Chapter 7- Supply Run

"No way! Don't even think about it." Haruka tossed the wrench back into the tool box and closed the hood.

"Please? I just want to help, and I want to learn. Mako had been teaching me some basic self-defense moves and well, I am very good at running away. Pleaseeeeee..." Usagi clasped her hands together and begged.

Mako shrugged. "I don't mind if she tags along, Haruka. Quite frankly, one more person means one more person to carry more stuff. Also, Usagi, I will protect you."

Haruka looked back and forth between the two, chewing over the risks of having an inexperienced person on the supply run team. She would much rather do it with Michiru, but Hotaru spiked a fever and Michiru wanted to stay behind. Bad things could happen
in a split second out there and Usagi would be the weakest link that could drag the whole team down.

"Why do you want to go so bad?" Mako asked.

Usagi looked down. "I feel like I haven't contributed enough. I do know these runs are dangerous and you guys are risking your lives each time you go out. How can I just sit back and watch?"

"Fine." Haruka looked at the short blonde girl and felt more perplexed than ever. Perhaps she had misjudged Usagi. Not quite the princess she thought Usagi was. "But you listen to us. Don't wander off, stay close and be quiet."

"Yay." Usagi let out a squeal. "Okay, so which mall are we going to?"

Haruka rolled her eyes and got into the car. Right, still a princess.

Soon, the trio said their goodbyes to the others and were on their way to the city center. First priority was fuel and food. Mako also needed some tools and spare parts for the solar panel repair.

Haruka concentrated on the road as Mako and Usagi chatted non-stop in the back seat. "Hey, Princess, this is not a field trip, you know."

"I am not a princess." Usagi pouted. Mako shot a death stare at Haruka.

Haruka stayed silent for the rest of the way. She didn't know why she wanted to pick on the blonde so much. The numerous nicknames she had for her was kind of silly. Princess, little kitten, Odango...

Michiru had accused Haruka of having a crush on her the other day. "Why do you tease Usagi so much? She is not weak, you know. For someone to survive for that long by herself, while taking care of a little girl, that takes a lot of strength and courage.
Maybe you have a crush on her..."

"I do not!" Haruka could feel her face burning up. "Michi, I love you. You are the only one..."

"Okay. Quite frankly, I am not surprised if everyone here has a little crush on that girl." Michiru winked and laughed as Haruka's face kept on getting redder. "Maybe next time, we should invite her to our private meeting..."

Haruka shook her head violently. Michiru continued to tease and joke about this for the next hour. The usually cool and composed Haruka was at a complete loss for words.

"Hey, earth to Haruka. You missed the exit." Mako tapped on her shoulder, jolting her out of her memory lane.

Groaning internally, Haruka did a wide u-turn and smoothly rejoined the other lane. She flipped her hair and looked at the rearview mirror. Damn. Usagi didn't notice her awesome driving.


Usagi waited patiently in the car, as she watched Mako and Haruka checking the other abandoned cars. It looked disgusting, as they used their mouths to siphon out any remaining fuels.

She kept her eyes on the surroundings, in case if there were any zombies. She was determined to prove her worth and she would help out in the best way she could.

Mako looked back from time to time, checking to see if she was okay in the car. Usagi waved and smiled, reassuring her friend everything was fine. Haruka still had her permanently- annoyed face on and she seemed tense. She glanced back once and then quickly
looked away. Usagi felt sad that Haruka still didn't trust her.

"Okay, let's go to the hardware store next. It's two blocks south of here." Mako instructed. Haruka acknowledged it with a simple nod.

When the strip mall came into view, Usagi felt a sense of nostalgia. Besides the hardware store was the department store, where she had spent many hours hanging out with her friends. Naru, Umino. There was also that one time where she managed to drag
Ami out for shopping.

"Hey, Mako. See that store over there? Ami and I went shopping there once. They have some really cute stuff."

Mako chuckled. "I can't imagine her in a mall. I see her as the cram-school-type of girl, am I right?"

"She skipped once. Peer pressure." Usagi laughed, which was quickly shushed by Haruka.

"Okay, cut the chitchat. Once we get out of the car, we need to be as quiet as possible. We may be able to handle some random zombies, but I don't want to run into a herd, okay?" Haruka swung a duffle bag over her shoulder and got out of the car.

Mako's face turned serious as well. She handed two knives to Usagi and told her to stay close. Usagi gulped nervously and nodded.

They ran swiftly but silently to the entrance. Haruka led the way while Mako stayed behind Usagi. Sandwiched between the two fighters, Usa felt slightly safer.

Once they were inside, the feeling of safety was gone. The hardware store was bigger than she had imagined. With rows of aisles and numerous blind spots, Usagi's heart raced again.

Suddenly, to the far side of the store, a shelf toppled over. They could hear the moans of zombies and someone fighting.

"We should go help him." Usagi urged. She could hear that person running, as the moans followed him.

"Shit! Looks like we have to fight. He's leading the zombies this way..."Haruka took out her katana. "Looks like you get your wish again, princess."

A guy with an unusually long ponytail was dashing towards them. His eyes widened as he saw the group. "Run. Run."

"I see ten…..." Mako counted. "I can take them." Without waiting for an answer, Mako ran straight at them and swung her newly scavenged crowbar.

"Wait...fuck..." Haruka shook her head and joined in on the fight.

The guy stopped running and turned back. Seeing how the two strangers were helping, he looked around for a weapon.

"I will borrow this. Thanks." The guy grabbed the knives out of Usagi's hands and joined in.

Usagi clutched her heart as she watched them fight. Blood spewed everywhere, and on occasion, some random body parts from all the hacking. She was horrified but she couldn't tear her eyes away. Suddenly, she spotted another crowd coming in, drawn by the
fighting noises.

"Hey...there is more..." Usagi tried to whisper and shout at the same time. They were too occupied to hear the warning.

The new zombies were closing in, their sharp claws inches away from her friends. Usagi looked around desperately. She should fight...

It was then she spotted a round saw blade. She picked it up and it was the size of a frisbee. Usagi felt confidence she had never felt before...

"Guys, duck!" Usagi yelled as she threw the saw blade. It flew out in a nice arc and zipped went through five zombies.

Haruka and Mako finished their last kills and stood up. With their mouths hung wide open, they stared at the five heads rolled away. The guy made a low whistle as he wiped the knives clean.

"I did it. I can't believe I did it." Usagi was somewhere between horrified and proud at the moment.

The guy came over and handed the knives back. "That was super impressive. Thanks. By the way, my name is Seiya. What's yours?"


A.N.

Moon Tiara Action. Enough said!