Just a note: RL has gotten really, really busy so I may be cutting updates back to every two weeks. Don't worry, I will be finishing this story, it just might take a little longer than I planned. LOL!

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

Updated: 10/31/13


The rest of the week went by quietly as mid-terms wrapped up. There had been no more trouble since the bathroom incident, but the boys were still traveling in pairs. Whether it was Takashi and Kohta or one of the other two, it quickly became known that you didn't mess with one without taking on all four.

Even Rei helped out by sticking to Saya when Saeko was not around. Rei and Saeko were cordial to each other, though everyone could feel the tension between them, mostly on Rei's part.

Friday came and everyone breathed a sigh of relief as school ended for the day. Saya and Kohta headed home in the car, while Saeko and Takashi caught the train to her stop. Parting ways there, Takashi went two stops further and ran home to drop off his bag, and change into regular clothes. Throwing a couple of items into a small backpack he told his mother and father where he was heading and ran back to the train station.

The baseball game didn't start till seven o'clock so he had plenty of time, but he still rushed because he wanted to see more of Saeko if he could. When he arrived, he headed to the dojo because he knew Kage would still be there.

Stepping onto the wood flooring, he found a crowd of about twenty children, of several ages. After removing his shoes and laying his backpack aside he bowed to the shrine, before kneeling down to the left and slightly to the rear of Saeko's father, since Kage was the master of the dojo.

He and Kage nodded to each other and turned their attention back to the children and Saeko.

She had them lined up in two rows, slowly going through katas. She would watch and then walk over to correct one whose form might be a little off. After several minutes of this, she clapped her hands and had them all take seats around the edge of the workout floor.

Takashi smiled as a little girl with pink hair, who seemed to be about nine, ran over and plopped down beside him. He looked over to her and bowed slightly as she blushed, grinned and bowed back.

Turning his attention back to the floor, he watched as Saeko paired them up to spar with each other. She worked her way around the room till she finally pointed to the little girl. "Alice-chan, come pair off with Hito-chan."

"Hai!" the girl cried as she stepped forward. The children took their stances and when Saeko said go, began clacking their bokken together as they went back and forth across the floor. This went on for a minute before the girl finally got the upper hand and touched the boy on the hip. Saeko called it Alice's win and she came back to sit down with a huge grin on her face.

Kage leaned over and in sotto voce said, "I'm going to get some things started. Come on in when it gets closer to game time."

Takashi nodded as Kage got up, patted the little girl on the head as he went by, and left the dojo.

Watching for another thirty minutes, Takashi checked the time on his cell before bowing slightly to the little girl again and heading toward the door. Saeko's head came around as she heard the girl twitter behind her hand, but she smirked and let it pass as she saw who caused it.

Takashi crossed over to the house and entered to find Kage in the kitchen wearing a Yomiuri Giants jersey and fixing snack foods.

"Oi, Takashi-kun," he said after they greeted each other. "Turn the TV on, will you? It should be set on the correct channel."

Takashi did as he was asked and then excused himself to the bathroom. When he came back he had a Chunichi Dragons jersey and cap on.

"Oh I see how this is going to be!" Kage exclaimed as he reached down to pull up a Giants pennant on a stick. "Go Giants!" he cried as he waved it at Takashi.

Takashi grinned and drew his right hand from behind his back. On it was a big foam hand with the index finger pointing up that said Dragons. "Dragons are number one!" he retaliated.

Both laughed heartily as they took the snacks to the table and settled in to watch the game.

000

It was deep into the seventh inning with the Giants winning when the front door opened and Saeko came in with the little pink-haired girl in tow.

"Please pardon the intrusion!" the child called out as she took off her shoes. She then ran in and plopped down beside Takashi with a huge grin on her face.

"Alice-chan," Saeko called from the entrance. "Introduce yourself properly!"

Alice stood back up and bowed politely, "Greetings, onii-san, I am Maresato Alice and I am pleased to meet you! Please take care of me!"

Takashi bowed back from his sitting position, "Greetings, Alice-chan, I am Komuro Takashi and I am pleased to meet you!"

Alice giggled and plopped back down as Kage chuckled.

