I do not own Highschool of the DEAD or its characters.
Updated: 10/11/13
Takashi watched as Saeko marched down the stairs. "I am going out to meditate Takashi. Would you see I am not disturbed for a while, please?" She asked.
Takashi nodded as she went out of the back of the house. He then watched Shizuka bounce down the stairs; of course the nurse bounced everywhere she went. He shifted uncomfortably as he remembered how soft the nurse's breasts were when she threw herself on him the second night they had been on the run. Not something you need to be thinking about today baka, he thought to himself.
Saya and Kohta came down next carrying Kohta's rifle and backpack. They sat down across from him and the gun otaku began to unpack his cleaning supplies. Looking up at him, Kohta asked, "Where's your shotgun?"
Takashi got up and stepped to the corner of the room. Picking up his weapon he handed it to Kohta and sat back down across the fire pit from him.
"Loaded?" Kohta asked with on eyebrow raised.
Takashi smiled at the test, "No, but the weapon is always loaded until the person holding the weapon checks and clears the weapon their self."
Kohta nodded and smiled, "Hai! Good brother, you are learning the way of the gun."
Takashi smiled and noticed Saya. She had a small smile on her face. Used to be she would have rapped him by now and called him a baka otaku, Takashi thought. He also noticed her Luger lying on the floor in front of her, slide locked back and magazine next to it.
Kohta did not fully tear down the shotgun because it hadn't been fired since its last cleaning. He checked the bore, tested the firing mechanism, and ran an oily patch down the barrel. Satisfied he tossed the weapon back to Takashi and then turned to look at Saya.
"Show me how," she said as he held his hand out for the pistol.
Kohta broke out in a beaming smile as Saya squinted at him with one eye and raised her forefinger, "Control yourself! Don't you geek out on me!"
Nodding, but still with a big smile on his face, he pointed out the different parts and told her what would have to be checked. He showed her how to safely look down the barrel for damage and how to oil it.
Once the Luger was cleaned, oiled and reassembled the couple just sat looking into each other's eyes for a bit. Kohta leaned forward and whispered into Saya's ear. "Have I told you how beautiful you are today?"
Takashi, who had been watching the cleaning lesson carefully, was caught by surprise when the mood suddenly turned romantic. He watched wide eyed as Kohta leaned toward Saya with a smile on his face. He's going to kiss her right here! he thought, but instead Kohta whispered something into Saya's ear that caused her to blush and say, "Domo arigato Kohta-chan."
Kohta smiled and reached for his rifle. Looking up he noticed Takashi watching them with wide eyes. Puzzled for a moment Kohta realized Takashi must have been caught off guard by the interaction between he and Saya. Clearing his throat to get his friend's attention he asked, "Takashi? Do you know where Rei-san's rifle and Saeko-san's pistol are?"
Takashi thought about it for a second, "I guess they're upstairs in their room. I'll go see."
Proceeding upstairs, Takashi realized he had not seen Rei since breakfast. Tapping on the door he called out, "Rei? Are you in there? I need your rifle for Kohta to clean."
Not hearing anything he slid the door open slightly. He could see her lying on the bed with her back to him, legs pulled up close to her chest. Thinking she was asleep, he quietly slipped through the door and looked around the room, seeing the rifle standing in the corner, he tip-toed over to pick it up. As he reached for it he heard a sniff come from the bed.
Looking back he saw Rei watching him with red rimmed eyes. "Rei? Are you okay? Have you been crying?" he asked as he went over to her and knelt down beside the bed, putting his hand on her shoulder.
She looked at him with worry in her eyes, "Takashi? Do you still love me?"
Stunned by the question Takashi's mouth fell open. "Rei…I…"
She pulled her legs down and rose up to lean near his face, "Have you decided you want Saeko since I hurt you over Hisashi?"
"What...Rei…no its…not like that…I still…I still care for you…" the boy stuttered as she leaned in closer and put her hand on the back of his neck. She crushed her lips to his and used her tongue to pry his mouth open.
A wave of heat flashed over Takashi as the kiss got deeper and more passionate. Moaning he sucked on her bottom lip as she withdrew her tongue and pulled away.
Leaning back on the bed, Rei slowly opened her robe exposing her body to him. "Come to me Takashi, all I have left to give you is myself."
Blood pounded in Takashi's brain as he stared at Rei's body. Her creamy skin seemed to glow in the morning light. Her breasts were topped with pink nipples that beckoned to him. His eyes followed her curves down over her firm belly where a ginger triangle of hair awaited between her thighs.
