A Song of Ice, Fire & the Dead
…
Chapter 3: Knee deep in the Dead
Aegon had slowly drifted off to sleep and he awoke later when a gentle hand nudged him awake.
"Hmm?" Aegon looked to see Saeko looking at him fondly. "Did I fall asleep?" he asked feeling a little foolish for lowering his guard like that.
"You did, but I kept watch over you and the others," Saeko said.
"I was going to keep watch," Aegon complained.
"You need rest too, you know?" Saeko reminded him. Aegon grunted and he looked behind them and saw Shido still ranting and preaching to his group.
"He's still going at it?" Aegon asked in an irritated voice. "Why doesn't he shut up?" he muttered.
"You and me both," Saeko agreed.
"What happened since I fell asleep?" Aegon then asked changing the topic.
"We're stuck in heavy traffic," Saeko replied indicating the windows with a jerk of her head. Aegon looked out the window and he was stunned to see the miles and miles of cars, trucks and people all moving at a snail's pace.
"Seven hells… how are we going to cross the bridge at meet up with Takashi and Rei at this point?" Aegon wondered.
"I agree. We may have to ditch the bus to reach the East Police Station and meet with Takashi and Rei," Saeko said quietly. "I wonder how they're doing right now?" she murmured.
"Worried for them?" Aegon asked her. Saeko looked at him and smiled. "Of course I am. It's only been a shirt while, but I feel like we all made a bond with each other," she said with an easy smile.
"Well, a man once said we find our true friends on the battlefield," Aegon said sagely. "And… I like to think I've found my friends during this crisis," he added.
Saeko placed a gentle hand on top of Aegon's own and looked at him. "I think so as well," she said softly. Aegon blinked as he realised just how close their faces were to each other. Saeko seemed to realise this as well as her cheeks were tinged pink. Aegon made to say something when Shido started on one his rants to his followers. Aegon glanced at the man with an irritated noise.
"Gods be good! Can't the man shut his trap for once?" the Valyrian muttered, his purple-blue eyes narrowed in anger.
Then another voice spoke ahead of Aegon and Saeko. It was Saya. "Hirano!" the pinkette bit out pinching Kohta's cheek, waking the boy up.
"Hmm? G'morning, Takagi," Kohta mumbled blearily as he woke.
"Are you drooling?" Saya asked him in disgust. "How can you fall asleep at a time like this?" she also asked.
"We need to get what rest we can, Lady Saya," Aegon informed her and she looked at him. "We can't survive without taking time to rest and recover our strength," he then said. "Besides, we need to figure out how to get to the East Police Station by 7," he added.
"And if anything, we need to work fast before that whoreson Shido tries to drag us in with him," Aegon then said jerking a thumb at the man.
"He sounds like a recruiter for some religious order," Saeko commented.
"It doesn't sound like it, it downright is!" Saya said. "We also have to figure out where to go from here," she added.
"I think we should stick to the suburbs," Kohta said.
"Suburbs will be crawling with those undead freaks," Aegon reminded him causing the chubby boy to deflate a little.
"What about the airport on the ocean?" Kohta asked. "If we can get there, maybe we can hitch a ride to somewhere safe?" he said.
"It's too late!" Saya said. "Think about it! This thing will have made most safe havens with strong military presences focus on keeping their communities as small as possible and restricting entry to outsiders," she explained.
"You seem pretty aware of the situation, Lady Saya," Aegon said to her with a nod of approval which made Saya blush a little at the compliment but she then said.
"Take a look at Shido. He's already drawing people and forming a community of his own."
Kohta raised his nailgun a dark look in his eyes. "Should I interrupt him?" he asked darkly.
"Get in line, Kohta. I have first dibs!" Aegon said touching the hilt of Blackfyre with his swordhand.
"Forget about that guy!" Saya rebuked them. "We need to think about what we should do in order to survive." She then sighed in annoyance. "I wish Komuro were here. I could talk with him about this," she complained.
"Yeah, you like Komuro. I know," Kohta muttered in a depressed voice. Aegon gave a chuckle and said to him, "Don't worry, Kohta. I'm sure there's a girl out there for you somewhere."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Saya spluttered and she looked to see Saeko and Shizuka staring at her. "W-What?" she asked them looking embarrassed.
"We need to get off the bus and meet up with Rei and Takashi," Aegon then said before Saya could put her foot in it any further.
The Shido's voice made itself heard. "As members of Fujimi Academy, it is during these trying times we must keep our pride!" Shido declared waving his hands about like he an orchestra conductor. "We must keep our pride! Meaning those two who left the bus, Komuro and Miyamoto, they don't belong with us anyway! Let us unite together in order to survive!" he almost yelled.
