Hello people, and welcome back to Highschool of the Dead: Resurrection. I have returned, and I've got a plan for the next few parts, and I don't want them to spoil, so here we go.
Review Response: You...my good poynton90 captured the point of Itachi's character with pinpoint, laser-guided accuracy. Furthermore, I'm pleased to see someone voice their approval of my work, and I hope the rest of the people staying silent also enjoy what they read.
Don't get me wrong, I won't even think of condemning anyone for staying silent, let alone officially do so, but I do appreciate feedback. Maybe I can fix something in the future, or get an idea for something to do in the future, or someone thought of something I haven't thought of, etc. If anyone has an idea, I'll listen to you any day of the week...and long as you're civilized about it, otherwise I won't take you seriously for one moment, because...why would I?
Once the supplies were loaded, Saya herself drove the humvee through the streets they came from with Takashi next to her, and Itachi in the back with Rei and Saeko.
"So Itachi, have you been keeping an eye on these supply drops?" Takashi asked.
"Yep. They happen at least once every week, and the drop-off planes' engines are about as subtle as this humvee's engine. Chances are, they're not going to stop anytime soon. Bottom line: we've got it made, me and all of you." Itachi said.
"You know Itachi, while you were away, we've been talking about you, especially your lifestyle." Rei said.
"Oh have you now?" Itachi asked.
"Yes, we have. At first, I admit we were just labeling you." Rei said.
"Big surprise..." Itachi groaned.
"But...we also came to some conclusions." Rei said.
"Let me guess: I'm just doing this to feel like a hero...?" Itachi asked.
"Uh...no. I was going to say that we were being too hard on you. You're right, we don't know what the deal is between you and your parents, and to be honest, condemning you for something without your side of the story is...pretty hypocritical." Rei said.
"Hypocritical?" Itachi asked, and Rei shared a glance with Takashi, who nodded.
"Me...me and Takashi used to have a similar issue." Rei said.
"Ah...right. One breaks up with the other because of a lack of communication. Heard that a million times." Itachi said and everyone's eyes widened.
"Are you psychic or something?" Rei asked in awe.
"No, I've seen cases like this a million times before. Have you not been paying attention?" Itachi said seriously.
"Anyway...that's not the only conclusion we came to. First off, why exactly do you live by yourself at a time like this, and don't just say it's because you're too skilled or there's no one around." Saya said.
"Simple: I'm free here. I can do whatever I want, however I want, whenever I want." Itachi said.
"But what if it gets too dangerous?" Saya asked.
"Then I'll fucking move." Itachi said.
"To where?" Rei asked.
"Somewhere down the road that's safer. For fuck's sake, what's with the 20 questions? And don't say I brought it up myself!" Itachi snapped.
"She's just concerned for you." Takashi said.
"I didn't ask for anyone's concern, nor do I need it." Itachi said.
"And you have yet to tell me why you let other people's help slip through your fingers." Saeko said.
"I don't need or want anyone's help o.k?!" Itachi snapped.
"I can see that; acquiring weeks worth of food single-handedly is quite impressive, but to what end?" Saeko asked.
"Better me that grabs the goods than the shitheads that infest this city, much to your benefit for the record." Itachi said.
"Yes yes yes, and you let us stay in a house you found yadda yadda." Rei said.
"You bet your thick ass I did." Itachi said.
"And how exactly is running around like some half-crazed, lone wolf bandit better than working with others?" Rei asked.
"If those others are a pack of shitheads that can't tell their assholes from their elbows, like my fake-ass parents, than it's better by a square mile." Itachi said.
"First of all, a square mile is a measurement of space, not distance. Secondly...what makes your parents so awful in the first place?" Saya asked, and Itachi stared at her.
"O.k...I'll tell you. They're the single stupidest people I know; they've consistently and ruthless pointed out why I'm to blame for things that were above my paygrade, even when I was a kid. I barely begin to live, and I have the same childish streak that comes with the territory, and they expect me to know better? And to add insult to injury, they've actually said and done things to and around me that you don't say or do to a kid in the first place. And things did not get better overtime; I once put on a shirt halfway and got back to what I was doing, thinking I had all the time in the world, and my mother took a picture of me and threatened to put it online if I didn't come on a trip with her! My father wasn't any less guilty; my mother often did things, but he did nothing to stop it, when he knew what was happening to me, his own son. He's even ripped on me for things that weren't even my fault, including a series of things falling over when I wasn't there to make them fall in the first place! So it was either I'm their scapegoat, or their punching bag...two things that should never apply to a child, especially by their parents. Now...I can finally be rid of them and live my own life, and they get to stew in their misery, where they belong." He said, and the rest of the trip became dead silent.
