In the beginning he tried seeing it through. It was a second chance he'd tell himself, an opportunity to make amends. After thinking things over, again and again, every night before bed and every morning the moment he opened his eyes, Naruto realized. There is no prospect of a future for him here. He is a relic of a world no one ever knew existed Which brought him right back to the same aged question.
'What the hell am I doing here?'
"Naruto!"
Blue eyes fluttered open and Misuzu's scowl was the first thing they greeted. Disoriented and confused, Naruto could only utter a few words in response. At the sight of his half-lidded expression, Misuzu groaned, falling back against her seat. Making a show of it by crossing her arms over her chest and opting to glare at a nearby bookshelf.
"If you're going to ignore me at least don't make it so obvious!"
Naruto watched her for a moment. They don't talk to each other for days, suddenly she approaches him and demands that he follows. Thinking back on it now, he should have ditched her. Why didn't he? "Sorry. I didn't sleep well last night." Or any night before that, but the bags underneath his eyes told that story for him.
Misuzu sighed. "You're the worst. Making an adorable girl like me dot over you." Naruto wanted to protest, but she'd ignore any argument he made, and somehow, this would all be his fault again. So as all wise men do he kept his mouth shut. "A-Anyway. I promised I'd tutor you but I can only do so much. You need to put in some effort too! Mid-terms are coming up so—" Her eyes bounced to the next thing, never meeting his own for long.
"So, we're going to act like it never happened?"
Misuzu eeped at his linear approach. "W-What are you talking about?" She tried to play it off, but he saw through it. "D-Did you bring lunch today?"
Ever since this little study session began she'd been acting stranger than usual. Shifting topics? Fabricating a sudden case of amnesia? Naruto resisted the urge to groan.
"No."
Misuzu smiled as if expecting it. "I thought so! Lucky for you, I've learned a lot about those terrible habits of yours." She reached behind an obvious stack of magazines and offered him a bright bento box. Neon orange, with blue polka-dots. "Ta-da! I made it last night! Well, Nikki helped me, she's a much better cook than I am, but that's beside the point! The important thing is, you don't take care of yourself. So here! Eat!"
What an odd way to say I'm sorry. There was a tiny piece of him that resonated in her presence. It was small. Hardly a chip, and it ached. The feeling threatened to tear him down every time. Somehow...it wasn't totally unpleasant.
"Thank you." Her smile widened. "...but I'll be fine, Misuzu." The moment those words left his mouth, the sun fell from her lips. "Oh no! No! No! No! You're not allowed to turn me down! I slaved away for hours making this." She pushed the bento his way across the table and he slid it right back.
"Nope."
"Yes."
"No. I don't—"
"—Yes, you do."
Misuzu didn't know what she was doing, he wasn't what she thought he was. There's nothing left of him to help. Nothing worth saving. At this point, she's just hurting herself.
"No. We've been over this before. I don't want your pity." Naruto pushed it with a little more force.
She didn't shove back.
"...Is that what you think this is? Pity?" Her words were barely a whisper, yet they sounded throughout the empty library as if she'd screamed them.
"What else could it be? You don't know me like you think you do. So please stop using my shitty life to make you feel better about yours."
Misuzu was stunned, long bangs hiding her features.
"Unbelievable." She breathed. "You are the biggest asshole I have ever met! The biggest liar I've ever met, and, you're officially going to fail! Have you ever even, I don't know? Thought that maybe that's the problem! I want to know you, Naruto! I genuinely want to be your friend!"
"Why? Why do you care so much?"
"Why?! B-Because I—" She struggled to find the words. When she couldn't, Misuzu turned her back to him then wordlessly grabbed her things. Reaching for the bento laying in-between them, she stopped mid-way, fingers dangling in the air then withdrew her hand.
"Do what you want with it."
Naruto didn't call out to her even as she stormed off. He was hushed, watching her blast through the door. Books pressed to her chest, chin held low. He did that to her. It was always him. He wasn't sure how long he'd sat there staring at a small box as if it were a bomb primed to blow. The light of the sun slanted onto the walnut-colored tile of the room through the open window, drawing the shadows closer to him. Until at last, he reached out and took it.
'I'm just hungry.' Naruto told himself, fingers pulling back the tiny bow. He let the string fall then gently removed the cap, taking the time to admire its spread. "Stupid girl."
Ramen noodles, his favorite.
"Uh. Can I help you?"
Rei Miyamoto had him backed into a corner, hands on her hips, a fierce scowl on her features as she glared daggers. "Stay away from my family."
Naruto's brow rutted and he blinked much like an owl would, finding anything but her to look at. "Okay?"
"I'm serious!" She aimed a finger at him. Ruby eyes narrowed in contempt. "I know about you, Uzumaki. You're the worst kind of trouble. I won't allow you to bring that trouble anywhere near my family! I don't need it!"
"...You're joking, right?"
The hallway they occupied was empty save for them. Which led him to believe that she'd somehow planned this encounter from the start.
"I'm not. I'm very serious. I don't know what the fuck happened the other night. My grandfather probably got drunk and took pity on you or something. I don't know! I don't care! Whatever it was though, it won't happen again. I've got enough bullshit to deal with as it is. I don't need you bringing in anymore!"
Naruto wasn't sure what it was about today but he'd rather it be over and done with at this point. 'I'm not in the mood for this.' He spared her a glance, hearts vacant as ever. Then without so much as the last word, Naruto swept by her.
"H-Hey! Wait! Where are you going?!"
Naruto had the decency to wave goodbye. Although, he was sure she didn't appreciate the gesture. After the argument with Misuzu and being stalked by Rei, the blond felt he deserved a break. 'There's one more period before release so it shouldn't be a big deal.' Too bad, looks like he had no choice but to skip for his own well-being. Shame.
The Taipei Shopping Town district. Well known throughout Tokonosu city as its most appealing tourist point. Featuring a mega-mall boasting five levels with hundreds of shops, exclusive restaurants and located at the heart of the city. Most found themselves spending the rest of their day here with friends, hitting the arcade, or shopping together. Naruto is not one of these characters.
"You don't have to look so miserable."
A single text is all it took. That's how pathetic he was.
"I am miserable."
Misuzu beamed at Naruto. "Oh? Is that right? I don't know. If you outright hated us, you would've said no! Besides, don't you feel that hot blood rush through your veins as you escort two attractive ladies around!?"
