Haha, chapter 2! c:
I think that this chapter is going to show that they can have their downtime. Until Yuuta brings a mission up, that is. But we all know by now that when I write a fanfiction, something interesting always happens in the characters' downtime.
Disclaimer: I do not own Zombie-Loan. I only own Amalia.
02: Away From the Sun
Amalia opened her eyes and she saw that she was back in the Z-Loan office. Chika and Michiru were messing with some beads, Shito was reading and Yuuta was giving tea to everyone. "Ah, Ama is awake~!" He said cheerfully. "Amalia!" Chika said, jumping up and scattering the beads that Michiru was holding, making her squeak in surprise. "C-Chika-kun!" She squeaked angrily. "H-Hi…" Amalia said quietly, before looking down. "Eh? Are you alright? You're not in any more pain, right?" Chika asked, rushing over to her. "I…I'm fine." Amalia said, looking at Chika. "Akatsuki was worried." Shito said. "Really?" Amalia asked. "Of course I was! We had a promise, remember?" Chika asked. Amalia smiled. "Yeah…" She said. "Hey, how did ya know about the debt that Shito and I have?" Chika asked. "I've…always known." Amalia whispered. "How?" Chika asked. He took one of Amalia's hands. "I've…just had this feeling. About the time of your accident, I had a bad feeling and then I had a dream. Z-Loan was in it and in the dream you and the boy who turned out to be Shito, made a deal. When I got back to Japan, I checked if Z-Loan was real and…I signed on to help you with your debt." Amalia said. "Why did you do that? It was none of your business." Shito asked, joining the two. "It is too my business! If Chika and I are going to keep the promise we made, then I am helping him, to the best of my ability." Amalia said. "Even if it means you getting killed?"
Amalia looked at Chika and he looked away, letting go of her hand. "Look Amalia. You can't go getting yourself hurt, even if it's to help me and that damn Shito pay back a stupid debt." He said grumpily. "Chika, I can take care of myself! I almost killed that zombie, but you-" Amalia started. "Saved your ass by killing her and making sure you didn't get any more damage done to your body." Shito said. Amalia looked at Shito, who had a look on his face that she didn't know what emotion it was. Amalia bit her lip and touched Chika's shoulder. "Chika. I know that you're worried about me, but I can at least help you guys. I want to help you pay back your loan." Amalia said. Chika looked at her and she smiled. "Besides, I'm sure that it was quite the amount of money to patch Amalia up." Michiru said. "Argh! Damn it Michiru, you had to remind me!" Chika yelled, digging his hands into his hair. "Man, you shouldn't let yourself get too beat up." Chika said with a pout. "I know, because it'll cost a lot." Amalia said with a shrug of her shoulders. "Nah man, not just that. Also because we don't want to see ya become a zombie yerself." Chika said. Amalia laughed and stood, ruffling Chika's hair. "Ah~! Chika, your hair is so fluffy!" She said happily, not noticing how red Chika's face got. He stood up and Amalia hugged him. "Thanks for being an idiot."
Amalia sat on her bed, in a fresh t-shirt and knee-length shorts with a towel on her head, and she sighed as she finished drying her hair. "Chika, you idiot." She thought. She grumbled to herself until she was done drying her hair and she stood to take the towel to the laundry room. When Amalia opened the door, she saw Chika about to knock. "Hey Chika. What's up?" She asked. "Oh, um…I wanted to talk to ya." Chika said. "Okay." Amalia said, waiting for Chika to start talking. Chika sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Earlier you said that you'd explain what you meant when you said that you don't have anywhere else to stay." He said. Amalia smiled softly and turned. "Come in, and close the door behind you." She said. She sat on her bed and Chika joined her. "So…what happened?" Chika asked. "Mom's gone." Amalia said quietly. "Wait, what?!" Chika asked loudly. "Yeah. It…happened a while ago. There was a sort of accident? It…was actually at the same thing that you and Shito almost died at. The Takahashi Overpass collapse incident." Amalia said, pulling her knees closer and hugging them. "W-what?" Chika asked. "Yeah. It…was over six months ago." Amalia said. "What about your grandparents?" Chika asked, turning to look at Amalia. She rested her cheek on her knee and smiled. "They're gone as well."
