A Song of Ice, Fire and the Dead

…

Chapter 10: Lost and Found

Fires raged as the armoured Humvee flew down the street. The screams of the living had been mercifully drowned out by the sounds of the engine. Shizuka sat at the steering wheel and her knuckles were bone white as she gripped the leather. Saya sat in the front passenger seat, giving her directions and everyone was else was crammed in the backseat.

After several minutes which felt more like several hours, the Humvee pulled up into an underground parking garage. Shizuka flicked the key, turning the engine off and looked at everyone in the back of the Humvee. Seeing that everyone was exhausted but alive, the blonde nurse sighed in relief. She was not built for such stress.

Aegon, Ciri and Saeko got out of the car to investigate the garage. It was moderately sized, being able to hold twenty or so cars. Takashi was working on the garage shutter door. Kohta, followed closely by a magazine toting Alice was checking the other cars and doorways to make certain they weren't blocked in. The pair discovered that two of the three doors were locked but the third was unlocked and opened to reveal a stairway that led to the surface.

A hand suddenly touched Takashi startling him, and he turned around and saw that it was Rei. He smiled at her and said, "Rei, shouldn't you be back with Saya and Miss Shizuka?" he asked.

Folding her arms under her chest, pushing it up a little, Rei replied, "You were taking too long, so I figured you need some help. And besides, Saya hasn't said a word since we got here and Miss Shizuka is already snoring," she said.

Takashi smiled a little and shook his head a little. "Same old Rei," he thought to himself. Pointing to the chain on the other side of the shutter door, he said, "Pull on that when I tell you to, okay? We need to time it right or else the door will come off the track and we'll be stuck here short of driving through it and making a heap of noise that'll bring Them."

"Okay!' Rei gave an eager smile and moved to the other side and waited for Takashi to give the signal. Takashi gave a nod and Rei yanked on the chain. The door jumped, but Takashi' acted as a counterbalance and the large metal shutter slowly descended. Rei's eyes sparkled at Takashi as she said, "Good work, Takashi! Now we don't have to worry about Them getting in at least."

Takashi smiled and nodded at her before walking back over to the Humvee. It was dark and they had all been up since early morning. Frankly, Takashi was exhausted to the bone, and he imagined everyone else was too. Kohta was sitting on the roof of the Humvee, loading magazines for the guns.

"You should get some sleep, Takashi," the chubby boy advised the older boy. "I'll take first watch tonight," he said.

"What about everyone else?" Takashi asked through a yawn.

"Don't worry about them, I'll take first watch tonight," Kohta replied confidently. Takashi nodded his thanks before climbing into the Humvee. Alice was in the back, already asleep with Zero in her arms and Saya had dozed off in the front seat. Saeko was curled up next to Aegon who had closed his eyes and was snoring softly and Ciri was almost comatose in the back seat as well. Takashi sighed as he lay on the back seat and his eyelids felt so heavy that he simply closed them and surrendered himself to Morpheus's embrace.

Takashi's last coherent thought was of their plans tomorrow to begin the search for his and Rei's parents.

…

The sound of Zero's barking woke Alice from a strange dream of large fruits chasing her through a hedge maze. Shaking the stranger thoughts from her head, Alice rubbed the neck of the little dog beside her. She was becoming attached to the little canine and was happy to have him keep her company. While the others were not quite adults, they weren't in Alice's age range either so she couldn't relate to them as much as she wished to.

Noticing that Zero was looking quite anxious, Alice picked the little dog up in her arms and climbed out of the Humvee, landing silently on the ground before looking around. Everyone was still asleep, and it was nearly pitch black inside the garage. The only sources of light were some red hued emergency lights located at the base of the doors and above the shutter door. Kohta, who was supposed to be on guard had passed out atop the car.

