"Hey, Takashi. Class is going to start soon," Mikado said. He gazed nervously at the brunette teen. It was almost a lie to say it will start soon since it basically already started.

Takashi turned to look at the intruder. "Oh, Mikado. It's just you," he smiled at his friend tiredly. Over the course of two months, he and Mikado grew closer. Takashi even started to tease raven about his feminine features. Mikado would pout, earning even more teasing from the older.

"We should get to class," Mikado walked up to him, pulling lightly at his sleeve nervously. Takashi sighed as he leaned even more heavily against the railing. Mikado looked worriedly at his friend.

He has acted like this ever since Rei broke up with him and started dating Hisashi.

A loud banging noise startled both teens as they instantly turned to see what made the noise. A man was walking into the closed gate, his arms outstretched and into the gaps between the bars. He continued to walk into the gate, as if he could easily walk through it.

The two teens remained silent as they watched four teachers, two of them were nervous while the only female pointed her finger warningly at him. She glared at the man behind the gate angrily. The man seemed to ignore everything that she said. Teshima-sensei said something, looking completely smug, before he grabbed the man by his shirt and pulled him roughly into the gate.

The two cowering teachers took steps back, shaking slightly in their spots. Hayashi-sensei screamed at something. Teshima-sensei's eyes widened as the man grabbed his arm and brought it close to his face.

The man behind the gate bit into his arm, earning a scream from the P.E teacher. The three others took steps back from the flailing teacher. He fell to the ground, blood gushing from his arm and making a large puddle around him. Mikado felt bile rise in his throat. Takashi wasn't any better, but he couldn't take his eyes off the scene. Neither of them could.

Teshima suddenly stopped moving, his mouth open wide, no noise coming from him. Hayashi moved closer to the teacher nervously. The two other male teachers stayed behind, both watching with large eyes.

Teshima seemed to twitch, earning a smile from the female who walked up to him. That is, until his grabbed her blouse and pulled himself up, taking a chunk out of her neck. A shrill scream echoed throughout the school as she fell over, Teshima falling on top of her, taking out even more chunks with his mouth.

Mikado covered his mouth, turning away from the scene. Takashi watched for slightly longer before taking the raven and rushing into the school.

Mikado had slightly difficulty in keeping up, but the firm grip on his wrist made sure he wasn't left behind. Mikado winced, knowing he would be bruised there later. Takashi lead them towards where Rei's and Hisashi's class is, banging open the door.

He released the other teen's wrists as he walked up to Rei, fierce determination in his eyes.

"Komuro-kun. Not only are you cutting class, but you are-," the teacher was stopped when Takashi pulled Rei up from her seat. "We need to get out of here," he said. Rei glared at him, clearly not understanding.

"What are you doing! I am in the middle of-," she was cut of just like the teacher. "It doesn't matter!" Takashi yelled, making the poor girl, and several other, wince. Hisashi glared before turning towards Mikado.

He rose a brow, earning a frown and a nod of the head from Mikado. 'We need to get out' he mouthed to the boy who then returned his gaze back to Takashi and his girl. Takagi Saya glared at Takashi, rising from her seat to glare at him. "What the hell Komuro!?" she shouted angrily, being ignored like everyone else.

"What are you doing with Rei?" he asked angrily. Takashi released his hold on her as he turned his gaze to his friend.

"Some teachers were killed by the front gate. No bullshit," he whispered, earning some people leaning in to hear him, including Rei. Hisashi's golden eyes widened at that, before narrowing once more. In there discussion, Takashi had let go of Rei who was glaring between the two angrily.

"Your serious?" the question earned him a glare from the other. "What the hell would I gain out of any of that?" he question, both ignoring the chatter around them.

Mikado shuffled his feet as he heard his name a few times. Rei pushed herself between the two, glaring Takashi down the whole time. "Wait a second! You can't keep me in the dark! I real-" she was interrupted by a slap to the face from Takashi.

He glared angrily down at her, seriousness dripping from his tone. "Will you listen! Those teachers are dead," he whispered harshly. The teacher was too stunned to do anything by that point.

Hisashi and Mikado shared a glance before the golden eyed teen grabbed both Takashi and Rei, pulling them out of the class. "Where are you all going?!" the teacher shouted, getting his baring back. Mikado smiled nervously at him, but none answered the question.

