Pre-chapter A.N.: Welp, this is one very long overdue update and I apologize for it. In my defense, the 2 year long hiatus was because I was getting a master's and guess what? I just graduated this year and now I'm working again. So… yea, sorry about the super long wait. As consolation, this is probably the longest chapter to date (more than 7500 words). I hope you enjoy.
Review replies:
To KOTG: thank you for the praise. I hope you will enjoy this one too.
To Kuro kaze no aka kira: sorry, but I don't think I will write it. I know certain authors have their own preferred pairings, but Kohta x Saya is not one of mine. I hope you understand.
To mordreek: I think there might be some more complex problems with the abandonment of the project… the fact that it was so popular then abandoned seems odd too… maybe they were skirting the grey area of anime or hentai too much that they got formal complaints?
I thank you for the praise. I hope to able to live up to your expectations.
The hick accent might be something that I can relate to. I realize that sometimes when I get super pissed I broke off in a (terrible) cockney accent despite never being in England nor having a single drop of English blood in me.
To eugenio4079: I just think it's more humane that way. In my opinion, it's important to note that the world of HotD is fresh-from-the-oven apocalypse. People will still cling to the old values of the civilized world (including about relationships) and adapting to the new dog-eat-dog world will take time (and sacrifices).
To Zikarn Krais: I think character redemption and development is better and more interesting for them. My vision for Rei is that she'll be the person in the group who wants to go back to the "good old days" while Shizuka will be the person who just goes with the flow. Of course, how they will develop in the future might be different.
To Zander24: I apologize sincerely for the late update, but here it is.
To Moss: I'm still thinking about it, but that might not be for the next few chapters…
I might incorporate some of it, but the spin off with kids was already published under the title "TakaTora Monogatari", please check it out and if you like it, please vote in my profile for the next story to update.
To Power Taco: sorry for the long wait.
To Guest: there are 2 reviews under the name "Guest" so I'm guessing you're the same person? Anyway… the vote has already been decided and I will only make 1 or 2 special zombies; one of which is introduced here. No special powers or weapons though. That might be for another story. I think you'll be happy with what I've done to Shido in this chapter.
To Oddballzebra: the reason I do so is because it's kind of hard to find another term for their relationship. They're far closer than boyfriend/girlfriend, but they're not yet going to another conventional step in their relationship. I hope this clears it up.
Thank you also to Pedro52, tamagat, and Ren27.
One more thing before we start: I'm wondering if you will be interested in reading some writing tips from me? I was actually thinking of giving some writing tips, including on how to choose a title, how to write a summary, and even how to break down your own story to give it some structure. I am far from an expert, but I want to share some of my ideas that I hope can be useful for you. Let me know and if there's enough interest, I'll just write it in my profile.
Chapter 9: The Dead House Stand
It took 15 minutes for everyone summoned to gather in the courtyard. Although the distance between Takashi's group and their destination was not far, the added loops, turns, additional walls, and other obstacles inside the mansion added to their travel time. During all that, Takagi Souichirou did not even say a word. He just stood in front of the main door with his arms crossed. His actions were mirrored by his wife who stood about three steps behind him to his right, sans the crossed arms.
He had been quite distant with his daughter for the past few years, a combination of her obstinate nature and his own stubbornness. In fact, the only source of information he had regarding his daughter was his wife who had also grown quite distant with her. Perhaps it was divine retribution for his own lack of intimacy with his own parents. However he had no time for lamentations, he had more responsibilities now that span more than just his family and subordinates. Finally after acknowledging that everyone had assembled, he stepped forward and stood his katana on the floor. Doing this would not be easy, but it was necessary.
Xxxx
"Wonder what's going on…" Kouta commented. They had decided on seeing the whole thing from a balcony that overlooked the courtyard.
"Whenever he assembled people like this, it's never because things went well." Saya said.
"What do you mean?"
"The time before this was when the tsunami hit the Touhoku area, the time before was the Nara mudslide, typhoon Aere, and typhoon Bart."
"Disaster mitigation briefing?" Shizuka asked.
"Among other things."
"Shh. He's starting." Rei shushed.
Xxxx
"Comrades, a tragedy has befallen us." Takagi Souichiro started. At the same time, a team of three people were moving an iron cage containing what looked like a person. The difference was his eyes were hollow and he repeatedly banged his head and limbs to the cage, uncaring of pain and discomfort. For some of the people assembled, they know what he meant. One of his members had been turned.
"This person before you is Doi Tetsutaro; a trusted subordinate and also my personal friend. He had been with me through thick and thin. When this outbreak occurred, he was among the first to offer to join the rescue effort." He paused briefly, both to take a breath and to make sure his audience understood the gravity of the situation.
"Unfortunately he was attacked during a rescue operation to defend the refugees and was turned into this… creature before you."
The turned Tetsutaro thrashed in his cage as if he understood what was being said and was not happy about it. The scared onlookers could not turn their eyes away from the grim spectacle and could only watch in morbid realization.
