Well that was painful. Work has been eating up my time and I don't have a lot of it, but here is chapter 3. Hope you all enjoy!
3
A week passed before the group reached Tokyo.
The roads proved to be nigh impassible, but tenacity and ingenuity (and three boxes of Twinkies) kept them going on their way south. The going was slow, but they had hope. When they saw the skyscrapers of the Capital of Japan, with Mt. Fuji rising tall and imposing in the distance, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
"Let's pull in here," Weaver indicated a gas station with available stalls, "lets just pray there's still gasoline and diesel in the reservoirs."
There was, thankfully. Alice, Mrs. Shizuka and Takashi went in the lobby, the former to use the restroom, while Takashi busted open the cash register. Coming out with a hand full of cash, he gave Weaver and Saeko the money to fill both cars up.
As the tanks where filling, Saeko walked around the lobby. Weaver waited a bit, got bored and followed her.
She was staring up, up at the distant mountain that stood to the West of the great city. The snowy cap a stark contrast to the green covered slopes and the grey of the city.
Upon reaching her, Saeko leaned back, and nuzzled into Weavers chest.
"Will things ever go back, like Miyamoto-san says they might?" she asked, and Weaver couldn't help but notice the twinge of desperation in her voice. He shrugged.
"I don't know. But while there's life, there's hope."
They stood there watching the clouds pass over the deserted city. Like Tokonosu, there was hardly a sound, an eerie stillness hanging in the air as pervasive as darkness.
"So," Weaver sighed, hoping to make conversation, "That's it, huh?"
"What's what?" Saeko asked.
Weaver pointed at the wooded slopes of Fuji.
"Aokigahara." He intoned simply, "Suicide Forest."
Saeko stiffened as she gazed at the green that covered the mountain.
"A rather apt name for such a dismal place." She said simply.
"I never understood it," Weaver said, hoping he wasn't creeping Saeko out, "Why go to a forest, just to kill yourself?"
Saeko pushed Weaver away and walked a little ways forward. Weaver's heart sunk. You moron, don't talk about suicide IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GODDAMN APOCALYPSE!
Saeko continued to stare at the mountain, her violet hair blowing gently in the growing wind.
"There is a legend about that forest…why people die there."
Weaver's ears pricked up, listening intently.
"Long ago, during the age of Emperor Horikawa, a warrior from a foreign land came to Japan and fell in love with a Japanese noble lady. However, a selfish Feudal Lord, who wanted the noble lady for himself, challenged their relationship, since the warrior was not Japanese. To prove his honor, he fought a duel with the Japanese Lord. Though he fought bravely, the Lord defeated the warrior, and killed him before his beloved.
Overcome with grief, the noble lady came to the mountain, for a powerful spirit lived at the top of Fuji. She begged the spirit to return her love to her, but, since the warrior was not Japanese, the spirit would not help her. Distraught, and faced with the future of being the wife to the man who killed her beloved warrior, the lady wept until a river ran down the mountain.
She then came down the mountain, and hanged herself from a cherry tree, so she could be with her warrior for eternity."
Weaver stared at the ground as he processed Saeko's words. He looked up just in time to see a tear roll down her cheek. Walking up behind her, he reached out and pulled her back into his arms.
"When the Lord came looking for the lady," Saeko continued, "He took several of his best Samurai with him into the forest. They never came out again. Since then, that place is called Aokigahara, Suicide Forest, but it is also known by another name. Kiboshinimasu. Hope Dies Here."
Weaver buried his face in Saeko's hair and kissed the top of her head, as she began to hitch slightly from her tale. She grabbed at Weaver's arms desperately.
"What's the matter," Weaver asked the young woman, worry etching his voice. Saeko was not acting normal lately, and this current display of emotion did not fit her at all.
"Weaver, please."
"What is it, darling?" Weaver asked, now genuinely concerned.
"Swear to me," Saeko turned and wrapped her arms aound Weaver's neck as he cupped her face, brushing away her tears with his thumbs, "Swear to me you won't die."
