A/N: Short chapter alert! Short chapter alert! Man the helms!

Yeah, just thought I'd let you know. Stick with it, though, the next chapter will be longer and will bring back another old friend. Can you guess who?

When the rain stops and the sun is drying the land, it's time to go hunting. Five men are chosen for the job. They rotate with fifteen others every couple of weeks. The only one to go every single time is their leader, who oversees them from whatever high vantage point he can find. Sometimes it's a tree branch, sometimes a rise in the land. Today, he's on top of a boulder, still, like he's a part of the rock himself. Icy eyes scan the surrounding area, burning into the backs of his hunters as they creep about in search of their prey.

Two of those men stick together, unlike their partners who prefer to go solo. They are both quiet, unassuming, and not at all accustomed to hunting. Neither of them have gone very often. This will be their third time, the last one being over a year ago. They hold their guns aloft, awkwardly facing different directions though they have no idea what they're going to do if that actually see anything. The taller of the two, who is really only a fraction of an inch taller, glancing out the corner of his eye at his partner.

"Is he still watching us?" he asks out the corner of his mouth.

The other man needs a moment to answer. "No. I think Rikano got his attention. He's facing north by northeast."

"Didn't ask for co-ordinates," the first man- whose name is Sagi- mumbles, though he's still quite relieved. He's getting tired of the hair standing up on his back because there's there judgmental eyes watching his every move.

Sagi is as loyal to Kaito-sama as anyone else in town. Really, he is, but that doesn't mean he has to like the man, and he really doesn't. He's been a member of the small, but growing community since long before Kaito ever set foot inside their boundaries. That was eight years ago, Kaito had been with them for five, and leading them for three. Those first two years, Sagi never spoke to him, or even noticed him. He'd been quiet back then, never venturing too far unless in the company of Yoikagi, the former leader of the town. Sagi's chest constricts when he thinks of Yoikagi, with his disarming grin and cheerful, yet abrasive disposition. Losing him had been like a knife to the gut for so many of them. They could only be grateful that his killer hadn't gotten away with it.

Yoikagi was like the exact opposite of Kaito-sama. Where Yoikagi was loose, Kaito is stern. Where Yoikagi laughed with the ease of a schoolboy, Kaito never cracked a smile that wasn't cruel or bloodthirsty. And yet the townspeople marched on when Yoikagi fell and Kaito rose up, and they were doing quite well for themselves, thank you very much. Sagi likes to believe their work ethic and determination to survive is all that they need, but he knows that the guiding hand hovering over them drives them further than they could ever go on their own.

He knows they needed Kaito-sama, but he doesn't have to like that too much either.

His partner- whose name is Takagi and who used to be a cartographer in the old days- is even worse with a gun than he is, and that's saying something. Sagi is a pacifist. He'd been raised in a devoutly Buddhist family and even though he'd been disconnecting from the faith somewhat when The End happened, he still clung on now that his parents and grandparents were no more. He prayed for them every night, prayed that they'd been good enough in their lives to not have to come back to this awful, ruined world. When he wasn't doing that, he was making up whatever excuse he could not to have to use one of these double shotguns- or whatever they were called. Normally, he could come up with something: extra work to be done in town, a bad leg, wife might be coming down with something. Then there were days like today, when nothing came to mind and he was stuck. Takagi's presence is the one saving grace. They could just spend the next few hours huddled together with their guns gathered in their arms, never to be used.

They walk along the expanse, occasionally looking out to see how Uragiru and Shingi were doing. Those two are newcomers, which is why they were chosen for hunting duty today. It's something of a rite of passage, a test to see that you were trustworthy. So far, they seem to be passing. Kaito-sama hasn't run his machete knife through either of them yet, so that has to be a good sign.

Kaito-sama has chosen a new rock to watch them from, one bigger than the last. Sagi thinks he liked the shorter one better. At least then Kaito only looked a little like a hawk stalking his prey instead of a lot.

He feels Takagi's hand snatch his arm and squeeze. Sagi winces, but the real pain is in his stomach when he looks out and sees what is bothering Takagi so much.

