Z-Day+65
Early Evening…
The eagerness everyone had felt to get a full scope of their new temporary home was a revelation unto itself. Gone was the lingering sense of hopelessness and futility that had come to permeate every waking moment of their hellish journey. Instead, to know they had found a place so far from any potential living threats, and solid enough to withstand any notable attack from the dead, left them all feeling genuinely optimistic.
Of course, even the sturdiest shelter was nothing if they couldn't get a grasp on what amenities they had, and how much of it there was. The amount of preserved food in the basement was impressive enough at first glance, but Saya knew they needed to make an official count of it in order to get an idea how long it could last if they kept to certain proportions each day, and that wasn't even taking into consideration what was readily available in the greenhouse.
Shizuka's enthusiasm definitely played a big part in solidifying everyone's good mood; simply knowing how many different kinds of medicinal herbs they could potentially have on their hands once they could get things running. Her unexpected eagerness and encyclopedic knowledge of just what kind of medical supplies she could craft with whatever herbs were growing had only made this whole place seem like that much more of a godsend. Saya and Rei had already begun to find themselves anxious to learn anything new from their impromptu first-aid teacher.
As soon as all the security preparations had been completed, Noah and Saya were the first to get to work, wanting to take full stock of what food they had on hand, while also getting a chance to see what, if any, electric works might've been set up down in the cellar. With only their flashlight beams to illuminate anything, the process took a bit longer than either of them would have liked, but by the time it was over, their confidence in their food supply had been cemented.
"You would think with all those solar panels outside, we wouldn't have to rely on these flashlights anymore, right?" Noah asked once Saya had announced she was done tallying up the food. "Well, we shouldn't just assume that EMP didn't have some kind of adverse effect on those panels. Granted, they don't require a generator to run; they just filter electricity directly into the fuse boxes for the whole house. If I had some kind of manual, I'd be better able to explain how they could've been affected, or what we could do to get them working again." Saya explained, a hint of concern able to be discerned, but still carrying a much stronger air of confidence than before.
"Well, I remember reading something a year back about the Faraday Cage. That apparently has something to do with how solar panels filter electricity in. It also said an electromagnetic pulse technically should have no effect on solar panels," the youngest Lawson suddenly remembered; the sight of Saya's eyes lighting up behind her glasses as he spoke was almost indescribable coming from her.
"So if anything, we should make a point of scavenging the local area for any replacement fuses if the circuit boards did get affected," she theorized, while her optimism was beginning to affect Noah as well. "We'll need to test them first. If we replace them and the power still doesn't come on, then we'll know for sure the wires have been affected too," he finished. By now, finally having a set plan in motion, Saya was actually smiling again for the first time in months.
"You know, for a clumsy idiot who doesn't watch where he's going in school…you're not as stupid as I thought," she suddenly admitted; forcing Noah to remember their first meeting back on his very first day of school. While he did look admittedly irked at her particular choice of words, he'd basically come to expect this was what a Saya Takagi compliment sounded like for everyone.
The two ascended the stairs to the dining room, where everyone was gathered around, all looking anxious to hear of their findings. They all figured it didn't make sense to get to work much further on the place before knowing how much food there was.
"So, after tallying up all the preservatives, canned food and rice that's currently in storage, not counting what we found in the greenhouse earlier; if we were to stick to strict daily rations for everyone, we have enough food to last us all approximately two months. If we were to divide the greenhouse between medicinal herbs and vegetables, or perhaps even take some of the fertilizer bags out and use that to make a second garden instead, we could be able to steadily keep the supply going, so long as none of us goes overboard."
Everyone's faces practically lit up as Saya began to read off her listing of all of what kinds of food were stored in the cellar and the potential to keep it going with the implementation of gardening. However, they all knew vegetables, rice and fruits couldn't keep a group their size sustained forever. When it came to the protein of meat, they'd have to resort to finding a nearby river to fish from, or perhaps take to the forests to try their hands at hunting; an idea none of them felt remotely prepared for.
"We can discuss the specifics of keeping our food supply replenished later. Right now, we can rest easy knowing how much we have available as of right now. In other news, the lack of electric light during the night, even with the abundance of solar panels, is an understandable concern. But between me and Takagi-san's knowledge on the subject, we've come to the conclusion that while the EMP may not have affected the panels themselves, the fuse boxes they filter the energy to may have been affected instead. That's why we all need to make a point of scouring this place for any replacement fuses or wires. If we aren't able to find any, we'll have to start looking around the local area for any houses or other establishments that could potentially have them."
Everybody gave an affirming nod to what Noah was instructing them to do. If a couple fuses or some replacement wires were all that was standing between them and the simple luxury of electricity, and with it the potential for another garden, then they were all ready to go wherever he or Saya felt the need to point them.
"Before we go much further, there is something else I'd like to announce. While Takagi-san was going over the food supply, I decided to do a little further exploring of my own, and other than the fuse boxes, I was also able to find the water heater for the house, along with the actual pipe works for the water itself. From the looks of it, since I couldn't find anything resembling a tank, I'm willing to bet this house is situated over some kind of underground spring. Now, I'm not a plumber, so I can't really give you any details, but I could hear something churning in the pipes, and that tells me the plumbing system is still functioning, which means this place still has running water. And I decided to fiddle about with the water heater, and…the pilot light is still on."
At this news, every single one of the women's faces seemed to illuminate at once. They didn't even need to ask; his words meant exactly what they thought. They finally had access to hot showers for the first time in over a month! Saya alone looked like she was just about ready to kiss Noah for giving the greatest news she'd heard in way too long.
"Alright, everyone calm down. We've all been through a lot, and I know running hot water is a luxury too good to pass up after all our time on the road. You ladies can all go and wash up. We'll do the same after we go over what else we can use around here. So you all go ahead and enjoy yourselves." Frasier intervened once he could tell the women were all about ready to start pleading to go. They didn't waste any time and were practically out of the dining room like a shot, leaving all the men to their own business. With nothing more needing to be said, they all instinctively went in their own little groups to make themselves useful.
Out front…
Frasier, Kohta and Tadashi had decided to take a look in the separate garage; the eldest Lawson long-since deciding that the numerous flashy sports scattered about the driveway would be worthless driving on unkempt roads like they'd been dealing with. Regardless what Noah had said about EMP's only affecting cars that were turned on, it wouldn't make a difference if they couldn't find a vehicle capable of potentially handling off-road terrain. Given their luck; that was pretty much all Frasier was expecting them to deal with at this point if they wanted to get anywhere.
Thankfully the three garage doors didn't look to be bolted down or sealed with a padlock, so one good pull had them all open, and much to the three's relief, there stood before them a solid, beige-colored Hummer. None of them were experienced mechanics by any means, but they could all tell a serious muscle car with all-terrain capabilities when they saw it.
"And here I was beginning to think the Humvee from Minami-san's apartment was the luckiest we would ever get in all this mess." Kohta mused softly to himself; neither Tadashi nor Frasier paying him any mind as they decided to get a closer look for themselves. Frasier knelt and landed a good blow against the tires with his fist, satisfied with how full and reinforced they felt. They could potentially drive over a mess of broken glass and metal pieces and come out no worse for wear with wheels like this.
"The whole body feels really solid, and there's more than enough room for everyone inside. Granted, it's still not as roomy as the bus, so we wouldn't be able to take as many supplies with us." Tadashi informed them as he came around, looking mighty satisfied with their recent find. Of course, he never even granted Frasier the courtesy of eye contact as he spoke. All the good fortune their world could afford them wouldn't diminish his resentment towards their so-called leader so quickly.
