Pre-chapter A.N.: Greetings dear readers. I hope this update finds you well. Have to admit this chapter is a bit shorter, especially after the previous update. I also have to revamp some ideas because I think it wouldn't make sense, too cliche, or just too cheesy with my original idea, so I had to change a few aspects of the chapter. Certain characters whom I planned to introduce here also wouldn't fit the story too well either, so it had to be delayed. So if you were expecting some characters to return here, I'm sorry to disappoint you. But still, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and please feel free to let me know what you think of the chapter/ story/ my writing style in general. I do try to learn from you after all.
Review replies
To TubfullOfDishes345: Thank you very much. Just my opinion, I'm tired of seeing heroes NOT finish the villain when they had the chance. Besides, I think Shidou-type characters are just not interesting to write and I'm afraid my rhetoric skills are too poor to write Shidou well. (I tend to just drone out when I hear people like this talk, so… yea)
To Rycott: Well, the plan B still failed to help his survival. Maybe if he wasn't such as a douche he would survive longer. (Apocalypse survival tip #1) Thank you for the review. I hope you enjoy this update.
To Im a guest: Thank you very much. So far I have to admit the story of BotD haven't diverged much from canon, so if you remember the canon until the Takagi mansion arc you're good.
To Fenrir44: The new update is about 6 months in. I hope I didn't disappoint.
To Boblets: Despite being quite sure you'll already ignore this, I still thank you for the review; regardless of your opinion as I try to learn from my reviewers as well. Honestly, the sociopolitical situation has changed quite rapidly in since 2012 when I started writing this story. The standards of people have also changed along with it. So perhaps what I wrote back in 2012 does not fit your standard in 2017 anymore, but that's the way it is, isn't it?
To Red Rain: Thank you very much. I honestly was hoping that Shido would be killed in the canon at 2 points in the story: the bus scene in the school by getting kicked out or in the Takagi mansion. For Kurokami, Tsunoda, and the rest of Shido's crew… I'm still thinking on what to make of them; for the next big bad, I think Tsunoda fits the bill more (as a muscle brained warlord), while Kurokami can be the right hand man (a backstabber). It's almost like Shidou's group is made completely to be a villain entourage, isn't it?
To Lari: Thank you very much. I think Rei can be used as a representation of a person who is averse to change or think that any changes can be undone. Perhaps another way to put it will be someone who keeps "looking back" and always going on about how it was better in the good ol' days? I think I'll keep her around for character development. I hope it will be interesting for you.
Also thank you to River king, Keechinator, carwash36, redtornado1234, Kirayukino, DarkLord0012, Zak Saturday, BBWulf, and Guitarchick27
Chapter 10: Shopping with the dead
Rei was uncertain how to feel. On one hand, she finally had her revenge on the thorn on her side. Shido Koichi could no longer harm or poison another person. So why was she feeling horrible? Shouldn't she be happy that she managed to rid the world of an evil person?
Perhaps deep down, she knew why. Her sense of morality and desire for vengeance was in conflict. Since childhood her father had taught her to uphold justice and follow the rule of law, that no person should take the law into their own hands. Didn't she do exactly that? She could argue that it was for the greater good. That if she didn't kill Shido he would infect other people with his twisted ideals. There was no other choice. There was no other choice, so why did she feel guilty?!
That bastard had held her back a year, ruined her relationship with Takashi, ruined her father's career, and hurt so many people. All considerations aside, not only was her actions justified, it was the best possible action at the time. So why?
"Humans are not meant to kill other humans, you know?" Marikawa Shizuka answered.
She was the only adult in the immediate vicinity that Rei was close to and so she asked the nurse for consultation. Given her position as the school nurse, she was often sought after for advice on adolescent problems, mostly love and relationship; so she could argue that she was an experienced mental health professional.
"What?"
"Yes, even in nature killing others of your own species is a rare occurrence. Those are mostly territorial fights and often end with one side giving up, of course that doesn't mean it didn't happen… just rare."
"I appreciate the trivia, but I can't see how this relates to me."
"But killing is part of war… I'm not really good at explaining this, am I?" Shizuka asked. She only had minimum knowledge on PTSD after all and she did not want to give any wrong information.
"It's Ok, Shizuka-sensei. At least you're trying."
"Why don't you ask Komuro-kun or Busujima-san? I think they might be able to help more than me in this case."
"I… yes… I guess I should." She had been avoiding the others. Her plan was to get her head back in gear before talking to them, but it seemed to take more time than she expected. She was also afraid of how they would react to her. Unlike the others, Rei had killed someone who was not Them, but a living, breathing human. How would they see her? Would they decide to kick her out because she was a killer?
"Are you afraid they would reject you?"
"I… yes… Yes, I am. It's kinda hard to explain. For a long time I've been… looking down? Hating? Disdaining? I don't know how to put it, but I just think I'm better than Takashi because I never got into any problems.
