Woo, two chapters in one night! Actually I manage to get the main details planned out while I'm at work, so typing up and adding detail doesn't take too much time. No deaths in the last chapter! I thought I'd give the boys a break. Or make them suffer a bit longer. I'm cruel. This chapter ended up a bit longer than I had expected, but that's more than okay with me!

Minami had made his way to the back room of the bookstore slowly, checking behind him every other second or so to make sure nobody had entered while he had his back turned. Inside the room was nothing but a desk, various out of date computer parts, and an overflowing trash can. Rummaging around in the desk drawer, Minami came across a flashlight with no batteries and what looked to be a petrified mouse.

Something in the front room thudded, and Minami jerked his head around. Still holding the pistol tightly to his side, he crammed himself against the wall and cautiously peered out. He couldn't see anything. He had definitely heard something, so maybe the other person was just hiding. Had they realized Minami was in here? Had they seen him go in? Maybe they'd knocked something over and fled, not wanting to give anyone that may be there the chance to attack.

Deciding that going back to the main room would be a better idea - if someone came back here, Minami was cornered - he slowly and carefully moved so as to not make any noise. Sliding against the wall was the best he could do for protection at the moment. Looking through to the main room, Minami thought he saw something move behind a shelf, but left it to his mind playing tricks on him. He hadn't heard anything since the first "thud", but then again, anyone inside could be just as cautious as he was.

vovovo

Higashikata was trapped. There was definitely someone in the building with him. He'd seen movement near the back out of the corner of his eye, and since he'd been on the side of the store opposite the doorway, he made up his mind to hide behind one of the many shelves instead of getting out entirely. Trying to be quiet as he walked through the book-covered floor, he had managed to stumble over a stray shelf on the ground, dropping his weapon - a hammer - in the process. The books had somewhat dulled the noise, but it was notcieable none the less. Picking up the hammer, Higashikata panicked and hurried over to take cover near the toppled shelves.

The other half of the Jimis was now huddled underneath the arch made by bookshelf and wall, slightly obscured by the pile of books and newspapers beside him. A noise in the corner closest to him made him jump a bit, but he couldn't see anything there. Silently praying that the other person would just give up and leave, Higashikata sat clutching the hammer.

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Minami had tossed the old flashlight into the far corner, hoping to get a reaction from whoever -if it was anyone - was over there. It had made quite a loud impact, but the other person hadn't budged. Maybe they had left, and Minami was just making useless noise. He decided his best option was to physically check out the back of the room to see if he was indeed alone.

Now coming to the realization that if he was not alone he might die, Minami held the pistol out in front of him as he approached the back of the room. He walked slowly, trying to make as little noise as possible to alert the maybe other person that he was coming any closer.

All of a sudden, Minami saw a pile of books topple over and a person darted out. He only had a chance to see something fly at him before he fired. Once, twice, three times. The second shot had earned him a hit, and the third shot followed suit. The first had put a hole into an already damaged wall. Sure that he had the advantage, Minami walked slowly over to the other person, his arm still outstretched, pistol pointed straight ahead.

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Higashikata had thrown the hammer in a last-ditch effort to defend himself. Having failed, he now lay on the floor, blood from the bullet wounds seeping into the pages of the books around him. His vision was slightly blurred, and it was hard to breathe. The first bullet had hit him in the middle of the back, but the second was aimed higher and had hit just below his shoulder. Gasping for air, Higashikata struggled to catch his breath before coughing. Blood. He was coughing up blood, and knew this was it. From the corner of his eye, he could make out the rough shape of someone walking towards him. This someone dropped his gun and brought his hands to his mouth. Before realization hit, Higashikata closed his eyes, and breathing was no longer an issue.

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Minami walked over to the body , chest down on the floor. Halfway there, he realized just who it was that he'd shot. He dropped the gun.

No.

This. He just.

Hands shot up to his mouth automatically, his eyes widened. The person laying before him was his doubles partner, his best friend since... he couldn't even remember. How could he not notice? How could he have-

He'd shot his doubles partner. He'd killed his best friend.

