Hello people, and welcome back to Highschool of the Dead: Resurrection. Another arc is upon us, so let's see how Itachi handles that dysentery smoothie that Karma poured down his throat.


The moment Masato got back to Saeko's apartment, he placed Itachi on a bed, and Shizuka got to work examining him. In the meantime , Kohta, and Saya continued taking shifts with looking over the city, and Masato drove Takashi and Rei back to the mall, and then to the crate of supplies left behind, with even the bodies of the Ghosts Itachi massacred getting looted for what little ammunition they had. Even the sniper rifle used to nearly end Itachi's life was taken by Masato, for obvious reason. Once they fetched the supplies, Saya helped them organize the supplies and then joined the others in the living room.

"So...how's Itachi faring?" Saeko asked.

"Well...the good news is that his spine isn't broken, the bad news is that his back muscles are sprained, so..." Shizuka trailed off.

"He has a serious back ache, we get it." Saya said.

"Wow...he kicks the hell out of me, then gets a minor injury...karma's a bitch alright." Takashi said.

"Wait...Itachi attacked you?!" Saeko asked in awe.

"Technically, I attacked him after he blew off leaving Rei in danger like it was no big deal." Takashi said.

"And now he's temporarily crippled." Kohta said.

"He also had a sniper rifle pointed directly at his head at point blank range." Saeko said.

"Wait...the same on Corporal Toriyama is using?" Rei asked.

"Yes." Masato said.

"I...don't think Itachi will be very happy about that." Shizuka said.

"We've been putting up with his crap for almost a month, so I say too fucking bad." Saya said and Masato pulled a pair of glocks.

"The two Ghosts who almost killed him also dropped these." He said before putting them on the table.

"What about his bow and arrows?" Rei asked.

"His bow is broken beyond repair, and he still has his arrows." Masato said.

"Wow...that's two ways he's out of commission." Takashi said.

"Can't we get him a new bow?" Alice asked.

"That depends on whether or not we find one...and whether or not he's earned it." Saeko said.

"Well, given his track record...that's going to be pretty damn hard to do." Rei said seriously.

"We should still give him a chance." Alice said.

"A chance for what? To try and burn us again? I'm actually starting to wonder why Corporal Toriyama here even saved him in the first place." Rei said.

"He's a fine zombie killer, and a better scout. Like Takashi said once, we need him." Masato said.

"You...you heard me say that?" Takashi asked.

"Of course I did. Anyway, it's in our best interest to look after him until he can help us again, to hell with his arrogance." Masato said.

"After the serving of humble pie that was just shoved up his ass, I would hope his arrogance is burning in hell." Saya said, then the group took a moment to let the situation sink in. They leaned back, sighed, relaxed against their chairs and couches, and Rei leaned into Takashi.

"I don't know if it's ironic or distasteful that we have to look after a guy who clearly took us for granted for so long." Rei said.

"Well...maybe now he'll show some appreciation or once in his miserable life." Saya said.

"Well, now it's up to us to make it...not miserable anymore." Alice said.

"Stay away from him." Saeko said seriously.

"But...he could use some cheering up." Alice said.

"His redemption needs to come from his own free will. You are not to interfere until then." Saeko said.

"But-" Saeko cuts Alice off.

"That's final. Now let him sort his own mess out. Besides...I'm his babysitter." Saeko said, and Alice sighed.

"O.k..." She groaned.

"To be fair...he owes you quite a bit, even more than before. Afterall, you changed my mind for me." Saeko said.

"How?" Alice asked.

"Because...because there were quite a few times I was so fed up with him that I wanted to inflicted harm on him; I even resisted the urge to cut off his hand for laughing at me when I told him something deeply personal. I even shed tears over his mockery...but I cannot deny that he's paid for his crimes, at least somewhat, and if he really wants to make amends, I say we give him a shot." Saeko said, and everyone else starting thinking as well, and Alice sucked in one breath after another as the group took their time thinking.

"Well...if Itachi's serious, I guess it could work out." Rei said.

"I think so as well." Takashi said.

"Me too." Kohta said.

"Me three." Shizuka said, and everyone deadpanned at her.

"Anyway...I guess it's settled then. Let's give the man some space, then see what he has to say for himself in the morning." Saya said.

"I'll get back to you on that myself. See you in the morning." Saeko said and everyone left one by one.


When Rei and Takashi got home, they went a drew a bath for Takashi so he could recover from the beating Itachi gave him more quickly. Once he got in the bath, Rei stripped naked herself, while taking her sweet time doing so, then got in the bath with Takashi. He didn't move a muscle the entire time, but he didn't have to; Rei kept her distance to give Takashi a chance to ease up. Once he did, she swam over to him; the bath was just large enough to be considered a very small pool afterall, then she helped Takashi sit up, then began massaging his back.