Alice rubbed sleep from her eyes and made her way to the only unlocked door with Zero following her close behind. Kohta had locked it earlier before from the inside, but as Alice turned the knob, the button sprang free and the door slid open quietly. The scent of fresh air hitting his lungs, Zero bounded up the stairs and over to a nearby tree to relieve himself. Looking away, Alice took stock of the surrounding neighbourhood as the sun slowly crested on the horizon, giving everything a peaceful glow.

This neighbourhood was nice before the pandemic hit. Large buildings with decent sized nature strips lined the streets and a parking garage on opposite corners to store additional vehicles. Not that it mattered now since many of the buildings had windows smashed in and some of them had been partially or full burned out by the fires when the chaos started.

Alice then noticed Zero had finished his business and gave the little dog a scratch behind the ears and turned back towards the garage with the Humvee. But suddenly, Zero bolted down the street having caught the scent of something.

"Zero!" Alice cried out and she looked at the door pondering her options before she decided to chase after Zero. He was her best friend; she couldn't stand the thought of him getting lost by himself.

…

Saya gave a groan of malcontent and adjusted the glasses that still rested on her face. She was sore and miserable; the Humvee wasn't exactly the most comfortable place to sleep. Looking around, Saya saw she was the only awake who was awake. Grunting in frustration, she climbed out of the car and closed the door behind her.

Miss Shizuka was asleep in the driver's seat and using her large breasts as pillows against the steering wheel. Takashi was sprawled in the backseat and Rei was effectively using him as a body pillow. Saeko and Ciri were cuddled up against Aegon and for some reason Saya felt a little envious of them. Biting her cheek in annoyance, Saya continued her examination of the vehicle. Kohta lay on his chest, his eyes closed and his arm dangling off the side.

Saya almost exploded with anger at the sight. "The fat moron couldn't stay awake!" she thought angrily.

Circling around the Humvee, Saya's breath caught in her throat as she saw the back hatch open and Alice and Zero were nowhere to be found. "Alice?" Saya whispered harshly as a feeling of panic began to fill her stomach. "She wouldn't leave without telling us, would she?" Saya wondered as her heart pounded in her chest as she ran around the darkness of the garage. A slight crack in the ground caused Saya to trip over and sent her tumbling to the ground, banging her head.

Picking herself up with a grumble of annoyance, Saya winced as she felt a small trickle of blood just above her eye as she adjusted her glasses that thankfully managed to stay on.

"Alice?!" Saya shouted this time. The little girl was nowhere to be found in the garage and worry was making the pink-haired resident genius a little crazy.

"Taka… Saya? What is it? What's wrong?" Takashi stumbled out of the Humvee, rubbing sleep from his eyes, squinting as he could barely make Saya out in the darkness of the garage. The others began to wake up as well, Aegon, Saeko and Ciri clambered out, rubbing their eyes tiredly. And Kohta stirred awake, looking a little embarrassed that he fell asleep.

With a growl of frustration, Saya pointed an angry finger in Kohta's direction. "The fat otaku fell asleep on the job! Now Alice and Zero are missing!" she spat.

Kohta scrambled down from the vehicle. "There was no danger, I swear! I never meant to fall asleep! And the doors were locked!" he babbled out.

Rei leaned out from the car, her hair a tangled mess. "What is it? What's going on?" she yawned.

"She went missing when fatso was sleeping on the job!" Saya screeched angrily. Her anger was at boiling point. The fact she had to leave her parents behind at the estate was still fresh on her mind and it was making her emotions unstable. Before anyone could say anything, Saya turned and ran up the stairs and to her horror and worry, the door was unlocked and open and she ran through it.

"Takashi?" Rei asked Takashi who nodded.

"Don't worry, Takashi! Alice can't have gone far!" Aegon suddenly said, now wide awake as he took his sword and buckled it on quickly and he too ran up the stairs to search for Alice.

"Egg!" Saeko called out as she grabbed her own sword and followed after him.

"So much for looking mine and Rei's parents today," Takashi thought glumly as and the other grabbed their weapons and ran out after everyone else.