Naruto wasn't undergoing any changes to his blood pressure. In fact, he was regretting this already. "Not really."
Misuzu pouted, quickly embracing Nikki while crocodile tears fell. "Oh no! Naruto doesn't think we're hot, Nikki!" Her best friend couldn't conceal the blush as her best friend buried her face into her larger bosom. Naruto fought the urge to bang his head on the table. "Can we move this along? I've got things to do later."
Misuzu felt herself sink. Imagination running rampant without her consent. "O-Oh...Are you going to be with B-Busujima-senpai?"
The brief flicker of pain in her eyes was lost to the blond, but not to Nikki.
"What? No. I have to work."
Beside them, Nikki fought down a sigh. Naruto is too dense.
"R-Right! Silly me, I forgot."
Nikki's attention moved to her best friend, watching her babble on while he pretended not to listen. She looked genuinely happy, a stark difference to how she'd been acting recently. 'When you're sad. It's because of him. When you're happy. It's because of him. I don't get it.'
Uzumaki Naruto, the number one delinquent of Fujimi Academy. The single coldest person she'd ever had the displeasure of meeting. Nikki's heart ached when she thought about it. The sheer admiration Misuzu held for Naruto, she was jealous of it. He didn't deserve her affection, but as long as Misuzu's happy it's okay. Right?
Nikki found her sights wander to the plainly dressed blond towering over everyone else. 'His eyes are so cold.' Whatever Misuzu saw in him would be forever lost on her, but she'd support her. Even if it tore Nikki apart.
"Hey, Nik! Come on! Let's go get refills."
Nikki snapped out of her thoughts, noticing Misuzu wave. Naruto next to her. If she were to be completely honest, they did look good together. Misuzu's colorful one-piece dress stuck out against the backdrop of suits, while her darker features contrasted the bright yellows. Naruto, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. While the grey crew neck shirt and faded black jeans did nothing to attract any attention, his distinct hair color and moody blue globes did. This was the first time either of them had seen him in anything but the standard male uniform. If you get past the stiff pout and attitude problems, he was actually kind of handsome.
'Gah! W-What am I thinking?' Shaking her head, Nikki offered a bright smile and made to follow after them.
A wide silhouette stepped in her way.
In a matter of seconds, Nikki was surrounded by a group of familiar faces. Lead by the one person she disliked less than Naruto. Imada Tsunoda.
"Nikki-chan~!"
The sick sing-song tone sent shivers down her spine. Doing everything she could to avoid eye contact with him, Nikki tried to slide by them without starting any trouble. Her attempt ended in failure.
"Come on! Don't be like that! I know it's you, princess."
Narrow brown eyes rolled over her figure. Imada leaned down so that they were eye level and ran a hand through his dyed hair. "You're lucky I have a soft spot for women like you. With an attitude like that, it's no wonder your parents can't find you a suitor."
Biting her lip, Nikki refused eye contact. Secretly hoping Misuzu would hurry up and save her. She shuffled nervously in place. Imada's laughter wasn't helping her nerves.
"Tell you what, Nikki-chan! How's about you come along with us and I show you what kind of guy I am? A man should spend time with his beloved-to-be don't you think? I don't see your friend around either. So that must mean you're alone. Never a better time to ask!" Extending a hand, Imada looked down on her, a mocking smirk on his face.
Nikki was doing all she could not to curl up into a ball and bawl her eyes out. This was too much! "I-I..."
"Yeah? Speak up! I don't have all day. Not even for you."
"I..I-I don't..."
In a public place like this, where everyone else could see! Nikki's heart pounded inside her chest. She fought for the courage to speak up and defend herself. It wasn't working.
"What was that?!" Imada interrupted her, patience growing thin. Without concern for personal space, he placed an arm on her shoulder and pulled her along. "You're taking too long. I'll decide for—"
"—What the do you think you're doing, asshole!?"
Imada let go of Nikki, attention drawn by a sudden sharp pain. Courtesy of a bottle of water to the back the head.
"Tsunoda-senpai!" His buddies rushed to him, glaring daggers at an angry Misuzu, followed behind by a none too pleased blond.
"What the hell?! You bitch!" Imada snarled, the furious teen shook his lackeys off and stood, making a beeline for Misuzu.
"Wait! Look, Uzumaki is here!" The tallest of his accomplices cried out. Imada froze mid-step, eyes drawn to the hostile persona of the shaggy-haired blond behind Misuzu. A much bigger prize in his eyes.
"Well, well. Uzumaki Naruto! If it isn't the poster boy for us hooligan types himself! It's an honor!" Imada smiled as he approached, arms raised in a welcoming manner. "What's a guy like you doing here? Hanging out with goody-two-shoes like them is a bad look for you."
"Shut up, scumbag! We don't want to hear it." Pumping her fist, Misuzu turned to Naruto and pointed a finger at Imada and his friends. "Naruto, sic!"
Que the eye twitch. "I'm not a stupid dog. Not like this guy." Naruto began, meeting Imada's gaze. "Besides, it's not like Misuzu needs me to deal with scum like you. You're the cowardly type. I can tell that much."
To her credit, the girl in question masked her astonishment at his discreet compliment behind a well-placed poker face. The fluttering in her chest and the heat that rushed up to her cheeks, however, was a bit harder to hide.
"You've gotta be fucking kidding me! Are you saying that little bitch could take me?" Snarling, Imada took a step forward. Intent clear. "You think I won't beat your fucking ass right now? How about after I embarrass you, I show your little girlfriends here what a real man is like? Yeah? Does that sound good to you, dipshit? Cos that sounds fucking fantastic to me!"
The instant he set his hands on the blonde, he realized he'd made a mistake. Something grabbed hold of him. A phantom or demon. It showed him visions. He saw himself, a bloody mess. Lying broken and bent at uncomfortable angles.
"Please don't instigate conflict, Tsunoda-san."
To anyone watching, he grabbed Naruto by the front of his shirt and then stopped. Immediately releasing the blond right after.
'W-What the fuck?! I-I can't breathe!' Taking an involuntary step back, Imada did everything he could to calm his nerves. His whole body beckoned for him to run and hide. Why?! What the fuck?! He only touched the guy!
"Hey? What's going on over there! Is it a fight?"
They had a crowd now.