"So, you're all alone?" Chika asked. "No. I have you. I have your father and Momoka. I have Shito, Michiru, Koyomi and Yuuta. I'm not alone, Chika. I've never been alone." Amalia said. Chika noticed tears falling down her face and he reached over to touch her shoulder. She slightly jumped with his touch and he sighed. "Then why do you get startled every time I touch you?" He asked. "Because it's been so long Chika, and I fear that we've changed." Amalia said. "Changed how?" Chika asked. "Like…we've outgrown things. Childhood promises change after a long time. People change, lives change. Some children…have to grow up father than others." Amalia said. "So…is it because you think that we've both changed too much?" Chika asked. Amalia was silent as more silent tears fell down her face and Chika growled. "Damn it Amalia!" He shouted. Amalia sat there, unaffected and Chika turned towards her, sitting more on the bed. "Ya can't assume that everyone changes! Sure, things happen in life that changes others, but that doesn't mean that everyone is going to forget promises! Especially one like the promise that we made! That's too damn important to forget." Chika said. Amalia still said nothing, and she didn't look at Chika, which frustrated him. "Ah, damn it…" He muttered. Chika pulled Amalia close and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "I won't let you cry any more tears over something like that." He muttered. Amalia wrapped her arms around Chika's neck and continued to cry, into Chika's shirt. "I'm sorry Chika…" She whispered. "For what?" Chika asked; confusion clear on his face and in his voice. "For not being here…" She said. "It's not your fault, now stop your cryin' already damn it!" Chika said, trying not to shout. "I'm sorry…" She whispered. "And stop apologizing!"
Meanwhile, Shito, Koyomi and Michiru were spying on Amalia and Chika by listening into their conversation. "Ah, poor Ama-chan." Koyomi said sadly. "I…didn't know that her mother died then, Shito." Michiru said. "I didn't either. I guess I wasn't paying attention, but that's where I knew that last name from." Shito said. "Ah~ it's suddenly sad! Let's go make some dinner Michiru-chan!" Koyomi said, standing up quickly. "Come on Shito-kun." Michiru said with a smile. "We can come and get them when dinner's ready." She added. Shito nodded and stood, following the girls down the hallway, leaving Chika and Amalia alone.
"A-Ama-chan?" Koyomi called, knocking on her door. "Chika-kun?" Michiru called. "Dinner's ready~!" Koyomi sang happily. "Is it unlocked?" Michiru asked. "Ah! Let's see!" Koyomi said. "W-what if w-we're intruding?!" Michiru sputtered. Koyomi smiled and turned the doorknob, and the door swung open. The girls looked inside to see Chika and Amalia lying on the bed. "Ama-chan~?" Koyomi called, walking into the room. "K-Koyomi-san!" Michiru stammered. "Ah, they're just sleeping." Koyomi said. Michiru walked in and smiled when she saw them. "They are…just…sleeping." She repeated. They looked at the two again. Chika is sleeping beside Amalia, his arms wrapped around her and she's laying facing toward him, her long hair all over behind her. "Ha, let's go. They could use their sleep." Michiru said. "Yay, more for us~!" Koyomi said happily as she bounced out, following Michiru.
Amalia slowly opened her eyes and blushed when she saw Chika in front of her. She remembered that they had fallen asleep like that, and let out a sigh. She felt a tiny smile on her face and let herself continue to relax. She looked at Chika's sleeping face and gently reached out, moving some hair out of his face. "He still looks adorable in his sleep..." Amalia thought. Chika's arms around her suddenly tightened and she watched as his face contorted into one that looked like it was in the middle of either a nightmare, or extreme pain. "C-Chika?" She asked. Chika started to shake his head and he held Amalia close to him. Amalia put her hands on his cheeks. "Chika! Wake up!" She said. His eyes snapped open and he looked confused. He saw Amalia in his arms and noticed he was in her room. "Wha…?" He started. "I fell asleep in your arms, and I think you fell asleep after that. Just now though…I think you were having a nightmare, Chika." Amalia said. "Oh…" Chika said, leaning his forehead onto Amalia's. Amalia looked at Chika and felt herself smile, before she pulled on a lock of his hair. "Hey!" He said in protest. "We should get up. It's the weekend." Amalia said. "Oh yeah." Chika said thoughtfully. "So…are we dating now?" Amalia asked with a faint blush on her face. Chika blushed and quickly shifted his gaze. "O-Only if you want too." He said. Amalia smiled and nodded, before Chika planted a kiss on her forehead.