"Gods damn it. Doesn't he ever shut up!" Aegon growled as he made to walk towards the man to shut him up. Saeko grabbed his wrist stopping him.
"There's no reason to pick a fight with Shido," Saeko said to him. Aegon sighed in annoyance as he sat back down.
"He's seriously insane," Saya muttered looking at Shido. "And look at those imbeciles hanging on his every word!" She was right, the survivors looked at Shido like he was their messiah and god. "We're looking at the birth of Shidotology," Saya then said with dark humour.
"Soon they'll be wearing robes and carrying a holy symbol with them everywhere," Aegon japed dryly.
"That aside, we need to get off the bus. We need to get across Onbetsu Bridge and meet up with Rei and Takashi," Saeko said.
"So, where is everyone's house?" Shizuka asked them.
"The other side of the bridge same as Komuro's," Saya replied.
"I was living in a hostel until I could find something more permanent," Aegon said looking a little embarrassed.
"My parents aren't in the neighbourhood, but I'll go wherever Takagi goes," Kohta said.
"Where are your parents?" Saeko asked him.
"My dad's a jeweller so he's in Holland buying supplies, and my mother is a fashion designer so she's always in Paris," Kohta said with a smile.
"Huh? What time period did you pull that from?" Saya said in disbelief.
Shizuka giggled and said, "If this were a manga then your father would be captain of a foreign cruise ship."
"That was my grandpa actually," Kohta replied rubbing the back of his head. "And my grandmother was a concert violinist," he began laughing. Saya was holding her head in her hands muttering something. Aegon chuckled and said, "Seems you have quite an interesting family, Kohta."
Shizuka pulled the brake and stood up from the driver's seat. "So, what are you guys going to do? I wanna come along with all of you," she said.
"Are you certain, Miss Shizuka? What about your family and that? Aren't you worried for them?" Aegon asked her.
"Both my parents died years ago, and my relatives lives far away," Shizuka replied. "And I know this isn't nice to say, but I really don't like Mr Shido," she said in her usual ditzy manner.
"I think that's a sentiment we all share," Aegon said for everyone.
"So what should we do?" Saeko asked Aegon.
"We get off the bus and try to cross the bridge, meet up with Rei and Takashi then find somewhere to rest for the night," Aegon said. "We'll work out the rest later," he added.
Shido suddenly looked over to them. "What's the matter everyone? We need to work together," he said turning his attention to them.
"Thanks for the offer, Mr Shido, but we'll pass," Saya said quickly. "We've got our own agenda. And FYI, this isn't a field trip, I have no obligation to be with you. I never had any classes with you anyway!" she stated.
Shido smiled thinly and said, "I see." Steepling his fingers in front of him, he continued with, "If that's what you want to do, then by all means. I can't stop you, Takagi. Japan is the land of the free after all, not some iron-fisted dictatorship. However…" Shido licked his lips as if about to savour a meal. "I'm afraid you must remain here, Miss Marikawa!" he declared. Shizuka gave a shudder at the implication what that meant.
Shido then began walking towards them. Aegon stood in front of Shizuka protectively. "Losing the doctor is a major blow to our current situation," Shido said as he neared them. "How about it? Won't you stay?" he asked with a sadistic looking smile on his face. "There are students relying on you…" he said sibilantly.
Aegon put a hand to his sword which had Shido pause for a moment, but then the sharp whistle of Kohta's nailgun was heard something skimmed past Shido's cheek grazing it and a nail stuck itself in a seat. Shido blanched and clutched his now bleeding cheek. Aegon looked to see Kohta aiming his nailgun at Shido.
"You… you shot at me?" Shido said as if unable to comprehend what just happened.
"I missed you on purpose, you douchebag," Kohta replied coldly.
"But you're not a violet student!" Shido tried to say when Kohta cut him off. "How many of my fellow students do you think I killed in school yesterday?" he asked. "I could kill you too, for all the ways you made fun of me!" he yelled.
Aegon looked between Kohta and Shido. Suddenly it all made sense. Why the bullies continually harassed Kohta and beat him, even to the point where he bled. Looking at Shido, Aegon felt fire surge in his belly; a righteous anger coursed in his veins as he looked at the piece of filth that was responsible for all of Kohta's suffering and now that man was trying to form a cult of his own. This… this would not do.
"Miss Busujima! Get off first please! We'll cover you and make sure he doesn't try to stop you!" Kohta said to Saeko who smiled as she prepared to exit the bus and said, "You're both such fine men. I'm impressed!" Saeko then got off the bus followed by Saya and Shizuka.
Kohta then looked at Aegon who was staring flatly at Shido. "Aegon, you get off too!" Kohta ordered him.
"In a moment, Kohta. I'd like a word with you Shido first," Aegon said in a cold calm voice.
