I do not own Highschool of the DEAD or its characters.

Updated: 10/16/13

As Kohta sat holding Alice while she cried, Saya came and sat down on his left. Rei then sat down on his right and Shizuka knelt behind him where she could stroke Alice's hair.

Takashi, Saeko and Rika stood back and watched the rest as they comforted the little girl.

"Fish," Rika said as she pulled out one of her ever-present cigars. "An hour ago that little girl was killing undead with a pistol and now she is crying her eyes out over dead fish."

Saeko raised her head and looked at the sky, her eyes slightly wet, "She is our innocence. We all had to grow up hard recently, but she is still that little girl that we recused the second night."

"Rescued? She's not one of your little sisters or a cousin?" Rika asked.

Takashi shook his head, "No. She was just a little girl that saw her father murdered by another survivor. They ran him through with a spear and left him and her to die in the yard with Them."

Saeko smiled and hugged Takashi's arm to her as she looked at Rika, "Takashi rode his motorbike into the crowd of Them, defending her while Kohta-kun shot at Them. He killed Them while Takashi took Alice on his back and walked along the top of a wall to get away."

Rika raised one eyebrow, "That's all it took? A wall walking act to get away?"

Takashi gave a little laugh, "Well, that and Shizuka-sensei mowing down part of the horde with your Humvee."

Rika watched the pair for a moment, "So you two are a couple, huh?"

Takashi looked into Saeko's eyes as he nodded, "Yeah, we are. Saya is with Kohta also."

Rika snickered, "Oh yeah, I got that message. Pinky let me know real quick who owned him."

Saeko giggled as Takashi snorted, "If nothing else, Saya is blunt. Up until a few days ago she was riding him about being an otaku and beating on him with her fists to get her point across. Then he almost died with a wound and everything changed."

"Seems like a solid man to have around," Rika said as she blew smoke. "He impressed me today with his shooting and when he asked to borrow my rifle. I've got to say I was surprised when he did what he did."

Takashi sighed, "That's not the first time. There was a young police woman who had taken a liking to him. She got surrounded when she tried to help another survivor. She called out to Kohta and asked he make sure she died human. He shot her just as They were taking her down. He broke not long after that and we almost lost him. Shizuka-sensei was able to pull him back though and he has been…okay ever since. This time with Saya has helped a lot. He liked her all through school, but would not or could not act on it."

Rika nodded, "I can understand that. There have been a lot of good people that have gone over the edge because of what is going on. I'm glad Shizuka was able to help him, I've got a feeling he is going to be a big asset."

The others got up and the women headed toward the house as Kohta headed toward the garden shed.

"Takashi, we are going to get Alice cleaned up and start dinner," Saya told him as they walked past.

Takashi nodded as Saeko said, "I'm going to go change and help them."

Takashi watched as Kohta came out of the shed with a shovel and began to dig a hole in the corner of the yard to bury the fish in.

Rika also watched for a minute, "Well, I guess I better stow my gear and then call in."

Takashi's jaw dropped as he looked at her wide-eyed, "You…you've got a radio that works?"

Rika shook her head, "No, but I do have a satellite phone so I can check in and give scouting reports to base. I came out here on my own to find Shizuka, but my boss insisted I bring one and call in reports. Otherwise I would have had to resign my position to do this."

"Wow…we've gotten so used to nothing working that I didn't think about you having something like that," Takashi said in wonder. "Any chance we can get out of all this? Get somewhere safe?"

Rika shrugged, "I don't know after that earthquake. I'll try to tell you more after I get through."

Turning toward the house Rika scratched the back of her head as she and Takashi stepped on the porch.

Frowning, Rika asked, "By the way, where is my Humvee?"

000

Rika had changed into a t-shirt and spandex biking shorts before heading back outside with the satellite phone. Dialing the contact number she waited till someone picked and said, "SAT Headquarters, what is your call sign?"

"Dahlia reporting in to the LT."

"Hold Dahlia."

Moments later Rika smiled as she heard her lieutenant's voice, "Sarge, you doing ok?"

"I'm fine LT, and I found the one I was searching for."

"Really! Tell Marikawa-san I said hello and I'm glad she is okay."

"I will. She is with a group of high school students. They raided my place and have been protecting her and some others ever since. I've got their names if you are ready to copy."

"Hold one…now, go ahead."

"Komuro Takashi, Hirano Kohta, Miyamoto Rei, Maresato Alice, Takagi Saya, and Busujima Saeko, all high school students except for Maresato who is in elementary. The names of the last two girls ring a bell with me, but I can't remember why."

"Is Takagi Saya a short girl with pink hair?"

"Yeah, how did you know?"

"That's Takagi Souichirou's daughter! Damn I bet he'll be happy to hear she is okay."

"Wait, that's the right-winger holding control of the power and water stations isn't it?"