"My family was a long line of cops while his was yakuza… I just… think that I'm a better person because of it... I guess? I couldn't understand what's so bad that you need to solve it with violence instead of the law…"
"Then the problem with Shido…"
"Yea… that was when it happened. For all my live, I've never hated someone quite as much as I hated him. I mean… why me? What did I ever do to him? What did my family do to him? He and his family were the ones wrong. They're the corruptors, they should go to jail! Why was I and my family punished for following the law?! What was the point of it then?! What… what was the point of it all?"
"You poor girl…" Shizuka held Rei in her arms and held the younger girl's head to her heart.
They stayed in the embrace for some time before Rei tapped Shizuka on her arm a few times.
"Sensei… can't… breathe…" she wheezed out.
"Oh! Sorry about that."
"But yea… I'll just go and see the others… I, uh… might have to get some stuff ready. Can't stay here forever after all."
"I'll go with you. I think I've been in this room for so long, I might want to decorate here."
That was a comment Rei didn't expect at all from the nurse. For the first time in a long time, she managed to smile. Perhaps the end of the world didn't have to be so bleak.
Xxxx
"Were you surprised that she had it in her?" Saeko asked.
"In a way… I guess?" Takashi answered. "I mean, it's not necessarily a bad thing. With society collapsing, it would take years before the next functioning society with rules, laws, and anything else is established. That means that we might also have to kill the living."
"Indeed, the world had turned to one we are familiar with… I… I don't know if this is a good thing or not." she answered.
Wordlessly, Takashi went behind her and wrapped his arms around her. Saeko was not surprised, the young man had a romantic side to him and his presence gave her strength, but it still could not dispel her worries.
"We're used to using violence in our daily life, but that's not the case for the others. I'm worried if they'd be hurt because they can't do what they should. I mean if one of them got bitten, can you kill them?" she asked.
"I will if I have to." He held her tighter.
"If it comes down to it, so will I."
Xxxx
"Now, are you sure you have everything you need? Food? Water? Clothes? Weapons?" Hardly the image of the cool lady, Takagi Yuriko was fussing about them like an overprotective mother on her child's first school trip.
"Yes, mama. I double checked and then rechecked. If anything, we're actually carrying too much." Saya was embarrassed like she had never been before. What had happened that made her parents the doting parents she had wished for when she was a child?
"Saya." Souichirou called.
"Y… yes, papa?"
"Remember that this is your home. Remember that even after all of this, we are your parents and that we are family."
"Yes."
"You can always come back here. You and your friends will always be welcome."
"Yes."
"Though I'd hope you would stay with us, perhaps it's not yet time. So travel well, my daughter. And be safe. We shall await your return."
Xxxx
The trip from the Takagi family mansion was filled with an uneasy feeling. Everyone to a certain degree realized they were leaving comfort and safety to face dangers and risk. At the same time, they understood they had to. With their family's life unknown and the possibility of help getting smaller with each passing moment, at the very least they had to find closure.
The atmosphere in the Humvee was getting tense. This might be the last time they would ever see a civilized interaction with their fellow humans and the next encounter all the way to their last might be hostile. Kouta tightened his grip on the rifle and pondered whether the next time he fired it would be at another human, or worse whether he'd one day have to shoot his friends. By all that was holy, he truly wished that would never be the case.
He opened a map of the city courtesy of a bookshop on the way and thought about the possible pit stops. Their next stop was the eastern part of Tokonosu, where they would hopefully find news of Rei's and Takashi's parents. Halfway between where they were and the East Police Station was the Taiei Shopping Town; a newly finished shopping mall with lots of different stores. Though it was more well-known for their high class stores, it also had a large supermarket inside, making it a perfect location to... procure supplies.
"Taiei, huh? Come to think of it, I've only been there once." Shizuka commented. "Really a shame that the first time I'll be there is when it might already be overrun by Them."
"Well, I'm pretty sure They wouldn't mind if we take some stuff, so maybe if you want you can?" Kouta was trying to convince them to go. The risk was moderate, but the reward was a gamble. If this was another time, he might suggest against it, but this time he NEEDED to go there.
"Oh yea. There's a Gucci bag that I'm really interested in. Freebies, here we come!"
With a whoop of delight, the nurse stepped on the accelerator. ETA to Taiei Shopping town: 30… no, 10 minutes. Before she could reach top speed, Shizuka had to slam her foot to the brake as she saw a woman standing in the middle of the road.
"Sensei! What gives?" Everyone else in the Humvee was thrown forward except for the blonde, Kouta, Zeke, and Alice who sat in the front and had strapped their seatbelts. Saya was fuming as she was almost launched straight out from the windshield. Luckily for her, the other three held onto her.
"Umm, there's a person wearing a policeman's uniform there…. should we help her?"
Rei seemed to recognize the black haired policewoman and immediately opened the door on her side.