"Ae-Aegon?" Kohta said nervously. Aegon shot him a reassuring smile and said to him, "Go on ahead, Kohta. I won't be long."
Kohta got off the bus but he spared a glance back at Aegon before going on ahead.
"So." Shido looked at Aegon who now drew Blackfyre, the Valyrian steel blade dark and smoky. "You're the one who made Kohta suffer so much?" Aegon asked him.
"You… you misunderstand!" Shido yelped out. "I always held Hirano in such high esteem! We were just having a little fun!" he said pleadingly.
"Fun, huh?" Aegon asked he walked towards Shido. "Shall I show you how I have fun?" he offered.
Before Shido could say anything in response, Blackfyre lashed upwards and created a deep gouge in Shido's face. Blood spilled to the ground and Shido clutched his face, howling in agony, blood staining his hands and fingers. Blackfyre swung again and the Valyrian forged blade sliced off Shido's right ear. The scrap of flesh hit the ground and Shido clutched the wound screaming in agony. Aegon then swung his fist into the part where Shido's ear was and was rewarded with another scream of agony. Aegon then threw a direct punch into Shido's face. A crunch was heard as Aegon's gloved fist broke Shido's nose. Grabbing Shido by the shirt, Aegon punched the man over and over before dropping him to the floor. Standing up, Aegon levelled the tip of his sword towards Shido's throat and said, "I should just kill you right now. But with those wounds? You won't last very long. But if by chance you somehow live and I see you again, I will kill you."
Looking at Shido's followers who were all too frightened to move, Aegon told them, "And that goes for all of you, as well. I see any of you, I don't care if you split from Shido, I will kill you all!"
Aegon then left the bus and caught up with the others.
…
The sun was just about to set in the distance, bathing the bridge the group were on in rays of gold, orange and red. But as beautiful as that was, it was marred by the fact the group was fighting Them.
"Gods! There's no end to these vermin!" Aegon shouted as he hacked apart one of the undead with Blackfyre. They had been going at this for a while now and Aegon was starting to lose steam. He hadn't had anything to eat and while he knew he could push himself a little further, he would soon run out of energy to fight.
"Just to let you know, I'm running out of nails!" Kohta shouted as he slowly back away from Them, trying to conserve his meagre ammunition.
Saeko spun around flawlessly, dispatching three undead with powerful swings before she looked at Kohta. "Do you want to borrow this?" she asked holding out her bokken.
"I don't do melee combat!" Kohta whined.
"Well, you're missing out, Kohta!" Aegon called out in a joke as stabbed his sword into a zombie's head, killing it before wrenching his weapon free.
"Indeed. I must say I'm actually quite fond of it!" Saeko added as a smile graced her lips before moving towards some undead, her bokken to spill blood.
Then Shizuka screamed, "Noooo!" Aegon looked to see Shizuka and Saya cornered by Them.
"Damn it all!" Aegon cursed.
"Takagi!" Kohta yelled in desperation. Saeko looked over and cursed as well. Then a loud roaring hum which got louder and louder caught Aegon's attention and suddenly flying into the air and onto the bridge was Takashi and Rei mounted on a motorcycle.
"Well, that's one way to make an entrance," Aegon muttered himself as the motorcycle landed and skidded, knocking over Them and off the bridge. Rei leapt off with a yell, stabbing her makeshift spear into one of Them before pulling it free and spinning in a circle, she knocked over three undead.
Takashi drifted around on the motorbike and tossed what Aegon recognised as a gun to Kohta. A maniacal smile graced Kohta's face as he caught the pistol and put it to use immediately, dispatching two undead wretches in quick succession.
Soon all of the undead were cleared off the bridge. Aegon greeted Takashi. "Still in one piece, I see," he said to the younger man who nodded.
"Yeah, all the other bridges were out, so we came to this one," he said.
"It was good fortune you came here," Aegon replied. "I don't know how long we were able to hold out," he said modestly.
"You seemed to handle yourselves pretty," Takashi pointed out. Aegon gave a brief chuckle and shrugged his shoulders.
"It's getting late," Saeko said looking at the setting sun. "And from the looks of things, we won't be able to cross the bridge until morning," she noted.
"Lady Saeko's correct. We need somewhere to rest for the night," Aegon said quickly.
"I know a place we can stay," Shizuka offered. "My friend's place is just a short walk from here," she explained.
"Your boyfriend's place?" Saya asked her. Shizuka waved her hands, shaking her head saying, "Oh, no, no, no! It's my girlfriend's apartment! She's always busy with work and travelling, so she gave the key to her place so I could clean it and air it out every once in a while!"
