I do not own Highschool of the DEAD or its characters.
Updated: 10/16/13
Supper was a happy affair. The group relished being alive and safe as they passed food around the table.
Takashi sat at his usual place at the end. On his left Rei, Alice and Shizuka, on the right Saeko, Kohta and Saya. Rika filled out the table at the far end facing Takashi.
Rika watched the interplay between the teens as they ate. Rei, she noticed, would look at Takashi and then cast her eyes down as if embarrassed. There is something going on there Rika thought, I'll have to ask Shizuka later.
Alice was acting like the child she was again, eating, laughing and slipping Zeke little pieces under the table.
Kohta and Saya seemed a normal couple talking quietly sharing a bite now and then. Kohta caught Rika watching once and blushed as he held a piece of meat for Saya to take.
Shizuka was beaming, looking around the table, watching the younger ones interact and play.
Saeko ate quietly, talking softly to Takashi and Rei, looking ever so much the lady, Rika, now knew she was trained to be.
Rika glanced up once and saw Takashi watching her. A slight smile on his lips, he nodded to her and then turned to pay attention to something Alice was telling him.
They feel like they belong together, Rika thought, they've been through hell and walked away from it stronger.
Supper was finished and the dishes cleaned as the last light of the day drifted into darkness. Takashi lit the fire in the hearth and sat down in his favorite spot next to it. A few minutes later Rei sat down on his left in her normal place.
He leaned over to her and whispered, "I'm glad you're here." She nodded slightly and squeezed his hand.
The others filtered in, Saeko on his right, Shizuka, Alice and Rika, across from him with Saya with Kohta at the end near the dining area.
After a minute of settling in, Takashi looked around the group and said, "I don't know how many of you are aware of this, but Rika has a satellite phone and she has been in contact with her base. Would you please fill us in with what is going on Rika?"
Nodding Rika started, "First of all my lieutenant asked that we settle in and stay here for a couple of days. The earthquake did shake them up some, but nothing too bad."
Looking over at Saya she said, "Saya, he wanted you to know that your parents are safe and they and their retainers are in control of the dam at Okunako. They are keeping public works like water going and are helping to get repairs started to the power plant there."
Saya grabbed Kohta's arm and squeezed it, "They made it! They did what they set out to do and survived the attack at the house!"
Rika then looked the other way towards Saeko. "Lady Busujima, he wanted you to know your father is alive and well also. He is currently the commander of the personal guard to Emperor Akishino and was personally responsible for saving the Emperor, his wife and their son's lives"
Saeko clamped her hands over her mouth and looked at Takashi with tears in her eyes, "He's alive, Takashi, father is alive…"
As he reached out and hugged her, Saya looked at Rika with a stunned look on her face.
"Wait, you said Emperor Akishino, I thought the current Emperor was Akihito?"
Rika frowned, "Emperor Akihito, and all other family, died when the palace fell. If not for Saeko's father and a few others, the line of the Chrysanthemum Throne would have ended with their deaths."
They all paused a moment, thinking about what they had just heard.
Rika continued, "That being said, Emperor Akishino has taken over as head of the country. The Diet was mostly wiped out so all the elected leaders and staff are gone. For the first time in a long time, the Emperor is the true leader of Japan. From what I have heard, he is proving to be very strong and has strong support and allies."
"What about the rest of the world?" Saya asked quietly. "How many are left? Do we know?"
Rika cleared her throat, "Last estimate I heard there were just over one billion people left worldwide."
"I don't understand what that means," Takashi said.
"Before this happened the world's population was estimated to be around six billion. If Rika is right then there is only one in six left," Saya replied.
Takashi's mind could not handle the numbers. Trying to imagine that only one person out of every six had survived stunned him.
As Rei began to whimper and shake, Takashi reached out and pulled her close. Saeko moved around to her other side and wrapped her arms around the girl as Shizuka whispered, "So many, so much worse than the plague."