He fell to his knees, collapsing beside the still body. Minami started to cry. This was what it was like? This is what they had to go through? He didn't think he could continue.

x-x-x-x

Shishido had been much closer to the end of the list than he'd hoped. When he was called, he'd grabbed his things from his coach, and on the way out had kindly flipped Sakaki the bird. He supposed it was for their later enjoyment that he headn't been shot right there.

Leaving the school, Shishido looked around and decided that the apartment building was a good place to start. His logic dictated that there were too many places to hide in the forest - trees, bushes, whatever. The layout of the apartment building was fairly simple, and held less chance of a surprise attack. There had been an hour between the time Akazawa left and the time Shishido was called, so he knew there was quite a good chance that there were already a few people in the building. Still, Shishido was sure that his weapon, a shotgun, would be decent enough to defend himself if he needed to.

Giving the building a distasteful look as he approached, he walked through the doorway and gave the main lobby a once-over. Not even bothering with the elevators, Shishido headed right for the staircase. The door that was, unbenknownst to him, closed in the beginning was now left wide open, promising to fall off its remaining hinge at any moment.

Climbing the stairs, Shishido could see footprints left in the thick dust. Many sets going up, a few going down. So there were still people here. Shishido took note of this and gripped the shotgun tightly. When he got to the landing on the first floor, Shishido went to the door leading to the apartments. Locked. Looking through the window, he could see nothing but a tarnished number plate on the door across from him. The second floor door gave him much the same result, so he continued up to the third. The door was wide open, the door to the apartment across from it locked tight. He walked out into the hallway, sunlight streaming in from dirty windows. The front doors on each apartment were open wide, each as empty as the next. Things were turning out much better than expected. Climbing up to the top floor, Shishido found this door to be closed as well, but unlike the others it was left unlocked. Turning the knob and giving a push, he was about to walk in when he head someone shout at him.

"STOP MOVING!"

Shishido, not one to take orders well, ignored the voice and proceeded through the door. A shot was fired from the opposite end of the hall, missing Shishido by centimeters.

"The fuck?" was Shishido's surprised reaction. Still not used to the situation, he hadn't expected to actually be shot at. Looking down the hall, Shishido spotted Aoi, sitting on the floor with his knees against his chest, one hand holding the gun out in front of him, his free arm wrapped around his knees.

"I told you to stop!" Aoi sounded scared, his voice shaking.

"You didn't have to fucking shoot at me!" came the angry reply. Shishido recognized the other boy as Rokkaku's first-year captain, but an actual name and any other details escaped him.

"Go away! I don't want to do this! Just go away!" Aoi sounded like he was pleading.

"Would you shut up? Stop screaming! You're going to attract attention!" Shishido yelled back at the boy, oblivious to the fact that he was being just as loud.

Aoi sat at the end of the hall, barely looking at Shishido while holding his gun out somewhat lopsidedly.

Shishido tried again. "I'm not going to-" but was cut off when another shot was fired, this time grazing the side of his leg. To Shishido, it seemed like Aoi wasn't really trying to hit him, but he wasn't really trying to miss, either. He swore as the bullet nipped his calf, and readied his gun, aiming it at Aoi.

The first year's head shot up. This guy was going to kill him. Aoi didn't realize Shishido was simply acting in self defense. Before Shishido could even try to reason with the other boy, another shot was fired, causing Shishido to jump to the side to avoid being hit. This time, Aoi was aiming to kill. Shishido barely had a second to adjust himself and refocus on Aoi before he saw the first year running at him, arm outstretched and gun pointed straight ahead.

Running would be stupid. Getting out of the way would be stupid. Anything but the obvious choice would be entirely stupid. Realizing now that reasoning with the other was useless, and wishing it hadn't come to this point, Shishido steadied his gun, aimed as best he could, and fired.

It was almost instant. The gun hit the floor first, Aoi's body following in seconds. His arms were out, and one leg was folded beneath his body. The blood from the gaping wound in Aoi's stomach spread quickly, and only when it started running towards Shishido did he realize that the ground may have been a bit uneven.

~67 remain~