"Tell me where you're hurting the most." She said softly while her delicate, yet powerful hands were working on the slim, yet dense muscles in Takashi's back.

"My back is fine mostly, it's the front that's the problem." Takashi said.

"I saw you get flipped onto your back...and not in the fun way." Rei said.

"This isn't a good time for jokes Rei." Takashi said.

"Sorry...but, still, your back needs attention as well. If not for now, then later." Rei said.

"Well...to be fair, that feels really nice." Takashi said.

"Don't mention it." Rei said softly as she kept rubbing Takashi's back, and focusing on his deep, cleansing breaths. She then moved down is back, paying as much attention to his middle body and she did to his upper body, then moved up to his shoulders. She then moved around to his front, and then ran her hands up and down his chest and abdomen without pressing into him to avoid causing pain. Takashi winced a few times, but Rei removed her hands as soon as she heard him.

"It's my abdomen that's the real problem." Takashi said.

"Makes sense, Itachi really got you good didn't he?" Rei asked.

"Yeah...I'm kind of glad he's bedridden now." Takashi said.

"I can't say I don't agree...but nevertheless, he'll have to rejoin us eventually, so until then, let him suffer." Rei said before looking around.

"What?" Takashi asked.

"Maybe there's some conditioner, body wash, or...something to help muscles heal. Just...something that fits your body aches." Rei said.

"I...don't see anything, but maybe there's some in the cabinets over there." Takashi said and Rei sighed.

"Fine, I'll do it for you, and speaking of which...feel free to ogle me." She said with a smirk before getting out of the bath, and Takashi stared at her swaying buttocks and as she walked to the cabinet, then looked around inside it...before bending over to search the lower level. Rei then got up and searched the upper level on the balls of her feet.

"Find anything?" Takashi asked.

"I found some bath salts, and it says that it helps muscles aches...and even headaches. That'll do nicely." Rei said before looking over her should and noticing that Takashi's eyes were glued to her round, supple buttocks. She then smirked and walked back to the bath, and poured the required amount of salt into the water, as Takashi watched her hand-filling breasts bounce as she leaned forward and poured salt into the water in different places.

Takashi then moved into the middle of the water so as much would cover his body, then Rei got in with him, and watched him relax...before holding up her breasts. Takashi then smiled before squeezing them one by one with one of his hands. Rei then giggled as her delectable breasts were played with...then gasped when her nipples were gently pinched, and even twisted. Takashi then used his other hand to work one breast while his first hand worked the other.

Rei then came down to kiss and lash tongues with Takashi while moaning into his mouth as he continued to fondle her breasts. Rei then coaxed moans out of Takashi's mouth as she gripped Takashi's manhood and stroked the shaft. Both were so consumed by their lust that boundaries lost their meaning as they explored and tasted each other. Rei continued to stroke Takashi's manhood, and then fondled the bulb before Takashi groaned even more harshly before breaking the kiss and stopping her.

"Stop...I'm going to burst..." He breathed out.

"So what? This water will clean anything, now keep giving me sugar." Rei said then Takashi thought for a moment before kissing Rei again, and she kept fondling his organ until Takashi broke the kiss and then groaned more than before, then went slack against the wall as he tried to catch his breath. Rei meanwhile then reveled in how she effected her man like this before caressing his legs.

"Damn that was good..." Takashi breathed out.

"Feeling better?" Rei asked.

"I don't even feel the pain anymore..." Takashi said.

"Then mission accomplished baby." Rei said.

"Let me try standing up." Takashi said before slowly sitting up, and Rei helped him all the way...but it wasn't needed Takashi didn't wince or groan in pain the whole time. Then stretched in several different ways.

"Wow...mission accomplished alright." Rei said.

"No kidding, I think you released my tension with that little jerk off you gave me." Takashi said.

"I doubt that, but those bath salts could've done some wonders of their own...or both." Rei said.

"Well, let's try the shower, I want to pick up where we left off." Takashi said, and Rei smirked.

"Can't say no to that." She said sensually as Takashi turned on the shower, then pulled her into a kiss that was just as deep and passionate as ever. Rei then broke the kiss and clamped onto Takashi's neck, then sent vibrations through his flesh with a moan that was inspired by Takashi's hands sinking into the flesh of Rei's buttocks.

"Damn...I don't know if your boobs or ass cheeks are better." Takashi groaned, and Rei giggled.

"You know what they all have in common? They're all yours." She said before licking Takashi's neck, and then running her hands up and down Takashi's back, and even his front...

"Still no pain." Takashi said.

"Good...cause I've been dying to feel these abs of yours." Rei said before caressing his entire torso...and Takashi still fondled her buttocks. Rei then wrapped one leg around his waist, and Takashi held up her leg with one hand, then used the other hand to squeeze the alternate side of Rei's butt, the side that just softened.

