Escape!
A steady chatter over what may be their last lunch in the safehouse. If one was looking in, it would seem like an everyday gathering of high school students over lunch. There was laughter and an easy camaderie among these people.
Eavesdropping on their various mini-conversations one would realise that the group had various hidden dynamics among its members. For example, an orange head girl would be nodding her head confidently while saying, "Takumi's with Akira, he'll be safe."
Another girl, a blond wearing a green school jacket was be heard saying (for her voice was rather loud), "When I looked at you then, Fujino… your eyes had gone sort of crazy, y'know? And when you pointed your naginata at Yukino… I don't want to bring this up again. Just… don't point your naginata at Yukino ever again. It's not funny."
"… I'm sorry, Haruka-san. I was overcome with my emotions then." At that, the whole table went silent, and the friends (if not friends, then at least comrades) attempted to pretend that they were not listening in on the conversation of Shizuru and Haruka. Natsuki herself filled her mouth with a spoonful of soup in attempt to avoid being drawn into the conversation. Well, they did have to talk about what happened during the Hime battles and the Carnival, but now? Over lunch? During a zombie apocalypse? Really? Natsuki sighed and slurped down more ramen noodles. Mmm, Mai's ramen does take your mind off things.
Haruka snorted at Shizuru's soft and composed reply. She gripped Shizuru's arm as she leaned across the table, staring at Shizuru angrily. "You were in love with her then, you're in love with her now. What's the difference, Fujino? What's going to stop you from sacrificing the rest of us to save her this time round?" At that, the student president only shrugged, and smiled apologetically, not even tugging her arm away from Haruka's strong grip. Not getting the reaction she wanted, Haruka got up angrily and left the room, shouldering her and Yukino's backpacks. She soon came back, standing in front of the doorway. "I'm going to ready the car for us to leave as soon as lunch is over. Where are we going?"
Nao spoke up lazily. "We're heading for the coast, avoiding the highways when we can."
Yukino interrupted, frowning at Nao's announcement. "Won't it be faster just taking the highway?"
"Not if you want to be fresh zombie chomp-chomps, dear Yukino-san. Now, shall we?" The red head stood up, and slowly reach for her new weapons and backpack. Reito will take Midori's old bike, it's in quite a good condition. Then we'll have more space in the cars for our backpacks and weapons. We'll head for Mizuno Port, if that's all right with you, Haruka-san. The sooner we leave this forsaken zombie-filled island, the better for us."
Everyone knew about Mizuno Port. It belonged to Haruka's family, and it was more of a jetty than a port. But because the Suzushiro Corporation had some smaller ships come in through that jetty, it was named a port. Hidden along the quiet river that led out into the Pacific Ocean, the Himes and their close friends had taken a boat trip from there before to one of the nearby islands. Haruka nodded quickly, and said eagerly, "That's a good idea. My family has some boats that we can use to travel out into the ocean. Let's go! Yukino, come with me!"
Everyone jumped up, even though it was really just Yukino who Haruka asked for. One by one, they piled their backpacks and weapons into the cars. Reito only smiled when Shizuru asked him with a quizzical smile, "When did Reito-san ever learnt to ride a bike?" The tall man only shrugged and slung his sword and backpack on his back. "I had much free time as the Student Council Vice-President, Shizuru-san." Shizuru raised an eyebrow at him, then turning to Natsuki as the latter got their backpacks and weapons to the Ducati. She noticed that although Natsuki's bike was bigger, it would still be difficult to hold both their backpacks, their persons and their weapons. She nudged Natsuki gently on the girl's shoulder. "And how does Natsuki possibly think we will be able to fit everything AND us onto Natsuki's lovely bike?" Biting her lips, the brunette had one finger on her chin, and the other hand pulling Natsuki's elbow.
"I trust being on my bike more than stuck in the car, Shizuru. We'll manage, just… hold on to my sniper gun and your naginata…" Natsuki handed the weapons to Shizuru as she got on the bike. "I know you're strong enough to carry them, Shizuru. Besides, on Duran we'll get to the port in no time."
Shizuru giggled. "Ara, Duran? If you have Duran then maybe I shall ride on my Kiyohime, Natsuki."
Her lover only pouted. "Maa, Shizuru. Come on, get up on the bike, already. If we had our Childs we wouldn't need vehicles, we'll just ride them to the remotest and zombit-freest island around and wait out this bloody disaster." She shook her head, her hair whipping around her face before settling neatly, framing her attractive face. Shizuru was caught in the moment, too entranced by Natsuki's shampoo-commercial worthy action to move. "Shizuru!" Natsuki yanked Shizuru closer to herself, and patted the seat behind her. "Bike, now. The others are waiting!" The blue-haired girl gently placed a dark purple helmet onto the dazed one, buckling it and making sure it was secure before putting her own helmet on. Shizuru snapped out of her daze once Natsuki's face was hidden by the dark visor of the helmet, and the brunette gracefully climbed onto the Ducati and wrapped her arms around Natsuki. Natsuki's backpack prevented her from hugging Natsuki's body as she usually did, but she had trouble enough with a naginata AND a sniper rifle slung on each of her shoulders. Bloody bike. Natsuki should just fix some compartment so we can at least put the backpacks in. "Natsuki, perhaps…" but her voice fell silent when she realised what was ahead. A dark mass of creatures, most likely zombies lurking around their exit. They were just shuffling around, but their great numbers made it impossible for everyone to get out safely.