"I found this in one of the drawers in that corner along with some canisters. We can use it to siphon some gas from the cars out front; stock it up for when we need to leave." Kohta chimed in, holding up what looked like a large plastic syringe with a nozzle sticking out of one end, a pump handle on the other, and a long plastic hose extending from the back; all while looking understandably proud of himself. "It's a good find, Hirano-kun, but a vehicle this big won't run on ordinary gasoline. It needs something heavy duty like diesel in order to run. If we're gonna siphon diesel, we'll have to get it from some of the bigger vehicles and trucks from that traffic jam outside the gate." Tadashi pointed out, but this thankfully didn't seem to discourage the chubby otaku in the slightest. He was visibly just glad they had all the materials they needed.
"He's right, it is a good find, but save your effort. If there were still any viable routes left that could get us to Tokyo, then I'd say go for it and siphon as much as you can. But with our luck, I think we can all agree going by road anymore is pointless." Frasier suddenly stated with an unexpected air of finality, as if this was him finally admitting defeat; accepting his self-imposed mission was a failure. To hear someone usually as confident and stubborn as him actually concede like this was…almost unnatural to Kohta's ears, as he had to do a double take to make sure he'd heard Frasier right. But the young Brit had already left the garage by the time the otaku turned to face him; leaving he and Tadashi to exchange worried glances with each other.
Elsewhere outside…
Noah, Marcus and Johann had taken it upon themselves to walk the perimeter of the valley, making sure no undead stragglers would come shambling in. Of course, Noah's actual goal was much more than a simple perimeter patrol. This godsend of a shelter had gotten his creative juices pumping like he hadn't felt in ages, and he was finding inspirations on how to make this place a secure heaven on earth practically everywhere he looked, but this part was by far the most important.
"I think if we were to look far and wide and go out for enough supply runs, we could be able to make a veritable wall running all across the perimeter; the kind that could legitimately keep everyone safe and comfortable from any more of 'Them'," he'd eventually gotten around to just admitting while Johann and Marcus simply looked at him as if he were only daydreaming.
"It's obviously a good idea, Noah, but this place is a lot bigger than our old hotel was. Even if there was any place around here that had the materials to build a wall, I doubt any place would have enough to make one big enough to span this whole valley." Marcus pointed out, hating to crush his little brother's enthusiasm, but much to his surprise, Noah's all-too familiar look of determination and resolve didn't remotely fade.
"You're right, that's why we'll need to go out in groups and search all over the area. There's bound to be some abandoned garages or construction equipment we could use. I can just feel it in my gut," the youngest Brit stood steadfast in his confidence while Marcus and Johann exchanged slightly eager glances. "Well, let's say we get that lucky. Putting together something that big is going to take a lot of time. We'll have to make sure at least two people do a regular patrol along the tree line to get rid of any wanderers until then. Not like a small squabble like that isn't anything we're not used to." Johann conceded, which only seemed to put a greater spring in Noah's step. Being able to brainstorm an idea like this and get people on board made the ingenious lad feel right back home in his element again.
"But even if we do get enough materials to make a wall big enough to cover this place, those rotted bastards are still a lot stronger than we give 'Them' credit for. We'll need to make sure to build the thing so that it can withstand a good number of 'Them' pushing right up against it, if need be." Marcus reminded his friends, which did make Noah's brow furrow as he began to think harder before giving a snap of his fingers.
"Okay, I was originally thinking we could use I-Beams to reinforce the wall panels, but we'd need some serious construction equipment to move any number of those things, and there's no telling how many, if any, would still be operational by now. Instead, what we could do is use reinforced plywood for the panels, and use some galvanized poles to connect them, and we could even get our hands on some handheld equipment to drill some secure fastenings to those poles and keep the panels upright. Afterwards, we could dig into the ground a bit and use some more steel poles as reinforcements for each of the wall panels. We could pack the dirt in really tight so there's no give if any of the dead were to push against the wall. It's crude, but it's undeniably effective. Alternatively, we could try and get our hands on some cement mix and use that to fill the holes we'd be setting the reinforcement poles into. We could be able to pull this off."
By now, Noah was mainly talking to himself, as if trying to make sure he had it all figured out by saying it out loud, but the sheer amount of thought he'd already put into this plan was astounding to say the least. Marcus didn't even try to hide the grin of utter pride as he watched his little brother work his mental magic that could potentially save them all.
"Well, you can try running it by the others later. Hell, I'll bet Takagi-san has already started thinking of something similar, herself. If you both were to work on this, there's no way we wouldn't be able to pull it off. In the meantime, I think we've checked the whole perimeter of the valley now." With that, Johann ushered the two Lawson's to follow him back to the house, which with the relentless heat of the afternoon sun beating down on them, they did with no scruples.
However, just as he began to follow, Noah felt a sudden chill go up his spine; the kind that left him frozen in his tracks for a reason he couldn't comprehend. It wasn't like an ordinary feeling of unease. It was something much deeper, something…instinctive. With that in mind, Noah cautiously looked back over his shoulder to the dense foliage of the tree line, as if trying to discern anything remotely off about any of it. Yet all he could see was the rustling leaves dancing in the pleasant springtime breeze.
"Oi, Noah, just because you came up with a good plan doesn't mean I'm about to start carrying your arse everywhere. What's the hold up?" Marcus called out, bringing his little brother back to reality as he hurried to catch up. "Ah, nothing. Just wanted to see if any more of 'Them' might've been coming out, but looks like we're in the clear," he shrugged off his previous concern as the three once more continued back to the house. As they continued, Noah slowly came to recognize just what the uneasiness he felt was about. In those few moments by the trees, he had the feeling that, in some way…he was being watched.
Meanwhile, inside…
The spacious, white room that was the servant's showers, thankfully illuminated by the light of the evening sun through the windows, was filled to the brim with steam and the cacophony of running water pretty much as soon as the women found it. Their unifying desire to be free of the rags they'd been forced to call their clothes and wash themselves clean of the past month on the road had driven away any semblance of courtesy or patience, as they all pretty much rushed in, tossed their clothes aside and got right to it.
The air was filled with their numerous cries of relief and long-repressed laughs of sheer disbelief that this was actually happening. Something once so mundane and ordinary was now treated with the reverence of a god-given miracle as they nearly all writhed in ecstasy at the touch of hot water raining down upon their tired bodies. They could almost feel the past month's worth of dirt and grime running off their skin as they washed away at themselves and each other anxiously. Thankfully, before long, their desperation gave way to simply wanting to enjoy this luxury with each other for as long as possible before they'd inevitably have to let the boys have their turn.
"Oh my god, this is bliss…bliss and heaven!" Rei exclaimed at the sensation of the water washing the soap out of her long golden brown hair. "You're telling me; I was about ready to give up on ever getting to feel this clean again." Saya agreed as she was in the middle of scrubbing Alice's hair with her fingers, trying to get rid of all the tangles the little girl had gotten from all their time on the road.
"Oh, it feels so good! I swear I feel like I might start crying." Shizuka moaned blissfully while Rika and Kiriko couldn't help but laugh to themselves at how everyone else was reacting to plain hot water and soap. "I must admit, this feels much more amazing than I thought it ever would. Yes, the occasional stream was an alright substitute, but it just doesn't come close to this." Saeko confessed with an embarrassed blush as she ran a comb she'd found through her violet locks as the pouring water helped to straighten it out.
"Once we're all done with this, what do you all say we root through the closets and pick whichever clothes we want? If I don't have to wear those old ones of mine ever again, I for one can die happy." Miku proposed, earning enthusiastic nods of agreement from nearly everyone, while Rika just kept to herself.
"Yeah, this is really nice, but I gotta say, it'll be sad once the boys get their turn. Most of them have been getting some pretty nice face fur thanks to this trip. I don't know about you ladies, but strong, rough and rugged is just how I like my men. Once they shave that all off, it just won't be the same." Rika piped in, making no effort to hide her physical preferences and resultant attraction to all their male counterparts; earning silent yet threatened glares from Kiriko, Rei and Miku, but Saeko especially.
