Important A/N please Read: So I've decided that trying to keep up with so many fics at once is difficult to deal with at the moment due to college. So I have decided to focus on one at the moment. Decay is already almost over, I plan to finish this one first, Then I will finish Poisonous my first fic which is pretty much finished, then I will continue on Semester love. After those are finished I plan on going back to old chapters and fixing them of errors and no longer necessary parts of the fics such as Decays Neko parts, which was due to a request of a person who no longer is part of my life, which is why I have taken out those characteristics if you haven't yet already noticed. After that I will be pitching new fics for you all.

Thank you for your support and loyalty and please continue to read and give me feedback so I can plan ahead to help making your reading experience all the better.

Bang!

The bullet went flying towards the target at blinding speed. The sickening crunch of the bullet impacting with the hard skull echoed into the air, and the body went limp and fell harshly to the ground. Two other bullets repeated the first's actions until there were no more Zombies. I could see Natsuki's hands shaking despite the amazing accuracy of her shot. The people stood there shocked at what happened not sure where the bullets had come from. The rest of the Zombies on the ground distracted from the flare now had their attention on us which wasn't good. Soon they were swarming below our tree and trying to get to us, the sturdy tree groaned in protest and more zombies were coming.

"Shizuru go before more come!"

"I'm not leaving Natsuki."

"I don't care what you say, you're leaving! I can't get infected but you can, now go quick and help those people."

"But."

"Now!" she roared and pushed me out of the tree onto the ground. I landed with a hard thud which I wouldn't be forgetting if we made it out of this, but for now I listened to her and rushed through the horde, picking out the zombies I could kill to get away. I made my way to the building of the truck stop and climbed up the side since the door was blocked by zombies who had yet to get distracted, there was no way I could get to the stairs that lead to the roof. Quickly I made my way up and hoisted myself over the edge where a family of 3 huddled around each other, the man still holding his empty gun like a bat.

"Who the hell are you?!"

"I'm your new tour guide, as you can see to the left, there are a few dozen zombies behind that door, and to the right below us is a tree with my companion using herself as zombie bait. So I suggest you 3 listen to me and we'll make it out alive."

"COME GET IT YOU FREAKS" I could hear Natsuki screaming at the zombies trying to get all their attention on her, and it was working well. I didn't have much time to help these people if I wanted to get back to Natsuki. I herded them to the edge of the building and instructed the man to jump off onto one of the abandoned cars below, then the woman and I would lower their child down to them. They argued but I was able to convince them with a well-trained pistol on them. I didn't have time for games. It was going all according to plan until I heard the snapping of a large branch.

"AH!"

"Natsuki!" Quickly I jumped off the roof onto the car and hit the ground running towards her. I could hear her yells and cussing followed by gun shots. When I made it to the tree line there was Natsuki hanging in the tree with one hand grasped onto the branch and the other aimed at any zombie that got close to her feet. "Natsuki!"

"Get back Shizuru! I told you to stay away."

"If Natsuki thinks I'm just going to leave her there she's got another thing coming!"

"Damn it Shizuru! I can't get in-"

"Natsuki can still get eaten and ripped apart!" With that I had enough arguing I began capping off the closest zombies by her drawing their attention to me, slowly I backed away still firing. When there were only a few dozen left I pulled out my machete and began hacking at any that drew near. Natsuki jumped down when it was safe and did the same. I was so busy focusing on the zombies in front of me there was no way I could have noticed the root I was about to trip on. I landed flat on my back with several Zombies luring closer and over me. Had I known I was going to die like this I would of kissed Natsuki much longer. Their hungry growls and rotten faces consumed my vision and I closed my eyes ready to accept my fate, but when blood hit my face spraying it red I couldn't help but open my eyes in shock, there standing above me was the man from earlier. His tan face was also sprayed in red and the fierceness in his eyes reminded me a little of Natsuki. He continued to bash away at the zombies skulls with the end of his gun until we were the only ones left.

