I do not own Highschool of the DEAD or its characters.


Chapter 3

More than a month had passed since the incident at the dojo and everyone had fallen back into their daily routine.

It was early afternoon; Saya and Saeko were walking alongside one of the waterways that threaded throughout Edo. Many of these had been dug by the government over the years to help prevent flooding of the Tone River. Bridges crossed over at regular intervals and shops as well as street venders lined the banks.

Saya had decided she needed a new umbrella and her favorite maker was in this area. Being this was an area Saeko deemed 'safe' the boys had not accompanied them.

The girls were strolling along, nibbling on some hard candy on a stick when a commotion started behind them.

Shrill whistles sounded and someone shouted, "Murderer! Make way for police! Stop Murderer!"

A man raced by pushing and shoving people and goods. Saeko grabbed Saya and pulled her out of the way as he slammed into a man pushing a cart full of melons. The cart tipped over scattering vender and produce into the street.

A person chasing after the man was dodging through the shocked crowd, but when they came to the pile of produce; they stumbled as they tried to jump the overturned cart. Misjudging the leap, they went down in a rolling, cursing heap. They tried to get up and continue, but their left leg went out from under them and they crashed down again.

That was when Saya realized it was the female thief-taker she had seen with the Miyamoto's a month or so before.

"Where did he go, boss!?" a brown haired man ran up and asked. He was also wearing a jutte like the woman.

"He's crossing the bridge! After him!" she shouted as her partner raced in pursuit.

Saya and Saeko stepped forward and leaned down to the woman.

"Are you alright, officer?" Saya asked.

"Ah…I think I sprained my ankle," the purple haired woman replied.

The trio realized a fourth person was standing next to them. They looked up at a young man around Saya and Saeko's age. Slightly heavyset, he was dressed somewhat like the thief-taker in a short kimono with leggings. He had shoulder length dark hair and was wearing spectacles and a torioi* shade folded straw hat. He was taking a rolled tatami mat off of his back and beginning to undo it.

"What did the man you are after do, officer?" he asked as he watched the other thief-taker run down the street.

"Murdered two prostitutes and stole money," the woman replied.

"He is climbing to the roof tops across the river," the boy said. "Do you want him dead or alive?"

"Alive if I can get him that way, then we can torture him and cut his head off. But what are you going to…oh…"

The three women realized he was unwrapping a long gun of a style Saya had never seen before.

"I can take him down with your permission," the gunner said.

"Do it!" was the reply.

Nodding, the boy moved a handle on the gun, which caused a door to open. He reached into a wooden box on his belt, pulled out a finger-sized object and pushed it into the door. Snapping the weapon shut, he pulled a small brass cap out of another pocket and seated it on a part of the gun after cocking a hammer like device back. He raised the gun to his shoulder and took a breath.

Ka-BOOM! It kicked into his shoulder as black powder smoke rolled from the barrel.

On the other side of the river, the murderer was running across a rooftop when he threw up his arms and tumbled to the slates before rolling off into the street.

The thief-taker looked up at the boy in surprise, "That must have been fifty yards!"

"About sixty I think," he said as Saya leaned forward to get a closer look at the firearm.

"What kind of gun is that!?" she asked, scientific curiosity boiling over at seeing new technology.

"This is an 1853 Sharps breech loading rifle," the boy replied as he turned toward her. He froze and his eyes went wide as he took her in.

"I don't see a match, how does it fire?" Saya continued in full investigation mode, not noticing the boy's stunned look.

"I…uh…it's not a matchlock, it uses percussion caps and a paper cartridge," he said, shaking off his focus on the beautiful girl.

"Show me how it works!" Saya demanded to the boy's surprise.

"Saya-san," Saeko said as she touched the girl's arm, a smirk on her face. "Perhaps we should look to Superintendent Miyamoto's officer first, she is injured after all."

"What? Oh…yeah you're right." Glancing back at the boy she said, "You…don't go anywhere…umm…please."

"Hai!" the boy replied as he bowed to her.

Saya bent over and looked at Saeko feeling the woman's ankle. "Does this hurt?" the sword girl asked.

