I do not own Highschool of the dead I make no money from this it is a fanfiction and not for profit

You Can Sleep When You're Dead

chapter 20

Walking into the main room I found Takashi sitting on a chair his feet up not doing much. "Takashi!" no reply he was off in la la land thinking whatever it was he thinks about. Moving closer I took a seat next to him giving his shoulder a nudge. "Takashi!" Seriously if he ignores me once more he is getting a dig.

Turning his head slowly Takashi looks me in the eye, sort of half recognizing me "Oh James-san what is it. Sorry I was kind of zoned out."

"Is that so.? I don't want to intrude or anything but what's going on with you and Rei?"

Takashi smirked and laughed a little "She was comparing me to her Ex and my best friend again."

Not quite understanding what the fuck that is about, as I'm no guidance teacher. Well let's face it I'm a contract killer, not a socialite, with little or no understanding of teens. That only knows how to solve a problem if it involves a copper coated bit of lead or tungsten. "Ok fair point… but you kind of need to cut the girl a bit of a brake she like you has lost everything and is not copping well with it. You kind of need to man up a bit sometimes you just need to take the shit brother."

His face changed to one of a hard look "No offense James-san… but what the fuck would you know?"

Taken back a bit, as he was right I knew sweet fuck all about it. I regained my composure and stopped myself from sticking my knife in his neck. Then took in and let out a big breath "Not much but I know one thing… You my son are a selfish COCK! So fucking what that she compares you to some other bloke that is fucking dead. You are not and you are here and she was looking to you for some help… let the girl have her whinge its only words so fucking nut the fuck up…"

We sat in silence for a bit longer "How do you do it?" Takashi's voice asked almost a whisper.

"How do I do what?"

"Act the way you do… Do what you do… how can you be so confident in what you are doing and how you talk to others."

It was an odd set of questions I'll give him that. "I don't know I just look at my options and go with the one that has the least risk to me. Now I look to see what has the least risk to Saeko. I calculate what it is I want and how it is best to get it. Then follow through until the end… It does not mean I'm not afraid or have concerns, I just don't have time to dwell on then so I don't think about it."

"What you're afraid?... don't bullshit me James-san."

"No I'm scared shitless to be honest with you… You would have to be insane not to be, It's the fucking zombie apocalypse and I have a kid on the way. I just don't think about it because I know if I did well…well you seen what happened with Saya."

Takashi sighed "We are not going to make it are we?"

I did not know what to say other than. "We don't know that we can only take each day that comes and be grateful that we lived it. To think any other way makes no sense."

"What about you, Saeko and the baby how did that happen."

I grunted a little and cursed whatever god was having a laugh at this. "Failed birth control! It was an innocent mistake in the heat of passion, not more can be said about that. That is why we need to leave for the safe zone when we can."

Nodding the teenage leader looked back up at me "That's what the meeting is about we are leaving tomorrow."

I did not give much of a reply I was actually a bit relived. No more running around the city just running out of it hopefully not to look back for some time. "Good call…"

0000

A few hours later it had been settled that we were leaving ether tomorrow or the day after and getting the fuck out of town.

The plan was simple we head west to the other side of the mainland to the island the safe zone was on. We would be following the back roads and worked out it would take about 10 days. Each day covering around 40 miles a day with set farm houses as stop off points all marked up on maps that Kohta Shizuka Takashi and I had. the hummer and trailer was filled with what we could scavenged from the local shopping precinct from food to camping cookers a few solar shower bag and medical supplies Rei was still needing daily dressing changes and at least another weeks antibiotics and the small generator was loaded up.

That night we sat talking about the future and agreed that whatever happens we will stay together. Even if secretly I still had plan B in the back of my mind safety in numbers and all that jazz.

I was also happy to see that Rei and Takashi had kissed and made up and where sitting together, giving each other googly eyes and comfort.

AS I watched the two of them my mind wondered what would have happened if I never arrived. To be honest with myself, Takashi would have probably ended up with Saeko, as they are extremely close friends. That would have pissed Rei off, possibly sending her over the edge, but it was the only logical conclusion that I could see.

Saya and Kohta I reckoned were made for each other from what I could see. He was devoted to her entirely not even giving any other girl a second glance he had told me about how things at school were for him including Saya's rejections of his confession. But this has shaped Kohta into quite the man a bit of a hero in my opinion and this brought out the best in him what was the shy reserved bullied kid has grown into a fighter that was able to suppress his fears and get on with what needs to be done.

As I sat watching the people around me a warm hand grasped mine. It was Saeko my one and only Saeko. "Are you ok Anata?"