There is a deer in the distance, maybe ten or so feet away. The animal is just prancing along, stopping here and there to sniff the ground before moving on. It's antlers are long and brush against the branches on either side, but the deer is unbothered. It has no idea that it's demise lurks right around the corner. Really, if it had been anyone but the two of them, the poor beast would be died in the dirt by now. As it is, Shingi and Uragiru have already wandered off, Kaito presumably with them.

"What do we do?" Takagi whispers.

The deer turns it's head, almost catching sight of them, but it's eyes slide right by as it changes directions. It's coming closer. Sagi's gun becomes heavy in his hands. He wants so badly to drop and just run right back to town and into the arms of Kanako, his sweet and always understanding wife. His mouth goes dry as he struggles to think of a response. He feels Takagi shaking with fear. He gets any worse and he'll probably void himself. He's pretty much useless right now.

Sagi gulps. He hates going hunting, and he hates the gun in his hand and he hates that when he raises it level with the deer's bent head and fingers the trigger, he knows exactly where his hands are supposed to go and how to remove the safety before he fires.

BANG

Sagi drops the gun.

He lets out a whimper and falls to his knees, head in his hands. The gun as his feet is clean and unfired. Takagi beside him is white as a ghost. Kaito-sama behind them lowers his gun. He marches through them towards the beast, which is on the ground and screaming as it kicks out it's three good legs futilely. The one that's been hit has blood pumping out of it. The creature's kicks are already starting to weaken. Kaito-sama approaches it without hesitation. One of the legs comes close to getting him in the gut, but he just sidesteps in the blow. He stands behind the deer, aiming now directly at the back of it's head.

BANG

The deer is still.

By now, Uragiru and Shingi have heard the commotion and run back into the clearing. They make it in time to help Kaito-sama drag the deer across the way to their cart. They stop in front of Sagi, but he's not back on his feet yet. He only knows they're there from the shadows over him and the way Takagi continues to whimper.

"You don't like hunting, do you, Sagi-san?"

Sagi isn't sure how to take how formal Kaito sounds. It's like he's not even angry or upset. Sagi looks up and hopes it's not just an act.

"No, Sir, I don't," he says.

"Which is why you always want to get out of it."

"Yes, Sir."

Kaito-sama stares at him, as if considering just what he's going to do about this. Sagi wonders if this counts as insubordination on his part, and what, if so, Kaito plans to do about it. He knows that it can't be good and leaves it at that, because actually thinking about it is only going to make him nauseous.

"I understand," Kaito-sama says.

Then he and the others move on, without another word spoken between them. Sagi slowly straightens up and follows them, Takagi sniffling in his wake. They ride back into town immediately, even though they should have stayed out another two hours at least. Sagi makes sure to put as much distance between himself and Kaito-sama as he can. He doesn't want to risk locking eyes with the man again, and feel that horrible, frosty gaze on him again, freezing him in place.

They've left the town the following morning. They might have stayed longer, but Hikaru and Kaoru are even more weary of the denizen's choice of housing than Haruhi is. After one night of staring at the ominously gray clouds though a broken window in a room with no beds, they've all had enough. They pack up their meager belongings and newly purchased food and head off, with nothing else but the clothes on their backs, the crumbled up flier in Haruhi's pocket, and the dubiously useful directions from a kindly old woman running a fruit stand.

"Oh, they were a awful bunch, those circus folk," she'd said. "I do remember the young man they where parading around like some kind of animal. I was surprised when it turned out he really could fight. I was for sure he'd be splatter all over the place within the hour. Their caravan left only a week ago, but the next town is straight that way, about ten or fifteen miles. I hope you can catch up and find your friend. He was a sweet young man."

They bought three over ripe bananas and thanked her for the help.

That was close to dawn. It's somewhere afternoon now, and Haruhi hasn't seen a hint of a building or another human being. She and the twins make small talk, mostly about things they used to do together. She brings up the Candyland cosplay and Hikaru's like prank on Tamaki. They adopt duel evil grins, and Hikaru's scars make his look even more twisted. Haruhi also detects a hint of sadness, which makes her think she shouldn't have brought it up. She changes the subject as quick as she can.