Natsuki groaned. She noticed them too. "Shizuru, hold on tight. Like, really tight."
Realising the seriousness of the situation, Shizuru tightened her arms around Natsuki as best she could with the backpack in the way. The biker rode her bike, and stopped at a distance from the gate, bike engine still at a low hum. Shizuru looked on, wondering what Natsuki had in mind. Those crates took ages to move, and now were actually blocking their exit. But their barrier was also protecting them. Shizuru could see the the zombies' weight pressing on the gates had loosened them from the walls. Any moment now the gates could fall, being propped up only by the heavy crates.
Natsuki drew her pistol, firing shots at the crates of alcohol barring the gates. One, two, three shots were fired, before Natsuki hid her pistol back in the folds of her jacket.
The crates of alcohol caught fire, and within seconds, a huge blaze started. Zombies who were clinging onto the gates were now on fire, and flailing around, spreading the fire onto the horde surrounding the gate. The wooden crates crumbled in the blaze, and the metal gates fell with a clang onto the road. Their exit was now cleared and they could ride out easily.
"Brillant, Natsuki." Shizuru couldn't help but stroke Natsuki's abdomen with her fingers as she praised her. With a grunt, Natsuki shot out of the gate at the fastest speed her bike could reach, the cars following behind her closely. The bullet shots would have alerted nearby zombies and despite clearing the initial horde more would definitely come.
Midori rolled down her window, giving Natsuki a thumbs up. The teacher laughed and yelled, "This is no time for jokes!" For a brief second everyone in her car looked at her strangely, and Natsuki, who did hear what she said was just going to ignore the teacher, when she remembered.
Natsuki remembered what she had said in the Carnival battle in response to exactly what Midori-sensei had shouted back then. She did feel a little silly, and hoped Midori-sensei didn't expect her to respond in a similar manner now. At Midori's honk she grumbled, and drew close on her bike to Midori's open window, saying "Hime Sentai, engage!" in the blandest way possible.
"Natsuki-chan's no fun! Well, I'm sure there'll be lots of times in the future that we'll get to practice this routine!" Midori winked, and rolled up her window. At that, Natsuki rolled her eyes and sped ahead.
There were zombies on the roads, but the vehicles travelled quick enough that the zombies could not react in time to their approach and departures.
They crossed into another prefecture, taking small roads whenever they could. The numbers of zombies they passed were growing smaller in number. Natsuki figured they were attracted to the cities where there were more people, and consequently, more fresh meat. Perhaps Nao had a brain in her when she suggested them travelling in the country, avoiding the roads most people would take in fleeing the cities.
She could hardly wait til they reached some place to rest. Surely Shizuru was getting tired, riding pillion with so many things. As if the brunette knew her thoughts, Natsuki felt Shizuru's arms tighten around her reassuringly. As long as you're okay Shizuru, I'll be okay.
Suddenly the biker stopped. Damn, perhaps Nao was wrong. Ahead of her, down the hill, across the river were a mass of zombies. They were heading in their direction. Reito, who was behind Natsuki caught up and realised the problem. He gripped his bike handles tightly, and turned around, signalling to the cars to turn off their engines. None of them needed the zombies to realise that there was fresh meat awaiting them nearby. His whisper carried in the silence around them, requesting them to find a solution to their problem. Too many zombies across the river from where the wooden bridge was. Too many to destroy, and they didn't know if there were more ahead. His friends in the cars rolled down their windows to decide what they'd do next. No one spoke up, they were at loss.
Natsuki finally spoke, breaking the silence. "Shizuru, you'll go with Reito. I'll- I'll circle the mass of zombies, firing shots, distracting them so that they'll pursue me while the rest of you hurry on to Mizuno Port." She made to remove Shizuru's arms from her waist.
Shizuru shook her head determinedly and clung on tighter. "I'm definitely not leaving you, Natsuki. Never, never... you know I will give up my life to be with you."
Natsuki was about to deny Shizuru her request, but Reito raised his hand, stopping her. In a voice that brooked no opposition, he stated, "I'll go. Mikoto, come with me. You'll attack any zombies that get too near with your sword, and I'll distract the zombies. The both of us will catch up with everybody at Mizuno Port. But if we do not arrive by tomorrow, sundown, then.."
"You will arrive by then. And you will bring Mikoto safely with you as well. Reito... we cannot lose anyone else. So be careful." Mai got out of the car, Mikoto following her, sword already unsheathed. Natsuki looked on as Mai hugged Mikoto tightly, before turning to Reito, and smiling slightly at him. The boy grinned back, promising her in his charming voice that he definitely would ensure Mikoto's safety. With that the siblings left, riding across the bridge shouting and attracting the zombies attention. Natsuki and the rest followed them across the bridge, and continued their speedy journey towards the port.
Inwardly, Natsuki was relieved that she did not have to leave Shizuru. But Reito wasn't as good a biker as she was, and she wondered if he and Mikoto would make it out alive.
Author's Note: It's a shorter chapter this time. Mostly because I don't know if I should kill off any more characters! You know, Reito will either be next to go, or no one dies at all anytime soon. Makes me sad whenever I think of the improbability of them ALL surviving. Anyway, thanks for reading, please review!