Disclaimer: I don't own Highschool of the DEAD, Umi no Misaki, Black Lagoon or their characters. They are owned by their respective authors.
Updated for content, spelling and word usage 12/31/13
Time Trax of the DEAD
Chapter 26
2 days till Z-Day Japan:
Saya was awakened by a buzzing noise that would not stop. She slowly opened her eyes to look into Kohta's peacefully sleeping face. Smiling, she raised her head and looked around to find her cell phone vibrating around on the bedside table. Picking it up she saw it was her mother. She sat for a moment, looked back at Kohta who was just beginning to stir, and opened the phone.
"Good morning, mother," she said quietly.
"Good morning, daughter," Yuriko answered. "Would the two of you like breakfast in your room? Pretty much everyone else has eaten already."
The girl glanced at Kohta who was awake and wide-eyed now, "Yes, Mama. I think we could use a big breakfast if you don't mind."
"Be ready in ten minutes. See you then," her mother said as she hung up.
She lay the phone back on the night table and rolled over against Kohta.
"Umm, what did she say?" he asked.
"Breakfast will be here in ten minutes," Saya said with a smirk. "What shall we do till then?"
The boy's eyes opened wider as the naked girl crawled on top of him and started planting kisses on his neck.
000
The couple was dressed and the door was standing open before the houseboy came in with a large tray and Yuriko behind him. Saya had only teased Kohta for a couple of minutes before letting him up so they could go to the bathroom and dress.
"Good morning, you two," the woman said. "I hope you slept well, Kohta-kun."
The boy gobbed like a gold fish for a moment before any words came out, "Ye…yes ma'am! I…slept well…"
Yuriko patted him on the shoulder as Saya face-palmed herself. "Calm down, Kohta-kun," Saya's mother said. "No one is upset, but you might be the brunt of some teasing today. Especially from this one," she said as Rika walked in the door carrying a soft-sided gun bag.
The police office lay the bag on the bed and walked over to lean down and look at the boy with a grin on her face. "How are you feeling this morning, lover boy?" she asked with smirk.
She and Yuriko laughed as Kohta almost passed out. Rika grabbed the fourth chair from the table to spin it around backwards and straddle it facing the trio.
"How are things on your end?" Saya asked Rika as she started buttering a warm muffin while her mother poured Kohta some tea.
"Good so far," the woman said as she pinched a piece of bacon from the serving tray. "Eleven troopers decided to come with us yesterday. By this morning five more have called because, once they talked to wives and girlfriends, they decided following me was their best course of action."
"What is the situation around the world?" the girl asked next.
Rika frowned, "A lot of places in Europe have gone black. Where we can still see feeds, there is a lot of fighting or undead roaming around. News services are calling it anything from anti-government rioting to religious conflict. Very few are saying anything about people being sick or how it is being transmitted. It's like they have turned a blind eye to it all. I think it's like Takashi said; the news services are just not telling the truth to try to keep the people from freaking out. Bad move if you ask me."
Saya shrugged. "Maybe, but it might be good for us. When the population starts going nuts, it's going to make it harder for us to move around without hurting live people. By the way, when are we looking at moving to the ferries, Mama? According to Takashi, the school fell on Tuesday, but I'm sure the outbreak had reached Japan before then."
Yuriko sighed. "Hopefully by mid-day tomorrow. The first ferry has arrived, and the captain told the port authority he needed to hold for maintenance and fuel. Trucks with supplies and some advance retainers will go on that one with a few of Rika-san's officers helping. Things get a little muddled after that. We need to get as many people as possible on each ferry, but we need to keep as much of a low profile as possible also."
"Where it's going to get interesting is when we start having to use the buses your mother rented," Rika said. "Each bus holds about sixty people. She was only able to get four, so we can move about two hundred and forty at one time. That means they may have to make more than one trip. It's quite a ways to the ferry terminal and back, but I hope to cram as many on as we can at once."
"What if we run into problems? Traffic jams and stuff?" Kohta asked.
Rika shrugged. "Not sure. Have to take it as it comes and work on the fly. Some people could even take the train after dropping their stuff here. Only thing I worry about is people going to the wrong site. I know it's going to turn into a cluster, but we just need to keep it in control as long as we can."
