A/N: Sorry for not updating last week...have been feeling under the weather for a few days and that really saps the inspiration away.

See you next update!

24 / Zombie See, Human Do

Genji couldn't stop the small smile that was forming on his lips as he watched his older sister performing on stage. He noticed how Sakura looked so happy as she sang that he had almost forgotten that his sister had actually died eleven years ago and had been brought back to life as a zombie to be an idol.

Gently, he let his head fall against the wall behind him and let out a sigh. Just thinking about that little zombie problem was making him itch for a cigarette. Sakura would probably give him a look if she spotted him smoking but he just couldn't help it sometimes.

All this zombie idol business was making his head (and heart) hurt.

Genji figured that Kotaro Tatsumi was a sneaky little bastard. He knew that you just didn't go around reviving the dead without expecting something in return. Sure, the guy went about saying how his idols were going to save Saga and all that crap but the bastard could have done it without disturbing the dead. Everything started and ended with Saga with that crazy guy.

(as if Saga needed help saving)

Why involve the dead? Why involve his sister? What was Tatsumi's angle here? Why did this guy need to save Saga with the literal living dead? What wasー

Genji's headache returned tenfold. He groaned and shook his head.

Genji tried not to get too worried about all this nonsense.

He knew the moment people found out about Franchouchou's little secret, the group will be done for. That was the risk they were taking. If the wrong people found out about them being zombies they could be in grave danger.

(what would happen to the girls? To his sister?)

Up on stage, Franchouchou were getting in place to sing their next song, the crowd cheering and clapping with excitement all around.

Genji's eyes fell on the stage once more.

Sakura's smile was wide, her eyes sparkled with joy as she and her friends took their places and began their song. Another smile forms on his lips before it disappeared as if it never had been there in the first place.

Genji's trying not to think about the past as he sees his older sister smiling and singing. He tries not to think about all the times he had ignored his sister, tries not to think about that invitation to that concert, tries not to think about how both the fan and her idol died just a few months apart all those years back.

His eyes spot Ai, who's so full of energy, dancing and singing side by side with his sister. He lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

It was sad trying to think about.

Even if Sakura had not died that fateful day, nothing could have stopped the lighting strike that killed Ai Mizuno on stage.

(he's almost afraid of the what ifs, almost afraid to know what Sakura would have done had she actually seen Mizuno die on stage…)

Genji quickly puts those thoughts behind him as he notices Kotaro Tatsumi walk up toward him.

The older man has a cheeky grin on his face, sunglasses shining despite there not being much lightning backstage. Kotaro stops and grins Genji's way. "Well, Kurosawey," he says, making a point to mispronounce Genji's last name in a mocking tone. Genji rolls his eyes at the childish display. "What do you think?"

"About?"

"Franchouchou, of course!"

Genji glances at his happy sister before turning to face Kotaro. "They're alright." Kotaro frowns.

"That's it?"

"Pretty much."

"Hmph…" Kotaro's face darkens before he shakes his head and begins muttering to himself, "Pah! Alright, alright, he says...! They are legendary, damn it! Well...minus one but that's not the point...alright, alright…"

Genji raises an eyebrow at Kotaro's mumbling, taking particular notice of his mention of legends.

Sakura had told him very little about her bandmates; they were legendary, according to Kotaro, legendary and dead. A pair of legendary idols, a legendary biker, a legendary courtesan, a legendary child actress, and a legendary woman. Sakura was the only exception among the group but Genji figures that Sakura's old classmates might disagree, except she had only been legendary in the worst possible way.

(her bad luck had almost felt like a curse than a legend, no matter how much her classmates mocked her about it)

"I didn't say they were terrible," Genji said, glancing at the mumbling manager with an unimpressed look. "They're alright...by idol standards, and you know they are. They are practically new, so to speak." Kotaro decided to ignore him by mumbling a little louder. Genji sighs, eyes upward. "You and I both know that's true. Legends or not, they still need to work for that fame to save...Saga."

