"Were you always this pitiful?"
It glared down at him from heights that surpassed even the Hokage building. Nine great tails flickering behind.
"Kurama."
The beast laughed. The low rumble echoed throughout his head.
"Here we are yet again. You screw up and I'm forced to run damage control for the both of us. Atonement? Is that what you called it? Reckless is what it is. Then again, I suppose this is the best you can do."
Naruto nodded, taking a seat in the shallow pools that permeated his sewer of a mind. "Yeah. It wasn't how I thought I'd go out. In the end, I'm still weak." The silence lingered for an eternity and was defeated only by the beast itself.
"Did I tell you? One of us will make it out of this alive."
Naruto heard it, but he couldn't bring himself to pay heed. This was it for him. He wasn't looking for a way out. A peaceful death is as good as it would get. Whatever Kurama decided to do with its newfound freedom was beyond him now.
"Most likely it will be me. Your body will make a fine shield for what's out there. Give it a few years after I land and I'll regain my full strength. With no Uchiha to bind me, I'll be free to ravage the land. Finally, my patience is rewarded. You've served me well, brat!"
Melancholy eyes met a much bigger blood-red pair, and he found himself agreeing. If he flipped their lives around, Naruto felt he'd do the same given the circumstances. Kurama never got the chance to be truly independent, always bound to one person or the next. One side forever seeking to abuse its power and the other deeming its very existence too dangerous to be allowed free reign. Naruto is positive, Kurama deserved it more than him.
"What I feel for your kind can't be put into mere words. I despise you. You are below insects. You are scum."
Kurama meant every word, he could feel it. It is right of course. He'd seen first hand what humanity is capable of.
"Humans." It spat. "What a sorry bunch. I feel sorry for you, brat. Things are only going to get more difficult for you. Of that I'm sure." Naruto wasn't sure what it meant. For once in his life things couldn't be any simpler, all he had to do was let go and embrace death. After fighting by its shadow for so long it felt almost like welcoming an old friend. "Both your friend and his ancestor are dead. Their bodies are empty shells. Mindless husks. You are alive and that is because of me. Although at this rate, not for long."
He frowned at that. Sasuke didn't deserve this fate, but there was no other way. Madara would have enslaved the entire world. What they did had to be done. There's always a sacrifice to be made and they'd both agreed to make it.
"So then, this is it?"
"This truly is the end of the road."
"Oh..."
Naruto's lip trembled and a feeling welled up in his chest that he couldn't quite place. It drove him mad. He felt like screaming and thrashing about like a child throwing a tantrum. His eyes wanted to shed an ocean of tears but he couldn't manage even one. He'd thought himself above such things.
"Was I a terrible person, Kurama?"
You can't wash off blood with more blood. He could never bring them back. He would never right the wrongs. He is, without question, irredeemable. But...maybe he managed to make up for some of it?
Even if just a little?
"We're out of time."
He couldn't manage any more words. He felt tired. So very tired. Darkness crept along the corners of his vision. Kurama's words echoed faintly in his ear, and idly, he mused this would be the last time he'd hear its voice again. So regardless of how thoroughly exhausted he felt, Naruto listened until the very end.
"I don't know what's going to happen now. But, I've grown weary of this cage. I think I'll finally stretch my legs after all this time. As for you." It was becoming impossible to fight against it. The thoughts once plaguing his mind were too far away to care about now. He felt cold, but not uncomfortable. "You weren't so bad, for a human."
A little smile broke out as he fell back into the water.
"That's good.
Goodbye, Kurama."
"Goodbye. Naruto."
He watched Misuzu like a hawk. Her chest flew and fell, bruises lined her body. His fingers tensed around the weapon in his hand. 'If I was even a second later.' Naruto had forgotten, or more like he refused to admit, but when he saw her again. Eyes panicked and lips contorted in terror. When that Thing came at her a mere inches from taking her away. Something inside came to life. Misuzu would be one of Them by now if it weren't for him. A starved shell. His glare fell on the person next to her.
'Because of you.' Nikki nearly killed them both. Her mind is weak, her body even weaker. She is dead-weight. Naruto didn't hate the girl. Her cowardice was never an issue before, but now? For the first time in a very long time, Naruto felt anger foam up inside himself. He reached into his pocket and carefully drew a neatly folded piece of cloth with a familiar pattern on it. Naruto did enjoy her meals. They were a nice change of pace from the otherwise processed garbage he consumed daily, but that didn't mean he owed her anything. It was Misuzu's choice. It was her own shallow ideals that brought her back every time. At the least, he'd make sure she got to a safe place and then they'd part ways forever. Anything else is extra baggage he didn't want to drag around.
'So then, why?' The blood-soaked shard of glass, wrapped in cloth so that it wouldn't cut him, hovered over Nikki's heart. This thin, defeated girl was a liability. Naruto could name a dozen reasons why he should kill her now and Misuzu would never know it was him, and yet she still drew breath. 'Why can't I do it?' He shouldn't care. He didn't. Did he?
The blond fought back a sigh. If this was a mission things would've been a lot easier. There were no orders here. No objective to follow and no end-game in sight. It was his call. 'At any rate. I'm sure this won't be resolved in just a few days.' A family of helicopters rushed through the skies, racing towards what was now a city caught on fire. Naruto's attention fell back on Nikki. His eyes regarded her for nearly a minute, drinking in every detail. He was sure she didn't want to die alone and or in pain. There's no better way to pass than in your sleep. It's better this way.
His expression froze over.
'I'm sorry, Misuzu.'
He brought his hand down.
"What the hell are you doing?!" The jagged edge ended an inch off from Niki's chest. Icy blue shot to the open door of the classroom they occupied. Hazel eyes glared back at him, a scowl across oddly familiar features. "I'll ask you again! What exactly are you doing?"
'Pink?' Naruto stared back.
"Takagi-san! P-Please, wait up next time!" Another student stood by the girl's side, a hand resting on the door frame as he fought to catch his breath. Then it hit him. His eyes widened and he couldn't help but stifle a dry laugh.
Life is strange indeed.
"She's unconscious. I'm making sure she wasn't bitten." The way she crossed her arms and raised her brow told him she was still suspicious. Smart girl, but he figured as much.
"Is that right? What makes you think it's the bite?"
He shrugged, hiding the blade and fully facing her. "It's just a feeling." Other than a few drops of blood here and there, they didn't look too bad. Naruto's eyes were drawn to the gun clutched tightly in the boys' hands. A gas-powered nail gun, and considering they'd made it this far he must have good aim with it. "That's...impressive." Naruto thought aloud, eyeing the weapon.
"T-Thank you! It isn't much but it's something. I've kept Takagi-san safe, at least. My name is Kouta Hirano by the way, I'm a second-year. This is Saya Takagi, she's a second-year too. W-Who are you?"
They're doing introductions at a time like this?
"Naruto Uzumaki. Third-year. It's nice to meet you, I guess."
Kouta's eyes bulged behind his glasses. "U-Uzumaki?! As in the infamous no-good-number-one degenerate in the school? T-That Uzumaki?!"
What's with these titles? Was it really that bad?
"Ah. Yeah. I guess."
"You know him, fatass?"
Kouta flinched at the nickname. "W-Well, I don't know Uzumaki-san, but he's well-known around the school. I'm surprised you haven't heard any of the rumors. There's even a few of us that...well, we...we think that..." He trailed off, clearly embarrassed. Naruto wasn't exactly sure he wanted to know what came next.
"Spit it out, dumbass. I don't want to die here waiting on you to finish your stupid story."
Thankfully, Kouta didn't need too.
"N-Naruto...?"
