I don't own H.O.T.D….but I can wish. And I guess Kagome isn't mine either….
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The static droned on before it was cut off. They watched another reporter appear on screen.
"It seems something just happened. From now on, we will bring you the story from inside the studio. The conditions outside seem very chaotic. So please stay home unless it is absolutely necessary to go outside. We will bring you more on this story as soon as it is safe to cover the current situation from the site."
"No shit it's dangerous outside." Kagome murmured.
Takashi punched the table. "Is that all? Why didn't they say anything else?"
"They're afraid of causing a panic." Takagi said.
"Right now?" Rei asked.
"Yes, right now. Fear brings chaos; chaos causes a disruption of order. And when order is disrupted, how are you going to deal with the walking dead?"
"This unusual phenomenon has spread throughout North America and has yet to be brought under control. American government authorities have evacuated the White House and will relocate to a command center on board an aircraft carrier. It's been rumored that this transfer suggests that the government is preparing for the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons. Communications with Moscow have been lost. The entire city of Beijing is on fire. Public safety in London has been maintained so far. While in Paris and Rome there are reports of looting. Government officials have declared…" The rest of the broadcast was lost as static took over once more.
"They're everywhere in the world." Takashi murmured.
"That's crazy. Everything was normal when I checked the internet this morning." Hirano said.
"I can't believe this." Rei whispered. "This happened all over the world in a matter of hours?" She backed up to Takashi and took his arm. "Don't you think so? There has to be a safe place. Everything is going to go back to being normal soon!"
"That's not going to happen." Kagome snapped. "So don't be stupid."
"You don't have to be so blunt about it." Takashi retorted.
"She's right. This is a pandemic." Takagi stated. "There's nothing we can do!"
"Pandemic?" Shizuka murmured. "Is it that bad…"
"The outbreak of an infectious disease. It means the entire world is experiencing an outbreak of the same disease."
"No, really? Give me the textbook version next." Kagome muttered dryly. Takashi shot her an annoyed look.
"Is it like influenza?" He asked.
"This is just like the Spanish flu of 1918. More than 600 million people were infected and 50 million people died from it. Remember the recent panic caused by the new type of influenza?" Takagi said.
"I think this is more like the Black Death from the 14th century." Shizuka began.
"At that time, one third of the European population died." Takagi interrupted.
"Not that stating these facts aren't helpful or anything, but yes. It's like the flu. Anyone who can get sick will get sick, the end." Kagome said. Takagi glared at her. Saeko chuckled.
"I wonder how these outbreaks finally ended." Takashi murmured.
"There are many theories. It usually stops when too many humans die, because there aren't enough people to spread the disease further." Shizuka said helpfully.
"But now…the dead people move and attack you." Hirano said, peering out of the window through the blinds.
"So there's no reason for this outbreak to stop." Saeko concluded.
"The weather is going to be hot!" Shizuka said cheerfully. "They might not be able to move if their flesh decomposes and they become skeletons."
"And how long does that take to happen?" Saeko questioned.
"During the summer, some parts of the body can become skeletal in about twenty days. But it takes months during the winter. Anyway, it shouldn't take too long." Shizuka smiled.
"But we're not even sure they're going to decompose." Takagi broke in. Kagome scowled at the pink haired girl.
"Way to break up our hope."
"What do you mean by that?" Takashi asked,
"Medical logic doesn't apply to corpses that move around and attack humans." Takagi continued, glaring at Kagome. "In the worst case scenario, they might never…" She trailed off as she caught the especially venomous glare that Kagome was gifting her with.
"Where do we escape to after confirming the safety of our family members? That is key." Saeko said. "At any rate, we won't be able to survive if we act however we please."
"We could go to my guardian." Kagome murmured. "It'll be safe there."
"You don't know that! For all you know, your guardian is already dead and eating everyone else!" Takagi shrieked. Kagome stood up, the chair she was sitting on clattering to the ground. Saeko grabbed her arm.
"Don't Higurashi." Kagome bared her teeth at the purple haired girl.
"If my guardian was taken out by Them, he'd have to be already more than halfway dead. Otherwise, he is perfectly fine."
"We need to team up!" Saeko said firmly. "Infighting cannot take place if we are to live."