It was no wonder Itachi turned out so horribly. Children are supposed to be treated with care and affection, not just because it was a good idea, but because it was needed. Itachi had none of that; he had to get to where he was on his own, and likely stepped on countless people to get to where he is. It wasn't enough to justify how much of a shameless boor he was, but at least it made sense, to a degree.
Next thing they knew...gunshots were heard in the distance, and Saya stopped the humvee.
"Are we under attack?" Rei asked.
"No listen...it's coming from somewhere far away from us." Saeko said.
"A sniper?" Takashi asked.
"No, the shots are too rapid. It must be an assault rifle. Whoever it is must know how to use it; they're not using the full-auto function." Kohta said.
"Smart move. The full-auto function may be good for getting rounds off quickly, but it costs accuracy." Saya said...then Rei sucked in a breath.
"You o.k.?" Takashi asked.
"No...I'm not. I have a bad feeling about that gunfire. Like something bad is coming our way...or should I say, someone..." Rei said seriously.
It turns out the gunfire was coming from none other than Masato as his M4 released one bullet after another into the zombies' heads, without a single shot missed either. He then looked around at the zombies he gunned down with the rage in his eyes practically burning holes through each one. He then continued walking down the street as Shido came out from behind cover and rushed to catch up with his soldier companion.
"I must say sir, you're a shining example of the strength and will that will carry the living to win this fight." Shido said.
"You need not flatter me..." Masato groaned.
"Oh, I do not flatter sir. Your marksmanship and cunning are the envy of us all. You were born to be a zombie killer." Shido said.
"It is my hate for these abominations that drives me to crush me, not destiny or birthrate." Masato said.
"All the same, I have total confidence that this fight is in favor of the living so long as you are among-" Shido stopped talking and recoiled as Masato whipped around and stared at him.
"You are with me to keep an eye out for additional zombies, not to give me inspiration I do not need...!" He snarled.
"I...I can certainly do that sir..." Shido whimpered.
"Good." Masato said as he continued marching down the street.
"But...could you be so kind as to inform me as to what the source of this boiling hatred is?" Shido asked and Masato stopped.
"I became aware of how serious of a blight these things are...in a way no one should have to. That...is all I will say." He said sharply.
"Understood..." Shido said before Masato continued, and Shido stopped to compose himself. Masato was clearly not a man that a lesser person should trifle with. In the last few minutes alone, he killed no less than 51 zombies, and those are just the ones counted. Shido then smirked; with Masato looking out for him, his survival was assured.
Once the group got back from their trip, and Itachi went inside, Zeke started yipping at him.
"Oh pipe down Spike." Itachi said while waving the dog off, and got yipped at a few more times.
"His name is Zeke." Alice said.
"Whatever..." Itachi groaned.
"Why are you so mean?" Alice asked.
"Kid...I'm not in the mood for this. I just told your teammates something that makes my blood boil. So when they get back, pack your things and get out of my house." Itachi said sharply before going to his room and shutting the door behind him. Once the door opened again with the rest of the group coming in, Alice rushed to see them.
"What's wrong with Itachi?" She asked.
"We...kind of crossed a line with him." Takashi said.
"What did you say?" Alice asked.
"Well, now we know why he's not a nice person, and it has to do with his parents." Takashi said.
"You mean why he's not nice to them?" Alice asked.
"According to what he said, they weren't nice to him, not the other way around." Takashi said.
"What?" Alice asked.
"Sit down please, we should talk about this elsewhere." Takashi said.
"O.k." Alice said before going over to the couch and sitting down with Takashi not far behind.
"Do you remember how much your dad cared about you? How much we have cared about you?" He asked.
"Of course I do." Alice said.
"Well...apparently, Itachi didn't have any of that growing up." Takashi said and Alice gasped and put her hands over her mouth.