"How do they feel?" Takashi asked.

"About as good as my ass feels." Rei said.

"Well then...how does this feel?" Takashi asked as he coaxed a gasp out of Rei as his finger slid up and down the swollen lips of Rei's womanhood.

"Oh Takashi...!" She gasped.

"Good I assume?" Takashi teased.

"Oh yes...! Keep going...keep going...!" Rei breathed out as Takashi continued stroking her entrance, and Rei clung unto him as her one standing leg tensed up from the euphoria. Rei then clung onto Takashi even harder as the arm he used to support her body went to her breasts instead, and started squeezing them. He then quickened his pace, only to hold onto Rei with both arms when she reached her own orgasm, and tensed her whole body before going slack. Takashi then held her close before sinking back into the water, turning the shower off then holding onto the woman in his arms who was gasping for air.

"This bath was a better idea than I thought it would be." Takashi said.

"Fuck yeah it was..." Rei breathed out, before kissing Takashi again.

"Let's get dry, and go to bed...we're going to have a hell of a time tomorrow." Takashi said.

"Right...time to get back to reality...and right now it says get ready to help a broken spirit that used to be a pain in the ass. And we were having so much fun too..." Rei said

"That's life for you, although...for what it's worth, this doesn't count as our first time making love." Takashi said seriously.

"No...of course not, this was a glorified healing session that turned extremely pleasant. Until we finally fuck, like seriously fuck, we're still virgins." Rei said.

"And with that out of the way...let's get some sleep." Takashi said casually before they got out of the bath, dried off, and laid down in bed still naked.


In the morning, Saeko took a quick shower, then heard a loud rattling sound outside her room...and saw Itachi's wooden arrows snapped in half on the floor outside his room. She then went into his room and saw him sitting on the rim of his bed burying his face in his hands. Once she opened the door, Itachi looked at her with the most miserable look she's ever seen; his cheeks were flushed, his eyes were watering, and his past pride was gone, like it was never there. Itachi then straightened up and sighed.

"What do you want...? Come to chastise me...?" He asked.

"You know you deserve this." Saeko said seriously, and Itachi glared at her, only to sigh again.

"You're right...I do deserve this, because I was thinking only about myself." He said.

"And everyone knew that except for you. I still don't know how that works." Saeko said.

"You have no idea what I was thinking about this whole time do you? What I was reflecting on? Why I tried and failed to get angry at you just now? Because I thought about how much I deserve this before you even came in here; how much of a...terrible person I've been. I've been selfish...I've been greedy...I've been conceited...I've been careless...everything I condemned others for, and I've lost the very thing that keeps me from feeling any pain, and now...I'm useless." Itachi said.

"So...you've finally woken up." Saeko said softly, and Itachi sighed.

"Yes..." He whispered before trembling and burying his face in his hands again.

"Well, for what it's worth, I talked to the others yesterday, and...long story short, we're not going to kick you out of the group. In fact, we want you back on your feet as soon as possible." Saeko said.

"Are you kidding me? After everything I did to you, what help do I deserve?" Itachi asked.

"None, but nevertheless-" Itachi cuts Saeko off.

"Exactly! None! Which is another thing I considered! You know why those arrows are broken? Because I considered killing myself with them, but I became too pissed at myself for trying to the easy way out when I clearly don't deserve it, then I snapped them in half and threw them out of this room! I didn't even feel insulted because of how I lack a bow; what is there to insult? I've even laid here without sleeping! I tried several times and failed, I tried to push everything I did aside, I thought back to my services, the zombies I got rid of for you, the supplies I nabbed, the people I saved, I even considered the chance of me getting another bow. I tried to break myself out of this funk, and couldn't! Tomorrow, I'll be 17 years old, and in all those years I've been alive, I have never been more torn up than I am now, and I'm not just sad and disgusted...there's a good deal of hatred as well, not just because of what I did, but also because of how many lies I told myself. I can't even think of anything redeeming about me to be found anymore..." Itachi said before laying back down and turning away from Saeko.

His entire speech made Saeko's animosity towards him crumble like it was made of sand. He hurt her deeply by laughing at her...but now it was like the world itself was laughing at him, and even he wasn't even on his own side anymore. This was a punishment that fit no crime, not even someone as vile as Itachi...no, the Itachi she knew was dead; burned alive by the flames of his own personal Hell. The person she saw before her was the pile of ashes leftover.

"Itachi?" Saeko asked.

"What...? Can't you see I'm- Oh what's the point...?" Itachi groaned.

"If you ever want to get on your feet, I have not one, but three guns in the living room for you to try out, as well as the two knives you had on you. They're not much, but if you want to redeem yourself, this is a good start. Think about it..." Saeko said before closing the door, and leaving Itachi to his thoughts.