I gave her a grin. "Yep just people watching that's all. long few days ahead."

"You have not been sleeping much I have been watching you when you think I am Sleeping"

A half smile crossed my lips as I thought about it she was right I had not been too much to think about and do. "Can't get much past you can I."

"No." Was the short reply she is never one to waste words.

Saeko rested he head on my shoulder and was about to say something when Shizuka came running in from the look out.

Panting and huffing she blurted out "survivors… at the … gate… are shouting to see someone."

0000

Stood watching what was happening at the gate was Kohta and myself. Saeko was with Rei looking after Shizuka and Alice in the room down at the bottom of the stairwell alone the west corridor as Takashi tried to see what it is they want.

Up in our look out watching Takashi go out and talk to the other survivor Kohta in a low voice spoke "I don't like this something does not feel right." He had his AR looking through the sight at the guys at the gate.

sat looking through the L96'suprior optics was myself and it was not the people at the gate that bothered me it was the glint of something shiny at about six hundred meters away that was causing me concern.

"Kohta look down the road to the building with the red roof top left window is that what I think it is." Giving Kohta a target indication to the glare. I waited for him to confirm my fears.

"It's another rifle I'm sure of It." was all he managed to get out as the flash of the muzzle winked in and out of life."

The round Hit Takashi grazing his left arm. As he fell to the ground.

"Not thinking twice I sent a response to the sniper lining up the sights and pulling the trigger a split second after Takashi fell. The glass of the window shattered as the bullet travild the distance in less than a second. Killing the sniper as the round passed through his head.

Meanwhile Kohta started firing at the men at the gates covering Takashi as he scrambled to the safety of the clinic. dropping the L96 I picked up the HK to help Kohta. "Don't stay still keep moving around and drop down to reload that may not have been…." my sentince was cut short by a nother bullet coming through the broken window with both of us now on the floor I looked over to KOhat "As I was saying their only sharp shooter."

I could hear yelling from down the stairs letting me know that Takashi had made it back and was now being tended to.

The random shots at the window now picked up as shotguns and some sort of rifle added to the random fire keeping us pinned down. Groaning I shouted across "Never a dull day with you lot is it."

Laughing at my comment Kohta replied. "Well at least you can't say we are boring."

"true That."

Then it happened… The sound of crashing windows and shouts from down stairs. We had been flanked! With another Group Getting in over the back wall and in to some of the down stairs rooms.

I heard a scream and the distinct sound of a supressed five seven pistol, followed by Rei shouting. "In here."

Hirano looked at my face he was later to say that he had never seen such a dark expression cross someone before. With some trepidation he looked directly at me and inquired "James what are you going to do?"

My mind was focused on a single goal, get to Saeko and help her. nothing else and no one mattered to me. The sound of fighting ebbed away to a distant clatter of background noise as until I heard her voice crying out in vengeance at what had ever happened down stairs.

"Kohta do your thing form here keep as many back as you can when you hear me in the fight grab who you can and get to the hummer. To answer your question my brother… I'm going to do what I've trained to do." It was time for me to stop with the nice guy routine. Release the highly trained focussed professional killer in me. These where not mindless monsters that I was to fight but living thinking unpredictable men.

Turning my back on Kohta I picked up the Minimi LMG and a grenade that had been scavenged the previous day. loading the gun with a 200 round box magazine and stuffing a second down my top, lifting the top cover placing the belt on the feed tray and slamming the cover back into place, pulling back the action to feed the first round in place.

I stopped at the door not looking back "Brother If something should happen…"

"You don't need to say it I will"

A crooked smile crossed my lips part in relief part in regret. "Hirano Kohta I could never of asked for a better friend than you when I call you brother I mean It." with that last statement I left to join the fight.

0000

They were everywhere, in the clinic. Little Alice was holding tight to Sensei, Rei was tending to Takashi's injured Shoulder. the shooting upstairs had died down to just one gun I inwardly prayed to kami that James was safe and held hope that Saya had found somewhere to hide as she was not with us she had ran off in a different direction and by the time I could do anything the first man came out of the back room .

The men outside in the corridor where taunting us. Some screaming for my blood after I decapitated the first of them that had tried to enter. But if this was to be my last day I would see to it I killed more of them before they could hurt my friends.

As I readied myself to charge forward to buy them more time, a heavily accented voice roared out.

The only way I can describe what happened next is it was like the devil himself intervened, I had never heard such noise in my life and for the first time I was scared.