"He...he didn't?" She asked.
"Apparently not." Takashi said.
"Why?" Alice asked.
"I don't know...but he actually said his parents are the stupidest people he knows, and if he really was telling the truth, it's easy to see why he doesn't want anything to do with them." Takashi said.
"That's not right..." Alice said softly.
"No it's not. Parents are supposed to give their children as much love and care as they can get. Even Saya's parents loved her in their own way, despite how many issues they had. I had issues with my own parents for that matter, hell all of us did." Takashi said.
"So Itachi's not such a bad guy afterall." Alice said.
"No, he's still a bad guy, but...at least we know why now." Takashi said, and the next thing he knew, Alice was snuggling into his side. He then smiled and held her close.
"Miss Shizuka is upstairs keeping a lookout." Alice said and Takashi sucked in a breath.
"O.k..." He whispered, and then Zeke whined and climbed up onto the couch to be petted by both Takashi and Alice.
"Do we still have to leave this house?" Alice asked.
"Unfortunately, yes." Takashi said.
"Where will we go?" Alice asked.
"That's what we're going to find out. Now, let's go get Miss Shizuka and plan our next move o.k.?" Takashi asked.
"O.k." Alice said, and they all went upstairs...and heard more gunfire.
Masato rushed down the street, putting more bullets through the heads of every zombies in sight. He spotted a group to his side, stopped cold before aiming, then shot down all five of them one by one, then spotted another group further down, then shot all nine of them, still without missing any shots. He was even jumped from the side, before wrestling the zombie to the ground to the side, then furiously punched it in the nose repeatedly until it's nose was caved it, and it stopped struggling.
He then took a moment to compose himself, then reloaded his M4, and escorted Shido further down the road...until they saw the group's apartment...
When Takashi and Alice got up the stairs to the top floor, they saw Shizuka looking through binoculars at the edge of the city.
"Seen anything yet?" Saya asked.
"No...not really. Other than a lot of zombies roaming around." Shizuka said seriously.
"We know. Me and Itachi took out a whole swarm of them when we went for those supplies." Saeko said.
"How the hell did he expect to get that huge pile of crates all the way here by himself?" Kohta asked.
"Multiple trips, push it here along the ground, who knows." Saeko said.
"Come on..." Kohta said.
"Itachi is quite possibly the physically strongest person in this building, which isn't surprising considering what he does." Saeko said.
"You mean archery?" Rei asked.
"Yes. The physical strain of using a bow is nothing to make fun of, especially ones of that caliber." Saeko said.
"I found something!" Shizuka exclaimed.
"What?" Takashi asked.
"There's a military base...on the...other side of the horde..." Shizuka said before deflating.
"Well that's just lovely." Saya said.
"Can't we just go around the horde?" Rei asked.
"The only way around is through the rest of the city we came from when we got the supplies." Shizuka said.
"That's outlaw territory, and chances are they don't take prisoners, well...not male prisoners anyway." Saeko said.
"There's no way we're taking a risk like that." Takashi said.
"Wait...it just occurred to me that the shooting stopped for a reason." Kohta said.
"No shit Sherlock." Saya said.
"I meant...what could that reason be?" Kohta asked.
"Maybe the people doing it just ran out of ammo, or zombies to kill." Shizuka said.
"Or they're dead." Saeko said.
"I just hope that if they're alive, they're not hostile." Kohta said.
"Well, anyway you slice it, we have got to leave this house, and Itachi, and when we do...it'll be good rid-" Rei stopped talking and gasped before looking out the door to the downstairs area.
"What?" Kohta asked.
"That bad feeling I got is back, and stronger this time..." Rei said before grabbing her rifle and slowly going downstairs...and her blood boiled.
Masato entered the apartment through the front door, and looked around with Shido behind him.
"Well now, this is quite a pleasant place to reside." He said while looking around.
"Do not get comfortable; we have no idea if there are any zombies here." Masato said.
"I shall await your return my good sir." Shido said with a bow.
"Smart." Masato said before walking away, and checking the rooms. Shido himself simply leaned against the wall and sighed while his armored companion investigated the house room by room. He then heard a door open upstairs...and his eyes widened as Rei's sharpened.