"Speak for yourself. They've all been looking like filthy cavemen since they started growing those things out. Once that's all gone, they'll finally look semi-presentable again." Saya vehemently disagreed before dumping a nearby bucket she'd filled with water onto Alice's head, covering her purple eyes under her red bangs. The rest of the women couldn't think of how they felt on something so unimportant, and thus stayed silent, while Rei just bowed her head as she began to lather the rest of her body.
"It might need a little trimming, but I think Johann looks good with his," she mumbled shyly to herself; turning to look if anyone had overheard her, and nearly jumping several feet when Shizuka was directly in her face, her golden eyes wide and sparkling with joyous intrigue.
"What was that?! Did I hear you right, Rei-chan?! Oh, that's so cute, you've got a crush on Johann-kun! I honestly can't blame you; he's so nice, brave, and not half bad on the eyes in that rugged European way, but still, I'm so happy for you," the nurse was practically squealing with delight as she grabbed Rei and pulled her into an inescapable hug as she started bouncing about happily; inadvertently burying the flustered girl's face in her massive bosom as she flailed helplessly. All the while, Saeko, Saya and Miku were all watching with amused smirks.
"Good, so it isn't just me that noticed. I thought something felt different between you two after the bridge yesterday." Saya admitted, just as Rei finally managed to pull herself free from Shizuka's cleavage and out of the practical death grip of her arms. "Now hold on, you're all jumping to conclusions! I didn't say anything about having a crush on Johann, or anything of the sort! All I was saying was…" she began protesting, her face a deep red from embarrassment as the smiles on Shizuka, Saya and Miku's faces never faltered, forcing her to back away, only to back into Saeko, who'd already prepared for this and as such held her shoulders gently.
"It's alright, Rei, you don't have to explain anything. After spending over a month thinking about nothing but food and shelter, I don't think there's any harm in just letting them enjoy themselves a little bit," she tried to reassure Rei, who could only look at the swordswoman like she couldn't tell whose side she was on. "But at the same time, you don't have to lie to us, or deny anything if you don't want to. Shizuka-sensei is right that Johann-kun has the qualities of a great man any woman would want. Honestly, after he even tried to save your life, I'd say you're completely justified in having feelings for him.
"Just do yourself a favor and try not to squander that. We live in very unpredictable times, and the last thing any of us want is for you to not say or do anything with your feelings, and have it be too late to do so." Saeko's voice had gone from surprisingly optimistic to deeply emotional, almost as if she were trying to hold back more as Rei's embarrassment quickly faded. It didn't take a genius to know where Saeko was now coming from, or just who she was thinking about when it came to regrets. In fact, much of the lively atmosphere between everyone had dissipated as well.
"I understand, Saeko. You're right, but it's just too soon for me to know for sure what's going on between Johann and myself. So I just don't want anyone overreacting or jumping the gun with this, okay? I want to approach this at my own pace, my own way, alright?" Rei relented as she looked Saeko in the eye to communicate how serious she was, and proceeded to do the same with everyone else, who all seemed to be in agreement with her subtle approach, especially Kiriko, who Rei could tell was immensely proud of her daughter's decision.
Before long, everyone had returned to washing themselves, ready to leave the emotional weight behind and just look forward to their first truly comfortable nights sleep in what felt like a lifetime.
Shortly after…
The women all stepped out of the servants' showers, with the exception of Rei and Shizuka, feeling as if they'd been reborn, or rather as if they'd shed an old skin and come out refreshed, anew. They'd never considered they'd become so engrossed in the dirt of a month's worth traveling, but none of it mattered anymore. Just to be able to feel so refreshed again felt like an absolute blessing.
They'd all begun to make their way to check the laundry room for fresh clothes just as Tadashi and the rest of the boys had finally returned from their property-scouring duties. The wide-eyed looks on most of their faces to see so many of the women in either nothing but their towels or their undergarments said plenty, but the girls couldn't find it in themselves to yell or tell them to get out. Rather, simply getting to partake in such otherwise harmless instances like this couldn't help but bring smirks of amusement to the likes of Rika, Saeko and Miku, while Saya and Kiriko kept their eyes glued to the floor in embarrassment, both their faces turning red.
Now that they'd finally gotten to relieve themselves of the dirt and grime, the women all couldn't help but now notice just how bad it was on the men. If one didn't know better, one might've mistaken them for ravenous savages lost in the wilderness for months on end; their clothes tattered, torn and utterly ruined beyond any amount of washing or sewing, and their hair utterly unkempt, untamed; especially Johann's dark brown and naturally curly locks.
"Obviously you can see the showers worked just fine for us. If the lot of you are done rocking the bohemian look, maybe you'd do well to make use of the facilities yourselves." Rika offered with a smug grin, even jerking a thumb backwards to the stairs to give them a little extra incentive. To no one's surprise, the boys all looked at each other, exchanging uncomfortable glances at the thought of sharing a group shower.
"If it's all the same to you ladies, I think we'll just check the master and guest rooms for their own showers." Tadashi declined hastily as he and nearly the rest of the boys made a beeline up the stairs, eager for some time alone now that such awkward images had wormed their way into their heads. Soon, only Johann, Marcus and Frasier were left, while Kiriko, Saya and Miku had followed after the rest of the boys up the stairs.
"Well, if I jump on it now, I'm gonna be too tired to keep working afterward, so I'm just gonna make sure we got all the windows nice and secure before washing up. Yell if you need anything." Marcus hurriedly excused himself before heading up the stairs himself; leading Rika to give an especially devious glance to Frasier.
"And what about you, kid? You've been pulling more weight than half of us combined. Surely you can't deny you need to…relieve the tension somehow, right?" she asked before the young Brit could get a word in; slowly making her way towards him lest he try to make a break for it. However, Saeko saw this coming and placed a firm hand on the sniper's shoulder; careful to not let any of her envy show through her face.
"You're not wrong that I could really use some time to just relax, but I want to see if I can find any good lookout points on the upper floor first. I'll be going for a long shower and an even longer rest after; but I'm confident you can manage things in my place, Minami-san." Frasier explained bluntly, either completely ignorant or dismissive of Rika's blatant flirtation as he followed in his little brother's footsteps before she could try or say anything else.
But when Frasier was out of sight, Saeko suddenly went up after him without a word, a noticeable urgency in her step as if trying to beat Rika to it; leaving the sniper and Johann to themselves in the awkward silence of the lobby.
"Well, they may want to prolong it for themselves, but I personally can't wait to get out of these rags. I didn't see Rei or Shizuka-sensei with you earlier. Do you know if they're still in the servants' showers, Minami-san?" Johann didn't hesitate to ask, only mildly gaining Rika's attention. "Hm? Oh, no, they retired to bed once we were all done. I think the trip wiped them out more than they wanted to admit. You're good to go, Johann-kun," she assured him, albeit absentmindedly. Not seeing any reason to disbelieve her, the young German proceeded to make his way up the stairs, leaving the sniper begrudgingly by her lonesome.
Meanwhile…
Having parted ways with the rest of the boys, Tadashi had made a point of finding the master bedroom and staking claim on it. No way in hell was he going to pass up the opportunity to be able to sleep comfortably with his wife again after having spent so much time sleeping on crappy department store beds and sleeping bags in a cramped bus.
The halls winded more than he initially thought they would, but before long, he found by far the largest bedroom with the widest bed, sighing in satisfaction to himself. As he began to approach to feel how soft it was, he was surprised by the pronounced sound of the door shutting behind him; spurring him to turn on his heels, only to find Kiriko looking at him intently, clutching the hem of her towel tightly.