Natsuki was also covered in blood but it only highlighted the intenseness in her eyes more. She stomped over to us panting and hair painted to her cheeks due to the gore on her. She looked the man up and down and grinned big and wide, before holding her hand out to him. He grasped it firmly and they had some mutual understanding and gratitude.

"Names Tate, thank you for saving us."

"I'm Natsuki and this is Shizuru." Natsuki released her grip and then directed her hand towards me to help me up, smiling I grabbed it and let her hoist me up before pulling me into a bone crushing hug. "Don't do that I thought you were Zombie chow."

"Ara, I'm sorry Natsuki."

"Just don't do that again." She sighed and let go and wiped some of the blood from my face. We then made our way back to the road where the woman and little girl still stood on top of the abandoned car.

"Tate you're ok!" The busty woman jumped off the car and ran up to the man hugging him just as tight as Natsuki hugged me, and then began inspecting him for any damage, her brows constantly creased in worry. The young girl with them also came up and hugged Tate.

"Yeah thanks to these two. Mai, Mikoto this is Shizuru and Natsuki."

"It's nice to meet some friendly faces for once."

"Likewise." Natsuki smiled at them and put her machete back into its holster and pulled a rag out of her pocket and wiped at her face trying to get the gore off of it. I did the same feeling a little uneasy that a child was looking at us. What had that kid seen?

"So where are you two heading?"

"Nowhere we are just going you know?"

"Yeah that's how it is for us too, we had a group not too long ago but…things went bad so we left." I watched Mai look at Mikoto with worry and gently rub the girl's head which gained her a smile. I couldn't help but wonder if their problem was due because of that girl. We eventually decided to travel together for a while, whether they decide to eventually go their own way or stick with us for a while. Numbers were good it helped us gain supplies, but it also help us go through them faster, there was the matter of being a little slower to but since we weren't going anywhere I guess it didn't matter how long it took to get somewhere.

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The fire crackled and I watched it closely my mind wondering, Natsuki was seated beside me talking animatedly to Tate, I think she enjoyed having someone new to talk to. I didn't mind, after all humans are social creatures we need interaction from multiple people or we get…tense. Mai was cooking us something in a pot whatever it was it smelled great, Tate had said she had been an amazing cook before the world turned and that they had been friends before it all went down. Mikoto wasn't actually their daughter either. They had been wandering around looking for food and supplies when in the middle of the road they saw Mikoto's body lying face first in the dirt. She was surrounded by a pool of blood so they had assumed she was dead. When they tried walking by her she ambushed them and tried taking their stuff, when Tate smacked her hard in the face she began crying. That's when Mai realized she was just a little girl all alone and practically a bag of bones, they decided to take the girl in and soon she was a healthy weight again and were inseparable.

"So you said that you guys were with a group before?"

Silence claimed our small camp, it had been a question that kept popping up in my mind that I felt like I needed to know the answer too.

"Shizuru…"

"No its fine, it's only fair we tell you, after you both risked your lives to save us."

Mai sighed and looked at the sleeping Mikoto sadly, before taking the ladle and serving herself and the rest of us the soup she made. "We were with a group of men not too long ago, we had been on the road for a long time, and Mikoto got sick, while we were trying to find medicine we ran into a rowdy group of men who had raided the pharmacy. They said they would give us the medicine if we gave them our ammo so we did. They kept to their promise and let us stay with them as Mikoto recovered." Blowing at her bowl of soup she paused, I could see that she had gone to the past and wasn't really talking to us anymore. Tate seemed the same. "They ended up being pretty decent they were harsh and kind of mean but with them it was safe so we stayed. I was able to cook for them and that kept them happy, but one day while I was cooking and Tate went with them on a raid…one of them.

I watched Mai struggle with the words trying to swallow the lump in her throat. I could feel Natsuki stiffen besides me knowing something bad was coming, and as I looked at Mikoto I could only assume the worst. "One of them was getting friendly with Mikoto…if I hadn't walked in to serve food she would of…" She started crying and I felt bad about making her relive this all I felt like a monster yet my hunger to know the truth squashed most of the guilt and I wanted to hear more. Mai couldn't continue talking so Tate took over, his voice cracking as well.

