Shit.
We've got a problem.
Well...
Sakura and Feliciano have a problem.
They've run out of food.
Of course, it's my problem too.
But, I mean, what can I do?
I tried to stop eating food rations once we noticed we were running out, but Feliciano insisted..
I ate when he wasn't looking, but shoveled it into his and Sakura's plates when they had their backs turned.
It wasn't enough though...
So now, the three of us are going out to look for a supermarket.
Hopefully, as much as Feliciano hates it, they'll have canned food..
Does canned food not go bad?
I don't know, I have a feeling we should be looking for canned food.
Memories have sorta just been, coming to me, out of nowhere...
Jeez, I almost prefer flashbacks, at least I remember everything in them.
Feliciano shudders, and quietly grabs my hand.
I silently squeeze it the best I could, and mutter out
"P-Protekt."
"I know.."
He stared down at the floor, so I glanced over at Sakura, rummaging around in her bag.
"Whutchu, loking..fur?"
"Nothing really, just making sure I didn't forget anything."
I grunted softly, and went back to looking ahead.
Hopefully, she didn't put too many things in her bag, all Feliciano has is his pull string bag, which is easily breakable...
See!
How do I know that?
I guess...Is this all stuff I used to know?
If I apparently knew all this, how the hell did I not survive?
Who even taught me all of this?
"Lud. Put on your jacket, and zip it all the way up. Make sure it covers you neck."
I gave Sakura a confused glance, and her features simply remained grim.
"Those blue veins are a dead giveaway, we need you to look as human as possible, just in case we run into somebody with a gun."
Yeah..
I supposed other people might be a problem.
Hesistantly I let go of Feliciano, who gives a nod in agreement, and slip on the jacket, zipping it up, just like she said.
"Keep it just like that, and don't take it off for anything, alright Lud?"
"Ja.."
I ducked my head, trying to hide my face as best as I could.
I'm pretty much a liability..
Walking around with a zombie is unheard of, people would obviously just assume they're zombies too..
If they got hurt, or killed, because of me, I'd never forgive myself..
Feli offered me a weak smile, which I returned the best I could.
It's just...
I like to smile, but it's hard sometimes.
Sometimes reality finally catches up..
And when it does..
It tears at me like a bunch of mad dogs..
Constantly reminding me of what I am, and what I'll never be.
I've been tuning it out, but it's hard to ignore it, when what it says is so true..
This isn't some fairytale bullshit, no happily ever afters, no magical fix...
Wait, what's a fairytale?
And a magic...
Where did that all come from!?
I've really been getting a bit scared...
"Luddy! This way!"
Looking back, I realized I had been so deep into my thoughts, I didn't even notice them starting to curve into a store.
Feliciano gave a breathy laugh, while Sakura just glanced at me and continued.
I caught them just they were going in, and slid in as quietly as I could behind them.
Ignoring the cashiers dead body behind the register, I grabbed a basket, just like they had, and walked along the isles.
I knew Feliciano was going to be getting pasta and sweets, and Sakura was going to try to get all the fresh things she could, so..
Somebody's gotta bring what might actually sustain us for a while.
I found some cans, and started slowly dumping a few of each into my basket.
My reading's not really all that great, so I can't tell which is which..
I'm going by colors...
Hey do things in boxes go bad?
I can't seem to remember...
There we go, not remembering things, that's more like me.
I knock a can to the floor and curse.
Starting to feel like my usual self already..
"PUT YOUR HANDS UP WHERE I CAN SEE THEM."
Oh fuck.
I drop the basket, and put my hands up, because you know.
I can't see him, and for all I know, he could be a giant, or have a huge ass gun, or both.
Seriously!? I've looked everywhere I could in this position, there's no possibl-
Oh..
He was on top of the cabinet..
The young man jumped down, his golden blonde hair framing his face, and distrusting green eyes fixed on me..
Oh forgot to mention, his very large rifle pointed right at me.
My luck is just amazing isn't it?
"Who are you!?"