Saya rubbed her eyes for a minute and then asked, "What about other countries?"
"Well England stands so far. They shut down their borders at the first sign of trouble. Pissed a lot of people off, but it seems to be working. Europe is in chaos, Russia has gone dark, and China has now as well. As far as we know South America and Africa has met the same fate."
"Who fired the nuke that went off over us?" Kohta asked.
"North Korea or China we think," Rika replied as she rubbed her chin. "The US shot first at China and then North Korea from submarines. Russia put a few on China, but went silent not long after that. Most of the missiles were incepted by counter fire from US and Japanese picket ships but one ship was overrun with zeds and did not get a shot off. That's the one that got through to us."
Kohta thought about this for a second, "So what about America? Any word on how bad it is there?"
Rika smirked a little, "Oddly enough, the old joke about 'everyone in America has a gun' almost proved to be true. The big cities are gone; New York, LA, and Chicago just to name a few. The southeastern, southwestern and mid-western states are the most secure because militia groups have banded together to hold against the horde. As far as who their president is, well that's any body's guess right now. Their military has a solid chain of command though, and has decided to help their allied countries as much as possible until they feel the need to return home. Right now they are trying to clear the Okinawa island chain and hold a solid footing there for supply and operations. There are British ships and troops helping, as well as a few from other allied countries."
She reached over and scratched Zeke behind the ears as Alice lay her head down in Shizuka's lap. "That's all I know at the moment. There are different plans being looked at, but I don't know what they involve, or when they will be acted on. LT said he would let me know as soon as he could."
Takashi let go of Rei who had calmed. He sighed, "With what happened today do you think we need to post guards tonight?"
Rika shook her head, "I've checked everything I can think of and I don't feel like we need to. We have a good solid brick wall around us with steel gates. The house is solid and the doors to the outside are heavy and lockable. We can set couple of noisemaker traps with some cans and I think that will be enough."
Takashi nodded, "Good, I think we all need some quiet time and good rest since, when we do move, we might have to do it quick."
Shizuka spoke up, "Kohta, I want to remove your bandages and let you wash up real good tonight. Once you are through, I will want to check and rewrap the wound."
"Yes, Sensei," Kohta replied.
"Rei, while he is doing that, I need to see you also," She said.
Rei nodded and whispered something to Saeko who also nodded.
Shizuka got up and motioned Kohta to come into the kitchen where she proceeded to remove his bandages.
Once the nurse had gotten up, Alice crawled over and climbed onto Rika's crossed legs, much to the woman's surprise.
Takashi and the others snickered as Rika sat holding the child with a stunned look on her face.
"Welcome to the family," Takashi said as Rika broke into a grin.
000
Takashi watched as Saeko and Rei proceeded upstairs followed by Shizuka. Kohta and Saya headed into the bath, leaving Takashi and Rika sitting by the hearth. Alice snoozed in Rika's lap as the older woman watched her with a small smile on her face.
Takashi got up and motioned for Rika to be quiet. He went to the back door and snapped his fingers for Zeke, who ran past him to use the backyard for the last time that night.
Walking out near the wall, Takashi looked around, as much as he could, for any of Them. Climbing back onto the porch he praised Zeke, who was waiting on him, and closed the doors behind him.
Saeko was coming back down as he entered the living area. She went over and whispered to Rika who nodded and handed over Alice before getting up. Taking Alice back from Saeko, she mouthed 'sleep well' to Takashi before heading up the stairs with the child.
Saeko walked over, put her arms around Takashi and asked quietly. "Are you going to bathe after Kohta and Saya come out?"
Takashi nodded.
"We're going to get Alice bedded down with Rei tonight so Shizuka and Rika can have some time together. I'll be back down once she is settled."
Giving him a light kiss, she headed back upstairs.
Takashi went to the library and gathered what he needed for his bath. He got back just as Kohta and Saya came out.
