1000 Suns
DEAD Reckoning

In the end it all became routine. Go at one hundred percent for days on end, running off adrenaline and determination. Then drop like stones at the first opportunity and sleep like the dead. You were either on or off, draining your reserves or sleeping off the adrenal withdraw. I remember moments when I damn near fell asleep on my feet, when the haze of fatigue and sleep deprivation closed in on me.
And now, running on a grand total of eight hours of sleep for the last four or five days combined, I have to decide what to do with these people. Keep them, save them; or leave them, kill them. Last night all I did was delay the choice. And now, knowing these people almost as well as my own, I'm even more lost than I was to begin with.

For the moment everyone save Takashi and Saeko were sleeping, allowing the two to indulge in an impromptu makeout session, their new favorite form of stress relief. Slowly, Takashi drew back, causing Saeko to pout ever so slightly. Grinning, he swooped in for one last kiss, taking her tongue into his mouth for a brief moment. With a sigh they both stepped backwards, a light blush dusting Saeko's cheeks, looking remarkably out of place with the seductive smile on her lips.

But still, they had things to do. And as much as they would have enjoyed staying like that for a moment longer they knew they had to stop. All good things must end, the trick is to enjoy them for as long as they last.

Takashi rubbed the back of his head, grinning slightly as he took her in. Saeko was his new guilty pleasure, on his mind more and more as time went on. And, more and more, she was near him, close and within easy reach as often as not. He could no longer imagine what life would be like without her by his side, almost as if the stolen moment at the hotel had sealed them together. He was still worried about what would happen if Rei found out about how close they had become. But at the same time it was so hard to worry about anything with Saeko right in front of him. It was so easy to get lost in her lips, in her gaze, her touch and for the life of him Takashi couldn't find a reason to resist it any more.

He glanced at the stove. Trying to resist the urge to pull her back into a crushing embrace and kiss her again he said, "The fact that you can cook just makes my day every time."

"Only my cooking?" She asked, her eyes growing tearful. "Is that all I am to you?" Takashi sputtered. Unable to hold it back any longer a playful smirk broke out across her face. Saeko couldn't possibly convey how much she enjoyed messing around with his mind, second only to messing around with him. Killing them aside there was nothing she'd rather do. She would happily spend the rest of her life by his side, and she did not doubt that he would make her life worthwhile. To make show him that she was joking she planted one last kiss on his jaw, trailing her fingers down his chest. "Go wake everyone else up, fearless leader."

With a lingering smile Takashi left the kitchen, going back to the sitting room where the ten people of his group, eleven if you counted Zeke, had spent the night. He sighed, pondering over his decision once more. At least he knew that there was one person who was unconditionally on his side.

Moving over to Hirano's slumbering form he tapped the marksman on the shoulder, trying to wake him up quietly. "Oi, Khota, wake up," He said quietly poking Hirano in the shoulder once more. When that failed he let out a long suffering sigh. "Saeko made breakfast," He said, a bit louder, "If you don't get up I'll eat your share and give you an empty plate."

Suddenly Hirano was on his feet. "What!" He choked out, glaring at Takashi who grinned slightly.

"Not my fault you weren't moving." He replied.

Khota's shoulders slumped ever so slightly, "So there's no breakfast," he voice forlorn at the prospect.

"No, there's breakfast alright, and it smells delicious. Just help me wake up every one else." Takashi replied, chuckling when Hirano instantly brightened at the news.

"Hai!" Hirano took a step forward, moving towards where Saya and Alice were sleeping, only to trip over his pants, which had slipped down slightly as he moved. He impacted on the wood floor with a low thud. "Itai..." He whimpered out slowly climbing back to his feet.

Takashi helped him back to his feet, "You okay?"

"Yeah," Hirano replied, ruefully as he pulled his pant back up again "My pants just slipped down. They've been getting kinda looser over the past few days." He said with annoyance, hiking his uniform dress pants back up to waist level.

Takashi looked at him oddly, "All it took was the end of the world to get us in shape huh?"