Kotaro stops his mumbling, glancing at Genji first before turning towards the stage. Sakura and the others are getting ready to sing another song. There's yelling, clapping, cheers, adoration all around. "They will save Saga...I know they will…" Genji says nothing to that.

Sakura stares at the laptop in her hands quizzically before staring at her brother. "Umm…" Genji crosses his arms over his chest and shrugs.

"It is your laptop," Genji says, shaking his head. "Don't know why you wouldn't want it back."

Sunday morning found the members of Franchouchou taking a break. Sakura's younger brother had arrived a few minutes ago, giving his sister the discolored pink laptop and saying that she should keep it.

"But don't you need it?" Genji shakes his head.

"I have two extra laptops at the apartment...it's fine...besides," he eyed Junko's old boombox in the corner, "You might need it."

"That thing is over ten years old, though," Lily points out, staring at the laptop before looking at Genji. "I'm surprised it still works!" Genji just grins.

"It works because I take good care of it," he shrugged again, "Besides, old parts are easy to replace if you know the right people...you'll be surprised how many hobbyists you can find in the States with the technical know-how on how to fix ten year-old laptops…" Sakura frowns.

"If you're sure…"

"Hey, I don't really need it...I have enough money to get me a new one if I feel like it." His sister finally relents with a nod and is quick to offer the laptop to a rather excited Ai, already giving her permission to use it if she wants to. The Heisei idol thanks her before she, Junko, and Lily go to the nearby table to set it up before shaking up a few things on the internet.

Genji stares around the common room, taking notice of Yamada Tae sprawled on the floor, snoring the morning away. Saki Nikaido seemed mildly interested in what Ai, Junko and Lily were doing with Sakura's old laptop while Yugiri offered him a small smile when his eyes fell on her. He acknowledged her with a nod before turning to his sister and asking, "So...what are your plans for today?"

"It's our day off," Saki answered him, sounding bored. "We can do whatever the hell we want." Genji said nothing about Saki's crud tone but he noticed Sakura sighing with mild exasperation. It seemed to him that Saki was still wary about him being around. Understandable.

"Well...we really don't have plans for today," Sakura tells him before her eyes widen slightly. "Oh! I can't believe I forgot!" Everyone turns to stare at the pink haired zombie with some confusion, well, everyone but Tae.

"What did you forget, Egghead?"

"The groceries...with everything that's happened the past few days...I forgot." Genji's a little confused by that.

"Huh? Groceries? I didn't think you'll need to eat...considering…"

"We are dead...doesn't stop us from getting hungry though," Ai said, eyes focused on the laptop in front of her as Junko and Lily looked over her shoulder.

"I see…"

Sakura, meanwhile, is already making a list in her head; cereal, eggs, meat, chicken, dried squid (a lot of dried squid), milk, sugar, more of this, more of that. The pink haired zombie nodded once before turning towards Saki. "Okay...I'm heading out now. Please let me know if you want me to bring you something." The other girls nodded while Genji just raised an eyebrow at that.

"Wait...you're going out shopping right now?"

"Ah, yes..."

Her brother seems to think about something for a bit before nodding to himself and saying, "I'll go with you." Sakura just sends him a grateful smile, nodding back.

Saki, meanwhile, sitting on the floor, legs crossed, frowns at the exchange. She's about to get up before a hand on her shoulder stops her. Looking up, Saki notices Yugiri's stare, her face passive with a small smile. The courtesan shakes her head calmly before turning to stare at Sakura, who's already getting ready to go outside. "Lady Sakura," Yugiri begins, smiling. "Would you like some help with your makeup?" Sakura smiles gratefully at Yugiri.

"Yes, please!"

Genji says nothing as his sister follows the older woman to another room. He notices Saki staring at him and he just shrugs and Saki, despite it all, shrugs back.

/…..

"You know," Sakura said, holding firmly onto the plastic bag full of food. "I'm actually surprised no one recognized me." Genji raised an eyebrow as he walked next to her. He was carrying two bags, full to the brim with food and drinks and snacks.

