here."

I gave the two a little space and I proceed to observed the surrounding through the open window. It was already dark and quiet outside. I can't see any signs of life. Only the undead remained. They were just standing there... everywhere... waiting for prey.

"Natsuki?" Mai called. She sounded calmer now. I was about to close the window when suddenly a figure appeared. "Fuck!" I said as I lost my balance due to shock. I was about to pull my gun when I finally realized that it was Mikoto, her shirt was torn and dirty. The feline girl really gave me a fright. After I calmed myself down. I noticed that she was not alone.

"Shiho!" I heard Tate screamed. He pulled away from Mai and proceed to help Mikoto.

Mikoto dropped the swords that she was carrying and help lay Shiho in the bed. It was then that I saw blood and I immediately pulled my gun.

"Natsuki!" It was Mai. She was surprised by my action. "What are you doing."

"Whose blood was that?!" I questioned.

"It was Shiho's. She was bitFive. I saw her hidden behind the tree and before I can get to her, a man has already bitFive a part of her arm. I used my clothes to cover the wound and stop the bleeding." Mikoto explained.

"And you?" I followed up.

"I'm ok." Was her short response.

"Get away from her! All of you!" I commanded. And when they didn't bulge, I explained further. "Surely you all watched zombie films and believe it or not it's happening right now. I don't have any idea if Shiho's going to turn just like in the movies but looking at her, we can never be so sure. So both of you move!"

"Shiho..." Tate whispered her name as he slowly walked away. Mikoto also distanced herself.

"Oni-chan..." Shiho called for him. Her voice was weak and scared. She lifted a hand which Tate hurriedly took. "Oni-chan..."

"I'm here Shiho... I'm here..." Tate replied. "What are you feeling right now? Look... we are going to treat you. You're going to be ok." Tate said. He tried to be positive but we all knew that it was futile. We were stuck in a room with only a first aid kid and the kid needed more than that.

"I... I..." Shiho tried to talk but I sensed her difficulty. "I don't want to turn into them... please... " I saw tears came from her eyes. "Please... kill me... Don't let me turn into them... please oni-chan." Shiho begged. She must have also watched those zombie films and knew exactly what was ahead. But I knew that there's a big line between fiction and reality. Shiho might still make it.

Tate looked at me. His eyes sought answer. I sighed. "No Shiho, I'm sorry." I calmly said. "I'm not sure if were going to die and turn into one of them. This is reality and not some kind of a movie." I replied. I just contrasted myself from earlier and this was bad. I shook my head in order to clear my thoughts. I need to stay positive and hoped for the best. Besides, I still has not witnessed the whole process. If Shiho died and turned then I'll put a bullet in her skull but as long as she's alive, then we can only hope.

"I'm not going to commit murder." I told them. "But we can never be sure... so please stay away from her." They all both nodded. "Mikoto, Tate, help me push Shiho's bed to the corner of the room. And let's push the other bed to the other corner. We need to be cautious."

After moving the beds, I saw Mikoto picked up samurais and gave me, Tate and Mai each. She must have taken if from display in the school dojo. "It's not Miroku... but it will do." Mikoto said as she inspect her samurai. She must have also though of her child. We wouldn't be in this pinch if we still have them. Darn!

"Mikoto... why don't you clean up first." She nodded and proceed to the bathroom. Then I looked at couple who were again in each other's arm. "Mai... Can you make us something to eat and please be as quiet as possible?" I told her. I knew that if I could keep her busy then she wouldn't need to think of the situation. She nodded and headed for the kitchen.

"Tate..." He looked up and waited for anything that I was about to say. It was then that my phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and saw an unfamiliar number. My heart started to beat faster and I got this tingling sensation that I needed to answer it. "Hello?"

"Natsuki!"

My eyes widened as I heard those familiar voice. "Shizuru!"

TBC

A/N: So... shall we kill Shiho? Where are the other HIMEs. Find out soon! :)