Chapter Ten

We moved quietly, ducking behind houses. I was surprised we hadn't been killed last night. There were many people on the street, cars were on fire. People were freaking the hell out. The undead were swarming onto the pitiful living beings present. I wanted to avoid a meeting with the hostile, seemingly bloodthirsty living at all costs, and the flesh hungry bastards that were there as well. Misuzu made an "oof" noise as she tripped slightly, I caught her by the collar of her uniform, giving her a really? look. She blushed bright red and rubbed the back of her head.

Rei was peeking out at the street every once and awhile as we slid smoothly from backyard to backyard. Occasionally there was one of Them, but they were easily avoided. Rei was given the gun, I simply didn't feel safe with Misuzu wielding it. I could see the police station at the end of the road. I thought a lot about the night before. I wondered if the two girls with me were thinking about it as well…but it didn't seem like they were.

"We're close to my house," Misuzu informed us. I nodded. "Can we stop there?" Again?"

"Sure thing." She directed us where to go from here. Thankfully we weren't attacked by anything when we crossed the street. We'd crossed quietly. The gunfire and shouts were more scary than the undead. As we approached the apartment Misuzu said was her home, there was the sound of feet on pavement and to my great surprise, three forms appeared beside the building we were in the back of.

I tightened my hold around my bokken, eyes narrow. They were three heavily armed people. The leader, or rather the man who looked like the leader, was a bald and relatively attractive looking man in a leather coat and jeans. His bald head was completely covered in tattoos. He held a shotgun in his arms, and a combat knife sat sheathed on his belt. Another was a man seeming to be made of muscle and an attractive tan skinned foreigner with her ebony hair in a low ponytail.

"Misuzu?" The bald leader asked in surprise, eyes wide. Misuzu ran forward and practically leapt into his arms, he caught her with a big grin on his face. I watched this curiously, confused. "It is you Misuzu...you're okay," He mumbled happily, Rei and I looked at each other. What the hell? She knew this punk looking guy? She seemed to know him fairly well because the big man was kissing her now.

"The hell Misuzu," Rei growled, "Who's this tool?"

"This is my big lump Nato," She responded, snuggling into the big man. He was grinning widely, his cheeks a deep crimson. From his serene expression, he had obviously been freaking out about her being at school and had waited for her at her home.

"Some dudes and I went to check on your school, but you weren't there Misuzu. Or rather we thought you'd be dead if you were still in there. Didn't want to risk going in but Nato refused to give up on you. We figured this was the next place to go.," The tan girl muttered, rubbing the back of her head. "

I nodded, satisfied. I trusted them some more, they all seemed to like each other. Misuzu looked like she was enjoying herself, and I didn't think it'd be appropriate for me to interrupt them. Unlike before, I trusted her too. She'd comforted me after the thing with Kaori, even if she didn't trust me completely.

"Figured you were long dead. Meathead here swore you were still alive and decided we were gonna stick around in Japan for a little while and look for you. The things a guy will do for his girlfriend…maniac but it's a good thing we did." The foreigner continued, crossing her well muscled arms. Misuzu looked so happy. I felt pity for Rei. It was a bit odd of Misuzu to do those things with Rei when she had a boyfriend, not to mention she had flirted with me as well. Then again, she had proven to not be the most loyal of humans. After kicking her best friend down the steps after all into a hoard of hungry undead. When I glanced over, Rei appeared unaffected by what was happening, but it was obvious she was hurt…I noticed she was clenching her fists so tightly her knuckles were white.

"Who are these bitches," The huge man demanded, looking at Rei and I. I bristled, but I wondered what a wooden sword could do against a machine gun like he had. The bald man gave him a searing glare.

"Watch yourself Nobu! Sorry about my dick of a friend, but how do you know Misuzu?"

Misuzu smiled gently, as the bald man known as Nato released her. "They helped me out of the school. Saeko here saved me from the undead, and Rei-"

"None of your business," Rei snapped, surprising everyone. Nato shifted, looking pissed off now. Rei was giving Misuzu a sappy look, pleading with her eyes. Misuzu shifted uncomfortably, and looked away.