She looked up at the boy, "Are you Saeko-sensei's boyfriend!"

Takashi choked on his drink as Kage roared with laughter.

"Ah yes, Alice-chan, I guess you could say I'm Saeko-san's boyfriend."

He blushed as she asked the next question, "Are you going to get married?"

Takashi froze as Saeko had to beat her father on the back, while he choked on a chicken wing.

The teenager leaned over and whispered to her, "That is yet to be decided."

Alice threw her hands in the air and shouted, "Good luck, Takashi onii-san!" as Saeko face palmed herself.

000

A short time later Alice's mother arrived to get her. She was a lovely Caucasian woman whose accent sounded like she was from America.

"I'm sorry for running so late!" she apologized.

"It is no problem," Saeko replied. "Alice has been watching baseball with my father and my boyfriend. She was no bother at all."

The woman leaned in slightly and got a look at Takashi. "Ooo, he is very nice looking, Busujima-san, you are very lucky!"

Saeko blushed, "Thank you, I think so also."

"Alice-chan! Make your goodbyes!" Maresato-san called.

Alice got up and bowed, saying goodbye to the men before running over to her mother. "Mama!" she exclaimed. "That was Saeko-sensei's boyfriend and he's cute!"

Saeko and the child's mother laughed as Takashi sat blushing at the table.

000

After changing, Saeko sat down next to Takashi to watch the end of the game with them.

Kage cheered and Takashi groaned as the game wrapped up with the Giants winning by one run. Saeko laughed as Takashi had to prostrate himself and apologize for the performance of his team as Kage waved the Giants pennant over the boy's head.

When Takashi sat back up he noticed Saeko playing with his foam finger. He watched as she waved it back and forth playing with it. Then she reached out and poked him on top of the head with it.

"Boop!" she said before she did it again and again. "Boop! Boop! Boooop!"

Takashi sat enduring the treatment as he glanced at Kage.

Her father was kneeling with his arms crossed, looking down his nose at Takashi, "Are you going to let her treat you like that, Takashi-kun?"

Takashi, with a smirk on his face, bowed slightly and said, "With your permission, Sensei." and dove at the girl.

"WAAA!" she cried out as he started tickling her ribs. They rolled across the floor, fighting for dominance as Kage cheered Takashi on.

This went on for several minutes before Takashi was able to pin the girl with both hands over her head. They were both gasping for air, Saeko was very strong, but Takashi had the weight advantage on her.

Takashi looked down at her beautiful laughing face and their eyes locked. He felt like he was falling into those wide orbs and he started to lean in for a kiss.

"Takashi," she whispered. "Don't forget father is watching…"

He hung his head and muttered, "Crap!"

He rolled off of her to a sitting position and noticed Kage was trying to look anywhere but at the couple.

"Ah, sorry, oji-san, we got a little carried away it seems," Takashi said.

Kage smirked, "That's alright, heat of battle and all that. Don't mind me, I will await while you are making my grandchild."

Saeko threw the foam finger at her father as he roared laughter at Takashi's blood red face.

000

A little later Kage stretched and said, "I've got a class in the morning so I think I'll bathe and turn in. I'll see you two tomorrow. Oh, tell Yuriko-san I said hello."

"We will father," Saeko said as Takashi said goodnight.

The teens watched each other as Kage shuffled off down the hall. As they heard the door to the bath close, Takashi dove at Saeko again as she dodged around the room.

They rolled around until this time Saeko wound up on top with Takashi pined. She smiled as she leaned down and claimed his lips. After a few minutes things began to get heated, their bodies growing hotter as they clutched at each other.

Suddenly Takashi grabbed her on the shoulders and pushed her up, rasping for air as he spoke, "Saeko…stop…I have to stop!"

She looked at him puzzled as his wild eyes turned away from her. "What's wrong, Takashi?" she said with apprehension in her voice.

He was still gasping for air as he spoke, "I…Saeko…I'm afraid if we…continue…I will…lose control."

She looked puzzled for a moment, and then realized what was pressing against her inner thigh. Saeko, her face red, slipped off of him and knelt beside him while looking away.

He got up and knelt beside her, their thighs touching in the way they liked to sit with each other. His face was red and he could not meet her eyes.