"Well, it's almost 10 am, and the retainers are gathering. Your father wants everyone there, Saya-chan," Yuriko said.
Saya nodded. "Where are Takashi and Saeko?"
Rika smiled. "Still in his room…"
Saya's eyebrow rose at the way the purpled haired woman said it. She grunted and nodded as the two women got up to leave.
"We will leave you two finish your breakfast then," her mother said as she started out the door.
Rika, on the other hand walked over to the bed where she had dropped the gun case. She waved for Kohta to follow her. She unzipped the case and opened it as he watched. Smiling, she said, "I'm turning this over to you, Kohta-kun. You've proven to me you can handle it and I want you to take very good care of it. It was very special to me."
His eyes widened as he took in the Armalite AR-10 rifle he adored so much. He picked it up and checked it over as she watched. Looking in the case, he picked up a black cylinder device. "Where did you get the can? You didn't have this when we shot the guns before!"
"Can?" Saya asked as she got up and walked over. "What do you mean can?"
"Suppresser for the rifle," Rika explained. "You've just never heard the nick-name before, Saya-san. The same one fits my PSG. I was able to get another in stock at the office right before everything started to come down." She shook her finger at him, "I don't want you toting this around until I tell you so. Also leave the can off until we have to start using our rifles. Understand?"
"Yes, Sensei," the boy replied.
"Good, I'm glad we understand each other," she said with a smile. "Now go roust that other pair out of bed. We all had a rough day yesterday, but Takashi had it worse than most."
"I kind of lost track of them after everything started," Saya admitted.
"Your mother said they disappeared into Takashi's room not long after it began," Rika told them. "She had everyone leave them alone and had a tray of food put outside the door. She sent Saeko a text message it was there and left them be after that. Whatever the case, he needs to shake it off now. We've got a ton of stuff to do and I'm afraid time is going to run out on us."
"Well, we are almost through with our food, so we'll go get them in a minute," Saya replied.
With that Rika nodded and headed out the door as Kohta put the rifle away.
"I'll take this to my room when we go find Takashi and Saeko," he said.
Saya shook her head. "No," she told him. "Put it under the bed for now. I want you to move your stuff in here today. We can use your room for someone else like Takashi's parents tonight."
Kohta opened his mouth as if to say something, but then stopped, closed it and nodded, "Yes dear, as you wish."
The girl smirked as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Good, you're learning!"
They both laughed and kissed before sitting down to quickly finish their food.
000
As the couple approached Takashi's room, Saya noticed two empty food trays outside the door. She stopped for a moment and sent Saeko a text. 'We're outside the door, can we come in?' No more than ten seconds later she got back, 'Door is open.'
They entered to find Saeko sitting cross-legged on the floor at the end of the bed with Takashi's head in her lap. She had on one of her kimonos over a tank top and shorts while he was wearing a pair of sweat pants and a tank top.
Saya glanced at the wreaked bedclothes before she spoke. "You two get enough sleep? Everything is going into motion today."
Saeko nodded. "We came to the room early and have not left. Your mother was kind enough to have food left outside for us instead of us having to come out. I will thank her for that later."
Saya frowned, "She woke us up with a call this morning that she was bringing breakfast. At least she gave us ten minutes before it arrived."
Saeko smirked as Takashi grinned and spoke for the first time. "Woke US up huh? And just what was US doing that we had to have a ten minute warning before the food arrived?"
Saya went bright red as she realized what she had said while Kohta suddenly found something very interesting on the far wall.
"Hush, don't tease," Saeko told the boy as she pinched him lightly on the nose. Looking up at Saya she smiled. "I hope you had a pleasant evening then."
Saya smirked, "All I can say is…it was wonderful."
Saeko laughed at Saya's play on words at what she had said when asked by the other girls how her first time with Takashi had been.
"Well you need to get up," Saya told them. "Papa wants us at this rally he is having out front in about an hour. We'll go to the sitting room and let you dress."
The other couple nodded as she and Kohta headed out the door.
000
After the rally meeting, all the teens filed into the dining area.
Morita stretched and said, "Ehhh Saya-san, your dad sure can talk!"