Khota nodded, then he chuckled as he said, "Maybe all the adrenaline is good for muscle growth or something."

"Actually, if your body pumps too much adrenalin it leads to weight gain," Shizuka interjected sleepily, rubbing her eyes as she came to a sitting position, "It also leads to adrenal fatigue and a whole bunch of other problems." She shook her head, "If anything it's probably increased levels of testosterone from constant physical exercise that lead to rapid weight loss. Coupled with the lack of food that forces your body to metastasize fat tissue."

Takashi and Hirano looked at each other for a moment, then back at Shizuka. When their eyes met the second time Hirano let out a chuckle, which turned into a laugh, then Takashi started laughing as well, and before either of them could stop they were practically doubled over, sides heaving with uncontainable laughter. It was one of those 'you had to be there' moments to understand what went through their heads. Truth be told what Shizuka said wasn't even funny, it was just the way she said it, the whole situation, and an heaping dose of slap happy that set the two off.

Shizuka frowned at the two teen in front of her, "What?" She asked, somewhat annoyed by their reaction.

"Nothing, nothing," Takashi said, finally gaining enough control over himself to stand upright, "It's fine." The laughter did get everyone awake, though a few of them (read: Saya), glared at Takashi for disturbing her beauty sleep.

"Could you two idiots keep it down?" She gripped, rising up and straightening her clothes as she gathered her weapons together. On the other side of the room Isou, Yukiko, and Shin slowly arose, coming out of slumber as Komuro's own family rubbed the sleep from their eyes. Isou looked at Komuro in question, trepidation and hope mingling together in his gaze. Today would be a day of choices, that everyone knew, and one could hardly fault the other teen for his worry. Takashi met his gaze, giving him a wry smile and a shrug 'I'm still thinking about it' the gesture said. If nothing else, he would not lie to these people. They deserved that much at least. Isou let out a sigh.

Running a hand through his hair Takashi spoke to the sleepy eyed teens, and one adult, who lay sprawled around the floor. "Breakfast is ready. I'm not sure about you all but I could use a warm meal,"

Everyone brightened at his announcement. There was just something about the prospect of breakfast that made the day slightly less horrid, the prospect of facing them just a bit more manageable. Takashi smiled at their brightening faces, decisions could wait until after they all got some food in their stomachs.

As they all sat down at the table, passing out bowls and chopsticks, one thought was predominant in Takashi's head, noodles have never been so good. It may have just been the fact that he hadn't eaten an actual meal in days, not since everything started. Even back at the hotel it had been canned food and crackers, coupled with hotel booze that is. Eating when you got hungry, then tossing out the trash and getting to work. Taking time to sit down at a table and eat real food that had been prepared? It felt almost nostalgic, like they were taking a moment away from the hysteria of the world around them and spending a bit of time in their old lives, doing something that had been normal back then. It was... odd.

And the fact that he found eating breakfast odd was even more disturbing. It simply served to drive home how much everything had changed. How nothing would never, could never be the same. Takashi's head bowed forward slightly, bangs shading his eyes as he stared at his bowl as if it was somehow to blame for all of this, the good mood that infused him a few seconds ago gone entirely. He clenched the side of his seat, right hand resting on the table twitching slightly. Suddenly he was gripped by the urge to throw the bowl at the wall, shatter it, and storm out of the room. The only reason he didn't was that he couldn't comprehend why he wanted to do something so base. The sudden bout of rage shocked him, but even that emotion was overpowered but the sudden urge to shout, to swear, to do something angry. His right hand twitched again. Emotions bubbling and boiling beneath the surface for so long came to light. All it took was the right trigger. Around him some of the others had started eating heartily, he wanted to shout. This felt so wrong, like he was... like he was what? Stomping on the memories of the dead by eating? It sounded so preposterous even in his own mind. What the hell is wrong with me?

"Oniisan, are you alright?"

Takashi's head snapped up, looking at Alice for a brief second before giving her a small smile. "Yeah, I'm fine." He replied, reaching across the kitchen table to ruffle her hair. "Just thinking."