"Kiriko, I thought you and the rest of the girls were looking for fresh clothes downstairs," he instinctively addressed his confusion while his wife began to slowly make her way toward him. "There's plenty to choose from in that closet over there, I'm sure. I see you wasted no time finding the master bedroom. Good; I've been aching to sleep on a real bed again." Kiriko dismissed her husband as her eyes panned from the nearby closet door to the bed, and then to what had to be the personal shower entrance in the opposite corner.
Without another word, she grabbed onto Tadashi's collar with just the right amount of force, slowly guiding him after her into the bathroom, a fire visibly lit in her eyes. Inquisitive instinct nearly drove Tadashi to spoil the moment with questions to what his wife was thinking, but once Kiriko had the door shut behind him, he knew such things would be pointless. She'd finally decided to address the long-repressed itch they'd both been suffering for well over a month as a married couple, and now that they had a real place to call safe, he couldn't rightfully ignore it either. Now was their chance to make up for a lot of lost time.
Also meanwhile…
Kohta had been busily checking every door down the hall to find the first bedroom he could claim for his own, but he'd quickly noticed Saya and Alice following after him soon after he started. Feeling her sharp eyes on his back had sapped away any kind of bravado he'd felt for anything, as if he were just waiting for her to think of some reason to yell at him again. A part of him just wanted to get the words out and ask why she and Alice were following him when he was only looking for a bedroom to call his own, but experience had taught him just asking a question was grounds enough for Saya to chew him out like crazy.
After a little while, he'd finally found the first room with a bed since he started, feeling only minimal relief before Saya suddenly poked her head inside to get a look for herself.
"Kind of small, don't you think?" she asked suddenly, catching the bespectacled gun-lover off guard as he fumbled about for words. "W-what do you mean, Takagi-san?" he stuttered nervously, only for her to whip her head in his direction, eyes flaring behind her glasses.
"Okay, first of all, this is the last time I'm going to ask you to just call me 'Saya-san'. If you still can't get that through your thick skull, then we're going to have a lot more problems than you think we already do. Second, I mean it's kind of small for all three of us, obviously."
Kohta felt a dry lump form in his throat as his brain struggled to put two and two together out of what Saya was saying, but once it clicked, he felt his whole face flare up. Unfortunately, the look in her eyes showed she knew exactly what he was thinking. As a result, she flicked a finger against his forehead, hard, bringing him back to reality.
"Don't read too much into it, you perverted otaku. We've stuck together for this long; you shouldn't be so surprised that continuing to do so just feels like habit to me at this point. But don't think that means we're going to be doing everything together. You're still showering by yourself and cooking for yourself, understand?" The intensity in her tone as she knocked him down was to be expected, but it sounded especially forced this time, as if she were actually flustered that Kohta's thoughts had been going where she feared they were, and didn't fully know how to react to it.
"But Saya-chan, whenever I had to take a bath, my mommy would always come with to help with the parts I couldn't reach. You mean people don't just do that for each other in general?" Alice suddenly chimed in, and the implications of her words made Saya's whole body nearly go red as she struggled to think of how to explain her way out of this horrible conversation. "No, it's just different when it comes to boys and girls being in the showers together. When it's just girls, or…when it's just boys, it's typically okay to, say, wash each other's backs." The hesitation as she spoke told Kohta she was seriously making this up as she went along, but the confusion on Alice's face sadly didn't wane.
"That's stupid. We all help each other with everything else regardless if it's boys or girls, so why should this be any different? It's okay, Onii-chan; if Saya-chan won't wash your back for you, I will," she readily volunteered, completely oblivious to the horrified looks on Saya and Kohta's faces at how a girl like her could be so naïve. So much so that Saya didn't even think before her reaction kicked in. "NO, NO, NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! YOU'RE TOO LITTLE TO UNDERSTAND! AND FOR THE LAST TIME, CALL ME 'ONEE-CHAN' FOR GOD'S SAKE! NOW JUST GET OUT OF HERE AND GO PLAY, OR SOMETHING, ANYTHING!"
Her voice practically echoed down the halls as she struggled to catch her breath, her whole body trembling uncontrollably from how flustered she now was. Kohta and Alice couldn't help but stare at her in shock before the little girl slowly began to back away, not even finding it in herself to yell back before beckoning Zeke to come with her, and began running around the corner and out of sight.
"Taka—I-I mean, Saya-san, are you…okay?" Kohta reluctantly asked once the pink-haired girl's shoulders stopped heaving and she only gave him a sideways glance. "If you seriously think you have to ask, then you really are an idiot, aren't you? Look, this room will do fine, okay? Just hurry and wash up; I'm already noticing the smell," she dismissed his concerns, and thankfully taking the hint, Kohta hurried into the nearby bathroom door and shut it, leaving Saya alone to chastise herself for her hair-trigger temper once again.
Elsewhere…
Miku had long since caught up with Noah, who she could tell was now eager to finally rid himself of the filthy rags he'd been forced to call his wardrobe throughout their trip. Just knowing he had access to such a luxury as hot running water had lit a fire under his tail that was so unusual to see in adolescent boys, but no less adorable in her eyes. In a way, she was just as eager for him.
Before long, the youngest Lawson got lucky and found a quaint single bedroom with its own bathroom door. After all their time in that cramped bus, neither of them were going to bother being picky; this place was their own little personal slice of paradise by comparison; nice and private too, which especially brought a smile to both their faces.
"Small, nondescript, single bed, what looks like mood lighting once our electricity issue gets resolved…it's perfect." Miku commented at first to herself as she instinctively ran her hand along the bed sheets; practically trembling in anticipation at how soft they felt. She had to resist the urge to just collapse into it and fall fast asleep, eager for the first real comfort either of them had experienced in what felt like years.
"And a personal shower too, just what I needed. I'm about ready to feel like a new man again." Noah chimed in, making a beeline for the bathroom door before a tug on the back of his collar brought him to a screeching halt. With impressive swiftness and precision, Noah was yanked so as to spin on his heels, and as soon as he was turned back 180 degrees, his head was immediately pulled forward so that his face was plunged into the deep, soft, pleasant warmth of Miku's bountiful cleavage; the young woman blushing wildly with a satisfied smile as her boyfriend's body became completely slack in her arms.
"Oh, Noah-kun, you naughty boy, you've gone and gotten me all dirty; and just when I'd finished washing up too. Looks like we'll just have to help each other get clean again, won't we?" Miku exclaimed teasingly once Noah finally had the wherewithal to take his face out of her bosom. She especially enjoyed how the young man's body went totally rigid when she let her towel drop to her ankles, leaving absolutely nothing to his imagination. Not wanting to waste any more time, she expertly took Noah's hands in her own and guided him after her into the bathroom, her smile never dissipating.
"We've both had to be so patient for so long to find this place, I think we've earned some serious quality time, my love," she whispered softly into his ear once she started peeling away his ragged clothes and tossing them aside. Once she had Noah exactly how she wanted, Miku immediately turned the knob, and the two were soon consumed in the steam of the falling hot water. "Thankfully, we can kill two birds with one stone by doing it here. Now you just relax and let me reward you for being so patient, my sweet little Noah-kun."
Around the same time…
With the day having been so busy from the crack of dawn to now, Johann was more than ready to get into the showers, free himself of his filthy clothes, shave off his unkempt and itchy beard, and come out a whole new man.
In fact, he was in such a hurry to do so that he didn't even notice the approaching sound of footsteps as he practically flew around the hallway corner and quickly found his face colliding with two huge, soft obstructions; accompanied by a high-pitched squeal of surprise and embarrassment. Recognizing that voice, Johann practically flew back, and found himself going slack-jawed at Shizuka's current state.