"Do I…ah…always have that effect on you?" she asked shyly.

He hung his head for a second before replying, "In…some form or another…yes, but…it is a natural reaction after all."

Saeko tried not to laugh, getting away with a slight snicker, "Does my body please you, Takashi-kun?"

Takashi looked her in the eyes now. The love he felt for her, but had not expressed, glowed in his, "You please me. Not just your body, but your essence, your soul. I love you, Busujima Saeko."

Her eyes widened as she took in a breath. She stared at him for a minute before leaning close and putting her head on his shoulder.

"I also love you, Komuro Takashi. I had heard of love, but I never knew the feelings would be this way. When we are together, I dread the moment we have to part, and when we are apart, I long for the moment we will be together again."

He put his arms around her and held her, "I know we were going to take this slow, but it's like we're on a wild ride, racing somewhere together."

She reached up and stroked his cheek, "I feel the same way, but if there is anyone I would want to be with on that ride…it's you."

She kissed him and they stayed like that for a long time, just holding each other, kissing lightly and feeling their hearts beat.

Finally Takashi nuzzled her forehead, "I better go. Takagi and Hirano will be here at 10am to pick us up."

She nodded and kissed him again before they got up.

000

Saturday morning found Takashi jogging down the street Saeko lived on. He arrived at the gate promptly at 9am. Ringing the bell at the gate twice, the signal it was him, he went in to be met at the door by the girl he loved.

He stepped inside the foyer and stood taking her in. She, like he, was dressed in cargo pants, T-shirt and a light over shirt. She had her hair pulled up into a pony tail and Takashi thought a slight shine of gloss was on her lips.

She blushed as he stepped close to her. "Father is at the dojo," she whispered as he took her in his arms.

They kissed passionately for a few minutes before Takashi pulled back and whispered, "Good morning, Saeko-chan."

It sent a thrill up his spine as she whispered back, "Good morning…my love."

They parted and stepped into the living room holding hands. "Coffee while we wait?" she asked.

"Yes, thank you!" he replied.

She brought two mugs in and they sat down with their shoulders touching. They sat quietly like that sipping their cups, looking at each other, brushing lips once in a while.

Finally Takashi hung his head and gave a little snort.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I was just thinking," he said. "It's interesting how we can just sit and enjoy each other isn't it? I mean just being in the room together with you is enough for me to be happy."

She lay her head on his shoulder, "I understand what you mean; just knowing you are near is enough to make me feel peaceful and content."

Takashi's phone buzzed and he opened it to find a message from Saya saying they would be arriving in fifteen minutes. He showed it to Saeko and she nodded.

Getting up she said, "Bathroom."

He chuckled and picked up their coffee cups to put away. He made a pit stop himself after she came out and they headed out the door just as the limo pulled up outside.

000

"Wow! This place is huge!" Kohta said as they walked into the main entrance of the sports shooting complex.

"This is one of the places the Olympic teams train as well as some of the professional marksmanship teams," Yuriko told him. "We keep a membership here and support the athletes."

They reached the front counter and signed in before an usher took them to a class room for a safety training lecture that lasted about twenty minutes.

Kohta was impressed with the instructor and his emphasis on muzzle direction safety, and how a gun is always loaded unless you check it yourself. As they wrapped up, he flipped through the booklet telling how the facility was laid out, and what the lengths of the different shooting galleries were.

They followed an usher to a set of doors that said '10 Meter Pistol' over them. Outside they stopped and checked out some mandatory eye and ear protection they needed.

Kohta helped Saya get her's adjusted. She had worn her hair in a single ponytail today, like Saeko, and he smiled at how cute it looked. Looking around at the others, he noticed Yuriko had pulled a personal set out of the range bag she had been carrying.

The usher opened the door and held it while they all filed in. They were at once assaulted by the POW! POW! POW! of pistol gunfire.

Yuriko walked over and set her bag down on a table that was behind the two shooting lanes they had reserved. She handed a sheet of paper to the usher, who took it over to a man with a red shirt that said 'Range Master' on it.

The other teens looked at Kohta as Saya pointed and asked, "Who's he?"