"Shido...!" Rei growled, and Shido stared down the barrel of her rifle...just like he did at Saya's home.
"Miss Miyamoto...come to make another empty threat?" Shido asked.
"A better question is where you got the nerve to come here and face me again?!" Rei snapped while slowly coming down the stairs.
"I had no idea you were here, but even if I did, it wouldn't change anything." Shido said casually...even as Rei's bayonet stopped an inch from his throat.
"That's not how I see it." Rei said then Masato came out of the room he was looking into and pointed his M4 at her.
"Easy down." Masato said, and Rei turned to look at him, and then lowered her rifle.
"You...you're..." She trailed off.
"JSDF, and as long as I serve him, I am under his protection." Shido said.
"Serve? I never thought you would serve anyone, Shido..." Rei said.
"How dare you?! I have provided ample services to this-" Masato cuts Shido off.
"Shido? Your last name...is Shido?!" He asked.
"Why yes it is-" Shido stopped talking the moment Masato approached him slowly but steadily, with his scowl intensifying.
"I know of your family...and you were quite smart to keep your identity hidden...!" He growled as he drew an M1911 pistol.
"No, wait! I can still-" Masato then silenced Shido forever...with a 45. cal bullet through his nose. The entire group, who watched from upstairs saw Shido's lifeless body fall as if in slow-motion. Rei in particular was in awe; Shido was just gunned down by his own bodyguard. The irony was nothing less than palpable...
"You can be of as much as you want, to the devil." Masato said as he put his pistol away, and slung his M4 over his shoulder.
"You...you shot him..." Rei breathed out.
"And my only regret is that I am only able to do so once! Those damned Shidos...the entire city is better off without them. I do not know why you pointed your rifle at him, but you could not have had a wrong reason." Masato said, then Itachi burst out of his room.
"What's going on out-" He stopped talking when he saw Masato's glare and Shido's corpse.
"A member of that cursed Shido family met his doom, because of someone he promised to aid, but only slowed down. Well, now he shall rot along with all the other dead in this city...!" Masato said.
"Well, couldn't you have done it quieter? Who knows how many zombies you just alerted!" Itachi said.
"They will fare no better." Masato said.
"What? Just who the fuck are you?!" Itachi asked.
"Corperal Masato Toriyama, Japanese Self-Defence Force, Assault Division...or at least I used to be." Masato said.
"Let me guess, now you're a rogue, gunslinging badass who plays the action hero killing zombies and saving the day?" Itachi said.
"This is more than a game to play...it's a mission." Masato said seriously.
"I'll bet...now could you please clean the mess you made in my house?" Itachi asked.
"You just love mentioning that this is your place don't you?" Rei asked
"Lady, this house belongs to me; it was practically mine as soon as I saw it." Itachi said seriously.
"Just how old are you?" Rei asked.
"Almost 17 years, what's your point?" Itachi asked.
"Aren't you alittle young to own a house?" Rei asked.
"Lady, in this house, I am the emperor; I'm the messiah; I rule every stick, stone and piece of scrap metal this place is made of. I looked after it, I've cleaned it, I've defended it, I've treated it like it was my own flesh, blood and bone. And with that mental image in mind, I'd very much like all of you to get your sorry asses out of here, and take the rest of your bodies with you." Itachi said seriously before going back into his room.
"Speaking of which...we, actually found a military base in the distance." Kohta said.
"Show me." Masato said, and he followed Rei upstairs, and then took the binoculars from Shizuka...who was taken aback by how cold he was about it, and then he looked at the horizon.
"We also saw a horde between here and there." Takashi said...and then Masato gave the binoculars back to Shizuka and looked back at the others.
"Let me see your weapons." He said.
Didn't see Shido's death coming in that manner did you? Can't say he didn't have it coming either. Now, for those of you who wanted him to suffer...well, first off, the irony of him being killed by his own bodyguard is too damn rich to ignore, and secondly...to paraphrase Morgan Freeman's character from the movie Lean on Me.: "if you want to kill somebody, don't fuck around with it; go on and do it expeditiously." In other words: the shorter Shido lived, the better. Anyway, in the next chapter, you get to see Masato work his magic some more, so be sure to Rate, Review, and Share while I get on that, so stay tuned.