"What?" Weaver asked, as gently as he could. It was the Zombie apocalypse after all; Weaver had believed survival was a prerequisite to win.
"No matter what happens, you won't leave me to live in this world alone."
Weaver tightened his hands, but his grip remained gentle. Saeko found herself pressed flush against Weaver, as he stared into her tear filled eyes.
"I swear," Weaver said solemnly, "I swear by God Almighty, if you are taken from me, I will not rest until I find you again, even if I must burn this world down. If you are scared, I will always give you my hand, and if survival is impossible…"
Saeko's lip trembled.
"…I'll make sure I take you with me."
(Don't make promises you can't keep, boy) The Other whispered, but Weaver crushed it as Saeko put her head on his shoulder.
"Don't leave me." She whimpered, "Don't you fucking leave me."
XXXXX
Bang!
Frank Skinner shot the zombie without even looking at it; it made too much noise not to miss.
Smoke drifted lazily from the barrel of his gun, a LeMat revolver, as he drew the gun to his lips. With a gentle puff, he blew the smoke away.
Ring!
Skinner whipped the phone to his ear in one swift motion.
"What's the score?" he asked in his gravelly voice.
"We are in business, friend,"
Skinner smiled.
"Business is war, as you people say."
"Quite right," the man replied jovially, "I must admit, even I didn't expect the phase to have any literal meaning."
Skinner chuckled. Then his face took on a darker cast.
"Listen, Tak, I'm sittin' here looking at Tokyo as we speak. The cock sucking bastard is down there somewhere and you won't let me smoke him."
"Patience," the man soothed, "You will have your revenge and I will have mine. But we must be cautious. They prizes go hand in hand, after all. No pun intended."
"None taken. I've heard reports of a Typhoon hitting the mainland. What is that ETA looking at?"
"It will make land fall in two weeks. It just passed my position and it has been storming for almost three weeks. I have an operation set up, but we may be delayed due to the weather."
"You're gonna try to take the girl in the middle of a hurricane?" Skinner raised an eyebrow.
"No, or at least I don't plan to unless I have something I can use against her. I just want to see her again."
"Uh, huh," Skinner muttered as he lit a cigarette, "Your just gonna waltz in and say hello?"
"Not at all." The man replied with a chuckle, "While I am very confident in my abilities, these kids have strengths of their own. One is a gifted leader. Another a natural marksman. One is a Sojutsu master, and the American…"
Skinner spat on the ground, "What 'bout that punk?"
"He's an American. He just enjoys killing people," the man said with utter disdain.
"Ain't you the stalker," Skinner laughed.
The man clucked in disapproval.
"Stalker? That's such a perverted accusation, Mr. Skinner. I prefer the title of…ardent observer."
"Well, when you're right," Skinner took a drag off his cigarette, "So, hold off for now?"
"For now," the man said.
Skinner hung up and pocketed his phone.
Then he raised his LeMat and shot the Zombie that had been approaching at point blank range. He didn't even need to look at it.
"Ten points," he muttered.
XXXXX
"You hear that?" Weaver pricked his ears at the sound of a distant bang, like a gun shot.
"Probably a transformer blowing or something," Takashi said, taking another bite of his apple.
Weaver and Takashi leaned against the gas pumpers as they stared at the city before them.
"It's been quite the trek," Weaver yawned, and stretched luxuriously, "Had a couple of close calls."
"I can only think of one." Takashi said, "The flat tire was fixed in less than ten minutes thanks to you and Kohta."
Weaver smiled his cocky smile.
"I'm telling you, you should learn to do it yourself."
"I'm just saying all the same," Takashi smiled, chucking the apple core away, "I really do, though, owe you for Wednesday."
"Don't mention it," Weaver said as he remembered the horde.
XXXXX
"Oh, Shit! Ohshitohshitohshitohshit!" Weaver seethed under his breath as he put on the brakes.
"Weaver-san, what is it?" Saya asked confused.
"God damn, they're still rolling," Weaver said, now in anger. Rolling down his window, he hauled himself bodily out of the Tundra and vigorously drew his hand across his neck, telling Mrs. Shizuka to turn off her car.