His neck nearly snapped to her. The adrenaline must have worn off by now. Misuzu struggled to stand. He was by her side in an instant. "Take it easy. I'm right here." He helped her take a seat on a nearby desk, and once she was comfortable, let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. His gaze flickered over to the still sleeping Nikki.
'It's out of my hands now.'
"W-What happened? I remember...falling. Nikki too. Then, that...Thing. So many of Them. I was sure...I was so sure..." Tears welled up in her eyes her voice cracking by the end of it. He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. Misuzu's damp eyes met his. Naruto didn't always know what to say. He was never good with words, but, if it was for someone precious...he would try.
"It's going to be okay."
Naruto despised the words. He knew all too well things would never be 'okay'. It didn't get any easier, not for him or anybody else. She fell into his arms nonetheless. Shoulders quivering, her sobs echoing throughout the room. He didn't turn her away, the things she'd seen, the pain she must have felt. Naruto knew it well.
"Hirano-kun, where exactly are we going again?" Misuzu walked alongside her classmate. Naruto to her left, Nikki on his back. She felt bad about making him carry her around but he insisted.
"Takagi-san thinks we should go to the faculty break room."
Saya nodded. "The office is soundproof. That means it's relatively safe. It's also on the third floor so there shouldn't be anyone there. Not alive at least. We could check the news and figure out what's going on out there."
Misuzu blinked once and nodded slow. That was a good plan. She wanted to know what was happening just as bad as any of them did. What could have caused this nightmare? Would things go back to normal soon? If ever? Would there even be such a thing as normal if they made it out alive?
'My parents? Nikki's dad? Are they...?'
Kouta summarized her train of thought well.
"This is horrible."
As they tracked through the halls the body count grew. Rivers of red running underneath the corpses. People. Real people. Dead. Would they come back like the rest?
"Hey! You!"
Misuzu turned to the voice like the others. A third-year stood jeering at them, his shirt gone, exposing a pallid chest. He was covered in sweat and grime. She recognized him as one of the school's best soccer players. Notorious for his good looks and bad habits. "You two nobodies! Give us the girls and whatever that thing in your hand is and get the fuck out of here!"
"W-What!?" Misuzu took an involuntary step back. Another student stepped out of the door behind him, equally as under dressed as his friend.
"What did you find, Kira? Oh! It's Saya Takagi! My father hates your father's guts you know? He bitches and moans about it almost every day! It's so annoying! It's only right you make up for it!"
"That's horrible! You know, Ryuji, this must be a sign from god! It's the end of the world, right? He's delivering justice to your doorstep! Who are we to deny divine intervention?!"
Ryuji smiled. He waved his hand into the classroom and three more paraded out, the same lecherous smiles on their revolting faces.
"You heard him!"
"The world you know has gone to shit! We're going to take over this school and make it a paradise for ourselves!"
"There are no rules now. No one to protect the weak! But we're nice guys. We understand you might get your chance to do the same as us one day. So hand the girls and the nail shooter over and we won't have to kill you! I've already killed ten of those Things. Killing you two will be cake."
Misuzu couldn't believe her eyes. She expected better than this, really she did. The thought lingered in the recesses of her mind, but she truly thought the people around her above it. She was wrong. Wrong!Wrong!Wrong! It was worse than she could've imagined. These weren't people! They were monsters, just like Them! Her blood boiled. She needed to do something! Kouta beat her to the punch.
Ryuji blinked, bringing his hand up and brushing his cheek where an open gash leaked fresh blood. "Mother fucker! That hurt!"
Kouta was shaking, finger twitching over the trigger of the nailgun.
"The next one won't miss."
Ryuji roared, "You fat piece of shit!" A nail immediately buried itself into his foot. The bravado disappeared as quick as it came. Ryuji dropped onto his back and screamed bloody murder, holding his now bleeding foot tightly while screeching the words. "K-Kill them! Fucking kill them!"
They turned to each other, nodded, then faced them. Their intent was clear as day. Misuzu would be lying if she said she wasn't terrified. The look in their knotted eyes made her feel like dying would have been the better alternative.
"It was only a matter of time. In situations like these, humans show their true colors." Misuzu heard Saya's words and wanted so desperately to disagree with them even now. She wanted to lie to herself and say it was only these monsters that would dare go this far. More often than not, the truth is far uglier than the pretty little lies we tend to tell ourselves.
Kouta aimed and made to fire when Naruto finally decided to speak up.
"Don't waste it on them. Go check the hall instead. This idiot just screwed us." Before anyone could retort, Naruto signaled for them to stop. He pointed to the squirming Ruji, who was desperately nursing his bleeding wound. "Your friend just let out a very loud scream that probably pulled every freak within hearing distance to this general location. What does that mean, you ask? It means They will come and They will find you here. Rip each one of you to bits. Chewing and tearing your eyes, your mouth, and your privates. They'll shove every bit into their rotting jaws and then shit you out somewhere along the way to their next meal."
He stepped towards them, slow and poised until he was close enough to touch. No one dared to make a move. Misuzu could see them shaking, terrified of whatever it was they saw.
"U-Uzumaki-san..." Kouta muttered. Looking more than a little queasy at the thought. She couldn't blame him. The bitter feeling lingering in the air, bite that crept up and down her spine. It felt like she was suffocating.
'Naruto?' Blood smeared the halls and every single one of them, but it clung to him. The color red wrapped around his frame like a sheet.
"Holy shit dude! We're sorry!"
"P-Please, help us! We can get out of this t-together!"
"We were just having some fucking fun man, we're sorry!"
Misuzu swore she saw her breath.
"Takagi-san. Check the room. There's someone in there."
Saya looked like she wanted to argue but decided against it. She dashed past him and into the open classroom. Kouta too did as told. Naruto's tone left no room for arguments. It was quiet for a moment. He didn't say anything to her and she was starting to get nervous. Nobody uttered a word, the silence was beginning to drive her mad.
Until Ryuji spoke up, begging with tears in his eyes. "W-What about us? Please don't leave me here! I-I'll die! And it's y-your fault! If I die here, my blood is on your hands! Is that what you want to be? A-A murderer?!"
"Misuzu." He said, "Close your eyes."
She did as he said, but couldn't help but crack a single eye open. With Nikki still on his back, Naruto reached one hand into his left pocket. Then, he killed him. With practiced ease, Naruto slit Ryuji's throat. The teen held his neck where blood trickled through the cracks of his palms, eyes wide and filled with terror. A choked gurgle so disturbing and inhumane left his gaping mouth, more blood trickled down his chin. He fell to his knees and died seconds later.
His friends followed suit.
Misuzu didn't understand. It happened so fast. Everything is happening too fast.
He didn't even flinch. There wasn't a single shred of hesitation in his body. He killed them and had no doubts about it.
'Naruto...? Is this Naruto?'
"I told you to close your eyes."
He easily stepped past the bodies and entered the classroom, never looking back. Misuzu gawked at the wide-eyed corpses for a moment longer, before gradually following behind. What she found inside nearly made her vomit.
Saya was hugging a girl tightly. The poor thing was naked and sobbing. Bruises all over her exposed arms and legs. Bludgeoned corpses sprawled about around her. There was a putrid stench in the air, an awful mix of the dead, and a thick musky odor.
"What happened to them?" Saya asked, never taking her eyes off the girl.
"They're dead." He responded.
Saya didn't bother questioning him. She nodded once and then whispered into the sobbing girl's ear. The girl froze up and then cried even harder.
He wasted no time.
"I'm sorry for what they've done, but we need to move. You can either stay here or..."
Naruto was going to leave her. Misuzu could see it. She knew that look well enough by now. Her lips moved and she made to say something when the slaughter that occurred moments ago replayed in her mind. Misuzu froze up. Their eyes met, then he looked away. A flicker of something in them that she couldn't quite place.