"Ow! I don't think I'll be standing on this for a few days!"

Saeko looked up at the young man who was rolling his rifle into the tatami mat again, "Excuse me, could you go find a norimono*? We will need it to transport the officer."

"Hai," he said as he walked further down the street.

Saya watched him for a minute before turning her attention back to the woman on the ground.

"Do I know you from somewhere?" the thief-taker asked.

"We have not been introduced. I am Takagi Saya, daughter of Lord Takagi."

"OI! Superintendent Miyamoto's friend! Sorry, my lady, you looked familiar but I was not sure." Turning to look at Saeko she said, "So that would make you Busujima-Senpai's daughter; her yojimbo."

"And friend," Saya interjected, as Saeko smiled and nodded.

"Ah I see. I'm Minami Rika, thief-taker, but of course you knew that by now."

The gunner and the second thief-taker arrived at the same time with a two-man swing litter.

"Oh, Rika-san, what did you do? Are you getting to old for this job?" her partner asked with a grin.

"Shut up, Tajima! Where's the murderer?"

"He was out cold. I tied off the leg wound and hog-tied him. I got two bearers I know to pole him and they headed for the office. I was going to follow them as soon as I checked on you."

"Well go," Rika said before she paused. "Oi, you three; I'll need you to come with me and make a statement about what went on."

"I have no problem with that," Saya said as Saeko nodded. The gunner agreed also.

"Send a recorder to my place, Tajima," the woman said. "I'll go there and get Shizuka to take a look at this ankle."

"Right boss, see you in a bit," with a wave he jogged off.

"Alright let's go," Rika told the porters and they started out, Saya and Saeko following with the gunner behind them.

000

Twenty minutes later they arrived at a row of tenements alongside a temple compound. Rika had the litter bearers stop in front of an open door and Saeko helped her from the swing chair. Sitting down on the porch she reached in her pouch and pulled out some coins to pay the men, who bowed and thanked her before trotting away to look for another fare.

"Hey Shizuka, come out here!" the woman called into the door.

"What is it I'm busy," someone inside said. A second later a very buxom, blond woman, slightly shorter than Saeko, came to the door. "Ha!? I didn't know you were bringing guests home!"

"I didn't either. I busted my ankle and these fine people gave me a helping hand."

"Your ankle? Let me see!" the blond knelt down and took a closer look at the swelling limb. She untied and took off Rika's sandals and leggings to examine the wound closer. "Definitely sprained, you'll have to be off this at least three days. Let me get my things and I'll fix this up."

Saya watched as the woman went back into the house. "So she knows what she is doing?" she asked Rika.

The woman nodded, "Shizuka may act a little dazed once in a while, but she is a well-respected mid-wife and a pretty good doctor. In fact I would trust her with my care over any of these so called professionals that try to feed you powders and tree bark for a ton of money. She's patched me up over everything from knife cuts to a summer cold."

"In your line of work I would think that is high praise," Saeko said.

The blond was back in a second with a washbowl and a canvas bag. The others watched with interest as she washed the ankle, covered it in a salve with some mossy leaves and then wrapped it in linen bandages. "There, that should do it. Ohh! I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself! I am Marikawa Shizuka, mid-wife and Rika-san's roommate."

She bowed hard and sat back up quickly, causing her enormous chest to flounce around.

"Gaa!" the gunner said as he grabbed at his nose and looked off down the street.

Saeko, Saya and Rika all snickered for a moment before Saeko spoke up.

"Greetings, Marikawa-san, I am Busujima Saeko."

"Takagi Saya," the pink haired said as the young man regained focus.

"Takagi?" the gunner said, "Excuse me, but are you kin to Lord Takagi?'

"That would be my father, why?"

"I was on my way to meet with him when all this happened. Oh! Excuse me for not introducing myself earlier. I am Hirano Kohta, gunsmith."

Saya's eyes widen, "You're the new gunsmith we have been waiting on? But you're so young! I was expecting some old man!"

Hirano looked puzzled, "Huh? Is there something wrong with being young?"