0000

After I had left Kohta, I made my way down the stair dropping one man that had his back to me at the top of the stairs with the five seven. Extending the butt stock of the LMG in my hands I cerfuly made my way dowm the stairs to hear shouts of "Come out." and "We won't hurt you we only want the bastard that did this".

At the bottom of the stairs I peeked around the corner down the corridor to fins several men along its length some going room to room other standing at the door of one with a decapitated body outside Saeko's work. I thought, as I built up the courage to advance, all the time a rage building in me like no other that I had felt before.

0000

Saeto turned around only to catch a glimpse of a tall western man their eyes locked but before he could give warning the man roared at him in English with a thick Scottish accent. "Hay! Let's see how you fuck's deal with some one that can fight back."

he has something large in his arms that sent warnings through his mind as he recognised the machine gun from films that he had seen there was a flash from the front of the gun and a searing pain in his chest that caused him to drop to the ground he lifted a hand to his chest looking down to see blood his blood as the man kept firing and advancing.

feeling the last of his life ebb away this list sight was as the man mercilessly fired into his body again.

James came around the corner gun up in the aim shouting out to the men that where tying to do harm to the one that he loved and her friends.

The gun in his hands thundered into life the nose drowning out any warning they could give as a wall of 5.56mm bullets lanced out to those in the corridor cutting down all in their path.

James advanced forward, the gun now firing shot controlled bursts at anything that still looked alive, as he made his way down the hall that now hosted so much death…

I was focused on one thing Saeko and the baby. Nothing more. These fuckers that stood in my way presenting little challenge to the LMG now firing three to five round burst after my initial spray, of fiftyish bullets.

Screaming obsenitys that would make the devil himself blush, I made my way to where I thought she would be.

"SAEKO!" I hollered looking for her, as the hard suppressed panic took over me. I dropped another idiot, as he came out of a room. Then the gun stopped firing shouting at the top of my lungs. "Stoppage." the LMG was swung away on its sling my hand reaching my pistol to fill in the void of no fire as I made my way to a small alcove for some cover to reload.

As I moved into cover the remaining men shouted back and fired what they had shotguns police revolvers hunting rifles. All chipping away at the wall I was using to protect myself.

Once ready to go again, I found that I needed to cause a distraction so I could brake cover. pulling the grenade from my pocket and pulled the pin. Then with a heave lobbing it down the hall, far enough that it slid well past the room I was trying to get to, that I hoped she was in.

0000

The hall exploded in a shower of hot shrapnel, followed almost instantly by the menacing clatter of the machine gun. James got back into the fight, again advancing further down the hall to his goal, killing without question anyone he did not recognise.

The last surviving man, that had gotten in was now holding a girl he found hiding under a table, in this in this room. Holding her by her long pink hair he dragged her to the door to the hall that smelled of death and blood the blue cloud of cordite hanging in the air like fog.

Shouting out "I'm coming out don't shoot!"

I heard whoever it was asking me not to shoot looking down at the LMG it only had a few rounds left hanging out the feed tray giving me about eight rounds left in the gun and twenty in the pistol. swinging the gun behind me again I drew the pistol. "Ok out you come slowly!"

what I saw surprised me It was Saya, Holding her by the hair behind her was a man with one of those police revolvers stuck against her neck his hear on her shoulder. "I'm leaving and I'll be taking this girl with m…." Bang

I did not let the fuck finish his sentence all I simply done was shout. "Wrong!" Pulling the trigger of a well aim and shot, I fired at his head the round going through his nose killing him instantly. Doubt he even knows he's dead. I thought to myself as his body fell to the ground.

Saya stood stock still her mouth open as she saw what had just taken me a few minutes to accomplish the hall has dead body's laying in it and in doorways then as she finally noticed what happened to the man behind her she let out a whimper.

it was only a soft voice that braught her around. "Saya we need to go." It was Kohta. as he ran upto her patting my back as he went past.

Turning around and waking back to the room I knocked on the door "It's James you can come out now."

The door creaked open revelling a set of serious Blue eyes. "James you're ok?"

"Yep how is Takashi"

The door opened fully revelling him stood with a bandage around one arm and a shotgun in the other "I'm good is it safe."

"As can be for now but I have no Idea about if this lot have any friends that are going to miss them?" I indicated over my shoulder to the mass of dead men.

0000

Coming out of our sanctuary I looked around at the carnage that James had delivered to these men. I was somewhat horrified but at the same time relived. Horrified that he had killed every last one of them and relived that we were and he was safe.

Taking my role as the second in command I turned to Takashi "We should probably go now and just get out of the city."