"You can come with us! We know a safe place! What's your name?" Saya asked her while glaring up at the blonde.
"...N-Naomi."
He, of course, glared back.
"Whatever. She's your charge. Help her up. Use this to cover yourself. Misuzu, let's go." Naruto interrupted her, tossed his blazer on the ground, then walked out of the door.
He wanted to curse. This wasn't how he saw things playing out. The original idea was to get Misuzu to safety and wait until everything blows over. If it ever did. Babysitting was most certainly not on the agenda. Although, at this point, he shouldn't be so surprised. When did things ever go according to plan? 'People like you always make it harder.' Misuzu was staying as close to Saya as possible. No doubt still trying to come to terms with what she'd see. Likely, she never thought her classmates would do such a horrible thing. Himself included.
The girl, Naomi, was between them. Head bowed. She couldn't look anyone in the eye. He felt for her, but there was nothing he could do to take away the pain. What is done is done. Her only consolation was that their rotten corpses were now made a mess of. To his total surprise, Kouta held the rear and was keeping up better than anyone else.
'I hope you're enjoying your nap, princess.' Naruto shifted Nikki. The walk to the office was a quiet one and it gave him time to reflect. 'I can't wait for her, she'll want to save everyone.' His gaze fell on Misuzu again. Until he could know how bad it would be, taking any action would damage his cover. Of course, it couldn't have been easy. When she wakes up, Nikki will become another problem to deal with.
Not to mention...
"We're getting close," Saya said, giving her best to look composed. She kept her eyes fixed ahead and her chin up despite the circumstances. He expected no less.
'I wonder...does she remember me?'
"T-Takagi-san! Look out!" Misuzu called too late.
None of them saw It. Even he couldn't tell given how in pieces It was. Saya couldn't catch herself in time. Her feet sunk into Its caved and battered chest, wet, pulpy matter swelling up to her heel. She fell to the ground with a shrill scream, her drop broken by the heaps of bodies lying underneath. Misuzu ran to her when a creeping hiss froze her mid-step. The corpse Saya's leg was held inside of came to life. It grabbed her and she screamed bloody murder, kicking and crying, scrambling to get away from It. The iron grip denied her wish.
"Stay away!"
Naruto made to shrug Nikki off when a familiar head of hair peeked out from a distance with someone else in tow. She sprinted with every fiber of her being, raising the stick in her hand high and throwing it. The spear raced and wedged itself into Its skull. Breaking Its neck from the sheer force alone.
"Saya!" The onyx haired teen behind her yelled, jumping into the gore to help.
Naruto tilted his head. Watching the body.
'This is starting to feel like a reunion. Now all that's missing is her...'
Saya didn't seem to believe her eyes.
"R-Rei...? Taka...shi?"
Takashi nodded gently and Saya threw himself into his arms after. Tears running down her cheeks. Naruto wasn't sure why, but she was more than just happy to see them. Saya was visibly relieved.
"Oh, dear? Are we interrupting something?"
Naruto's neck nearly broke.
'Of course.'
His hunch was right. There she stood, in all her glory. Blue eyes shimmering in delight. Unfazed by the stagnant bodies surrounding them. Saeko Busujima didn't fear anything, after all, alive or dead. By her side, Shizuka offered a good-natured smile.
"Hello, everyone!"
When he was younger, all he wanted was to be the Hokage. To be admired and loved, accepted. He shouted his dream to the heavens more to remind himself than anyone else. With every fiber of his being, he believed. For years he held onto pipe dreams of marrying Sakura and helping Sasuke get his revenge.
When the third Hokage died, Danzo came to him and made an offer he couldn't refuse. The first of many sacrifices. He'd answered yes without a moment's thought. The rest is a blur.
It was easy to hate people like Itachi Uchiha. Until you learn the same man sacrificed everything he loved so that the village could maintain its peace-loving appearances. Itachi slaughtered his family to protect his home. His lone, innocent younger brother all that was left to bear the cross. This is the world they lived in.
Rotten to the core.
"Uzumaki-san, what do you think?" Kouta's voice snapped him back to reality.
"...What?" Naruto saw their eyes were on him, awaiting his response.
"I don't think they'll let us in. So what do you think we should do? Saya-san wants us to try reasoning with them. Busujima-san agrees with her. Takashi-san and Rei-san think it's too dangerous and that we should move on."
Right, they'd managed to find the office but there was a glaring flaw in their plan none of them accounted for. The office door is locked. Not only that, but people were on the other side, and they weren't so eager to let them in. He thought it over.
"I guess we could try. If they want to be stubborn about it, we just let ourselves in."
A multitude of reactions awaited him. Misuzu seemed the most put off of all, as anticipated. "N-Naruto! What the hell? They're probably terrified! We can work together without having to break the door that keeps Them out!"
He met her glare. "Some people don't want to work together. They want everything for themselves, and that door isn't keeping anything but us out at the moment."
"These people aren't like that!" She barked.
"I'm sure you thought the same about those guys back there."
Naomi flinched and Misuzu turned her whole being to her, but not before throwing him one final glare. The tension between them was palpable.
"I-Is this guy serious...?" Takashi mumbled.
"Naruto-san can be intense sometimes. It sort of can catch you off guard."
He appreciated Kouta standing up for him, but Naruto doubted they'd make it through the week. Their opinions on the matter were irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.
"Uhm. Hirano-san, right?"
"Yes! It's nice to meet you, formally that is Y-You can just call me Kouta, though."
Takashi nodded. "Likewise. I wish we'd met under better circumstances."
He still couldn't quite believe they were still bothering with greetings.
"Oh! I'm so glad everyone is getting along! We're almost home free, everyone!" Shizuka clapped her hands and grinned. It would have been cute was she not covered in coats of various people's blood. That didn't stop them from ogling her body.
"Would you all shut the fuck up! You're going to bring Them here if you keep parading around like idiots!" Saya snapped.
Naruto couldn't help but agree.
"I'd hate to spoil the mood, but it looks like they've noticed us," Saeko said, smiling. She waved at the window where two others dumbly waved back. Naruto stared at the third.
'She made it.'
Kyoko couldn't quite conceal her shock when she saw the group just outside their door. That they'd even made it this far together was amazing. For hours she ran through the bloodstained halls of Fujimi Academy. Beloved friends and students torn to pieces, maimed, disfigured, while the walking dead stalked every corner. Their numbers always growing. She'd managed to find two others and bring them along with her, but a group that large felt impossible.
Then, she saw him, and she knew why. Blue eyes veered into her. They demanded something. She had a feeling she knew what they wanted.
"H-Hayashi-sensei. What should we do?" Subaru asked his hand inches from the lock.
Yukki didn't say a word, her eyes fixated on something.
Kyoko met his gaze again. Something told her there was no other choice. He'd come inside regardless. She only prayed that she wasn't wrong by giving in.
"Open the door."
Kyoko recognized Sakeo as she entered the room with tact like the world wasn't crumbling around her. Kyoko had the pleasure of working with her several times, she was a diligent and capable woman. Her resourcefulness no doubt helped them stay alive. The rest followed behind. Kyoko didn't personally know anyone except Shizuka, the school nurse, and while she didn't associate with the blond outside of work she was more than happy to see a colleague who wasn't dead. Then came him. A girl slung over his back, unconscious and dyed red. She knew him better than most.
Naruto wasn't the type to bother lending a helping hand. He didn't care much for people, himself included. Yet, the way he laid her body down gently. Propping her neck up with a folded shirt It told her differently. Perhaps Naruto wasn't as heartless as he led himself to be?