When the sun is close to setting, they have their first human contact in hours. There is rustling in the trees that Haruhi is about to chalk up to rabbits and squirrels when she hears a voice. An angry voice. A voice that screams and howls explicit words that Haruhi has never even heard her father say. Then three men burst out and onto the road. The two on the sides are supporting the one in the middle, who has one leg shoddily bandaged, with blood all over his pants that seeps out through the open spots in the gauze. He's much shorter and more muscled than his tall and thin compatriots. He is also red in the face and the one whose been screaming all this time.

"That fucking bastard. I swear… as soon as I can walk on my own, I am going to hunt him down and rip his throat out. Maybe I'll take out his other eye too. Let's see him shot that pussy ass little pop gun of his then!"

"An assault rifle isn't really a pop gun," the tall man on the left mumbles.

They are walking towards Haruhi and the twins. She looks over at them and they are watching the men approach same as her. The difference is they don't seem all that willing to help, and Haruhi can't say she blames them. She hasn't even spoken directly to him yet, and she's already taking a dislike to the loud, injured one.

"Excuse me," she says when they are about to pass. Crazed eye land on her, and she regrets ever saying anything. "Do you guys need some help?"

"FUCK OFF!" the small man screams at her.

Hikaru and Kaoru grab her and shove her behind them. They stand tall and threatening, though there's little the man could do to any of them with his leg like that. While he continues to seethe, his friend on the right gives them an apologetic look.

"We're fine, thanks," he says.

They speed up a little, and the small man hisses in pain, but they pay him no heed. Hikaru takes Haruhi by the hand and pulls her along with him and Kaoru. They shoot glares at the small man's back and then that's it. Nothing more is said about the incident.

Eventually, the sun begins it's descent and the sky turns orange. Haruhi stops in her tracks when a low whine issues from her stomach. She covers it with a hand, cheeks tinged pink with embarrassment, but Hikaru and Kaoru chuckle at her.

"Yeah, I know the feeling," Hikaru says.

"I think this is as good a place as any to stop for the night," says Kaoru.

They are one the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. The nearest swatch of trees is far enough away that it's barely a line of green in Haruhi's vision. She drops the knapsack she's carrying, while Hikaru and Kaoru plant their's in the ground right beside her. They munch on bread and apples and look up at the stars when they appear. Haruhi finishes her meal feeling full, though not particularly satisfied. It's common for her, now that really good food is so hard to come by. She smiles when she thinks how all the once rich people like Hikaru and Kaoru deal with it. Honestly, though, she's never heard them complain.

"Do you think it's really him?" she asks them. She raises her head a little to look at them.

"You mean Hunny-senpai?" Hikaru asks. He nods. "Yeah, I think so."

Haruhi isn't so reassured. "I keep thinking it's going to wind up being someone else and this is all just a big goose chase."

Kaoru snorts. "And how many people Hunny's size do you know who can also fight like he does?"

Haruhi concedes the point with a shrug, but she's still not convinced. "It could be his brother, for all we know."

"I don't know," Kaoru says. "I think Chika was still at that age were you haven't had your growth spurt yet."

"Assuming he's still alive, he could be way taller than Hunny by now."

Haruhi doesn't really like to think of people she used to know, however briefly, as possibly still alive, and so she just nods in agreement and smiles like her worries have been abated. She wonders when they will try to pry further, because there's a very good chance they aren't buying it.

Silence reigns until Hikaru lets out a moan like that of a child waiting for a long car ride to be over.

"I haaaate bread, I'm sick of it," he whines. Haruhi looks up and is unsurprised that Kaoru is rolling his eyes.

"Well, it's all we have right now," he says.

"We need to try hunting once we find Hunny-senpai. First, we need to find out if cake shops still exist so we can have something to bribe him with to go and kill something for us."

It seems in his desire for something better to eat, he's forgotten that Hunny-senpai isn't really as strong as a bear.

"We can hunt for food anytime," Kaoru says. Then he glances at Haruhi and his mouth curves into a grin. "By the way, Haruhi, have Hikaru or I ever told you how we hunt?"

They haven't, and it must be a really good story, because Hikaru shoots to his feet and seems to forget all about how deathly hungry he is.