"Behold! This is what you will turn into once those things bit you! They will not even grant you the mercy of death and will have you roam the earth for as long as you live."
The Don kicked the cage open and in that instant his fallen comrade charged out of the cage to attack the nearest human, him. The undead's attack, however were futile as with a single perfect swing of a katana he ended his friend's misery. The attack was so fast, so fierce, so… perfect that not even a drop of blood stained his blade. Only after moments had passed did the blood of what once was Doi Tetsutaro flow from the stump which used to be a neck. Its head floated in a fountain, while a steady stream of its brown dead blood flowed into the water, forever staining it with disease.
"And the only mercy you can give Them, the only known cure to Their disease… is death." He sheathed his katana and turned on the balls of his feet, moving back into the mansion.
Xxxx
"That was… dramatic." Takashi commented.
"That was unnecessary. Just for that he ruined gallons of perfectly drinkable water." Saya retorted. Displeasure was clear on her face.
"But it was necessary to drive the point home. That our world is forever stained and can never change back. It's quite poetic." Saeko was indifferent to the display, but more concerned to the meaning behind the action.
"That was dumb." Kouta said lowly. The others were confused at his statement.
"Is there any reason you said that?" Saeko asked. She had the feeling he was about to say something rude about the master of the house they were staying at.
"A katana could only cut 4-5 heads before it chips and the blade becomes useless. If the purpose was for an execution, why didn't he use a gun?"
"A katana is only as good as the one who wields it. In the hands of a true master, it doesn't matter if it was 5 or 500, they will be cut without trouble."
"That doesn't even make any sense. If the blade hit a bone, it'll chip and then it can't cut anymore. An…
"Hey Hirano, calm down." Takashi patted his shoulder.
"Don't touch me, you filthy casual!" he swatted the hand away.
In that instant, a machete was put to his neck directly under his chin, merely a hair's breadth away. Everyone's breath stopped as they never saw the delinquent's hand move. The one who was most surprised was probably Kouta himself who had just realized how dangerous his travelling companion was. With bated breath and shaky eyes, he looked down to the gleaming blade before turning back to the one holding it. His eyes were cold and lifeless, like how a man would see a bug… just like how they would see him.
"I just cut down twenty or thirty of Them with this one alone." Takashi started. "You wanna try an' see if it's chipped?"
The tense moment lasted for less than a minute, but felt like hours to them. Nobody was moving as all eyes were stuck on the two young men. Kouta swallowed his saliva with an audible gulp, breaking the tense atmosphere. Realizing he had overdone it, Takashi pulled the blade back and sheathed it. Shit, the one time he snapped, he almost killed his teammate.
Then everyone turned to Kouta who had run inside the mansion the second the killing intent aimed at him was gone, and again awkward silence fell upon them. Everyone stood rooted to where they were, partially disbelieving what had just happened and partially not knowing what to do. Surprisingly, it was Shizuka who broke the silence.
"I'm going back. I think I'm going to need something to drink." The nurse said. She walked through the balcony door and left the others to their own devices. She would go back to the caring nurse later; now, she needed something to take her mind off the whole mess.
"I… think my mother called me earlier. So… yeah…" Saya finished awkwardly. She wanted to help either of them, but she didn't know how. Rather than embarrassing herself and potentially let the problem spiral out of control, she would do what any other rational person would do in this condition: say nothing and give space. How she sometimes hated her own brain.
Rei was waiting for the opportune moment to strike, to comfort Takashi and get them closer again. Seeing that most of the possible interlopers were gone, she reached out to Takashi to offer him some sympathy, but was too slow to do so. She was outpaced by the purple haired beauty who had half dragged her childhood friend into the house. In shock, she didn't move for some time before realization hit her like a ton of bricks. She immediately ran inside to follow them, she would not miss this opportunity.
Xxxx
Takashi and Saeko's room
Despite having less unarmed and real fighting experience than her lover, Busujima Saeko was a formidable fighter on her own. Her personal record was 99 wins in 100 fights, with a tie for the last one. Which would explain how she was strong enough to drag her younger partner and spun him around before pushing him down to the bed.
"Saeko, I…" Takashi started.
"Hush now." She stopped him.
Seeing no way to deny her wishes, he wisely shut his mouth and waited for her to say her piece. She crawled over him and put both her hands on the sides of his head. She stared at him straight in the eyes and waited a few moments before she spoke.
"That was nice of you to do that for me." Saeko started. "But at the same time it was stupid."
Takashi tried to sit up, but had his lover lowered her head instead; forcing him to lay motionless on the bed. It seemed he couldn't defend himself in this situation.
"I appreciate what you did, but Hirano is still a vital member of our group. Without him, we would have less chance of surviving."
"I know, but…."
"Let him have his opinions and talk to him when we have less stressful atmosphere. I'm sure he'll appreciate it too. We all need as many friends as we can, now more than ever."