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You saved our lives! We owe you one, Hayashi-sensei!"
Kyoko's gaze fell on the auburn-haired daughter of the police. Who seemed on the verge of outright tackling her to the ground. Her eyes shimmered with such emotion, she truly meant every word.
Saeko rested her bottom on a nearby table and crossed her legs. The dented, bloody wooden sword laid out over her lap. "Yes, thank you, Hayashi-sensei." One by one they praised her. Despite the grim situation, Kyoko couldn't help but swell up with pride. She'd made the right choice, that much is certain.
"Nevermind that. I did what was best. Now, please take a moment to rest. I'm sure you're exhausted. There's some food in the fridge. It's not much but it's something. Feel free to dig in," Kyoko gestured to the refrigerator and pantry. A few grateful smiles and nods were sent her way, but they were half-hearted at best. These kids were glad to be alive but no one was sure how long they'd stay that way.
Saeko's gaze drifted from Kyoko and to the younger redhead perched nearby. Not a moment later and she met those familiar fiery eyes she'd come to know so well. 'Yukki.' What a small world. Saeko hadn't seen or spoken to her one and only friend in nearly a year now. The poor girl must feel terribly confused about the whole thing.
"S-Subaru!?"
"Kouta! You're alive!"
The two met in the center of the room. They clasped hands and grinned, delighted to see one another. With everything happening so fast, Kouta wasn't sure if any of his friends made it out in one piece. Subaru wasn't out of the danger completely, but he was put together! That had to count for something!
"I'm happy you're safe too, Subaru. It's been...difficult, but I made it this far.
The dark-haired teen responded with a thin smile. "Difficult? Try impossible. If it wasn't for Hayashi-sensei. I'd be..." Subaru trailed off, not in the least bit comfortable with the thought. His gaze left Kouta and landed on the others behind him. A mop of unruly blond hair promptly caught his attention. He turned his attention back to Kouta, a single question in mind.
"Is...Is that...?"
Kouta blinked, then a sudden realization hit him. "Oh! You mean!? W-Well, yeah, b-but I haven't really gotten the chance to tell him about it..."
"So he doesn't know...?
Naruto glared at the duo for a bit while fighting back the urge to groan. Whatever it was they were talking about involved him, of that he was certain. Rolling his shoulders a bit, he sighed to himself when a satisfying pop eased the ache in his joints. Blue eyes drifted over to the asleep Nikki, then settling on the girl tending to her still frame. 'I know what you're thinking. I can see it in your eyes...' That glow. The desire to place someone else's life above your own. 'No matter what you think. You can't save everyone.'
"Should we tell him?"
"Subaru. I don't think now is a good time for that."
"What the fuck are you dweebs talking about?" It was Yukki who voiced her thoughts first, rather angrily at that. "You won't shut the hell up about it and you obviously have the attention of the room since you're very obviously not whispering, so spit it out!"
Kouta was very close to making a sound unbecoming of a man. He smiled sheepishly and offered a weak apology. "A-Ah, sorry. You see this is a club member only sort of thing. I can't really..."
Sharp eyes turned to Subaru. He cracked in that instant.
"We made a fan-club!"
Yukki frowned. "The fuck? You made a fan-club? For...?"
"Subaru!" Kouta was beyond embarrassed. "W-Well, it isn't an official thing. We don't do anything weird I swear! We just sort of...talk...about him...?" His face turned beet red.
"Talk about who or what, shitheads?"
"Can you please stop the cussing every second?" Kyoko chimed in. Not in the least bit amused.
"Oh please, spare me that bullshit, sensei. I stepped on someone's fucking brain gunk thirty minutes ago. I think I still have some of it stuck to the bottom of my fucking shoe. I think at this point, we're beyond all that student and teacher crap now, aren't we?"
Kyoko found herself without a rebuttal. The girl made a good point. She looked around the room and found that everyone present witnessed the same hell she had. How dense could she be?
'That is one sharp tongue.' Naruto couldn't say she was wrong. She did have someone's brain matter attached to the bottom of her bloody tennis shoes, wedged in-between the tread. He could see it with every kick of her legs.
"Well? I'm waiting?" Yukki hit her nails over the desk she sat on, a cruel glare twisting her soft features.
Subaru opened his mouth to speak, but he never got the chance too. Naruto decided this had gone on long enough. He glanced down at his hands, eyeing the blood that stained the cracks. 'Have they forgotten?' It isn't wrong for them to want to forget. Lord knows he's tried. 'I'll be the bearer of bad news.'
"We've been in here for ten minutes now. Ten whole minutes." He gestured to the window behind him, out to the nightmare. "Don't get too comfortable. Any one of us could be dead soon."
His eyes seemed to glow against the grey and red skies. The shift in tone was quick, one by one they lost that little sense of safety however small it may have been. That welcome feeling shared between them vanished in an instant. Gone as quickly as it came.
Misuzu didn't know who this person was. She couldn't look him in the eye, let alone utter a word in his direction. This Naruto, the things he'd done...it wasn't the person she knew. Or was it?
"You're right." Yukki resumed. A crisp smile on her face. "All the more reason to savor every moment. Wouldn't you agree, whiskers?"
Saeko smiled while watching the exchange. 'You haven't changed. How comforting.' A small part of her relished it. Yukki, always the rebellious one. So quick to defy whatever giant that came to face her. "Let's not be so hostile toward one another, yes?" Saeko spoke up. "If we're going to make it out alive we'll need each and every one of us on the same page."
"Finally. Some fucking sense." Saya spat.
Naruto didn't bother with a response. He'd said what he needed to say. Things were only going to get worse from here on out. The sun was starting to set and a storm is brewing. His gaze settled on Misuzu again. She wouldn't look at him, not since he'd killed those people. It irked him. Like an itch that was just out of reach. What did she expect him to do? Let them walk away and do the same thing to someone else? Should he have moved them to a corner and killed them out of sight? Should he censor the whole school? As if she hadn't seen dozens die with her very own eyes. He watched her care for the unconscious girl. He supposed he should be angry. At her, at himself, but it didn't matter now.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Uzumaki-san, was it?" At his nod, Shizuka continued. "She's awfully warm but otherwise, she'll be okay. May I ask what happened to her? "
"She passed out."
Shizuka nodded. Humming a light tune as she focused on propping Nikki's head up even further. The girl wasn't terribly hurt besides a few scrapes she hadn't seen back in her office. With a bit of rest, she'd be back with them in another hour or so.
"Well, she'll be fine. Just let her sleep."
Misuzu nodded and mumbled another thank you, her eyes never leaving Nikki.
"What was she doing with you anyway?" Rei demanded while unwrapping a sandwich and taking a place next to Takashi on one of the couches. "I find it hard to believe you were helping anyone other than yourself. How'd you idiots even get mixed up with this guy? If I were you, I'd leave him behind. He's bound to throw you under the bus."
Naruto glanced at one of the few people he had the distinct pleasure of meeting before this unfortunate series of circumstances collided.
"Rei!" Takashi hissed. 'Does she not realize who that is?!' Never mind that, this clearly wasn't going to help anyone get along.
"If we're going to be thinking survival, then that's my two cents! I don't think he can be trusted."
A collective set of eyes landed on him. Each pair silently judging. They were waiting for him to defend himself. Naruto wasn't fazed by it, he didn't expect anyone to stick up for him. It's not like she wasn't wrong. If push came to shove, he'd let them die if it meant saving Misuzu's life.
"Rei, that's kind of harsh don't you think?" Takashi added. "I'm sure the people he came with consider him a friend. We have no right to assume he can't be trusted." To be honest, he felt the same way, but Takashi knew better than to go by rumors.
