Originally I planned for this chapter to be a bit longer, but... I suppose things happen, haha.

Also, thanks to tenshi-kinryoku for pointing out to me that crossbows actually have bolts, not arrows. Apparently I just don't play as many video games as she does. It's been corrected!

Hiyoshi Wakashi had left the school fairly early on, so he was able to find a decent spot to hide while he thought of a plan without too much worry of running into others. There was a small group of trees just behind the school, and while Hiyoshi had figured most people would have set off away from the building, he quickly went around it to find shelter in the trees.

Walking around the old building, Hiyoshi noticed that it was in fairly bad shape - broken windows, graffitti and missing doors. The place had long been abandoned, whatever the reason was was unknown. Coming up to the back of the school, he slowly peered around the corner. Nobody in sight. Perfect. He slung the backpack over his shoulder and made a quick run for the trees, a few feet away, only stopping once he reached the middle of the small forest. Slowing his pace once he felt he was shielded well enough, Hiyoshi took in his surroundings. The area between the trees wasn't open, but it wasn't exactly condensed, either. Sunlight crept in from above, but the canopy of leaves and branches managed to block most of it out. Though slightly windy out, the breeze couldn't make its way inside. Easily spotted if he stood out in the open, Hiyoshi decided to head over to a group of three trees bunched together. Sitting down, he leaned back on one and shrugged off the backpack.

Hiyoshi sat there thinking, terrified. Maybe if he could find a good spot the rest of them would just take each other out, and he wouldn't have to do anything. As much as Hiyoshi was all for surpassing those above him, the idea of killing someone didn't fit that ideal. Even if it had, Hiyoshi was sure his weapon - a pocket knife - wasn't going to do him any good unless his opponent had something even worse. Sure, it was a knife, but that required him to be at arm's length from someone. Not something he wanted in his current situation, not when he was unsure of what else had been given out.

With a sigh, Hiyoshi unzipped the canvas backpack he'd been given and dug around for a minute before pulling out the map. It was sectioned off into a 5x7grid, everything in the area marked off and neatly labelled, although the actual sectioning of the areas looked like it had been a little hastily done. Hiyoshi figured he was somewhere in the area of A2, near the top of the map. The forest looked like it was just at the edge of the allowed zone, and Hiyoshi made a mental note not to leave out the other side. On either side of the trees there was open field, and just below was the school. He didn't bother to look much beyond that, not thinking he'd be moving too far from his current position. Not wanting to leave the allocated area, Hiyoshi folded up the map and placed it back in the backpack, pulling out the water bottle and taking a small sip before zipping it back up. Grabbing it, he stood up and looked around again, unsure of where to go. Coming to the conclusion that staying in his current spot would do him no good, he headed off to find a more secure area within the trees.

He had just managed to turn around when he felt a sudden, sharp pain in his side.

"What the-"

Hiyoshi looked down to see a bolt sticking from his side. Fear quickly spread over his face as he realized what was happening.

He hadn't heard a thing!

Blood slowly started to spread over the side of his jacket, dark red staining blue and white. Hiyoshi looked around, panicked. Where had it come from? How could he have missed someone? All around him, he could only see trees which quickly became nothing but a green blur as he looked from side to side. Grabbing at his side, Hiyoshi was unsure of what to do - all he knew was that he needed to get out of there, and fast. The pain in his side was horrible, but he could live with it if it meant getting away. If he wanted to get out alive, he had to run, and that was what he did. As he took off, another bolt came from - where did it come from? It didn't matter. The bolt had lodged itself into Hiyoshi's leg this time, hitting his thigh and causing him to cry out. Dropping to the ground, Hiyoshi clenched his jaw to stop himself from making any more noise. Pain seared through his body, his hands now clutching at the new pain in his leg. He knew he had to do something, but what?

He needed to get out. Get out of this little forest altogether and find better shelter, a better place to hide. Blood was running down the back of his leg. He knew he couldn't leave like this, not with a bolt in his leg. Without a second thought, Hiyoshi grabbed the end and pulled. The pain was worse then when the bolt had first hit, and Hiyoshi collapsed back to the ground, blood pouring freely from the wound.

"No. No, no, no."

Hiyoshi's mind was a blur. He had to move. He had to get up. He had to get out.

There was a soft thud from behind him, and Hiyoshi froze. In the trees. He hadn't even thought - he hadn't even looked. Mentally cursing himself for being so stupid, he pushed himself back on to his feet. Hiyoshi had just enough time to turn around before a final bolt embedded istelf deep in his chest. He fell forward, coughing. The pain in his side and leg forgotten, Hiyoshi grasped at the bolt in his chest with what little strength he had left.

Yukimura took a few steps towards him and leaned down, coming face to face with the other boy.

"Sorry, Hiyoshi-kun," was the quiet apology before he reclaimed the bolts, ripping them from the now unfeeling body.

~69 remain~