Author's Note: I don't own H.O.T.D. as they are property of Daisuke Sato. Rip. The story basically follows the anime until after the last episode into the manga, which ends on Ch. 30 with them finding Rei's mother. Decided to maintain all the plot from the original like Saeko and Takashi's moment in the shrine along with everything else that happens after the anime.

Here in the next installment we will introduce our characters we all know and love. Dealing with some things that I wish they had dealt with more often in the story.

Chapter 2: Doubt

Takashi leads his group of survivors down the streets of his old neighborhood towards what they hope to be their destination to salvation. Shintoko Third Elementary. It has been a long day after dealing with Khota's breakdown after mercy, killing Asami and failing to save any of the other survivors at the mall. But now they have successfully reunited Rei with her mother, former police officer Kirko Miyamoto, and now make their way to the elementary school in hopes of finding Rei's father along with Takashi's mother, who is a teacher at the school. Fully armed and replenished after looting the remains of East Police Station, Takashi and his gang now runs to the evac point in hope to find an escape from this nightmare.

The weather continues to worsen as the unexpected downpour quickly drenches the high schoolers, even with their acquired rain gear. Weighing them down as the water soaks into their gear, making it heavier as they run from the infected.

"Dammit! There's no end to them," Takashi said, puffing as he continues to lead his team back to the highway, being overwhelmed by a large horde of 'them' blocking their way to school.

"Just keep moving. We can't afford to stop." Saeko said, guarding the rear, taking out any of 'them' who got too close to the group.

As the group continued to make their way down the street they reached a dead end towards the riverbank separating the suburb from the city. As another group of 'them' amassed from around the corner surrounding them from both sides.

"Oh no we're trapped!" Rei cried. Backing up into her mother, who was right behind her with her spear ready.

"Shit, everyone hold them off!" As Takashi ordered, he, Saya, and Khota started to open fire. While Saeko, Rei and Kiriko engage in close quarters in the rear of the group. "Shizuka-sensei take Alice and get over that fence to safety!

Shizuka did so without hesitation as she and Alice tried to climb over the fence.

"AH!" A loud shriek came from Shizuka and Alice. The dead were climbing over the fence as one had grabbed on to Shizuka's coat, trying to pull her into the other side with them.

'Shit!' Takashi thought as he clenches his teeth as he figured that this was the end. He had run out of ideas to make their escape as they were being overwhelmed from both sides. But just as he grew into doubt, a round snapped past Shizuka's head ripping off the zombie's arm that had its grasp on her. Then another barrage of muffled cracks echoed through the heavy rain, as well as multiple sounds of thuds splashing into the wet ground. Now the horde blocking the riverbed was cut down nearly in half.

Takashi, unsure of what had happened, saw his chance and charged towards the riverbank, "Everyone push to the riverbank!" As he fires his Benelli into the zombies, dropping them instantly.

The group followed Takashi as the horde drew closer to the rear. With them easily overwhelming the thinned out horde of zombies with the unknown assistance of suppressed gunfire. They broke through the other side, clearing them from the impending dangers they were in.

As they continued to run along the riverbank, Saeko noticed two silhouettes across the river on top of a roof. It was hard to make out what or who it was due to the rain. With only one thing she could make out was that they had dimmed glowing white eyes and a blurry gesture of one of them waving at her.

The group found shelter at a nearby bookstore as they tried to catch their breath and rest up before continuing on their way to Shintoko.

"That was close", Shizuka said, panting hard as she tries to catch her breath. Collapsing onto the ground from exhaustion.

"Did anyone else notice or HEAR those gunshots zipping past us as we were fighting?" Saya said, questioning everyone as they rested.

"I did. I've never been shot at before but those cracks that flew over my head were definitely bullets. But aren't they usually a lot louder?" Kiriko announced as she remembered a round or two flying past her head into a zombie next to her.

"I just assumed that it was Hirano-kun shooting past us again. But now that you mentioned it I didn't hear that loud BANG like the other times." Rei thought back of the few zips she heard passing past her head into multiple zombies, but wasn't fully paying attention due to the adrenaline of fighting.

"If they had a suppressor and the right ammo then that would make sense. With that distance in this heavy rain it would deafen a gunshot immensely. On top of that being able to take out that many from that far must mean they are extremely skilled." Khota said sadly. Once again feeling useless even after arming up at the police station. "I don't think I would have been able to pull that off even without the rain."

Alice noticed Khota's mood and tried to comfort him with Zeke.

As the group ponders on who exactly fired those shots to save them. Saeko walked up and explained to the group what she saw. "I'm not sure if it was them but I did notice two men watching us across the riverbed." Remembering those ominous white eyes staring at her from the distance before one of them waved at her.

"Do you think they are friendly?" Takashi joining in the conversation.

"Well if they wanted us dead they could have just left us or shot us instead." Saeko explained.

As the group started to theorize who they were, Takashi quickly went into thought on what their next move should be after absorbing everything in. As nightfall soon falls before them, it'll be dangerous for them to move around in the pitch darkness of this monsoon without finding proper shelter on top of them still being nearby the horde they just out-ran. "I think we should go look for those guys who saved us".