"Matsushima-san, get in! Hurry!"
The woman wasted no time and ran straight into the Humvee. Being squeezed in like a can of sardines is a lot better than being dead after all.
"Thank you very much, Miyamoto-san."
"It's nothing. Why are you here?"
"I was supposed to find help and supplies, but I couldn't find either. I almost died several times already and I need to go back to Taiei."
"Eh? I thought you're in the eastern precinct?"
"We were called in for a public disturbance incident. Of course, the reality is… more complicated."
"Everyone in the back better hold on to something. We have company." Shizuka pointed to the back of the vehicle where some of Them had shown up. Turned out burning rubber was not only bad for the tires, but attracted Them… who knew?
xxxx
In the 5 years history of Taiei Shopping Town, it had had its ups and downs; closures and openings of stores was celebrated or mourned every now and again. No one in their right mind would ever guess their biggest down would be a zombie apocalypse though. With the bankruptcy of many retailers overseas, some economists had predicted that it too would hit Japan in the next few years. Thankfully it wouldn't be the case anymore. Unfortunately, zombies had the same effect on businesses.
The doors were barricaded with benches and any other furnitures the current inhabitants could find. They also killed any of Them they could find, but the large expanse of the glorified mall meant it was easy to miss Their presence.
"That's the third one today." One of the mall visitors complained. He had been stuck in the place ever since the dead attacked. He looked at the main entrance; the automatic glass doors had had all sorts of things used to bar entrance, but it was impossible to completely seal it shut.
They could easily slip by through the gaps and ruin their entire hard work, but at least it also served as an alarm system. No matter how deep a sleeper one was, nobody could miss the sound of a heavy wooden bench slamming down to the floor. What he completely did not expect was for a couple of highschool kids to just pop in behind him. He was sure all of the exits and entries were blocked.
"Hey, hey, hey! You kids!" he called them.
"Can we help you?" Takashi replied.
"How did you get in? I made sure to barricade all the entries and exits." He was panicking not because of the kids' presence. In his mind they were mostly harmless, but if he missed a door, They could easily get in.
"There?" The young man pointed at a broken glass pane right next to a door the man had barricaded.
Horror set on his face as he realized the mall was surrounded with glass on all sides. Normal people might not push through a glass pane, but the desperate or undead had no such qualms. He and a couple other survivors did their best to barricade the doors, but what's the point if the walls might as well had been tissue paper?
"I gotta tell the others. I'm not saying I'm OK with what you did, but if you're gonna be here, you're gonna be helping." he ran off to the other people in the group. They would not have much time to prepare for the next wave of curious undead, but they would make do.
xxxx
Being in a group did not mean your goals align completely. Hell, they might even be the complete opposite of one another. Presently, Kouta guessed the mall group's goal is to survive long enough to be rescued by… someone. Police, JSDF, maybe even the Takagi group?
His group's goal in this mall was to resupply before heading off to another location. There was a bit of a problem in that mindset though.
"We might get dragged into their situation." Kouta said.
"Kinda too late for that, buddy." Takashi replied. At his chubby friend's suggestion, they were hiding their weapons and gears in a pile of… salacious lingerie. Nobody should think about checking there, but the chance was not zero.
"How do we not get dragged further then?"
"I only see 2 options…. We bust out or we wait."
"If we wait, we might get involved even more though."
"... and if we bust out we might need to fight them too."
"I mean fighting Them is one thing, but other people is kinda…."
"We need people to fight Them, but at the same time people can backstab you. So we gotta be careful of Them, but keep one eye on other people."
"That doesn't sound fun…."
"Think about it, Hirano. In this kind of crazy world, who would survive the best?"
"The one with resources, training, and instinct?"
"...And the ones without morals or anything to lose."
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it, Hirano. We live in a lawless world now. What's to say people won't succumb to their baser instincts and just… let loose?
"We're used to taking public order for granted… that the rules in place will keep everyone in line. But now, no such rules exist. It's the jungle life for us, buddy. Kill or be killed."
"Is there no other choice?"
"Maybe one day… when someone, hell or even us… recreate society. We're at the beginning of our journey, let's make the most of it."
"Yea… I guess you're right."
Kouta's ear twitched. He was sure he heard something, but it was too faint to make any sense of what it was. Before he wouldn't think twice to just ignore it, but the current state of affairs prevented him from it. Now he was sure he heard something.
"HELP!" It was a girl and she was almost certainly panicked.
The two rushed out of the shop to help, not noticing a pair of eyes peering into the pile.
Post chapter A.N.: Still lagging on the other stories. No good reasons for it other than job, life, and video games. I'm looking for inspirations in several games, but so far nothing really hit yet. I'm looking forward to State of Decay 2. Hopefully I can find some ideas from there. Thank you for reading and if you enjoyed the update, please feel free to like/ favorite/ review; no pressure though.