The four ran down the halls, Takashi and Hisashi leading the way. "Something happened at the front gate. If we want to live, we got to run away," Takashi said. Rei growled low in her throat, glaring at the back of Takashi's head.

Mikado sighed as he struggled to keep up with the taller teens. "Something at the front gate? That's it?" Rei growled.

Takashi looked over his shoulder and glared. "Someone was at the front gate and some teachers went to see who. Something happened and now those teachers are dead-" "You expect me to believe that?!" Rei shouted at Takashi's explanation.

Mikado brushed against her arm, earning her attention. "I saw it to. What Takashi says is true, no matter how much I wish it wasn't," he mumbled the last bit to himself. Rei's eyes softened before nodding.

Takashi nodded in thanks to the raven before Hisashi stopped them at a janitors door.

"If what Takashi says is true, then we will need something to defend ourselves," Hisashi explained as he took a mop and broke off the mop, handing Rei the stick. He then handed Takashi a bat.

He looked over the soap and buckets before shutting the door. "There isn't anything left. I have a black belt in karate so I should be fine, but we might have to watch over Mikado," the three looked over the shorter teen, who blushed at the looks.

"We should get out of the school. I am worried about my family," Hisashi commented. Mikado stiffened slightly before gazing at the floor. "Family, huh," he whispered, unheard by the others.

Mikado felt no worry to those he called a family. They ignored him, so he ignored them. They were more like close acquaintances then blood relatives. The people Mikado was worried about, was his friends in Ikebukuro. They lived in a city. A large, populated city.

But even then, he couldn't worry about them. They were too far away. Three hours if you followed the speed limit, and didn't get caught in traffic. So the only person he needed to worry about was...Izaya.

Mikado fingered the pen in his pocket, his eyes darkening as he ignored all that was going on around him. He felt a grin tug at his lips as he thought of the reason why he had a pen in his pocket. Well, when you live with Izaya, you need some form of protection from his flying knives.

He was brought from his musing when the announcements came on. "Attention all students and Teachers. Attention all students and teachers," Mikado peered at the others, worried at the tears that were in Rei's eyes. "We are currently in a violent situation. Students, follow your teachers evacuation orders. I repeat. We are currently in a-" the sound of a door sliding open rang through the speakers. The silence was thick as everyone held their breathes.

"NO!" the scream caused the four to jump and their eyes to widen. "Help me! Stop! Help! OW, that hurts! Help, I'm going to DIE!" a final, agonizing scream echoed throughout the school. Rei's tears fell.

More screams followed of people panicking and loud footsteps echoed through the building. Takashi and Hisashi shared a look before nodding and running in the opposite direction of the front gate. Rei turned to them with wide eyes.

"Wait! Aren't we getting out of here?!" she shouted after them, Mikado and herself rushing to follow. "The classrooms are full of people trying to get out! We need to go through the administrative building," Hisashi explained.

They were coming up towards a corner when someone limped around it. The four stopped and looked at the person. Mikado took out his pen, his eyes narrowing at the teacher before them.

"Isn't that Wakisaka-sensei from current events?" Rei asked. Takashi glared at him, gripping his bat tightly. "Will he try to stop us?" he questioned back. Mikado looked over the teacher, his eyes widening when he spotted the blood pooling around his feet and staining his pants.

The teachers mouth opened wide as he stumbled towards Rei. Her eyes widened as he got closer, her grip tightening on her staff. "Get away from him!" Mikado shouted, fear and excitement running through his veins.

Rei stumbled back as he reached out to her, taking a few feeble swings of her staff. Wakisaka continued on, her eyes narrowed angrily. "Don't mess with a member of the sou-jutsu club!" she shouted before stabbing the teacher in his chest.

Takashi grinned, applauding her. Hisashi remained silent as he watched the man that was on the other side of Rei's pole. "Rei! Back off!" he shouted, earning a confused look from the honey haired girl. "What?!" she tightened her hold on the pole when it started moving. The man gripped it, throwing her into the wall.

She shrieked, not loosening her hold on the staff, keeping the man a decent distance from her. "I-I pierced his heart! Why is he still moving?!" Rei screamed as the teacher tried to reach her. Hisashi growled before grabbing the teacher. "Rei! Pull it out!" he ordered. She pulled her broken mop out of Wakisaka and scattered a several feet away from the teacher.