Dressed only in a bath towel, Johann saw more of the blonde woman's curves than ever before, the flimsy white fabric clinging tightly to her perfectly sized thighs and really showing off her sizable heart-shaped ass. But more than anything, the towel was clearly too small for Shizuka and her notable height, for it just barely managed to cover both her colossal melons and her lower region. In fact, the young man could clearly see the pink edges of Shizuka's areolas just above the towel's top edge. Her massive breasts already looked like they were on the verge of spilling out of her towel already; one inch lower or higher, and Johann would've been getting a full view of her personal bits either way.
"Oh, Johann-kun, you're not hurt, are you? Where are you off to in such a hurry?" Shizuka's voice came with great concern as Johann's senses returned; only for him to be met with the sight of her bending over to look at him, as he'd unknowingly fallen on his rear; unintentionally (or fully intentionally) giving him an unobstructed view of how huge her sweater pillows really were as gravity was just itching to make them spill out from their coverage.
"I-I-I'm just on my way to the shower! Sorry, Shizuka-sensei, I'll get out of your way!" Johann spouted in near panic as he scrambled to his feet and tried to leave without making eye contact, only for Shizuka to hook a finger into his collar and pull him back, meeting him with what he could only describe as an intimidating seductive smile; her cheeks a soft pink as she saw how red the poor boy's face was getting.
"You don't have to be in such a hurry, you know. We won't be leaving this place for quite a while, so we can all just…relax for once," she said reassuringly, trying hard not to giggle at how Johann was visibly trying to swallow the dry lump in his throat as she started backing him up against the wall. Seeing the young German so flustered made Shizuka want to tease him more and more, if for no other reason than to see just what she could get away with. "Do you perhaps see something you like, Johann-kuuun?" she asked in a soft whisper, practically purring his name as she decided to push him further by squeezing her arms tighter against her breasts, further accentuating their size as Johann was using all his resolve to not look.
"Aww…I understand; I'm just an old lady compared to the other girls here. I can't blame you for not finding me pretty, Johann-kun," she suddenly said in a defeated tone, looking down at the floor sadly as she backed off and gave Johann some breathing room. As he stepped away from the wall, he felt a twisting sensation of guilt in his stomach as he saw the dejected look of sadness on the nurse's face.
"N-No, Shizuka-sensei, that's not true at all. You're very pretty, beautiful even! I mean, you're not even in your 30's yet; you shouldn't talk yourself down like that! I-I just…I'm not used to you acting like this, so I just…" he tried to reassure her, while also trying not to say the wrong thing that would give Shizuka the wrong impression. But as any further words fell flat, his fluster was suddenly broken by the sound of the buxom woman giggling in great amusement to herself, right before she took his head in her delicate hands and planted a brief, playful kiss on his forehead.
"Oh, you are just so cute when you're flustered, Johann-kun! I was just playing around with you; that's all. The showers are just a little further down this hall, fourth door to your right. Rei-chan already left for bed, so you'll be all alone in there…unless you want some company instead," she admitted while playfully ruffling his hair with her fingers; quickly switching back into her seductive approach just to make poor Johann blush again as he hurried his way down the hall, never noticing the downright devious grin Shizuka was now wearing on her lips as she watched him from over her shoulder.
Very soon after…
After having taken a moment to let his racing heart slow down, Johann was more than ready to wash the last month's worth of sweat and grime away and feel like a wholly new person again. Looking at his reflection in the changing room mirror, he wasn't sure if he'd even be able to recognize the person looking back once he was finished. His dark brown hair had grown considerably in length and curls, and his face was now adorned with a notably thick dark beard that nearly covered half his face; far more prominent than what any of the Lawson's had managed to grow in their time on the road.
But none of that mattered now; all he wanted was to throw the rags he'd had to endure as his clothes for the past month away, wash away the filth and finally feel human again, and that release was just on the other side of the second door. Peeling away his clothes and grabbing the nearest towel for himself; with the most anxious smile on his face, he practically threw the door open…
Only to be met not only by the surprise lingering humidity of the once hot running water, but by a vision that nearly made Johann come to a screeching halt where he stood.
Before him stood Rei, out in the open without a single piece of clothing to her person, her toned arms lifted high to run a towel through her once more sparkling golden brown hair as locks of it came rolling back down her shoulders in wet tendrils. As she seemed blissfully unaware of the young German's presence, all he could do in his shellshock was look over every inch of her body:
A figure that seemed to expertly transition from the notable muscle toning of her martial arts background in her arms and legs to the almost delicate, feminine curves of her sizeable hips and shapely ass. Hers was without a doubt the best kind of hourglass figure, as her stomach was just toned enough to compliment her hips perfectly before leading up to her bountiful, supple E-cup breasts that seemed to sway seductively with every move she made. They were like two peach-colored orbs that Johann's hands could easily sink into, they looked so inviting; topped with two small cherry blossom-pink nipples that looked like they were just begging him to come and give them some much-needed affection.
Swallowing the bone-dry lump in his throat, Johann's eyes momentarily shifted to gaze upon the look of peaceful bliss on Rei's face. The smile adorning her soft pink lips was irresistible, almost to the point he wanted to step right in and kiss them with all the affection and passion he could possibly muster. But somehow managing to restrain himself, his gaze fell downward to her waist, and that's what nearly made him lose it. Even with her beautiful legs closed, his eyes could just barely make out the very edges of her womanhood, the skin a barely noticeable darker shade of pink to the rest of her skin. A lingering affect of the hot water she'd just come out of; or perhaps a subtle sign that something on her mind inspired some hint of arousal? He had no way of knowing, but accidentally getting to see the most personal of Rei's private places nearly made poor Johann crumble like a pile of bricks.
Rei Miyamoto's body was like that of a delicate yet deadly goddess; something on a whole different level to a buxom bombshell like Shizuka. It was a sight beyond anything Johann could've ever imagined; something that made nearly all the blood in his body rush downwards in record time. It was his awareness of that physical reaction that made him infinitely grateful he'd had the forethought to wear his towel around his waist before coming in, as when he chanced to glance upwards, all his surprised bliss vanished when he and Rei locked eyes, and she likewise froze as he did, her arms still raised to tend to her hair, leaving her shapely body completely exposed.
The next few seconds felt like an eternity, as all was deathly silent as the two teens stared helplessly at each other. Rei's eyes barely seemed to move as her face slowly went from normal, to a strong pink, to a nearly radiant red, as the reality of the situation finally seemed to catch up with her. And it was with that that she finally let out a piercing scream of embarrassment as she practically threw her towel around herself and nearly dove behind the nearest corner. "OH MY GOD, JOHANN; GET OUT! GET OUT NOW!"
That knee-jerk reaction was all it took for Johann to practically throw himself back out the door to the changing room in a humiliated rush, desperate to do what Rei said lest she start throwing the nearest projectiles she could find. He couldn't even think of words as he began blindly reaching back for the doorknob to the hallway. Once he could feel it in his hand, he nearly threw the door completely off its hinges and tried to make a dash out, only to find his face colliding with a very familiar pair of huge, soft obstructions, this time followed by what sounded like a very amused giggle rather than a surprised scream.
The sound of Shizuka's voice as he collided into her boobs was enough for Johann to practically backpedal on his feet in humiliation, only to momentarily lose his balance on the still wet tile floor below; his hands instinctively flailing to grab some support. Without even thinking, one hand grabbed onto the hem of the towel wrapped around Shizuka's body, and with that still devious smile on her lips, the blonde nurse happily opened her arms and let the towel come right off, revealing the entirety of her own indescribably sexy body for all the world to see as Johann finally came crashing down to the floor below.