Saya sighed, "No, I didn't mean it that way. I was just surprised because I was expecting someone much older."

He waved his hand and said, "No, no need to apologize. It surprised me also because I was sure I told Lord Takagi how old I was in my letters."

They were interrupted by Rika's partner Tajima and another man walking up.

"Hey, boss," Tajima said. "How's the leg?"

"Fine, I'm glad you're finally here. Let's get the statements done so these folks can go home. By the way, how is our prisoner?"

Tajima frowned, "Dead. He did admit to the crimes before he bled out though. Said something about his mother was a prostitute and he wanted to rid the world of them, you know some of that crazy talk we hear now and then."

"Ah, so my shot did too much damage? I'm sorry, Minami-san; I know you wanted him alive." Hirano said as he bowed slightly to the woman.

"Don't worry about it, Hirano-san. The main thing is we got that bastard off the streets and he will not kill again."

"Took half his thigh out," Tajima said. "Even though I got it tied off quickly it kept bleeding. He knew he was gone, that's why he went ahead and confessed before the shinigami* came for him."

Saya watched Hirano as the officers talked. He frowned slightly, but did not really seem upset over learning he had killed the man. Glancing at Saeko, the swordswoman nodded slightly as if she was thinking the same thing.

"Well anyway, let's get this finished so Takagi-san and her party can go home," Rika said.

000

An hour later Saya, Saeko and Hirano were headed to the estate.

Saeko was amused as she watched Saya out of the corner of her eye. The pink-haired girl was trying her best not to look back at Hirano-san, as he was trying his best not to watch Saya. Saeko knew though Hirano might be smitten by Saya's beauty, Saya's interest was the technology on his back.

They were halfway home when Takashi and the other two boys ran up.

"Eh, Takagi-san, where have you been?" Takashi said. "Your mother got worried after you had been gone so long and sent us out to look for you."

"We were tied up doing something with one of Superintendent Miyamoto's thief-takers," she said. "She got hurt and we helped her get home."

"Oh, I see. Who's this?" the boy asked as he looked Hirano over.

"Hirano Kohta, gunsmith. I have business with Lord Takagi," the husky boy said as he bowed to the newcomers.

The boys introduced themselves and they all started out for the estate. Takashi fell in beside Hirano with Morita and Hisashi behind them.

"So where do you come from, Hirano-san?" Takashi asked, making conversation as they walked.

"Originally Osaka, but as of the last few years Springfield, Massachusetts in America."

"Whoa, you mean you have traveled all the way to the American states and back!?" Takashi said.

Saya stopped and turned around with her mouth open.

"Hai," the boy replied.

"So you crossed the Indian and Atlantic oceans twice?" Saya asked.

"Ah, no, Takagi-sama, only once going west. When I came home I went west again around Cape Horn to get back to Japan."

Saya's eyes got wider and her mouth opened more. "Wait! Wait! You're telling me you have circumnavigated the globe!?"

"Hai, that is correct, Takagi-san."

"Uh oh, you have done it now, Hirano!" Takashi said laughing as Saya, stood in the street, her mouth flapping up and down, but nothing coming out. "She's a study bug! She reads all the time and when she gets it in her mind to learn about something new there is no stopping her! You're going to be her target now!"

"EH!?" the surprised boy exclaimed as Saya started toward him, arms outstretched, fingers shaped into claws trying to grab the front of his clothing.

"TELL ME! TELL ME EVERYTHING, HIRANO-SAN!"

Everyone except Saya and Hirano fell out laughing as Saeko grabbed Saya by her obi* from behind.

"Don't worry, Hirano-san," Morita said. "She will calm down in a minute, but maybe not before she tries to suck your brain dry!"

Saya did calm down, but not before ranting about birds, fish, islands and a dozen other subjects she wanted to know about. She apologized to the boy after a few minutes.

"I will be happy to tell you everything, Takagi-sama. It may take a while though, it is kind of a long story."

"That is a promise I will hold you to, Hirano-san!"