"A friend of this guy? Don't make me laugh! I'd be surprised if he even had any."
Amid the tension and distrust, the most withdrawn member of the group found it in her to finally speak up. Her legs quivered slightly and she idly gripped the edges of the jacket as she addressed them, but she spoke nonetheless.
"I-I trust him..." Naomi flinched when the attention arrived on her but soon found solace in dark blue eyes. They did not roam like Takashi or Kouta's or Subaru's did. There was no hunger or pity in them, only her own reflection. Saya told her what happened. How their school and the city were overrun by these monstrosities. How people were being killed and eaten by Them and one another. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to disappear, but she still held onto some piece of herself, and that bit wouldn't allow a friend to be slandered right in front of her.
"What did you say?" Rei asked. Eyes narrowed in contempt.
"Naomi, you don't have to defend him." Saya's whispered words fell upon depth ears.
"I trust him." She repeated. A bit louder this time. "What reasons do you have not to? Because you heard something from someone else? That's pathetic. Stupid is what it is! He saved my life! Would you have done the same?"
Rei set her food down and came to her full height. "Of course I would have! It's the right thing to do, and I wouldn't hold it over your head either!"
Naomi flinched at Rei's yelling but she wasn't planning on backing down.
Luckily for her, he could fight his own battles. "A danger to your survival?" Naruto cut her off, interrupting Rei as he walked over to the sink. He turned the handle so that water ran. "How is it you plan on doing that in the first place? Survive, that is? I'm curious." Red ran down his fingers. Mixing in with water as it sank down the drain.
It was Takashi that answered him in hopes to relieve the oncoming argument.
"We're going to leave the school and search for our families together!"
Naruto shook his head.
"That's no plan. You'll need something more than a pipe dream. You'll end up dead if that's your plan."
"W-What makes you think that?" Takashi asked him, sending his childhood friend a look that begged to her calm down.
"You're tired. Afraid. You can't fight back, not without a weapon. They're stronger than you. They have no limiter. They feel no pain. They want to kill you. To eat you. Hiding won't work. If They so much as hear you breath you're done. Can you handle that? Can you handle an entire city like that?"
Misuzu sat quietly as they each took turns raising their voices, her shaky gaze glued to Nikki's sleeping face. 'I should have said something. When they were accusing him. Calling him names. I should have said something! That girl, she barely knows him and she still fought. I...I couldn't...' He did have a friend. Even if it just so happens it's a terrible one. 'I'm your friend.'
Fear gripped her heart. He saved someone's life too. Maybe others. Was what he did right? Who knows. She had no right to judge.
'Naruto. I'm so sorry.'
"He's right though." Saya glanced at the blond she had just begrudgingly agreed with, eyeing him discreetly. "Not the way I would have worded things, but he is right."
"So then, what? We're supposed to cower in here?" Rei snapped. "We're supposed to just lock ourselves up and wait out the storm!? Bullshit! Complete and utter crap! There's no way I'm going to stay here. I don't know about the rest of you, but my parents are out there and I'm going to find them!"
Naruto didn't miss a beat.
"Then go."
"You piece of shit! I'll—
"Guys, what the hell?! Enough! We're not here to squabble with each other! This is not the time or the place!" Kyoko snapped.
Naruto shut off the water and dried his hands. He was fine. They were the ones on the brink of a mental breakdown. It's not like he said they couldn't leave, they just need a better plan.
"You guys are a bunch of babies," Yukki remarked. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you're still shitting in diapers."
"N-not helping, Yukki," Subaru said, fixing his glasses. "Man, this is a disaster."
Kouta couldn't agree more.
A plan. That's all they needed. It sounded simple enough. On paper it was. In real life terms, it wasn't. Takashi fiddled with his thumbs his eyes searching the room. The little food and water they had is gone. They'd each eaten their fill. That was good, now all that's left is deciding the next course of action. Rei was still angry, evident by her knotted brow and the not-so-subtle glares she'd send Naruto's direction. Poor guy, despite everything going on around him, he's still the most disliked guy here.
"Did you have to be so cold?" He asked.
"Yes."
Withholding a sigh, Takashi let his head fall back against the leather. Igou's death was still fresh in his mind, hers too no doubt. He knew Rei missed him, that she was thinking about him even now. That bothered him. Why did it bother him? Why was it still gnawing at the back of his head? Igou is dead. He'd brought a bat to his best-friends skull. Shattered it. He ended Igou's life with his very own hands. He had no other choice.
So why?
"..Don't leave me, please. Stay with me..."
Was it just convenient for her? Had it been anyone else, would she have felt the same way? Would she cling to them and mourn? Would she have cried like that for him?
"H-Hey! Look!" Subaru cried, motioning for them to come closer while pointing madly to the windows. One by one they stood and followed following his finger down, where four people ran for their lives. A gathering of Them on their tail with more and more joining the chase.
Naomi's eyes widened at the sight. He was alive! 'Bakugo-kun!' Tears formed at the sight of her longtime boyfriend, alive. He was alive! She could see him, wounded and beaten, but he was alive! She froze up, flashbacks of what happened then flooding her vision. The way they used her. Violated her. Her heart thumped in her chest. A drum. Could she tell him? If she did, would he be angry? Would he still love her? Suddenly, Naomi felt small. Insignificant. Disgusted. Disgusting.
"It's Bakugo!" Subaru cried. "And there are others with him! Kouta, we have to help him! We have to do something, don't we?!"
"R-Right! Y-Yes, we do!"
Help him?! How?!
"You sure about that?" Naruto whistled. "I see ten of Them hot on their heels." He paused. "You think you can save anyone when you can't even protect yourselves?"
"We have to try!" Rei sounded, challenging his glare.
"She's right! We don't know if it will work but we have to try!" Takashi was right there with her. A fire in his eyes. Likely he didn't want to see anyone else die. Naruto could see his resolve shine and he wasn't the only one either. Kouta and his friend were behind them, unsure and terrified, but certain. If they could help to save their friends' life, they would.
Kyoko wanted to tell them no but Yukki is right. They were beyond the teacher-student characters.
"It isn't safe, but I won't stop you. I can't stop you."
"I'm definitely not risking my neck out for someone I don't know! I'll do what I can from here, but I won't leave until we really know what we're doing out there." It was Saya that disagreed, her arms crossed under her chest. "The bigger we are the harder we fall.
Takashi narrowed his eyes. "So then give us a plan! If we can do something, we should do it!"
Saya frowned. 'Idiot...you can't pretend to be a hero making a face like that.' Takashi was scared. His eyes practically begging for her help. "Fine. If I'm right, which I probably am, you have about eight minutes before they're too far away to bother saving. If you take the left-side stairway to the second floor and cut through the hall and make another left down to the science building, you'll meet them in front of the gym. What you do there is up to you. Just be ready to run. Don't fight! Understand! You'll die if you do."
"E-Eight minutes?" Kouta whispered, gaping.
"We'd better not waste any time then!" Rei said. "Let's go, everyone!"
"Yeah!"
Saeko smiled watching them leave. These clowns were set on risking their own worthless lives for those that which was already dead. Comical. 'If only you would go along with them.' She eyed Misuzu, the corner of her lip twitching ever so slightly. 'If only.' Another bout of silence befell those who stayed behind after the door shut. It lasted up until the sound of faint rumble cut through it.
Misuzu couldn't help but turn red. When blue eyes fell on her expectantly, she finally caved. "I didn't eat my share. I thought Nikki might need the energy when she wakes up. I-I'm fine, really I am."
Naruto stared. "I'll go get more. Eat."