Reaching out she took his hand and pulled it to her breast, placing it on the pink nub that grew harder under his palm. Standing up he leaned over and kissed her again. A moan escaped her as he massaged her breast while lying down next to her.
Rei pulled his shirt off as he licked and kissed her chest going back and forth between the two beautiful globes. She grasped ragged breaths as he suckled her, his hands sliding up and down her sides, one stopping and gripping her hip bone.
Takashi raised his head to kiss her lips again, his hand sliding lower just touching her pubic hair…as the door slid open and Saeko walked in.
The dark-haired girl stopped, her eyes open wide and her left hand over her mouth, as the pair on the bed stared at her with their mouths open.
Takashi's eyes widened further as she reached out and picked up her pistol and holster, which were lying on the dresser by the door.
"I…I'm sorry...I didn't know… were…ah…Kohta wanted this…to clean…I'm so sorry…" Saeko stammered as she backed out and closed the door.
Takashi gasped for breath he did not know he was holding as Rei cried out. "Waaaaaa! I think I peed myself!"
She jumped up, grabbing for a dry cloth as Takashi, shoved out of the way, thumped to the floor looking around still wide eyed. Falling onto his back he clamped his hand over his eyes as the headache he had earlier that morning came screaming back.
"What the fuck!" he exclaimed as his mind raced through the events of the morning. First, Saya and Kohta, then the drinking and now this. He staggered to his feet grabbing his shirt as he got up.
"Rei, are you alright?" he asked as he clenched his eyes closed in pain.
"What do you think!? No! I'm not all…what's wrong with you?" she asked as she finally focused on his face.
"Migraine, really…sudden…screaming migraine. I've got to go find Sensei and get something for it." he said through clenched teeth.
"Go!" she told him as she pushed him towards the door. "I've got to clean up and wash these bed clothes. Then I'm going to think about killing somebody!"
Takashi hoped she was just blowing off steam, but just in case he picked up her rifle and carried it with him as he staggered out the door.
Luckily, the nurse was coming out of her room humming a tune as he stepped into the hallway.
"Sensei, I have a really bad migraine. Can you give me something for it?" he asked.
"Oh? You know Takashi; it's usually the girl that gets the headache." She muttered as she glanced at the door to Rei's room. She stepped back into her room and came out with two headache powders. "Take these two with a full glass of water. Then try to lie down for a while, you don't look so good."
He stared at her for a second before shaking his head and stumbling off downstairs. Going to the kitchen, he took the powders and chugged a tall glass of water before going back into the living area where Kohta was cleaning Saeko's pistol.
Standing next to his friend, he handed him the rifle and asked, "Did you see Saeko?"
Kohta looked up and replied, "She went into the library. Saya was in there and Saeko said she wanted to talk to her."
Takashi looked down the hall and as he turned to walk away he felt a hand on his pants leg.
Looking down he found Kohta watching him with a serious look on his face.
"Takashi? Sit down and let me show you more about how to clean the guns. It's better to let the girls talk things out for a while." Kohta said.
Takashi smirked, "When did you become the sage of man regarding women's relations?"
Kohta chuckled, "I don't know, but it seems to be the right thing to do at this moment. Think about it, we're surrounded by women that know how to kill. One of which we know has killed 'real' people, though there was a very good reason for it. While I don't think she or any of the others would do anything like that, sometimes it's better just to let things cool down before you stick your foot in the door. I don't know what happened, you'll tell me if you want to, but right now I think the best thing is to sit down until one of them comes out and we get the feel of how the wind is blowing."
Takashi rubbed his chin for a moment, then sighed and sat down beside his friend.
000
Saeko had come downstairs as fast as her kimono would let her. Walking over to Kohta she held out her pistol to him and looked around, "Kohta-kun, where is Saya?"
"She went into the library. She said she wanted to do some reading." Kohta replied as he took the weapon from her hand. Looking up he froze for a moment and then asked, "Saeko-san, is something wrong?"
She looked down at him with tears brimming in her eyes, her face flushed red, "I just need to talk to her right now," she explained as she started down the hall.
"Uh-oh," Kohta muttered under his breath as he turned his attention back to the gun in his hand.
Saya was sitting in a wingback chair cross-legged reading the sex book Rei had found yesterday. Flipping slowly through the pages, with one eyebrow raised she thought to herself, I didn't know there were so many different ways you could do it!
Suddenly the door slid open and Saeko stepped in with a distressed look on her face. Closing the door behind her she focused on Saya with tears running down her face, "Saya! I think I messed up really bad!"
Both of Saya's eyebrows now climbed up her forehead. Laying the book aside she asked the normally calm swordswoman what happened.