Shizuka was the only one left behind and she woke blearily, blinking in confusion. "Where did everyone go?" she asked herself before shrugging and fell back asleep.

…

Saeko kept pace with Aegon as they ran through the streets of Tokonosu. Saya had disappeared somewhere else. Saeko's hand rested on the hilt of her katana and Aegon gripped his sword tightly as it rested in its scabbard. They did not know what to expect these days, whether it be Them or survivors who had gone crazy.

"Are you alright, Saeko?" Aegon asked her suddenly.

"I'm fine, Egg," Saeko replied quickly. "I'm just worried for Alice," she said.

"Don't worry, we'll find them!" Aegon smiled at her confidently and Saeko felt reassured at the boyish smile on Aegon's face.

Suddenly the sound of a dog barking alerted Saeko. "Zero?" the indigo-haired samurai whispered as she sprinted faster with Aegon following close behind.

Saeko's heart almost stopped in her chest as she saw Alice in a tree holding onto one of the boughs and the tree was surrounded by a group of Them. Zero was at the base of the tree barking angrily, trying to defend Alice.

Before either Saeko or Aegon could react, the scream of a woman tore through the morning air, coming from a nearby alley. Aegon looked in the direction of the scream.

Saeko quickly said to him, "I'll take care of these things! You check out the alley!" she ordered and Aegon nodded. "Egg?" Saeko suddenly said and Aegon looked at her, "be careful, please!" she requested softly.

Aegon pressed a swift kiss to Saeko's lips and headed for the alley. Feeling empowered from that brief kiss, Saeko drew her sword. "Time to make a mess!" she said with a smile on her lips.

…

Saya stumbled back and fell on her backside from a sense-rattling slap to her cheek given by a man with dark red hair that matched the glint in his dark eyes as he gazed at her with a hungry predatory smile on his lips. Saya knew her scream might attract more of Them, but at this point she would welcome it. Her cheek was swelling up from the blow and a trickle of blood was running down her chin from the cut it produced.

"Get away from me, you mongrel!"

A lecherous smile appeared on the man's lips as he replied, "Don't worry, girlie. I'll take good care of you!" He reached out with one large hand towards Saya.

Then a hand suddenly grasped the man's shoulder making him turn around in alarm. "What the?" he tried to say when a fist collided with his jaw. The blow sent the man stumbling back, knocking over a trash can, creating a ruckus.

"Step away from her, filth!" said a familiar voice and Saya looked up to see Aegon Targaryen standing between her and her would-be attacker.

"Screw you!" screamed the man as he tried to pull a knife on Aegon but Aegon suddenly kneed the man in the balls, causing the man to wheeze in pain before Aegon tackled him to the ground and began punching the man repeatedly in the face. The sound of flesh crunching against stone as each of Aegon's punches forced the man's head into the floor. Saya watched with horror and admiration as Aegon punched the man repeatedly until the man's face was a bloody pulp.

Flexing his bloodied knuckles, Aegon stood to his feet and with a decisive stomp of his feet, he broke the man's neck, effectively killing him. Aegon then turned to look at Saya and she almost shrunk back in fear as she saw the look of immeasurable fury in Aegon's dark purple eyes. She had just witnessed Aegon kill a man with his bare hands and the sight of blood on Aegon's face and knuckles was a frightening image to behold.

"Saya?"

Saya gave a start as she realised Aegon had spoken to her. Swallowing a lump in her throat, she tried to stand to her feet, but she stumbled back down and Aegon held out a hand to her, his facial expression much softer and calmer now.

Saya took the proffered hand and she almost let a squeal as Aegon effortlessly hauled her to her feet. Looking at Aegon in a mixture of bashfulness and fear, Saya cast a glance at her now dead attacker.

"I'm sorry you had to see that, Saya," Aegon said, realising what he had done in front of her. "But rapists deserve no mercy!" he declared the look of fury back in his eyes.