Saya smirked as she walked over to where the help had set up a buffet line that they were keeping serviced all day, "Well, that was his job you know. I just hope it really sinks in what he said to everyone. We should know more about who is going to commit within the hour."
"I heard several say they would follow him anywhere," Hisashi told them. "On the other hand, I heard several say they thought he had lost it and were leaving as quickly as they could."
"More power to them," Takashi said. "Those are the kind that will be trying to 'help' the undead and getting bitten themselves. We don't need them in our group."
"That's a little harsh, isn't it, Takashi?" Rei asked.
"I do not think so, Rei-san," Saeko said. "I understand what Takashi is trying to say. If they are not dedicated to surviving then they will be a hindrance to those of us that are. It is better for them to go now and be done with it."
"I was sure happy to see all the SAT troopers that decided to go with us," Kohta said. "Between us, them and those of the retainers that are former JSDF, we have a sizable protection force."
"I'm glad you approve," Rika said as she, Shizuka, Kage and Tajima walked in the door.
"My question is: when are we arming ourselves?" Takashi asked as Rika sat down backwards in a chair. Tajima handed her a cup of coffee, and she took a sip before she replied.
"We are still walking in gray territory, Takashi. As of yet, there is no threat in Japan. I can't let you loose even with melee weapons until we have a good solid reason you need to protect yourselves. That will take an in-country spotting of infected. Sorry."
The boy sighed. "I understand, I really do, but it's hard not to want something in hand when I know what's on the way."
"If it makes you feel better, take one of the bokken in a carry bag like Saeko-chan does," Kage spoke up. "You're trained enough with it for proficient use."
Takashi grimaced, "Okay, I'm starting to feel naked without something now that we know this is really happening. It's bothering me."
Rika nodded. "I know, I know, but if we draw too much attention we might have to deal with government officials getting involved and that is never a good thing. We'd be in a hell of a mess if we get ready to leave and found our path blocked by another SAT. I'm just not going to be able to sleep until we are all on those ferries."
"There are two routes out of the mansion," Saya said. "Can we send some out the back way and the rest the front?"
"My brain thinks this might be a good idea, but my instinct says 'never split the party'," the police woman said with a sigh. "I'll keep it in my mind. Tajima, talk to Tatsumi and work up a plan just in case we need it."
"What about recon?" Takashi asked as Tajima nodded to his boss. "A few young couples taking a quiet walk together to the shrine down the road should not raise any suspicions for anyone."
Rika and Tajima grinned, though Rika spoke their thoughts, "You think dirty, Takashi; just like me. We can do some quick peeks right before dark and then maybe in the morning."
"In the morning, jogging would be good," Kohta chimed in. "Nobody should think anything of a couple of teenagers taking a run before school time. We can send pairs out several different ways and it should not take long for them to get back."
Rika nodded. "Well right now I've got to go make a phone call. Takashi, walk with me."
The boy nodded and glanced at Saeko as he got up and followed the woman from the room. They went down the hall and turned out onto one of the patios that over looked the yard where retainers and others milled about working on projects to get ready. For their viewpoint, Takashi could see Mac as well as a couple of the SAT troopers checking on the vehicles they would be using when they started out. The buses had not arrived yet but were due by nightfall.
Rika leaned against the rail and sighed, "Takashi, I know I've asked you before, but is there anything else you can tell me that we might be able to use."
The boy shook his head. "No Rika, I've told you everything I can think of and racked my brain wondering if I have missed anything."
"Tell me again about the day the nuke went off."
"The school fell on Tuesday. Rei and I got separated from the group and spent the night riding around to stay away from Them. We rejoined Wednesday and spent that night at your place. We got here on Thursday and Friday about mid-day is when it went off, just as we were getting ready to go look for mine and Rei's parents. Later when you found us, you said one of the picket ships had gotten overrun with infected and didn't get their anti-missile missile launched. From what we figured out, you were at the airport and Tajima had just died. You were on the phone with Shizuka at the time."
"And you're sure I never told you the name of the ship?" she asked.
Takashi nodded, "All you said was it was one of the American ships. If you ever said a name I don't remember it."