Saeko rushed over and knelt in front of her, laying her head on Saya's lap as she sobbed, "I walked in on Takashi and Rei as they were about to make love. I was so stunned I picked up my pistol and just stood there. I didn't know they were in the room or I would never have gone in. I did not mean to interrupt them. I got out as fast as I could but I think they got the wrong impression when I picked up my gun."
Saya thought about the scene as Saeko had described it. It took all she had not to laugh out loud. Instead she leaned over and rubbed the sniffling girl on her back and head, "It'll be okay. I'm sure they will understand it was just a mistake. Takashi had gone up to get the guns already; we wondered why he had not come back when Kohta asked you for them."
Saya lifted Saeko's head and looked into her face, "Saeko? How do you feel about what you saw? I thought you and Takashi were getting close? What happened the night you spent with him in the shrine?"
Saeko sat up and rubbed the tears out of her eyes. Taking Saya's hands she told her about the night and the talk they had at the mansion. "Nothing has happened since then until last night. I got up and came down to the bathroom. He was asleep by the fire pit when I went in but sitting up when I came out. I sat down beside him and we talked for a bit. Then we were kissing and…touching, when we heard you and Kohta. We rushed upstairs and you know what happened then. By the way, I'm really sorry we broke in on you like that, but we had no idea."
Saya smiled slightly, "That's okay; we found it rather funny after the fact. It didn't take much to get the mood flowing again. One thing I can say about my Kohta; he knows how to concentrate."
Saeko blushed a little, "I am happy for you Saya-chan and I hope you and he are happy for a long time to come. Oh, another thing. Rei and I had a small confrontation this morning after Sensei changed the bandage on Kohta's arm. I saw her watching Takashi from the balcony with a sad face and I asked her what was wrong. She asked me if I wanted him and was I going to take him away from her. I told her the truth; I do love him, but I knew he loved her. I also told her I would protect all of you for him as long as I lived. I chastised her for putting him off and told her that I was willing to share him if she was."
Share him! Saya thought as her eyes went wide. It was not like she didn't know the girl to boy ratio in their group; in fact it had worried her some when she began to realize she had feelings for Kohta. Even she was attracted to Takashi at first, but she had known him so long that the feelings of him being like a brother pushed to the fore front since they had escaped the school.
"Share him?" Saya asked, "Could you do that? I don't think I could share my Kohta with anyone."
Saeko shrugged her shoulders, "Throughout our history, lords have had wives and concubines or even multiple wives. He and Rei have known each other for a long time and I did not want to get in between them. What happened happened and while I would like his complete attention, I am not going to hurt Rei over gaining it."
She smiled slightly and squeezed Saya's hands, "Do not worry Saya-chan, Kohta is yours body and soul, he has been since Z-Day. Even if another girl jumped him I think he would run away until he found his love again. You."
Saya blushed and slid down to the floor beside Saeko. She gave her a hug and leaned back against the chair. Reaching up she took the book down and laid it in her lap.
"Well if you have thoughts of being a concubine you might need to bone up on it. Rei found this book yesterday and after last night…I thought I would take a closer look."
Saeko leaned over to look at what Saya was holding, "Oh! The Joy book, my father had this in his library as well as a copy of the Kama Sutra and several others."
Saya stared at her in shock as Saeko shrugged again, "Father's philosophy was men and women were going to do what men and women do. Better to be knowledgeable about it than to be caught unawares in life." Looking up at Saya she said, "Oh do not think he was not strict with me Saya. Just because I had the knowledge does not mean he wanted me to run around using it."
She leaned back, a smile on her lips, a faraway look in her eyes, "Maybe that is why I admired him so much. He taught me to think and be my own person using what I knew for my own good. I miss him, but I know that if anyone could survive this, he could."
Saya thought about her parents for a minute. Knowing in the end, when they left the mansion, her father and mother had approved of her friends and Kohta in particular. They had admired how he and the others had stood up to the adults when they tried to treat them like kids again.
As they scramble to leave, her father had asked Kohta to his face to protect his daughter to which Kohta had replied, "With my life".
Suddenly Saya had a burning desire to see him and to be near him. She handed the book over to Saeko as she got up, "I think I'll go check on Kohta. He's still weak from being hurt and he might need something."
Saeko smiled slightly as the girl got up. "Saya, if you see Takashi or Rei out there please send one of them in to see me. I think I need to get this over with as soon as possible."
Saya nodded as she closed the door and started down the hall. She walked up behind the boys as they were finishing with Rei's rifle, Takashi still rubbing oil on the bayonet.
"Takashi, Saeko would like to speak with you in the library," she said.