"Tch, w-whatever! We're out of here." Imada sulked away, his friends wordlessly followed. A full minute would pass before Imada realized he'd been shaking.
Seeing as the show was over before it could even begin, the onlookers began to thin out.
"Assholes," Misuzu remarked, attending to Nikki. "Are you okay?"
Nikki nodded while fighting back tears. Misuzu drew her friend into a tight hug, rubbing small circles on her back while whispering in her ear. This was probably a huge scare for her. The poor thing was too fragile.
"This is really touching and all but, I do want that refill."
Misuzu snapped her head to him. "You! Don't think I didn't notice how you weren't going to do anything! You were really just going to leave us? What if something actually happened!?"
Naruto fought back a sigh. "Relax. There's no way he could have dragged her off. This is a public place, after all. Witnesses, cameras everywhere. That sort of stuff. You couldn't have let anything happen to her."
He found a finger in his face.
"That's not it! You were supposed to show how cool you are back there! How even though we underestimate you a lot, you're actually courageous and really strong!"
Naruto deadpanned. Even Nikki looked a tiny bit thrown off.
"What?"
Tossing her hands up in defeat, Misuzu latched on to Nikki and marched away. Naruto quietly followed behind. So much for working things out.
Naruto washed the dish in his hands. The repetitive mind-numbing work was exactly what he needed. Saeko was nowhere to be seen and for once Hayate wasn't drunk. Today was, oddly, a good day. It was enough to make him suspicious.
"Yo! You almost finished, boy? I'm about to close shop for the night."
Naruto nodded his head while placing the last few dishes in the sink. "Yeah, give me a few more minutes."
"No problem."
. . .
"You're still there, aren't you?"
Hayate chuckled. "Aye, I am."
Naruto focused on the task at hand. "Why?"
The old man shook his head and grunted. "...It's our mutual friend. They stopped by today and dropped off your package. They wanted to know how you're doing."
Naruto paused. "Do what you want with it. It isn't mine to take."
Hayate sighed, he'd figured as much. It was the same every time.
"Fine. I guess I'll get piss drunk then."
"Yeah. You do that."
Hayate's mouth opened to say something. He hesitated, but only for a split-second. "Say, I'm on my way for another round of family night, are you interested?" A weak grin was spread wide on that wrinkled face.
"No." His earlier session with Rei Miyamoto would no doubt lead to even more trouble if he ever showed his face there again no doubt.
"Right. I figured. Have yourself a good night then, my boy. I put some food in your pack. Free of charge. Lock up for me, will ya?"
Naruto caught the keys, thanked him, and waved goodbye. The next hour passed by in relative silence. A welcome change. Being at the restaurant felt different than his run-down apartment. It was a peaceful sort of quiet. His soul felt at ease if only a little. Hayate's restaurant was a bit of a drive from the city, but it had a great view of the water.
He savored the view. A charcoal sky full of stars that seemed to glow like street-lights, spanning as far as the eye could see. Somewhere up there was his home. Too distant to ever lay eyes on again.
'Why am I still here?'
Misuzu lamented as she stepped through the gates of Fujimi Academy, hands swinging at her side. Nikki had to wake up early to make up a test so she was forced to walk alone this time. She hated being alone.
'I wonder what he's doing right now?'
Naruto... he's probably slacking off somewhere or moping. Or asleep on a bench. Misuzu blinked twice.
'Incredible. He can sleep anywhere.' She watched him from a distance when a plot began to hatch. If she could sneak up and scare him, that would be blackmail for life! He'd never live it down! A devious smile broke out that erupted into a full-blown grin within seconds. This would surely mark one of her greatest accomplishments. With all the grace of a cat hunting a mouse, she put her plan into action.
'Just a bit more!' With a deep breath, she sucked in as much air as she could. The loudest scream she could muster was sitting in her chest, ready to go! 'Now!'
A single finger pressed against her lips.
"Nice try, but no."
Misuzu's cheeks turned a bright red. She pulled away and wiped off her mouth dramatically. With a furious glare, she squealed. "P-Pervert!"
Naruto sighed. "That isn't fair. You tried to scare me."
To her credit, Misuzu didn't scream in utter frustration. With a twirl, she fell onto the bench next to him. Defeated.
He shook his head.
"Where's your shadow?"
Misuzu's initial response was rather a sharp glare. "Don't call her that. You know her name." He shrugged. "But if you must know. Nikki's making up a test right now."
"So she's slow and stupid? Nice to know I'm not the only one."
"Naruto!"
"I said she's not the only one?"
It was a gorgeous morning. The heavens tinted a fair blue. The same color as his eyes. Maybe now was the time to talk about it? Maybe, now is the time to tell him? Gathering all of her courage she steeled herself.
"N-Naruto?" That came out weaker than she would've liked. "I-I...uh...that is...about these—"
"Don't worry about it."
"Huh?"
Misuzu turned to him and for whatever reason, her heart skipped a beat.
"It's fine." He smiled at her. "I don't care. As long as you're okay. I'm okay."
Maybe...?
Now isn't the time.
'This moment. It's perfect. This is everything I could ever ask for.'
"What kind of lunch do you want tomorrow?"
Naruto turned to her and seemed to actually think it over.
"Surprise me. You always do."
Misuzu frowned. "Really? That doesn't help much. Like, one bit."
Naruto shrugged the makings of a playful grin on his pale features.
"I'm always good with Miso."
Despite the scowl on her face, she had to be honest with herself. Misuzu could get used to mornings like this.
Naruto was starting to suspect that cameras were being placed around the place to track his every move. Kyoko marched ahead of him, very pissed. Another long lecture about responsibility and being an adult and whatever else awaited him. Wonderful. He fought down a groan and decided to whistle a light tune instead.
It didn't last long.
"Could you please not whistle." She wasn't in a very good mood today, so he let it drop.
"Can you at least tell me where we're going?"
"We were going back to my office and you are going to explain why you bailed on your duties this weekend. Unfortunately, I have to go attend to something at the gate. I can't have you disappearing in the meantime. So you'll be coming along with me."
Naruto nodded. Depending on how bad things got, he might still find a way out this.
Takashi found himself lounging over the railings of the Astronomy Clubs roof yet again, his only retreat. Watching the cherry blossoms dance in the passing breeze. He couldn't stand being in that class anymore. He didn't know why, but she'd been acting extra hostile these past few days.