Saeko felt her soul catch fire at the sight. How he catered to her, protects her. Disgusting! Jealousy. She was a stranger to it. Growing up, she'd never wanted or cared for much, if anything. If she wanted something she got it, even if she had to lie and cheat to make it so. The feeling is entirely unpleasant.
"I'll go with you."
Their eyes met. With a single glance, they shared so much. Saeko wasn't so weak that she couldn't admit to her mistakes. She would never lie to herself.
"You don't have too."
"I won't let you go alone."
Time spent with him. By his side. It was invaluable. If she had her way, it would be them and only them in this room.
Misuzu glanced back and forth, resisting the urge to bite her lip.
'Damn it! My own stomach...'
"You could die."
"I doubt it."
She smiled, he grimaced.
"Fine. I won't hesitate if you turn."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
He wordlessly stood and she followed. No one bothered to stop them.
Naruto supposed it could be worse. He could have been stuck with Rei. Yeah, he was certain that Saeko wasn't the worst choice. He could consider this one of their unusual morning walks. Complete with the constant questions and innuendos.
"You know, I have to ask. Does all of this death not bother you?"
She followed him, watching his every move.
He shrugged. "I play a lot of video games."
Saeko smiled. "I suppose that's it then? You're a gamer? That explains your inability to adjust to society and your cool and moody nature, right?"
He blinked once. Eyes on her.
"You don't know when to quit, do you?"
"Never"
The blond shot her a frown. "Then I'll ask you the same thing. You don't seem too in shock either." He waited for even the smallest hint of betrayal, yet he found none.
Saeko skipped on ahead. An odd sight, given all the blood. "It does bother me. But, it's kill or be killed, right? That's easy enough to understand. Father made sure that nothing could scare me to a stop." She twirled and twirled, her dress flowing around her. "Although, I'll admit. I don't like the smell." She pushed the doors to the cafeteria open.
The sight of fly-infested bodies awaited them. Heaped atop one another, their innards splattered out and running over one another like spaghetti. Kicked over chairs and tables scattered everywhere. Mushed up food and spilled drinks with chunks of who knows what tangled in-between. And of course, at the very end, way on the other side, was the storage room.
"Yuck. Did I say I don't like it? I meant I fucking hate it." She counted well over twenty of Them. The monsters stumbling about. Aimless with no direction. Their eyes dull and drab, jaws hanging loose and bloody.
"That makes two of us." He took his place next to her, watchful eyes sweeping the room. He wasn't afraid of Them and neither was she. If they both died here and now, they wouldn't shed a tear over it.
Perfect. He is perfect. He made her feel whole. Alive even. He made her feel unlike anyone else in this world. Understood her even if he didn't know it. Her spine crept in his presence and her stomach ached and shivered at the thought of him. No one made her feel this way. None of them ever came close.
'You...and only you.'
Saeko loved him.
"Why are you crying?"
Nikki flinched at the unfamiliar call. Puffy, bloodshot eyes blinked, and she suddenly realized that she wasn't the only one occupying the riverbank anymore. Another girl was staring down at her with wide brown eyes. A pretty bow neatly tied unto her long dark hair.
"I-It's nothing." She was lying of course. Her dad abandoned her again. Gone to London on another business trip, and on the very first day of school. Nikki couldn't take seeing everyone show up with their family. She couldn't stand hearing the words of encouragement and knowing she'd never heard the same.
"I don't know. It sure seems like there is.' The look in her eyes. It was...familiar? Who was this girl?
"From my perspective, you look lonely. I'm lonely too. Do you want to be my friend?" She sat next to her. Crossing her legs over one another and placing her elbows on her knees. Nikki squinted through her tears.
"W-What...?"
The girl giggled at her apparent confusion. Covering her mouth with her hand in an attempt to stiffen her laughter. "My name is Misuzu." A hand hovered in front of her face. "Let's be friends!"
Nikki eyed it for a moment, then reached out and took it, quietly enjoying the warmth Misuzu seemed to spread.
"O-Okay."
This was the worst she'd ever felt in her entire life. Nikki's head pounded. Her entire body ached. The only thing she could do was stare into the empty cup of water she'd chugged seconds before. It didn't do much to relieve the dry feeling in her throat, but it helped. A small piece of her was still clinging to the notion that this is just an awful dream.
"How are you feeling? You were out for quite some time. You shouldn't overdo things." Shizuka had helped keep an eye on her while she slept.
"It's okay. I'm feeling better." Nikki's throat felt like a desert. What happened to her? No matter how hard she tried, she could not remember anything. When she'd tried to force the memory she saw nothing but a mix of colors and shapes. Nothing but a blur. Faces and their collective screams blending together into one horrifying picture. She felt sick again.
Nikki's eyes darted around the room until they landed on the only other person she knew, Hayashi. The woman taught her third block physics class and did a good job of it. Kyoko waved and gave a smile that betrayed her, as did the blood varnishing her shirt. Then there was the girl next to her. Another redhead a shade darker with cropped, unruly locks.
"My name's Yukki." She cooed with a wink. "Didn't anyone tell you? It's rude to stare."
"O-Only once..."
"Oh? Then why do it again? I'm staring at you. You're obviously uncomfortable. Why do that to me?"
"I-I...well...I d-didn't m-mean to..."
It was here that Saya decided to step in, Nikki's discomfort evident.
"Leave her alone, Yukki. You're making yourself look bad. Don't you think it's kind of silly to play games with people right now?"
Yukki waved her off. "Oh shut the fuck up know-it-all. I can do whatever I want. It's not like I'm hurting anyone."
Saya glowered, a fire in her chest. She bit her lip and grit her teeth. Doing her best to keep her temper in check. "You think you're being quirky or some shit? You think it's cute? People are fucking dying out there! Don't you get that? Get your shit together! We need to work as a team, but all you've been doing as biting at everyone's neck."
Yukki laughed at her.
"Honestly, I don't give a shit what you think, bubblegum. I like the spunk though."
"That's enough from both of you!" Kyoko spat, leveling them with a rigid scowl. "I suggest you keep your voices down! You're behaving like children!"
Yukki shrugged in response to the woman's scorning. Not deeming the argument worth her time anymore. She brought her attention back to Nikki and smiled. Gritting her teeth in response, Saya turned her back to both Yukki and herself.
To her left, Shizuka hummed aloud. "They're going to be the best of friends. I can already tell. As for you..." If that's what Shizuka deemed a healthy relationship Nikki couldn't help but question her medical skills, among other things. "You checked out fine, thank god. I have to admit, when Uzumaki-san brought you in I really did fear the worst. I'm not sure how this infection works exactly. We could all be sick for all I know and death is what triggers it."
Nikki's eyes widened. She froze at the mention. The chaotic blob that was her memory turned thin and narrow. She remembered running for her life, chasing after Misuzu with the army of dead following close behind. Too close. Hallway after hallway. There were more and more every time Nikki looked back. She remembered feeling so tired, helpless, and weak.
She gave in! She fell to her frailty, dragging Misuzu down with her! The rest is black.
'Oh no...No!no!no!'
But they were here now! They survived!
They survived...!?
"Misuzu? Where's Misuzu?!" Nikki's heart plunged. Panic gripped her.
Shizuka placed a finger over her lip and smiled. "It's okay." She motioned behind her, "She fell asleep looking after you."
Nikki followed the finger to find her sleeping. Misuzu's lips were cracked and she had a nasty bruise on her forehead from the fall. Her clothes were a mess and she was covered blood. But, she was alive. Nikki's eyes landed on her and she felt clarity. She ran to her side, forgetting about everyone else, and openly wept. Her family is right here. Safe and sound. She didn't need anything or anyone else to be happy.