Amalia and Chika walked into the cafeteria, where Michiru and Koyomi were making breakfast, and Shito was reading. "Morning!" Amalia said happily. "Ah~! Ama-chan, you decided to leave your hair down today?" Koyomi asked. "Yep. Unless I'm planning on going on another mission, it'll be down." Amalia said happily bouncing over to join Koyomi and Michiru. Chika sat down across from Shito. "So did you have fun last night?" Shito asked. "What do you mean?" Chika asked. "Nothing." Shito said. "Damn it Shito, don't ask me something if you don't want to repeat anything!" Chika shouted. Shito continued to read his book, ignoring Chika's yelling. "Oh! Ama-chan, before I forget, next week the other dorm resident is supposed to return." Koyomi said. "Oh, really? That's nice." Amalia said happily as she watched Michiru and Koyomi cook. She sat on one of the counters and Michiru snuck a peek at her. "I see you looking at me, Chiru-chi!" Amalia said happily. "Ah! I'm sorry!" Michiru said quickly, before continuing to make food. Amalia chuckled. "It's alright. Are you curious?" She asked. "Y-Yes. How…are you able to…fight like you did?" Michiru asked, not looking at Amalia. "Oh well…I've been learning self-defense for years. Back in America, I had a friend of mine who taught me all sorts of different things. Like, he taught me the proper way to throw throwing knives, how to shoot a gun correctly and aiming with a gun, he even taught me how to climb a tree in less than thirty seconds." Amalia said. "Oh~? That's so cool!" Koyomi said. "Yeah, he was like a real ninja!" Amalia said, happily swinging her legs from the countertop. "Is he Japanese?" Michiru asked as she took a pan off of the stove. "No, he was American. If I'm correct, he has some Philippine blood in him as well." Amalia said. "Wow, that's really neat Amalia." Michiru said, sending Amalia a quick smile before continuing on the food.
Amalia was humming a song to herself as she walked down the dorm hallway, towards the girls' bathroom.
"Amalia?"
Amalia spun around, only to see that she was alone in the hallway of the dorms. "A-Ah, I'm just hearing things. It's…It's not like he's actually here…" She said to herself before continuing her walk.
"Amalia. Look at me."
Amalia froze, hearing the same voice call out to her. She pressed her palms to her head. "No…there's no way that you're here. You can't be." She thought. Amalia started running towards the girls' bathroom, and she nearly screamed when she heard the voice again.
"Amalia…can't you see that I'm in Japan too?"
Amalia stopped and put her hands on her ears. "S-Stop it…" She whispered. She started shaking, and soon heard the voice speak again.
"I'm not dead. I'm coming to see you. I will see Chika and your friends."
Amalia collapsed to her knees, her hands still on her ears. She felt tears stream down her face and squeezed her eyes shut. "No! You can't…" She said; her voice louder. "Amalia?" She faintly heard Shito's voice.
"I will take your small happiness away. You cannot escape me."
Amalia was biting her lip. "No!" She shouted. "Amalia? Are you alright?" Shito asked. He went to touch her shoulder, but she slapped her arm back. "Don't touch me!" She shouted. Amalia grabbed fistfuls of her hair as she tried to get the voice out of her head. She started mumbling and she heard voices behind her. "Amalia! Shito, what happened?!" Chika asked. "I don't know. I heard her voice out here and I looked out of my room to see her on the floor like this." Shito said. "Amalia!" Chika said, kneeling in front of her. "S-Shito-kun? What's happening?" Michiru asked as she and Koyomi joined the group. "I don't know." Shito said, looking at Amalia. Amalia took one hand away from her hair and put it over her face, to try to stop the tears. "N-No…" She whispered. "Amalia, what's wrong?" Chika asked, grabbing her shoulders. "No!" She shouted, taking her hand out of her hair and pushing at Chika's chest. "N-No…" She said in a quieter voice. "Amalia, open your eyes and look at me." Chika said. "Ama-chan?" Koyomi called. "C-Chika? Is that you?" Amalia asked. "Yes, now open your eyes. Please Amalia." Chika pleaded. Amalia's eyes slowly opened, and she looked at her hand in front of Chika to see blood on it and she started to shake more. "W-What…?" She whispered. "Amalia, you tried to scratch your scalp off." Chika said. Amalia started sobbing and Chika pulled her close, into a hug.