I bit my lip.
You see, he probably thinks I'm human.
The second I open my mouth, I'm going to stutter all over the place like I usually do, and he'll figure it out and shoot me in the head.
But if I don't respond, I'll probably get shot in the head anyway.
Oh boy, what to do, what to do...
I stand there nervously, his eyes boring holes into my very being, when suddenly.
My savior walks into the isle.
Or rather, trips into the isle.
Great job, Feliciano..
He picked himself up, then ran in front of me, his arms spred wide
"Please, don't hurt us! We..We needed food!"
I grunted, and shoved him aside.
"Not until your friend here tells me his name."
Well.
Being almost living was nice while it lasted.
"H-He's mute! He can't speak, but his name's..His name is Augustus Marino!"
The blonde quirked an eye brow, and lowered his gun slightly
"And you are.."
"Feliciano Vargas! Please, we mean you no harm..."
The blonde sighed, and put his gun down.
"Don't take too much, I'll check your baskets before you go, just to make sure."
I gave a curt nod, while Feliciano stuttered out a thanks.
Then he started to walk away.
"Hold on..What's your name?"
He turned around slightly and sighed
"I'm Basch Zwingli.."
After his hasty introduction, he left.
Really, once you got past the whole gun thing, he just looked a bit sad..
Feliciano nervously grabbed my hand and whimpered.
"I-It'z okey..."
He managed a tiny smile, but wouldn't let go of me, so I just continued in my plight to grab every single canned item.
I started putting some can in, and ignored Feliciano's dissapointed sighs
"Really Luddy? Beans? What is this, a camping trip..?"
No, it is trying to survive in a world that's gone to shit.
"We can't even get the good canned stuff..?"
Well, I don't know, with the way you're complaining about it, I didn't think there was any good canned food.
"If it exists honestly.."
Should've seen that one coming.
I continue thinking of witty comebacks to all his complains, when suddenly
"YOU BITCH!"
Oh shit, it was that guy...
...Basch, that's his name
"DON'T TOUCH HER!"
Then a softer voice, I could barely make it out, but was very important to me
"P-Please! I was trying to help!"
Sakura.
One look at Feliciano, and we're both going towards the commotion as fast as we could.
For Feliciano, that's a sprint.
I go at a light jogging pace.
But eventually, we both made it, only to find Basch pointing his gun at Sakura, while she held her hands in the air.
"Sakura!"
Basch turned towards us, and growled
"You should tell your nosey friend to mind her own buissness!"
Feliciano gripped my bicep, and I stood still as a rock.
"W-What do you mean...?" Sakura shook her head, and shot Basch a dark glare.
"He's keeping his younger sister in the storage room, while he stays out here and guards. She was calling for you!"
Basch's eyes widened, and he quickly slung the gun over his shoulder and ran into the previously mentioned storage room.
"S-Sakura...What just.."
"-She was hungry, I was giving her some food from the shelves, and he barges in there."
She rolled her eyes, and crossed her arms, while Feliciano let go of me, and started inching towards the slightly opened door.
Hell, I've got to follow him.
I followed his footsteps as quietly as I could (Hey, I'm not doing too bad!) but stayed outside while he creeped in.
"What the hell are you doing in here!?"
"I just...I wanted to say hello.."
"Get the fuck out!"
Then suddenly, a much gentler voice whispered hoarsly
"Bruder...It's okay..."
A moment of silence, and Sakura used it to tip toe next to me, listening in on the conversation.
"Lilli..."
"He can't do any worse. If they'd like to, his friends can come in as well"
Both of us stood there, when suddenly the door was angrilly swung open by Basch.
"You heard her."
Sakura rushed in, while I walked in a bit slower, not really knowing what the big fuss was.
The little girl was on a dirty mattress, with a raggedy blanket thrown to the side, although she had the same blonde hair as her brother, (maybe a bit longer), it was obvious they were siblings, and with her demeanor, she could fool anybody into thinking she was happy.
But..