"I-It's fine, Aegon," Saya responded and she made to say something else when Aegon put a finger to her lips silencing.

"Quiet now!" he whispered. "Your scream may have attracted more of Them," he warned and Saya nodded. "This way." Aegon then drew his sword and led Saya out of the alleyway where she found an amazing sight of Saeko killing a group of Them that surrounded Alice in a tree. Aegon rushed forward and he lent his own skill in killing the undead. Saya watched in awe as the two swordsmen effortlessly killed the zombie contingent.

After a few minutes of blood-spraying violence later, Saeko sheathed her katana and held out her arms. "Alice?"

Alice leapt down from the tree and hugged Saeko. "Aunty Saeko!" she cried out. Saeko hugged the little closely, threading her fingers through the younger girl's hair.

"It's alright, Alice. We're here now," Saeko comforted the young girl.

"It's very lucky you didn't go far, Alice," Aegon then said before looking stern. "What made you run off like that? You worried us!" he stated.

"I'm sorry! Zero ran off and I went after him and I got lost!" Alice said through teary eyes.

Aegon sighed and replied, "I'm not angry, Alice, I was just worried. And so was Saya," he said looking at Saya who had been watching the scene.

"I'm sorry, Miss Saya," Alice said meekly.

Saya sighed, too relieved to be angry. "It's okay, Alice. You're safe now, that's all that matters," she said with a soft smile. Looking at Aegon and Saeko, Saya said to them, "Thank you both, for saving mine and Alice's life."

"It was no trouble, Lady Saya," Aegon replied with a grin. "Anything to help a lady in need," he said.

Saya quirked an eyebrow and she asked, "Anything?"

"Well… within reason, of course," Aegon replied a little embarrassed. Saeko gave an amused chuckle.

Saya looked at Aegon appraisingly and said, "I didn't notice it before, but you're not like most guys," she commented.

Hoisting Alice in her arms, Saeko said, "No, he isn't." Directing a smile at Aegon, she added, "He's a regular knight in shining armour."

"I'm no Ser, I have yet to earn my spurs," Aegon said modestly.

"So modest," Saya quipped dryly.

Aegon shrugged and said to Saeko, "See? Told you we'd find them."

"Dumb luck is all," Saeko countered. "And I don't know about you, but I am hungry for some food," she said.

"The others can't be far behind," Aegon said confidently as they left the area and headed back the way they originally came.

When they turned around the corner, they found Takashi, Rei, Ciri and Kohta waving at them. "You found Alice! Thank goodness for that!" Rei exclaimed. "Are you alright, Saya? Your cheek is swollen and bleeding!" she said in surprise.

"Oh! Yeah," Saya mumbled feeling a little embarrassed. "Aegon saved me," she said quietly.

"Saved you?" Rei looked at Aegon who nodded his and replied, "A would-be rapist. He won't be hurting anyone else again, I promise you that," he said, his eyes turning hard as granite.

Kohta gave a minute sigh, looking dejected as he looked at Saya and Aegon, seeing how close Saya was standing near the older boy. As if sensing this, Aegon stepped away from Saya a little and gave a sheepish look to Kohta.

"Well, we'd best get that cut treated," Ciri said. "Wouldn't want it getting infected, would we?" she asked Saya who nodded quietly.

As they made their way back to the garage, Shizuka was awake and she bundled Alice up into a hug, squashing her into her massive breasts.

"Oh, Alice! I was so worried when you and everyone else disappeared!" the nurse cried out.

"If you woke up earlier, you could've come with us," Saya groused.

Shizuka looked at Saya and saw the swelling of her cheek, "Saya! How did you hurt your cheek?" she asked ditzily.

"It's nothing serious," Saya grumbled.

"Even so, Lady Saya, we can't afford a single one of us getting sick from an infected injury," Aegon told her. "Come, I'm not as knowledgeable as Lady Shizuka in healing, but I can at least clean that cut for you," he offered.