"We have a fool-proof method," he goes on for his brother. He looks around and frowns. "It would be easier to show you if some trees were nearby, but we can make do."

He shares a look with his brother, the kind that makes one think they can communicate telepathically, and can have full, mental conversations with each other full of intricately personal information in the span of ten seconds. Kaoru walks out about two feet and stops. Hikaru remains in place and crouches down low. He looks out beneath his eyebrows at Haruhi, who remains in place and watches them wearily.

"Alright, now pay attention, Haruhi," he says. "Maybe one day, we'll let you help us out with this if you're extra good. I'd like you to pretend that I'm a deer, prancing along across the forest, looking for some leaves to eat or a brook to drink from or something. While you're doing that, pretend that Kaoru is in a tree."

"A tree?" Haruhi asks. She's not liking where this is going.

She likes it even less a second later when Kaoru lunges at Hikaru. He grabs him from behind, lifting one leg around his brother's waist like he's trying to ride him. Hikaru fakes a howl that sound nothing like the sound a deer makes. Kaoru then runs his fist hard across Hikaru's neck in a slicing motion. Hikaru gasps dramatically and falls to his knees, Kaoru having taken his cue to get off of him. After going through the long and drawn out 'death' scene, Hikaru splays himself out on his stomach, his fingers and head twitching while Kaoru applauds his 'performance.' Haruhi doesn't know whether to laugh hysterically or bash her head against the large rock to her right.

"You have got to be kidding me," she says, getting up. "There is no way you guys have ever done that, you'd get killed!"

"Oh, Haruhi," Hikaru says, pausing to spit out some dirt that got into his mouth before sitting up and continuing. "You wound us so. It's like you don't trust us to be careful or something."

"That's exactly what it is," she says under her breath."

"Unfortunately firearms have never been our strong suit," Kaoru says, shrugging. "The few times we've tried… well, needless so say, we've had to come up with alternate methods to get meat."

"This is just something we've been working on, an idea of ours," Hikaru says.

'Ah,' Haruhi thinks to herself. 'So they've never actually done this.'

She feels a little better knowing that, but she's still concerned. She sees they are still grinning like fools and thinks maybe they're just messing with her. She has to admit, she does feel in better humor after watching their little spectacle. Her anger at them is ebbing away as well. And for once, she'd kind of like to get in on it. She smirks at them and raises her shoulder a little, lifting up her shotgun for them to see.

"You know, I'm pretty good with a gun," she says. Their smiles instantly fade. "If you guys really want some meat, I might consider helping you out."

She struggles not to laugh when they glance at each other, something like fear passing through their eyes.

"Oh right, forget you had that," Kaoru says.

"Now that you mention it," Hikaru says. "You do look pretty badass with that thing, Haruhi."

She allows herself a soft chuckles and a shake of her head and nothing more as they all sit back down to watch the sky and wait for day to come again.

Haruhi, Hikaru and Kaoru stand under the cloudless, mid morning sky with the sun on their backs and the wind keeping them cool. It would help if Haruhi wasn't already feeling so chilly. She glances behind her at the straight, one way road they've been walking all this time. She looks ahead of her at the two roads it splits off into. They are both barren as far as she can see, but at least one of them has to lead into a town. Question is… which?

Hikaru has already suggested that the old woman was wrong, and he's been shot down. There were only two roads into that town, the one they came through and the one beyond it. They would have seen the caravan if it was going in the opposite direction.

Haruhi has thought about going back the way they came, even though that's impossible. They won't have enough food or the money to buy more. Haruhi has nothing left of what she had the day she was captured. She's afraid to ask what Hikaru and Kaoru have.

There is no choice. No choice but to choose.

And it's Kaoru who makes the choice in the end, because they simply can't keep standing here and wasting the daylight. He takes the right hand path and doesn't stop, fully expecting the others to follow him, and they do. Haruhi goes last, trailing far enough behind Hikaru that she knows they're eventually going to make her speed up. They don't like it when they can't see her, she's noticed, it makes them anxious. She can only hope they'll relax a little bit soon and stop worrying that she's going to disappear on them.

When she next turns around, she can't see the fork in the road anymore, and she feels uneasy, and she prays they haven't made the wrong choice.