Mikado's eyes widened as he quickly went behind Hisashi and said teacher, his eyes dark and narrowed. "Hisashi! Get away from him!" Takashi yelled. Hisashi just smirked as he tightened his hold on the teacher.

"Don't worry. I got him," he replied back. That is, until the teacher started to overpower him. Wakisaka turned his neck too far to be normal while also grabbing hold of Hisashi's arm. "W-what the hell is this s-strength?!" his eyes widened as he watched the teacher open his mouth, as though about to bite him.

But the bite never came.

The teacher froze mid-way to biting Hisashi before he crumbled to the floor like a rag doll, a pen sticking out of his head. Above the carcass stood Mikado, his eyes dark and face shadowed. The three teens stood paralyzed as the teen inspected the body.

"He should have been dead a long time ago judging by the blood," he mumbled to himself as he took out the pen from the teachers head. Rei ran up and threw her arms around her boyfriend, speaking thanks rapidly to the short teen.

Mikado's eyes lightened instantly to their normal azure blue as he blushed brightly at the thanks. "What the hell?" Takashi whispered as he stared at the teen with a slack jaw. Hisashi had the same thought as he wrapped his arms around Rei and tried not to fall over from her extra weight.

"Are you okay?" Mikado asked as he gazed worriedly at the golden eyed teen. Hisashi nodded dumbly as Rei got off of him and bowed towards the, once again, flustered teen.

He smiled shyly before putting his bloody pen in his pocket, shocking the two older teens.

He had that with him the entire time!? Hisashi's and Takashi's eyes widened as they stared at Mikado, who was trying to calm Rei down. His gaze found theirs and looked at them worriedly. "Is something wrong?" he asked, getting confused look from Rei. The two teens shook their heads quickly. 'Am I glad he is with us,' went through both of their heads.

Mikado smiled meekly at them before turning and frowning at the corpse. "He was already dead. He was dead and walking," he said in a morbid tone, his gaze empty as he stared at the dead teacher. "That is why he didn't die when Rei stabbed in through the heart," he pointed out.

Takashi took a closer look at the body and immediately found a bite wound on his leg. His eyes narrowed at it before straightening once more. Moans were coming from where Wakisaka came from, making the teens stiffen.

"We should go down to the first floor," Rei suggested, hurrying towards the stairs. She stopped short at the screams that echoed from below.

"Stop!"

"That hurt!"

"Don't bite me!"

"Don't eat me!"

Rei's hands cupped her mouth, her skin looking greener by each shout she heard. Hisashi grabbed her and pulled her up the stairs. "Up the stairs. We can get to the roof," Mikado nodded, following after them. Takashi brought up the rear. Soon they found themselves on the roof and to the most disturbing sight they have ever seen.

The small city that surrounded the school had smoke coming up from multiple areas. People were heard screaming all around and car horns blared. Fire was covering houses and stores, sirens wailing from every direction.

"What the hell is going on?" Takashi asked as he looked around the school. People, students and teachers alike, were limping across the ground; eating, moaning, dead.

"No wonder the police wouldn't pick up," Hisashi spoke numbly. Takashi cursed, glaring at the ground below them. Rei and Mikado took in the scene quietly with wide eyes. A sudden rush of air caused the four to look up with even wider eyes than before.

Over head, helicopters flew over with military forces. The strong winds coming from the turbines caused both Rei and Mikado to almost fall over. Hisashi quickly secured Rei by wrapping his arm around her waist, keeping her stationary. Takashi grabbed Mikado's arm and pulled him close, wrapped his arm around the teen's shoulders.

The four watched the helicopters with wide eyes as the flew off. Rei escaped Hisashi and waved her arms, trying to gain their attention. "Hey! Over here!" she shouted. Mikado and Hisashi looked sadly over to her.

"Americans?" Takashi asked. Mikado shook his head, both unaware that they had yet to separate. Hisashi smiled at them before tugging Rei's arms down. "It is no use. They are Black Hawks. Self-defense force," he said. Rei rose a brow at him.

"But they don't have any bases around here," Takashi said, a clueless look on his face. Hisashi sighed, watching as they flew away. "They won't help us. Takashi is right to question where they came from. They are most likely here to carry out a specific order, they don't have time to help us. Shit. They aren't even doing anything about that," he pointed below them.