Right away I could tell what was wrong..
I think, she might be infected...
And if that's not the case, then she's sick as hell..
Me and Feliciano stood back a bit awkwardly as Sakura plopped down on the bed.
"Your brother is a bit of a jerk, isn't he?"
The little girl (I think her name was Lilli..) laughed while Basch huffed, and walked out of the room.
"Lilli, I'm going to go stand watch, scream if they try to hurt you."
She laughed and replied
"Yes big bruder."
A small pause as Basch left the room, slamming the door as he walked out.
He seems to be very aggressive.
Anyway, Lilli turns to me and Feli and smiles, then Sakura pipes up with
"So! Lilli! These are my friends! The brunnette with the chubby face is Feliciano! The tall blonde is Lud. He's got a speech impediment, so he can't talk very well...Feli is a bit of a translator for him."
Huh, speech impediment.
I have to admit, that's a bit smarter then Feli's excuse.
Sorry Feliciano..
Speaking of him, he jumped up, then slammed down on the bed and shook Lilli's hand enthusiastically
"Ciao Lilli!"
Lilli laughed, said hello back, then looked up at me.
Oh, God, I'm going to have to say something...
"H-Hallo..."
Surprisingly, she had just the same reaction, smiled, and replied with
"Hallo Lud! I see you speak German like I do!"
Well, I guess I spoke it at one point.
I shrug my shoulders, as Feliciano shakes his head a bit
"You see, Lud's memories aren't too great right now. He used to speak German, and he still remembers bits and pieces, but weirdly enough, he only remembers english."
Jeez, we're all really great liars.
"Oh, well, that's awful..."
And akward moment of silence, that Feliciano shatters
"So...What's your story Lilli?"
Lilli sighs, and gives a tiny smile
"Me and my brother grew up in Northern Switzerland. Our parents died right before this whole zombie apocalypse happened. Luckily Basch was old enough to take care of me, so we moved to Southern Switzerland for better work opportunities, and...Then all of this happened..We were trying to make it to Sicily, but I've...I'm really sick..Bruder doesn't want to risk my condition, so we've stayed here, for a really long time.."
Sakura squeezed her hand and managed a small smile, while Feliciano's peppiness managed to come back full force.
"Well, hey! You wanna hear something cool Lilli?"
Her soft smiled turned into a slightly bemused one
"Okay, sure"
"I think it's all gonna get better!"
"Not...Not for me..."
Feliciano, ever so unobservant, tilted his head and asked why.
Which caused poor tiny Lill to look and the floor and mutter softly
"They got me two weeks ago."
Sakura bit her lip, as she could probably tell, but Feliciano was in shock...
At the very least, he managed to cover it up before she noticed.
"It's not really the end of the world..."
As soon as those words escaped Feliciano's lips, Lilli looked at him like he was crazy.
"Of course not. It's the end of me. Then I'll infect maybe three people before I decompose. Then they'll infect three each, and it'll just keep going..."
She looked down, and with a squeeze on my cold dead heart, I realized she was crying.
"N-No."
The whole room looked up at me.
Lilli looked with curiousity, as this was the first time I'd spoken nsince my introduction, Feliciano looked at me with panic, but Sakura looked at me with hope, hoping that even with my horrid vocabulary, I'd be able to help this little girl.
I can't really speak, but uh...
I think I can give her hope.
With a sigh, I carefully roll up my sleeve, and twist my arm around, letting her see the bright blue veins.
"S'not..Hopeless..."
With eyes the size of dinner plates, she suddenly noticed everything else that made me not human.
My pale, almost gray skin, my swampy gray-blue eyes, the way I carried myself, my speech impediment...
She gripped the bed sheet and took a heavy breath
"O-Oh my God.."
Wow, I didn't think I was that unsettling
"He's...He's..."
"Yes, Lud's infected. He hasn't eaten flesh in what we think might be 2 months, his speech has improved vastly, and he seems to be gaining some agility"
Now I just sound like some government experiment, thanks Sakura..