This surprised everyone as they didn't expect Takashi to make such a call. Especially since they have no idea who these men are besides that they are armed and possibly even better than their best shooter. Especially with the untasteful group that they experienced earlier at the mall. Particularly the rapists who were still fresh in Rei's and Shizuka's minds who tried to have his way with one of them using a knife.

"I don't think that's a good idea LEADER", Saya said with an attitude. "We have no idea who these guys are and how dangerous they can be. What if they attack us when we are asleep?"

"But if they were that dangerous, why would they help us? Maybe we can talk them into going with us to the elementary school" Rei protested as she feels it'll be safer being with more people. Especially if they are as skilled as Hirato said they are.

"I think it's a good idea if we got more shooters in our group. Besides, we have to follow what the leader thinks is best for the group," Khota said, getting out of his slump.

This angered Saya and caused her to turn her back to the group pouting. 'Why won't any of these idiots think about the possible consequences?' She thought as she started to get that feeling of being useless again. Not being able to fight on par with the other girls or being as proficient in firearms as the guys after receiving her MP5SK from the Khota at the police station and now feeling her 'genius' level intellect is useless among the group now.

"Then it's decided. We'll make our way across the riverbed after we rest up for a bit", Takashi said before walking back to the rear of the bookstore to take a seat alone on a couch. He leaned the muzzle of his shotgun onto the ground and rested his head on the buttstock, letting out a huge sigh. Thinking back to what transpired on the day alone. The mall, Asami, Shintoko, and now nearly being killed again after being so close to see his mom again.

"Didn't I tell you a man shouldn't sigh." Saeko appearing in front of Takashi.

"Oh it's you." Takashi putting his head back on the buttstock.

"Are you ok?" Saeko asked, taking a seat next to Takashi on the couch..

"No...we nearly got killed and now I wonder if it's a good idea to look for those guys who helped us."

"A man shouldn't trust his instinct and not second guess themselves. If you hesitate now there's a chance you will hesitate when we are fighting", Saeko said, comforting Takashi by putting her hand on his leg.

The words echoed in his head, knowing that he couldn't hesitate. If he had hesitated any time before, Rei, Alice, and possibly the others in his group would have been lost already to 'them'. But he wonders if he is doing everything he can as a leader and thinks about what Saya's father, Souichiro, would say or do.

"Thanks Saeko," Takashi said, lifting his head to find his face right in front of Saeko's, staring at her clear blue eyes. The two stayed still in silence, staring at each other as if time had slowed with their faces getting closer to each other, feeling each other's warmth. Takashi with his face quickly getting flushed, recalled his time with Saeko at the shrine as he comforted her with a kiss in the spur of the moment. And as soon as he was about to go in for another, he heard a little giggle from around the corner, seeing Alice and Zeke hiding.

"Oh I'm sorry", backing away quickly from Saeko's face, now embarrassed, getting caught in the moment.

Saeko realizing what she was doing quickly pulls her hand away and becomes red in the face. "Oh no, that was my mistake. I shouldn't have been so close."

"It's alright. It was my fault making it awkward,"Takashi said flustered, trying to avoid eye contact with Saeko trying to break this awkward tension that is between them. "Um Alice-chan. Is there anything you need?"

"Oni-chan, Onee-chan said they are ready to go." Alice said, running out of her hiding spot.

"Thanks Alice." Takashi said, patting Alice on the head. "Also please don't tell anyone what you saw."

As Takashi followed Alice back into the group, Saeko slowly followed behind. Depressed that Takashi asked Alice to keep it a secret, but she also understands as well. Part of his heart is still with Rei and more or less any more progress of their relationship could put a strain within the group causing unnecessary loss and bloodshed. So for now she will control herself and deal with the loneliness in her heart and hope Takashi will have room for her after they make it out of this.

Rei, Takashi and Kiriko lead the group down the riverbed as they talk to each other in a low tone, reminiscing of their time in the neighborhood. As the others kept their eyes peeled for the man across the river. The group couldn't help but feel anxious as they felt someone was watching them after being aware of the unknown sniper aiding them.

Alice, now riding her bike, cycled up all the way to the front."Oni-chan, Onee-chan! I'm going to go on ahead!" As she and Zeke raced ahead, speeding through the wet street, quickly, nearly out of sight from the gang.

"Alice! Don't go too far!" Kirko yelled as Alice got further and further out of sight as a fog started to set in on them.

"Alice?" Rei said in a low tone.

…

"Munchkin?" Saya is now worried about the whereabouts of the child.

With nothing but the sounds of rain, the group quickly starts to panic on the safety of after a few moments passing, the worst they could imagine was heard a loud shriek coming from the mist.

"Let's go!" Takashi commanded as the group now started running towards the shriek. The group followed the riverbed till they found Alice's bike on its side, along with the fireworks given to her by Asami on the ground.

Saya started hyperventilating, not knowing what had become of the little girl, only to be saved by Zeke's barking, the little white dog, always with Alice.

With no hesitation the gang followed the echoes of the yapping to a narrow alleyway until they heard a large slam of a metal object hitting the ground causing the dogs howling to disappear.