He looked at me then each of the group noticing the tired and scared faces of some of the others. "You're right Saeko-san… Everyone we are leaving in as much time as it takes to get to the Hummve get anything that you need now be at the car in five minutes them we are gone we will stop when out of the city. " turning to sensei he asked her. "You ok to drive."

I was half expecting something stupid from her but she seemed very clear minded when she answered. "Yes I can do it."

After that everyone broke up to grab their bags.

We jogged back up to our room not saying much just getting our bags until I put a hang on his arm. "You ok."

James stopped and looked into my eyes like he always did. "No I thought the worsted that something had happened to you so I snapped and killed them all."

"You did the right thing James." was all I said in reply I thought that I had a violent streak but he was something else when provoked. I had seen the bodies lying there and heard his calls of my name, as he fought for me. He was utterly brutal and unyielding facing them head on.

My fear was not for us as we could fight but for our child would we make good parents with my darkness and his violent nature what example will we be setting.

0000

The Hummer bucked and bumped as it made its way out of the city past wreck after wreck body after body. Some of them would walk after the nose of the passing hummer to try and catch something to eat.

The occupants of the car where not interested as they pushed on to their escape the last obstacle the large bridge at the city limit then 10 more miles to the first rest in nearly forty eight hours.

The swords woman Saeko was taking with her lover and father of their unborn child. About nothing but what they would do at the next stop.

Hirano was in the capola of the car looking out as his new girlfriend sat taking to the driver mis Shizuka.

Takashi has Alice asleep in laying down in his lap as he watched the world go by his hand firmly holding the hand of the girl asleep on his bandaged shoulder Rei. Then just as they started to cross the bridge a single shot rang out cracking the glass in front of the pink haired genius.

0000

And now we come full circle to where we started on the bridge in front of a barricade with Mr Noisy and his two friends his mistake is that he has pushed himself to closes to me his gun poking me in the chest. I look down at the pistol then look back up to him "Nice knowing you fuck face but you don't know WHO YOU ARE FUCKING WITH!"

In a flash of movement I go through a routine that I had practiced over and over in Krav Magra my hand roles over his arm pulling him down my next hand grasps and turns is pistol towards him ripping it from his hand as I push him away from me. Bringing up his gun firing it into him the look of shock crossed his face as he screams "WHY?" at me in his dying breath turning to face his friend he gets the same treatment of a fast shot to the chest.

The one last makes a run for it. My arm reaches down to p90 on its sling letting the revolver drop away, bringing it up into my shoulder to take aim only for me to narrowly miss getting shot from the man with the rifle as more join in the fuck fest that is now unfolding "fuck this time to run." I scream at myself as I make a dash to the stinger strip on the road in front of the hummer, so I could clear the road.

Dropping down and sliding to a stop near the strip and pulling it across the road as the bullets wiz by and kick up the ground around my bit of cover behind a washing machine. It starts to rock as it is hit by rounds from someone firing. Rolling to one side I give a long burst of fire back at the man with the rifle as some of his friends join in with shot guns the ground around me spits and boils as the bullets dance around me. Running off to the next bit of cover straight into a crowd of fucking zeds.

Keeping the 90 in one hand firing wildly at anything in my way my sword is drawn, hacking anything that is to close. The hummer changes past me and I catch a glimpse of Saeko her face full of worry and dread.

I hack and cut my way through a small group of the zeds running and dodging diving over obstacles as more bullets wiz past years of training and practice kick in as I fight as hard as I can each move planed in an instant as my eyes scan all around me for cover never saying still for more than a few bursts from my gun always moving relying solely on speed, momentum and aggression the big three that was drilled into me.

Again my sword flashes as I catch up with the hummer trying in vain to reach safety but I am getting cut off Kohta is firing for all he is worth to try and clear me a path. As the end of my sword shatters after decapataing a zed the blade hit something solid the realisation that I may just not be getting out of this and my luck is used up hits me.

In a flash of movement I See that Saeko is out of the hummer. Fighting her way to me "GET BACK IN THE GOD DAM CAR!"

"NO!" she screams back at me while decapitating some of the zeds that stood in her way. "I AM NOT LEAVING YOU!"

"Saeko you have to… I'll be back I promise!" it's an empty promise and I'm sure she realises that

"I…I… can't leave you" realising the futility of the situation she starts to turn back only to be grabbed and half dragged by Takashi.

She was in the car now screaming at me to run Takashi was struggling to keep her in the car with Rei's help the car was pulling away shots from who was left rang out around me every now and then I would turn and fire at any target I could see my p90 was glowing white hot with the volume of fire I had to put down I was down to my last few mags for it I shouted to the driver "Get the fuck out of here I'll catch up." the car then started to gain speed.