Rika sighed again, "Well I'm going to try to talk to someone I know in the JSDF Rapid Reaction Teams. His father is an Admiral in the JMSDF and maybe I can get them to pay attention to what's going on."
"You don't think they might question what we are doing?" the boy asked.
Rika smirked. "I'm sure he will, but Gato knows me enough to listen when I speak. He's going to know more about what is going on in Europe than the news services and politicians are saying. If he has good Intel on that then he might be willing to listen to my story."
Takashi nodded his head that he understood. He looked up as Saeko came out the door and walked over to them.
"Takashi," she said quietly. "It's time."
The teenager sighed and nodded. Looking at Rika, he said, "It's time to go get Mom and Dad."
Rika nodded. "Good luck with that. Are Tadashi and Kiriko going with you?"
"My father also," Saeko said.
"Call me if you need me," Rika said as she pulled her phone from her pocket.
"Later," Takashi said as he and Saeko headed back inside.
The woman watched as the couple disappeared in the door. Opening her phone she scrolled down to find a number and dialed it. It rang about four times before a man answered.
"Hello? Captain Gato speaking."
Rika smiled slightly, "Captain Gato, its Section Chief Minami Rika."
"Oi! How are you doing, Chief? Where are you at right now?"
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I assume you know what is going on in Europe? And where are you?" she said.
On the other end, the man laughed, "As for where I'm at, I'm boarding the Akagi right now. Yes, I know what going on in Europe. One reason I'm going aboard is to see the old man. What do you know?"
"Akagi? That's the new helicopter destroyer, isn't it?"
"Yeah and the old man's flagship," he responded.
"Good, I need a few minutes of your time. I've got some vital information you need to get to the Admiral and stuff you need to know as well to fight these things."
"I'm all ears, Chief."
000
After she finished, the phone was quiet for a minute. Then she heard a sigh.
"Please send me all the feed data and vids takes you currently have. I will look over them quickly and go to the old man to see what he's got to say about it."
"That's all I can ask," Rika said. "The main thing is not letting that nuke get through on Friday."
"Zombies, huh?" the man said. "Well, what we are getting with live satellite feeds looks like riots and street fighting, but if you don't know what you're looking for…"
"Yeah, that's why my analyst made sure to record the first one we saw getting back up forty-five minutes after he was killed. There are quite a few more scenes like that."
"Okay, Chief, you've got an argument for the zombies, but how about the prediction on the nukes? Seriously, a teenage time traveler?"
Rika snorted, "Call him a prophet, a seer if you want to, but he was able to tell me things about myself that no one knew. It's been that way for everyone that's been brought into our group."
"Why didn't you contact me before?"
"Would you have seriously listened to this story without knowing what is going on in Europe?"
Gato sighed. "No I guess not…wait…hold on a moment…"
As Rika was holding, Morita rushed out the door. "Rika-san! They're in China now!"
"Something's going on here…Chief! The Chinese fleet is starting to set sail!"
"I just got word here that the zeds have been sighted in China," Rika told the Captain.
"I've got to go. You know where to send the information. Can I reach you back at this number?"
"I've also got a sat phone. I'll send you the number for it in the Intel take," she told him.
"Where will you be?"
She sighed, it was now or never, "We're leaving the mainland. The group I'm with is going to head to an island fifteen hours south by in the morning. A lot of my troopers have decided to go with me. We're going to protect as many as we can with hopes of coming back later and picking up the pieces."
Again silence over the phone. "Well, I guess I understand. If you're right about this, there won't be any way to fight them straight up."
"Remember what I told you! Silent but deadly! They cannot see and don't smell. Make a noise and they will flock to it, then wipe them out. Heads shots or blows to the head only!"
"I'll remember. Good luck and I'll try to contact you later. Gato out."
Rika stared at the phone for a minute before closing it. She patted Morita on the shoulder and said, "Com'on, Morita. I've done all I can do for now."
The boy nodded and followed the police woman inside.
000
Takashi, Kage, Saeko and the Miyamoto's rode silently in the big limo on their way to the boy's house. It had been decided he, Saeko and Kage would go in first and see if they could get his mother to listen. If that failed, Tadashi and Kiriko would try and when left no recourse, Tadashi would arrest her for her own protection. They knew she would be furious with this kidnapping, but hoped to be forgiven later on.