And saying that he picked up his bowl and downed its entire contents in a few short seconds. "Gochisousamadeshita," He said, "I'll be outside when your all finished." He stood placing his bowl in the sink out of pure habit and left the room.

Most of the group didn't note anything odd about his sudden exit. Assuming that he merely left to clear his head. It was Saya who noticed his brief moment of anger. The bowed head and tense shoulders. She nudged Khota, who had already finished his second bowl of ramen. "Go check on him," She said quietly, "I'm worried."

Hirano looked at her, noting the seriousness in her eyes, and nodded. Excusing himself from the table he left to room as well. He found Takashi leaning against the front wall of the house, gripping his shotgun loosely by his side, his eyes looking up emptily, as if he was trying to see something in the morning sky, an answer to all of his questions, but no matter how hard he looked the answer simply wasn't there. His eyes glanced over briefly as Khota stepped out the front door, but he remained silent, his face studiously black.

Not knowing what to make of it Khota asked the easiest question, "Are you alright?"

Takashi chuckled, a surprisingly humorless sound, "Are any of us alright?" He shot back. He shook his head slowly eyes staring back up at the clouds. "I just feel so powerless," He said, not waiting for Khota to reply, "Like nothing I do, no decision I make will change anything. In the end we're still the last great gasp of a dying world. No, of a dead world, and we're doomed to die with it. I don't even think we can be called the embers of humanity anymore. We're just the ashes scattered in the wind." he blinked slowly, "In the end, I can't help but wonder if everything has been meaningless, if it would have been better to die at the beginning."

Khota didn't know what to say. Luckily Takashi didn't seem to be looking for an answer, allowing Hirano to draw his thoughts together, brooding for a few short seconds before coming up with a reply. "Then we'll make a new world." He said, "I know it sounds corny as fuck but I'm not about to give up just because you're all confused about what to do next."

Takashi looked at him, eyebrow cocked at Hirano's outburst. He smiled slightly, placing his hand on Hirano's shoulder, "Yeah." He said, "It does sound corny as fuck." Hirano stared at him, mouth flapping like a fish. "Thanks Khota," Takashi continued, "I needed the wake up call." He grinned a bit wider now, letting Hirano know that he really was thankful for the intervention. He leaned back against the wall as before, but his eyes were a little more focused, his expression a little more genuine. "I'm going to let them join our group," He said, after a brief silence. "Do you think it's a good idea?"

Khota sighed, he tapped his rifle against his shoulder. "I think we can trust them," He replied, "They seem, well, more like us then like Shido," Takashi nodded, understanding Hirano's analogy. "I mean, it's a big decision, but sometimes you have to take risks right?"

"Well," Takashi said, "I was thinking more along the lines of 'sometimes we have to be human' even now." Khota nodded, finding Takashi's analysis more to his liking.

"Then go for it."

"Thanks, Khota."

"Don't mention it," Khota allowed a small smile to cross his face.

The rest of those inside the house trickled out onto the lawn slowly, whispering quietly to one another or standing in complete silence. The morning was quiet, the atmosphere subdued as Komuro extended his offer towards Isou, Yukiko, and Shun. They were surprised and wary, suspicious of Takashi's motives. Yet they had hope as well, hope that Komuro truly offer them a place in his group out of the goodness of his heart. And so they accepted.

The reactions of Takashi's own group were interesting as well. Not a single one of them was against his decision but they all showed it in different ways. Saya rolled her eyes, Rei smiled softly, Shizuka clapped her hand together, Saeko nodded once, Khota grinned. And Alice, little innocent Alice, threw herself at Komuro, hugging him tightly, "Thank you so much Oniisan!" She said, joy ringing from every syllable.

Everyone chuckled at that, their spirits raised substantially. In a world where everything is dark even the briefest moments of light can have a profound effect.

The laughter was contagious, soon everyone was grinning and laughing so hard they shook, quietly of course. When Shizuka arrived with the jeep they piled in with smiles on their faces, ready to face whatever might come next.

Flooring the pedal, and taking out a few of them on the way, Shizuka sent them down the street. Glancing over at Takashi she asked, "Next stop?"