000

When they arrived back at the estate, Saya sent Morita to tell her mother she was fine and going in to see her father with the new gunsmith. Once they reached Lord Takagi's meeting room, Takashi and Hisashi broke off and headed to the dojo.

Saya had a maid announce them and then led Hirano and Saeko inside, where they found her father and Kage looking over some papers.

"Greetings, daughter," the man said. "Who is this you bring to see me?"

She and Saeko knelt down beside Kage before she responded, while Hirano lay his gear and hat by the door. "This is your new gunsmith, Father. We met him on the street while helping one of Superintendent Miyamoto's thief-takers, who was injured."

Hirano knelt down in front of the lord and bowed low, putting his knuckles down on the mat and touching his forehead to it also, "Greeting, great Lord Commissioner of Edo. This humble one is known as Hirano Kohta, gunsmith, son of Kanga, merchant and of Saiko, late of Osaka."

Lord Takagi smiled slightly and glanced at Kage who nodded, "Raise your head, Hirano-san. We of house Takagi welcome you to our home and hearth."

Hirano sat up, but kept his eyes slightly downward not casting them directly on the lord, "Arigato, my lord."

"It seems you have already met my daughter and her friend, so now meet my sword master."

Hirano looked to Kage as the older man bowed slightly, "I am Busujima Kage, Hirano-san. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Hirano bowed halfway to the floor this time, Kage not being as high a rank as Lord Takagi. "It is a pleasure meeting you also, Busujima-sensei."

"I mean no disrespect, but I must say Hirano-san I am surprised to find one so young already a full-fledged gunsmith," Kage said.

"It is a bit of a long story, Busujima-sensei, but through a series of events I found myself on American shores and took apprenticeship with a gunsmith in Springfield, Massachusetts. Through several years and other events, I found the need to return to my homeland. When I arrived in Nagasaki, I looked for employment and was of good fortune to make acquaintance with Lord Kagura's gunsmith, who knew Lord Takagi was looking for a new one. He tested my knowledge and then asked his lord to write a recommendation letter."

Kage nodded, "I know Lord Kagura, he is a good lord that does not suffer fools in his retainers."

"Thus I thought we would give our young gunsmith a chance," Souichirou said. "I feel Kagura might have kept Hirano-san for himself except it would have insulted his own gunsmith to bring in someone so much younger." Looking at Saya, her father spoke to her next, "What do you think, daughter, being somewhat of my 'scientific' adviser."

"I say we keep him for now, father," the girl said with a smirk. "Busujima-san and I got to see a demonstration of Hirano-san's shooting talents today. As I said before, Superintendent Miyamoto's thief-taker was injured chasing a murderer and gave Hirano-san permission to take the criminal down with his rifle. He did so with one shot, at sixty yards, as the man was running across rooftops. It was impressive to say the least." Glancing at Hirano she continued, "I will be testing him though, I want to hear everything about his world travels."

"I see," Souichirou said. "Well then, Hirano-san, it seems you have impressed my daughter, which impresses me as well. I will warn you though, she wants to be a scholar and is relentless in the pursuit of any knowledge she seeks!"

Hirano grinned and rubbed the back of his neck, "I have already been the subject of Takagi-sama's voracious appetite for learning. She made me promise to tell her of my travels in great detail."

Souichirou chuckled as Kage said, "Then you are in for many long days of speaking and storytelling, young man!"

"For now though let us walk and show you our current gun armory," Souichirou told them. "I would like your impressions on ways to improve things."

"As you wish, my lord," the boy said as they got up.

Souichirou led as they walked across the estate, with Kage and Hirano side by side behind him. Saya and Saeko bringing up the rear.

In the back corner of the estate stood a building of about nine mats in size. One of the head servants that always followed the lord everywhere, unlocked a large padlock on the door and slid it open. Souichirou motioned Hirano to precede him inside.

The boy did not make it more than two steps in before he froze and threw his arms out to his sides. "GET OUT!" he suddenly shouted, "Everyone get away from this building! Now!"

Heeding the boy's cries the others turned back and moved away as he backed out of the doorway. "Get at least twenty-five yards away, my lord!"