"Correct, without him and his people holding the line at the dam at Okunako the whole public works system would have shut down instead of being in the process of repair right now. With the Diet* wiped out, he is also said to currently have favor of the Emperor."

Rika whistled softly, "Holy moly, so that makes little miss Takagi a valuable asset doesn't it?"

"Yes it does, and if you get her out safely it will really look good on your part."

"Well I don't think that will be any problem with these kids. I'm impressed with them, they walk a patrol better than some fully trained units I'm seen. Komuro is their leader and he does everything through hand signals. Hirano Kohta is their drag man, he is as deadly a shot as I have ever seen and I've seen a lot. Then you have this Busujima Saeko, she is like an onna-bugeisha out of samurai legend. She does this dance with her sword and anything that gets within reach goes down and stays down."

"Well I would expect so if she is anything like her father."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"That girl is the daughter of Busujima Kage, the new commander of the Emperor's personal guard."

"Wait, you mean the guy that saved Emperor Akishino's life and got him out when the Imperial Palace fell?"

"That's him, old family; guardians of the throne since way back several hundred years."

"What about any of the others?"

"Miyamoto Rei is the daughter of Chief Inspector Miyamoto Tadashi, prefecture police, East Station, current whereabouts unknown. The others…nothing but regular people according to this."

"Believe me LT there is nothing regular about any of this group."

"What's your current plan?"

"Well that's why I'm checking in, I'm sure that earthquake caught everyone by surprise. How are things at the base?"

"Not too bad, we only caught the edge of it. It seems to have been centered off the coast, but there is no report of a tsunami so we can count ourselves lucky for that. Otherwise still just a lot of talk on which action plan to go with. Are you in a secure location that you can stay in for a couple of days?"

"Yeah, they are forted up in a big stone and brick house with good solid walls. They've been here several days and it still has running water and gas. There is food for about a week with a group this size."

"Good, hunker down and check in about this time each day. I should know what to tell you in a day or two."

"Roger. If anything happens and we have to move, I'll contact you."

"Good luck Sarge, base out."

Rika powered down the phone and stood thinking for a minute. She turned and headed back into the house to find Takashi preparing wood for a fire in the hearth later in the evening.

He looked up as she approached, "Everything okay, Sergeant-sensei?"

She smiled, "Please Takashi, just call me Rika. I've never been one for formalities that much. I would like for all of us to get together tonight and let me catch you up on what is going on in the world. Oh, my boss said for us to sit tight for a couple of days if we can."

Takashi nodded, "I thought as much. We tend to gather here at the hearth after supper anyway. It's…peaceful to just sit and watch the fire, talking about small things."

Rika noticed Kohta off to one side with the AR-10 broken down, cleaning it. Thinking a moment, she went upstairs and came back down with her rifle.

"May I join you during your work, Hirano-kun?" she asked.

Kohta looked up smiling, "Hai, Sensei, I would be pleased to see your cleaning methods. Also please just call me Kohta if you would."

Rika grinned at him as she sat down, "Only if you call me Rika."

Kohta blushed slightly, "I don't know if I can do that Sensei. You are a professional and someone that I aspire to be like in the future."

Rika chuckled for a second, "Tell you what then, call me Rika when we're 'off duty' and Sergeant when we are 'on duty' so to speak. How about that?"

Kohta smiled warmly, "I think I can do that Sen, er - Rika."

Kohta watched as Rika quickly tore down the sniper rifle. She scrubbed the working parts with brushes, oiled it and pointed out things to look for in case Kohta ever had to clean it himself. Within five minutes she was finished and picking up the M1A to start cleaning it.

"Wow," Kohta exclaimed. "You did that so fast. It still takes me twice that long to do the AR and longer to do the Springfield."

"I've been doing it a long time. During training we also have to do it blind folded and under a certain time before passing the class."

As Kohta finished the AR and started on the Luger, Rika quickly finished the M1A. Leaning back she stretched and pulled a cigar from her pocket.

"Minami-san. May I speak with you outside?"

Looking over her shoulder, Rika saw Saya standing with her arms crossed waiting on an answer.

Wondering what had set the pink-haired girl off this time; Rika shrugged and got up to follow her out.

Stopping by the now empty pond, Saya turned to face the older woman. "If you must smoke those things, please do not do it in the house."

Looking at the unlit cigar in her hand Rika nodded, "Ah I'm gonna have to quit soon enough anyway. There is no way I will be able to get Cubans anymore with the way things are now."

Replacing it in its packet, she placed them back in her pocket.

Glancing at Saya, she saw the girl clenching her fists and looking at the ground. "Anything else you want to say or ask me, Takagi-san?"

Saya looked as if she was between speaking and throwing a fit.

Rika turned back toward the house where she could see Kohta still working. "He's a good man is he not, Takagi-san?"

Saya looked up and sniffed as she answered, "He's the best in the world."

Rika looked at her again, "You had a bad scare today didn't you? I saw that Zed knock you down and bite your arm. I was about to kill it when the little girl stepped up and did it herself. Whose idea was the leather jackets? His?"

