A few weeks later….

*Shion*

"Hey, Shion can you lock up? I'm leaving early," I hear my manager's old raspy voice call to me from the back room.

I sigh, I wanted to leave early too but I can't complain, he is my manager so it's better just to agree with him. "yeah, of course," I reply in a fake cheerful voice. Looking around the old building that was made into a pet shop, I couldn't help but feel satisfied with myself. After No.6's wall was blown up I had to find a job, and for some reason I couldn't help but be away from animals ever since I helped the Dogkeeper. I grew attached to the mood they give off. And I especially love to work with the pet Rats.

A picture of Nezumi pops up in my head, but I quickly shake it away. Ever since that first encounter with him I've been searching my best for him but now it feels like I lost him again. I blink back tears. Don't cry Shion. There's still hope. Quickly I wipe the single tear that fell away. That's right. There still is hope. I finish sweeping at a very fast pace trying to finish so I could go to my destination. Pets are fed? Check. Windows and doors locked? Check. Cleaning done? Check. Good, now I can go out searching I give myself a mental smile. Pulling on my old long coat I sniff in the scent. I swear sometimes I can still smell a hint of Nezumi on it, from all those glorious days we lived in the West District together. I began my long walk outside of the city and beyond. Even though now everyone is considered equal there is still some tension between poor families and the more richer ones, but it is way better then what it was before. When those two different group of people where completely separated.

I stop dead in my tracks. Oh my God. I almost forgot how bad the West District looked the last time I saw it. No one has even bothered to try to clear it. Just rebel left behind from buildings, and decaying skeletons, that lay there not even buried. I feel like my knees are going to give out from the sight, and not even to mention that horrible smell.

"Hey you! Hey kid!" I hear some voices calling to me, it seams like they're coming from the rebel. I thought that all the survivors had been taken to the God forsaken place I had. I shrug they're probably just from the city looking for someplace where they can party with girls or something. So I decide to just keep going on.

"We see you! Don't you dare move or we'll kill you faster then you can blink!" Again they shout at me, and I get a feeling like they've been drinking to much. I squint my eyes trying to focus what's in they're hands. HOLY SHIT! They're not kidding they have guns! I freeze in my steps, waiting for them to reach me, even though they're drunk anyone with a gun if lethal.

"H-hey, I'm not looking for trouble I'm just trying to pass through here," I try to explain to them with a gentle voice. I take they're appearances in: two guys both tall. Both in muscular shape. I already know I'm not a match for them. One guy has black hair that desperately needs cleaning, and dull blue eyes. The other has a light red hair color that looks better kept then the black haired man.

"To bad, you got trouble," the red haired man speaks, pointing the gun in his hand behind me. "Why don't you just turn around and go back to where you came, you damn city insect," he gulps down a big drink of his beer and throws the mostly empty can on the head of a skeleton, and laughs hard like he just got told the funniest joke. He turns to his friend and boosts, "dude, Daiki did you see that? I got that bitch right in the head!" So now I know that the black haired guy is named Daiki.

"HEY! Have some respect!" I yell at him out of anger. How could he do that and call ME the insect?

"You have a problem?" He asks me while cocking his gun. Who are these people anyways, and why are they even out here?

"Look can I just pass," I say in annoyance that I'm actually talking to these people.

"No, like I said turn around and head back to the city!" he raises his voice to me. If I cut around them and run they will probably be to intoxicated to get a good shot in. I decide to take my chances.

I quickly run around the red haired guy, who I have yet to figure out his name and sprint as fast as I can past him beyond the West District. I hear them screaming after me firing their guns. I smile when I learn that I was right. They can't get a good shot. I hear one more gun shot and feel my leg explode with pain. Falling, I look down at my leg. Damn! They actually got me!

"well, well, well," Daiki, says coming up to me. "I admire your effort but I'm sorry to say that after you not following our ever so humble orders we will have to dispose of you."

"tisk tisk, what a pity to waste such a spirited soul," the red head says coming up beside me, pointing a gun to my head. "Let's skip the last words and just get this over with," he says with a hint of a smile.

No, I can't die here. I think to myself as the reality of the situation takes place. Is this a dream? No, it feels to real. The pain in my leg is to real. I can't die before seeing Nezumi again! This is not how it ends! I CAN'T die here! Not like this, not by the likes of them.

"Nezumi," I whisper.

"What was that?" the red head asks smugly.

"NEZUMI!" I shout, even though I know he can't hear my voice I hope that somehow he'll know that his name was my last words.

END OF CHAPTER 3