"I wonder if Igou slipped up?" Takashi couldn't resist the dry laugh. That was wishful thinking. Hisashi is perfect. Athletic, smart, charming. The odds of someone like him messing up were low and even if he did Rei would forgive him. A piece of him hated the fact that he was secretly wishing for Igou to screw up. Then again Igou is the traitor, not him.
Suffering out a yawn, Takashi scolded himself for not getting enough sleep. 'God. I'm a fucking a mess.' His gaze fell and it was then that he noticed it. A small crowd gathered by the gates. Some he recognized as teachers, other students watching from a distance. There was shouting but he couldn't quite make it out. Two more people approached. An infamous head of yellow hair being led by the only redhead teacher in the school. Naruto Uzumaki must have rotten luck. Caught skipping by Hayashi of all people? Again? Poor guy.
"What's going on down there?"
"Hey! Are you listening?! This is private property! Not to mention a school! Are you that drunk or something?!" Teshima, the lead P. E. coach, had enough. Rolling up the cuffs of his sleeves as he moved to stand face to face with the intruder. The man, tall with oily black hair, proceeded to ignore everything, Teshima included. His only concern? Repeatedly walking into the steel bars of the gate, as if it was the norm.
"Teshima-san, please. You shouldn't get violent." The art teacher, Nakayama, attempted to defuse his colleges' temper. Things could become problematic for the school if Teshima were to actually hurt someone. Teshima, however, wasn't in the mood to listen.
At least not to Nakayama.
"That's enough!"
All eyes shifted to greet Kyoko, who leveled the man with a stern glare.
Teshima grinned at the sight of her. "Calm down, Kyoko-sensei." His playful tone wasn't lost on her. It only served to piss Kyoko off even more. "I'm just letting this drunk know that leaving peacefully is his best option or things could get ugly."
"Are you out of your mind?! You can't just do whatever you want around here, Teshima!"
"I'm doing what has to be done! Talking won't solve anything with this guy! We tried that!"
"Then call the police, idiot!"
They started to argue, their voices growing louder and louder. Naruto, to his credit, was doing everything he could to himself in check. Because unlike everyone else here, he could smell it. Blood. Nothing like a small wound or a cut either.
'Where?!' Sharp eyes moved to every person in attendance until they landed on the very cause of this disturbance himself. By the time Teshima put his hands on the stranger, it was too late. It wasn't hard to tell where the blood was coming from this time.
Teshima screamed. The man howled his entire body quaking. His screams pierced their eardrums for what felt like an eternity. Gripping his bleeding arm where pieces of flesh were torn away, he fell to the floor. The missing skin ground between the tightly clamped jaws of his attacker.
Then, he stopped.
Dead to the world.
Takashi ran. He ran as fast as he could, a single destination in mind. His chest raged like wildfire. Heart thumping so loud it blasted in his ear. It felt as if he'd been running for eternity. Legs twin slabs of iron, trembling with each step taken and on the verge of failing him outright. He couldn't stop. What transpired moments ago was something right out of a horror movie. A fate Takashi wouldn't wish on his worst enemy.
God, he'd never seen so much blood.
When he flung the door open, several eyes landed on him. It was too late to wonder why...
"Komuro-san! I hope you have a good reason as to why you're not only late but also interrupting my lesson." The teacher stated, leveling him with a frigid glare.
Takashi was gasping for breath. His eyes casting about until they landed on her heart-shaped face. Nothing else mattered. Without stopping to respond or even acknowledge the man, Takashi shot to where Rei sat. The terrified look in his eye wasn't lost to anyone who crossed paths with him.
A dozen thoughts raced through his head. What could he possibly say to her? There's been a murder?! More like a slaughter. Not to mention what came after. In his panic, Takashi found himself towering over her desk with nothing to show but a gaping mouth.
"Come with me."
"Boy! You have less than a minute to sit down right now or I'll be writing you up!"
Takashi couldn't stop seeing it.
Blood everywhere.
Rei wasn't amused. "What are you saying? I'm not going anywhere. You should do what the teacher said before I get caught up in this mess too." She practically spat at him.
This was not what Takashi wanted to hear, the furthest thing from it in fact. He fought the urge to turn and run. Silencing the voice in his head that called to leave her behind.
"You don't understand. Something happened. It's hard to explain. Rei, please, just trust me. We need to go!"
"Komuro! I'm going to count to ten! Either you leave my classroom and report to Hayashi-sensei immediately, or I'll have her come down here herself!" Their teacher was beyond agitated. The lack of respect being shown pushing him over the edge. Seeing as Takashi didn't so much as blink at the warning, he stormed over to his desk and quickly reached for the phone.
Takashi could hear him, but unlike him, he knew exactly where Hayashi was. More importantly, he knew that at this moment she was more than a little preoccupied fighting for her life.
"Takashi? What's going on?" His best-friend finally decided to speak up.
Igou had likely never seen him so distraught. His palms coated in sweat, eyes darting about like someone just died. If only they knew...
'Should I tell him?' Takashi wasn't here for Igou, but he was no fool either. Rei would follow Igou without question, and that's why he was here, right? Why he didn't run home the first chance he got? To save Rei.
'I guess I don't have a choice.'
Leaning in close, Takashi whispered into Igou's ear. "There's been a murder. The killer is still out there and...something weird is going on. People are...they're being eaten."
Igou's expression darkened.
"A-Are you serious?"
"I am."
People being killed and eaten? The thought seemed outright laughable. The order made no sense. Igou wasn't clear on the details, but he didn't need to be. Takashi was a lot of things but never a liar. He trusted Takashi even after their recent disputes.
"Igou. We're going to die if we stay here."
Time. Precious time that could be better used getting out, is being wasted! Takashi took a huge gamble telling Igou, than again, who else would believe him? Teshima is dead.
Dead! Dead! Dead!
Only, he wasn't...while wrestling back bile, Takashi saw a dead man rise up and attack the living. Tearing into their flesh. Grinding human skin in between his jaw, unconcerned with the victim's horrified struggle. He almost puked again.
At her desk, Rei felt her frustrations soar watching on as two of the most important men in her life whispered to one another. It made her feel like a child again. When they were younger, Takashi and Igou were always one step ahead. They shared everything. Content to leave her behind in the dust. Clenching her fist, Rei had enough.