I manage to try and give Lilli a tiny smile.
Which she actually returned.
"Well, Lud, I admit, you had me fooled."
"Zank you."
She giggled into her hand, making Feliciano crack a smile
"See, it's not all that bad!"
He grin suddenly faltered, and she asked, looking at me
"What's it like...?"
Grim, sad, and difficult are the only things that come to mind..
But I can't tell her that.
"Iz like...A haze..That jur stuk in..But, ju have two trie und..Get out..Zhen is when it getz better."
The same smile as before appeared on a her face as she responded
"I'll keep that in mind."
I roll down my sleeve as she starts to chatter away with Feliciano and Sakura asking them about their home country, as her life long dream had always been to travel the world, learn the language and culture of different countries..
Halfway through Feliciano describing a small town known as Asis*, Basch bursts into the room, his arms crossed and the same frown on his face.
"I do think it's time to go."
Basch tossed us our grocery baskets, and glared at us, as Feliciano leaned in for a hug he quietly muttered
"Ciao bella.."
Making Lilli blush slightly, and hug back with as much force as she could muster.
Sakura gave a slightly informal bow and quietly said
"Ariagato Lilli-chan, it's been wonderful talking to you."
Lilli smiled and gave Sakura a tiny bow herself.
Finally, all eyes were on me for the second time.
I was expected to leave an imprint, or my culture, on this brave girl who might not even live for another day.
With a smile I speak out
"Hauste krieger.**"
Lilli gives the biggest smile yet, and she responds with
"Keep fighting Lud."
Basch, who was standing by the doorway, cleared his throat, and motioned for us to leave the room.
I walked ahead, and Feliciano walked right behind me, however, Sakura stayed at the door to have a talk with Basch, which I managed to overhear.
"When she turns...Don't shoot her."
"...I never could."
With that simple exchange, she goes a bit faster to catch up with us, then with a "THANK YOU" shout from Feliciano, we were out of the store.
We came again, in about what Feliciano told me was more or less 3 weeks, expecting either Lilli's corpse, or Basch's corpse.
But they were gone.
* I went there while I was in Italy, and I couldn't help but be amazed by it (I mean come on, I live in Miami) it was like a fairy tale book! I decided to give it an honorable mention, although in Italian/Spanish (My tour was in Spanish) it's called Asis, I found out when I got back to the states it's name in English is Assisi. So yes, google it, it's beautiful XD
**Bye Warrior. I did some research, and apparently hauste is an informal good bye, used by men in Berlin. Revealing that Lud's in fact a Berliner. And not the doughnut kind. Also, you know, warrior, because of the battle she's going to be fighting soon.
HEHEHEHEHEHE. THIS IS REALLY LATE. I'm sorry DX, I thought I would be free to write as much as I wanted after my trip (WHICH WAS AMAZING BTW), but then a bunch of choir events, and high school orientation stuff happened, and I got animal crossing new leaf, and point is life became hectic. BUT I WILL NEVER, EVER GIVE UP ON MY BABY. EVER. IN A MILLION YEARS. THIS IS GOING TO BE FINISHED, SO HELP ME GOD. Anyway, so to the actual chapter. I feel horrible, cause originally, Lilli was just going to be fine, with one of Vash's guns strapped to her back as she talked to them while they did their 'shopping'. But since when do I let my side characters in this story be happy? So yea, there was a zombie invasion in the store, and one of them scratched her arm. Also as to what happened to them? I dunno, you tell me. ALSO SPEAKING OF SIDE CHARACTERS! IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN! Cast in your votes, to see any of the following characters/groups get their own chapter!
*The Baltic Trio
*The Asian Family (minus Japan of course)
*Nordic Five (I actually don't have a diddly dang clue of what to do with them, so I'm having a bit of a competition. If you vote for the Nordic five, or vote for somebody else, but still have an idea, PM your idea, or if you don't have an account, just review it, and the one I like the most will be the one used for the oneshot)
OKAY BYE!