"Oh my! Johann-kun, you naughty boy, always in such a rush and catching us girls so unawares! You know if you really wanted to see what Rei-chan or I had to offer, surely you could've just asked. So do you like what you've gotten to see so far? You can touch as well as look, if you like." Shizuka immediately began teasing, not even trying to hide her amusement as her whole body began wiggling with excitement; deliberately moving herself around to give the flustered young man a free show of her feminine goods before ending it by crossing her arms under her chest and lifting her breasts up to accentuate their size.
However, Shizuka had gotten so caught up in this part of her devious little scheme that she hadn't even realized Johann had clocked his head on the hard tile floor below; at least until she realized he wasn't speaking in the flustered stutter she'd been hoping to hear. When she actually opened her golden eyes and saw the poor boy sprawled unconscious on the floor, her previous excitement instantly vanished. "O-Oh, dear."
"Hey, what was all that noise I just heard? Is everyone oka-?!" Shizuka hadn't even picked up on the sound of the rapidly approaching footsteps coming from down the hall, but the sudden sound of Marcus' voice snapped her right back into reality, but only moments too late. As The middle Lawson practically came to a screeching halt in the doorway, his eyes went wide as dinner plates and all the color practically drained from his face as he got an eye load of Shizuka Marikawa in all her naked, feminine glory.
An insanely curvaceous figure with wide child-bearing hips, a heart-shaped ass most women could only dream to have, and a pair of heavy, succulent tits that were even bigger than his head, practically pouring out from her crossed arms lifting them from below, topped with a pair of light pink, even more appetizing-looking nipples to boot. All these things on top of her blushing, adorable face was altogether too much, as Marcus seemed to lose all sense of control and went toppling down like a freshly cut tree to the floor below; once again leaving the entire scene in heavy, uncomfortable, awkward silence. And once more, looking at all the unexpected damage her little plan had wrought, all Shizuka could think to say was another greatly embarrassed: "Oh, dear."
Shortly after…
The unexpected result of Johann and Marcus both accidentally knocking themselves out cold had thankfully been enough for Shizuka to get serious again as she was quick to get Rei to help her get them both into the nearest guestroom. The teenage girl herself had still been in a semi-state of shock from the whole thing, but was fortunately still aware enough to do as the nurse told her. Once both boys had been safely tucked away into their two respective beds, the two women finally thought to get themselves redressed in case any of the others were to come by.
As the minutes passed by and Shizuka continued checking both her patient's responses to candle light being shined in their eyes, she felt confident that they hadn't suffered any visible brain damage. Johann had especially had her worried, since he didn't even have the benefit of landing on a carpeted floor like Marcus did. Fortunately, though, the responses she was getting from both their eyes were able to ease her worries.
Now the only thing she had to remotely worry about once she'd finished taping small patches of gauze to the backs of their heads…was Rei, who at this point was sitting by herself in the corner nearest Johann's bed; knees pulled up to her chest, and eyes focused straight ahead. She hadn't said anything, but Shizuka could tell from the air around her protégé that she was not happy with her mentor at all.
Luckily, nobody else had felt the need to come to this part of the estate to check up on them and risk starting a very uncomfortable conversation, but that still didn't make Rei's fuming silence any less uncomfortable. Thus, with a heavy and hesitant sigh, Shizuka finally spoke up as she finished tucking her patients in their respective blankets.
"Well, the good news is their pupils are as responsive as usual to light, which is the best sign we could hope for. Johann-kun's especially luckily he didn't hit his head on anything on the way down. They're going to be feeling some considerable throbbing tomorrow, but it shouldn't be any worse than your average headache. So for all intents and purposes, they'll both be fine." She couldn't help but smile proudly to herself that all their time on the road hadn't made her treatment and diagnosis skills at all rusty. But the lack of a response on Rei's part quickly dampened the blonde woman's sense of accomplishment.
"Alright, Rei-chan, could you please talk to me, let me know what's going through your head?" she finally asked, exasperated, and more than a little worried by her tone. Rei decided to indulge the nurse and glanced in her direction, still keeping herself rolled up on her chair. "Okay. I told you up front I was going to stay and enjoy the showers for a little while longer, and immediately after asked you to make sure none of the boys come in until I'm out. Not even ten minutes later, not only does Johann come waltzing in while I'm in the middle of drying my hair and unable to cover myself; but then you start teasing him about giving him permission to just come right in, and that's not even mentioning the fact you start outright flirting with him right in front of me afterward. So all I want to know right now is: why the hell did you tell him to just walk on in when you knew I was still in there?!"
Rei's eyes were focused on Shizuka like a predator to its helpless prey, and the nurse could feel it as well as she knew Rei wasn't going to let her leave without explaining herself. Of course, her little prank had also gotten Johann and Marcus even remotely hurt, so she knew she at least owed it to them that she explain herself. Sitting herself at the foot of Johann's bed, she took a deep, hesitant breath.
"Okay. First of all, it wasn't just my idea. Rika and I had actually briefly talked about it among ourselves after we'd left the showers. Listening to you talk about Johann-kun back there, we both thought it was so obvious you've got feelings for him; and it's even more obvious he has feelings for you too. However, you're both so darn awkward around each other, we weren't sure if either of you would work up the courage to actually admit it. So we just thought that maybe a little literal push in the right direction would help you two to loosen up…m-maybe get more than a little intimate knowing it was just the two of you in there. I'll admit, I was really banking a lot on your repressed teenage hormones taking the wheel for both of you so you could just let your mutual attraction play out."
Rei struggled for words to even attempt responding to this madness Shizuka was sharing with her. She and Rika were seriously plotting on forcing her and Johann into the bathroom together in the hopes they'd just throw their inhibitions aside and go at it like animals in heat? If she hadn't been so dumbfounded by what she was hearing, she would've had half a mind to pull the nurse and sniper into a dual chokehold and keep them there until they apologized. But alas, she was left speechless in her chair, trying to wrap her mind around this…idiotic insanity.
"Look, Rei-chan, I realize you're upset, and I'm really sorry it turned out like this. I shouldn't have pushed him, and I should've respected your privacy. Most of all, I shouldn't have tried playing matchmaker, and just let you two figure your emotions out yourselves. I just hope you can forgive me. The last thing I'd ever want to do is make things uncomfortable for you two." Despite her heartfelt apologies, Shizuka was still met with only unreadable silence. She could only slightly make out the contemplative look reflecting in Rei's glimmering eyes as she just looked contemplatively at the floor, hugging her knees even tighter. "Well, I don't blame you if you don't want to talk to me right now. I'll…I'll just leave you and the boys alone for right now. Don't hesitate to come to me if you need help with anything, though. I'm always available for my students…and my friends."
With that, Shizuka finally decided to leave the teenage girl and the two unconscious boys alone, the room going immensely silent with a single click of the latch. Left to her thoughts, Rei couldn't help but feel the slightest bit resentful towards herself, if not just for the fact she had to go and make her emotions towards the now unconscious German boy beside her so obvious. She should've figured Shizuka and Rika would try something devious and perverted with the two teens, armed with such personal knowledge. She had no excuse not to see something like this coming from a mile away.
But before she could delve any further into her self-reflection or scolding, Johann suddenly jerked up from his bed with a piercing gasp, nearly sending Rei toppling out of her chair from the shock. But her surprise quickly rebounded into the concern she hadn't even taken the time to let herself feel as she was already on Johann's bed and holding tightly onto his shoulders to keep him from moving around too much. The young man looked around confusedly for a second, as if trying to remember where he was, until he looked the young woman in the eyes, and all at once did it all come back to him, as she could see too clearly in his green eyes, the look of horrified remembrance.
"Rei, oh my god, I'm so sorry! I-I didn't mean to—agh!" Johann already began to hastily apologize, only to wince in pain as the throbbing in the back of his head suddenly spiked. Rei was quick to get him on his back again; which thankfully seemed to soothe the pain as he let out a heavy sigh of relief. "Try not to move around too much, Johann. You took a pretty bad fall back there, so just stay in bed until morning, alright?" she instructed calmly once she was sure he was all right and able to focus again. Johann could only manage a feeble nod before turning his gaze to the ceiling.