"You two morons realize we're in the middle of class, right?! You can both get expelled at this point. I don't care."
Takashi couldn't take anymore. "Rei. I don't—"
Without thinking, Rei delivered an open palm against Takashi's cheek. The sound hushed the room.
'Oh my god. Ohmygod! What did I just do?!'
Her breath hitched. Amber eyes locked onto the slowly darkening tinge on Takashi's cheek. Nobody uttered a word.
'She...hit me?' It didn't hurt. A little sting at best but even that was fast fading. Something else did, though. 'Now isn't the time.'
When he turned to face her again, Rei finally noticed it written all over his face. Desperation. No more talking it over or explaining things to anyone. If he wanted to save her and himself, it's now or never. Takashi reached over, taking Rei by the hand and Hisashi by his wrist. Expression communicating everything he couldn't say with words alone.
"We need to go."
They rushed out of the room. Leaving behind a bewildered class that immediately erupted in whispers following their exit.
Naruto watched Them. Two students mindlessly stalking the hallway, bumping into lockers or one another. Lashing out at the slightest movement.
'How is it you're moving with wounds like that?'
Pieces of torn flesh seeping blood dirtied Their bodies. As if thrown into a tank of piranhas. The nearest corpse sported the inside of his throat exposed for all the world to see. Something or someone tore his windpipe out with bare teeth alone if the indents were anything to go on. It wasn't pretty sight even by his standards.
The sound of vomiting brought him back.
Kyoko was a mess. Her top was torn and splattered with blood and bile. She was shaking, arms coiled around herself to soothe. Naruto couldn't say he blamed her. If it weren't for him she'd be missing a neck too.
'What exactly happened back there?'
Teshima's wound was serious but the loss of blood shouldn't have killed him so quick. As alarming as one person biting another is, it shouldn't have taken his life so abruptly. Naruto's attention fell back on the Them. He was no stranger to the dead coming back to life. The Great War had a reincarnated army fighting what was left of the Allied Nation. A legion of mythical Shinobi, in their prime and armed with indestructible bodies. At the very least, these Things weren't shooting off high-level Jutsu.
Naruto watched one of the ghouls lash out at a locker the other had just crashed into. Its strikes were erratic, bloody fingers nearly breaking at the sheer force. The fractured foot It'd been dragging behind snapped with an audible crunch at the sudden jerk. There were no screams as it fell. They felt no pain.
'...Why the locker?' Blue eyes met a pair of bloodshot, milky white. A thought struck him. "Stay here. Don't make a sound."
Kyoko wiped the grime off her chin, gagging at the taste of her own puke while doing her absolute best to calm her nerves. "W-What are you...?"
Naruto searched the supply closet they were in, finding a broom and bucket. He eyed it for a split-second, then with a snap, broke it into two leaving one side with the distraught woman. He lifted the bucket and with the other end of the broken broom hit it three times. Naruto realized the instant he did so, They reacted to sound.
Its mouth opened with a faint hiss, bits of human meat stuck in its bloody teeth. The only warning delivered before It shot at him.
In that single instance, Kyoko thought they would die. Shutting her eyes, she waited for It to rend him apart before moving on to her. Tears spilled from her eyes at the thought of being eaten alive by these monstrosities. When the pain never came, she managed to crack a single eye open.
There stood Naruto, his fingers gripping one end of a bloodstained stick the other end wedged into Its eye, holding It in place, observing It as It thrashed about until he pushed deeper. A mist of gore, then It collapsed. Lifeless.
"W-What...?"
When he turned to face her, Kyoko couldn't imagine a more striking image.
Naruto was always cold. His eyes only ever reflected what he perceived the world around him to be like. Despite this, he did not hate, as most teenagers did at his age. He didn't blame anyone for his problems. He simply made the best of what he felt was a horrible existence. He endured, more like. Acting out his part with practiced ease, all the while anticipating something. Kyoko wanted to help him find whatever that might've been.
"Can you stand?"
Naruto Uzumaki looked out place no matter where you placed him. It didn't matter where or who he was with, like a puzzle piece with crooked forks. He wouldn't fit.
"If you can stand, then be ready to fight. I doubt this is the end."
Blood veiled his face. It smeared his hair, trickled down his cheek and onto the ivory tile below where the bodies piled. A tarn of red forming at his feet. He looked like he belonged.
'Is this...a dream?'
Red stained the rims of her dress and it wasn't her own. Memories she'd much rather forget teemed in her mind like angry bees. Within mere minutes, Kyoko watched three people die a horrible death.
"You have to stand up, sensei."
Kyoko could see the other corpse behind him wriggling on the ground, dragging Its broken body toward them. Eyes thrashing about, bone smacking at nothing.
This is real.
"I-I have to call for help. She murmured, reaching for her phone with shaky hands.
Naruto took a step back and let her work it out on her own. Silent as he approached It crawled, makeshift weapon in hand. Ever the cautious man he decided to verify his theory one more time. He whistled, and It found him not a moment later. When It was close enough, Naruto set his foot down on Its back. The sound of bone snapping sounded in his ear, shoe depressing into Its spine. Not even a whimper. With a swift flick, he pierced Its heart. It struggled nonetheless. Blue eyes narrowed in response. Naruto dragged the stick out its back, pieces of gore trailing behind it, and then thrust it into the skull. It stopped moving outright.
'The brain.'
Naruto kicked the corpse once. No response. His gaze lingered on It before shifting to the view outside. Dense towers of smoke soared in the distance, darkening the once blue skies. Tokonosu city was under siege, but by what? What is it that's turning people into man-eating monsters?
"I-I can't get a hold of the police. The fucking line is busy!"
Naruto tore his eyes away. Not surprisingly, Kyoko managed to pull herself together. Stumbling to him, an angry scowl on her face. Her phone in one hand and the opposite end of the broom held tightly in the other.
"What the fuck is happening? I can't reach anyone!"
"I don't know. You should find someplace safe, sensei. If you find yourself with no other choice but to fight, aim for the head."
"Wait! Where are you going?!"
He didn't respond. As far as he's concerned school was no longer in session. He was under no obligation to answer. Besides, there's something more important he had to deal with. Someone.
'Wait for me.'
Whatever Kyoko said next was drowned out by the P. A . system.
Stillness followed the announcement. No one dared make a move. A feeling they couldn't shake or put into words settling deep inside each of their hearts.