The group all had a grim look on their faces after hearing what transpired. Assuming the worst has happened to the little dog.

"No!" Khota yelled in anger, running head-first into the alley, finding two men at the other end of the alley. One with a large metal pipe in hand with a large tattoo on the side of his face, while the other man with blonde hair held a 1911 in one hand and the other covering Alice's mouth as she cries, preventing her from making any noise.

"Put her down!" Takashi commanded at the two thugs, pointing his shotgun towards the two along with Khota.

The blonde thug turned and pointed his pistol at the two high schoolers, while the other one pulled out a Police-issued Smith and Wesson M37 revolver from his waistband, creating a standoff.

"You're outnumbered! Put her down and leave you damn THUGS!" Saya letting her rage get the better of her aiming her MP5SK at the thugs. Her hands were shaking with the thought that she may have to kill a man. But tries to maintain her bearing, as she didn't want anything to happen to the innocent child she had become so close to.

"I think you need to check your math 4-eyes…Cause you're the one outnumbered!" The blonde thug grossly proclaimed sticking his pierced tongue out. As several more thugs appeared right behind the two from the edges of the alley, all armed with various weapons. Hiding around the corner to launch their trap against any poor survivors foolish enough to get caught in it.

The noise of a broken bottle followed up right behind the group engulfing the entrance they came in through with fire. A thug on the roof used a molotov cocktail to trap them in the alley. The alcoholic flames stayed strong and lit despite the rain spreading the fire more, making that path unusable completely.

"Now drop your weapons unless you want the kid to get hurt!" Blonde thug now aiming his pistol on Alice's temple.

Takashi quickly tried to find a solution to their situation but everything he thought of resulted in either Alice getting hurt or someone in his group getting killed. "Everyone drop them", Takashi said in a low tone.

"Takashi!"

"Komura-kun!"

The group all called out surprised. But they knew that he didn't have any options in their current situation. None of them did; whatever they do will result in most, if not all of them killed.

"I would listen to him", as the blonde thug cocks the hammer of his 1911. Even with Alice's mouth covered, you can still make out her muffled cries, "Don't do it!" With her eyes tearing up a river as she knew this was all her fault for getting too far from the group, she did not want to jeopardize all who she cares about.

The group being able to make out her words all started to drop their gear as they didn't want anything to happen to her. As she is one of the main reasons for the group being able to keep their sanity and humanity after all this time. Not being able to let a little girl die on them even though the world was going to hell, they wanted to believe through her that there was still good in the world.

The group of thugs couldn't help but laugh at the compliance of the helpless teenagers. As the blonde thug passes off Alice to one of his goons. He went up in front of Takashi and asked, "So are you the boss of this little gang? Kid?"

Takashi just stared at the blonde thug intensely with anger refusing to speak to the scum in front of him.

"What's wrong kid? Scared SHITLESS?" Thug yelled, kneeing Takashi in the stomach, causing him to collapse onto his knee.

The gang clenched their teeth watching the man hit Takashi while Rei cried, "Takashi!" Running towards him and the thug, only to be stopped dead when the man pulled his pistol into Rei's face. The sight of the barrel caused her to freeze, unable to move as she feared that the thug was going to pull the trigger any second.

The thug smiles and mocks Rei for her efforts as he twirls his pistols around her face and then 'Click'. He pressed the trigger with the gun not going off causing Rei to flinch in fear. The thug and his gang just erupted in laughter. As he racks his pistol, chambering a round in the gun.

But right as he was doing that his complacency gave Saeko an opening. She exploded toward the blonde thug from the ground while simultaneously drawing her sword from her sheath, hoping to catch him and use him as leverage over the others.

As she was about to thrust her sword into the man's shoulder at the very last second, she was shocked to find her blade being intercepted by the man with the metal pipe.

The man quickly striked the blade away from his companion and pulled his revolver and fired a round right next to her face. The loud 'bang' from the round along with the man's parry of her sword was performed so fast it caused the sword woman to drop her sword, being overwhelmed for the first time in years.

"A fellow practitioner I see", the man said. As he slowly picks up Saeko's sword, not taking his eye off her for a second.

Saeko stared back at the man's face, reading the tattoo ingrained into his face saying 'Tokugawa' and then moved to his eyes. His eyes were cold and sharp, despite his appearance, he was a very competent fighter being able to react to stop her. Saeko has underestimated them being simple thugs and realize who they really are, Yakuza.

"Thanks for the save, Tojo!" The blonde thug said.

"Let's hurry up and get out of this rain. I want to report back to the Patriarch" Tojo said in a stoic tone, giving a cold stare at him and his man.

"Uh…Yessir", the blonde man said with his voice shaking. "Sorry kid. Time to go to sleep" the man took his 1911, and bashed the frame in Takashi's head, knocking him out.

Fun Facts:

-Molotovs create a class b fire or liquid fire that can be put out by smothering it. Pouring water can actually make it worse.

-Suppressors despite what people think would only reduce the sound of weapons by 50-60db. Specialized bullets are used to make weapons quieter known as 'subsonic' rounds which are rounds going slower than the speed of sound(1100 fps) so it doesn't break the sound barrier.