They were met at the door by Takashi's father.
"We've been watching the international news, but they're not telling much," the man told them.
Himiko looked up as the trio came in. "Oh! I didn't know you were coming by, Kage-san! Let me get us some tea."
Kage waved his hands as the woman started to get up, "No, no, please, Himiko-san. Let us talk first. We have some important matters to discuss."
The woman looked puzzled by the man's statement, "Important matters? Takashi! What have you done?!"
"It's not me, Mom! It's that!" he said as he pointed towards the TV.
She looked puzzled, "What's that have to do with anything? That somewhere in Europe and it's some kind of religious riot. I don't even know why your father is watching it."
Kage sat down and folded his hands on the table, "Himiko-san there is much more to the problems in Europe than the news services are saying. It's not religious like they are leading people to believe. There is an outbreak of a disease that is moving across the world at an amazing pace. It is killing people by the thousands and maybe even the millions by now. The news services are hiding that fact to prevent a worldwide panic from setting in."
The woman thought for a moment and then said, "I understand what you are saying, but I'm confused what it has to do with us."
"Mom, we have to leave," Takashi said. "We have to get to a place of safety and ride this out. Sooner or later it will calm down and then we might can come back and rebuild what will be lost."
"Rebuild what will be lost? Takashi, you sound like you're talking like it's the end of the world or something!"
They all got quiet as she looked around at them. Finally Saeko spoke up.
"Obasan…Mother…please, I have only just found you and I don't want something like this to take you away from me. Please come with us."
Mother…the word struck Himiko like a slap. She and the dark-haired girl had grown close the last few months, and for Saeko to use that name for her…it showed the feeling that had grown between them.
She looked at her husband, "What do you have to say about this?"
"I think we should go and the sooner the better," he replied. "Kage-san and the others have been keeping me informed about their fears for a while now, and I agree with them."
"Why didn't you say something before now, Ryuichiro? What is it you're not saying now?" she asked.
Her husband looked sheepish and rubbed the back of his head as Kage smirked and Takashi found something very interesting on the wall to look at.
"Saeko-chan? What are these worthless men not telling me?" Himiko asked the girl.
"They are all worried what you will say when you find out who else is involved, Mother," Saeko said.
Himiko thought for a moment speaking up, "Well, who is it? Tell me or we go no further!"
Her husband sighed, "It's the Takagi's. They are the main backers with the Miyamoto's and many others also."
The woman frowned, "So Souichirou and Yuriko are running this show?"
"No, not really, Mom," Takashi said. "They've been a big help in organizing everything. We all have a say so in what is going on though. They treat us as equals and listen to what we have to say."
"I'm sorry, but knowing Souichirou I find that had to believe," she replied. "I know he's not a bad person, but he is a very forceful personality and I don't see him as anything other than what he is."
Saeko pulled out her phone and played with it for a moment. Finding what she wanted she turned the phone for Himiko to see.
The woman reached, took the device from the girl and focused on the picture, "What a cute little girl! And that's you and Takashi with her…when was this taken Saeko-chan?"
"Christmas eve. The little girl's name is Alice. She is nine years old and is one of the children that will be going with us. There are quite a few going and we could use your help with them. Where we will be staying is in short supply of teachers and everyone will be needed."
"Where you will be staying? Just where is that?"
"Do you remember the trip I took at the first of the summer?" Takashi asked his mother. "I went with Saeko-chan, Saya and her mother to look at vacation properties? The real reason was to find a place for us to hide out if this all came to pass. There is a beautiful island fifteen hours south of the mainland by ferry that is prepared and waiting for us. The people there are ready and willing to accept us as long as we abide by their rules and help protect the island."
"Interesting fact," Saeko said with a smirk. "It is a matriarchal society. Nothing important gets done without approval of the Council of Grandmothers. Men handle politics and war fighting, but they still must answer to the council in all things."
Himiko thought about this for a minute before speaking, "And Souichirou…all the men have agreed to this?"