Saya stopped at the bottom of the stairs and asked, "Where is everyone else?"
"All upstairs," Takashi replied. "Getting Alice settled with Rei for the night."
Saya nodded and followed Kohta up to their room.
Takashi entered the bath and put his clothes to the side so they would not get wet.
Sitting on the stool he started washing his hair. As he was rinsing his head, he heard the door open behind him. Glancing over his shoulder he saw Saeko removing her robe and hanging it up. He watched in awe of her beauty, as she tied her hair up and came towards him smiling.
She leaned over him and took the soap and rag from his hand. She scrubbed his back and rinsed him off before letting him do the same for her.
As they climbed into the tub Takashi sat down with her back to him. As she leaned against him she giggled.
"Are you happy to see me?" She asked as she felt his erection against her back.
"Sorry," he whispered. "I just can't seem to control myself around you."
She seemed to purr as she raised her head and looked at him, "It's alright; right now I just want to relax with you. We'll take care of that a little later tonight."
"Are you going to be alright with that? I thought you might be sore?"
"No, not really," she shook her head. "It hurt a little at first, but mostly it just felt wonderful. I asked Sensei about it a few minutes ago. She said girls that are very athletic and do a lot of stretching may not hurt much or even bleed, which I didn't."
She smiled coyly, "Plus I'm a believer that you need to stretch more to work the soreness out."
Takashi chuckled and leaned down to kiss her softly. He then sighed and lay back with his arms under her breasts as the heat of the water soaked into their tired bodies.
"We had a rough day today, didn't we?" he asked.
She nodded, "I wish Kohta-kun had let Rika-san handle Tanaka-san. It upset Saya, and I don't know how much more he is going to be able to take on himself."
"Rika is watching him now. I'm sure she knows the signs of…what did Sensei call it? Combat fatigue?"
She nodded, "Yes, plus he has Saya now."
She thought a minute, "With Rika here, things now feel oddly 'complete' don't they?"
Thinking a minute Takashi nodded, "I know what you mean. It's comforting to have her around. She will be watching in case I make a mistake, and teach all of us stuff we need to stay alive."
Saeko smiled, "I know Marikawa-Sensei is overjoyed to have her here."
They sat for a while longer before Saeko said, as she stuck her tongue out, "I wonder what Kohta and Saya are doing right now?"
Takashi snorted as she giggled.
000
Shizuka finished wrapping Kohta's arm as Saya and Rika watched.
"There, that should do it. Raise your arms as high over your head as you can."
Kohta held his arms up and grimaced a little. He could not get the right one as high as the left.
"Good," Shizuka said. "Little better than I hoped for at this stage. Saya, please massage his shoulder, back and as much of his arm as you can without bothering the wound."
"Hai, Sensei," Saya replied.
Yawning, Shizuka stretched her arms above her head and wiggled from side-to-side, inadvertently making her boobs swing back and forth.
Rika face-palmed herself as Saya raised one eyebrow. Poor Kohta, sitting at boob ground zero, tried to look away, but almost got hit in the face for his trouble.
Rika reached out and took the blond by the wrist and pulled her toward the door.
"Come on, boobzilla. You're not allowed to play with the boys anymore," she chuckled good naturedly. "They got girlfriends that know how to shoot stuff."
Kohta and Saya both laughed at the remark, as Shizuka stuck her tongue out, and pulled the bottom of one eye down at them with her finger, while Rika dragged her away.
Saya turned back to Kohta as he was reaching for his shirt to put it back on. Saya stepped to him and took the shirt from his grasp. She threw it to one side and hugged him to her, pressing his head against her chest.
Kohta sighed as they stayed like that for several minutes. He looked up and smiled at her as she watched him.
"Every time you do that it feels like the weight of the world is lifted off my shoulders," he told her.