Misuzu stole a nervous glance at Nikki, her brow furrowed. The frightened girl sat frozen in her chair. Same as everyone else.
"...W-What was that!?"
"Is this some kind of joke!?"
"I-I can't reach my parents!"
Misuzu's gaze traveled around the room. One by one, they found their voice. Her own brain working to make sense out of the last few minutes. The intruder, the Headmaster, his subsequent death. It happened so fast! The truth is clear though. A murder on campus and the killer is still out there.
"What the fuck...?" That single whisper caught her attention amidst the bubbling chaos. Her deskmate had his phone in hand, disturbing posts and headlines filling the screen with each scroll.
Deaths in the thousands.
Sick people eating each other.
'We need to leave.' Misuzu turned to Nikki, she willed her body to act. It did not respond.
"Everyone! Please calm down! You heard the Helicopters! Help is coming. We have safety measures put into place for times like these. As long as we stay here and barricade the door, we'll be—" Their teachers attempt at taking charge was cut short. The door broke open, nearly hanging off its hinges. A student crashed onto the floor. A thin, splotchy trail of red behind him. Faint screaming coming from outside the room.
"Koichi-kun! Are you alright?! Koichi-kun!" Someone knew him. She rushed to his side and scooped him in her arms with the kind of care reserved only for a lover. His girlfriend no doubt.
What happened next would haunt her for as long as she lived.
The girl shrieked at the top of her lungs and red permeated her sights. Misuzu could practically feel her agony as the boyfriend sunk his teeth into her collarbone and uprooted flesh from bone spilling blood everywhere, before eagerly coming back for more. What was once a normal class period was now total chaos. People struggled just to make it out of the door. Students pushed and shoved past one another, panic gripping their minds as they packed the only exit with one thought in mind. Survival.
Misuzu couldn't find it in her to make a move. She watched, paralyzed, committing the horrifying exhibition playing out before her to memory. That girl, she cared about his well-being enough to move when no one else would. Why was he doing this to her? What was now a corpse lay there. Lifeless eyes staring at the ceiling while her beloved Koichi gutted her, inhuman noises leaving his bloodstained maw. His cheeks padded with her entrails.
Things didn't get any better. The instant the rest of the class made it out they were attacked. The monsters catching and burrowing into their meals. Stacking on the same frame like ants, tearing them limb from limb.
Misuzu vomited over her desk. Her blurry view found her best friend. Nikki wasn't doing much better. 'If we stay here, we'll die!' It took everything she had and more. She took hold of her fear and squeezed with everything she could muster. It was just enough to get her legs moving again. She grabbed Nikki and tugged her along, setting a pace and forcing her to follow behind. They shot past Koichi and his girlfriend and into the slaughter. People pushed, shoved, and trampled over one another in a frantic effort to escape death.
They ran. Ignoring the corpses ricked like heaps of trash. Nikki was doing everything she could to keep up, but she was fumbling with every step. Her eyes on the small of Misuzu's back. A mistake. She wasn't watching where she stepped. Her shoe slid over the blood coating the marble floors and with a cry, she fell to the ground, palms rolling against the slippery flow.
"Nikki!"
Misuzu's eyes bulged when she saw the body next to Nikki jerk. 'It's dead.' There was a hole the size of her fist carved into Its chest, she could see Its lung hanging by a tenuous thread of tissue. It's dead. Nikki kicked it, that's all. So then, why? Why was It moving? Inching toward Nikki Its mouth open wide, red teeth smacking in her direction. She felt the world come to a crawl. Seeing her best friend hardened in a pool of blood. A mutilated carcass pulling Itself to her with one arm. Misuzu's jaw clenched and she wondered why no one was helping, that is until she took a good look around. No one was helping, because no one cared.
Within that very brief window, she witnessed the people whom she'd known for years, their familiar smiling faces beaming. She recognized them for what they really were.
Misuzu saw the clever and brilliant biology teacher, Hishikata-sensei, who was always so kind and understanding. Who let her turn in her paper a week late because of illness. She saw him launch an unsuspecting first-year into a horde of Them, using him as bait so that he could make his own escape.
Nikki's screams drew her back. Kicking her leg back and shutting her eyes, Misuzu delivered a hard blow to Its head. A wet crunch echoed in her ears, and the unpleasant sensation of her foot sinking into Its skull was hard to shake. Thankfully, she had no time to admire her handiwork.
"Are you okay?!" Nikki nodded dumbly. Her body trembling. "Get up! Come on, get up! We have to run!" Misuzu knew things were getting to be too much for Nikki who could barely stand the sight of blood on a good day. Nikki didn't respond. 'Shit!' Grabbing onto her, Misuzu pulled her up. Nikki struggled to stand at first but promptly decided that if they wanted to live, they'd need to keep moving. One mistake on her part is all it would take to end both of their lives.
What they needed to find is someplace safe, but where is safe?! It's the same everywhere! Crowds of Them rending people apart. Misuzu couldn't even tell who was dead and who wasn't with all the blood spilled.
At this point, they might as well all be.
She panned out the scene before her. 'This is different.' Saeko Busujima stood alone in a classroom crowded with bodies, her training sword in hand. The wooden sword bent and fractured. Painted with the same color she bore on her skin and clothes. Somewhere along within the ongoing chaos, she'd forgotten who was alive and who was already dead. Her eyes only noticed that lovely color sailing in the air. Splattering against the walls. She'd utterly lost herself.
Saeko noticed her reflection in the cracked window, her lips twisting into a frown. 'How unsightly. I didn't bring a spare uniform either.' The continuing turmoil wasn't lost on her. After those Things swarmed her classmates, Saeko was positive things would only devolve from there. The question now is how bad will it be? 'No word from father or the family.' Not that she expected any. Chances are they're fighting for their lives if they haven't lost them already. 'Then, there's only one thing to do.' This place will not be her grave. These simple-minded Things would not be the ones to take her life, of that, Saeko is sure.
Wordlessly, she stepped out of the ruined classroom and into the wrecked hall. The scenery didn't change much and neither did the smell. She couldn't imagine how many of these people shit themselves as they died. 'Pathetic. Dying to blind and starved infants.' Each and every one of them deserved their fate.