"James don't" she screamed at me fighting Rei "let me go" she was trying to plead with me "stay with me." she shouted punching Rei in the face "Let me go…." she was becoming hysteric letting the demon lose fighting those that were trying to help her.

I turned back to the horde and the fire form the last of the bandits. it time for me to fight and stop running. time slowed as I pulled my 90 up into the aim I pulled the trigger sending the hammer crashing into the firing pin igniting the charge in the round the bullet speed down the barrel as the next round cycled into the gun the bullet left the barrel and was sent on its path to the head of a man firing at me, it struck him in the jaw smashing its way through teeth and bone the bullet shattered sending the tungsten core onward out of the back of the man's head scrambling the base of his brain on its way, before he fell to the ground the second bullet struck him in the eye destroying what was left of his head

I was switching targets every few rounds constantly moving from cover to cover.

the last of the p90s mags was slapped into the gun so that it could continue its shout of flame and death, and I switched to burst of 2 to 3 rounds at the horde that was surrounding me on their slow march to eat. Just as the 90 ran out of rounds and became silent for its last time, I turned smashing it into the face of one of them pulling my pistol from its holster so that it could shout its sounds of death, I then pulled my broken sword out so as to use the half blade to try and brake through. I had made it to the middle of the bridge, climbing over the barricades just as the car containing my love and unborn child where pulling out of sight, their safe that is all that mattered to me as I continued the fight alone. "Come on you fucking cunts"

I'm going to make it was the thought I had just as a bullet struck me in the leg then a second hit my hip sending me crashing into the side of the bridge. "aaaaarrrrrr fuck" I collapsed next to the rail that stops the long drop into the river.

"AAAAAAARRRRR. " My shout drew the attention of some of them I started to fire my pistol dropping the last man firing at me.

with the last of the fucking bandits dead or running away I then starting on one of them then another but my shots started getting inaccurate I was feeling tired when was the last time I slept days ago I was growing cold then *click* the pistol was empty "hu figures" I shout. One of them was crawling next to me; I pulled up my sword and stabbed down into its head all the way to the hilt.

As I went to pull it out it snapped again leaving just the hilt, I looked at it with tired eyes " you to old friend… you fought well" I discard the handle throwing it to the ground.

Pulling out the last weapon that I had, a hand grenade that we salvaged from the dead soldiers.

Manically I begin laughing to myself as I realise that I am well and truly fucked. I am hit by sorrow at the thoughts and questions that rage through my head. "So is this how it ends? Is this my story? One of hope, of happiness, of laugher of sadness of tears and joy. But mostly of love for a girl that I teased she fell from heaven and not a highway. Saeko the name made me smile at just its very thought.

At least I know that she is safe now. That she can go on for my child that I will never see.

I looked up to see a few of them closing in on me. aaaarr I need to sleep…. I'm… tired…. so tired.

But I'm not dead yet and I will fight, while I can still fight….. I can sleep when I'm dead.

I roll over to the railing passing under it, then shouting out to the zed that is near me "HAY fuck face you are one ugly fuck have this for a free meal." Pulling the pin out as the vile creature retches out to with a hand that is missing its pinkie and has skin hanging off. I allow the lever to fly off, then I summon the last of my strength, I ram it into its mouth and spit at him with pure venom in my voice "I hope I give your pals the shits."

Then with a defining roar that would shatter the heavens I call her name, It is the last thing I wish to think of, her the sweetest and best thing to happen to me the warrior woman with the sapphire eyes. "SAAAAAAAEKOOOOOOOOO!...I…I..love ..yo" there is a bright flash just as I picture her smiling face.

0000

As I have every time I have left somewhere James I leave you this letter.

Tomorrow it will be 10 days and we will reach the safe zone on Nagashima island 20 miles away and I wait for you. We stopped at all the places we said we would and I sat near the windows hoping to see you after your promise to me that you will return.

I promise every day I will go to the bridge hoping to hear from you or see you.

For me the hardest part is when I dream of you and wake to find you are not there.

I will train every day so as not to lose my edge as I wait for our child's arrival.

I do this in the hope that one day, I can go look for you, that I can find you and bring you home to me. One day I hope to see you again ether in this life or my next.

Until then my love. I live in hope.

Sleep well and dream of me.

Saeko.

The end of: you can sleep when you're dead

Ok this was cut short to end this book as I have had some computer problems that got rid of the few chapter that were left and I want to focus on Rain. the second book will not be started until next year at the soonest. the next chapter is the preview. I will probably rewrite this later in my new style and format that i have been learning as I worked on Rain