"I… yeah… you're right. I'll talk to him and apologize."
As they were about to stand, Alice barged into the room calling for Takashi. "Takashi-onii-chan, help! Kouta-chan's in trouble!"
Xxxx
"Like I told you kid, you're not the only ones needing the firepower. Besides, you're still a kid. What the hell are you doing with all these guns?" a member of the Takagi organization said. He was probably not that much older from the young man kneeling in front of him, and he was using the fact as leverage. He was getting ticked off as the kid started hugging the guns.
"But I need it! Without them, I'm just…. I'm just…." He whimpered on the floor. Some of the adults started thinking that this was a bad idea. They would be the bad guys in this case. Who was easier to sympathize with? A kid whimpering on the floor or the adults circling around him like a lynch mob?
"That uniform… you are from Fujimi high school, aren't you?" an authoritative voice asked. It held all the dignity of a samurai and the power of a warrior.
"Huh?" the boy looked up from his kneeling position to see who had addressed him. Through the tear stained lenses of his glasses, he could see the head of the family, Don Takagi Souichirou.
"You went to the same school as my daughter, correct? Then you should know what my family and I do… and also why we need those weapons."
"But I need them! Without them I'm just a nobody."
"You ain't a nobody, Hirano. And I'm pretty sure my old man often complained to you about your attitude, Oji-san. Should I tell Oba-san about what you were doing?" Takashi said as he entered the room.
"Hooh… isn't this a welcome surprise, Takashi?" the older man addressed.
"I'd hoped I'd be here under better circumstances, but we can't all have what we want now can we? Better circumstances for our meeting, a daughter who doesn't hang out with delinquents like me for you… stuff like that?"
"True… but who said I was unhappy with my daughter's choice of friends? Join me in the parlor, you and Busujima-sensei's daughter both." He commanded. The imposing man turned on his feet and signaled his underlings to depart, leaving Kouta with the guns which were about to be confiscated.
Takashi watched the whole thing with apprehension and questioned himself; for the greater good is it really necessary to sacrifice the few? He turned to his teammate and helped him up.
"C'mon big guy, no crying. Don't wanna let Alice see your eyes all puffy." He said. He gave the larger boy a one armed hug and patted his shoulder a few times.
"I… I'm sorry you had to see that." He wiped his tears under his glasses to erase the evidence as soon as possible. The world might be ending, but he still had to maintain an image.
"See what? A bunch of old farts talkin' shit? They're everywhere, I don't think I can't not see it."
"No… but… thanks." Kouta supposed playing the fool was one of Takashi's consideration; he thought that maybe even if he didn't say it, the taller boy would do it regardless. "And sorry…. For before."
"What are you sorry about?" he asked again. "You got nothing to apologize for. If anything, I have to apologize to you for… overreacting. So… sorry. Now hurry up and go, Alice was looking for you."
"I… yeah. Got it." Again with the feigned ignorance… maybe this was how an old fashioned guy is? He thought it was kind of… cool.
He watched as his pudgy friend gathered the scattered weapons, made sure the safety was on, and ran to their "group room" holding on to them before he scratched his head and followed. He had to bring his lover to see the "lord of the domain".
Xxxx
Takagi mansion, parlor
"So, what do you need us here for?" Takashi asked. Both he and Saeko were sitting in seiza in front of their host who did the same. Though Takashi was more used to the yakuza etiquette because of his family, he was not stubborn nor inflexible as some of the older members.
"Courtesy, mostly. And saving face."
"Yours or your organizations?"
"Does it matter in the end? For all the ones outside think, I'm chastising you for your insolence. However, I called the both of you here for a different reason."
"So? Let's hear it."
"Hmph. Straight to the point as always… well, in a way it is a good thing…" The older man bowed down to the young couple before him, surprising them both.
"I implore you, please… take Saya with you."
"Excuse me?" Takashi was surprised. He was sure that the stubborn Don would force them to part with the pink haired genius, but it seemed the complete opposite had just happened.
"Despite all the resource we have… and all the security we have, this place is the most dangerous for her. In fact, her presence here might bring more harm to her than good."
"Is this really what a father should say about his own daughter?!" the young delinquent rose from his seat in anger, ready to give his friend's father a lesson. Only to be held back by the young woman beside him.
"Wait a moment, Takashi. Let's hear what he means by that." Calm as still water, Saeko spoke. Her arm exerted no strength, but had enough power to contain the angry young man.
Takagi Souichirou rose from his prostration and paused for a while, trying to find words that would explain the situation as best as he could. The mansion might had power and running water, but it would not last. Its defensible position, strong walls, and ample supplies would attract all sorts of undesired elements who would seek to monopolize the scarce, precious resources called security and convenience. It might not be now or tomorrow, but soon… in the near future, someone would see themselves the better leader and would start an internal struggle which would end at least in bloodshed. As his daughter, Saya would be his greatest weakness and most effective leverage against him and his. Who was to say that none of his "guests" would start an uprising after taking her as hostage?