Takashi looked out the back window at the rapidly disappearing house, the place he'd grown up in, his no longer. They had been to everyone's houses, and neither Isamu nor Yukiko had family in the city. They had done everything they could possibly hope to. Takashi took a breath, accepting the fact that he'd probably never see 'his' house again. "Let's get out of this god forsaken city," He said. "Head for the city limits, we're going on a camping trip."

"We'll need to stop and get some supplies," Saya said, "We aren't equipped to handle living outdoors."

Komuro sighed, "I have no clue where we can get the stuff we'd need. Best bet is to just keep moving, hope we find a store on the way."

"That's your master plan?"

"We have a long drive until we get out of the city, even longer until we're far enough away from 'civilization' for it to be safe. We'll just have to find something as we go."

"Um," Isou spoke up. His voice was uncertain but when Takashi gestured for him to continue he plowed ahead. "My dad was kind of a camping fanatic. He went back to America with my mom once and some friends of theirs took him on a camping trip. Ever since then he'd taken to stockpiling sleeping bags, tents, and stuff like that at our house." He smiled wryly, "We only ever used the stuff once, so it should be in good enough shape."

Takashi nodded, "That's where we're going then. Can you give directions to your house to Marikawa-sensei?"

Isou nodded, climbing into the front seat, "Take a turn in two blocks. Then..."

The jeep sped down the streets, engine roaring. They followed behind whenever they could, but stopped as soon as the sounds of the engine faded into the distance. The new inhabitants of the city shifted, then stopped as the jeep drew near them and then passed them by. They heard, but failed to understand. But others have ears that still function.

The city was dead silent, the growl of the jeep engine cutting across the air for miles. A distance away the sound, though muffled and indistinct, reached the ears of an S.A.T. sniper. Her head snapped up when she heard, looking in the direction of the far off sound.

"Bingo," Rika whispered to herself. She swung a leg over her bike, its engine refitted after the EMP, and sped off into the maws of the city.

Lugging the bike to the mainland had been a pain and there were several times she was sure the boat would capsize because of it. Not to mention the ungodly pain that had been involved with getting it out of the boat and up the sandy beach to an actual road. But now that all paid off as Rika swerved expertly between abandoned cars, dodging them almost instinctually.

If she was fast she could catch them before nightfall, but regardless of how much she wanted to speed off with no regard for life or limb she still had to pause occasionally to listen for the sound of their engine. Going was slow, but each time the engine sounded louder, tantalizingly out of reach.

She had to be care too, when she paused, never stay still for long enough to let them close their grasp around her. Stopping her bike for a brief second she tilted her head to catch the sounds of the humvee's engine. There! Whipping out her pistol she shot the three of them that had gotten too close. Six shot's left she noted, slipping her colt .45 back into its holster before she gunned the throttle, taking off down the street. She was closing in on them, that much was certain. Through the grace of God above or by some luck that defied human understanding she was going to find them. She twisted the handle forward even more, urging her bike to even greater speeds.

She could feel the obsession to get to Shizuka creeping into her mind. The need to get to her best and only remaining friend while there was still time. It was a need, clawing at her. She simply had to go.

Leaning so far to the right her thigh practically scraped the ground she whipped around a turn, yanking her motorcycle back and forth to avoid cars and Them. If she had bothered to check the speedometer read nearly seventy, but she couldn't have cared less. It was only her last vestiges of caution that kept her from opening it up all the way and tearing down the street like a demon from hell.

Rika wasn't one to have friends, and she had already lost one of the few she had considered a friend to this new world. He had died in a split second of carelessness. And by the time she'd realized what had happened to him it had been far too late.

She would not let that happen to Shizuka. The woman was too kind, too good, and far, far, too perfect to die at the hands of them. As she sped down the street the sun glinted off of her Heckler & Koch PSG-1, strapped across her back. She'd snagged her sniper on the way out of the base, illegally, but she decided she needed it more.

Not like there were any good snipers at the base with her and her partner gone.