"He was trying to do those horrible things to Mikoto, she was struggling but then Mai walked in and saw what was happening she slammed the boiling pot over his head and grabbed Mikoto and bolted. I was half down the road on my way back when I saw them running. Mikoto's clothes were hanging off her and I was able to guess what happened… so I shot the men beside me took their supplies and we fled."

Silence once again reclaimed us and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, my blood boiled. All I could think of was what happed to Natsuki, and looking at the sleeping Mikoto's black hair and innocent face, it brought back the rage.

"I'm so sorry, I know what it's like to feel so…lost"

"Natsuki…"

"It's fine Shizuru." She smiled at me and it calmed the inferno in my heart and she looked back at them sadness in her eyes. "I'm glad that in the end nothing happened to her and you were able to save her that was really brave. Your welcome to stay with us as long as you want, I promise you 3 will be safe."

"Thank you both."

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I couldn't sleep very well but the feeling of Natsuki tossing and turning told me that she couldn't either. It was only about midnight I assumed, and there was rain gently falling onto our tent making soft patting sounds. Shifting to my side I looked at Natsuki's back her slender neck was visible due to the paleness of her skin, almost like it was made from marble statues. Slowly I reached out and touched the back of her neck and she tensed in surprise before relaxing to my touch. I drew small circles with my fingers down her neck then lower down her spine. She shivered just a little but stayed put. My hand went lower to her waist until I was at the hem of her shirt. I only hesitated a second before I slid my hand under her shirt and slowly up her back. Her skin was smooth and warm but I could feel the goose bumps raising on her skin at my touch. My mouth felt dry, my fingers couldn't help but shake at the feel of her skin. I couldn't believe I was getting to touch her like this. I couldn't take much more I wanted to kiss her, it was like she read my mind because soon she was turning to face me. She slowly climb over to me then onto me and my heart couldn't stop pounding the look in her eyes was hungry.

"Na..Natsuki."

She said nothing but a smiled played across her lips, her hips straddled mine and gently pushed against them. A moan escaped my lips which trembled in anticipation. She continued to push against them and I couldn't help but pant. What had gotten into her, I wasn't about to ask because I knew I didn't care. My hands reached up and rested on her hips as she moved, before wandering higher and under her shirt. She smiled again and leaned down teasing my lips with hers before kissing me fiercely. Her lips trailed down my jawline and to my neck where she gently nipped and licked at. I couldn't help but tremble with lust I wanted her now! Those gentle bites got rougher and rougher until it hurt so bad I could help but yelp.

"Natsuki that hurts." Still nothing from her and then blinding pain erupted from my neck and it began gushing blood, my eyes widened in terror as she pulled away, in her mouth was a hung of my flesh and her eyes dark as endless pits. I screamed in horror.

"Shizuru wake up it's just a dream Shizuru!" I bolted up and grabbed my gun and aimed it at her. My chest was heaving and my eyes were red with tears. "Shizuru put the gun down…your safe."

"Natsuki was she was…a"

"You were just dreaming its ok."

Touching my neck I could feel that there was no blood and no hole. Slowly I lowered my gun and despite the pure horror of it all I could also feel the slickness in my pants and felt ashamed and miserable. I knew I wanted Natsuki there was no doubt but the behavior in my dream was unacceptable I should of asked her if she really wanted to do that or if she was doing it to just make me happy. Maybe that was why she had turned into a Zombie because I was being selfish.

"Natsuki turned into one of them…"

"It was just a dream, I can't be one of them so don't be scared." She reached out to me and I took the offer and let her wrap me up into a warm hug and feel safe in her arms. My nerves finally calmed down and I was able to drift off to sleep again. This time with pleasant dreams.

We are nearing our climax hard to believe right? I plan to make the next few chapters longer and action packed until we reach the end where I will give you the most intense ending yet. Please leave some feedback :D and as always Caio!~