"That's the Range Safety Master," he explained. "He keeps a watch over everyone to make sure they are shooting in a safe manner. If he sees a violation, he will halt all firing and pull that person from the firing line and have a talk with them."

"Like waving a gun around and pointing it at people," Saya said as Kohta nodded.

"Just remember, if you have a gun in your hand and someone says something to you, don't turn around to them. Keep the muzzle of the gun pointed down range or at the floor. Turn your head, but not your body to respond to them," he told the others as Yuriko watched nodding.

The usher came back with a box and lay a soft pad on the table. He then placed three different pistols with the needed magazines as well as a box of ammunition for each.

"If you need more rounds, please just ask," he told Yuriko as she thanked him. She reached into her bag and pulled out a pistol and several other objects, laying them with the others.

When done, Saya's mother turned to Kohta and waved him to the table, "Please take a look, Hirano-kun, and tell me what you think."

Kohta stumped over and stood with his crutches under his arms. The first weapon he looked at was Yuriko's Luger. He picked it up, checked it for a magazine and then worked the action several times to make sure there was not a round in the chamber.

He nodded, "That's beautiful, the action is very smooth and weight is not too bad at all," he told her. Moving on he picked up the next gun in line.

"That looks like the gun you see in American westerns," Takashi said.

Kohta nodded, "It is very similar. This is a Ruger Blackhawk revolver in .45 caliber, and works just like the Colt Peacemaker in cowboy shows."

He smiled as he picked up and inspected the next one, "Beretta 92FS in 9mm. It holds fifteen rounds and is the preferred hand gun of many militaries and police agencies."

He had a puzzled look as he reached for the last pistol. A grin broke across his face as he looked back at Yuriko. He wagged his finger and said, "I see what you did!" as she laughed.

"What?' Saya asked leaning in. "What did mama do?"

He held up the last pistol and showed it to them, "I thought this was a Colt model 1911 in .45 caliber. What it is really, is a Sig Sauer with a 1911 frame, but it fires .22, which is a small round that is perfect for someone that has never fired a gun before. This will be the first gun you will ever fire."

Yuriko clapped, "Very good, Hirano-kun! You understand my thinking perfectly!"

She picked up her Luger and a magazine before she walked over to the firing stand. She took a paper target with a man shape on it from the rack beside her and clipped it to the hanger hanging over the stand. Flipping a switch, the target slid out to five meters and stopped.

Glancing at Kohta she said, "It's been a while since I've shot so I'm going to try five meters first." She looked to either side and called out, "Firing!"

The Range Master called back, "Lane one, permission to fire!"

Yuriko held the pistol up pulled the trigger. POW! POW! POW! POW! The gun bucked in her hand as she placed four bullets in the center of the target. Satisfied, she moved the target out to the ten meter mark and finished the mag. Bringing it back in, she showed them a nice group of holes in the center of what would be someone's chest no more than the size of a saucer.

Takashi whistled, "How long did it take you to learn to do this, okaa-sama?"

Yuriko shook her head, "Not all that long, Komuro-kun. The first course I took was over a week, but I went back numerous times to practice."

After that, Kohta took Saya and showed her how to stand and hold the Sig for firing. He stood close behind her as she took her first shot. She jumped a little at first but quickly settled down. Checking the target after she was done they found she had only missed once, the other nine rounds went into the man shaped silhouette. Kohta gave her a hug as she bounced in happiness.

Takashi was next. He had been watching close and was able to get all ten on the black outline the first time and they all congratulated him.

Saeko came next and she surprised everyone including herself. She was able to get all ten shots in a 30cm diameter circle on the center of the target. Thinking about it, Kohta said he bet it was her breathing that helped her. She was used to taking slow measured breaths in kendo and just did the same here.

"Your turn boooy!" Saya said as Takashi hung up a target for Kohta.

"Eh, it's been a year so I might not do too well," he said as he moved the target out to ten meters.

The others stood back and watched as he raised the pistol up in front of his eyes several times before firing the first shot. Ten seconds, ten measured shots. He sighed as he de-clipped and pulled the target in.

They all leaned in to find, ten holes, within the size of a tea cup.