He handed Kohta the knife and got up with a worried look on his face. As he turned to walk down the hall, Saya reached out and placed her hand on his arm, "It's alright," she whispered, "She wants to apologize and make sure you understand the mistake she made."
He nodded to her as he walked off down the hall.
Saya watched him go and then knelt down behind Kohta. Leaning against his back and wrapping her arms around him she whispered, "How do you feel?"
"A little tired, but better now with your arms around me," he replied. He leaned his head slightly to the side, where he could touch her's and rubbed her cheek with his.
"Sensei said if you felt tired you should lay down and rest for a bit. Want to?" Saya asked.
"With you Angel? Anytime," he whispered.
Saya blushed at the pet name and stood up as he finished putting the gun cleaning supplies back in his pack. Looking around, she saw Shizuka and Alice out back playing with Zeke. Rei was coming out of the bathroom with a distressed look on her face.
As Kohta got up, Saya whispered to him, "Go on up and lie down. I'll be right there, but I need to speak to Rei for a minute."
Kohta looked toward Rei and back to Saya. He nodded with a knowing look on his face and squeezed her hand as he started to the stairs.
Saya walked to where Rei was standing by the kitchen sink and put her hand on the other girl's arm. "Rei, are you okay?" she asked.
Rei turned to her with distress in her eyes, "No, I'm not alright, you don't know what happened."
"Actually, I do know some of it. Saeko came to me as soon as she came downstairs. Now I don't know the whole story, but she was very upset she had interrupted you. She wants to apologize and make sure you understand that her picking up the gun was not a threat. She is talking to Takashi in the library now and wants to talk to you when they are through."
"She told…you…about…" Rei sputtered.
"Some of it," Saya replied. "She told me she walked in on you and he by accident, then made the mistake of picking up her gun because she was stunned. Kohta had asked her for it when Takashi did not come back. None of us had any idea you might be…busy."
"Eh! Everyone knows my business!" Rei whined.
Saya raised one eyebrow, "Like they don't know mine! First Takashi almost attacks us while we're doing it and then you and Saeko catch us after taking a bath together. I think the only person in this house that doesn't know is Alice; and I expect her to ask me about it any minute now!"
Despite being upset, Rei could not hold back and had to break into a giggle over Saya's expression. Lowering her head she asked quietly, "What was that like? Taking a bath with him?"
Saya blushed deeply and smirked, "Quite fun to be truthful; and very relaxing. Not wild like that night we were all together at Sensei's friend's house, but it's something you should try some time."
Since Rei seemed too calmed down, Saya patted her on the arm, "Look, I'm going to get Kohta to lie down and rest for a while. Talk to Takashi when he comes and don't worry; it seems it was all just a misunderstanding."
Rei nodded and Saya headed upstairs.
000
Takashi came into the library to find Saeko kneeling on the floor. As he walked over to her, she bent over into a formal submissive bow and said, "Komuro-kun, I ask your forgiveness and apologize for the misunderstanding and stress I caused."
Takashi reached down and wrapped his hands around her shoulders. Pulling her to a standing position he leaned close with a fierce look on his face, "Never let me see you prostrate yourself before me again! You stand and face me as the proud woman and equal you are!"
She gasped as he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her, and just holding her for a minute. Leaning back, he held her at arm's length, and asked, "Are you alright?"
She cast her eyes downward and quietly said, "I am sorry I interrupted you and Rei. If I had any idea the two of you were in there, I would not have come in. All I could think of was to get what I came for and get out. THAT was not the smartest idea I have ever had."
Takashi frowned, "I was shocked and you scared Rei really bad."
"I know, and I did not mean to. After I encouraged her, I go and interrupt you just as…"
"Wait, what?" Takashi asked with a stunned look on his face. "You encouraged her? To what? Seduce me?"
Saeko lowered her head and nodded. She told him about that morning, and what she and Rei spoke about. "I told her to make some kind of decision about what she was going to do, because I did want you, but I was willing to share you if she was."
Takashi's head reeled again. Share me! he thought, "Wait what do you mean 'share me'?"
Saeko shrugged her shoulders, "It was not unheard of in past societies for a man to have two women…" Takashi's eyes widened and suddenly pain lanced through his head.
"Takashi what is wrong? You look like you are in pain!"
He grunted as he clamped his hand over his eyes. "I have a terrible migraine. Sensei gave me something for it, but I was supposed to lie down. I thought talking to you was more important at the moment."
Saeko pulled him close and kissed his temples and eyes, "Go across the hall to the TV room and lie down. It is nice and dark in there and it should help."