"Then make sure that she knows that just because she's a genius, she doesn't know everything." Kagome bit out.
"And we'll try to pick up survivors, whenever we can." Saeko said.
"Okay." Takashi agreed.
"How do we get outside?" asked Rei.
"The quickest way to get to the parking lot is from the front door." Takagi pointed out.
"Let's go then." Takashi said. He pulled the door open. Kagome slid in behind him, pulling an arrow from her quiver and fiddling with her bow. Hirano shot the two things standing outside the door and they continued on. Takashi swung his bat, pitching another into a wall.
"Let me make something clear," Saeko said. "There's no need for us to engage in a fight unless it's absolutely necessary. It is best to avoid fights whenever you can."
"They're sensitive to sounds." Takagi shared. "And strong enough to rip through regular doors. If you're surrounded by them, you will most likely be eaten. So be careful." They froze when they heard a scream.
Saeko looked at Kagome and the group made their way towards the sound. Hirano ran out first, and he shot the thing approaching the scared looking boy. Saeko launched herself over the railing to protect the rest of the group below them, killing the surrounding things. Rei went up the stairs, killing the once-boy that was making it down them and Takashi batted another over the stair rail. Kagome remained near Shizuka and Takagi, uncertain of how quickly the screaming would draw more of Them.
"T…thanks."
"Keep it down." Saeko murmured.
"Has anyone been bitten?" Kagome asked, looking at the group in front of her.
"No, no one." The girl responded, holding her hands in front of her.
"It looks okay. Really." Rei murmured. Kagome rolled her eyes and turned away.
"We're going to escape from this place. Do you want to come with us?" Takashi asked.
"S..Sure!" The larger group continued on their way.
"There are a bunch of them." Takagi whispered, peering through the bars to see what was below them. "They only react to sound. They can't see us. So it's pointless to hide from them."
"Okay Takagi. Prove it." Takashi snapped. Takagi made a face at him.
"But even if we stayed inside the school, if we get attacked, we're stuck." Saeko murmured.
"We have no choice but to go through the gate." Rei said, fingers curling around the pole in her hands.
"Someone needs to go and confirm Takagi's theory." Saeko said.
"Can't Takagi go and confirm Takagi's theory?" Kagome questioned. Takagi glared at her. Kagome shrugged and handed her bow to Saeko. "Then I can go."
"No. I'll go." Takashi interrupted.
"No. I should go. Not you Takashi." Rei said.
"I should go first." Saeko added.
"Well, if we all go first, we all die if Takagi's wrong." Kagome pointed out. The group recoiled from her. "So, since I spoke first, I'm going. The rest of you wait here. Saeko, if I don't make it…call the number listed as West. Tell him I apologize and that he is to keep my family safe, no matter how much my mother hates me."
"I'll come with you. Miss Busujima, please stand by." Takashi asked.
"Takashi, why?" Rei implored. "Higurashi is going."
"I don't know."
"You don't know?" Rei pressed.
"Seriously, I don't know. But if you need a reason, I won't let her go down there alone." Kagome rolled her eyes and untied her bokken from where she had looped it into her bag, she passed it to Seako. "Please, don't forget to call if something should happen."
"Takashi!" Rei tried to grab his arm as he headed down the stairs after the black haired girl. Saeko jerked her back.
"I understand your feelings. But don't interfere right now. This is their decision."
Takashi looked down at the girl he had caught up with. She looked up at him as they hit the bottom of the stairs. Kagome held out her hand. He looked at her confused until she grabbed his and squeezed. He nodded at her and they made their way forward. They stopped in the center of the milling horde. Kagome squeezed his hand again. Takashi looked down at her. She pointed and he moved backwards as one of them almost walked right into him. Then, spying a shoe, he threw it at a locker. As one, the zombie group made their way towards it. Takashi and Kagome rushed to the doors, pushing them open. Everyone followed them. The last boy descending the stairs hit it with his makeshift weapon. The loud noise echoed.
"Run!" Cried Takashi.
"Why did you do that!" Takagi screamed. We could have made it if you hadn't screamed like that!"
"But the noise echoed." Rei interrupted. "It was impossible." Saeko smashed an incoming thing away from Takagi. Kagome snorted in disgust. The girl was making more noise berating Takashi than anything else.