"Hell no," She scoffed, "Why would I come with you?"

"Because we were… I thought maybe we had something," Rei muttered. The bald man stiffened, and not in a good way.

"What!? You cheated on me with this bitch?" He demanded. For a second there was panic in Misuzu's eyes and then she shook her head, and put a hand on her hip. She pouted in the most adorable way, it made me want to punch her, as she clung tight to the man's muscled arm, shaking her head.

"No! Of course not Lumpy!" She looked Rei straight in the eyes. "I don't do girls. You know that. I was just staying with them because I had too. I had no choice, really." She grinned at us nervously, eyes shifting. "In fact, they've been bothering me for a while, can you get rid of them?" I grabbed Rei's hand, my blood was burning, my head throbbed. I felt hurt, I didn't want to know what Rei felt. After all they'd fucked just the night before.

"Gladly," Nato muttered, raising his shotgun. The foreigner grasped his arm.

"Come on. It's Misuzu were talking about here. She fucked that girl. She wants to let her go. No need to kill her. Either of them really. The zombies will get them probably, just a waste of ammo." Nato looked Saeko dead in the eyes. Then he sighed and began to walk away, arm around Misuzu.

"Just get them away from her," He waved his hand in their direction. The huge muscled man called Nobu nodded and began to walk towards them.

"There's no need for that," I glared deeply at the back of Misuzu's head. I gave her my most hate-filled stare. I wanted to smash her head open. But I didn't want to at the same time. I wanted to beat the shit out of her, that's what I wanted do. Because of her, Rei looked lost and depressed. Taught me something, along with Kaori, about trusting people immediately.I thought back to when I had first met her. Maybe this shouldn't be so surprising… She was sick. I didn't even know people like that existed in the world. "We're leaving anyways."

I wanted to kill something so badly, needed to vent. Rei began to walk away quickly, practically stomping. I glanced once more at Nobu and the dark skinned woman, before bowing my head. "Maybe we'll see each other again." The foreigner took a cigarette out of her pocket.

"I hope so," she winked. I gave them a slight wave as I hurried away, catching up to Rei. I put a hand on Rei's shoulder. She shrugged it off angrily, stalking forward. I hastily moved to catch up, but just walked beside her. I felt terrible. I wished I could comfort her properly.

For a long long time there was only silence. I had never seen this look on her before. I was finding it hard to understand this girl. She was just so confusing. One moment she was nice the next she was mean and then the next she was lustful, etcetera. I didn't even know what she felt now, I couldn't tell. I thought she was mad but she looked more pissed than anything. But at least she was leading us to the police station. I couldn't catch up, and I couldn't understand why Rei was so upset over someone like Misuzu. Sure they had sex but other than that? I dared not say anything though, it would most likely end badly…

I tried to focus on something else. The screams of people in the distance, the smell of smoke in the air from something burning. There was also the fact that just on the other side of these houses there were flesh-eating zombies ready to tear into us. But my thoughts kept drifting back to the girl next to me, who's head was down and was clenching and unclenching her fists. "Rei, don't let what she did to you bother you," I murmured, rubbing the back of my head.

"What," She snapped, looking at me. I forced a smile.

"Don't let her bother you. You're better than that."

"Fuck off Saeko, really? I'm stuck with you now, a psychopathic murderer with a fucking dick where it doesn't belong!" I twitched, gritting my teeth. What the hell did I do to deserve that?!

"You were fine with it before," I muttered softly, "I'm sorry." Why was I apologizing? Why the fuck was I apologizing!? She should be the one…I glared at her. "No…No I'm not sorry, what does it matter that I killed Kaori!? You hated her! And I don't deserve to be told there's a dick where it doesn't belong because I certainly didn't ask for it when I was a fetus floating in my mother's womb! Fucking christ Rei, you're such a bitch! If it's so awful, then why did you suck it! And if you hate me-"

"I'm sorry," She whispered as she leaned back against the building behind her, eyes glistening with the promise of tears. "I just didn't realize how awful she was. Was she faking the entire time? 'She doesn't do girls.' Yet she came under my tongue. I don't know I just feel like I've been played. I hate that feeling." I didn't say it aloud, but it was how I always felt with Rei. She squeezed her eyes shut. "Guess she just wants his dick so bad that I'm not good enough."