"I'm fine!" Saya protested but Aegon grabbed her by the arm and led her over to the Humvee where he sat the cranky girl down and rummaged through the medical and cleaning supplies.

Finding some alcohol wipe, Aegon opened the packet and pulled the alcohol soaked paper. "Now hold still, this will sting a little," he said to Saya.

"I really don't- yeeeoooow!" Saya nearly screamed as the feeling of fire-ants biting the cut on her cheek stung her and she flailed about. "You lied!" she accused Aegon.

"If I told you it would sting a lot, you wouldn't let me do it, would you?" Aegon said reasonably as he wiped the cut on Saya's cheeks. He was gentle in his methods so Saya sat there stubbornly and let Aegon tend her injury. As Aegon cleaned the cut, Saya got a close up of Aegon's features. He was quite handsome, almost like he belonged on some teen girl magazine or in a Pop Music boyband. And his eye and hair colour made him stand out from others. It was exceedingly rare to see natural purple eyes and natural silver-blonde/platinum hair. Such features were rare indeed and the shade of Aegon's eyes were so dark that they were almost black in colour.

It was only the outer edges of Aegon's and the ring around his pupils that indicated what his eye colour was.

"Something on your mind, Lady Saya?" Aegon suddenly asked. "You've been staring at me for a while," he pointed out.

Saya blushed at being caught staring and she stammered out a reply, "N-Nothing! It's just… I never expected you to know first aid," she half-lied. It was true she had not expected Aegon to know how to treat injuries, she had only seen his skills with that sword of his and his sword was not like any sword she had seen. Something he had custom-made perhaps. She was hesitant to ask where or how Aegon had come by his sword.

"I was taught how to mend wounds, as well as skill at arms, plus languages and other subjects," Aegon told Saya as he finished cleaning the wound. "There, all done," he said as he removed the used alcohol wipe. "I don't have anything for any pain, but if you ask Lady Shizuka, she might have something," he added.

"Thank you, Mr Targaryen," Saya said bashfully.

"Tis nothing, Lady Saya," Aegon replied with a smile. "And please, call me Aegon, or even Egg if you'd like," he said.

"Then I insist you call me Saya," Saya said with an even more bashful smile, her cheeks going pink.

"Of course, Lady Saya," Aegon said automatically which made Saya frown a little. Aegon gave a chuckle at the expression on Saya's face and she too gave a chuckle.

"Right, I could do with some food. No doubt finding Alice set us back a little, but I imagine Takashi will want to get a start on finding his and Rei's parents today," Aegon then said and Saya nodded in agreement as they moved to join the others for some breakfast.

…

TO BE CONTINUED…

A/N: There, this chapter is done and dusted and I apologise if it appears shorter than the previous chapters, but hopefully it sets up the scene of the group beginning their search for Rei and Takashi's parents, along with bringing in some other characters from the Manga.

And from this point on, it'll mostly be original content, plus the crossover arcs I have planned. And lately, I've been thinking of some more crossover arcs for this story such as the Soul Calibur series which Saeko, Aegon, Ciri and maybe even Rei will really shine as their chosen weapons/fighting styles are very similar to the weapon/fighting styles of the Soul Calibur series. Another crossover arc that I'm thinking of is Baldur's Gate; I've seen little bits and pieces of Baldur's Gate and I know or at least think it's set in the Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms universe, but I'll have to look it up.

In fact, I think early on in the manga/anime of Highschool of the Dead, the group was compared to D&D classes such as Saeko being a fighter/samurai, Saya was a wizard and Shizuka as a priestess. With that in mind, I wonder what sort of D&D class Aegon would be? Maybe a knight or paladin?

Anyway, not much more to say, so I'll just leave this here and I'll see you all in the next one.

Be kind to one another,

Angry lil' elf.