"The number of them is increasing!" Muttered Hirano, trying to figure out what he should shoot first. Takashi pushed past him and batted the closest one away.
"Forget talking, just run!" Takashi snapped. The group ran. One of the boys they had picked up stopped running to bat at the attacking dead. He was quickly overpowered.
"Takuzo!" The girl screamed.
"Run Naomi, run!" The fallen boy screamed.
"Takuzo!"
"Just forget it!" Takagi snapped, grabbing the girl. "Once you're bitten, it's pointless to run."
The girl looked at her and sobbed before breaking free. She rushed to her downed boyfriend.
Kagome grabbed the pink haired girl's arm.
"Hurry up Takagi. Don't stand still like an idiot!"
"Wait, why? Why is she going back? There is no chance!"
"I understand." Shizuka said. "If this is happening all over the world, I'd rather die with the person I love."
"Do you seriously call yourself a doctor?" Takagi said incredulously.
"Watch out!" Kagome made a sound of disgust and smacked the incoming thing with her bokken. It went down, brains splattering around it. She shoved Takagi again.
"Calm down Takagi!"
"What right do you have to interrupt me while I'm talking!" The pink haired girl yelled, pulling away from Kagome.
"You two get along so well." Saeko said sarcastically. "How admirable."
"Miss Shizuka the key!" Takashi called. The blond nodded and opened the bus, climbing in, she ran to the driver's seat. Hirano made his way to a window.
"Target confirmed." He muttered. "Shooting lanes clear, check. Ready to shoot!"
Takagi made a face at him from her seat. "Just hurry up and shoot!" She shrieked. Takashi, Kagome and Saeko worked around the doorway, killing anything that came near.
"Komuro, everyone is in." Saeko called.
"Then you two go first!"
Shizuka stared at the dashboard in front her before counting off the various things.
"Let's see, gas, brake, clutch…oooh, this is different from my little car!" Kagome twitched. Takashi moved to close the door.
"Help!"
"Hey!"
"Who's that?" Takashi asked.
"Mr. Shido of class 3-A." Saeko replied.
"Shido?" Rei said. "We should go now."
"Wait just a little longer."
"They're in front of us too!" Shizuka cried. "If too many of them gather, we won't be able to drive through them."
"Just run them over!"
"The car will roll over if we do that." Takashi grunted and opened the door. Rei grabbed his arm.
"We don't have to save him!"
"What is your problem Rei?"
"We don't have to help him! We should just let him die!"
"Hurry everyone! I assure you, we'll be alright!" Mr. Shido called. One of the boys fell.
"Mr. Shido! I sprained my ankle!"
"I see…I guess that's it for you then!" Shido said as he kicked the boy away from him. "The world we've known is over. The weak don't deserve to survive!" He jogged to the bus and climbed in.
"We're off now, Miss Shizuka."
"To the gate!" Takagi yelled.
"I know!" Shizuka replied. She looked at the students in front of the moving van. "Not human. They aren't human anymore!" She muttered to herself as she ran them over. The gates popped open when the bus slammed into it.
"We managed I guess." Takashi murmured.
"Yea." Hirano agreed.
"Thank goodness." Shido said. "Is the leader Miss Busujima?" He asked as he stopped next to the girl who was wiping blood off her bokken. "Or is it Miss Higurashi?" He looked over at the other girl who was daintily pilling her hair into a smoother ponytail.
"There's no such thing. We are working together in order to live. That is all." Saeko responded.
"That's not good. In order to survive, we definitely need a leader. A leader who bears everything."
"You'll regret this" Rei hissed. "I guarantee you'll regret that you helped him."
"The city!" Kagome called, looking out the window. The group fell silent as they stared at the barren streets and the smoke that curled through the air. They spotted some of Them and couldn't imagine what it must have been like in the city.
"Like I said. It's only dangerous if we keep going!" The blond haired boy said, standing up. "First of all, why do we have to go with Komuro? You guys are the one who decided to go back to the city! Maybe we should have just looked for a safe place inside the school."
"He's right! We should barricade ourselves somewhere. Like the convenience store that we just saw." Spoke another boy.
Kagome rolled her eyes and then braced herself as Shizuka slammed on the brakes.