He couldn't justify looking Rei in the eyes after what he'd just stumbled on. The fact he'd gotten to see everything she had to offer, especially without her permission, left a twisting sensation of guilt in his stomach. And the fact that she wasn't even expressing anger, but rather acting as his personal nurse, left the young man at an impasse. She had every right to be angry, regardless whether it was technically his fault or not for bursting in on her naked. If she could at least flick him on the forehead as hard as she could, or at least scold him, at least then he felt they could start over and go back to normal.
When he chanced a sideways glance towards Rei, his nervousness vanished as he saw she too was avoiding eye contact; not out of spite, but embarrassment. When she likewise glanced back to him, her cheeks flared up pink and her whole body went rigid, clutching the sheets with a white-knuckle grip. "So…how…how much did you actually see?"
All at once did the image come back to him with the force of a heavy blow to the head: the sight of Rei in all her natural beauty completely exposed for the world to see; her smooth and gentle curves, toned legs and stomach, round hips, and her supple snow-white breasts and small pink nipples, all out in the open. All that topped with the momentarily unaware, almost blissful look on her face, made Johann's heart start racing again.
It became nearly overwhelming when he returned to reality and noticed what Rei was wearing. She must have clearly been in a rush after his little accident, as she was only wearing a loosely fitting pink bath robe, and even from where he was, he could see she wasn't wearing a bra underneath; the robes' flaps almost aching to open up just a little bit further the more she leaned forward, granting him a front row view of just how huge her breasts really were with the aid of gravity to make them sway freely with every movement she made. Just the thought of it all, just how close such a vision was from where he lay; nearly made all the blood in Johann's body rush downwards at the speed of sound.
But just as quickly did his arousal vanish when he looked at her face, her glimmering eyes, only showing embarrassment. Of course, he couldn't blame her. There were few things more embarrassing than being caught in the state he'd gotten to see her in. No matter how close the two of them had become, that was just a simple fact of life for anyone.
"Would…would you hate me if I said anything but 'nothing at all'?" he nervously asked, just bracing himself for a hard smack across the face, followed by a barrage of any number of insults related to the term 'pervert'. But when it didn't come, he chanced looking the teenage girl in the eyes again, her expression now showing…resignation to the fact. "No…if anything, I'd prefer you just be honest; that way we can at least accept what happened and try to move on from there, instead of just acting like everything's completely normal." With that, Johann just gave a defeated sigh. She was right. For them to just live in blissful ignorance, when they both knew damn well there was no way he couldn't have seen at least something, would just make things so much more uncomfortable further down the road.
"I'm so sorry, Rei. I swear it was an accident. Had I known—"Johann, please, just stop. I know it was an accident. I don't blame you, all right? Besides…I know who's really to blame." Johann looked blindsided by the fact she was still actually comforting him despite this immensely awkward series of events, but Rei could still tell she had his full attention. "Shizuka-sensei told me everything after we'd gotten you two tucked in. She knew full well I was still there when she told you to go in. Apparently, she and Rika-san were both in on it. She said she was hoping we would just let our inhibitions go and just let our…'repressed teenage hormones' take over if it was just the two of us."
The room fell into immense silence once more as she finished her retelling. Even saying it out loud, she couldn't fully grasp the sheer audacity in their nurse's whole scheme, and Johann even less so, even though when stopping to think about it, it did kind of make sense. If anything, he should've been more skeptical in the face of Shizuka being so openly flirtatious yet straightforward when he proved less receptive to her advances.
"Wow…I…I honestly don't know how to respond to that. I mean; you've technically been around her longer than the Lawson's and me. Has Shizuka-sensei always been so…perverted?" he finally asked in disbelief; earning a heavy sigh from the brown-haired girl as she seemed to be thinking back as far as she could. "Unless she was drunk, not nearly so…openly. But ever since she and Rika-san reconnected, and especially since we've settled down here, she's been a lot less restrained. I'm starting to think that woman might be a bad influence on Shizuka."
Her theory made sense, but it didn't make Johann feel any less vulnerable, since Rika didn't even have to be around for Shizuka to set this whole disaster in motion. If he wasn't careful, there was no telling what their nurse would try to do with him next. Rei had clearly come to the same conclusion as well, since the moment she saw the contemplative spark in his eyes, she immediately proceeded to lie down beside him and bring her arms around his chest; pulling herself closer until she was entirely up against him, either not noticing or ignoring how red the poor boys' face became when he could feel the soft warmth of her body against his skin as she pulled the blanket over herself as well.
"If it makes you feel any better, I'm not letting you out of my sight for the rest of the night, so you can rest easy and focus on getting better, okay? Just don't get any funny ideas after what you just saw, understand?" The manner with which Rei reassured and instructed him sounded almost professional to a fault, as though she were simply doing was to be expected from a caretaker, rather than cuddling up against the boy they both knew she had grown serious affection for. However, it didn't take long for Johann to recognize she was putting on such an air in order to get away from how awkward she must've really been feeling doing this after he'd gotten to see her nude so recently.
But in the end, none of that mattered to either of them. Mishaps aside, they still finally had a place that was safe, a place they could potentially call home, and by God, they were going to enjoy it, savor it, for as long as they possibly could, together.
Elsewhere…
[Johann Sebastian Bach – Air]
Tadashi and Kiriko lay side by side in their new bed, catching their breath after probably the most pleasant physical exertion either of them had experienced in the last two months. It honestly felt like their honeymoon all over again after having gone so long without, and now in the glow of the aftermath, neither of them had a single complaint. For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, they had a place that felt like it could be an honest-to-God home for them, and Kiriko more than anything knew she didn't want to squander the chance to finally relieve at least some of the tension they'd both been silently suffering from amid all the carnage.
For once, there was no nagging sense to keep one eye open while she slept; no lingering threat of one of 'Them' shambling in to tear their throats out in the dead of night. Right now, she was just a mother and wife, able to actually rest easy in the loving company of her husband, and she was willing to do anything to hold onto that kind of peaceful bliss for as long as she could.
The sound of Alice's voice as she read from the English-language storybook she'd found in one of the closets, never seemed to pause for a breath as the little girl and Khota sat side-by-side in what was to be her bed. Whenever they were alone, Alice had continuously expressed a desire to keep practicing her English. After having had to see the look of disappointment on her face over and over again when each place they searched had nothing; seeing the way her eyes sparkled when she'd found that book made all the hardship leading up to this moment entirely worth it. And when she asked if she could read to Khota before bed, there was no way he could possibly say no.
Of course, the otaku was the only one able to enjoy this respite from all the struggling, as Saya had silently taken it upon herself to use this time to pore over the local map she'd found the day they first infiltrated this place. The pink-haired girl was like a machine, writing down every noteworthy landmark, sign of civilization or anything remotely similar as she came across it, even taking care to write the coordinates of each one; at least as best she could when looking over how to calculate coordinates in the survival manual she'd found with it.
In fact, she was so focused that she'd somehow managed to completely tune out the continuous sounds of Alice's reading and intermittent asides with Khota, every now and then interrupted by the small child breaking out into brief coughing fits before picking back up in her reading like nothing had happened.
It was truly brain-wracking work, and her natural eye for detail and ironing out said details didn't make it any easier. But she wasn't about to let that or her personal exhaustion get in the way of providing something that could actually help keep this group alive for another day. She just had to keep reminding herself not to keep letting the lingering doubts or paranoia of any future obstacles get her down. They'd worked too hard, lost way too much, to get this far. After what had happened to Hitomi and Takashi, there was no way in Hell she was going to just stand on the sidelines and let anyone else die on her watch again.