Doing as they were told the party moved further back as Hirano joined them.

He bowed low and apologized, "I am sorry I shouted, my Lord Takagi, but that building is a death trap waiting to explode."

Souichirou, a concerned look on his face, said, "I believe we understand, Hirano-san, but tell us what you see."

Hirano stood back up and looked towards the building. "As soon as I walked in I could smell loose gunpowder and rats. Of the gunpowder boxes I saw inside, there were at least six that were leaking. There was also gun matches lying on the floor next to the powder and guns stacked in no order, any of which could have fallen and caused a spark. On the workbench there were even open flame candles! If someone were to go in there and light one it could blow this whole corner of the estate to pieces!"

He bent down and watched as a very large rat dropped from the porch and scurried across the yard. "That rat! Stop it! I need someone to kill that rat!"

The head servant picked up a rock from the ground and hurled it with great aim, knocking the rat on the head and killing it.

"Good shot!" Hirano said as the man grinned and nodded.

"I work hard to keep the vermin out of our pantries," the man said.

"Please everyone stay here, I'm going to try an experiment," the gunsmith said as he walked forward.

Saya made a motion to move forward too, but Saeko snagged the back of her kimono, holding her in place.

Hirano squatted down beside the dead rodent and sniffed a couple of times before nodding. Reaching into his pouch, he pulled forth a silver metal box which he opened and withdrew a stick about a fingers length long. Stepping back a bit more, he raked the stick across the bottom of the box causing it to burst into flame. Then he dropped it onto the carcass as he quickly moved further back.

Whooof! The rat's body ignited in a flash of bluish flame, emitting the gray smoke of burned gunpowder. Hirano let it burn for a second before reaching down and tossing dirt onto the mess to put it out. He then walked back to the party brushing his hands together, to cleanse them.

"It was as I was afraid, my lord," he said. "The rats have been rolling around in and maybe even eating the black powder. If any of them had gotten into the kitchens and were ignited by a cook fire they could have run through the house and…well it would have been a terrible disaster."

"I keep rat dogs and cats around the kitchen's, but you are correct, Hirano-san," the head servant said.

"You will be in charge of this, so what would you have us do, Gunsmith," the lord asked.

"First of all we need to cordon off the area around the building, about this far back. Then I, and only I, will go in and bring the gun matches and weapons out as well as anything that could be lit other than the powder itself. Powder should never be storied in the same place as guns and igniter. Next a belowground powder magazine needs to be dug."

"How big, what shape and where would you put it?" the lord asked. "And what is to be done about the building?"

"I think the building can be saved with a thorough cleaning, but I will not know more until I get it cleared." He squatted down and began to draw in the dirt, "I would like the powder magazine to be about the same size as the building, but it should be dug six feet deep and have one foot of wall above ground to keep it from getting flooded from rain. I would like to line the inside with stone or tile and divide it into a hall and four rooms, two on either side."

"Oh! I see," Saya said as she squatted down also. "Being underground and with divided rooms, if there is an explosion, it will be contained in a single room and cause the force to go upward instead of outward, scattering wreckage everywhere."

"Correct, Takagi-san," the boy replied. "And even if we do not put inside doors, it would slow the blast from spreading too quickly and give some time for people to run away. Rooms would go off one at a time."

"What about the roof though? What would you make that out of?" the girl asked.

"Heavy oak would be best," he replied. "About a hands width thick with a metal layer on top of that. Built right, it could 'blow away' without shredding and scattering everywhere."

"You like this idea, Saya?" her father asked as he and Kage watched the pair work.

"Oh yes, father! This is very smart and I can see great advantages in it," she said before turning back to Hirano. "What about the powder boxes themselves? You will need to replace some, but do you think there is a better way?"

"Water proof kegs might be better for larger amounts, but the boxes are fine for…" the gunsmith trailed off as he noticed Saya's father, Kage and Saeko smirking at the pair.

"I don't mean to interrupt your work, but is there anything else while we are at this?" Souichirou asked with amusement on his face.