"A dream..." Saeko heard him before she saw him. Ducking back into the room. she watched a nameless student stumble along, a cynical smile on his beaten face. He didn't notice her as he walked. The slaughter surrounding them went on, but he paid it no mind. "This...is a dream, right? Yeah. A dream. Ha. Haha..." Corpses drawn by his rambling followed behind. He didn't seem to notice. Preoccupied scaling broken glass until he stood dangerously close to the edge. "Mom. I'm sorry." He jumped.
A stifled thud followed, affirming his suicide. They followed the example, toppling over one another after him.
Good riddance.
'Weakness has no place in this world.'
For a moment, Saeko pondered on her next course of action. Fingers tapping lightly on the hilt of her weapon. 'I'd like a change of clothes, but I suppose that can wait. A reliable group would be nice, unlikely though. For now, I'll lay low. At least until I know how bad things are.' Leaving Fujimi Academy alone could prove difficult even for her without relying on a few extra hands. 'I wonder if you're still alive, Naruto-kun?'
Naruto recognized as soon as the announcement ended that no one would be leaving in a single file line. Chaos ensued. The mob of faces scrambling for an exit reminded him of sheep fleeing rabid wolves. Locating Misuzu in this mess would be like spotting a needle in a haystack. Nearly impossible. that's if she hasn't gotten herself killed trying to play the hero. The thought troubled him even if he wouldn't admit to it.
'How could this happen?'
This world is void of chakra. There is no Reanimation technique. No mystical energy that could usher something this twisted on such a massive scale. And for what? Even back home, he'd be hard-pressed to imagine the most demented Shinobi going this far. More so, not even twenty minutes passed since the incident at the gate. How did it spread? Why so quick? Naruto's gaze shifted away from the carnage to the windowpanes lining the bloodstained hallway. The sky was darkened with smoke, obscuring any light from the sun. Somber clouds slow dancing in the mix.
'It's going to rain.'
Feeling like he'd done enough waiting, Naruto quietly made his way out of the abandoned room. The few stragglers who stayed behind to eat their fill were of no threat to him. 'Where would she go? If she's smart she'll find someplace to hide. But that stupid girl, she tends to think of others first and herself last. Not to mention that friend of hers...' If he used clones to search it'd be easy. If he used any Chakra at all, it would be so easy. Is it worth the risk though? If the situation clears up. if anyone sees him. If that man found out...
He scowled. 'Never-mind that...what the hell kind of shit is this?' They stood like puppets. The slaughtered sheep now hungry wolves. As Teshima did, They came back to life, hollow grey eyes set upon nothing.
Whatever fell to their hunger rose up as one of Them. The bite? It was stretch for sure, but it was all he had to go on. Naruto grimaced at the thought. A weapon would do some good.
"Please! Hold him back for a little while longer! I'm almost done!"
If someone would have told her that the world is going to end today, Shizuka wouldn't have worn heels to work.
"Hurry, Marikawa-san! I can't do this for much longer!"
Shizuka zipped open a bag and rummaged through the open cabinets for anything and everything she could grab. The number of people she'd watched die from her office window demanded it. She was prepared to administer as much help to the rest of the students and staff as soon as possible. If she made it out alive.
Okada was giving it everything he had but was struggling to hold back the frantic student. "Araki! Please! Snap out of it!" He yelled at his friend, tears spilling forth. He couldn't fight back much longer. It was either them or Him. "I-I'm so sorry, Araki!" With all of the strength he could muster, Okada drove his friend against the wall. The corpse toppled backward and brought a desk down with It. This would only slow it down, he knew that. There was only one thing he could do to end it. Okada gripped the bat in his hands, and with a shrill cry, he swung it sideways shutting his eyes on impact. Araki stopped grappling a second later, blood running from a cracked skull. Okada dropped the dented bat, his trembling hands coming up to cover his mouth as he backed off from the body of his friend.
"A-Araki...how? Why? Why did it come to this...?!"
Everything was fine not long ago. Happily chatting on the way to practice. After that weird kid attacked them, it all went downhill. Araki got hurt and he'd imminently rushed his friend to the nurse. Everything that came after felt like a horrible nightmare.
"I've got it!" Shizuka turned and found herself at a loss for words. This was one of those times where she hated this part of herself. She'd read hundreds of books and still couldn't even find the right words to say.
The nightmare didn't end there.
She saw Them before Okada did. The glass shattered behind him, blood-soaked fingers seized Okada's stiff body and dragged him through the glass. She would never forget the look of pure terror etched onto his face. His head and neck cut by the broken shards, their hands digging into the wounds, teeth sinking into his struggling form. The poor boy couldn't even manage a scream.
'I'm sorry! I'm so fucking sorry!' They overwhelmed the windows and crashed against the splintered door. Piledriving over one another. Shizuka shut her eyes and prayed to every god she didn't believe in. 'I'm going to die.' She'd never see her best friend again. Never enjoy a hot cup of coffee in the morning or stay up late to catch up on her favorite show.
"Sensei!"
Her eyes snapped open.
Saeko Busujima rushed in fighting back the monsters. A trail of bodies following her. Behind Saeko, Shizuka's favorite assistant beckoned for her to come.
"Misuzu-chan!?"
"Shizuka-sensei! Come on! Hurry!"
Taking the duffle bag, she made for the door with Saeko close behind.
One good blow to the head, that's all that it took. Naruto's gaze flickered to the dented bat in his hand, a common enough find but it severed its purpose well. He'd been searching at least ten minutes now, avoiding Them left and right, killing whenever got too close. He hadn't actually seen many survivors yet. Most likely, they were huddled into classrooms awaiting some kind of sign. Misuzu is out there though, she wouldn't hide.
'I'll make sure she's okay. I owe her that much.' If there's anyone that deserved to be saved, it was that girl. If only because loneliness is a terrible burden to shoulder alone, a little bit of color helped make things bearable. No matter how bright and bothersome it could be. 'I really am starting to sound like Sasuke.'
Have things really gotten that bad for him?
-BREAK-
It was pure dumb luck that found them in another empty classroom. Misuzu wasn't sure how much of it they had left to spare. Shaking those thoughts out of her head, she turned to the still wheezing Shizuka and motioned to Nikki.
"Sensei. Did you grab any anxiety medication by chance?"
Shizuka nodded. She didn't need to be told who it was for. It was obvious Nikki was at her limit. The blonde shifted through her bag, finding a small plastic bottle and popping it open, two orange pellets falling onto her hand. "Take these, they'll help. Drink some water too."