Grim, but that was reality, Takashi realized. Countries could function specifically because its people abided by the law, but without them people would only follow strength and this mansion was far from a country. Without any real power that people would recognize and bow to, the strong would rule and survive while the weak would be conquered or perished. In a way, they were modern humans who had to live like pre-historic humans… and the transition would claim victims.
"Fine. I get it, but you better not regret this."
"I will not."
"And don't take your words back either. That's uncool."
"I will not, but I will expect a dower from you."
"What?" Takashi was lucky he hadn't drunk the tea like he planned, otherwise he would have spat it across the room. Saeko on the other hand looked impassive as always.
Xxxx
Takagi mansion, courtyard
"Stop this nonsense, young lady!" a 30-something woman in a purple shirt commanded. Her short hair and thin eyebrows for some reason gave the impression of a yakuza boss' old lady.
"What nonsense?! I'm telling you the truth!" Saya yelled back.
"That the dead come back to life, one bite you turn to… "Them" like a bad horror movie. Do you even realize just how ridiculous that is?"
"We've seen it with our own eyes. You've seen it just earlier! Why won't you realize that?!" the pink haired young woman argued.
The woman was starting to get angry. How dare this young upstart argue with her? Just because….
"Oh, I get it. You're his daughter, aren't you? Don Takagi's… So you're just trying to justify his murder, aren't you? Humph… Like father like child I guess."
"Everyone! Are you going to let this raving band of murderers rule over you?! We are civilized humans, we should solve our problems in a civilized way! Get these murderers out of here and let them fend for themselves!"
The woman's shout turned into a rallying cry and she excited the crowd with her words. Tried as she might, Saya could not make these people see that they no longer live in the civilized country that was Japan. They lived in a more primal world where survival means killing.
"FINE! Do whatever you want!" she had had enough. Logic didn't work, words didn't work. Might as well just let them die or turn into Them and get this headache out of the way.
The pink haired girl stomped back into the main building. If that idiot woman rallied the rest of the crowd, she and her friends might be facing a siege. From humans too. Fuckers.
Even with proof in front of their eyes the still WOULDN'T see the truth. Humanity is doomed, this unknown life form conjured by horror movies are reigning now. And what did they do? Start a fucking zombie rights movement. Maybe she should just say fuck it and open the gates. See how those undead lovers like it to be 'embraced' by the undead.
Xxxx
With Shido's group
"Betrayed by their saviors, abandoned by friends, surrounded by foes, yet still we persevere. Ah, if this were a story, it would be one for the ages, wouldn't you say?" Shido said dramatically.
Having no combatants in their group except for maybe Tsunoda, they were doomed if they had no means of defense. It was purely luck that allowed him to take the bus keys on the first try. Otherwise, he and his followers would be zombie-chow.
Realistically speaking, there was no reason they should be able to survive. No weapons, little to no supplies, congested traffic… he was surprised more than anything that they were still alive. But this actually gave him some sort of legitimacy. If they who were in such dire straits could survive without any of Them even looking at them, could this not mean that they were blessed? That they were the chosen few to continue the lineage of humanity?
No, doubting served no purpose. They WERE the chosen few, they were chosen to make sure humanity survived. Not Komuro and his ragtag team of misfits, they were. This realization gave Shido a revelation. If they were the chosen of humanity, it meant that the rest were mere cattle. If they would not fall in line with him or his ideas, they were not looking for humanity's best interest, which made them traitors to humanity, and thus must be eliminated.
"Where should we go from here, sensei?"
"To our new home, our castle, and our abode. As saviors of mankind, surely these peasants will let us do as we wish?"
Smothered by desperation and surrounded by madness, the students were entranced by his words. Such an arrogant sounding speech which should have fallen on deaf ears touched their heart and soul, and in turn corrupted them and fooled them. Logic, morals, thoughts, none of them mattered anymore before the words of the madman before them.
May whatever divine they worshipped save their foolish souls from the true horror they would soon face.
Xxxx
"So…. You're telling me someone started a…." Takashi drawled while pinching the bridge of his nose. He hoped beyond hope that he was mistaken in hearing Saya's word, but it didn't seem like that was the case when her glare intensified.
"A. FUCKING. ZOMBIE. RIGHTS. ACTIVIST! Are those ears just for show?!" She yelled in anger while yanking his ear and yelling to it. She was frustrated beyond belief. Here she was, telling her childhood friend what happened step-by-step and he had the balls to doubt her.
"I heard you the first time, but…"
"But? But what?"
"Well…, that's… not really something you hear every day."
"It's not something you hear, period! What the fuck is it with these social justice warriors anyhow? Fuck! Fuck! FUUCCKK!" the pink haired girl stomped her foot in anger, not at all caring about her image as an ojou-sama anymore.
"Okay… so… what do you want me to do about it?" Takashi asked and hoped his childhood friend realized it was a rhetorical question.