People were laying limp on the ground, blood covering the ground in large puddles. Some limping and some still trying to escape.

Rei looked sadly down at the school ground below them. "Outside. Everyone is trying to escape. Inside the building...," Hisashi trailed off unhappily. An image of Wakisaka's corpse popped into the fours' heads.

"You become one of them by contracting the disease. If it enters the body...," Mikado trailed off. Takashi looked worriedly down at the teen before putting space between them, but making sure he was still close by. Mikado smiled at him nervously. "Them?" Takashi questioned. Mikado nodded quietly.

"We can't call them zombies no matter what they may seem like. This isn't a movie or comic book. So it is them," he explained. The three listened quietly, all looking equally tired and on-edge.

"All we need to do is crush the head. Destroy the brain. That seems like the only way we can kill them," Mikado spoke again. Rei sighed, remembering when she stabbed Wakisaka. And he didn't go down like he should have.

Moans were heard coming up the stairway. Takashi immediately closed the door to the roof and tried to lock it, but his eyes narrowed angrily. "Shit. It is broken," he growled. "Hisashi, what do we do!" he looked towards the golden eyed teen, who looked around the roof.

"We get to the observatory. We can barricade it and think of a plan then," the three nodded and quickly rushed up the steps. Some of them were already waiting though.

Takashi and Mikado made it to the top, Hisashi close behind them. Rei brought up the rear. She turned around and stabbed one of them in the chest. Takashi's eyes widened. "No! You idiot!" he shouted at her. She turned to glare at him. "What?!" she tightened her hold on the broken mop just as he grabbed it and threw her into the side of the building.

"R-" "REI!" Hisashi took Takashi's bat and smashed him on the head just as he was about to bite Rei. Rei smiled gratefully up at him. "See. You need to smash their heads," he scolded, bringing Rei up.

Takashi remained silent as he and Mikado grabbed a table from inside the observatory and placed it in the way of the stairs. "We need something to keep this here," Mikado said as they started to bang on the table. Hisashi vanished inside the observatory to come back out with a thing of tape.

"Cellophane tape?" Takashi started to question, but Mikado shook his head at him. After Hisashi finished, the three guys sat on the opposite side of the barricade. Mikado lay on the ground while Takashi and Hisashi say by each other, leaning against the railing.

Rei came out of the observatory carrying a duffel bag and four water bottles, all completely filled.

"There is enough food to last us a week if rationed properly. And some water," she handed out the water to everyone. Mikado took it happily, downing a good quarter of it. Takashi doing the same while Rei and Hisashi took small little sips.

"So where did you hide that pen?" the question startled Mikado as he looked wide eyed at the teen. Hisashi also froze for a second before turning towards Mikado waiting for an answer.

Mikado rubbed the back of his head, a nervous smile on his face. "Ah. Well," he started quietly. "I always have it with me. You all just don't say anything because I don't just go around stabbing people with it," he said with a small smile. Takashi rose a brow at him.

"I kind of live with a crazy guy who likes knives so, a pen isn't so bad," he said slowly, a small blush worming itself onto his face. Hisashi nearly choked on his water. "What the hell!" he shouted, looking at the teen with wide eyes.

"You should tell the police!" Rei shouted, equally disturbed. Mikado just smiled at them, happy that they care. "It won't do any good. He is rich and insane. Never a good combination. Besides, he is fun to live with once you get to know him," he said back easily.

"Why a pen though?" Takashi asked, completely confused but rolling with it. It was Mikado's turn to look at them funnily. "Would the school really allow me to walk around with a knife. Besides, pens don't bring up unwanted questions," he explained coolly.

Hisashi and Rei looked at him like he was crazy while Takashi just shrugged. "I guess. I prefer something I can actually hold in my hand though. A pen is way too small," Rei glared at Takashi.

"Don't encourage him!" she shrieked, earning a hard look from Takashi. "This is the end of the world! He needs to fight now," he countered, making Rei's face turn red.

Hisashi pulled Rei close, trying to calm her. He saw the reason in both of them. Mikado was the youngest, but he also seemed like one of the more experienced.

"Thank you," Hisashi thanked. The three looked at him curiously. "If you didn't have that pen with you, I could have been one of them," he explained with a grin. Mikado blushed before turning away, trying to hide it. He nodded silently.