Kage snorted, "Yes Himiko-san, we have." He smirked and there was a twinkle in his eye as he looked at her, "I don't see where it is really a big change from what we have today anyway. Men like to think we run things but in the end women are the true holders of our destiny. Any good man would know that in his heart and the ones that don't are doomed to spend their lives alone and in misery. "
She stared at the samurai for a moment before bursting out into laughter. With a mischievous look in her eye she finally spoke up, "Have I ever told you how much you look like Mifune Toshiro?"
The man paused for a second and then roared with laughter until tears came to his eyes, "No, no you have never said that to me. I thank you for that though…" He paused as Takashi's phone rung.
The boy looked at it and said, "Saya." He answered and listened for a minute before acknowledging the information and hanging up. Looking at the others he said, "We have conformation of infected in Beijing, Hong Kong and Singapore. It's moving quickly and she is expecting the Korea's and Philippines next. Taiwan is so close to Hong Kong that it may already be infected."
"Korea will fall fast," Kage said. "The Philippines and Indonesia will take much longer because of all the different islands."
"Is there nothing that can be done for these people?" Himiko asked.
"Let's talk about that later," Ryuichiro said. "Right now we should pack some things and get to the mansion."
"Oh my," his wife said. "I was not even thinking about packing until now. I have to guess we have limits on what can be taken?"
Takashi nodded, "Right now pack for several days like going on a long weekend. Also important papers and such, anything else pile in the middle of the bed. We have a team with a truck that is waiting outside, to take things like that and clean out food stores for use. Think of it like the house is being shut down for a long overseas trip. Hopefully, one day we may be able to come back."
Himiko nodded, "I can't say I'm happy about all of this, but will do as you say. I do have to ask though…what if I had not been willing to listen. What would you have done then?"
Takashi laughed, "The Miyamoto's are waiting outside. We were going to have Tadashi-san arrest you for your own protection."
"WHAT!?" the woman exclaimed as she got up and went to the door. Throwing it open she found Tadashi and Kiriko standing on the porch while Tadashi smoked a cigarette.
"Get in here you gangster and bring your husband too!" she said to the surprised couple.
Kiriko laughed and Tadashi grinned as they came inside, "So I guess this means you're going to go with us without a fight?" Kiriko asked.
"Like you could take me," Takashi's mother said with a grin. "I deal with fourth graders every day. What have you done lately?"
The two women laughed and hugged each other.
"Now, come on, you and Saeko-chan can help me pick what to take and what to let the movers gather."
The women headed to the master bedroom as Tadashi sat down at the table and Takashi asked, "Mom knows about Kiriko-san's gang days?"
Tadashi smirked, "Yeah, it seems they and Yuriko got drunk one night and a lot of old stories were told. I don't know more than that and to be honest I don't want too."
"Women are delicate creatures," Kage said. "They must have their secrets that men must not know or the men will die painful deaths!"
The older men laughed as Takashi shook his head.
000
Later Saeko found Takashi in his room putting the last few items on his bed for the cleanup crew to grab.
"Are you about ready, my love?" she asked as she wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"Yep," he replied as he squeezed her hands before she let him go. "The things we gather in our lives don't see of much importance when you have to walk away from it all."
The girl nodded as she looked at the bed. Clothes, a few books and other items finished the pile.
"I would take your game system and games," she said.
"You think?" he asked. "I was worried about the space."
She shook her head, "I don't think it's going to be that big of a problem. Even if you find other things to do there are going to be plenty for children, so I think it will go to good use."
"Other things to do, huh," he said with a smile as he took her into his arms. "I can think of some things right now I would like to be doing…"
They kissed for a long minute before someone at the door cleared their throat. Looking that way, they found Himiko watching them.
"Why is it every time I come to this door I find the two of you fooling around?"
"Just lucky I guess," Takashi said with a grin as his mother glared at him.
"Come on," she said. "Let's get this over with."
As the followed her out, Takashi stopped and looked back at the room he had spent his life in.
"Is something wrong, my love?" Saeko asked as she hugged him again.
He shook his head, "It just seems like I'm forgetting something and can't remember what."
She caressed his face, "Think on it and maybe it will come to you. If not, it must not have been that important."
He nodded and kissed her on the forehead once more before walking out.
A/N: Well into chapter 27 already. As always, please review, favorite and follow.