"FIX IT!"
"How? You're being unreasonable here!"
"I don't care! Do what yakuza does!"
"Hey! We went legit years ago."
"Threaten her at knife point, gun point, whatever! Just make that idiot see reason!" she completely ignored him.
Dammit, when she got like that there was no stopping her. He couldn't do this alone. But he wasn't alone! He had other people he could rely on! Saeko, Rei, Shizuka, Kouta, even Alice! Takashi turned his head towards the rest of the group… only to find them missing.
'I thought we were supposed to be in this together, what the hell?!' he screamed in his head. Slowly but surely he could drone out the rest of Saya's… passionate… rambling. This would be another long one.
Xxxx
"I see, you are a teacher, eh? I remember meeting your father some years ago. Truly a fascinating gentleman." A member of the Takagi organization commented as he greeted a group of teacher and students into the compound.
Shido Koichi smiled while hiding his displeasure. He was not at all fond of his father; the politician that his father was had been… distant and aloof. To a certain degree, he did bear some grudges against the man and probably some envy as well because he would never be known as anything else other than Shido Ichirou's son.
Even then, he wouldn't even continue his father's position as a politician! He would be stuck as a teacher with no real benefits other than banging high school girls; no media highlights, no high class parties, nothing!
Shido tried to calm himself down, quietly reminding himself that his survival relies on his behavior. If this group of savages let him and his group in, it would be easy to later mold the group into something resembling civilization; his desired civilization.
The teacher looked from his peripheral vision and found one of his… students. One among many he never quite got along with. The yakuza boy, Komuro Takashi. If he were here, that meant his girlfriends was also here. Which means he now had a chance to sink his claws into them… how wonderful.
He just needed to make sure he can overtake this veritable castle and he was in for a life of security, relaxation, and debauchery in this post-apocalyptic paradise. He just needed to remove some possible problems in the bud before they grow thorns.
"Komuro-kun, what a pleasant surprise! I am overly joyed to see you well!" he greeted with enthusiasm befit a meeting between old friends.
"That makes one of us." The younger man spat out.
"Hey! He's your teacher! Show some respect!" the Takagi member chastised.
"Really? Screwing, abusing and blackmailing your students, taking bribes, and free study periods for every class counts as teaching now?"
"Is this true?" the target of his ire shifted. How could a teacher, one who was to mold the future of the country dare to do such heinous acts?
"Baseless accusations and slander does not become you, Komuro-kun. I may have made some… mistakes and… oversights, but I am only human after all. Can you claim to have never made any mistakes or oversights?" He was not surprised at all at the attack. He faced it often; all he needed to do was make sure he could come out as a victim in a confrontation, then appeal to the… peon's humanity and sense of patriotism.
'Shit.' Takashi cursed in his mind. Meeting this poisonous asshole always leads to a battle of rhetoric and he was not good at it. Why couldn't he be more like that idiot Tsunoda and just come at him fists swinging instead of gums flapping?
He had chosen to just ignore whatever dramatic bullshit Shido made; moving his arms and body like a character in a drama with crocodile tears flowing. Saya… he needed Saya to shut this bastard up.
"All beautiful monologues, Shido-sensei. But we have a victim of your oversight here and he sure has a different version to what you say."
"Unfortunate, but as I said, to err is human. I cannot possibly please everyone in my class, no?"
"I seriously doubt promoting bullying, blackmail, and harassment to a student is humane, let alone teacher-like."
"You too will join in slandering me, Takagi-kun? After all I've done…"
"Slander you? No. Just stating the facts. Coming onto me, trying to blackmail me, then you also did the same to my classmates here. So yes. After all you've done and tried to do, I will bring you to justice." She pointed to her side where Kouta and Rei were standing, barely holding in their anger at seeing Shido.
"So now you see, you're not welcome here. Get out before we get you out." She commanded with the authority of a judge.
Feeling that he could not talk his way out, the teacher was prepared to use his plan B and force his way in. If he could not get his goals by crook, he would do it by hook. He glanced to the side where his followers had snuck in and ready to execute their plan. He was about to signal them when he realized they had botched his plan. They were supposed to spread out, but instead they were converged on one side. What were they doing?!
"I invited you here as guests, but here you are trying to harm my family and guests. You have some nerves, Shido Koichi." Takagi Souichirou's voice boomed across the hall, startling everyone inside. At the same time, his group's members trained their weapons to the newer group.
"That group of students, move there!" he commanded as he pointed to the main door.
The Don walked to the front of Shido and glared at him in the eyes. "I have heard… rumors of you and your family. I thought it was merely a rumor, but it would seem I was wrong."
"W-what? You would take the words of a highschool student over a teacher?"
Souichirou's face turned furious and without warning backhanded Shido, sending him to the floor writhing in pain.
"That 'highschool student', you worm… is my daughter. So not only did you plan to harm her, you now accuse her of lying? You have guts!" he kicked Shido in the stomach hard enough to make him throw up onto the floor.