Near the windows, Naomi listened on, feigning sleep while awaiting the others to return with Bakugo. Her heart cried out for the man she loved, but the feeling lingered. Something sat in her thoughts. Making it even harder to face him. It laughed at her. Taunted her, and filled her head with those horrifying memories. Her fingers clenched around the jacket Naruto gave her, and as Nikki's sobs sounded in her ears, she couldn't help but wonder...
'Is this the end of the world?'
Flames danced along with the city she'd known her whole life.
They danced in her heart too, wasting what was left.
They roved the cafeteria, crashing into each other, eating at whatever remains hadn't turned yet. Splitting flesh from bone and devouring them piece by piece. They paid the two no mind while they silently walked. Watching Them eat this closely had a distinct appeal to it, if only as a learning experience. They were in a frenzy. Greedily stuffing Their mouths with chunks of dark wet mush. Saeko wrinkled her nose in disgust. She preferred her meat cooked.
'What a peculiar disease. Or is it a curse? A godly plague, perhaps? Does it even matter at this point?'
A turned girl stumbled upon their path. Dried blood darkened her mutilated features. Beady, grey eyes swiveled and fell in their direction. Close enough to pick up on the smell of fresh meat. It opened It's mouth to shriek. A blade lodged itself between Its eyes. Naruto caught the body before it hit the ground, quietly laying It at his feet. He wedged the crude knife out of Its skull, a trail of blood attached to the shard of glass. Wiping it on his pants leg, Naruto let out a sigh.
"What a waste of time." He whispered, more to himself than to her.
"I wouldn't say that," Saeko added with a quaint smile. "I'm impressed. You're good, Naruto-kun. In fact, you're better than good. I'd go as far as to say you're doing suspiciously well."
He snubbed her. Opting to scour through more trash for anything that would serve to be edible food.
"Oh, how I wish you'd stop being so cold, Naruto-kun. I volunteered to come out here with you, did I not? Even though it's a risk. I care about you, don't you know?"
Naruto snorted.
"Is that so? I doubt that. I never was good with women."
"Yes. I suppose you are rather bad."
They walked by each other's side. She tried every so often to slide through the cracks and spark up a conversation but he denied her every time. Naruto didn't want to talk. He lacked the usual fire, his thoughts were on other things. Other people.
'That girl, he's thinking about her.'
The smile on her face widened.
"I'll admit you really are handling this rather splendidly." She tapped her fingers on the hilt of her wooden sword as they marched, "This isn't your first time, is it? This isn't your first brush with death." She gestured to the horror encompassing them. "You've seen it before."
"Yeah. Like I told you. I play a lot of violent video games."
A lifetime spent alone and in the dark. Hunting for something to fill the void. For a long time, Saeko had a theory that she'd been born into hell, until the day that she met him that is. She'd never let him get away. She would never feel alone again.
Saeko followed his retreating back. She was spellbound. Stricken. There was no denying it, more so, she'd be a fool to deny it in the first place.
"Saeko," He stopped, "Why are you doing this?"
"What do you mean? Doing what?"
"This. Whatever this is. You and me. The staring. The jokes. This is the end of that, you understand, right? There is no going back now. Once we leave this place, you'll never see me again."
It's not over. It never will be. Not as long as she still drew breath. If he wanted to blame anyone, he should blame the god that so graciously bestowed her such a complete and perfect gift. She would not let go. Saeko would never allow her life to go back to what it used to be.
Takashi ran. He sprinted with every fiber of his being through the halls of Fujimi Academy. It seemed he'd been doing that a lot in the past couple of hours.
Behind him, Them.
"Keep moving! Don't look back!" Rei led the crowd, killing one after the other, splattering red chunks of meat and blood over herself with every blow. Takashi couldn't help but admire her even now. It must be hard, he thought. She must be exhausted at this point. Each swing of that stick felt another ten pounds heavier, of that he had no doubts. It was his fault. 'Damn it! We fucked it up, we fucked it all up!' They were so close! The plan went off without a hitch. Bakugo and his group were caught crossing just in time, they'd killed the stragglers chasing after them and tended to the wounded as Shizuka-san instructed. It was perfect. Not one of them suspected the other of being bitten. The thought never even crossed their minds! When Ginyu dropped to the ground, screeching and crying and shaking, turning right before his very eyes.
It was too late.
"Kouta?! How are you holding up!?"
"I'm low on nails, Takashi!" Kouta shouted in between tired gasps, terror laced into every word. He could hear Their shrieks no doubt. Breathe in Their horrible stench. They trampled over each Other at their rear. Shrieking and groaning, slamming into the walls and floors and each other. A tide of flesh and bone. Grey eyes plopping with wicked hunger. Not a hint of humanity left in them.
"Takashi!" Rei cried, driving her spear into Its skull. A hard, watery crunch echoed in her ears. Louder than all the screaming and stomping combined. She dragged the wet wood out. Her hands were sore and covered in splinters. The broomstick she'd made into a weapon couldn't take much more and neither could she. 'Don't look back! Don't look!Don't look!Don't look!' More of Them were drawn out of their slumber by the thunderous roar of the horde chasing after them. With each one she killed, two more took Its place.
"I know!"
Clutching the bat in his hands, Takashi sped ahead at the protest of his lungs and swung all his strength. Its head shattered before his very eyes, eyeball popping out the sockets still attached to a veiny, meat cord. He wanted to throw up. Give up. The only thing keeping him together when he wanted to fall apart was her, the girl who's spear had just sailed beyond his line of sight, splitting into the soft flesh of another monster and saving Kouta's life.
'We're going to die.'
His heart was ready to jump out of his chest as they turned the corner and moved up the stairs. Takashi knew it was wrong of him, that it would put everyone else in danger, but there's only one place they could go to now. Fear stabbed at him, a million tiny cold needles that pierced every nerve. Takashi could only question his decision to risk his life for a stranger, regardless of who it was or why he put her in danger. Like a hard slap to the face, he realized. This was no time to play the hero anymore.
"So this is it? You just do the same thing every day? Brood and complain about how hot or cold it is?"
Naruto didn't bother to respond to her question. Instead, he continued to sustain the notion that if he ignored her she'd leave.
"Anyone ever tell you about hobbies? Or like, anything? You remind me of watching paint dry. Boring! Don't you think being alone every day is kind of dull? Do you like to sulk that much? If you're trying to pick up girls with this loner act I'm telling you right now it doesn't work like you think it does, trust me." She put a finger on her chin and pretend to think hard. "Wouldn't it be better to hang out with a friend?"
"No."
"Well, you need to..." There was a bright, pleasant smile on her features while she spoke. It shone like the sun. Bright and yellow. The sun is yellow, and regrettably, his hair is yellow. He disliked both. Why couldn't he have had cool red hair like Nagato? "...and I also think that, wait, hey! Are you even listening!?"
Naruto blinked. The girl, Misuzu, was snapping her fingers at him impatiently.
"Man, they really weren't kidding when they called you a next level, one-in-a-billion plus-ultra prick."
Naruto scowled at the nickname. Without another word, he stood and made his exit. Hands within his pants pockets as he began his trek toward anywhere but here. Misuzu didn't take the hint. She probably didn't care. She was walking next to him without a hitch, hands behind the small of her back. Another cheerful smile on her face.
"What? You didn't think I'd let you escape so easily, did you? Did you really think you could just up and leave? Ask anyone and they'll tell you. I'm rather tenacious when I want to be! And it just so happens that I want to be!" He didn't doubt it. "And before you start again, I don't care what you say or how much you ignore me! I'm going to be your best friend, Naruto Uzumaki! That's a promise!"
Naruto snorted, adjusting his pace so that he was walking ahead of the delusional girl. Friends? His friends were either dead or too far away to think about. At this point in his life, he wasn't interested in making any more friends. He wasn't interested in living in a new world.