Focus on the present, Rika. She commanded herself. Now was not the time to be reminiscing. She stopped her bike again, and there was the sound of the humvee, close enough now to be easily discernible in the silent city, before speeding off again. This time none of them were close enough to warrant the use of her pistol. Good, she needed to conserve ammo.

The motorcycle disappeared around another turn, fast in pursuit of Shizuka and company. Less than a mile away their humvee finally drew to a stop in front of Isou's house, wheels crunching across the asphalt.

It was a plain house, no different from all the other houses on the block. As the crew got out of the car they quickly cleared all of the nearby zeds, an old routine that the newcomers slipped into easily. Soon they would be newcomers no more.

Soft, thuds, filled the air as they dropped to the ground one after another, felled by the survivors. When the street was clear Takashi motioned for Isou to move closer. "Where's all the camping gear located?" He asked.

Isou chuckled slightly, "All over the place, crammed wherever we could fit it all." He replied.

Takashi looked at him. "Well then, what will we need? I have no clue for stuff like this."

Isou shrugged, "Sleeping bags for everyone, preferably the ones that are good to below freezing temperatures just in case. A few small tents for rain and things like that, but those are just the obvious ones. A propane stove would be nice, I think we have a dozen or so propane tanks lying around, don't ask me how he got those. Then the..." He continued on for a minute or two, detailing things like backpacks, pots and pans, water purifiers, bags to actually carry the water, and stuff like that. "We'll have to find as much nonperishable food as we can," He added, "But we don't have much camping food here."

Takashi nodded for a few moments, digesting the large glut of supplies that they would need. "You know where all of this stuff is?"

"Mostly."

Takashi nodded, "We'll follow your lead then. Khota and I will help you carry the stuff out, Rei too." Turning back to the group he added, "I want Saeko, Yukiko, and Saya and everyone else to stay by the humvee. keep them from getting to close. Shizuka be ready to head out when we're done." Everyone nodded, used to Takashi's brief and succinct instructions.

Isou, for his part, was caught off balance by Takashi's sudden statement of 'following his lead'. But he shook it off quickly, it was his house after all, so it made sense. "Let's go then," He said, leading the others to the front door.

Reaching into his pocked he withdrew his house key that he had kept for all this time. Never once had he thought to throw it away, just as never once he had thought to use it. Sliding it into the lock twisted it quickly, opening the door with a sharp tug. It rolled open on squeaking wheels, reveal the rough gray flagstone of the entryway and the well swept wood floors beyond. Isou let a melancholy smile cross his face as he stepped into his parents home once more. Here, everything was familiar, the coats on the rack, the sandals in the cubbies. If he just focused on how everything was the same, for the time being he could ignore how nothing would ever be the same again.

He could pretend, at least for a while, that the world outside wasn't filled with flesh eating monsters that had once been human. He could shut all that out, and bury himself in the familiarity of his home, absorb himself in the mundane task of gathering camping supplies.

It probably wasn't healthy, he figured, but it kept him going, at this point that was all this point it was all he could truly ask for.

Behind him Takashi, Khota, and Rei entered the house quickly. Stepping onto the wood floor Isou looked around, taking a moment for himself before he got down to business.

He pointed to a door way on the right, a few steps away, "There should be sleeping bags in there. Make sure you get the ones with down feathers; they're the thicker ones. Takashi nodded, going that into the room. The other three followed Isou into the house as he pointed out the things that they would need.

The camping supplies really were scattered all over the house, a backpack or two there, a propane tank shoved under that. In all seriousness half the clutter in the house was composed of camping supplies. Isou smiled vaguely when Rei pointed out the fact. His father had truly been obsessive about camping.

The four of them quickly began making their way in and out of the house, loading up camping supplies as quickly as possible. Saya made an offhand remark that there was a faster way to do stuff like that, but she didn't care to elaborate, so they continued as before.

It was when all four of them were inside the house that they heard the engine.