"Get out of here and bring your posse with you!"
Running away like beaten dogs, the unwanted group was turned away by armed guards who was not at all hesitant to shoot them if they had to. Seeing no other alternatives, they followed and walked away from the compound. If only anyone bothered checking, they'd notice one of them went missing.
Xxxx
Kurokami had been a member of the newspaper club as the photographer. He was quite experienced in snooping around for some juicy information whether it was in school or in the city. Through his work, he had gained fame and infamy at the same time. There was a rumor that the girls of a certain class had been forced to wear shorts under their skirts to prevent him from getting a shot at their undergarments. But he was never caught nor noticed.
He was stealthy enough to slip into the Takagi mansion without anyone noticing, but he was lost. He was supposed to be Shido's plan C. If their group was rejected entry or stay for any reason and could not force their way in, his job was to find a way to open the automatic gates and let them enter or barge in; whichever was necessary. The problem was that he separated from them early and now there were no means of communication outside of his cellphone.
He ducked behind a smaller wall near the main gate, the one large enough to allow entry for the group's bus. He observed the gate and then realized it was remote controlled. This would both complicate and simplify his task.
He only needed to steal or otherwise "obtain" the remote, but then the motor and the gate would make enough sound to alert everyone in the area of his interference. Best case scenario, the group would be turned away again. Worst case, they would be executed. He was not naïve enough to think that society's law still applied anywhere now.
He was about to call Shido on his phone when his phone rang and he hurriedly looked at the screen. It was a promotion. He could not believe this! The world was ending but telemarketers still existed? What happened to universal cosmic justice and karma which should punish this type of people, bots, or whatever the fuck was running them? Filthy leeches who profited from other people's annoyances and misery. Thieving liars selling frivolous trash wrapped in glitter. In a moment of rage, Kurokami flung his phone to the floor and stomped on it.
After a few moments of venting, he finally calmed down and horror set in as his blood turned to ice. He realized the folly of his actions. Now he was stuck in enemy territory without any means of communication. If he were found out, he wasn't sure he could lie his way to safety.
Oh shit… his anxiety was kicking in and he started to overthink on extreme levels. What if they turned him into zombie bait? Or use him for target practice to desensitize the young to killing things human shaped? His brain was overheating and ironically, he froze. He crouched down and gripped his head. He thought he had gotten over this, but he still hadn't. He whimpered as his thoughts drifted further and further, never hearing someone calling him.
It was not until he was tapped on the shoulder that he realized someone noticed him. In panic, he flailed his arms around, unsure of what to expect. He was unfortunate as his counterpart did not have the patience to deal with this and decided to kick him in the face.
"Are you calm now, you stupid brat?" the newcomer was one of the refugees in the Takagi mansion, but given their violent disposition, deliberately flashy clothes and accessories, and the fact that he had just kicked Kurokami in the face.
Kurokami sighed at the sight of the man. Not only was he taller, bigger, and bulkier, he even had a knife pointed to his face. He was looking for an opportunity to open a gate, not involved in a snuff movie, dammit!
"Dammit, why the fuck are kids these days so jumpy?" he stood up and sheathed his knife before lighting a cigarette for himself.
"Now, you little shit… you're here for something, aren't you? Don't lie… or I'll cut your mug up."
Still whimpering in fear, Kurokami did not answer the man quick enough, which apparently was enough to cause him ire. He crouched down and waved the knife in front of him again.
"Unlike the other poor sods in here, I'm not on the straight and narrow. So you understand what'll happen to you if you get on my nerves, right?" He took a drag of his cigarette, not keeping his eyes on the mousy teenager. After all, he was just a shitty kid. What the hell could he do?
As it turned out, quite a lot. The newspaper club's photographer was quite attentive and the moment he saw an opportunity, he seized it; along with his assailant's knife. Not giving him an opportunity to retaliate, he cut his neck open and let blood gush out like a fountain.
Kurokami panted quite a bit after that. Never in a million years would he think he had the guts nor will to take a life. But this world is different now. It belongs not to the rich and powerful, but to the opportunists like him. He wasn't even in Shido's little group because he believed him, he and his posse was just a convenient vessel.
He would be the king of the new world, he would bring humanity to salvation. And as humanity's savior, this mansion should be his castle. He would let the teacher and his cohorts enter, wreak havoc, and when they're done he'll slit their throats like he did the last guy. Oh, joy!
Xxxx
It took Kurokami five minutes before he found a member of the Takagi group with something resembling a remote. For what he had no idea, so it was time to put the innocent student mask and just asked the person nicely. Luckily his build was quite small too, so he could pull off the guileless child act quite easily.
"Excuse me, Oji-san… "
"Huh? What is it? Are you one of the new refugees? If you're looking for the toilet, it's over there." When he turned around, Kurokami already pointed the knife out to his neck.
"I want you to open the main gate. You know what'll happen if you don't right?" he threatened.