The entire bedroom was filled with the respective sound of Noah and Miku trying desperately to catch their breath as they lay entangled in their bed sheets, both covered in sweat as their eyes remained glued on the ceiling. It had been so unbearably long since the last time they'd gotten to make love, so when this chance had presented itself, there wasn't a chance one of them wasn't going to make the most of it.
And make the most of it they both did, and then some. Both teens felt like their pelvic areas were going to be aching for days with how hard they'd just finished going. Noah nearly felt like he was in danger of throwing his back out near the end with how intensely he'd started moving, but even that lingering worry didn't stop him from being disappointed in himself that he hadn't managed to recover his stamina yet, despite having just finished less than a minute ago. He'd felt immensely confident in his developing capabilities in bed with her before they ended up leaving Tokonosu, and now this month-long gap had sapped all that experience away.
As for Miku, she'd long since lost track of her safe days and didn't even bother telling her young lover whether to pull out or not. She'd just been so desperate for them to have this kind of intimacy again; she didn't give a shit about the consequences. And right now, in the aftermath of by far the greatest sex she'd ever had, she was far beyond satisfied. And every time she glanced his way, she could tell by the glow in Noah's eyes that he felt just the same.
The collective relief they both felt at what a fortunate turn their luck had taken only served to sweeten the whole experience. They'd both long since given up hope of ever finding something half as nice as this estate again, and yet here they were. And Noah had already proven how dedicated he was to making this place work for all of them, and some way, somehow, Miku was going to try and find a way to do just the same. They'd earned this refuge, and they were going to fight tooth and nail to keep it.
[]
All was quiet as Frasier sat alone in his chair; his icy blue eyes scanning through the small gap between the boards he'd used to make the barricade for this guest room. The only sound he could hear was the chirping of crickets within the forest. Whether it was the cicadas at day or the crickets at night, this valley seemed to never go as deathly silent as Tokonosu did at night. In a way, he actually found himself missing that silence. Made being alone with his thoughts that much easier.
But unlike the city, out here in the woods, finding any sign of something amiss was so much easier. Out there in nature, everything was more or less how it was meant to be. If anything that wasn't supposed to be were to make its presence known, the environment would react accordingly. And as long as he stood vigilant at his post, he would know about it.
Honestly, after over a month having to keep the group together on the road, and nearly destroying it all instead, being alone here, keeping watch without having to attend to anyone else was the only course of action that made any sense to him to take anymore. He didn't want it to show in front of the others, but having to serve as the figurehead for so long during such an ordeal was more exhausting to him in every way than he cared to admit. This was the closest thing to respite he could ask for.
A respite that unfortunately broke as his ears picked up on the minute sound of footsteps treading carefully on the carpeted floor, coming to a stop right at the doorway to this room. He didn't even need to look back over his shoulder to know who it was. The very faint trace of lavender alongside her natural scent told him everything. But in all honesty, he was surprised it took Saeko even this long to finally come in once she knew he would be alone.
"Looks like you found your perfect watch point," she stated bluntly, leaning against the doorway as Frasier let out a heavy sigh. If she was going to break the silence, then of course she'd expect the same of him. She was never one for speaking just to hear herself talk. All he could hope to do now was say what absolutely needed to be said and hope she would just leave it at that. "That's right. Out of all the other rooms on this floor, it's got a view that covers the most of the valley ground. The full moon with the clear skies also helps exponentially."
"All that on top of the food supply, the clean water, the barricades and the open space; this place could actually come quite close to being a home, couldn't it?" Saeko asked as she began to slowly approach further while Frasier kept his focus on the outside. "Yes, it could."
Saeko came to an abrupt stop when she saw how much Frasier was trying to avoid any prolonged conversation. Not that that was going to deter her even a little bit. "I know you don't typically believe in such things, but I dare say we were…about as lucky as could be to find this place when we did. With as many people fleeing the cities to try and tough it out in the wilderness as we would assume, you would think somebody would've stumbled on this place before we did."
"Yes, but the mountainous terrain in this part of the country is more of an obstacle to those trekking on foot than many would realize. But all that aside, finding this place was exactly what we needed, and I'd even go so far as to say it makes for a perfect safe house while everyone recollects themselves and gets their bearings." Despite the optimism in his words, his tone conveyed otherwise, almost as if he were actively trying to keep his real opinions to himself for her sake. "But?"
"But I don't know what'll happen after. Once everybody's rested and prepared, we'll obviously have to hit the road again. We can't risk the chance of the Tokyo quarantine zone being overrun by the time we get there." The instant their old destination left his lips, it took all of Saeko's willpower not to let out a sigh of the deepest exasperation or frustration. Up until now, she'd been hoping so fiercely that this place and all its promise would've been enough to make Frasier forget their past suicide mission; but obviously, no such luck.
"Look, Frasier, I don't know how else to say this, so I'll just say it: we were on our last legs when we found this place, you know that better than anyone. Claiming this valley for ourselves the way we have was nothing short of a miracle. Now, I know you don't believe in such things, but don't you think, looking back on everything we've had to endure to make it this far; that maybe it's time you did? Couldn't we just forget about Tokyo, take the good fortune we've been given for what it's worth, and just try our luck in making this valley a home for everyone?"
"Saeko, I get it, alright? I know that must sound impossible to believe coming from me, but please know that it's the truth: I get where you and the others have been coming from every time you've suggested forgetting this Tokyo plan. I know this journey has been hell on everyone. It hasn't been any easier for me. Hell, that…that episode I had with you all should testify to that plenty. But it…it's just not that simple. I can't just throw in the towel, hang up my boots and just forget my mission. You just wouldn't understand."
It was that simple declaration more than anything else he said that finally made Saeko lose what little patience she had left with him, as she finally brought a foot down hard, rendering him silent as she looked at him with the most penetrating look of genuine hurt in her blue eyes; her lips trembling as she tried to choke down the sheer weight of emotion building up in her chest.
"You know something, Frasier? You're right! I don't understand! I don't think I ever will understand! Why can't you just tell me WHY?! Why can't you just throw this goddamn soldier's pride of yours aside and just look at where we are like an actual person?! This isn't about some stupid mission handed down by your father; this is about the survival of our friends, our family! We're trying our best to keep each other going, but your insistence on going through with this fool's errand puts all of us at risk; and while you claim to be aware of that fact, you continue to keep pushing us forward on it, consequences be damned!
"At the very least, I wish you'd stop being so damn cryptic and at least talk to me, try to help me understand why this matters so much to you. Maybe then I wouldn't feel so convinced you were trying to free your brothers and yourself of your so-called 'dead weight'.
Without another word, Saeko stormed out of the room, leaving Frasier in guilt and shame, unable to come up with a rebuttal. She was absolutely right; he knew that. There was no reason for him to be so fucking protective of his secrets and motivations. Everyone had proven their worth and then some in the time they'd spent on the road, and yet his instincts kept convincing him they were useless, and that their lives were only secondary to his precious 'mission'.
There was a part of him that wanted to follow her advice and just forget the whole thing, but there was another that wanted so desperately to try and justify his actions to her, perhaps in the hopes of finally getting her fully on his side. But how could he possibly hope to do that?
With a weary sigh, Frasier planted his elbows on the windowsill and planted his face in his hands; completely and utterly drained of all energy and desire to keep up this forsaken façade of leadership he'd forced onto his own shoulders.
So deep was he in this pit of self-pity and guilt, he never even noticed how, just outside the window, across the valley and within the foliage of the trees; for the briefest moment, there was the faint glimmer of the full moon's light reflecting on a pair of binocular lenses focusing on the estate, before just as quickly disappearing back into the dark of the forest.