"You're not that popular yet," Genji pointed out, causing his sister to pout cutely at him. He laughed. "Heh...maybe they just weren't into idols, or maybe it was because you left your ribbon at home." Sakura raised a hand towards her hair, touching the place where her ribbon usually was as if to confirm it wasn't there. "I'm surprised you even took it off…" Sakura shrugged.

"Eh...Yugiri suggested that I leave without it…"

"Uh-huh."

"What?"

"Nothing…"

Sakura frowns at her brother but says nothing as they keep on walking. A few minutes later, they reach a familiar-looking cafe. The pink haired girl immediately perks up upon seeing the cakes on display. "Look, look!" she points animatedly at the cakes, smiling at her brother. "You think the girls would care for some cake?" Genji shrugged.

"I don't see why they wouldn't…sweets aren't going to kill them more than they already are..." But Sakura didn't seem to hear him as she was already walking towards the cafe, Genji following close behind.

"Hmm...still...Saki's not really into sweets, though...oh! I wonder if Yugiri likes sweet things…"

"Why wouldn't she like sweets?" Genji suddenly asks and he's so close to her that he makes his sister jump in surprise. Sakura glares at him a bit before shaking her head.

"Well...Yugiri is from a different...time, so..." Sakura shrugged.

"They had sweets back then, too, you know…" Genji responds, raising an eyebrow.

"Ah...y-yes...but, well…"

"You figured her way of life prevented her from enjoying a few little things like sweets, right?" Sakura said nothing. "Hey, I'm sure she'll let you know if the taste is terrible."

"Genji!"

"What? She's a pretty mature lady, I'm sure she's got you all figured out."

"Huh!?" Sakura's cheeks turned pink like her hair at the strange remark. "Wh-what that's supposed to mean!?" Genji laughed.

"So, I was right in the money!"

"A-about what!?"

"About you lー"

"Hey!"

Both siblings turned towards the newcomer. They both blinked in surprise when they recognized the young man from that day, the one that had headbutted that thug by accident. He was smiling, waving a hand towards them as he ran up to the siblings. "It's good to see you again!" Sakura couldn't help but wave back, a little confused, while her brother just stared at the newcomer with an unimpressed stare, his laughter gone.

"Never thought I'll run into you guys again!" the young man said, as soon as he got closer.

"Never thought we would, to be honest," Genji said honestly, having already forgotten of their fateful meeting and the thugs that chased them because of him. Sakura just smiled at the newcomer.

"Well, it's so good to see you, uh...we never did get your name…"

"It's Ryu, Suzuhara Ryu, but my friends call me Renoir," the young man, Renoir, said. "You know for an idol you're very fast," he complimented, making Sakura blink and then yelp in surprise. Genji frowned at the young man and noticing the stare Renoir raised his hands in apology. "Sorry! Sorry! It's just...I knew I had seen you before," he explained, "after a while, it clicked." Sakura gave him a rather nervous smile.

"O-oh well...it's fine…"

"And here you were complaining that no one could recognize you," Genji remarked, sounding a bit bored.

"Well, it's not everyday you run into an idol," Renoir whispers, trying to avoid the stares of the waitresses and some patrons that have already taken notice of them. "But now that you're here, I can pay you back for what you did, Miss One."

"Umm...you really don't have to…" Sakura begins only for Genji to but in.

"Well, we were going to buy some cake...maybe you can pay for it."

"Genji!"

"What? He's offering."

"That's not…!"

Renoir let out a small laugh. "I can see your brother is giving you a hard time," he didn't notice the look of surprise the siblings sent him as he went on, "I don't mind buying you that cake, I do owe you guys, after all." Renoir quickly turns around but he does it too fast and barely takes note of the guy behind him. Both young men slam their heads against each other, Renoir groaning as he goes to grab his cheek while the mysterious young man holds unto his mouth and nose.

Sakura lets out a gasp upon noticing the rather familiar group of people behind Renoir and Genji just groans in exasperation, "Really, man? Again!?"