The three laughed quietly at him, making his blush darken further. Takashi stood leaning against the rail. "Damn things," he growled, about to throw his water bottle at one. Rei snapped at him angrily.

Mikado continued to lounge on the ground, his eyes closed as he zoned everything out. He ignored everything. Every word his friends' spoke, every moan and groan, everything. Nothing sounded soothing anymore.

In the distance, sirens roared and screams were heard. The wind carrying the screams and pleas. He would have been able to hear everything from those unfortunate to get caught, and those unlucky enough to be one of them. Not pleasant at all.

So he happily ignored the chatter and the annoying buzzing on his thigh. Wait. Buzzing?

Mikado quickly sat up, startling the other teens, and dug through his pocket, the non-bloody one. He quickly pulled out his phone and answered, not caring who it was. "Hello?" he questioned. The silence on the other side scared the teen, but he waited patiently for someone to speak.

"Mikado?" the suddenly very pleasing sound if Izaya's voice brought a smile to the teen's face. "Orihara-san," the raven gently caressed the phone to his ear. The three curious teens got closer, trying to eavesdrop on the conversation.

"Are you okay? Haven't been bitten?" the serious tone that the normally carefree man used make Mikado's stomach flutter. His smile widened just a fraction. "I haven't been bitten. What about you? Are you okay?" he asked in return. Izaya remained silent for a while, distant moans worrying the teen.

"I am fine. Just waiting for school to let out," the informant joked lightly. Mikado rolled his eyes. "Yes, I may have to stay after school for some extra credit," the small teen played along. Izaya chuckled from his end.

Mikado remained silent for a moment, questioning whether the man would answer. "Orihara-san, where are you?" he asked softly. The teens waited patiently for something to happen, including Mikado. The moans and groans were getting louder and sounding as though the number of them were growing.

"I am waiting," the line cut off, angering the raven teen. He scowled, stunning the three silent teens with him. "Waiting where?!" he growled, standing the clenching his phone tightly in his hands.

Takashi was the only one brave enough to come close to the teen as he set his hand gently on the teen's shoulder. "Mikado-kun?" Rei question carefully from a safe distance. Mikado relaxed under the touch and soft voice, slowly releasing his hold on the phone.

He sighed, looking slightly better until his anger came back full force. He scowled, lifting his phone and throwing it over the railing, striking one of them dead center on there head, breaking the phone. "Damn him!" he shouted, anger written all over his small form. "Getting me worried and then say he is waiting. Fuck. Waiting where!" the curses unsettled the other three. They had never seen Mikado curse. Ever.

With an angered glare, Mikado stalked up to the barricade. "Where are you going?!" Takashi asked, quickly catching up and stopping the blue eyed teen before he could do anything drastic. Mikado huffed, looking slightly relaxed at the touch. "I am going to go find me a bastard," the teen spoke, once again stunning the teens.

"If you go out there is suicide!" Rei shrieked, also getting angry. Mikado, who was sitting on top of the barricade, Takashi holding his arm keeping him in place, looked over and glared at her. "If we stay here is suicide!" he shouted back, getting ticked off again.

"Then let us think of a plan before we go so we aren't running off blind," Hisashi compromised. Mikado stayed silent before nodding, getting down off the barricade with Takashi's help. "Fine. But I can only stay for an hour. Tops," he warned before sitting back down, completely opposite to Rei.

Takashi sat beside him, worry all over his form. Mikado leaned against him, fury still evident on his features. "Why are you helping me so much?" Mikado asked softly, so not to be over heard by Hisashi or Rei. Takashi smiled at the teen. "You are small and cute and awaken all the big brother instincts in me that I have to help you," he joked, making the younger teen pout. "I am not cute."

The talking didn't help with the one question on everyone's minds. One question that ran through everyone's mind at the same time. The one question that probably would never fully be answered and keep popping into their minds.

'What are we going to do now?'

You all probably though I was going to pair Mikado with Takashi. Nope, but I think most of the HOTD characters will see Mikado as the baby, along with Alice, since the two are the youngest (This is just how my mind works). Takashi is definitely playing the role of protective big brother in my mind. Rei isn't in the family (I still don't like her), Hisashi is just there, Seako is the older protective sister, Saya is the know-it-all sister (I am the know-it-all in my family n.n) and so on and so forth.

Got questions, please review! Or just tell me what you think. Either works. Even uncreative criticism.