Takashi's head snapped up, involuntarily dropping what he was carrying. Snatching his shot gun from where it lay on the kitchen counter he raced outside as the growl of a motor grew louder. He was the first one out, hopping onto the roof of the humvee and bringing his shotgun to bear in the direction of the approaching vehicle. Beside him Saya already had her silenced MP5 set up as the Rei, Isou, and Hirano raced out of the house.

Far down the road, a sleek motorcycle appeared at the top of a rise, roaring down the street towards them.

Khota quickly took a knee beside the jeep, steadying his rifle and tracking the target as it moved closer. "Should I take the shot?" He asked, eyes never leaving the scope.

"Give 'em a warning shot." Komuro replied, "Something that they're sure to notice."

Khota nodded, picking up a target in an instant he pulled the trigger, letting a single round fly from the barrel. Up the street, a few meters in front of the motorcyclist, the side mirror of a car shattered, bits of plastic and glass exploding outward as the bullet impacted. Seeing this the cyclist pulled a hard right, skidding to a stop and cutting the engine around a hundred yards away from them.

Flipping down the kickstand the figure stepped off the bike, hands held before them, showing a lack of weapons. Reaching of, the person removed there helmet, shaking her head once as long purple hair cascaded down her shoulder, a trait visible even from this distance.

From inside the humvee Shizuka gasped, grabbing the binoculars. Upon seeing the motorcyclist closer Shizuka practically leapt from the humvee, "Rika!," She shouted, her voice suffuse with joy as she dashed down the street, leaving the others to stare at her in disbelief. The other woman sprinted forwards as well, unhindered by the sniper rifle strapped over her shoulder. The group watched as the two crossed the entire distance of a football field in under a minute, Shizuka leaping forward to glomp the other woman in the last few seconds.

Words were exchanged, too far away for everyone else to hear, as the two, now ecstatic, woman walked back towards the Humvee. Takashi looked on for a few more seconds, before sighing to himself and slinging the Ithaca over his shoulder. "You know," He said out loud, "I'm not even surprised anymore." To his right Saya muttered something sarcastic under her breath.

Khota stood, leaning towards Takashi as he said, "Do you think she's the lady we got the guns from?"

Before Takashi could reply, Shizuka, who was within reasonable shouting distance called, "Mina-san, This is my friend Rika. She's the lady who's guns we took,"

"Well I guess that answers that question," Hirano mumbled.

Takashi nodded, "Come on Khota," He said sliding of the Humvee. Shotgun over his shoulder he strode forward to meet this 'Rika'. His steps were strong, purposeful. He wanted to make a good first impression. Khota flanked him to the left, following half a step behind.

Takashi was wary of this new development, but if she was Marikawa-sensei's friend than she at least deserved a chance, the lifesaving cache of guns they had 'borrowed' aside. As they approached each other Takashi could see that Shizuka wore a blinding grin, practically bouncing up and down as she chattered to her purple haired friend. Rika wore a bright smile as well, though with much more control, she offered the occasional comment in the midst of Shizuka's endless stream of words.

When they approached Rika suddenly drew to a stop, looking over Takashi with an inquisitive gaze.

Takashi, for his part, met her eyes confidently before taking a step forward and bowing at the waist. "Hagimemashite. Watashi wa Komuro Takashi desu,"

Rika cocked an eyebrow at his formal greeting, but responded in kind. "Hagimemashite. Watashi wa Minami Rika. Dozo Yorushiku,"

"Dozo Yorushiku,"

"Well," Rika said after a short pause, "I've heard a bit about you from Shizuka, mostly in the last few seconds," She adds with a grin. "I'm glad to finally make your acquaintance."

Komuro returned her smile, "Like I said, it's pleasure to meet you. I'd like to thank you as well,"

"Really, for what?"

"For these guns." He replied, taking the Ithaca off of his shoulders, "If we hadn't found them we'd probably be dead. So thank you,"

Rika smiled a bit wider at this, "Glad they served their purpose."

It was another unexpected development. But this time, at least, it was a pleasant one. Another hand, another gun, and someone who obviously knows how to use it. For once, I can actually say that I'm glad. And that alone is something to be glad about as well.