"I see… so you're from the earlier group… but you know, you really shouldn't underestimate grownups!" in a single movement, he slapped the blade away and punched him in the jaw.
"See? This is what happens when you learn stupid shit from movies." He kicked the knife away as he calmed his urge to spit at the boy. Why can't people be like Ojou's friends? Normal, respectful, and not stupid.
"Maybe… but movies also teaches me this!" the teenager lunged for the remote at his side and pressed the only button on it, opening the main gate of the Takagi mansion.
Xxxx
"Our comrade Kurokami seems to have succeeded! Quickly Tsunoda-kun, get into the mansion!" Shido commanded.
Tsunoda at the driver's seat disengaged the bus' brakes and floored the accelerator. Starting from a downward slope gave them a much needed boost to reach their destination faster. The problem was, when they got too close, they would not be able to brake on time. Despite his best attempts, the speeding vehicle could not slow down to a manageable speed and they ended up crashing through the gate, rendering Kurokami's efforts moot.
Their full frontal assault was easily noticed by the guards. One would have to be blind, deaf, and dull to miss the 5 ton vehicle going easily above 60 kilometer per hour crashing into a wrought iron gate. The problem was, They also noticed.
"Fair citizens, we have arrived to free you from the draconic law of the lord of the land." Shido recited, climbing out of the broken bus seemingly unscathed.
"You all have seen the cruelty with which he executed his own friend. What's to say he would not do the same to you?" he continued, walking forwards to the field of tents.
The speech reminded the refugees of familiar days, of humanity, civilization, and hope that they could return to those days. With the refugees outnumbering the guards almost five-to-one, preventing a hostile takeover would be borderline impossible. Kicking them out of the compound would also bring them more harm than good and they had no justified reason to just shut the man up.
While murmurs of agreement echoed within the community, Shido's grin widened to almost impossible degree. His plan of dividing and conquering the residents seemed to be working perfectly. All he had to do now would be finding the perfect scapegoat to be the embodiment of all that was wrong with the world.
Who else could it be but the delinquent who were so perfectly content to ruin his plans until now? But no more! He and his crew would be the sacrificial pawns to cement his rule in this domain and… his own followers seemed to be screaming and tugging at his sleeves?
"What is it now?" the teacher turned around to see rows and rows of Them shambling towards the ruined gate.
"Shido-sensei, those things are getting closer to us!" one of the students yelled.
"What's to fear, my young friend? They could do no better than to drag their feet slow…"
Shido was a drama queen and a stickler for proper grammar, so any errors in both spoken and written language would be impossible for him. This time, however his speech trailed off when he saw Them slowly getting their bearings together. The shuffling feet turned to limps and the limps turned to proper strides. Within steps, some of Them had regained their motor functions to walk properly.
"See?! I told you they were sick, you murderers! They needed help, not killed!" one of the refugees rallied. It was the same 'zombie-rights-activist' as before and now she was getting people to her side with the ones closest to her the earliest to mirror her cries.
As They got closer, a smaller portion of them began running at full speed towards the chanting masses.
"There! Will you deny these victims of sanctuary? Will you still deny their humanity? Their bodies injured, their possessions taken and their loved ones gone! Can you still call yourselves human?" Shido's speech had gained momentum seeing Them rushing. People were starting to buy into his ideas while others started to doubt their own. What if they had been killing sick people from the beginning of the outbreak?
Realization hit them when They didn't stop and instead leapt onto the closest humans They could find and feast on their flesh. Screaming, running, walking, or dead. Humans would only be Their prey. Oddly enough, they completely ignored Shido and feasted instead on the people around him.
Xxxx
The Takagi family and Takashi's group had been resting in the mansion before the bus hit. The noise from the courtyard started to get unnerving and they might have to directly interfere before a problem arose. Takagi Souichirou thought that addressing the civilians might be necessary and went to stand in front of the main doors facing the people, only to find pandemonium.
The refugees he took into his own home were fighting with his subordinates against a horde of running, jumping undead. In this situation, the Takagi group's militaristic training did them more harm than good as they instinctively continued to aim at Their center of mass first instead of Their heads. They panicked as their weapons did nothing and their combat reflexes didn't allow them to aim at anything else before they were torn to scraps of meat for the undead.
"What are you fools doing?!" Souichirou roared. He was partly disappointed and partly ashamed at the display he saw. He had trained the men for years and now at the moment they are most needed they could not do anything?
"Aim for the heads!" Kouta yelled. He had the AR-10 in his hands and fired, shredding two of Their heads in one hit.
"The ones at front, engage in melee combat! The ones at the back, fire, but don't hit the humans!" This time Saya was the one who gave the command.
Hearing the clear orders, one by one the members of the Takagi group fought back. Those close enough slashed at Them with their swords while the ones far enough provided covering fire. Many of the shots were not lethal, but the kinetic energy was enough to throw an undead lunge off target, which the melee fighters exploited with vicious efficiency.