They heard a whistle behind them and turned to find the Range Master looking over their shoulders. Looking at Kohta he asked, "Where did you train, young man?"

"America, in Colorado, sir," Kohta replied.

The man nodded, "It shows. That's better than 95% of the people that come in here!" he told the others. Clapping Kohta on the back, he returned to his position.

They spent the rest of their time trying the different guns. Saya and Saeko decided they preferred the .22 for the feel in their hand and the small recoil. Takashi fell in love with the Blackhawk. He said it just felt good to hold and shoot. Yuriko of course enjoyed them all, but was happiest with her trusty Luger.

They turned the weapons back in and went to the café in the complex for lunch.

Saya watched Kohta while they were eating lunch. The grin he had never left his face. She finally leaned over and said, "Kohta, I know you're having a good time, but if you don't stop grinning like that, your face is going to break!"

He laughed as the others chuckled, "I'm sorry, Saya-chan. I'm just having a great time; this is the first time ever that I have had friends to share the things I love with."

She understood what he meant. After getting closer, they had talked about the lonely times he had spent with no one to eat with, talk to, or do anything with. She wondered sometimes how he had stayed sane.

After lunch, they found another usher that took them to the outside rifle ranges. It was not as loud as the inside range, but they went through putting on the eye and ear protection again.

Outside, there were around twenty lanes or stations. They were set in pairs ranging from thirty meters out to three hundred meters.

After a minute, the usher arrived with a helper carrying two rifles, three full magazines for each and several more boxes of rounds.

"I guessed you would like two of the more well-known models, Hirano-kun, so I picked these," Yuriko told him.

Kohta groaned in pleasure as he picked up the first, which was a Colt model AR-15, the civilian version of the US Army M-16. The difference being the M-16 was full automatic, and this was the semi-auto version in 5.56mm.

The other weapon was an AK-47, the battle rifle Russia, had made famous throughout the world. This was also a civilian version that only fired semi-auto and was chambered in 7.62mm.

They started with the AR-15 at thirty meters. Yuriko and Kohta had no problems with it, but the other three had a harder time. After some practice, and advice from Kohta, they were all able to keep their shots on the target silhouette.

They changed to the AK-47 and it was totally different. It was heavier and of a larger caliber so it had more recoil. Yuriko and Takashi were able to handle it, but not very well. Saya and Saeko were not able to control the recoil and passed on shooting it anymore after a few times.

Kohta, of course, hit the center of the target every time.

"I don't see how you do that!" Saya said.

Kohta shrugged, "Practice and getting a feel for it, Saya-chan. You will do much better after shooting it over and over for a while."

Everyone else felt they had reached the limits of what little skill they had when Kohta asked to try the one hundred meter range.

"This day is as much for you as it is for the rest of us, Hirano-kun," Yuriko told him. "Please enjoy yourself, and show us what you can do."

The targets on the outside ranges came up out of the ground. When you stepped to the shooting stand you looked at a chart there, picked the type of target sheet you wanted, and told the range assistants over an intercom which one you wanted. They were under the range in safe bunkers and would hang the sheet you asked for and then extend it up through a slot in the ground. When you were finished shooting, they would withdraw the target, and mark name and date on it for you to pick up and examine later.

Kohta stepped up and looked at the chart for a second before calling for a target. When it came up Saya had to squint to even see it.

"What is that Kohta? It looks like a bunch of different ones on one sheet," she said.

He nodded, "It is. They are all man silhouettes but in different sizes so it simulates people at longer ranges. Now, let me see how I do."

He braced himself on the shooting stand and began to fire in slow measured shots. When he was through, the intercom buzzed and the range assistant called out, "First seven are ten ring, next is a nine and last two are eights, good shooting."

"Wait a minute," Saya said as she looked at the picture on the target chart. "That means you hit the bull's-eye on the first seven, was barely off it on the eighth, and how far off on the last two?"

Kohta held up his fingers about 5cm apart. "About that, but at the range it was simulating, that is a lot. If it was my gun and I was used to it I might be able to do better."

Saya just stared at him in amazement as he removed the magazine and cleared the AK.

"Maybe you would like to try something a little different?" someone behind them said.