It seemed to me that this was more about her ego than anything.

"She's always been traitorous. She'll do whatever it takes to stay alive and I suppose I have to grudgingly respect her for that," I ran my fingers through her cinnamon hair, smiling. "She thinks staying with those people is better for her right now. But she's a fool for leaving you. I wouldn't have, if you made love with me like you did with her last night." She blushed, meeting my eyes.

"Listen. I'm sorry about the way I've been acting, all bipolar…it's just hard. For some reason lately I've been just a clusterfuck of emotions and I don't know how to sort it all out. What was I even thinking with Misuzu, getting even slightly attached to a stupid bitch who can't even wield a broom right." I laughed at that. She was right. While we had killed dozens of the undead, I don't think I'd seen Misuzu kill even one. "Can you promise me something Saeko?" I glanced at her. "No matter what. We stick together. No matter what I say. No matter what I do." Her eyes were piercing me. "Never leave me."

"I can say the same," I whispered, I bowed my head, "I killed a human being. There's no going back after that I suppose. But don't leave me for it, and don't leave me after any other stupid fucking thing I do. I know you don't think all that highly of me after killing Kaori..."

She nodded, smiling brightly. Damn, sometimes I forgot how beautiful she was. When she was being such a bitch it just took away from her charm. More like, when I was mad I found it annoying how cute she was. But now wasn't the time to flirt and make cute little promises. "You know where the police station is right?" She nodded. "Then lead the way."

We had plenty of time to get there. My legs and feet ached but the desire to make sure the others were okay, and be with the others, was far too large for me to even think of resting for a second. It was relatively silent, until we reached a long road along the river, a bridge in the distance.

"What're you thinking about," Rei asked. My eyes snapped over to where she was. She was smiling. I blushed, and glanced ahead of us. She stepped closer, nudging me gently. For some odd reason I wanted to kiss her.

"I was just thinking about how I want to see the others."

"I'll keep silent about how you killed Kaori." Rei murmured, her hand slipped over mine. "It was fucked up but I don't think everyone would react all that fondly to finding out."

"I don't even want to think about it," I whispered. I had killed her in cold blood. But she was insane and she had raped me. But I was insane too. And it had felt so good coming in her knowing she didn't want anymore. Not to mention I'd thought about doing it to Rei many times, not to mention Yuuki. I wasn't so good a person, was I? What right did I have to take away her life? Even if she had…my god. What was wrong with me?

"Why did you kill her Saeko?"

"She raped me."

"But you were showing interest in her," She muttered, "you even slept in the same bed."

"I thought of her as a sister, at most! I tried to make that clear! I took care of her and shit, and then she fucking turned around and tied me up!" I snapped. Then I calmed down. "I would have fucked her I guess. On my own terms. Not like that. Never like that..." I took my hand from hers, stiff.'

"You're so stupid sometimes…" When I didn't respond she sighed, "So why would you kill her? If you thought of her like that. Like a sister who you'd...maybe fuck." I met her eyes. I didn't want to lie. But I didn't want to say a word, didn't want to bring it up again. But I wanted her to trust me and her gaze was so warm and welcoming. She reached out for my hand again, clasping it. "You can tell me Saeko."

"I won't tell the whole story just know this. I was raped another time too. And…I need you to know, that I will never ever hurt you, not like I did with Kaori" I whispered. She squeezed me.

"You probably will you tool, but I trust you, ok?" I nodded, satisfied. I really wouldn't. At least, I'd use all my strength and try not too. Because I liked her. She was a friend. A potential lover. And unlike before, I trusted her too. "And hey, If you hurt me," She lifted the Smith and Wesson from where she had it in a coat pocket. "I'll just shoot you."

As she spoke a bang rang in distance. Both of our eyes widened. I recognized that noise. "A gunshot," Rei questioned.

"No," I grinned, "that's no ordinary gun! That's a nail gun! And there's only one person I know with a nail gun that damn loud! Let's go Rei."