"What is Weaver-kun doing?" Mrs. Shizuka asked in her ditzy voice as she continued to drive on, "He looks so funny."
"Mrs. Shizuka, turn off the car." Takashi said. He saw it, too.
"Oh, right," Mrs. Shizuka did so. When she looked up again, her hands flew to her mouth.
Up ahead, a huge crowd of people were shambling forward through the car-choked expressway.
Except, they weren't people.
Alice turned to Rei, Zeke in her arms. Tears of abject terror shone in her eyes.
"Miyamoto-senpai…are we going to be alright?"
"We're going to be fine," Rei reassured her, pulling the little girl into her arms and pushing her head down, "Don't look, Alice-chan, and be quiet."
Weaver looked at Saeko and grabbed her hand, "We're going to be fine," he said.
Saeko nodded, giving Weaver's hand a gentle squeeze.
"I know we will."
Inch by inch they came.
Minute by dragging minute.
Ten minutes.
Thirty minutes.
An hour.
An hour thirty.
Two hours.
Two Hours and forty one minutes later, the last Zombie shambled out of sight.
Weaver looked back, to see they were gone, then looked at Saeko.
She still gripped his hand hard.
"Let's get the fuck outta here." Weaver growled, as he started the truck back up again.
XXXXX
"Oni-Chan, look at all those clouds!" Alice shouted, and pointing at the distance while tugging Takashi's pant leg.
Everyone turned and looked. Out in the far distance, still out at open sea, a huge, roiling bank of jet black clouds hung on the horizon.
"Typhoon," Kohta said in a hushed voice.
Saya looked out at sea, and made some quick calculations.
"We have about a week before it makes land fall, two if we are lucky. We should keep moving. At the rate we are going, we may reach Osaka by the time it hits."
"We gonna need shelter," Weaver said, "somewhere sturdy where can hunker down until it passes. After that, we need to be cautious for flooding and shit."
Takashi took one more look at the coming storm then turned to Weaver.
"Are the cars fueled?"
"Yes, sir."
A zombie crawled out from underneath a car. Weaver however, turned to face it, spat in disgust and pulled out his custom 1911 handgun.
"Go to hell," he muttered in sick mirth as he shot it cleanly between the eyes.
"Alright, everyone saddle up!" Takashi called out, "We'll take it slow so we can get as many supplies as we can. Food, water, matches, blankets, gear we can use, if you see it grab it. Let's get going!"
They all piled into the car, even as the wind began to slightly pick up.
XXXXX
Another week passed. The Typhoon moved ever closer. Though still a couple days out, the Typhoon was ready to unleash its fury upon Japan.
The crew was stocking up. Staying in the general area, they had some pretty good pickings. Abandoned cars, shops and restaurants all provided ample sources to find supplies. They collected blankets and all the water they could get their hands on. They gathered nonperishable food items and scavenged for all the ammo they could get. The Tundra carried the bulk of the stuff they collected, but some was also kept in the Leopard. After collecting all they needed, they left the area.
They didn't dare sink themselves into Tokyo.
"So where are we going to hole up?" Weaver asked as rain began to spatter his windshield.
"Keep heading south," Takashi said, "Tokyo is right on the coast; holing up in the city would be suicide. We need to find higher ground."
"We should change our route then," Saya said, "Nanoko Highway takes us through the mountains. There is a town there, Nenana, I've been there before. Its secluded and relatively safe."
"Nenana it is, then." Takashi said, wrapping a protective arm around Rei and moving to the leopard, "Saddle up. We have a week to get there, people let's make it count."
Weaver hopped into the Tundra with Saeko, Kohta and Saya, and cranked on the engine. In a couple of minutes, they were trundling off the freeway and on to the connector to Nenana.
Tokyo was left in eerie silence once again.
Until an armor plated jeep came up, and took the exit for the connector, following the gang…
Aokigahara is a real place, and it is one that really intrigued me. I was happy to use it as a sort of land mark.
Write a review if you want and hold tight! The next chapter is coming soon!