This would be the first of the Takagi mansion defense and it would not be the last. A barrage of gunfire and sharp ringing blades against a horde of the undead. This will be the norm of warfare for the future.
Xxxx
The dust cleared, the moaning silenced, and the shuffling ceased. The defense was a success, but now was time for something else: cleanup, casualty checking, and defense reorganization. At Don Takagi's command, a third of his underlings went for repairs, another third checked for casualties while decked in their firefighter gear, while the final third rounded up the surviving refugees. Many of them knew that some would be exiled or even executed.
"I took you lot into my own home. Out of the kindness of my heart, out of a sense of duty, camaraderie, and loyalty to my countrymen… and you betrayed my trust. Doubting my judgment… I can accept that. Many of you have lost your loved ones… or cannot find them. I sympathize with you.
"But I cannot accept your causing my subordinate's death, I cannot accept your bringing chaos to my home, and most of all, I cannot accept your insistence of your misguided sense of mercy over logic. Let me make clear, you, me, and all of us are in a catastrophe of nation-wide if not global scale. The dead are coming back to life and destroying the living. There is no place for foolish mercy against Them. They are the enemy and shall be treated as such. That is all. Dismissed." With his speech finished, Takagi Souichirou turned on his heel and walked towards his mansion.
"Are… are you going to make us leave?" a young boy asked, interrupting his march.
"No, but there will be no next time. Any other attempts at instigating chaos will be met with swift, harsh judgement." He turned to face the refugees and continued his declaration. "I realize we have been lax with you. From now on you can choose to join us and contribute or leave. There will be no more handouts. Those who can work, will work. You are no longer refugees, but recruits. At least, until this whole mess is over. Anything else?"
"You tyrant!" Shido yelled. "These are frail citizens of a modern civilized society. They cannot do any backbreaking work like you and your… militia."
Shido went on his speech for some time, making an already tense atmosphere even worse. Everyone present was so engrossed in their debate and rhetoric that none realized that one of Them was still alive. Going by Their instinct of hunting by ear, They leapt at the teacher, the momentum brought them both tumbling down. The undead wasted no time in biting Shido on the fleshy part of his shoulder. How nobody checked whether this one was dead yet was anyone's guess, but those who could act were too far away.
Shido screamed as meat and tendon were torn from his body. Good thing there were firearms. A bang and the biting and tearing stopped.
Hirano took a shot with his rifle, the bullet tore into Their head; pulverizing bone and scattered brain matter. The recruits were led away while the combatants stepped forward to inspect the damage. Takashi and Kouta stood at the front of their group, watching as the teacher writhed and moaned in pain.
Takashi looked at Rei who was slightly behind him and asked her, "Now he's going to die anyway and if we don't kill him for good he might infect other people. Do you still think it's going to be a waste of bullet to waste him?"
"Huh?" she did not expect that question at all. She was sure that she would not have to take a human life
"If you don't kill him now, he'll turn and infect other people. He was not a good person in life, and even when the apocalypse happened all he wanted was to benefit himself." Takashi then turned to the injured teacher and continued. "At the moment, any human bitten by Them will turn to another one of Them. No cure, no treatment. Death is the only way out."
"You… you don't know that! I'm the chosen one! I'm the one to lead humans to civilization again! I am not going to die over some… some flesh wound! I will… I -"
Shido began coughing violently, each sounding worse and raspier than the one before it. They had seen it before. It was the first stage of turning. Soon, he will cough blood; fresh at first, then slowly turning to black dead blood. Perhaps because he was smaller than Hisashi, but the turning was happening a lot faster for him.
"That black blood you're puking is proof enough. Soon you'll turn into one of Them."
"I see. I see… then since I'm going to turn to Them, then I'll take as many of you as I can." He launched himself like a wild beast, aiming to bite the yakuza's son.
Takashi took a step back to gain enough grounds to draw his weapon, but it was not necessary as Rei stabbed the infected Shido on his eye with her bayonet. For good measure, she pulled the rifle's trigger, forcing a 7.62x51 mm bullet into the brain. The body twitched for a few moments before finally it stilled, with the blade still lodged in the eyehole.
So ended the life of Shido Koichi, a son of a corrupt politician whose selfishness led him to a series of bad choices culminating in his own death. Selfish, intelligent, yet highly immoral; one could not say his death was undeserved. Good riddance.
Xxxx
Post chapter A.N.: Sorry, but I cancelled the bonus chapter… I wrote the pilot chapter halfway through and it ended up looking like a generic isekai light novel/ manga. I want to write it in a more unique/ memorable way, but I don't think I can manage it in the time given. It was a choice between delaying the update (again) or proceeding without the bonus chapter.
Given this post chapter A.N., I'm sure you know which one I chose. If you are interested in it I might just continue with the pilot chapter and make it a 1st chapter of a new story. Again, I'm sorry for all the delays and foot dragging. Thank you for reading and if you like the story, please follow/ favorite/ review.