She smiled as she covered his mouth with hers. They kissed for a long time before he slid back on the bed and let her crawl in next to him. They hugged and kissed for a while before he finally pulled her shirt over her head and began to kiss her breasts. Saya took deep breaths as his rough hands massaged her and his lips teased her.
He raised his head and kissed her deeply again. As they broke for air she whispered to him, "Make love to me."
With a loving look on his face, he nodded and pulled her closer.
000
Takashi and Saeko had dried from the bath and settled in the library. They sat like they had several nights ago facing each other, thighs touching, kissing, as Takashi reached inside Saeko's robe and massaged her breasts.
They broke their kiss as a knock came at the door.
Saeko closed her robe and slid away a little as Takashi called, "Come in."
The door opened to reveal Rei. She entered, closed the door behind and then bowed slightly.
"I hope I am not disturbing you, could we…talk for a bit?"
"Certainly," Takashi said as Saeko held out her hand and said, "Please, come sister."
She came over and knelt down. They faced each other in a triangle, knees touching slightly.
Rei sat quietly for a minute before looking up, "I owe Takashi an apology as well as an explanation."
"I am the one who should be apologizing to you Rei; I treated you wrongly when I should have been supporting you," Takashi said with his eyes downcast. He leaned forward and took her hands in his, "I'm so sorry I hurt you and ask that you forgive me."
Rei smiled sadly, "It was not all your fault. We both made mistakes."
She sighed as he released her hands and sat back up, "Saeko now knows what the problem with me is and I wanted to make sure you understood it was nothing you did."
She explained what she knew of her problem as Takashi sat stunned.
When she was through he sat shaking his head, "Why you? You've done nothing wrong. Why should you suffer?"
She shrugged her shoulders, "Well the good news is Sensei says it's fixable if we can ever get somewhere that has the right facilities."
She smiled sadly again, "I just want the both of you to know there are no hard feelings and I support you. I'm quite aware how much you need each other."
Takashi slid forward and took her in his arms. Putting her head on his shoulder he said in a husky voice, "I care for you Rei, I always have and always will no matter how much I love Saeko. I will always be there for you if you need me."
Saeko also slid forward and wrapped her arms around them both. "I will always be here for you no matter what. I consider you my sister and will support you always."
Rei raised her head and kissed Takashi and then Saeko on their cheeks.
They sat for a while just hugging while Rei cried softly.
A little later Saeko whispered softly, "Would you like to stay with us tonight? You are welcome if you want to do so."
Rei shook her head and wiped away her tears, "Maybe another night, I need to get back to Alice and I really think the two of you should be together tonight after the day we had."
She stood and went to the door. After she opened it, she turned back and looked at them.
"Saeko? You were right. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, because I have my family, and their love to support me and protect me."
With that, she walked out and closed the door behind her.
They sat quietly for a while. Saeko slid closer to him and lay her head on his shoulder as he sat there.
She leaned back and looked into his eyes. Brushing some hair out of the way, she whispered, "I love you."
She then opened her robe and let it fall from her shoulders. "Make love to me. I want you to make love to me like there is no tomorrow. As many times as we can, for as long as we can. I don't want to go another day of my life that your arms are not around me."
Takashi reached out and pulled her to him while whispering, "I love you, Saeko."
000
Rika lay back against the headboard of the bed as Shizuka snuggled close.
"Busy day huh?" Rika said as Shizuka nodded and said, "Uh huh."
"I've missed you so much," Shizuka whispered.
Rika leaned over and kissed her on the forehead, which turned into a kiss on the lips. This went on for a while till they came up for air.
Rika laughed softly as they lay with their foreheads pressed together.
"What's so funny?" Shizuka asked.
"I was just wondering who is getting laid right now."
Shizuka giggled, "Well not me! At least not yet…"
Rika wrinkled her nose at her friend, "Well, allow me remedy that; right now."
"Yay!" Shizuka cried as Rika tickled her.
A/N: Well another one bites the dust. Chapter 9 is in progress. Please leave a Review and/or Favorite.