"I think a wall," Saya said as she stood up. "Not a big one, maybe waist high with a wooden gate. We will already be digging and lining the magazine, it should be easy to do this while in the process. Surround the magazine and the armory with it."

Souichirou thought for a moment and nodded, "Very good. I agree, daughter; it will be done. Hirano-san, can you provide drawings of how you want the magazine constructed?"

"Hai, my lord."

"I will assist him in this, father," Saya said. Looking at the surprised boy, she blushed slightly and said, "I already have the tools and drawing board in my sitting room."

"A…ah…yes, I see, Takagi-san! Arigato!"

"Then we will leave this to you," Souichirou said. "If you need anything tell the headman and it will be done."

He and Kage nodded and left while Saya and Saeko watched the proceedings.

The headman had not been idle while the others were talking. By the time they finished he had sent houseboys to retrieve sharpened bamboo staffs to poke into the ground around the area Hirano wanted cordoned off. The next thing was red ribbon in long rolls that was tied between them except for one spot for entrance.

He also brought several of the 'rat dogs' and had them sit a short distance away. As soon as Hirano started moving around inside the building, rats began to escape. The dogs took them down within a few paces, and brought the bodies over to a handler, who tossed them onto a bag to be disposed of outside the estate later.

Hirano had the helpers bring several buckets of water. With these he splashed down the outer porch and some of the inside floor. Then he soaked a scarf and wrapped it over his face before starting to bring the long rolls of lighter match out. Putting it at the entrance to the area, the helpers gathered it up and took it to a storeroom in the barracks for the time being. The match itself was not volatile unless an open flame was applied to it. Once that happened it would smolder until it was extinguished or burned up.

Out next came the matchlock muskets. There were fifty of them in all and ranged from very old ornate models to much newer and streamlined ones made for simple utility.

All this gathered onlookers. Takashi, Morita and Hisashi were first and before long numerous other samurai had also gathered to watch the work. Saya had one of the maids get her paper and writing instruments from her sitting room. She sat down on a blanket and made inventory notes as items were brought out.

"He's not wearing a sword, I wonder if he took it off for this?" one of the slightly older fighters said to a companion.

"Maybe he is not samurai?" the second replied.

"Surely not! I do not think Lord Takagi would put someone like that in a position of control!" said the first.

"Let me explain something to you," Saya said suddenly, a glower on her face as the men turned toward her. "Today Busujima-san and I saw that man take down a murderer at the distance of sixty yards with his rifle. He did not blink an eye when he made the shot or found out the man died from the wound. Do not ever think he is not a fighter because he does not wear a sword. His weapon would cut you down long before you got close enough to draw a blade."

The looks on the men's faces told they felt the slash of Saya's cutting tongue. They bowed and apologized to her before they slipped away.

Sitting under a nearby tree, Saeko and the boys all smiled and nodded.

It was near dusk when Hirano came out for the last time. He turned the last two muskets over to someone to be taken to the storeroom, and then had a couple of helpers pour the refilled water buckets over him.

"Powder residue?" Saya asked from several feet away.

"Hai," he said. "Now I just need to get these clothes washed and…well…ah…"

Saya smirked, "Komuro, take Hirano and show him the bath house. After he is through all of you come and we will eat together in my sitting room."

"Hai, Takagi-san," Takashi said as he waved Hirano after him. "Come on, Hirano-san, it not good to keep the princess waiting!"

"BAKA!" Saya shouted as the boys head off, Morita following. Hisashi stopped beside Saya.

"If you will excuse me, Takagi-san, I have a prior engagement to go to."

Saya frowned slightly, but nodded. She knew who he was going to see.

Saeko watched the gray-haired boy walked off, "I assume word of his meetings with Rei-san have not gotten out as of yet?"

Saya shook her head, "Not that I know of. Now, we need to go clean up ourselves before meeting them. It's been a busy day."

Saeko nodded and followed her friend.


A/N: Please Review, Favorite and Follow!

*Terms:

Torioi – a round stray hat folded in half.

Norimono – litter chair carried by two men.

Shinigami – death gods or death spirits.

Obi – sash around the waist that hold a kimono on.