The rest of the day was spent with the group keeping a low profile. Not even any zombie hunting was done, since two of their teammates were out of commission, with Masato still too hurt to do any major fighting, and Itachi was mentally broken, and his options for fighting were too limited. Takashi was luckily back in action, but no chances were taken. On occasion, the choice of fighting zombies or not was taken from them, as Masato, Shizuka, Kohta, Saya, and even Alice took turns shooting zombies with their M4s. Rei and Takashi also took part in the shoot-outs using Rei's Springfield, which was almost neglected thanks to Rei's affinity for her naginata, which was now her most prized possession. Nevertheless, she silently swore to keep the Springfield in the back of her mind from now on.

Alice's case in particular was impressive; she was almost a master of her M9 by now, and the M4 was suiting her better and better every time she used it, despite how rarely she used it. She and Masato were both probably the most motivated people in the group, only Alice's hate for the zombies held no water compared to Masato's. Be that as it may...Alice more than made up for it in sheer willpower, which was especially impressive considering the age difference, and the difference in their backgrounds...and backstories.

When Masato's backstory leaked to the rest of the group...everything made sense. Everyone lost something, or someone thanks to the apocalypse, but Masato lost everything, and everyone in a situation that could have been avoided. Knowing that the zombies were behind everything that happened to him, and everyone around him made his hatred for them not only understandable, but sensible, necessary even. Be that as t may, the two didn't work together frequently, as one could expect from two people who were complete opposites.

However, it didn't matter; Alice had plenty of other people to work with, and they all worked well with her anyway. Kohta even trained Alice how to handle the SAW. Granted she was understandably intimidated by it's size and heft, but also the ammo count. A hundred bullets compared to 15 or 30 in the M9 and M4 respectively was quite a number to take in, but nevertheless, Alice eventually swallowed her hesitation and proceeded. Kohta then walked her through the steps of loading and reloading the SAW one by one, in detail, and repeated the process until she got it right on her own, granted it took almost an hour to do so, but she still did so. As a predicted bonus, reloading simpler guns became even less daunting than they were before.

They even put Alice's miscellaneous skills to use when a small horde of zombies showed up, and Alice single-handedly tried killing them all with an M4, as Kohta stood behind her at the ready if something went wrong...but it wasn't needed. The wall the zombies tried breaking through was a solid metal fence with the thickest bars they're ever seen, and short enough to expose their head. Alice took full advantage of these features, and put one bullet after another, through the zombies' heads one by one, missing only a few shots. She even reloaded herself without an issue, and mopped up the rest before Kohta led her inside to celebrate with a feast.


At night, Saeko finally went back home with some still-warm food...then saw that the guns were tempered with. The parts were separated, some clips had bullets around them, and one Glock had it's top removed. All of these signs pointed to Itachi working with them, and Saeko smiled at the thought. She then knocked on Itachi's door and waited...but he never came. She then set the food down by the door, and went to bed.

Itachi then opened the door, looked at the meal, and took it into his room before nibbling on pieces of it one at a time. When he was finally done, he set the plate on the cabinet, and tried to go to sleep...and still failed. Eventually, he went outside, and stood on a balcony,over the street to look at the full moon overhead...and the world looked beautiful for a single moment despite how many times he saw the world like this. He then cooled off enough and went back to bed before looking at the electronic clock that showed that it was now midnight.

"Happy birthday to me..." Itachi said with a cracked voice as he tried to smile...and then his false happiness crumbled as tears poured down his face and he sobbed into his pillow like the broken little boy he felt like. Eventually, he looked at the empty plate of food Saeko gave him...then thought back to when Alice did the same thing despite his hostility...and thought back to how often he and the group worked well together, and how often they overlooked how insufferable he was, then look out the window. "No...I can't let this happen...and I won't...! I am Itachi Fujinata, and I promise I will give myself something to be truly proud of, by fixing my screw-ups."


I know Pride goes before the fall, but this is a bit much; it's not usually literal, but in any case...his punishment fits every last one of his crimes if you think about it. He flaunted how superior bows are to guns, then lost his bow to a gun indirectly. He boasted how he likes winning when he killed two Ghosts, one with Saeko's help, and then almost died because of the sniper he ran from. He took advantage of a group of people and made some of them sad, and now he's relying on them, and he's sad. Karma with a capital K... Still, got to give the guy points for sacking up like that eh? Anyway, hell of a way to start this arc isn't it? Well, as usual, I'm just getting started, so please Rate, Review, and Share while I bring the rest your way. Stay tuned.

Fun fact: bath salts really do help muscle aches, and...scientifically speaking, orgasms release endorphins, which can kick major ass when it comes to relieving pain, so...that mini-lemon there had a purpose.