"There's that look again."
He cursed himself. Tilting his head back, he was ready to retort and end this little charade, when he found himself silently amazed at his own inability to speak.
People passed. Faceless intrusions and a dozen lights glimmered behind her.
"You know, you keep making that face and it could get stuck like that? It would be a pity too. You are kind of cute."
Naruto scowled.
"Flat."
"I'll kill you."
Stupid girl, she didn't know what she'd gotten herself into.
The moment Naruto walked into the room, Nikki rushed him, her frail arms wrapping around his bigger frame. Her face buried into his shirt, wailing while she mumbled something inaudible. His whole body numbed at the sudden contact. He didn't expect a welcoming party. He didn't think there would be a welcome.
"Thank you!"
Nikki repeated the phrase over and over again. Squeezing him as if she'd known him her whole her life. Something deep inside of him stirred at that. It tugged at him, stretching him thin. She didn't know.
'Stop it.'
That crusty, fractured mirror frame. Bits of flesh trapped inside the cracks hanging over her heart.
'I would have killed you.'
Nikki lifted her head and looked into melancholy eyes without grimacing as if searching for something. Her lower lip trembled, the drops renewed. She couldn't help but weep. A waste of her breath, he didn't do a single thing for her. "I-I'm sorry for yelling at you. I...I'm sorry for...for everything! Thank you. Thank you for saving her!" She could just barely get the words out.
Naruto poured the sentiment in his breast out and stilled the current in his heart. He'd been in her shoes before, just glad someone made it in time.
'Caught off guard by a hug...'
Their eyes met a second later.
Misuzu squatted underneath the shadow of her beloved cherry blossom tree. An uncharacteristic frown plastered on her frail features. 'That fucking asshole! Me? Selfish?!' The sun sat high in the sky. A steady breeze crept through, flinging her hair out of its ordinarily impeccable bun. 'That's funny! Hilarious! Is he stupid? He must be! Did I make a mistake? I must have! I'm doing what's best for him, after all! He just has to accept it. What the hell is his problem?' She'd spent the better part of half a year wasting her days working to ease him into life at a new school. She'd bitten her tongue at the dry remarks and witless humor. She'd kept her head down when he berates her choices and makes fun of her morals. She's done everything for him, and he has the fucking nerve to call her selfish.
Unbelievable! Why is he so stubborn?!
Misuzu was furious and she didn't understand why. 'He's the selfish one. Locked up in his own head like that. Too scared to come out and face reality. People like that make me sick! I wasted my time. There's no helping him.' There was a cold, unnatural rage bubbling inside. 'He has no right! Someone like him! He's the selfish one. The kind that shuts themselves away. A coward!'
Something so stupid shouldn't get to her like this. It shouldn't rile her up to this extent. Eat away at her.
'He's wrong.
I'm not...'
When her eyes finally adjusted to the light, Misuzu awakened to an unusual sight. Nikki, who always objected to her attempts in associating with Naruto, who voiced her dislike of the blond whenever she could. With her arms wrapped around him, a paltry smile on her puffy face. 'You idiot.' That look in his eyes troubled her. He was a fly caught in a spiders web. Unsure of what to do.
"N-Nikki." Her voice cracked. It didn't matter anymore. She was at her side in an instant. Swollen and cut fingers came up to rub the knot on her head and the smile on her face faltered.
"Misuzu!"
Everything is okay now!
Everything is okay!
Faint steps shattered the spell cast upon them. Then, they exploded. Growing closer by the second. The tables and chairs rattling with each tremor.
"What? What is it?" Saya asked while reaching for the nearest wall. None fared any better. Misuzu fell against Nikki, wincing when her wounded chest smashed against her friend's bony shoulder. She hissed and Nikki whispered a hurried apology. They held onto each other, watching as Kyoko rushed to the door to see the rest of their group racing down the long hall, a few unfamiliar faces with them. At their backs an army of the dead. So many she couldn't keep count. They packed the narrow hall, their frames brushing the high ceiling, lunging and clawing at the rescue team who had led the horde directly to them.
"Brace the door! Brace the fucking door!"
"What the hell is it!?" Saya yelled. She moved to Kyoko's side and saw what she'd seen. "Oh." She felt like dying then and there. Her eyes widened when she realized what they'd be forced to do. "Wait! No! W-We can't! They're still out there!"
Yukki disagreed. "Get away from the doors! If you don't, we all lose."
Naomi shut her eyes, the pounding matching the pace of her heart. Maybe if she pretends to be asleep again? They'd leave her alone? Or maybe, she would wake up from this horrible dream. If that was the case, maybe dying wasn't such a bad idea?
"I'm giving you one chance, bubblegum. Move or I'll fucking make you!" Yukki took a step forward, glaring at the shorter girl.
Saya pushed her back. "No! We can't! If we leave them out there we're just as bad as Them. We'll be killers too! B-Besides, they can help us! The greater our numbers the greater our chances of survival, it's easy! We can't let them die! We can't! Please! They're my friends!"
"What do you think you're doing? You're blowing it, genius!"
Saya met her glare.
"We can't just leave them to die!"
"Weren't you the one who said it's not worth risking your life for people you don't know?" Yukki spat back. "You're a fucking hypocrite! Move!" She grabbed onto her and shoved the girl away.
Saya winced when she hit the ground. It kind of hurt, hearing that from someone else. Yeah, she did say something like that, but that was different. She didn't know Bakugo or anyone else from that group. These are her childhood friends. That made it different, right? They mattered. The others didn't.
It's different, right?!
"W-We can't leave them out there!" Nikki found her voice, leaving Misuzu's side to help Saya stand.
"Oh, what? Now is when you grow backbone!? Give me a break! We're out of time here, people!"
The tension in the room was palpable. Misuzu wasn't quite sure who would blow next.
"Come with me."
It was quiet. Hushed. Amidst the chaos, he slipped through. His lips at her ear, breath stroking the nape of her neck. She fought down a shiver.
'Naruto...?'
"Come with me. I can take you someplace safe. I promise, but you have to trust me."
She believed him. It didn't matter how or why, but she did.
"What about Nikki? And everyone else? Can you save them too?"
"...only you."
She smiled.
"Then, I refuse."
Misuzu sat there, her back to him. She could sense his disappointment. Taste the apprehension on his lips. He wasn't pleased, Misuzu didn't need to lay eyes on him know that. The rest argued among themselves. They screamed and cursed, fighting as the monsters drew near. Torn between what is right and what would save their lives. Strange. With both of them at her side she wasn't so scared anymore...
"I thought that you would."
She felt the air shift. He moved too quick. Misuzu snapped up, a voice in her head yelling something wasn't right. She searched for that wild head of blonde hair, but when she found it, it was too late. He was outside. The door was surrounded. A bunch of new faces scrambling to make sure they'd made it in one piece. She didn't see them, only him.
"Naruto?" Misuzu whispered his name once. "Naruto!" She screamed it. Misuzu bolted, making for the door. They grabbed onto her. Holding her down. Stopping her in her tracks, hollering nonsense, saying it was already too late.
'No! No!NoNo!'
She saw the tide of horror submerge him.
'He's going to die!'
He was a storm—shredding, punching, kicking—she could not rip her eyes away from the sight. Naruto gutted Them as if they were pigs. He slaughtered and slew, a master butcher in his own right. Moving through Them like he were chopping through a thick jungle of limbs. They couldn't touch him. At the end of a blood paved path, he stood unrecognizable.
Misuzu could not find her breath. It was only when he began a measured walk away drenched head to toe in blood, human bodies slumped and cast about like confetti, did she realize that she knew nothing about him.