Suddenly the image of Shizuka wearing a frilly and skimpy French Maid's outfit danced around in Aegon's mind. Shaking his head to dispel the thought, Aegon then heard Takashi say that he would go with Shizuka on the bike to check the place out. "Aegon? Could you and Saeko stay with the others and make sure they're okay?" Takashi asked him.
"Leave it to us, Takashi," Aegon replied. Takashi nodded his thanks and hopped on the bike with Shizuka and drove off.
With Saeko leading the rest of the group, Aegon then chose this moment to speak to Rei. "Are you alright, Rei?" he asked.
"Hmm? Oh! Yeah, fine. I'm fine," Rei said airily although the smile she had on her face looked strained.
"No, you're not," Aegon said to her. "What happened when you and Takashi were separated from us?" he asked her gently.
Rei sighed softly before saying, "We had a few close calls," she said.
"With Them?" Aegon asked and Rei shook her head and said, "No. Of the more human variety."
"I see," Aegon said grimly. He should've realised that this crisis would awaken more base desires in people and a kill-or-be-killed mentality would be adopted by many survivors in the world. He wondered how long it would be before he and the rest of the group encountered such people. The thought of such people having their way with Saeko, Rei, Shizuka or Saya was enough to make Aegon's stomach curl in revulsion and he was reminded on the Mountain That Rides, a monster wrapped in human skin that lived only to kill and hurt others.
"Aegon?" Aegon blinked and saw Rei looking at him in concern. "You okay?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm fine, Lady Rei," Aegon replied with a reassuring smile.
"So I never got the chance to ask, but where did you get that sword? Is it something you had made?" Rei asked looking at Blackfyre in interest.
"It's a family heirloom," Aegon said in a white lie. He wasn't sure if Rei would believe him if he told her he was from another world. Saeko had been amenable to the concept, but Rei was largely a stranger to him. He had no idea if she would believe or think it falsehood.
"Huh, reminds of me my family's spear," Rei then said with a slightly nostalgic smile.
"Your family owns a spear?" Aegon asked her. Rei nodded and replied, "Yeah, it belonged to my dad's family and it was passed down from generation to generation," she said. "My dad was trained in the bayonet fighting style and he taught me as well," she added.
"Well, if your ever up for a sparring lesson, I'd be happy to oblige you," Aegon said to her. Rei nodded in acceptance.
Soon the group reached Takashi and Shizuka who were standing in front of a large vehicle. Aegon wasn't versed in cars, but his first thought was that it was a truck of some kind. Kohta seemed to recognise it as he yelled, "Humvee! It's the military model too!"
"Exactly what kind of friend is she?" Saya asked Shizuka who shrugged in response.
Rei looked at the high walls in approval. "The walls are nice and high, so we should be able to get a good night's sleep," she said.
"You're right, and there's a convenience store nearby if we need supplies," Takashi said when the suddenly low groaning alerted him.
Shuffling into view from the house was Them.
"Gods damn it! Here as well?" Aegon groaned.
"There's only a few of them. We can handle them," Saeko said confidently.
Aegon nodded before pulling out the claw hammer from his belt and handed it to Takashi. "I saw you didn't have your usual weapon. Will this work?" he asked the dark haired boy who nodded and replied, "It'll do." Takashi held the tool in his hand getting a feel for it.
"Remember to watch each other's backs and don't take any chances!" Saeko said to the fighters among them as Takashi prepared to open the front gate.
"Let's go!"
The five fighters made quick work of Them and cleared out the mansion and the area around. As they finished off the last of Them, Aegon suddenly realised that it hadn't been that long since the outbreak and how quickly they had adapted to their situation. It hadn't been that long.
As Shizuka unlocked the door to the mansion and everyone filed inside and the lights were turned on, Aegon spared one last look outside. All they could do now was rest and recover and welcome the night.
…
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: There, the third chapter of this done and dusted. If this chapter seems a little lacklustre, I apologise for it but I'm surprised at how quickly I pumped out this chapter. It hasn't been that long since I published the second chapter and I sat down and wrote this chapter out and published. Strange huh? I suppose the biggest reason is because I received two wonderful guest/anonymous reviews saying how much they liked the story and I was reminded that there are people who want to see my work and that was a big motivator for me, so to that anonymous reviewer? Thank you so much! You just reminded me why I do this. And to everyone else who support this story and my other works, a big thank you to you all as well. We all need to support and help one another in these trying times.
The next chapter might be the biggest one as I'll combine the In The Dead Of Night episode and the Dead Ruck episode into one, but we'll see how that goes. We might see some character development between Aegon and Saeko and someone did ask if the pairing would be Aegon/Saeko and short answer would be yes, but I don't know as there are some other girls who'd want some loving like Shizuka, Saya or Rika. But Saeko is my waifu, she's top tier in this for me, so it may more than likely be an Aegon/Saeko pairing for this story, but we'll see how it goes.