Nikki nodded and mumbled a thank you.
Recognizing that her friend would be alright, Misuzu sighed in relief.
"Don't let your guard down just yet. We're not entirely out of the woods." Saeko joined them, cleaning the blood from her weapon. Under normal circumstances, Misuzu couldn't stand the sight of her, but this wasn't the time or place for petty grudges. Not to mention Saeko is the sole reason any of them are alive right now.
"R-Right."
"Busujima-san. D-Do you know what's going on?" Nikki asked her senior. Misuzu rubbing circles on her back, the same question burning within bloodshot eyes.
"Unfortunately, I don't. The only thing I'm sure of is the head is the only way to kill Them."
"Them...?" Misuzu echoed.
"The monsters. Although, they were once human so it feels wrong to say that. Them. Whatever They are."
"Then, could it be like some kind of sickness? If it is, what kind of illness does this?!" Misuzu gestured to the city behind them on the verge of outright catching fire.
Saeko held no answers for her.
"I don't know much but I do have a hunch." Shizuka said, "We're okay for the most part. So long as we don't let one of Them bite us. I think that's what does you in. Some kind of pathogen? It's too soon to tell. It could be in the air for all we know." Shizuka tried her best to make sense of it, but this was like nothing she'd ever seen or heard of before.
"That's reassuring...So if we avoid being bitten, we avoid turning."
"Precisely, Busujima-san."
A tense silence hung about. Misuzu knew it was selfish to bring this up now, but she needed to know! The thought had been eating away at her since they'd escaped and she couldn't wait any longer.
"B-Busujima-senpai."
"Yes?"
"Did...did you happen to see Naruto before all of this? Do you know if he's safe?"
Saeko eyed her, then shook her head a no. "I'm sorry to say that I haven't seen him. To be honest, I was hoping you would know. He never showed up to class."
"O-Oh. I see."
"I apologize. That wasn't much help, was it? I'm a bit worried too, but I'm sure that—"
There's no time to waste.
"—Nikki! Stay here! Don't leave their side! They'll keep you safe, I promise! I'll be back before you know it!"
Like that, she was gone. Nikki watched helplessly as Misuzu's sprinted back into that nightmare. Her brain working to understand what'd just happened.
Misuzu is going out there? To look for him?
'She's going to die.'
No.
NO!NO!NO!
What was once a body drained of its energy moved on its own. Without a single word to anyone else, Nikki chased after her. Throwing Misuzu's demands out of the window. It took everything she had not to give up. Her lungs greedily sucked in every bit of air that they could. Nikki was beyond the point of exhaustion. Her stomach felt as if it were drenched in gasoline and set on fire, the nauseous feeling getting tougher to fight with every shaky breath she barely managed to take.
None of it mattered.
'I don't understand. I don't get it. This goes beyond a little crush! Your life is on the line! Nikki hurried through the walking dead. 'Why go this far for him?'
Naruto's piercing glare cut into her even in memories. His cold demeanor made her feel uneasy. What did Misuzu see in that block of ice? Why would she put her life in danger for him?! Naruto Uzumaki is bad news. He's a magnet for misfortune. It stalked him wherever he passed. It was his shadow.
"Misuzu!"
Nikki could see her. Fixed in front of the bloodstained windows and panting for breath. She peeked her eyes in an effort to get a better view, then she noticed it. A mop of bright blond hair making its way down the stairs, far across from them, his back facing them both.
She was beside her now. Misuzu turned, words sharper than blades. "Why did you follow me?!" SHe hissed.
Nikki flinched. "I...I wanted to make sure you would be safe...I was scared."
Misuzu searched her. "Screw it. I guess it doesn't matter now. They're getting closer. Come on, we can't stop now. We have to keep running!"
Any more waiting and they'd be lunch. Any more waiting and he'd be gone, too far out of her reach.
Misuzu grasped Nikki's hand and pulled her along once again. This time with an actual destination in mind. Getting there, however, would be a problem. Fujimi Academy is overrun. The dead were everywhere. Misuzu could barely stand the sight of those creatures. The wounds inflicted on their bodies too horrifying for her to look at for long. Not to mention, these were once friends. Teachers. People she saw every day, people she grew to trust. She wasn't sure how much she could take.
The two dashed through the bloodstained corridors, larger groups of Them following the echoes of their footsteps.
'It's not like we can turn back now.' She made a sharp left turn. "How are you holding up, Nikki?" Misuzu spared a glance back. Nikki looked to be at her very limit, any more and she'd drop like a fly.
Why did she have to follow her?!
"I'm so sorry, Nikki! We're almost there!"
A part of her knew they should have stopped and hid somewhere. Nikki couldn't take much more, but they were so close! Misuzu had seen so much death. What if she never got a chance to tell him?!
"M-Misuzu...I can't...keep going!"
It was strange, Nikki mused to herself, darkness creeping in from the corners of her vision. Strange how people were so inclined to change because of another person. So very strange how an otherwise rational mind could fall apart so easily. How of all the places Naruto Uzumaki could have turned up, it had to be here.
'I'm sorry.'
So close!
"Naruto."
Her eyes widened.
'Huh...?'
Time came to a slow crawl for the second time that day. Misuzu saw Nikki's unconscious body hit the ground next to her, dragging her down with it. Her head bounced against the tile, stars filled her sight. Hot white pain shot down her neck. She could see Them charging, reaching to tear her limb from limb.
'I don't want to die.'
. . .
"Stupid. At least you saved me the trouble."
This is a nightmare, Takashi had no doubts about it.
'Igou.' Even after everything that had happened, he didn't deserve this, and yet, Takashi couldn't think of a time he felt happier than right now.
Rei was leaning into him and he was embracing her. Like he'd only get to do this one more time before it's all over. Igou's corpse lay in the center of the rooftop, a few feet away from the makeshift barricade they'd built to hold Them off. His best friend lay dead. Done in by his own hand no less. And no matter how hard he tried, Takashi couldn't find it in himself to care as much as he should've. He couldn't help but feel as if it could have easily been him lying there, but that didn't matter. Because it wasn't him.
Igou would probably be shedding tears over his body.
So why is it he couldn't bring himself to cry?
"Rei. We're going to make it out of this. I swear."
Takashi had a plan and it would work. It had to work.