Takashi nodded and walked out into the hallway. Looking toward the living area, he saw Rei sitting beside the fire pit. He walked over and held his hand out her. She took it as she stood up and he pulled her into an embrace. Hugging her for a minute, he told her Saeko was waiting for her in the library and that he was going to the TV room to try to rest in the dark.
They walked down the hall together and he watched as she went through library door and closed it behind her. Takashi crossed the hall and entered the TV room as they called it. The master of the house must have set it up just for this purpose. A comfortable couch and several chairs filled the room and a large screen TV and entrainment center covered one wall. No windows made the room very dark. Takashi slid the door closed and felt his way to the couch.
Stripping down to his boxers he used his clothes as a pillow and settled on the soft couch. Even though his mind was racing with the events of the morning, he quickly fell fast asleep.
000
Rei stepped in the library and slid the door shut behind her. Saeko was kneeling on the floor and looked up as she came in. As she had done with Takashi, Saeko repeated her formal apology and awaited an answer.
Rei knelt down in front of her and watched her for a moment, "Oh stop it. I understand now it was all a mistake even though you scared the piss out of me."
Saeko sat up sighed and said again, "I am so sorry I interrupted the two of you, Rei. If I had any idea you were in there, I would not have come in."
"And how do you feel about that?" Rei asked.
Saeko looked her in the eyes, "I was a little surprised, but apparently, you have made a decision to move forward."
"And you have nothing to say about that?" Rei asked.
Saeko lowered her gaze, "You know my feelings, what more would I have to say?"
"So you just intend to step aside?"
Saeko's eyes narrowed as she looked up again, "Are you looking for a rival Rei? For if you are, I do not intend to be it. I am afraid this group would not survive that kind of conflict between two of us."
"So you're just going to stand aside for the good of the group? I can't understand how you say you love him, but could do that. What happens when we get back to civilization?" Rei asked.
Saeko gave her an astonished look, "Civilization? Rei, have you not paid attention to what has gone on? There is no more civilization. It is a new world where the strong survive and the weak and stupid die horribly. Do you think the governments of the world are worrying about saving civilization? They are the ones setting off bombs! How did destroying the electronics help fight Them?"
Rei sat opened mouth as Saeko continued to rant, "The governments that are left are worried about consolidating their power, and stock piling supplies for the people they have gathered. You have seen things falling apart place after place we go, and you think that we will suddenly find a place with civilization?"
"I have to have faith that things will go back to the way they were! They will come for us and we will go back… to school…and the world…will be…the way…it was…" Rei cried as the tears began to flow.
Saeko slid forward and wrapped her arms around the crying girl. "Oh Rei, I am sorry, I am so sorry."
She held the girl till she quit crying. Leaning back Rei looked at her and asked, "Do you have faith in nothing, Saeko?"
Her eyes downcast, "I have no faith in governments or even gods. Something caused this, whether it was a government experiment that went wrong, or the gods punishing us for some reason."
She looked up at Rei and held her head high, "I have faith in this; Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, because I have a strong sword, Komuro Takashi, and my friends beside me. I have faith we will cleanse the evil and bring light and love to the valley of the shadow."
Rei stared open mouth at the woman as tears streamed down Saeko's face. "I have faith in that man across the hall. I have faith in you, my battle sister, Kohta, our weapons master, Sensei, our healer and Saya, our genius. I even have faith in little Alice, our innocence and light for the future, and protector of the childhood we once had."
Rei felt the power emanating from the samurai as she said this.
Saeko lowered her face and wiped the tears away with the sleeve of her robe. She seemed to wilt as if she had expended her energy. Looking around the room she sniffed and said, "It is getting on into the afternoon and we have gotten no work done today and we really need to.
Rei nodded as they got up and went out to the kitchen.
000
Saya entered the bedroom and closed the door behind her. Kohta smiled at her sleepily, and held his arm out to her. She crawled onto the bed and snuggled down next to him as he wrapped his arm around her.
"Everything okay, Angel?" He asked.
She smiled again at his new pet name for her and nodded, "For now I think."
She rose up and leaned in, kissing him long and deeply.
He responded pulling her tight to him, rubbing her back with his good hand until they broke for air. Smiling he said, "Keep that up and we won't get any rest, Angel."
Snuggling back down beside him she smiled, "Are you complaining, otaku?"
Kohta chuckled, "No…but…'
She nodded, "I know, we both need the rest. I have a feeling it may turn into an interesting night."
"Oh, I hope not." He grumbled. "I had hoped to spend a nice peaceful evening with you."
She smiled and put her head on his chest to listen to his heart beat as they drifted off to sleep.
A/N: Here's #2! Please Review and Favorite!