"That's enough! I can't focus on driving with all this commotion!" The blond woman said, turning from her seat.
"Yeah…whatever…" The blond muttered.
"Besides, you were the ones to come with us. You never had to get on the bus. With all of Them running towards us, you could have escaped and gone wherever you wanted. Why do you think you have the right to object to a plan that was set before you stumbled upon it?" Kagome said, not even looking at the boy.
"Tell me what you want to do." Saeko said.
"I just can't…I can't stand him!"
"Jeez." Hirano muttered. He moved his arm only to be blocked by Takagi.
"Why?" asked Takashi. "When have I ever said anything to you?"
"You!" The blond rushed forward. Suddenly, Rei was there. Her pole slammed into the attacking boys stomach, sending him flying backwards. The boy vomited after he landed and lay on the floor clutching his midsection.
"Asshole."
"Bravo!" Shido applauded. "That was outstanding teamwork Komuro and Miyamoto. At any rate, a conflict like this only proves my point. We need a leader." He waved his hand in front of Rei's face. "We do."
"And we've only got one nominee?" Takagi sniped.
"I'm a teacher, Miss Takagi." Shido bent to look at her. "And you guys are students." He spoke slowly, as if talking to particularly idiotic children. "That alone makes it very clear who's more qualified. I can make sure we don't run into problems." He spun to face the other students. "What do you say guys?" The other students applauded him. Shido bowed. "It's been decided that I'm the leader then, by a majority of the vote."
"And as the leader, you are willing to sacrifice yourself for us, right?" Kagome said politely. "It is your place as leader to ensure our survival. So if those things attack, you will remain with Them if there is no other choice and the rest of us can escape."
Shido paled.
"As a leader. I will ensure that situation does not occur."
The door slammed open suddenly.
"Rei!" Takashi called.
"No way! I refuse to follow him!"
"Rei…"
"Well, if you don't want to stay with us then there's nothing I can do for you." Shido said.
"What are you talking about?"
Kagome watched as Takashi leapt from the bus and followed Rei.
"Wait!" The boy yelled. "You'll just have to be patient until we get to the city." He continued in a softer voice. "Because it's dangerous."
"This is why I told you that you'd regret this!"
"But for now…" The sound of honking caught their attention.
"Dr. Marikawa!" Saeko yelled. They watched as the oncoming bus flipped and then slid, blocking Rei and Takashi into the tunnel.
"Komuro! Are you alright?" Saeko yelled. Kagome stood next to her. The both flinched when a flame ridden body stood and then burning dead began to make their way to them.
"The police station! Let's meet at the east police station!"
"What time?" Kagome called.
"At seven P.M. If we can't make it today, let's meet up tomorrow at the same time." Kagome made to smack one of the zombies but it fell to the ground. She grabbed Saeko's arm and dragged her back to the bus.
"We can't take this route anymore Dr. Marikawa."
"Okay, we'll turn back and take another route." There were cries of dissent from the students in the back of the bus. The poisonous glare Kagome sent them shut them up quickly.
"Let us do as they say for now, but rest assured, should there be any more dissenters, they're opinions do not count. I am your leader; as such we must do all we can to survive and allow the human race to continue!"
Kagome made a rude gesture at his back. Saeko stood and slid into the seat next to her.
"I think for now, we must play by his rules. While you and I could dominate him in a moment, I do not believe violence is key at this moment."
"Saeko? No violence? Are you ill?" Kagome smiled at the other girl. "I will voice my dissent. If he tries to harm me, well. That isn't my problem is it?
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"We're moving at the rate of one kilometer an hour." Saeko murmured, looking out of the window.
"At this rate, I'm not sure if we'll cross the bridge before dawn." Takagi added. Hirano covered his stomach as it growled loudly. "Shut up! Be quiet!"
"Takagi!" Kagome snapped. "He is not the only one who is hungry. Be happy he isn't eating your flesh and be done with it." The sound of gunfire drew their attention. The girls in the back of the bus screamed and covered their ears.
"It's okay." Shido cooed. "It's safe inside. It's okay."
"Mr. Shido…"
"You have nothing to worry about." He murmured, pulling the two girls into a hug. "It's allll right."