After a few minutes, Amalia pulled away from Chika, but he kept his hands on her shoulders. "Amalia, what happened?" Shito asked. Amalia sniffled and shook her head. "I…I can't talk about it right now…" She said quietly. Michiru kneeled beside Amalia and Chika. "Is it…someone you knew before you came back?" She asked softly. Amalia nodded slowly and sniffled. "Don't worry, you can tell us later when you're feeling better." Michiru said, smiling softly. "T-Thank you Michiru…" Amalia said. "Hey, you should clean your scalp." Chika said. Amalia nodded in agreement and Chika stood before helping her up. "Michiru, do you think you can help her?" He asked. "Of course!" Michiru said. She and Amalia started towards the girls' bathroom. "A-Ah! I wanna help too!" Koyomi said, quickly skipping down the hallway after them. "You're worried." Shito said. "Of course I am. We finally see each other again after years, start dating, and then…this happens." Chika said. "You two started dating last night?" Shito asked. "This morning." Chika corrected. "Ah." Shito said. Chika sighed and leaned against one of the walls. Shito watched him run a hand through his hair. "I just…I just want to be able to protect her." Chika said. "Akatsuki, she's just as stubborn as you are. That means that you'll have your work cut out for you." Shito said with slight amusement. Chika flipped him off and Shito chuckled before returning to his room, closing the door behind him. Chika sighed and placed the palms of his hands on his cheeks before walking down the hallway.
"Ama-chan? Are you alright?" Koyomi asked softly as Michiru helped Amalia wash the blood out of her hair. "I…I'm fine…" Amalia said quietly. "You'll have to tell us eventually, you know. You can't hold everything in." Koyomi said. Amalia sniffled and nodded, pulling her head away from the sink. She grabbed the towel that Michiru handed to her and started to dry her hair, wincing when it hit the fresh scratches on her scalp. "Amalia…" Michiru said quietly. "I'll tell you guys about it later. I can't talk…I can't tell you about it right now. I still need a little bit of time." Amalia said quietly. "We understand Ama-chan…just don't scare us like that, 'kay?" Koyomi asked happily. Amalia finished drying her hair and smiled at her friends. "Alright." She said. "O-Oh, Chika-kun's outside of the bathroom…I think he's waiting for you." Michiru said. Amalia smiled. "Alright." She said. "I-I'll take that! I was going to do some laundry anyway." Michiru chirped. "O-okay." Amalia said, slightly surprised. She handed the towel to Michiru and smiled at the girls before leaving the bathroom. Amalia looked to her side when she left and smiled. "Chika."
Chika looked at her and smiled faintly. "Hey." He said. The two started down the hallway. Chika gently put his hand on the back of Amalia's head. "You moron." He said. Amalia looked at him. "What?" She asked. Chika sighed. "Ya had me worried." He said, looking down and feeling his face heat up. "Sorry." Amalia said quietly before looking down. Chika sighed and pulled Amalia close to him. "Man…you really have got to stop saying that." He said. Amalia nodded before wrapping her arms around Chika's neck. "Sorry." She said, a smile tugging at the edges of her lips. Chika couldn't help but smile back to her and he rested his forehead on hers. "You idiot." He said, a smile starting to spread on his face. Amalia smiled and Chika took the moment and kissed her, straight on her lips. He pulled her closer to him, as close as he could. Amalia kissed him back and when they parted to breath, Amalia's smile grew into a playful one. "Making the first move huh?" She asked. Chika grinned and nodded, releasing her and she did the same. "Well, I'm glad that you were my first kiss, Chika." Amalia said, her fingers tangling with Chika's. "I feel the same." He said. "What should we do today?" Amalia asked as they continued down the hallway. "I dunno."
Thought I'd end this chapter on a happier note then I ended the last chapter, since the last one was a cliffhanger and all…
Please review c: