AN: Sorry about the long wait guys. I've been helping out soldado350 with redoing his first story. English is his second language so I've been rewriting them for him upon my own request, to which he agreed. So if you wanna, you can check out his first story in the english version. I've only gotten up to chapter 5 so far, so I'm not sure how much longer it'll take. But don't worry, I'll come back.

Thanks to JDUBZ for helping me out again. Unlike Roger, I'm too young to drink beer so I'll owe J a lot of Capri Suns.

Chapter 10: Zanamivir

May 11, 2015

8:10pm

Quarke removed his backpack and heaved it over the alleyway and onto the roof of the opposite building.

Subaru stood by, watching nervously, "We're really gonna jump that?"

Quarke smiled, "It is our only option, really." He pointed towards the sound of the moaning walkers, "We've got a mob of flesh eating monsters at the base of this building and no way off. The only option we have now is to move away from here while they're still distracted."

Subaru understood from the very beginning what they had to do. But, after seeing the jump they had to make, he would rather save himself from experiencing the sensation of falling 8 stories. Subaru closed his eyes and moaned out, "And we may find another fire escape on another building."

"It's our only way out of the city."

Subaru took a deep, long breath. He held it for a few seconds before giving in, "Fine. You go first."

Quarke's smile was still glued to his face, relieved that Subaru wasn't backing out of something that obviously terrified him. Without another word, he took a few steps back from the edge and stopped. After bouncing on his feet a few times, Quarke sprinted towards the chasm. He planted a foot on the very edge of the building and launched himself across, making it to the other side with a few inches to spare.

Quarke raised his arms up when he landed, "Yeah! This old man's still got it!" He turned to look at Subaru, who was still on the other side.

Subaru wasn't terrified, he was paranoid. Paranoid of falling to his death. This meant that he also wasn't scared but more of worried of what he had to do.

His backpack flew to the other side and he backed up so he could have a running start.

Quarke caught Subaru's backpack and set it gently onto the floor. Hopefully, the contents were still fine. He returned to the edge of the roof and gave Subaru an encouraging nod.

Welp, time to die.

Subaru broke into a sprint and started to have second thoughts the closer he got to the edge of the building. His mind went blank just as he launched himself over the edge. This affected his footing, making him come short of the other side by a few inches.

A short scream echoed throughout the alleyway, cut short by the sensation of being jerked.

The side of Subaru's face hit the alleyways brick wall, silencing his scream and replacing it with a shallow, "Ow."

Dazed and disoriented, he raised a hand and rubbed the side of his head that had met the wall. The sudden feeling of pressure on his other hand's wrist made him look up.

He saw his wrist being gripped by two large hands, and behind them was a face.

Mr. Tenshi….

Quarke had dropped flat on the floor and reached for Subaru's hands as he fell. He managed to grab tightly onto his wrist and keep him from falling. However, Subaru had slammed into the side of the building and went limp. As he pulled him up slowly, Subaru started to realize what was going on and helped himself up too.

Reaching his other hand up, Subaru grabbed onto the edge of the roof and pulled himself up. With his and Quarke's combined efforts, he was able to get back onto the roof safely. Both of the men rolled onto their backs, staring up at the night sky. They breathed heavily until they started to calm down, listening to the unending sound of the walkers groaning.

They were safe for now.

8:14pm

"Come on, we have to move."

Quarke held his hand out for Subaru to grab. He graciously accepted the gesture, as he was standing up he said, "Thanks for saving me." Both of them started to put their backpacks back on.

"Don't worry about it. I couldn't just let you die, now could I? In this world, we'll need as much help as we can get if we want to survive." Quarke put a hand on Subaru's back and smiled, "Besides, you're practically family. Any friend of my daughters is my friend as well."

Making a confused look, Subaru said, "That's an interesting way to put it."

"Well, it's kinda the only way I can put it. If my daughters find you worthy of their presence, then I find you worthy of mine. Hahaha." He started to walk to the other side of the building when he suddenly turned back around, "Unless you hurt my daughters, then you're dead to me."

Subaru didn't like the serious look of Quarke's face and nervously smiled, "Noted."

Quick as lightning, Quarke's smile returned to his face as he turned back to walk to the side.

The men didn't know what they were above, but they hoped it was another apartment building. If it was, then it would have a fire escape on the other side. Sure enough, when Subaru and Quarke peered over the edge of the building, a red ladder and stairs greeted them.

Chuckling, Quarke hopped down without using the ladder and landed on the escape's metal floor. A loud bang sounded, but it didn't attract any of the walkers that were on the other side. He adjusted the backpack straps on his shoulders and proceeded the climb down the stairs, looking towards the other side of the street for the person that wanted them dead. Subaru followed closely behind.

8:43pm

The night's sky was filled with bright stars, shining down onto the two men who were making their way back to the house. It amazed Subaru just how many stars were visible. Usually, the bright city lights would cover up the stars and leave the night sky as an empty space of black. Now, with the city abandoned by people and the electrical plants shut down, the stars had returned to grace survivors with something beautiful to look at.

Their journey back home was uneventful, much to their relief. A lone walker patrolled the deserted backyard of a house that was in their path. This one was dealt with easily by Subaru and his trusty bat.

It wasn't long before Quarke retrieved the radio from the house and made it home with Subaru in tow.

When they entered the house through the back door, Quarke was slamming his palm into the side of the side of the radio. "Damn thing's running out of juice."

A garbled voice was spewing from the device. Quarke ended up opening the back of the radio and removing the batteries. He took a quick look at them before tossing them over his shoulder with a, "Hmph."

Upon entering the kitchen, Subaru went to the basement door and knocked three times with an addition fourth after a brief pause. The code that meant they were safe. It was a code that Subaru himself had made up considering that they couldn't trust everyone. The purpose of the code was to inform Rem, Ram, and Emilia that Subaru and Quarke were okay. If someone or something were to knock on the door incorrectly while the men were out, they were instructed to contact Quarke immediately and prepare themselves for anything.

A faint thumping sound came from the other side of the door along with a scrape. The door opened inwards to reveal Emilia. She instantly jumped at Subaru, hugging him with all her might.

Subaru's face went red as he felt her thin arms wrap around him and stuttered when he felt her press her face into him, "E-Emilia! Just asking, but what are you doing? Not that I don't like it or anything."

When Emilia removed herself from Subaru, he gave her a guilty smile.

Emilia blushed and moved her gaze to look at Subaru's arm, saying quietly, "It was getting really late, so I was worried."

Subaru shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know what to say. It's nice to see you were worried about me anyway." Another smile, this time it was a happy one.

Emilia said nothing and continued to look anywhere but at Subaru's eyes.

Quarke broke the silence, "If you two are done flirting, can I ask how Ram is doing." Before Emilia could answer, he shimmied his way around her and walked towards a makeshift bed made up of thin blankets.

Emilia walked behind him, relaying what she had to tell, "Ram hasn't gotten better, but I also don't think she's gotten worse." She caught up to walk next to Quarke. "I gave her some of the pills you gave me and she seemed better."

Quarke reached Ram and bent down to feel her forehead. His eyes looked sadly at the sleeping angel before him. "She's still burning up, but I think it is lower than when we left." He picked up a bottle of Ibuprofen that stood next to Ram. "Of course, it's only temporary."

Emilia and Subaru looked at Ram in her pink sleeping gown. Around her mouth was a bandana that her father owned. She used it to hopefully reduce the chance of the flu spreading to the others. Emilia tugged to Quarke sleeve, "Did you get the medicine?"

The worry in Emilia's voice was genuine. Even though she didn't really know Ram that much, it still warmed Quarke's heart that she cared. He removed his backpack and tugged it open. "We got 9 inhalers total so that should last us 9 days. With these I think she'll be better within two days, but I got more just in case." He stared for a moment longer at a small hill of blankets rise and fall with Ram's breath. He snapped from his mild trance, "Well, I guess I should wash my hands and look for batteries in the house."

Emilia hopped on her toes, "I wish to come too. I need to use the bathroom."

"Okay, come on. I'll watch over the house so nothing gets in while you go." He looked around the room. "Where's Rem?"

Emilia pointed to a corner of the room where a sleeping rem slept sitting up against the wall with the walkie talkie in her hand. A blanket was laid onto her lap that Emilia had placed earlier when she first fell asleep.

Quarke nodded at the sight and removed one of the Zanamivirs, handing it to Subaru. Subaru looked at the box questionably, "Ummmm…"

"Make sure she takes two breaths of it. She can take the other two tomorrow morning."

"Huh?"

Quarke smiled, "You'll figure it out." He gestured for Emilia to follow him, with the radio in his hand, "Come on, sweetie."

When the two had left, Subaru looked at Ram and then at the box in his hand. Ummmmmm. I guess I should read the instructions?

He tore open the box and pulled out an oval shaped object that was half blue and half white. With it, was a circular, aluminum tray that had four grape sized bumps on it.

After a few minutes of reading the instructions on the box, Subaru pulled out the white tray inside that had a wheel in it that fit the silver tray that apparently was the medicine. He placed the medicine into the tray and put it back into the inhaler, closing it as he did so. Before moving on to the next step, Subaru lightly shook Ram awake.

Ram groaned as she slowly woke up. Rubbing the fogginess out of her eyes, Ram began to slowly focus on Subaru, wondering why he would possibly wake her from her 'beauty sleep'.

Upon seeing Subaru's supposedly stupid grin, Ram rolled her eyes and began to roll onto her side to avoid Subaru and go back to sleep.

Reaching to stop Ram by grabbing onto her arm, Subaru mockingly said with a voice that slightly irritated her, "Woah there. Not so fast, sleeping beauty. Doctor says you a routine check up and need to take ya' vitamins."

Ram turned back to glare at Subaru with her pink eyes before turning her head away again. Her voice was low and raspy, as if her throat was hurting, "Go away, Balse."

Subaru sighed at Ram's stubbornness, "Huhhh, I still don't know why you call me that."

"Hmph, and you never will." Ram lifted the blanket she had wrapped around her closer to her face so she could snuggle deeper into it.

"I don't have time for this, Ram. I need you to put this in your mouth." Subaru held out the Zanamivir's mouth piece towards Ram who wasn't looking at him.

Without even trying to figure out what he meant, Ram said with disgust, "I'm not putting anything in my mouth."

Taking a deep breath, Subaru continued, "OK, what I said sounded a tad bit wrong, but that's just your mind that's in the gutter." He shook the Zanamivir in his hand, causing it to make a light rattling noise. "I'm giving you medicine for christ's sake."

At this, Ram opened an eye and peered over her shoulder, noticing the object Subaru had in his hand. "That doesn't look like medicine, Barusu."

"Well, it is and it apparently helps stop and prevent the flu." Subaru said as he read the tiny label on the box.

Ram turned her body to face Subaru, "What is it called?"

Subaru brought the box closer to his face as if it would help him pronounce it, "Ah geez, let's see. Umm, zonamerver...zana-zanamirror...zanamiver. I don't know, Ram! It'll help so just take it." Subaru realized how stupid he must have looked with the box practically on his face and threw it to the side.

Holding out the mouthpiece of the inhaler towards Ram, Subaru didn't notice the amused smile that had formed on Ram's lips under the bandana as she watched him make a fool of himself.

Subaru stared at Ram as he held out the inhaler, "Now will you take it now that you somewhat know it's name?"

Under the mountain of blankets, Ram nodded.

"OK, good." He lightly shook the inhaler. "Here you go."

Ram only stared at Subaru, her eyes becoming half-lidded as if she were judging him.

Subaru into Ram's eyes, "What?"

The bandana shifted as Ram spoke, "You really expect me to do it myself under these conditions?"

"I expect you to get out of bed and take it yourself so I don't have to touch you and possibly get sick."

Ram sighed, "Fine, I propose an alternative." The mountain of blankets shifted as Ram moved a hand to grab the bottom of the bandana and reveal her mouth. She frowned at Subaru before slightly opening her mouth, pointed towards the ceiling.

Subaru got the idea, but pointed to the leveled inhaler said, "No can do, Ram. This has to stay level or else the medicine will leak out."

"Alright." Ram moved her head so she was now looking at Subaru's feet. She opened her mouth.

Subaru shook his head as he watched as the annoyed Ram turned her head, "Huhhh, stubborn as a demon."

Ram glared at Subaru, "What?!"

The sudden outburst almost made Subaru drop the inhaler, making it bounce from hand to hand before he was able to catch it. He looked back down at Ram's pink eyes that were irritated, "Nothing, nothing, just look away again."

Murmuring something, Ram looked back down at Subaru's feet. Subaru sat on the floor indian style and proceeded with the instructions. Lifting the white tab on the inhaler, Subaru heard a snapping sound and placed the tab back down. He said to Ram softly, "OK, now breathe out all the way."

Ram did as she was told. Next, Subaru kept the inhaler level as he told Ram to put the mouthpiece in her mouth and inhale as much as she could. Her lips wrapped around the white piece as looked at Subaru uncertainly. Ram inhaled a thin mist that surprised her and made her almost cough, but she stopped herself with puffed cheeks.

When she had inhaled as much as she could, Subaru instructed her to hold it for a few seconds. They repeated this process once more before Subaru put the object back into the box and placed the box into Quarke's backpack.

Finally done, Ram lifted the bandana to fit over her mouth again, "I don't like that, Barusu. You gave me a perverted look each time I took the medicine."

This was the norm. Between Subaru and Ram, Ram always made fun of Subaru in ways that made him look stupid or claim he was a pervert. Subaru would usually counter with something, to protect his pride. "Well then obviously you need to work on recognizing my expressions because I didn't look at you like that for even one second."

Subaru stared into Ram's emotionless eyes until she spoke, "You did it again."

"I did not!"

"Well, technically speaking, you always look at my sister with your perverted gaze so what's stopping you from giving her twin sister the same look?"

Subaru blushed and crossed his arms, "Well…...Rem has blue hair."

Ram nestled further into the blankets, "Hmmmm, so just because she has blue hair, you stare at her more often than me?"

Subaru looked smug, "Yes." then he realized what that entailed and stuttered, "W-Wait, that d-doesn't mean I stare at you guys! I-I'm not like that! Rem is just nicer to me is all!"

Ram's eyes never showed any emotion, "Do you wish for me to be nicer to you, Barusu?"

With that idea in his head, Subaru shrugged, "I mean….it would be better if you were."

Ram sighed, "Yeah, good luck with that."

Subaru turned to go wash his hands, "You're impossible."

"I think you mean 'beautiful'."

Smiling, Subaru said mockingly, "Whatever."

When he opened the basement door he heard Ram say quietly behind him, "Thank you, Subaru." but when he turned to look at her all he saw was the back of Ram's head as she fell asleep.

Scoffing, Subaru smiled and walked into the house. Weirdo.

"What is the status of my daughter?"

"She's alive."

"And what of the boy?"

"Also alive. Our scout called in not too long ago claiming he saw them take refuge in a house the day after we released the subjects."

"Hmph, I wonder…."

"What is it?"

"Nothing. Inform me about Betelgeuse."

"Some small advancements have been made in his studies so we can only assume he'll need more time."

"How incredulous. If he doesn't finish soon then we'd have started this for nothing."

"If I may, ma'am, with all due respect, the release wasn't the best option. If we'd have waited longer then I believe we could have made further strides by making allies with the Germans and possibly the Japanese. I'm sure their technological advances would have helped in finishing the product."

"And why are you tell me this?"

"S-Simply to inform of the consequences this error may have in the future. Alone, Dr. Romanee can only do so little at a time. It definitely didn't help with the fact that you sent him out all those years to 'gather data'. The request to send out the subjects was absolutely absur-."

BANG!

Thump.

"I will do what must be done, no matter the cost. Now….let's see if we can get some results."

Beep, kkkkrrrrrrrr.

"Yes?"

"You may advance. I expect some progress."

"Hehe….with pleasure."