Saya nodded, "I had put it on about an hour before because he asked me to."

Rika lowered her head, looking at the ground, "How long have the two of you been lovers?"

Saya blushed as Rika looked up. "A…about…just…a few days."

It shows Rika thought, "Don't stress yourself and worry so much. That young man loves you. I can see it in his eyes every time he looks at you. You, on the other hand, are jealous of the attention he is paying to me."

Saya flushed red again as she brought her eyes up to look into Rika's.

"What if I was a man, Takagi-san? Would you be jealous then?"

"I…I don't know, probably not," Saya admitted.

"I want to tell you I'm impressed with him and his skills. Hell I'm impressed with all of you. I admire the job he, and Takashi for that matter, has done keeping everyone safe and healthy."

Rika took out the cigar and finally lit it, "But let me say this, he is thirsting for more knowledge. He is going to want to talk to me, a lot. Please don't read anything into that. He needs that knowledge to keep you and the others safe and if I can give it to him, I will. I know I'm the outsider here and you don't know me, but I promise you I will not ever get in between you and him."

Saya sighed, "I'm sorry…I guess I am over reacting, but I have never felt about anyone the way I feel about him."

Rika nodded, "I understand, I can remember what my first love was like." Rika smiled as she looked off into the distance.

"Ah Minami-san, may I ask you something personal?"

Rika focused on the girl again, I think I know what's coming, she thought as she nodded yes.

Saya blushed again, "What exactly is your relationship with Shizuka-sensei?"

"What you're asking is, are we lesbians, correct?"

Saya stuttered, "I…ah…well…"

"The answer is no." Rika with a smirk, "At least not in the way you're thinking. Shizuka and I have been very close for a long time. We both have had boyfriends…lovers from time to time, but when they move on, we end up together again."

She blew smoke and tossed the butt into the pond bed, "There is nothing better than to have someone you can go to after you have been dumped. Someone who will hold you, and comfort you through the night and the pain. She is very special to me, and after she called me, I knew she was out here somewhere. I risked my position to come look for her, but I knew in my heart she was alive."

"Thank Saeko for that, "Saya replied. "She saved her at the school when it was overrun."

"I will," Rika said as the blond in question bounced out onto the porch.

"Rika! The bath is ready!" Shizuka called.

They both laughed as the blond bounced up and down with anticipation.

"Oh and Minami-san? Please call me Saya from now on." The pink haired girl said.

"Only if you will call me Rika," she replied. "And please come to me if you have any concerns or questions."

Saya nodded and smiled as they stepped onto the porch.

000

"Ahhhhh, damn that feels good!" Rika sighed as Shizuka scrubbed her back.

Shizuka giggled as she leaned forward and hugged her friend, "What, you haven't had any hunky men scrubbing your back for you lately?"

Rika laughed slightly, "No, it was all we could do just to get a shower while we were holding Haneda airport."

"Well you should have asked Tajima. I'm sure he would have done it for you. He always did want to get closer to you."

Rika sat quietly for a minute, "Tajima's gone, Shizuka."

"Where did he go? Why would he leave you when…oh…you mean…" Shizuka hugged Rika again. "I'm sorry…I didn't realize…I wondered why you were by yourself."

Rika sniffed and patted Shizuka's arms, "It's okay, I hadn't said anything yet. I've gotten past it and he died a hero."

"Doesn't matter, you were partners for a long time and I know you'll miss him." Shizuka whispered.

Shizuka took the showerhead and rinsed the both of them off.

Rika climbed into the soaking tub and leaned back so Shizuka could sit down in front of her and lean back against her chest.

They sat like that for a while, quiet with their own thoughts before Rika spoke, "So these kids, they seem like a really good bunch."

Shizuka nodded, "Yeah they are. Saeko saved me at the school and they have taken care of me ever since. I really like them all and I want to stay with them as long as I can."

Looking over her shoulder she asked, "What about that? What are we going to do now that you are here?"

"We are going to talk about that after supper tonight. The LT said to stay put for a couple of days. Oh, by the way, he said to tell you hello and he is relieved you made it," the policewoman said.

"Oh I'm happy he's okay. He's really cute. Is he still married?" Shizuka asked.

Rika paused again, "Probably not."

Shizuka whispered, "I keep asking the wrong questions, don't I?"

Rika hugged her friend, "It's alright, you're happy I'm here and not thinking clearly."

A knock came at the door and Saya said, "Supper is almost ready you two."

"Coming, give us just a minute," Rika called back as Shizuka climbed out of the tub to begin drying off.

Rika got up and went to her. Wrapping Shizuka in her arms she gave her a little kiss and hugged her for a minute, "It's going to be all right now. We're back together and I've got a feeling things are about to get much better."

A/N: Another one down and another one on its way.

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*The Diet is the Japanese version of Congress.