They turned to find Sergeant Minami and Officer Tajima standing with Yuriko, Saeko and Takashi.

"Ah, greetings Sergeant, Officer," Kohta said as he bowed as best he could. "How are you today?"

"Just fine," Rika said with a smirk. "You told me you had some training, but this is a bit of a surprise."

"Ah, how long have you been watching?" Kohta asked.

"Oh ten minutes or so since I noticed Lady Takagi here. So, try this and see how you do with it," She unslung the rifle she had over her shoulder and handed it to him.

Kohta took it and looked it over, "A Knight's Arms SR-25…no…it looks like one but it…oh wow an Armalite AR-10! You modified it to look like a SR-25!"

Rika chuckled as she handed him a full mag as he checked the chamber, "Very good, Hirano-san! Now show me what you can do with it."

He called for the same target again, dropped the bi-pod on the gun and rested on the stand. Ten rounds later he de-clipped and cleared the rifle. "Wow, I love the way this shoots!" he declared.

"Ten rounds, all tens! Excellent shooting, sir!" the range assistant called out over the intercom.

"Hmm, pretty good, let's try something a little harder," Rika said. She motioned for him to follow and they walked down to the three hundred meter range.

"Tajima, let Hirano-san try yours."

The man smiled and handed Kohta a very interesting rifle. The boy whistled and he looked it over, "Heckler & Koch PSG-1! This is the issue sniper rifle for the SAT is it not?"

Tajima nodded, "One of them. That's the one I use whenever we have a mission."

Rika stepped up and called for a target. When it came up, Kohta had to put the gun to his shoulder to look through the scope to see the target.

He lowered the weapon and cocked his head over looking at Rika with a puzzled on his face, "Small caliber competition target? Really? At this range?"

Rika shrugged and smirked, "You want to get into SAT? You got to hit the hard shots. I'll be honest, I don't expect you to hit more than one or two, so don't feel bad if you don't hit any, being on crutches and all. I'm setting you up to fail, Hirano-san. How we do under pressure tells me just as much as how well you can shoot."

Kohta thought about it for a minute and then nodded, "Let's shoot for the moon. May I have the magazine please?"

Tajima handed him one with ten rounds in it and the first thing Kohta did was, empty them out.

Rika and Tajima's eyebrows went up as he inspected each round and returned it to the mag. When he finished doing that he tapped it on the palm of his hand and seated it into the rifle.

Kohta smiled and winked at Saya before opening the sniper rifle's bi-pod and bracing against the shooting stand.

Takashi noticed Tajima pull something out of his pocket and raise it to his eye.

"What's that?" Takashi whispered to the man.

"Hand held sighting scope. I will be able to see what he hits as soon as he fires."

Takashi nodded and turned his attention back to his friend.

Kohta took several deep breaths and then paused. BOOM! The rifle bucked as it kicked against his shoulder. BOOM! The gun barked again as he sent another round down range.

This went on eight more times, Kohta let out a sigh when through, "That's the best I can do without practicing with the weapon more."

Rika stepped up to the stand as Kohta de-clipped and cleared the rifle. She keyed the intercom, "Runner, do not declare the shots, please bring the target sheet to the shooting stand."

"Roger," was the only reply.

Saya walked over as Kohta set the rifle down on the stand. "You look tired," she said.

He nodded, "That took some effort. Those targets are for ten to fifty meters with a .22 caliber rifle."

"How did you even see that?"

He shook his head, "The scope is really nice on this, but it was still a dot about the size of a coin."

A young man ran up holding the rolled up target sheet, "Can I ask who shot this?"

Rika motioned to Kohta as she unrolled the sheet.

The runner bowed to Kohta and gave him a thumb up before running off.

Rika held up the sheet to see five dead on bull's eyes and the other five no more than a centimeter off the center of target.

"Wow…that's better than my last try at this and almost as good as yours," Tajima muttered as Rika's left eye twitched.

Rika turned to find Saya standing in front of Kohta, looking at her with a smirk on her face.

"How about I buy everyone coffee when you are through shooting for the day?" Rika said as they all smiled.


A/N: Kohta has strutted his stuff now and Rika's impressed! Where will this go from here? As always please leave a review and/or favorite!